teaspoons & petals

sip & style: past perfect

 
I have an old soul and a heart that beats to a 1920's jazz tune. I often skip down memory lanes to nearby antique stores in search of treasures. In my mind, the past is truly perfect. Let's celebrate a vintage perspective in this week's sip & style.

This Vintage Shabby Chic Flowered Metal Tea Tin would adorably adorn any kitchen counter. Fill it with your favorite floral teas. I can only imagine that this petite tin decorated in rose petals, vines and delicate gold dots was home to a jasmine green or a white rose.

The floral sips once tucked in the tin would pair perfectly with the style of this Vintage 1930s Princess Gown from Free People's Party Girl collection. Pink tulle and an intricate bodice embroidered in rhinestones make this evening gown a true find for an upscale tea soiree. Swaying to the sounds of early Ella Fitzgerald, I could imagine nibbling pastel macarons and daintily sipping flowering teas.

Do you dream in vintage?

t&p in the philadelphia inquirer

I was thrilled to hear that The Philadelphia Inquirer was exploring the world of the chilled, steeped sip in their recent article , "Tea, So Cool." Many thanks to the fabulous writer, Ashley Primis, who gave me a call to talk tea and then included a few of my quotes in the piece. I couldn't be happier to see that the City of Brotherly love is embracing the iced steep. It's time to raise my iced glass to Philadelphians steeping and sipping everywhere this summer.

teaspoons at the table: matcha green tea salad dressing

If you've tasted the hibiscus lemonade and white chai tea smoothie and are still hungry for more tea-infused bites, then put your kettle back on the stove. In the 3rd video of the 4 part webisode series of tea-infused recipes that I filmed with Mavea a few months ago, I'm sharing the recipe for my matcha salad dressing. Take a peek and let me know what you think of my first attempt at sharing my love for cooking with tea in front of the camera.

Cooking with MAVEA: Matcha Salad with Teaspoons & Petals from MAVEA Inspired Water on Vimeo.

 

miss macaron

If you follow me on twitter or foodspotting then you know that I adore the sweet, petite macaron treat. Each delicious bite can be perfectly paired with any sip of tea. I often dream of cups overflowing with signature steeps and cake stands with sky-high towers of macarons. In honor of my edible admiration, I've created a miss macaron guide on foodspotting to complement my teaspons & petals and tea in philadelphia guides. Jump over to foodspotting and join me as I leave a few drops and crumbs along the way...

tea today: honeydew bubble tea

Summer fruits are filling my fridge and fruit basket. Berries are taking the backseat to magnificent melons at the moment. Although after last week’s watermelon mania, honeydew is hogging the spotlight.

While I love to steep a few slices of the sweet, green melon in a cup of white tea, honeydew bubble tea is the ultimate tea-melon treat. The luscious sips often tastes as if you are biting right into a melon (I can speak for the melon sips from Tbar and Cups & Chairs in Philly). The bubbles bites are just the icing on the cake (or the honey to my tea), as they give the sweet drink a chewy twist.

As I’m bursting with joy for my summer sip of honeydew bubble tea, I’m curious to know what you’ll be steeping & mixing in honor of summer’s arrival?

t&p interview on the cup of life

The lovely Lu Ann from The Cup of Life recently reached out to me with a few questions about my love of tea. Take a peek at her tea-infused blog and Q&A post to learn more about the story behind t&p, my line of haiku teacups, a few of my favorite teas, etc. Many thanks to Lu Ann for letting me take a quick tea trip down memory lane.

tea today: blooming marigold tea

As my tiny patch of green is bursting with fresh herbs and signs that flowers will be blossoming soon, I can't help but steep blooming teas to keep me rooted in petal perfection. A handcrafted tea treat, blooming teas are experiences to be savoured as you watch the tea leaves unfurl to reveal a hidden flower.

I recently treated my senses to the Blooming Marigold Tea from The East India Company. Chinese green tea leaves are hand sewn to a Marigold flower by tea masters. From the flower pot to the tea pot, this tea treat should be treasured during a peaceful afternoon or at a steeped soiree with friends (the blooming tea doubles as a bouquet centerpiece).

Simply heat your water to 180 degrees (bring to a boil and let sit for 2-3minutes), place the blooming tea in a glass teapot and watch as it steeps for 4 minutes. Gently remove the blossomed tea and place it in a glass teapot with cold water to preserve the flower. Sip the smooth, crisp Chinese green tea as the vegetal aroma awakens your senses with the fragrance of a fresh, grassy garden.

In an attempt to share the experience with you, I quickly captured the delicate bloom as the flower peeked out from under the tea leaves in the video below. Skip to 1:08 if you want a quick glimpse of the Marigold making its way to the surface. If you have a few moments to spare, steep a cup of your favorite floral tea and watch the dance of the blooming tea.

 

world tea east coming to the city of brotherly love

A few months ago I heard whispers about the World Tea East making its way to the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia. I'm so very thrilled to hear that they have confirmed the September event that will be held in the Pennsylvania Convention Center from the 9th-10th.

