Nectar of the Gods

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food, tea, tea cups, tea quotes

Our top secret formula is automatically color-corrected, scent-adjusted and bubble-contoured into this soothing sweet syrup with its distinctive golden glow you know as…honey!

Busy bees collect nectar from different flowers. Nectar is broken down into simple sugars stored inside the honeycomb.  The honeycomb design and  fanning from the bees’ wings causes evaporation, creating sweet liquid honey. Wax made by the bees seals the honey in each cell.

Beekeepers harvest honey by removing the wax seal and extracting the honey, which is strained and stored in jars, ready for things like “lad-dee-da human tea-time snack garnishments” (Barry B. Benson, The Bee Movie). 

Honey’s color and flavor varies based on the nectar collected by the bees.

High quality honey contains antioxidants, which helps reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and some types of cancer. It may help reduce blood pressure and triglycerides, as well as improve cholesterol . Honey may also promote eye health and topical honey treatments promote healing for burns and abrasions. Honey will help suppress coughs in children Buckwheat honey is one of the best types (& my personal favourite)!

High quality honey is better because lower quality may add syrups, increasing the sugar content. And while it may be a healthier option for sweetening your tea time treats,  it still contains sugar and should be consumed in moderation. Nutritionally, 1 tablespoon of honey (21 grams) contains 64 calories and 17 grams of sugar, including fructose, glucose, maltose and sucrose.

When adding honey to your tea, starts with 1 teaspoon of honey, which is slightly sweeter than sugar. Stir well and add more honey if necessary. When baking, substitute honey for granulated sugar in recipes by substituting honey for up to half of the sugar in the recipe and reduce any liquid called for by 1/4 cup for each cup of honey used and add 1/2 teaspoon baking soda for each cup of honey used. Finally, reduce the oven temperature by 25°F to prevent overbrowning.

A day without a friend is like a pot without a single drop of honey left inside. A.A. Milne

Happy Monday!

Resources: www.honey.com

Tea & Cookie…

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baking, cookies, recipes, tea

A balanced life is tea in one hand and a cookie in the other.

My Quick & Easy Shortbread Cookies

• 1 cup butter (or margarine)
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup icing sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp. baking powder
• Optional: lemon zest, lime zest, cinnamon or chai spices, etc.

Preheat oven to 350F. Cream butter, gradually adding icing sugar. Mix the flour, salt and baking powder in a separate bowl. Add it to the butter/icing mixture. Roll out the dough on a floured surface, and cut into shapes as desired. Bake 10-15 minutes or until lightly brown.

Happy Monday!

Royal Albert Morning Glory

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#whatsinmycup, flowers, tea, tea cups, what's in my cup

When you arise in the morning, think what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love. – Marcus Aurelius

This tea cup reminds me of my Nana J.
She was an avid gardener and she loved the colour blue. She was also a tea drinker!!

Royal Albert‘s Morning Glory tea cup was one of a six teacups in the Flora Series. The other patterns were Alberta Rose, Dogwood, Jasmine, Rambler Rose and Trillium. The cup shape is Gainsborough, which … This Morning Glory pattern was produced between 1975 and 2001.

A morning glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of books. – Walt Whitman

Happy Mother’s Day – Happy Monday!

 

 

Radford Fenton Waterlilies

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#whatsinmycup, food, food photography, tea, teacup, what's in my cup

Watercolor is a swim in the metaphysics of life… a mirror of one’s own character. Let it be unpredictable and colorful. – Anonymous

Samuel Radford was listed in the 1861 census as a ‘flower painter on china’ at the age of about 17.  He was employed in the early 1870’s, and by 1881, was listed as a china manufacturer, employing 77 people. He started manufacturing his own china  by 1885, in High Street, Fenton. 

The Radford factory made elaborately shaped and beautifully decorated teaware which sold throughout Europe and North America. The company passed to Samuel’s eldest son William and in 1931, was sold outside the family. It ran, with breaks during the 2nd World War until the mid 1950’s. The factory was demolished around that period, bringing a close to another era in potting history. 

This teacup, circa 1928, is an early Art Deco style. Art Deco (1920-1950) was an amalgamation of  different decorative influences including neo-classical elements, cubism, and Art Nouveau.  Art Nouveau (1880-1920) had a lot of stylized botanical motifs, most commonly flowers. I love the pattern on this teacup because it reminds me of a watercolour or acrylic painting, like a stylized Claude Monet. It makes me think of water lilies.

Everyone discusses my art and pretends to understand, as if it were necessary to understand, when it is simply necessary to love. ― Claude Monet

Happy Monday!

http://www.thepotteries.org/allpotters/836.htm
http://www.potteryhistories.com/

What’s In My Cup: Berry Blossom

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#whatsinmycup, photography, tea, teacup, what's in my cup

You know that moment when you close the cupboard and you hear something fall? That’s the sound of someone else’s problem.

