teaspoons & petals

sweet sip: local honey & urban beekeeping

A tea purist, I often let the tea have center stage and give the cold shoulder to milk and sweeteners. However, over the past few years I've started to fall for nature's golden child, honey. Towards the end of this summer, I allowed this sweet love affair to blossom as I took a closer look at local honey and urban beekeeping.

I've dabbled with a few local honeys (especially a lavender blend from a nearby farmer's market), although it wasn't until this past July that I truly began to understand the art to and passion behind beekeeping, particularly urban beekeeping.

After learning that urban beekeeping had been legalized in NYC, I marked my calendar for The Secret Lives of (NYC) Bees at ABC Home & Carpet (hosted by the fabulous Dr. Brent Ridge of Beekman 1802). It was there that I met expert beekeeper and honey enthusiast, Andrew Cote, who has hives throughout NYC and CT, sells his honey at NY greenmarkets, is a member of NYC's Beekeeper's Association, and is the founding director of Bees Without Borders. As Andrew spoke about the wonders of honey and beekeeping, I knew that I discovered a new found love for this liquid gold that often befriended my dear cup of tea.

Tea Tip from Andrew Cote (that he shared with me at the event): Wait for your tea to cool before adding honey. Overheating honey will cause it to lose some of its nutrients.

A little over a month after the NYC honey event, I learned that Philadelphia would be hosting a honey fest in honor of National Honey Month in September. Even though I wasn't able to participate in this celebration (my Steeped In Beauty tea workshop premiered that weekend), I was able to witness the unveiling of a historical marker dedicated to Philadelphian Lorenzo L. Langstroth, The Father of American Beekeeping, and inventor of the hive that changed the future of apiculture forever. Hooray for Philadelphia & honey!

My honey adventure would serendipitously continue on its sweet path, as I found myself face-to-TV screen with Andrew Cote when he appeared on The Cooking Channel's fabulous new series, My Life in Food, and a recent segment on The Martha Stewart Show.

Intrigued and amazed by this incredible treasure from nature, I'll be exploring it a bit more and sharing new tastes and sweet tales of my adventure with local honey. Maybe a tea and local honey pairing with the fabulous Andrew Cote? Well, a tea & {new} honey enthusiast can dream...

so the real question is, do you like honey in your tea?

photo courtesy of Mindful One

dreaming of tea: tea pillow giveaway

 

Tea has comfortably settled into almost every moment of my day, as I sip it, write about it and cook with it. Although I was surprised that it hadn't found its way into the few restful moments when I'm not steeping and sipping. That was true until I discovered an "accessory for the senses."

Gina Wu, president and founder of Tea GW, graciously sent me two of her Tea-Filled Travel Pillows, one Rose and the other Jasmine. Each pillow is made with decorative silk fabric and filled with genuine, aromatic whole-leaf tea.

In a recent article, Gina noted that, "Just as drinking tea can promote a healthy lifestyle, it is believed that tea pillow can help to promote natural sleep, offer relaxing properties and a host of additional health benefits. Tea pillows are based upon the 5,000 year old Chinese tea culture and were employed throughout the earliest Chinese civilizations in order to maintain physical and emotional harmony within the body."

I carefully opened the box to reveal a white silk pillow printed with beautiful characters that I imagined spoke of dreaming sweetly and other peaceful phrases. As I gently rested my head on the delicate pillow, the jasmine aroma seemed to blossom around me. Although intended for travel, this pillow is the perfect decorative touch to your favorite chair. Simply pull the pillow close and escape to a peaceful, fragrant moment after long steep and sip session. The healing aroma with soothe your senses.

This is a must-have for a tea enthusiast and an incredibly unique gift for any tea lover!

Considering that Gina Wu thoughtfully sent me two of her lovely pillows, I want share the Rose Travel Tea Pillow with a lucky reader. Covered in poppy pink silk with a graphic leaf print, this luxurious pillow is the perfect companion to an afternoon of sipping white rose tea. Simply leave a comment below with your favorite tea memory and your email address by Nov 2nd, and I will randomly select and announce the winner on Nov 3rd in this very post.

Here's to dreaming sweetly of tea...

UPDATE: Thank you all so very much for sharing these incredible tea moments with me. Each story was truly lovely! I randomly selected a number bewtween 1 and 9 (the total amount of comments shared), and am happy to announce the comment #3, Marlena, is the winner of the tea pillow! Stay tuned for more tea giveaways in the next month.

tea tip: creative ways to use the last few sips

There are times when I have to steep and run, often leaving a little leftover tea behind. Instead of trashing the little sips when I return, I'll pour the room temperature tea into an ice cube tray. These chilly bursts of tea will brighten up a glass of water with a pop of flavor.

And then there's always the simplest of syrups. Add 1 cup of the leftover tea to a pan, add a few teaspoons of honey, stir, bring to a boil and then let simmer and cool. Voila, tea flavored simple syrup to pour over fruit or to sweeten your next steamy sip.

If the tea has lingered in the lonely pot overnight, fight the urge to pour each perfect drop down the drain and use it to craft a lovely card with an antique aesthetic. Take a plain note card and dip it in into the reheated leftover tea. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Gently remove the card and allow it to dry.

where do you take your tea beyond the cup?

photo from messina1017

teaspoons at the table: poached pears & green tea (fall fest 2010)

Fall skies and whistling winds send my mind and taste buds to autumn orchards. While the apple tends to be the star of the seasonal show, I often lean towards the delicate understudy in the bushel, the pear.

