Limoges

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#whatsinmycup, tea

There comes a time in every rightly constructed boy’s life that he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure. – Mark Twain

The soil round Limoges was rich in kaolin and feldspar deposits, two clay minerals essential to producing porcelain. In 1665, a chemist’s wife living in Limoges, experimented with kaolin, hoping to improve her soap products. By 1771, Limoges, one of the oldest towns in the French kingdom, began constructing facilities with wood burning kilns for the production of fine porcelain. Hand painting was done by artists.

Limoges products are recognized as high quality porcelain, and greatly valued by collectors.  True Quality Limoges pieces were produced between the late 1700’s and the 1930’s. Pieces produced post-1940 are less valuable.

I was not able to determine a production date for it, so though the saucer has yellowed slightly, I have don’t know if it’s a result of age or was simply designed to look old. My Dad picked up this Limoges tea cup and saucer at an auction. Perhaps he’s found a hidden treasure.

Happy Monday!

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What’s In My Cup: O Canada

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#whatsinmycup, Canada, tea

Tea is the second most popular beverage in the world, Apparently, from shore to shore, Canadians are drinking more tea, says a 2016 Coffee Association of Canadian survey and a 2013 Nielson study found the average Canadian has 8 different varieties in their pantries. I have over 55. With tea boutiques selling loose leaf in a range of flavour combinations, popping up in cities across the province, and retailers stocking their shelves with more, it’s not hard to do.

So in the spirit of tea and country, I shared a pot of Canadian Breakfast tea with my Mom…in the afternoon…even though it was 33C degrees…in the shade (only 46C with humidity). No heat wave will ever spoil a tea party, especially one for Canada’s 151st birthday!

Canadian Breakfast tea is just one flavour offered by Nourishtea, a company that believes in providing organic (as much as possible) and supports estates that are sustainable, ethical and abide by fair labour practices. Canadian Breakfast tea is an orange pekoe tea from Sri Lanka, and is Kosher, Organic, and Fair Trade Certified. It had the robustness expected of a “breakfast” tea, with it’s own unique malty flavour that can be intensely satisfying at any time of the day. This particular tin was a gift, and it can be purchased though it’s website or on Amazon.

In my (tiny) bit of research, I discovered a new tea company, Canadian Boreal Wildcraft Tea Co. operating in Manitoba. Apparently it produces a handful of blends using pine needles, sage, sweetgrass, rose hips, fireweed, and barks, grasses and clover all found in Canada’s boreal regions.  It is devoted to respecting the land providing this bounty. That may not be a uniquely Canadian perspective, but it’s certainly one I could support. They only sell wholesale now, but I’ll keep an eye for them!

Whatever the reasons Canadians are setting aside their double-doubles for tea (perhaps it’s our long, cold winters?) – I’m in!

Happy Birthday Canada! Cheers!

What’s In My Cup: Tumeric Gold

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#whatsinmycup, food, tea

 

Tumeric is a perennial flowering plant in the ginger family. When dried and ground,  it can be used to dye fabric or season food. This spice is acclaimed for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It can be used to help treat toothaches and colic, and may help in the prevention and treatment of depression, heart disease, and some forms of dementia.

What’s In My Cup: Tumeric Gold by Pukka Tea. It contains tumeric root, wild jade green tea, licorice root, cardamom pods, lemon and lemon verbena leaves. This tea had a warm, peppery flavour (with that undertone that comes with green tea) and an aroma of earthy mustard, But best of all, that fabulous golden colour.

All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost. – J. R. R. Tolkien

Happy Monday!

Beauty in Brokenness

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food, tea

Consider this when you feel broken…

In Japan, broken ceramic objects are often repaired with gold. The flaw is seen as a unique moment in the object’s history which, when highlighted, only adds to its beauty in both its frailty and its survival. Sometimes the imperfections are grounds for creative expression and other details are added, such as cherry blossoms.

http://orientalist.pro/crafts/pottery/ceramics/kintsugi/

The technique is called Kintsugi, which means golden joinery, and it may have been used as early as the 15th century. There are different styles of Kintsugi. There’s the traditional crack technique where gold dust or resin connects the broken pieces giving the appearance of a thin line.  A large, missing piece my be replaced entirely with a gold piece.

http://journalofanobody.tumblr.com/post/30516603187/nyarlotep

Recently the kintsugi method is being re-conceptualized by artists, both in pottery. In  2014, the Canadian folk band, The Rural Alberta Advantage ,were inspired by kintsugi and named their 2014 record, Mended with Gold.

to be human is to be broken and broken is its own kind of beautiful. – R.M. Drake

Happy Monday!

What’s In My Cup: Lavender Sage

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#whatsinmycup, food, tea

Sage is an herb, which goes well with pork, beef, duck and chicken. In Italy, it is commonly minced and mixed with melted butter and stirred into pasta or gnocchi. It has also long been used for medicinal purposes. In addition to easing sore throats and a number of digestive problems, it can also ease symptoms of menopause, depression, and memory loss.

Both lavender and sage are used as a fragrance in soaps, lotions, and make-up. Lavender is also beneficial to relieve stress, improve mood, promote restful sleep, prevent infections, reduce inflammation, and ease bloating

To make sage tea, pour 1 cup of near-boiling water over 2 tablespoons of fresh or 1 tablespoon of dried sage leaves. Cover and steep for 10-15 minutes and strain. Add honey and/or lemon, if desired.

Drink in moderation, however, as there can be unpleasant side effects and possible interactions with other medications. As with cooking, let a little can go a long way!

Happy Monday!