Since I can’t go shopping for tea anywhere, other than online (which just isn’t as much fun since I can’t smell as I browse), and since I’m getting a little bored with the few teas I brought with me, I decided to root through my Mom’s cupboards yesterday afternoon. Don’t worry…I didn’t leave a trap for her. 🙂 But I did unearth a sachet in a flavour I haven’t tried yet:  Tazo Berryblossom White Tea.

White tea is packed with antioxidants because it undergoes minimal processing. It is caffeinated, but has less caffeine than green tea. This Berryblossom tea contains both white tea and darjeeling, as well as natural huckleberry flavour and natural cranberry flavour.

Maybe I’m becoming a tea snob, often sipping from loose leaf teas that actually contain fruit and nuts, but what does “natural ___ flavour” mean? This essentially means that an oil or protein was sufficiently extracted from a natural source like a huckleberry, to count as essence or “flavour”, rather than being completely cooked up in a lab from scratch (i.e., artificial flavour).

This tea sachet described this berry blossom tea as “a delicate white tea with tinges of huckleberry and white cranberry”. White cranberry has the same health benefits as red cranberries; it is slightly less tart and contains less of the flavinoid that provides the red colouring.

The tea sachet had an inviting, pungent berry smell that reminded me of blueberries. There was also a slight whisper of something floral. I steeped the tea for longer than the recommended 3 minutes because it was such a pale colour. White tea is normally very pale but in this small tea cup, I expected it to brighter than it was. After 5-6 minutes the colour did darken, but I may have oversteeped it because it was also slightly bitter and very grassy. It reminded me more of a chamomile-flavoured tea with a slight hint of berry at the back of the tongue. My Mom smelled it and thought it was peach.

I read several reviews from different sources and most rated it 5/5, so if you are a fan of chamomile and don’t mind caffeine, this could be an option for you. 🙂

Peter was not very well during the evening. His mother put him to bed, made some chamomile tea; ‘One table-spoonful to be taken at bed-time’. -Beatrix Potter, The Tale of Peter Rabbit

Happy Monday!

What’s In My Cup: Just Beet It!

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

Feeling stressed? Here’s a cool way to “beet” it!

Beets contain betaine, a substance said to relax the mind. Beets are also a great source of fiber, vitamin 9, manganese, potassium, iron, and vitamin C. They can improve blood flow, lower blood pressure, and improve oxygen use and  stamina during exercise (real exercise, not just that long walk to the fridge).

Add beets to to other rich superfruits, like goji and blackberries,  as well as guarana seeds, for a bigger boost. David’s “Just Beet It” tea is a green yerba mate base, and has a low caffeine rating due to the addition of carrot, apple, raisins, red currants, aronia berries, elderberries, raspberries, hibiscus blossoms, and cornflower blossoms.

 

“Mouthwatering” is the first word that came to mind. While this tea has many of the same ingredients as Sweet Tart tea, it was a refreshing combination of sweet and slightly sour. It’s also gently perfumed by hibiscus and cornflower. I thought with beets, it would be earthier, but instead is was fresh and fruity. I often find fruity teas overly sweet or artificial. This, like Caribbean Crush, was not. The aroma was an intoxicating berry and the deep, royal purple colour was enchanting. I think it’s perfect to “beet” stress  as an afternoon pick-me-up (especially when the cookies are calling) or as a warming cup in the evening.

Love and scandal are the best sweeteners of tea. –  Henry Fielding

Happy Monday!

Royal Winton – Summertime

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tea, tea cups, what's in my cup

One benefit of summer was that each day we had more light to read by- Jeanette Walls, The Glass Castle

It’s another gray day – perfect for getting lost in a good book, or closing your eyes and dreaming of summer. And tea. It’s a perfect day for tea…in a pretty teacup that recounts warm and sunny summer days.

In 1885, the Grimwade brothers started their pottery firm, and over the next several decades built up a reputation.  Most prominently , they were known as Royal Winton. Grimwades never applied for or received permission to use “Royal” as a prefix in their name. But in 1913 King George V and Queen Mary toured the numerous factories belonging to the firm.  Queen Mary happily purchased a Winton tea set in the new Queen Mary Chintz. In time, Royal Winton was viewed as the “Rolls Royce” of Chintz!

This pattern is called “Summertime” and the backstamp on this tea cup indicates that it was made between 1934 and 1945.

Summertime was called a floral fantasy when it was first introduced. It is a white background with scattered roses in various shades of pinks and yellows.

Summertime is always the best of what might be. – Charles Bowden

Happy Monday!

What’s In My Cup: Peach Ginger

Last week we had a couple day with warm weather and sunshine, so Mom and I took several walks, including an afternoon walk in the woods. Dad & I took advantage of the space for a little target practice too.  What did I need to practice shooting?, someone asked on Facebook? I said it was in case Hubby got out of line. Also, I forgot my ax at home. I don’t know if she believed that I have my own ax, so here’s proof:

I am ready for the zombie apocalypse.

I’m also ready to soak in the sun.

