teaspoons & petals

happiness in a (cute) can

I'm sipping on ito en's Dr. Andrew Weil for Tea Jasmine White from its compact little can. My tongue is currently in a flower coma after a powerful punch of jasmine white tea straight to my taste buds. Nose to the can: The white tea lends a delicate aroma and the jasmine sends a hint of spring (like walking by a flowering tree with early buds). Reaction after first sip: You experience a hint of sweetness of the white tea blending beautifully with the jasmine flowers, followed by the earthiness of the bouquet (as if you have crunched into every bud). I strongly recommend giving this tea a try. I will be ordering a few cases and welcoming a new addiction to my tea list. As if you needed another reason to try it, this tea offers up a healthy dose of Vitamin C. On a side note-I picked up this beautiful tea at The Tea festival-thanks to the fabulous men at the ito en booth. I am in the process of digesting the festival and creating thoughtful posts, instead of gushing like a teenage girl after a boyband concert in a lengthy love-filled diary entry. Yes, I'm a tea nerd and I'm proud of it. So check back for more posts related to the tea festival.

tea with my great-grandmother

I'm sure that you've been asked the hypothetical question, "If you had the chance to meet anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?" Now I think that it is a fabulous and revealing question, but for the sake of this blog I would like to modify it to, "If you had a chance to have tea with anyone, who would it be and what would you drink?" Of course I would have difficulty answering my own question, but a recent birthday present has helped me. Last week my aunts gave me one of my great-grandmother's tea cups (shown above). I would have to say this is by far one of my favorite and most meaningful birthday presents ever, especially considering my love of antiques and family. The cup is oh so delicate and refined, with its elegant roses and dainty handle. So to answer the questions, I would have tea with my great-grandmother and would choose to drink Pomegranate Rose Decaf Green (Zhena's Gypsy Tea). The rosebuds in the tea would flow nicely with the floral cup decor, and decaf would be necessary since my excitement would make me quite jittery (without the caffeine burst). So, who would you have tea with? And what would you sip on?

tea and cookies

I love multi-functional products, especially those that allow me to carry less, as I am usually trying to accomplish another million things with the other hand. So when I came across this absolutely wonderful dunk mug that has a built in cookie compartment, I was pretty excited. There are so many reasons why this dunk mug is so perfect, so I thought I would list a few:

• It is a great piece for a modern tea party. Although I love the over the top frills, delicate patterns and multiple plates of a traditional tea party, I would also love to put together an ultra modern styled tea party that is simple yet beautiful. I could imagine placing a few of these mugs around the table with some exotic cookies peaking out over the gorgeous table cloth, with just a few small vases with flowers.
• It forces me to only enjoy a few cookies with tea, rather than an entire plate (or lets be honest, the box). Here's to moderation!
• It help cut down on dishes (if you're using a plate for the cookies and not eating from the box).
• It's a great addition to any tea cup collection!

So my question is: What kind of cookies do you enjoy with tea? I plan on posting a few recipes for tea cookies and would love some suggestions.

tea today: organic peppermint

I needed a little sensory pick-me-up without the caffeine and went with the Harney and Sons-Organic Peppermint Tea. The tingly, minty aroma is enough to wake up your mind, and the first sip is sweet, delicate, yet instantly refreshing. The peppermint lingers on your tongue, and would nicely follow a garlicky or over spiced meal. In addition to the delicious sensory experience, peppermint tea soothes an upset stomach (got to love those herbal benefits). This tea is perfect for someone who needs to brighten a dull afternoon and it can quiet a sweet urge with a drop of honey mixed in.

tea today: orchid oolong

Currently I'm enjoying an entire pot of loose leaf Orchid Oolong at the Tbar, one of my favorite tea stops in the city. This golden tea (which I seem to be gravitating to lately) has a nutty aroma, light flavor and a floral aftertaste. The earthy bouquet lingers on my tongue, which compliments the spring weather and blossoming trees that are stealing the visual show in the city at the moment. But just to backpedal for a second, Oolong tea is "a semi-oxidized tea, primarily from China or Taiwan. Oolong tea has a more powerful flavor and aroma than green tea, but a more delicate flavor and aroma than black tea" (educational bit thanks to Tbar's website). Orchid Oolong is one of my favorite teas-so I'm glad that a purchase of a pot includes two free refills, especially since this particular blend does well after multiple steeps. Time to sip some more Orchid and welcome spring and the month of april.