"World Tea Media, the organizer of World Tea East, expects more than 2,000 retail buyers, tea professionals, food and beverage manufacturers and decision makers in related industries, including hoteliers, spa owners and restaurateurs."

The Core Conference will include "focused tea tastings, hands-on skill building workshops, and seminars that feature the latest trends in the industry, answer current business challenges, provide real take-away solutions and debunk both tea and business myths." I must admit that I can't wait for the "Think Tea in Every Menu Course" presentation ("looks at how many chefs and restaurants are experimenting with tea") and the "Tea and Cocktails - Flavor Fusion" seminar that "focuses on tea types and flavor pairings, health benefits of tea and cocktail mixing and tasting."

Considering that I swoon for the perfect petal and a floral tea sip, I hope to be front and center for "Workshop: There’s a Flower in My Soup: All About Edible Flowers". Just consider this the first steep of the preview for the World Tea East. I'll be sharing more updates as we make our way through the Summer. Will you be joining me for a sip in the City of Brotherly Love?

teaspoons at the table: hibiscus lemonade

Last week, I shared my thoughts on the art of steeping tea and the importance of pure water to really let the taste of tea shine in every sip. Mavea, the company behind one of my favorite tea tools, generously donated 5 water filter pitchers for a t&p giveaway (hurry, it ends tomorrow).

They also had asked me to share 4 of my favorite tea recipes via a webisode series. I started with the White Chai Smoothie, and today I can’t wait for you to see one of my favorite herbal, summer staples, hibiscus lemonade. Take a peek at the video below and give this vibrant treat a try for your weekend BBQ. Stay tuned for 2 more tea infused recipes over the next few weeks.

Cooking with MAVEA: Hibiscus Lemonade with Teaspoons & Petals from MAVEA Inspired Water on Vimeo.

 Note: Mavea generously gave me the pitcher to try and filmed a series of videos showcasing my tea recipes that incorporated water. All of my opinions about the pitcher are honest, and I did not accept any payment in return.

 

teaspoons at the table: sweet snack

Cakes have never made me swoon, but my heart skips a beat for the ultimate petite treat, a macaron. The delicate sweet bites are perfect teacup companions.

After matcha, chocolate, pistachio, cherry blossom, coconut and almond, I can now add cantaloupe to my list of macaron flavors, thanks to this pretty in peach delicacy from Takahachi Bakery. I would pair this sweet nibble with a rich, creamy matcha latte, letting the vegetal notes balance the sugary taste. Although, if you prefer a lighter sip I would opt for a white tea infused with melon for a refreshing summer snack.

p.s. take a peek at my my miss macaron guide on foodspotting and join me on the sweet adventure.

giveaway & cooking with mavea: white chai tea smoothie

 

There is a simple art to steeping tea that involves patience, pure water and perfect, whole tea leaves. Beyond the beautiful leaf, the second most important ingredient is water (followed by patience and joy). Water can truly change the taste of a standard steep, which is why I now opt to use filtered water for my sips.

A few months ago, I was still using tap water for my tea until I had the opportunity to try the Elemaris XL Filter Pitcher from Mavea – Inspired Water (Brita’s sister company). FYI every part of their filter is recycled and their pitchers are 100% BPA Free (hooray!). As soon as the filtered water found its way into my steeping process, I noticed a difference in every sip (I will admit that I was a tad skeptical of how grand the change would be).

Each cup of tea tasted cleaner, and the natural flavors of the brewed blends were more present on my palate. And the easy-to-use pitchers looks oh-so-pretty in my fridge (did I mention that there is an automatic pour through lid and a fabulous digital reader that tells you when you have to replace the filter? Hooray for technology!)

Fortunately, Mavea has generously offered to let teaspoons & petals share 5 Elemaris XL’s with 5 lucky readers. So, all I ask is that you share your favorite iced tea recipe in the comments below with your email address by next Friday (6/17). I will randomly pick the 5 winners and be in touch to gather the necessary shipping info.

But before you jump into the land of the chilly sip recipe, let me just share one more exciting story. Mavea had also asked if I would be interested in filming a webisode series of 4 teaspoons & petals tea-infused recipes. I (anxiously) jumped at the chance to get behind the camera and on the screen for the first time. After a day of shooting videos in their beautiful test kitchen (I wish it was my kitchen) and a month or so of their magic editing, I am excited to share one of the final videos for my White Chai Tea Smoothie with you. Stay tuned for 3 more that will pop up on the blog over the next week.

 

Cooking with MAVEA: White Chai Tea Smoothie with Teaspoons & Petals from MAVEA Inspired Water on Vimeo.

6/20 Thanks to the 14 fellow tea lovers who shared tidbits about iced tea for the chance to win a Mavea pitcher. Congrats to the following giveaway winners: Christine Miller, Notes On Tea, Lu Ann, Lyndie, Sara (Jasmine tea) An email is waiting for you in your inbox with details and next steps. Thanks!

