What’s in My Cup: Hibiscus & Honey

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#whatsinmycup, food, tea, tea addict, tea lover, tea time, whatsinmycup

It’s the kind of day when you want to just pull the blankets over your head. Ok, that’s every Monday, but today is special because we’re having an old-fashioned snow dump. I’m taking a whopping 35cm expected, which may not seem like a lot, but in the city, it’s a lot! People here don’t know how to drive in it. Narrow streets can’t be cleared. It’s chaos.

Good thing I can stay home and drink tea!

Actually, as I settled in for tea, I noticed my neighbour though the haze of blowing snow. She ran up her driveway, grabbed a shovel and ran off again. Or tried to run. Even though Hubby started to plough our driveway, within 30 minutes, you couldn’t really tell. Guessing her car was stuck in the snow, I tossed on some clothes and went to see if I could help.

It was a slow walk, with snow well over my ankles and few car tracks to walk in. She wasn’t at the corner. She was, in fact, several blocks away, and by the time I got 3/4 of the way there, sheand her husband drove off. So much for saving a damsel in distress.

With the feeder topped up (the snow was up to my knees in the backyard), and my mittens and socks drying on the heater, I settled in for something tropical!

Hubby picked up a boxed set of tea with the intent of sharing it in the evenings. Unfortunately, every box is flavoured black tea, and he can’t have caffeine after 2 p.m. Like most boxed sets, what it promises isn’t always delivered, save one: Hibcus & Honey.

I actually sampled this at Christmas…without Hubby. I used too bags to make a pot because I expected it be a light flavoured tea. My Mom found it a bit too flowery. Big Guy thought it was nice but not really his thing. I thought it was great. Although it was a flavoured black tea, and therefore slightly artificial, it was still delicate and floral, and I could taste the honey at the back of my throat. It was a light golden yellow colour and smelled stronger of honey, which I found very appetizing after all the Christmas feasts. Honey is a natural sweetener, and contains antioxidants, promotes healing, and suppresses coughs. We all agreed that adding a little more honey would have sweetened the deal.

I would have liked a pj day today, but someone has to help with the snow. And we’re getting more tomorrow. In the meantime, I’m going to keep sipping, work on a beach bag, and maybe have a siesta or two.

 You can’t always get what you want. No.
But if you try sometimes, you just might find You get what you need.

Rolling Stones

What’s In My Cup: Licorice Spice

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#whatsinmycup, family, food, tea, what's in my cup

Roller disco, bushy sideburns, bell bottoms, and funk were all popular in the 1970s…and some of them are trends that are better left in the past.

December 1978

But the trend of licorice tea has endured the test of time. My Dad and I both like black licorice, so this Christmas, my Dad picked me up a box of Stash Licorice Spice tea.

Licorice Spice is an herbal tea. It has no added sugar or sweetener, yet it possessed a light and sweet flavour. It is also moderately spiced with cinnamon, orange peel and oil, star anise, sarsaparilla, clove bud oil, and cardamom oil. If I hadn’t read the ingredients, I would have said this was a chamomile-based tea, (or even fennel tea) with that tell-tale grassy note. Instead, its main component is licorice root. but the licorice flavour, while present, is certainly not predominant. It’s a good blend licorice and spices…if you like licorice! 😉

When reading ingredients, keep in mind that licorice root and star anise are not the same thing, though they may taste similarly. They come from different plant families. Licorice root do not belong to the same plant family. Anise or anniseed is a fruit, from an umbellifier, a fragrant, flowering plant, the same as celery and fennel. Licorice root is also a flowering plant, alongside beans and legumes. The root is used because it contains a sweet-tasting acid that is purported to be 50 times sweeter than sucrose or cane sugar.

While both licorice root and cinnamon have a lot of health benefits, however, but both should only be consumed in small quantities. Pregnant and nursing women, and people with heart disease or high blood pressure should avoid licorice root completely. Licorice root and anise are not the same thing, although they taste similarly.

There’s nothing quite like the bond between a father and his little princess.

Anonymous

Happy Monday!

2021 “Tea” Year in Review

Tags

New Year's, tea, tea addict, tea lover, tea time

Hello and cheers to all!

Believe it or not, I just spent over 5 hours looking back over 2021’s blog posts. What a year!

I’m not sure I would have survived it without tea.

I’ll be posting a Dear Quarantine Diary: Year In Review later this week, but I thought it would be fun to briefly look at Monday’s “What’s In My Cup” posts over the last 52 weeks.

