teaspoons & petals

tea curator on AHAlife

I was thrilled when AHAlife asked me to curate a favorite tea for their site, an "online discovery destination where you can learn about - and purchase - the best unique products from around the world, collectively curated by our group of influential tastemakers." Take a peek at my curation and curator profile.

Mandy Aftel's perfumed teas seem to capture the pure essence of a blossoming garden layered with delicate, nutty notes of oolong tea. The linden blossom blend is a personal favorite, as it evokes honeysuckle aromas and sensory memories that send me back to carefree summer afternoons.

Do you have a favorite tea sensory memory?

sip & style: spicy spring sips

In anticipation of April's chilly spring showers, I'm cozying up with spicy sips to warm my soul as I shed layers for brighter shades of spring style.

The sip, a homemade Chai Masala, is handcrafted in The Random Tea Room & Curiosity Shop in Philadelphia. Made from scratch every morning, your senses can't help but be enticed by the alluring and exotic aroma that scents the charming tea room. Their "hand-ground spices harmonize with Mapelhofe Farms whole milk, Harmutty Assam, fresh ginger, brown sugar, vanilla & rose water."

Take a seat at the counter and order a cup of their spicy sip. Watch as they carefully ladle their sought after creation from the chai pot that scents the space. Slowly savor each sip and let your taste buds seek out each unique ingredient. The vanilla & rose water are such lovely, unexpected companions to this traditional blend.

As mentioned in my pairisian pairing, over the next few weeks I will be tailoring my sip & style posts to feature cups of tea from my favorite Philadelphia cafes/tea shops. I’ll pair those steeps with fashionable creations from top local designers showcasing their work in the Paris-inspired runway show at the Kimmel Center’s Commonwealth Plaza on April 8^th, part of PIFA (Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts).

This spicy chai sip, hand blended in Philadelphia, pairs perfectly with the spicy style of the bolt peacock green cocktail dress, created by local designer, Priscilla Costa. Both the tea and the dress are anchored in their black tea base or vibrant green silk with accents spices or the “fuxico” flower.

The delicate loops lingering in the blooming flower are crafted from a native Brazilian flowering plant, the Golden Grass, known for its natural golden sheen. Designer, Priscilla Costa, shares that “this rare and noble material is a beautiful example of nature's treasure. It is eco-friendly and sustainable , and it grows in Jalapao, a mosaic of natural parks and protected areas in the Brazilian wilderness.”

As you warm up to thoughts of spring dresses and sunshine, ward off any lingering chills with spicy sips. 

p.s. If you're craving a fashionable spring, you can take a look at Priscilla's designs on the Kimmel Center Fashion Show in Philadelphia on April 8th, or Trunk Show in NJ on April 9th at the Primadonna Boutique.

Stay tuned as teaspoons & petals explores the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts through May 1^st. This post is supported by PIFA and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions. Twitter: @PIFAPhilly Facebook:www.facebook.com/PIFA.Philly

tea today: welcoming spring with a kabusecha sip

Only a few days into spring and I can't stop steeping grassy greens. The bright, vegetal flavors with subtle hints of sweetness are in harmony with the buds on the verge of blossoming.

While I often fill my cup with Gyokuro and Sencha, I decided to go with a green that fell somewhere in-between the two Japanese steeps, a Kabusecha (or Kabuse Sencha, Kabuse-Cha). Grown in the natural shade for around 14 days, this green tea is shielded by a net (a kabuse) to create a more mellow, vegetal and sweet flavor. The delicate leaves are handpicked in early spring (similar to the Gyokuro process), but then are steamed (like that of a Sencha). Each sip is slightly rich and fragrant with subtle vegetal and sweet flavors.

As I slowly sipped the last drop of Kabusecha at Cups & Chairs in Philly, I looked over to the counter to see a fresh batch of green tea cupcakes. Unable to control my sudden sweet craving, I ended my green steep with a bright green bite. Perfection.

sip & style: bright bursts of citrus

Maybe it was this weekend's taste of warm weather that's making me crave bright bursts of citrus? Almost two days into the Spring season, and I'm reaching for citrusy green sips and free flowing dresses, which inspired this week's sip & style piece.

As mentioned in my pairisian pairing, over the next few weeks I will be tailoring my sip & style posts to feature cups of tea from my favorite Philadelphia cafes/tea shops. I’ll pair those steeps with fashionable creations from top local designers showcasing their work in the Paris-inspired runway show at the Kimmel Center’s Commonwealth Plaza on April 8^th, part of PIFA (Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts).

