The expression ‘The Art of Tea” is heard quite often but not the phrase ” The Theatre of Tea” until now. Mark Thirwall is one of only four Australian World Tea Judges, and the ‘Theatre of tea’ is his approach to tea. Mark wants all Australians to slow down and take more time to prepare…
Author: Di Baker
“Que les invités qui entrent dans cette maison repartent en amis”
The French phrase above translates into English as, May all who enter as guests, leave as friends. I love this beautiful sentiment that happens so easily over a cup of tea. Let’s put the kettle on and become friends as I share my love of all things tea; teapots, recipes, quotes, tea news and fine…
“Rainy days should be spent at home with a cup of tea and a good book or some yarn.”
One of the more pleasant aspects of rainy days is being warm and dry indoors with piping hot tea nearby, and some yarn for knitting or crocheting. For me, it’s all about crochet which is not only relaxing and calming at the same time stimulating. Not unlike tea; invigorating yet soothing. I need nothing more…
“Tea, garden. Tea, garden. Does a good morning need anything else?”
Apart from loving Tea, I also enjoy being outdoors and in the garden where tea plays a vital role in the day of working on garden tasks. In fact one of my favourite tea moments is sitting on a garden bench, piping hot cup in hand, taking a breather after heavy work, and collecting one’s…
Tea… from the farm to the cup
The phenomenon of paddock to plate continues to build in Australia as we live more mindfully and sustainably. Being more aware of where our food is grown, by whom and the story behind the farmers and producers of our commodities is one way to be more proactive about food ecology and ethical values on sourcing…
“Strange how a teapot can represent at the same time the comforts of solitude and the pleasures of company.”
It is heartening to realise that millions of people throughout history were as fussy and demanding in their tea-drinking habits as I am. Not only in the past but now in the modern contemporary world of art, music, film and literature, ardent tea drinkers abound. Who would have thought Mick Jagger, Russell Crowe, Lady Gaga,…
Put the Kettle On…
The simple act of putting the kettle on to make tea has been written about, quoted, and even sung about millions of times and yet remains a highly significant and worthwhile task. We do it naturally at the pauses during the day, to comfort others, on waking, when we come in from the garden or…
You can never have too many teapots..
Many of us have enjoyed the Regency splendour of shows like Bridgerton with the elaborate tea settings in glorious palaces and stately homes lately. Together with popular shows, The Crown, Sanditon, Downtown Abby, or The Queen and Pride Prejudice have given rise to increased interest in many of our everyday objects; tea sets, vintage delicate…
“I find it harder and harder every day to live up to my blue china”.
We can never hope to attain the perfection and beauty of blue china aptly expressed by Oscar Wilde. He said he found it harder and harder to live up to his blue china in the abovementioned sentiment, and I wholeheartedly agree. Blue and White are unequalled; fresh and bright, charming and delightful, elegant and forever…
I don’t drink tea to wake up. I wake up to drink tea.
Is there anything more invigorating, comforting and refreshing first thing in the morning than a hot cup of Tea? The quote above says it all. Do I wake to drink Tea, or does Tea wake me up? There is a fine line between the two at times, and like coffee drinkers, tea drinkers love the…
Life’s Short Use the Fine China!
Teacups have been collected for as long as people have enjoyed Tea. They are an elegant nod to the past where life was less hurried and serene. Tea began in China during the eighth century when it was served in small porcelain or stoneware bowls. Over the centuries Teacups have been made from various materials;…
“Remember the tea kettle, although it is up to its neck in hot water it keeps on singing.”
The timeless warming sound of a kettle boiling is always heartening and sings with a promise of our favourite beverage. At your place, no matter whether you like to use a stovetop or an electric kettle, or you prefer the features of an iconic Alessi or Le Creuset kettle, a smart kettle that keeps the…
“The Mere Chink of Cups and Saucers Tunes the Mind to Happy Repose”
The design and aesthetics of everyday objects I’ve always found fascinating and I enjoy collecting antique and vintage cups and saucers. They have an endless array of designs, decorative styles, embellishments, colours and shapes. Fifty years ago it was common to collect the best set of china and later pass them on to daughters and…
“Earl Grey is really more of a ‘Sense and Sensibility’ kind of tea”
What exactly is Earl Grey Tea? Earl grey is a flavoured Tea scented from the oil in the rind of Bergamot oranges, that grow along the coast of Italy and the south of France. Adding the oil from the orange rind to black tea gives the tea an aromatic, zesty flavour that, according to Twinings,…
“Come and share a pot of tea. My home is warm and my friendship is free”
My philosophy of living is a “my door is always open” attitude and there is nothing I like more than cooking for loved ones – family and friends. Sharing a meal around the table or a tea is a joy and I always like to use my fine China collection at every opportunity. Even now…
Not Everyone’s Cup of Tea
Is it scone as in stone or scone as in gone?Jam then cream, or cream then jam? Do you put your milk in first or last? The Duchess of Cambridge, seen here looking so elegant sipping her Tea, made me wonder about the old fashioned etiquette of tea drinking. What are the modern customs and…
“Rainy days should be spent at home with a cup of tea and a good book.”
My mother used to have a day now and then where she would stay inside, read books, drink tea and, because her hands were rarely idle, do knitting or handiwork all day. These occasional days she called ‘a nightie day’, meaning she stayed in her nightie all day. Rather than a common habit, ‘nightie days’…
“Nobody can teach you how to make the perfect cup of tea. It just happens over time. Wearing cashmere helps, of course”.