In 2021, I posted 17 tea reviews from David’s Tea, Steeped Tea, Tetley, Stash, and President’s Choice. They included black tea, green, white tea, rooibos, and fruit infusions. Of those, my favourite was Bee the Change, a sunny sweet floral infusion.

I talked about German Rock Sugar, a sweet alternative to sugar or honey.

I also featured 3 tea cups, including my coronation tea cup, and the story behind my silver tea set.

Scones, a quintessential tea time treat, were featured in a 2-part series. Part One looked at the history of scones and tackled 3 great debates related to them: 1. how do you say “scone”; 2. should butter be included; and, 3. what comes first: the cream or the jam. Part Two gave instructions on how to bake fluffy scones and included a recipe for Lemon Ginger scones.

In addition to Lemon Ginger Scones and Pumpin Scones, I tried 2 other summer recipes: Pineapple Rosemary Ice Pops, and Peach Bellini Sorbet. I shared an Ice Tea Hack.

I visited one Tea Room, the O’Connor House, in August, for my Mom’s birthday!

In past years, I focused mostly on tea reviews and histories of china companies. But this year, some other topics were included as well. Here are some you might have missed…

On the Go – what to look for in a travel mug

Keep It Fresh – how to properly store your tea

Death Before Decaf – all about caffeine

Seasons – how seasons affect tea leaves

Water – the importance of hydration

Sun Tea – how to make it, and should you

Last, but not least, I tackled the biggest debate of all: Pinky In or Out!

It was so much fun reading the old posts, that I decided to try a new thing. So…I’m asking you, dear tea grannies, if 12 of you would consider helping out. On the last Monday of the month, I’d like to feature your favourite tea in your favourite cup. Pick your month and send me your write up and/or photo. Tell me what your favourite tea is, and why. It can be as long or as short as you like or share a personal story.

It’s a new year. Let’s get to know each other over a cup of tea.

Happy New Year!

Pixie Dust

Tags

food, tea, tea addict, tea cups, tea lover, tea photography, tea pots, tea time

All you need is faith, trust…and a little pixie dust.

I have always loved ballet, and as a little girl, I aspired to be a prima ballerina. But I lived in a small town with no dance studio so I happily passed the hours in my pink tutu and pink leather slippers, pirouetting to The Nutcracker, on vinyl. It wasn’t very good for the vinyl! I also endured the endless ridicule of my big brother, who would prance around the house wearing my Dad’s work boots and call in a high, sing-song voice, “look at me. I’m a ballerina”. I hated it, but I also refused to let it dampen my joy.

I still pirouette from time to time, when no one is looking…and carefully. I may still have aspirations to be a ballerina, but definitely not the body to succeed. Still, there is something magical when we engage in an activity that we enjoy, or allow our minds to dream in ways that delight us. It lifts the spirit and lightens the load so we can take a deep breath and move forward. I think “tea time” can be one of those magical moments…and on the plus side, it doesn’t make you dizzy.

As we bask in the final moments of this holiday season, take some time to reflect on the past and rejoice in your blessings. Consider what brought you joy and in your mind, sprinkle it with pixie dust, and carry it with you into the new year.

We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.

Henri Nouen

Happy Monday!

What’s in My Cup: Christmas Morning

Tags

Christmas, food, holiday, tea, tea addict, tea lover, tea time

Christmas is only 6 days…Santa is coming!

My plan is to do what I have done every year for the past 40+ years (with the exception on last year): wake up in my parents’ home and celebrate Jesus’ birthday with my family. That’s Plan A. But I also have Plan B. And Plan C. I hope it doesn’t come to Plan C because it involves a sugar-induced coma. And since it’s not guaranteed that I will be embarking on Plan A just yet, I decided to start celebrating a little early with a cup of Stash Christmas Morning Tea. It is a blend of black and green tea lavishing the imbiber with a bold flavour, like English Breakfast tea, as well as gentle floral notes of jasmine.

Christmas Morning Tea is part of the Holiday Family Tea series, which contain an assortment of seasonal flavours and spices in black, white or herbal blends. It’s available in many grocery, drug, and box stores, as well as online. I picked mine up at the Bulk Barn. If you want something spicier, I’d also recommend Holiday Chai and Red Dragon Chai. But after December, they can be hard to find!

I think it’s a welcome change to plain black tea when I’m busying myself with fun, holiday things. This morning I enjoyed a quiet moment at the start of my day, next to the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree. And perhaps I’ll savour another as a pick-me-up while I continue baking spiced breads, cakes and cookies, wrapping last-minute gifts, or packing to travel.