This week's sip is all about vibrant flavors that are waking my taste buds from their winter hibernation. Brightly glowing in the delicate teacup is a Tangerine Green steep from Tbar, an urban tea bar retreat in  the Midtown Village of Philadelphia. The pungent aroma of the orange peel revives the senses. First sip, the grassy pan-fired green tea is balanced by the smoothly sweet marigolds and safflowers. The citrus burst of the orange peel intensifies the vegetal flavor of the green leaves.

This bright sip would be perfectly paired with the striking style from Carmelita Couture. This custom print Chiffon strapless gown from her Anjel collection, effortlessly captures the warmth and beauty of spring and summer sun. Often showcased on the Red Carpet, Carmelita Couture's designs are "influenced by global culture, travel [and] the history of fashion and sculpture." This gown will send your sense of style well into the steamy summer. One can imagine feeling the warm breeze flowing through the layers of chiffon, as the summer sunset and sky mirror the shades of the artfully designed gown.

A bright citrus burst of sip & style to inspire and welcome the new season.

Stay tuned as teaspoons & petals explores the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts through May 1^st. This post is supported by PIFA and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions. Twitter: @PIFAPhilly Facebook:www.facebook.com/PIFA.Philly

tea talk: Q&A on Green Kitchen Stories

There are some blogs that inspire you to seek out the most vibrant ingredients and completely change the way you experience the edible world. For me, that blog is Green Kitchen Stories. David and Luise (and their adorable daughter, Elsa) share their delicious recipes and adventures through imaginative dishes and photos (their focus: vegetarian food with a minimum of sugar, gluten and milk products). p.s. their White Gazpacho takes my taste buds to a happy place.

About two months ago, David and Luise let us into their flavorful journey through Vietnam right at the time when I began to read about Artichoke tea, a traditional steep in Vietnam.  After posting a comment inquiring about the Vietnamese tea, I opened the door to a converation about the steeped sip. Recently, I received a lovely email from Luise asking me if I would be interested in answering a few questions about tea for a Q&A on Green Kitchen Stories. To state it simply, I was delighted and thrilled!

So, take a peek at my tea Q&A on GKS. You'll be inspired by their magical tea photos that capture the creativity and whimsy in every cup.

photo courtesy of Green Kitchen Stories

teaspoons at the table: sugar philly's green tea macaron

I have a weakness for delicate macarons. Combine that with my love of tea and you can only imagine the sweet sensory overload.

While in University City, Philadelphia, I made it a point to skip over to the Sugar Philly Truck to hopefully nibble on one of their famous macarons. As I anxiously walked up to the chalkboard menu, I squinted my eyes in fear of seeing the "sold out" magnet that covered the names of the flavors during my last three visits.

My taste buds quietly celebrated when I saw the full menu of macarons carefully written on the chalkboard. Overwhelmed with delicious glee, I ordered the strawberry yogurt, chocolate hazelnut, pistachio and, of course, green tea. While each bite was magical, it was the green tea that stole my heart. The deep green, sweet matcha tea filling was perfection, and the dusting of the vibrant tea powder on the crisp outer shell was delightful.

Now if only the Melange tea truck would park next to Sugar Philly. I would pair an earl grey with a  milk & honey macaron, a bai mu dan white tea with a rose macaron, and a large cup of matcha with the green tea treat. A tea-loving girl with a sweet tooth can dream...

you're invited: steeped in beauty workshop for moms

After sharing my love of tea in two previous classes (fall & winter), I've teamed up again with my friend and colleague, Jolene Hart (natural beauty expert), to offer the third Steeped In Beauty event....

and you're invited....

The Steeped in Beauty workshop series inspires guests with creative ways to bring tea and natural beauty into their everyday lives. On March 19th our workshop will focus on giving moms easy, healthy ideas for feeling relaxed and pampered. Guests will receive expert instruction on tea basics and party tips, learn how to whip up a white chai smoothie, make kid and adult friendly tea granitas, and more.

While sipping tea, they’ll also learn the fundamentals of choosing safe, natural personal care products for themselves and their families. Recipe demonstrations for several easy-to-make natural beauty products (including a special project for mom’s little helpers) are included.

