Save Your Friends from Bad Tea with a Tea Gift

Shop ’til you drop. That friend of yours is about to dunk his “teabag” into some tepid water in that cracked china mug he’s had since college. He needs a tea gift fast to save him from bad tea. Find out how on The English Tea Blog.

Tea Book Review — “The Harney & Sons Guide to Tea”

A tea book for beginning tea drinkers and experts alike, The Harney & Sons Guide to Tea by Michael Harney is an essential part of your kitchen tea station. Get the inside scoop on The Taste of English Tea Blog.

Another Great Tea Poetry Contest Entry

Here’s another entry that made deciding on a winner so difficult. Thanks, Sonya!

Grandma, Tea, & Me

By

Sonya Van Sickle

© 2010 Sonya Van Sickle All right reserved

Katie watched her grandma,

With a certain sense of glee.

She’d been asked to stay up late

And have a cup of tea!

Her grandma took the teapot

From the cupboard shelf,

She spooned in tea for Katie

And then some for herself.

Grandma boiled the water

Until the kettle sang.

The water poured, the timer set,

It was ready when it rang!

The china cups on saucers

Clattered gently as she poured,

While Katie sat and watched

Her grandma she adored.

“A little sugar, Dear,

And will you have some milk?”

Katie quickly nodded

And the tea went down like silk.

“Shall we have a cookie?”

Grandma’s eyes held a twinkle.

“Yes, please,” answered Katie

As she spied the ones with sprinkles.

So there sat Katie and Grandma,

Having cookies and their tea.

And Katie said, “What a special time

Just Grandma, tea, and me.”

One of the Tea Poem Contest Entries

Unfortunately, there could only be one prize, but more than one entry tugged at this tea loving poet's sentimental side. Besides the winning poem, this was one of them:

Nicole Schwartz
© 2010 Nicole Schwartz All rights reserved

wake up it's morning
there is a long day ahead
tea makes it better

Tea Poetry Contest Winner

The winner has been selected in the Tea Poetry Contest and will receive a wonderful prize package from The English Tea Store. To all those who entered, my thanks. Your entries made this a very tough choice. Keep writing about and enjoying tea!

Tearoom Dilemma

Thinking of going to a tearoom anytime soon? Give a little thought first about why you’re going there. It could make a big difference in how well your experience goes. See what I mean on The Taste of English Tea Blog.

McVitie's Digestives Give Teatime Crunch!

Add a bit of tasty, healthy crunch to your teatime with McVitie’s Digestives (the ones with a dark chocolate coating on one side are my favorites). Their wholemeal and baking soda will aid your digestion, and the crunch will add an entertaining sound to your repast. Get the whole story on The English Tea Blog.

Why My Teapot Loves PG Tips

I thought it was tough dealing with a bossy Little Yellow Teapot. Now my “Blue Betty” 6-cupper is in love with PG Tips tea and practically refuses to steep anything else. Get the details on the English Tea Blog.

Tea Moments — Candles Setting the Mood

Candles – they’re not just for power outages. They can help set a mood with their warm, flickering light, that is a far cry from the unmoving, harsh light of a lightbulb (especially those weird corkscrew kind that are full of toxic mercury). Get enlightened on The Taste of English Tea Blog.

Imperial Formosa Oolong — “Royal” tea

Gee, I’m feeling like the Queen of Tea, drinking Imperial Formosa Oolong. As good for one’s health as this tea is, I’m also feeling more robust. A potful a day keeps the doctor away — isn’t that how the maxim goes? Oh, well, learn more about this wonderful tea on The English Tea Blog.

See my review of this tea on Little Yellow Teapot Tea Reviews.

The wonderful tea of Imperial Formosa Oolong I received as a free sample:

The full leaves after steeping, all spread out in their full glory:

More on Assam

Go for the gold — Golden Tips Assam tea, that is. It’s a truly special tea, but be sure you get the pure thing, not a blend, to experience that golden taste. Get more information on The English Tea Blog.

Tea Poetry Contest

Let your tea poet shine and win tea. Even a few lines will do.

Gotta rhyme
For teatime?
Send it on to me.

Don’t be late.
If it rates,
You’ll win some free tea.

The English Tea Store is furnishing a totally cool prize package for one lucky poet out there. Email your verse to me. I’ll select the winner and the English Tea Store will ship the prize to you.

A few rules:

• Has to be clearly a poem, not prose.
• Doesn’t need to rhyme.
• Can be freestyle or a poetic form (sonnet, haiku, etc.).
• Content should be about tea and G- or PG-rated (nothing spicy).
• Maximum lines: 30 (so I don’t need to spend years reading them all).

Other than that, have fun and good luck!

By the way, I should tell you what the prize is:

• Golden Moon Darjeeling
• Harney and Sons Japanese Sencha
• Tiger Wing – Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragonfruit
• Intaba South African Honeybush
• 1 Amsterdam Cup and Saucer (winner can pick the color)

Wow! Sounds so good! 

A Beautiful Valentine' Day Rose from the Bestest Hubby (and Tea Helper)

Hubby has been a willing part of this tea adventure. He loves trying the various tea samples and setting up the photo shoots as much as I do. What could be better? How about surprising me with this beautiful rose for Valentine's Day? Yep, he did. A dozen roses is great, but a single rose that says I'm his special tea lady is great by me.

Tea Kettle Philosophy — “Oops” Happens

“Oops!” Another spilling of tea. No sweat. Mop it up and brew another potful. Just be sure to use the best tea and water, steep it carefully, and watch your step when carrying the teapot to the table. Know what I mean? See the whole ugly mess on The Taste of English Tea Blog.

Tea Tale — The Hawk and the Dove

It’s a tough life out there in Nature, as my tea tale of the hawk and the dove will show. Grab a cuppa your favorite tea and settle in for a good read on The Taste of English Tea Blog.

Snow Day Tea Time

Snow here has all melted since the photos were taken, but I know many of you are getting dumped on again. Take a tip from me and enjoy the snow from inside your home, assuming your heat is still working. Above all, stay safe. Read about my snow day teatime on The Taste of English Tea Blog.

Mooning Over Golden Moon Teas

One of the best tea companies around, Golden Moon Tea is truly golden. Find out why on The English Tea Blog.

Selecting the Perfect Valentine Tea Gift

I’m trying to decide what tea gifts to give for Valentine’s Day. Chocolates, candies, teawares, or maybe even some tea? Get the details on The Taste of English Tea Blog.

Tea Is the Language of Love

Celebrate the “Month of Love” by having a special tea time with your true love. After all, tea speaks the language of love. See what I mean on The Taste of English Tea Blog.

PG Tips — “Perfectly Great” Tea!

Blended black teas abound. You have plenty to choose from. As far as I’m concerned, though, there are only a select few that steep up a worthy cup of tea. PG Tips is one. Read all about it on The English Tea Blog.

Taking Tea to Heart — A Tea Gift for Your True Love

Roses, chocolates, love songs, and poetry bursting with emotion are okay, I guess. But a gift of tea really says “I love you” with every sip. Find out how on The Taste of English Tea Blog.

Pride of Asia — Oolong Tea

Longing for a great tea? Try Oolong. Read all about it on The English Tea Blog.

Assam Tea Basics

It’s just black tea, right? Not when it’s Assam tea. This quick steeping tea is used in many breakfast blends. Find out where it comes from on the English Tea Blog.