We worked up such a good sweat on our stroll that I made iced tea: Tetley’s Peach Ginger tea with dandelion and B6. With the ongoing pandemic, I suppose it doesn’t hurt to try to top up my B6. B6 is a water-soluble vitamin needed for protein, fat and carbohydrate metabolism and the creation of red blood cells. It also helps your body produce teh hormones needed to help regulate mood and cope with stress. B6 is a vitamin we can’t naturally produce so it’s important to eat healthy! According to Tetley, one cup of this tea contains 25% of the recommended daily intake of Vitamin B6. Dandelion and ginger also have health benefits.

This caffeine-free tea is a blend of White Hibiscus, Orange Leaves, Dandelion Leaves, Ginger Root, Hibiscus, Natural Flavours, Dandelion Root, Sweet Blackberry Leaves, Peach Juice Granules and Vitamin B6. It brews to a soft and inviting “peachy” colour. Often, peach teas have an artificial aftertaste or they are sickly sweet. This was actually quite pleasant, with a slight hint of heat from the ginger. I actually prefer this tea as an iced tea, but will likely sip it in the winter months when I’m looking for something refreshing and different.

It is part of a Tetley line of “Super” teas, available in most stores…not that there are many stores open anymore. With the local hardware store closing down, we’re going to be forced to drink well water. It’s potable but very flat so we may be experimenting with lemons and limes, or our own blend of spices. Or perhaps I’ll just stock up on Easter candy and discover an ingenious way to blend 2 of the loves of my life: tea and chocolate!

Once upon a time there was a good book, a cup of tea and a piece of chocolate. They lived happily ever after. The End.

Happy Monday!

Whimsical Wade

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food, food photography, tea, teapots

What’s life without whimsy? ― Dr Sheldon Cooper, The Big Bang Theory

The Wade Group of Potteries started in 1810 near Burslem, England. Early in the 20th century, a number of potteries merged to become George Wade & Son, Ltd. In the 1920’s and 30’s production of figurines with a new ‘cellulose’ finish were produced. However the new finish proved to turn yellow and peel off with age.In 1954, Wade Whimsies were introduced and almost immediately became a huge success. This included the Red Tea Whimsies, which are still prized collectibles.

This whimsical character teapot belonged to my great-aunt, and my great grandmother gave it to my Mom for me. Little did she know I would be a tea granny too! I remember a few tea parties with my Mom and this guy!

This gentleman is similar in appearance to Andy Capp, a stereotyped, unemployed, drunken flat cap-wearing cartoon character. Andy Capp lived in Hartlepool, England with his wife, Flo. The cartoon included a number of other characters, including Jackie, a local barmen.  The cartoon by Reg Smythe first appeared in papers in 1957.

Unlike Andy Capp, this jaunty fellow brightens the day.

…bunny slippers give me confidence because they’re so jaunty. They make a statement; they say, ‘Nothing the world does to me can ever get me so far down that I can’t be silly and frivolous’. — Dean Koontz

Be silly. Be frivolous. Happy Monday!

Irish Coffee

We enjoyed St. Patrick’s Day so much, we celebrated twice! One day with Irish stew and soda bread. The second, with Irish Coffee.

Irish coffee is a cocktail consisting of hot coffee, Irish whiskey, and sugar, stirred, and topped with cream. Generally combining alcohol and caffeine isn’t a good idea. It’s important to be aware of how much caffeine and alcohol are being consumed. As with all things, moderation so occasional Irish coffee won’t harm you.

Mugs are to be pre-heated. We did that. What we didn’t do is use was the amount of alcohol suggested. Irish coffee is 4 parts coffee to 2 parts whiskey, but after tainting my great-grandmother’s thimble with a few drops of straight whiskey to sample it), we chose to use less. It was nasty! Our coffee was also weaker than it would traditionally be for 2 reasons: 1) it was 2:30 in the afternoon; and, 2) I don’t like coffee!

After we pre-heated our proper Irish coffee mugs, we poured in our coffee and stirred in a significant amount of brown sugar. Then we added our whiskey and a generous blob of freshly whipped cream. Yum!

You can’t see the generous dollop of cream, but it’s in there. Promise.

These special hand-painted, footed footed Belleek Irish Coffee Mugs traveled all the way from Ireland last Fall in my parents’ carry-on bag.

Belleek Pottery began trading in 1884 in Northern Ireland in the village of Belleek, County Fermangh. But pottery production began closer to the late 1840s as a means of providing employment for struggling tenants affected by the potato famine. The estate owner, Bloomfield, also brought in the railway to increase distribution. Parian porcelain, what Belleek is most known for, began in 1863. Parian porcelain, a type of biscuit porcelain biscuit that resembles marble.

There are worse ways to pass the time…

Irish Coffee reminds me of very boozy tiramisu, a boozy, creamy, coffee-y Italian dessert. It’s rich and decadent and a lovely treat…once in awhile. On the other hand…

Only Irish Coffee provides in a single glass all 4 essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat!

Happy Monday!