I hesitate, well almost, to mention any contrast to todays modern male tea drinking equivalent on the grounds that I could find myself in some equivalent territory to the tea bag – and I do wish to avoid any politically incorrect hot water!

Sourced by an intrepid Antipodean correspondent, Tea with Mary Kate just adores this advertisement about Billy Tea. It is just laugh out loud funny! Enjoy!

Billy Tea - A tea from a time when a man's emotional side was his wife

Afternoon Tea for the fashion conscious at the Berkley Hotel

Prêt-à-Portea

Inspired by catwalk designs, served with fabulous china tea sets, the menu changes every 6 months. Tea with Mary Kate is looking forward to the new Spring/Summer 2012 afternoon tea!

The fire is roaring in the grate but who could have imaged that there could be such suspense and danger sitting by the fire and having a cup of tea?

A cup of tea with Sherlock - Holmes pours his guest a brew - image courtesy of BBC

In the 2nd BBC series Sherlock, Reichenbach Falls featured a splendid scene where Sherlock, anticipating the arrival of his arch enemy Jim Moriarty, puts the kettle on, and you have guessed it – makes a pot of tea! How civilised I thought, as Jim is rather an unpleasant person. It felt right that the modern day Sherlock still drinks his tea from a cup and saucer. Quite frankly, my dears, there are some things that really do not change.

Sherlock’s razor sharp logic and sometimes unfathomable reasoning for agreeing to take a case frequently reminds John Watson how very annoying he is

Nevertheless, you cannot help but be drawn to this moody intellectual violin playing character. Rather than the Victorian interpretation as originally written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the BBC have rather cleverly brought Sherlock up to date. Although rather poignantly, the modern day John Watson has returned injured from war in Afganistan just as the original book, gone is Sherlocks pipe and in are nicotine patches, with hackney cabs replacing their horse drawn 19th century equivalents.

The beautiful tea set by Ali Miller featured in the scene was sold out that night

Although  thank goodness she assures that more can be had, with patience my dears.

Beautiful Ali Miller tea pot and cups from her UK tea set

Inspiration for a Sherlock Holmes Gentleman’s Tea

This gentlemans tea is homely, in contrast to the danger and suspense that Sherlock is usually surrounded by. Prepared by Mrs Hudson who rather amusingly we know will have needed to search discriminately in the fridge for the supplies for this tea, avoiding the gruesome specimens that Sherlock stores there. Create a menu to hand to your guests and attach an interesting Sir Arther Conan Doyle quote from favourite your book – I adore “Elementary my Dear Watson” as it usually comes at the point where Sherlock Holmes has solved the crime, and Watson is still very much still baffled and in the dark.

Gentlemans High Tea Menu

Rounds of strong cheese and pickle sandwiches on white bread

Warm mini salmon fish cakes with dill sauce

Crumpets toasted by the fire, and spread thickly with butter

Battenberg if there is an interest in something sweet

And of course leaf tea –  a current delightful discovery is Jeniers Assam  - a malty full bodied brew, just perfect for this gentlemans high tea.

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Sherlock with tea sensibilities

Beautiful Indian Tree Vintage China tea cup - Anchor china

Tea with Mary Kates review of Assam

The brown & green leaves smell sweet and woody. From the Borengajuli estate, this is a second flush flowery broken orange pekoe (FBOP). It is full bodied and strong with soft malty flavours.  A proper cup of tea, it feels sustaining and a real pick me up. Without question, this is a tea that Tea with Mary Kate advises to be taken with milk.

This Scottish based company is looking to provide a quality product and service in the tradition of pioneers like Sir Thomas Lipton. Liquid biscuit in a cup, Assam is one of Tea with Mary Kates favourite teas. My thanks to the lovely team at Jenier for the opportunity to taste their Borengajuli FBOP Assam.

Other Jenier Tea reviews:

A review of Jeniers Scottish Tea Blend

This Scottish based company is looking to provide a quality product and service in the tradition of pioneers like Sir Thomas Lipton. I have been really delighted from the first contact to the very prompt delivery of a range of samples to try.

The perfect vintage china tea cup for Scottish breakfast Tea

There is nothing quite like sipping the tea from the perfect vintage cup

Tea is an experience, a journey, time for you, and quite frankly, a vintage tea cup makes the whole tea experience! That moment of contemplation of tea and cup, and the expectation of the experience is almost as lovely, almost, as that first warm, amazing sip, smelling the aroma, steam rising as you relax into thinking about your second cup.

Tea with Mary Kates review of Jeniers Scottish Breakfast Blend tea.

Jeniers Scottish breakfast tea is a bright and bold full mouthful of tea. The lovely aroma of the brown curled leaves is wonderfully traditional. A mix of Assam, China Black Keemun Gold and a Chingwo County Orange Pekoe, it smells like a proper old fashioned blend and brews to a rich flavourful tea that has just the right balance of depth without being too malty. I would recommend it needs to be taken with milk. My dears, it feels just as you would imagine it needs to be – warm and sufficient to sustain you on a cold dreak Scottish morning. Ay, it is a grand cuppa indeed Jenier.

Tea with Mary Kate was delighted to discover that Postcard Teas have taken this to a whole new level. Instead of just ordering tea, send a Tea postcard! All the teas have amazing images and equally amazing names – who could resist Master Matsumoto’s Supernatural Green .

Order Darjeeling first flush via Tea mail from Postcard Tea

The idea of connecting the aesthetic and your own personal message with each specific tea is really special. A wonderful and unique idea, I have included 2 of my favourite postcards. Tea with Mary Kate would be delighted to receive a Tea postcard via Tea mail anytime.

Order Tea Flower Tea via Tea Mail from Postcard Tea

My dears, there is more good news! Jenier world of tea has just the perfectly named brew to serve this valentines day

 Lovers Leap Ceylon tea  available as loose leaf orthodox or in a delightful pouch. Described as a truly delightful, medium bodied, flavoursome tea from one of the best tea gardens in Sri Lanka, this Scottish based company’s focus is on quality. Jenier assure us that as it is grown at high altitude amongst steep hills, we can be sure of tasting a wonderful piquant cup with real Ceylon character. Well, I will need to take their word on it now with a prospect of a future order to sample this tempting tea.

For more Valentines day inspiration, look no further than:

Thoughtful musing on a valentines day Tea

A valentines day tea to fall in love with

What can I say – Tea with Mary Kate has found the perfect gift for all you Tea lovers out there – enjoy!

One sunny afternoon, I took him up on his very kind offer of an afternoon of tea tasting. It was really excellent fun and very educational.

My favourite tea of the afternoon is his black Rose congou tea.

Delightfully fragrant, it looks as good as it smells with beautiful rose petals dispersed amongst the thin twisted very black tea leaves. The tea has depth with a perfect balance of rose blended with just the right amount of black china tea.  The end result is a delightful flavour combination that is far from too sweet although rather importantly, the fragrant aroma of the rose still comes through.

The great thing about this excellent tea is that can be taken with or without milk, though if truth be told I have it with milk most of the time. What Tea with Mary Kate will not accommodate however is the tea being drunk in anything other than a gorgeous vintage china tea cup. There are standards to be maintained, my dears, I am sure you agree.

Rose Congou Leaf tea in a vintage tea cup