Note: Mavea generously gave me the pitcher to try and filmed a series of videos showcasing my tea recipes that incorporated water. All of my opinions about the pitcher are honest, and I did not accept any payment in return.

tea today: calm spirit iced tea

Honeysuckle is perfuming the almost-summer air, filling the steamy evenings with its sweet fragrance. Needless to say, I've been craving a rich, sweet, floral sip while dreaming of infusing fresh-cut honeysuckle into an iced blend (experiments to come this weekend).

While visiting the City That Never Sleeps for a quick work trip, I skipped over to Radiance Tea House to peek at their iced tea menu. Instantly drawn to the Calm Spirit Iced Tea, I anxiously awaited the blend of Lindens, Egyptian Chamomile, honey, and Oolong. Rich, sweet, floral and incredibly refreshing, the chamomile blossoms perfectly paired with fragrant Lindens (oh so similar to honeysuckle) and the naturally floral, nutty Oolong tea. Sweet honey added a depth to the iced blend.

My only regret...not ordering the extra large pitcher. When it comes to floral iced tea blends, there's never too much of a good thing. Well, at least for me...

icy sip celebration

I'm rushing to get my little patio and patch of green in order. Bit of herbs are starting to stand up to the sun and almost all of the weeds and leaves of seasons past have been tucked into a large bin. Soon enough, I will be able to turn my kitchen into an ice tea studio as I prepare for a few summer sip soirees under the sun.

Considering that the City of Brotherly Love is sweltering today, I'm opting for an indoor sip and a bit of browsing for pretty pieces for serving icy steeps. I stumbled on this glass beauty while reading fit. hip. healthy. and can't seem to get in out of my mind and off of my wish list. Made with recycled glass and a lovely wood lid, you can fill and serve your chilly steeps with the stainless steel spigot.

I'm dreaming of jasmine green tea & lavender honey with bits of mint and lavender blossoms floating on top. Or maybe a hibiscus lemonade with lemon slices? Or a Golden Monkey black tea blend with watermelon ice cubes?

However you ice it, raise your glass to a summer of chilly sips and celebrations.

tea today: rosewater masala chai iced latte

Craving an aromatic adventure, I skipped over to my local spice store for a few treats. I walked in with candied ginger on my mind, and left with a bag full of dried elderberries, rose petals, chai tea and rose water.

Before I even found my way into the kitchen, my imagination drifted to dreams of an iced rosewater masala chai latte. After filling a petite pot with vanilla almond milk, I stirred in a few spoon-fulls of local honey and a splash of rose water (a tiny drop of this decadent ingredient goes a long way). When the creamy mixture started to dance about and bubble, I steeped the masala chai bursting with spicy notes of ginger, cardamom, nutmeg and clove.

The sweet, floral sip chilled in the fridge as I peeked at snapshots of a magical rose garden at a friend's whimsical wedding from the night before (aha! a clue to the sudden rose craving). A few seconds from sipping the rosy steep, I reached for my pretty in pink fleur-de-lys glass.

The creamy vanilla almond milk is delicately rich and pairs perfectly with the perfumy rose water. The richness is balanced by the aromatic masala chai spices that are anchored by the crisp black tea. Usually brisk, the black tea seems pleasantly subdued by the floral notes.

My heart skipped a beat as I realized a stumbled upon my new summer tea treat. It was truly love at first (rosy) sip.

 

teaspoons at the table: tea smoked oysters

 

I really had to restrain myself from jumping on a train to NYC after seeing these tea smoked oysters featured on The Food Network's delicious show, The Best Thing I Ever Ate: Smoky. The chief creator behind this tea infused and inspired dish is the executive chef at the NYC restaurant, Desnuda. After smoking Sichuan peppercorns and Lapsang souchong tea, he captures the tea scented smoke in spherical vessels and seals them over the oysters. Simply lift to release the tea smoke, and then inhale the aroma as you eat the oyster. Pretty brilliant.

photo credit: the blog formerly known as strictly platonic

tea today: limited edition darjeeling

This complex and bright Darjeeling sip from Lahloo Tea steeps to a beautiful, vibrant color reminiscent of a rich honey. The floral aroma switches to a smooth yet brisk taste with citrus and fruit notes. The astringent and muscatel taste adds a nice finish to the sip that leaves the tongue a bit dry and thirsty for yet another sip. A limited edition steep, this is a black tea to be treasured.

national iced tea month

June has made a grand entrance with a bit of a heat wave. Fortunately, we can celebrate the summer sun and national iced tea month with an array of icy sips. Whether you're a true blue classic black brewer or swoon over floral & fruity sips, be sure to raise a glass or two all month long. I'm craving a green jasmine pearl, lavender, mint and honey iced blend. Maybe an iced tea party is in store...

The real question is, what's your favorite icy sip?