What is the perfect cup of Tea? tea noun ( tee) an aromatic beverage prepared from tea leaves by infusion with boiling water. Can diminish your troubles,calm your nerves and revive your brain cells. Tea is best made with fresh, good-quality tea leaves in a pre-warmed teapot of your choice with boiling water and served…
Tea! Bless ordinary everyday afternoon tea!
During the lockdown period, we are all urged to stay home across New South Wales and Victoria, so in a clearing out frenzy, I pulled out a tea set I had bought in the 1980s. The set is comprised of four cups and saucers, creamer, a sugar bowl, a large Teapot and also two well-loved…
The very sight of a teapot puts a smile on the face of most people.
Well designed objects fulfil our desire for art and beauty and are a natural source of pleasure every time we use them. A ubiquitous Teapot is an object that is not only practical in providing a way to serve Tea but can also be a source of memories, a promise of an interlude, a symbol…
‘Tea – a drink with jam and bread’
Although the much-loved song from A Sound of Music says ‘Tea with Jam and Bread’, Tea is terrific just on its own or with piping hot scones fresh from the oven, a teacake or other morning tea treat. Our universal yet varied customs, traditions and habits of drinking Tea are often titles, and lyrics in…
“What better way to suggest friendliness and to create it- than a cup of Tea?”
From the beginning of Tea two thousand years ago to when Tea first arrived in England in 1657, Tea has become the second most popular drink after water around the world. The tea beverage has motivated writers and poets who, throughout the centuries, have expressed their adoration and passion for drinking Tea. In their writings,…
A Sip Of The Past
Don’t you just love the pretty colours and designs of special cups and saucers we see at High Teas? These are called trios; a cup, saucer and plate or a duo if there is no plate. Picture a cozy fireside in winter, the laughter of friends, a crisp white table cloth spread over a coffee…
“You were my cup of Tea but I drink Champagne now”
Water and tea are my favourite beverages, and as Lily Bollinger quoted above, I also like my Champagne. There are health benefits for us to enjoy in drinking all of them. How about you?Water is a healthy beverage, and we could not live long without it. Tea is, after all, mostly water with a refreshing…
“Better to be deprived of food for three days, than tea for one”
The ancient Chinese proverb above encapsulates the sentiment I felt in lockdown last year on a ship heading for Italy at the height of the pandemic. Without warning, the Captain sent us to our cabins, and we did not come out for more than a week. Apart from the fear of the unknown situation and…
Time for Tea?
How do you like your Tea, made in a Teapot or with a teabag? A cup or a mug? Do you fancy a glass, china, earthenware or ceramic cup? Green or Black Tea, oolong or china Tea, White Tea or herbal, there are many considerations. One thing for sure is, we all have our favourite…
Taking Tea
Elevenses, morning tea, chai, char, te, teh, tae, thee, or te all are words around the globe that describe taking Tea. A pleasurable pause in life for a liquid refreshment we most commonly call morning or afternoon tea. Legends tell us that Tea began in China in 2737 BC, the Chinese emperor Shen Nung was…
“A simple cup of tea is far from a simple matter.”
Tea lovers are notoriously pedantic about their tea-drinking habits, and I know this because I am one of them. As obsessive tea drinkers our customs, rituals and tea habits are likely to be annoying to others. Although it is human nature to create habits and both coffee and tea drinkers consider their daily rituals as…
Love and Scandal are the Best Sweeteners of Tea.
Tea drinking has come a long way since Victorian and Edwardian England’s stuffy drawing rooms. Today we make our own rituals and trends of Tea from fruit, flower and herbal infusions, individual private tea blends to Japanese Tea ceremonies and Matcha green, White and Pu-erh Teas. We can visit the grandest of old homes and…
“The spirit of the tea beverage is one of peace, comfort, and refinement.”
Our long days of self-isolation and being confined to our homes for all but essentials, provide an opportunity for us to think about what we value most in our lives. A chance to reflect on priorities and spend more time doing the things we love. But when we consider how small after all the cup…
“Every Teapot Has a Soul”
Teapots are fascinating. I have a nice collection of them that I use often depending on my mood, the guests or the Tea event. My troupe of Teapots include; an Italian Spode, Robur silver, and bright yellow breakfast Teapot. A 1980’s Laura Ashley fine teapot, Aladdin’s lamp shaped Teapot, and a dainty white Coalport countryware…
“But, indeed I would rather have nothing but tea”
“Some days ‘staying put’ might feel the same as Going Nowhere. Make a cup of tea, and wait for that feeling to pass.” Vivian Swift I love my cups of tea but recently I was forced to spend a week with no tea at all, locked inside a very small room due to the worldwide…
Blue and White Charm
There is something very appealing about an assortment of Blue and White China. No matter if it is new or old, English, Italian, Chinese or Dutch, it all goes together beautifully in an eclectic, timeless collection. Blue and white porcelain in a home create an everlasting, classic quality perfect for any country styled afternoon or…
“Tea is the Elixir of Life.”
As we move towards a more sustainable way of living, there is a growing trend toward seeking a fair trade, plant-based, gluten-free, lactose and sugar-free beverage that also contains antioxidants. What better drink is there that covers all these criteria than TEA? A simple cup of tea is far from a simple matter.” Mary Lou…
High Tea in Sydney
Sydney, including the Blue Mountains, has a wealth of beautiful High Tea venues. Over time I have enjoyed High Tea at many of Sydney’s best and they have been magnificent and memorable afternoons. Today my recommendations include The Gunners Barracks, Lilianfels Resort and Spa and The Langham Hotel. As time goes by, I will add…
The Silver Teapot 