Standing tall, the bosc pear must be proud of its unforgettable sweet yet spicy bite. Often paired with or infused in white teas to highlight the floral flavors of the gentle leaves and buds, pears are the delicate companion. So, I thought I would shed some light on the bosc's spicier side by inviting green tea with lemongrass and ginger to the table.

This week's {teaspoons at the table} takes a closer look at a poached bosc pear with green tea & lemongrass/ginger/lavender honey simple syrup. A fall indulgence, this sweet and subtly spicy treat captures the warming flavors of fall.

Poached Bosc Pear with Green Tea & Lemongrass/Ginger/Lavender Honey Simple Syrup

Ingredients:

• 1 & 1/4 cup water
• 1 bosc pear
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (or freshly scraped vanilla beans if you're in an indulgent mood)
• 4 tsp lavender honey (or your favorite local flavor)
• 1 tsp green tea with lemongrass/ginger (or another spicy green tea blend. feel free to substitute the green tea for green rooibos infused with spicy companions for a decaffeinated sip)

Bosc pears are absolutely fabulous when poached. They retain their shape and are the perfect canvas for sauces and simple syrups. First step to poaching: peel the pear and use a pairing knife or melon baller to scoop out the tiny core and seeds. Time to create the steamy bath: mix 1 cup  of the water, vanilla extract and brown sugar in a pot, place pear in the center, and heat to a boil. Cover the pot with an aluminum foil tent or a piece of parchment paper and simmer for 15 minutes. As the pear poaches, be sure to turn the pear on each side to coat the entire fruit in the liquid for an even steam.

While the steam bath simmers, heat the remaining 1/4 cup of water to 175 degrees (steaming but not boiling) and add 1 teaspoon of the green tea with ginger/lemongrass. Steep for 4 to 5 minutes and remove leaves from liquid. When the pear has finished poaching, gently remove pear and place it in a small serving bowl/plate. Remove 3/4 of the pear broth so that only 1/4 remains in the pot. Add 4 tsp of lavender honey, 1/4 cup green tea liquid, stir and bring liquid to a boil. Simmer for 5-6 minutes and remove from heat. Cool briefly. Spoon green tea & lemongrass/ginger, lavender honey, vanilla/brown sugar simple syrup over pear and serve.

The bright and zesty flavors of the green tea balance the rich sweetness of the brown sugar, vanilla and lavender honey. The lemongrass/ginger flavors blend with the earthy/floral lavender in the honey. Combine the complex syrup with a bite of bosc for the ultimate sweet, spicy, fruity treat. Cheers to the pear for its culinary compatibility with spicy green tea!

tea tip: steep a pot of the green tea with lemongrass & ginger and serve it with the bosc treat for the ultimate pairing experience. To sweeten up the spicy pot of tea, add the remaining 3/4 cup of pear broth not used in the simple syrup.

This post was written to coincide with this week's Fall Fest 2010 ingredeint: pears. Away to Garden and the Cooking Channel teamed up to "feature favorite garden-to-table recipes and tips to help you enjoy the bounty, whether you’re harvesting your own goodies or buying them fresh from the market." Steep a pot of tea, and take a few moments to read their list of fabulous pear recipes.

tea today: bai hao yin zhen white tea from DavidsTea

Seeking out the delicate and the dainty, my taste buds longed for a graceful white tea that rose above the rest. Fortunately, I found this tea in DavidsTea's bai hao yin zhen. This infamous Chinese white tea is made with the "first leaves and downy, silvery unopened buds of the tea plant [that] are picked by hand during the April harvest."

As I steeped the tea for 4 minutes, the silvery leaves painted the water a golden shade. The gleaming pale yellow liquor mirrored it's luxurious aroma. First sip: the delicate flavor is full of complexities. A smooth, sweet sip that finishes with light grassy notes. Clean and refreshing, bai hao yin zhen truly awakens and soothes the senses. Take the time to pause between sips and allow the flavor to bloom on your palate, as though the downy buds are blossoming on your tiny taste buds.

A wondrous white tea that should be savored sip by sip.

tea tiles

 
My dear friend, Sara, sent me a link to these lovely Teacup Tiles that made me swoon. Yet another piece of tea decor to add to my imaginary tea room.

I would hang fresh herbs from the hook to dry, and then snip a few leaves to steep when I was craving  herbal sips. My tiny collection of delicate teaspoons would rest peacefully inside.

With tea finding its way onto my wall, the glass (or cup) would always seem half full.

sip & style: it's all in the layers

 

Crisp fall air has me craving steamy cups of masala chai and cozy layers. So, it only seems natural that this week's sip & style embraces our small steps to seeking out a warm escape.

Uncover the many layers of loving tea with this delicate Matryoshka Tea for Two Set. This ceramic trio includes two cheerful cups, an infuser basket and a tiny pot. Pair the darling set with this red Silence & Noise Marled Cocoon Cardigan, the perfect companion to tea on a chilly evening. Before you wrap your fingers about the steamy cup, warm up your hands in the perfect pockets.

Wrapped in red warmth, find the time to treat yourself and a friend to a whimsical tea time. Brew a spicy blend to match the bold designs and bright colors (maybe a green tea with lemongrass & ginger or traditional chai).

What tea do you crave as the leaves change color and the chill sets in?