It’s possible Santa would appreciate a cup to refresh him during his international flight in only 5 sleeps! I’m not ready….are you?

You better watch out, you better not cry
Better not pout I’m telling you why
Santa Claus is comin’ to town

 J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie

Use the Good Dishes

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family, food, tea, tea addict, tea lover, tea photography, tea pots, tea time

The holidays tend to be the only time when the “fancy” plates and “good dishes” come out. I think that’s a shame! Beautiful things should be enjoyed more often. While I haven’t had many occasions to use my silver tea set, I have used it a few times, and not just for holidays.

Silver tea sets were used for afternoon tea, a tradition that began in the 17th century. A basic set, like mine, included a tea pot, creamer, and sugar bowl. More elaborate sets might also include sugar tongs, plates, and tea cups.

They are certainly less popular than they used to be. Silver and silver-plated dishes tarnish terribly, and require careful cleaning on a regular basis. I don’t do so well remembering to clean and polish on a regular basis, but I do it because my set is special. It was a gift from my paternal Grandmother at my bridal shower. If I got the story right, she won the tea pot, creamer and sugar bowl in a raffle from the store where my grandfather purchased their wedding rings. The silver tray was a new addition just for me.

June 1996

My grandmother was one of 6 daughters. Her father was apparently quite a woodsman, and I wonder what he thought about 6 daughters! When one of her younger sisters was born, she was sent to an older, childless couple while her mother recovered. It was a long recovery, involving a move to a nearby large town. When they brought Nana to live with her family, she was so distraught at being separated from this older couple, who had cared for her for so long, that she was returned to them. She kept in touch with her family, but was happier in a quiet setting. She cared for this couple as they grew older, leaving school to take a job in the local store.

There she met a quiet guy who lived with his parents on a farm in a nearby village. His parents were not ecstatic about the match and tried to dissuade him from marrying her, but he was smitten!

Years ago, I gave my grandmother a journal and asked her to write about her life. She didn’t begin to write as much as I had hoped, but she wrote this entry in April, 2003:

Today would be our 65th wedding anniversary. Much like today, cold, damp, slight rain. Met at A. [Anglican} Church in E. at nine AM. In attendance, Roy’s parents, brother Ray and wife from T, Mr. & Mrs. Fenwick. Rev. Posture officiated.

Since the soap the villagers put on the windows froze, and by the time we got to C., decided to return home by D. and clean the soap and remove the tin cans.

We stopped in N. and had our pictures taken, a custom in that day. We drove to T. to Ray’s, and stayed 2 nights. Returned home and I baked for the wood sawyers the next day.

We saw one movie on the way “Ebb Tide”. Doesn’t sound very exciting, that was usually the style then, we didn’t have money for a lavish wedding, and we didn’t borrow in those days.

Roy had a tip top taylor suit which cost $24.00. I had bought a deep blue dress, bought material to add sleeves to it. You didn’t get married without sleeves and a hat.

Nana and Papa were married 38 years. Life on the farm was difficult, with aging in-laws, extra relatives during holidays, 2 children, and all the duties of household and livestock.

This year we celebrated our Silver Anniversary – #25!

I asked her once if she ever thought about getting married again and she chuckled. “No,” she said, “once was enough”. I’m inclined to agree.

Why do we save the good stuff for the guests?  Why are we not important enough to use the good dishes?  And the white towels? So, I have decided that we are using the good dishes. 

aprettylifeinthesuburbs.com

Happy Monday!

The Thought That Counts

Tags

#whatsinmycup, food, shopping, tea, tea addict, tea lover, tea time, whatsinmycup

December has officially arrived, but even before Halloween, store fronts were starting to display their “holiday wares” to entice us to spend, spend, spend! Some of those stores include yummy looking food and drink options in pretty packages. But before you purchase that tea gift box or basket with the sparkly cellophane and the big, gold bow, there are 3 things to consider:

Just what IS in that tea.

In Canada, ingredients do have to be declared in descending order in relation to their weight before they are packaged, with the exception of herbs & spices, natural & artificial flavours, and flavour enhancers. Salt is the exception to the exception and does have to be listed.

Often gift tea sets are flavoured black teas. There’s nothing wrong with that…but if the only ingredients listed are black tea and flavouring, you may not be getting the best tasting tea. Put it this way: sno-cones only have 2 ingredients too: water and flavoured syrup. It may be tasty and satisfying…or is it just a weak version of slightly flavoured, coloured water?

Where is it Made

I don’t mean to sound like a snob, but if you’ve tried a few teas, you’ll recognize the truth when I say: not all tea is equal. The quality of tea depends on so many variants: the quality of the plant, when it was harvested, the process it undergoes, etc.