Included in the cost of advance admission are gift bags, which include recipes, natural beauty and tea samples. All guests will be entered to win one of several raffle prizes, including a personal health and beauty coaching session with Jolene, a tea consultation with Alexis, and gift certificates to Tbar tea shop.

Looking forward to seeing some friendly faces as we sip, cook and talk tea.

Here is your ticket...

When: Saturday, March 19th, 2pm-4pm
Where: IndyHall, 20 North 3rd Street, 2nd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Admission: Tickets are available online until March 18 at 8pm for $21, and will be sold at the door for $25 on the day of the event (gift bag not guaranteed if purchased at door).

sip & style: parisian state of mind

 

The runways are quiet for a moment in Paris as the 2011 Fashion Week came to an end earlier this week. Craving new couture for spring and an adventurous perspective, I’m thrilled to know that I won’t need a passport for a Parisian state of mind and style thanks to PIFA. The 2011 Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts was inspired by incredible moments in “Paris in 1911 [that] changed the path of art and conventional creativity.”

As a PIFA guest blogger, I’m thrilled to explore and share the tea moments within creative performances and events leading up to and during the festival. Particularly, I will be shaping my sip & style posts to feature cups of tea from my favorite Philadelphia cafes/tea shops. I’ll pair those steeps with fashionable creations from top local designers showcasing their work in the Paris-inspired runway show at the Kimmel Center’s Commonwealth Plaza on April 8th.

First sip, a crisp cup of earl grey tea from Parc Brasserie. This traditional steep is bursting with bright notes from the bergamot oil. Anchored by the rich black tea blend, this lively sip will perk up your taste buds at this Parisian inspired café. A bit of fresh lemon juice truly brings out the citrus notes of the bergamot oil. And if you’re craving a sweet perspective, a dab of honey turns the sip into a sweet treat.

With views of the soon-to-be blooming Rittenhouse Square, this staple steep is the perfect match for SA VA’s little black Sierra Dress. The asymmetrical tank dress handcrafted with bamboo jersey is effortlessly elegant and locally made in Philadelphia. Holding true to their mission, “locally made, globally inspired, socially conscious, community based,” SA VA uses fair trade and eco-friendly textiles. We’re so very inspired by Sarah Van Aken and her team at SA VA for promoting and nurturing an “ethical fashion community.” (p.s. if black is not your style and you’re seeking a pop of color to welcome spring, keep in mind that the Sierra Dress is also available in magenta).

Stay tuned as teaspoons & petals explores the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts through May 1^st. This post is supported by PIFA and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions. Twitter: @PIFAPhilly Facebook: www.facebook.com/PIFA.Philly

tea today: wen shan bao zhong & lavender oolong from naivetea

Sometimes all it takes is a steamed aroma to remind you that magical leaf can truly transform a moment. That's exactly how I feel about Oolong tea, especially on chillier days when I'm seeking a smoky sip to warm my heart.

Naivetea kindly sent me a few of their Oolongs to sample. To state it rather simply, each tea was truly incredible. I started my Naivetea journey with their Wen Shan Bao Zhong, a "premium grade Bao Zhong cultivated at the highest altitude tea farm in Ping Lin." After bringing the water to a boil, I allowed it to cool for two minutes. I steeped one tablespoon of the long, twisted leaves in my cup for 50 seconds.

The intense floral notes swept away thoughts of chilled air outside the window, and reminded me that spring is near. My imagination wandered to thoughts of walking into a garden or greenhouse after  the first bloom. The perfume of the bouquet continued to blossom, sip after sip. The delicate, warming sensation on the palate was so very soothing as the fragrance of bright orchids and creamy osmanthus flowers lingered. A finale of subtle sweetness and a slight nutty flavor. This smooth and delicate sip of lightly roasted leaves is delightful.

 

the glass is always half full

Take a peek at my guest blog post and glass teaware gift guide on Sanura Weathers's delicious blog, My Life Runs on Food.

teaspoons at the table: green tea pumpkin seeds

During my visit to Chinatown for dim sum and Chrysanthemum Puerh tea, I wandered into a few shops in search of a tasty tea-infused treat. My heart skipped a beat when I saw a bag of green tea pumpkin seeds that immediately found its way into my bag and then onto my plate.

A visual treat, each bite was perfectly salted with a slightly vegetal and sweet flavor from the green tea powder. I devoured every seed before I could begin experimenting in the kitchen, although, I can only imagine that the seeds would be the perfect companion to a crisp salad. Hooray for tea treats!