WPC: Liquid (Ghostly Reflection)

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black and white photography, Photo Challenge, photography, tea, Weekly Photo Challenge

 

 

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. – Leonardo Da Vinci

To see more Liquid.

Celebrating Like a Royal

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#RoyalWedding, #whatsinmycup, tea

Both of my grandmothers and great-grandmothers were royal watchers, so it only seemed appropriate to continue the tradition. My Mom had made fascinators and set the table with vintage teacups. We had dressed up in our special nighties the night before. I staggered out in time to watch the Royal Wedding Saturday morning, with my Mom. We shared a fresh, hot pot of tea brewed in a special blue teapot my grandmother had given my mom, and we curled up under handmade quilts by her too.

We watched the post-ceremony festivities with a pot of Coffee Pu’erh tea in a vintage pot. Breakfast was pancakes and “bangers” with maple syrup from our woods. Yum! Scones with strawberry jam and cream came later.

When Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex agreed to marry into The Royal Family, there were a number of rules which she had to learn to abide by, including how to hold a tea cup properly. If you are right handed, the teacup and saucer are to be held in your left hand. If you are seated at a table, the saucer must remain on the table. The cup should be held up with your thumb and forefinger, the bottom supported by the middle finger, with the others fingers tucked in. You may use the forefinger and middle fingers of your other hand to steady it. Pinky in and no fingers loop through the handle.

You must always maintain erect posture and raise the cup to your lips to take a sip of tea.

Mom, I wouldn’t want to celebrate this modern day “fairty tale” with anyone else! Love you. Cheers!

Peach Blossoms

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#whatsinmycup, family, tea

The Empire Porcelain Company began around 1895, and after a series of changes, closed it’s doors in 1967. The edges of cup and saucer are gilded with 24K gold. This peach blossom tea cup came from my Grandmother’s set of good dishes, and I enjoyed more than one cup of tea with her in them.

The most treasured heirlooms are the sweet memories our families have bestowed upon us.    – Author Unknown

Happy Monday!

A Tea Mug of Joe?

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#whatsinmycup, food, tea

May your coffee kick in before reality does.

I sat in the sun on my back porch this weekend, wrapped in my robe, and with hands wrapped around a large mug of hot Coffee Pu’erh tea.

Pu’erh tea, the champagne of all teas. It can only be grown in the Yunnan Province in Southwest China, leaves picked by trees that are over 1,000 years old. Tea collectors consider it the finest, purest tea in the world, selling for more than 10,000 U.S. per kilo. It’s is full of vitamins, is a natural metabolism booster – and like me, it gets better with age! It either has a calming effect or makes you feel a little high.

So can coffee – so why not combine the two?

Coffee Pu’erh is one of the teas my co-worker and I tried as we sipped our way through a 24 day Tea Advent Calendar. David’s Tea combined pu’erh tea with roasted coffee beans, natural ground coffee, vanilla & almond flavoring, for a rich mellow flavour – perfect for an early, relaxed morning!

Too bad today is Monday!

Life is like a cup of tea (or coffee…or coffee-tea) – it’s all in how you take it!

A Pressing Matter

Tags

#whatsinmycup, humour, tea

I’m a day late because it was my birthday this weekend, and I spent much of it hanging out with my family. Don’t worry – I seemed to have a cup of tea with me wherever I went. In fact, someone brought me Timmies 3 mornings in a row.

In Canada, we don’t say “I love you” we say “I’m going to Timmies ,do you want anything?”, and I think that’s really beautiful – Author unknown

I baked 2 birthday cakes – one chocolate and one vanilla, ordered Chinese food for dinner, went on a mid-life crisis adventure (pics to come), and opened my gifts, including a Tea Press from Hubby!

Isn’t it pretty?

So what’s the difference between a tea bag, an infuser and a tea press?

Let me start by saying, there’s nothing wrong with tea bags. They’ve been doing a grand job for a long time. Modern tea bags in the Western World appeared commercially around the early 1900’s. They were simply hand-sewn fabric bags (often silk). The rectangular tea bag was invented in 1944, and are commonly made from heat-sealed paper fibers. While less expensive and more convenient, you lose out more on quality and flavour. Lower grade tea is used and can be so crushed that nutrients, aroma, essential oils and flavour are compromised. It’s not a deal-breaker as far as I’m concerned!

Before my birthday, I steeped my loose leaf tea with an infuser. A tea infuser is like a cup-shaped strainer which rests on the rim of the cup. The water can then circulate around the tea, allowing tea leaves to unravel and expand for a more flavoursome tea. Large leaf teas such as Green, White or Oolong will need a larger infuser. The other advantage is that you can control the infusion time without risking tearing the bag when removing it. They can sometimes be difficult to clean, especially teas with fruit and nuts, as small particles clog up the mesh, but I think it’s a small price to pay for a good cuppa!

A tea press works pretty much the same way as an infuser, allowing you to extract the full flavour of your loose leaf tea. Just don’t squeeze the tea with the press so you don’t release bitterness. There are 3 advantages of a tea press over an infuser. First, the fine mesh screen on the tea press will strain out even very small particles. Second, you won’t have to remove a dripping infuser basket. And finally, it’s easy to clean. I rinse mine and use the sink strainer to catch the larger pieces. This tea press is a reinvention of a travel mug. It won’t break easily and it keeps my tea hot. Or cold! It was designed to make hot or iced tea! David’s Tea has a quick Youtube video that demonstrates how to use it. After my mid-life crisis adventure, I need to watch it a few dozens times!

I don’t want a lukewarm love. I want it to burn my lips and engulf my soul. – woori

Happy…Tuesday!