In 2020, the top 5 countries for tea production were China, India, Kenya, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. China is the leading producer and exporter of tea. They produce various types of tea, including green, black and oolong. China’s history is “steeped” in a culture of tea. As a result, the taste and environment for growing and harvesting tea leaves is greatly considered. India was at the center of tea’s migration across the globe, and is still best known for assam and darjeeling tea. Tea is also a huge part of India’s culture, and more than half of the tea produced annually remains in the country. Kenya is third, and is the world’s largest exporter of black tea. It only began tea production in the early 1900’s. Sri Lanka rates fourth and is best known for ceylon tea. Vietnam is also a country with tea “steeped” into the culture. Tea is viewed as a contemplative activity, or something to be consumed while engaged in scholarly pursuits, rather than part of a social engagement. They produce mostly green tea, but are also known for their lotus tea.

It’s just something to consider when considering your purchase if you haven’t heard of the country (or the brand).

Value for the Package

Sometimes you get what you pay for, and sometimes you don’t. Marketers know how to manipulate your senses to get your attention, especially when it comes to eating and drinking. With our mouths watering over candy pink boxes and red velvet ribbons, we don’t always consider just how much tea we’re getting for the price we’re paying. I clued in when I started purchasing more loose leaf tea and realized just how much 50g really is, and the range for what I’m paying for that tiny 50g.

Did you know…Monkey Chief Tea, grown in Huangshan City in China earned the title of “King of Green Tea” at the International Tea Expo in 2004. In 2009 its price reached about $284 USD per gram.

https://www.yourbestdigs.com/tea-consumption-industry-statistics/

It might be more work but also more cost effective to purchase tea that you know is good, or a brand that hasn’t disappointed in the past. You can always put together your own gift basket. Add some curling ribbon or a personal note to let that person know you chose it with them in mind. It won’t remind marketers that sometimes personal is better than flashy, but you will remind the person receiving the gift that they mean something to you.

Photo by Michelle on Unsplash

It’s easy to get distracted by ribbon and sparkle, but it’s also important as a consumer, to consider what we’re supporting. And by all means, yes! Bless your loved ones. Because in the end, it IS the thought that counts!

Happy shopping! Happy Monday!

Chocolate EB Tea

Tags

birthday, birthday party, cake, family, food, humour, tea, tea addict, tea lover, tea time

What goes best with tea?

Well, scones obviously.

Or cookies.

But the answer I was looking for was cake.

Little Guy celebrated his sweet 16 this weekend, and I have been informed that since he nearly towers over every member of our immediate family, (and has long objected to the nickname “Little Guy”), I have to come up with a new nickname here. Tall and short are out as that offends the older the brother, who is shorter than Little Guy, but obviously, still towers over me. Beard and No Beard may only work for a couple more years. Dumb and Dumber doesn’t work because sometimes it’s hard to tell them apart. Also, as a Mom, I should be more sensitive. No.1 and No.2 makes me think of bathroom jokes, which I’m sorry, work at any age (can you tell I live with men?). Finally, first initial works is kinda boring (I was not dumb goofy enough to do the same). I’m open to suggestions!

Since “formerly named Little Guy” expressed NO opinion on the flavour of his cake (obviously he inherited defective genes from the other side), I chose one of my favourites, chocolate (I got good genes from my Dad!) And what better way to celebrate chocolate than by adding tea, English Breakfast tea. I first used this recipe for Chocolate Tea cake for my own birthday cake in 2019 and immediately fell in love. Even though, let’s be honest, it’s hard not to love ANY chocolate cake. For starters, it was simple to put together, and after my plethora of baking disasters, easy is greatly appreciated! Richly dark in colour, the texture was moist and light with a decadent chocolate flavour.

C grade for decorating but A for effort and lack of tears!

There are a few theories about how the English Breakfast tea blend came to be (and yes, it differs from Irish Breakfast and Scottish Breakfast blends). One theory involves Queen Anne; the other theory, trade embargos during the Opium Wars (1839-1860). However it came to be, English Breakfast tea is a strong and bold tea mostly composed of Assam and Ceylon tea leaves. Both are classified as black teas, and certainly provide lots of caffeine to help kick-start the day.

Or in our case, keep the party going all evening! And the next day….and the day after that. Yum!

A party without a cake is just a meeting!

Julia Child

Peach Bellini Sorbet

Tags

baking, desserts, food, humour, sweets, tea, tea addict, tea lover, tea time

Two of my ( many) favourite things together: tea and dessert. What a delight!

The English Breakfast Tea Chocolate Cake I made a couple of years ago was a success, and after last week, when I mentioned the Tetley’s Bellini sorbet recipe, I’ve been thinking about that peachy-pink, icy treat.

It looked like an easy peasey recipe, (and lactose-free) but it should be made ahead because it requires plenty of time to freeze…twice. And it requires a food processor or blender.

I made a half recipe because I didn’t want to use up 8 tea bags, and I cheated a bit. I pre-boiled my water in the kettle because it was dinner time and I was hungry. But I did bring that cup of water to a boil on the stove so I could dissolve 1/2 cup of sugar. I steeped my tea bags, off the heat, for over an hour. I know they said 5 minutes, but…dinner! I initially tried the recommended metal pan for freezing, but the items in my freezer are lumpy and I was confident that I would spill the very sticky syrup everywhere. Instead, I used my ice cube tray, because it has a lid.

This morning, I slept in. Hubby was going to the office and Little Guy didn’t have school, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to be lazy rest up after a busy weekend. I let the icy goodness rest on the counter for about 20 minutes to soften it a bit before tossing it in my food processor, about 15 minutes too long. It was too soft and really started to melt quickly. I also added the lemon juice I forgot when I initially made the syrup. Silly me…

Normally, it requires another freezing period, but I was anxious to get this blog post done so I could spend some time with Little Guy saving the universe. I tried to take photos with our little point and shoot camera…but the battery died. I raced downstairs to get my camera, which Little Guy has been using for school, but by the time I found it in the dark, guided by a less-than-happy-to-be-woken-so-suddenly teenager, it had melted quite a lot. You’ll have to reenvision the photo above with a perfectly frosty, rounded cornelle instead of a pile of melting mush.

Nothing can replace a fresh, ripe peach in season, but this was refreshing, both sweet and tart, and lacking the artificial aftertaste so prevalent in many fruit inspired teas and tisanes. I think it would be really good with fresh fruit, like raspberries, blackberries, or even more peach! Since it is an herbal tea, caffeine isn’t also not issue. I believe this would be a delicious, frosty treat any time of the year.

Now that I know how simple this is, I wonder if I can join 3 of my (many) favourite things: tea, chocolate and dessert?

I want to have a good body, but not as much as I want dessert.

Jason Love

Happy Monday!

What’s In My Cup: Bellini

Tags

#whatsinmycup, food, herbal tea, tea, what's in my cup

It’s the day after the time change and our annual autumn ritual of turning the clocks back took effect yesterday. Did you “fall” back into bed too? That extra hour snuggled under the covers is magical somehow, but it can bite you the next day. The trick is to go to bed an hour “earlier” than the clock now says because otherwise, you lose that “extra hour” and you suffer for it. I warned Little Guy but I don’t think he believed me, until I cheerfully dragged him from sweet slumber in time for math class.

I’d like to say the extra sleep made me chipper but that would be wishful thinking. However, it doesn’t mean that I won’t enjoy something chipper and magical in my cup…later today. I need my caffeine first thing in the a.m.

I discovered Tetley’s “bellini” peach orange herbal tea several years ago, and stockpiled it when it became hard to find. It seems the popularity of some flavours waxes and wanes faster than the moon, but I’m seeing it again on shelves and I’m thankful because it’s been a staple in my tea cupboard!

A bellini is a cocktail of prosecco, champagne, or other sparkling wine and peach juice or puree. It’s thought that it was named after Venetian artist, Giovanni Bellini, inspired by its pink colour which resembled the same pink used in one of his paintings. Since Giovanni Bellini died in 1516, I can’t really confirm that.

I find this a light and refreshing tea. It isn’t sickly sweet or have an artificial aftertaste like a lot of peach teas. It’s a blend of apple, orange peel, licorice, rosehip, beetroot, chicory, citric acid, hibiscus, ginger and peach granules. Typically ginger and licorice can overwhelm delicate flavours, but not here. If anything, it just add brightness the flavour. The colour is indeed a soft, warm pinky-peach, like the rosy hue of a winter sunset. Perfect for curling up under a blanket, with a good book!

Tetley Canada believes in sustainability and supports the Ethical Tea Partnership, the Rainforest Alliance and the Tea 2030 Coalition. They recommend using this tea in a homemade sorbet! I prefer this tea hot to cold (unless I add sugar to the iced tea), but a sorbet sounds delicious! I may just have to try this!

Sunrise paints the sky with pinks and the sunset with peaches. Cool to warm.

Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration

Happy Monday!