How to find the Perfect cup of Tea in Mallorca – Calle Crux 20 Campos

Jewel coloured silk cushions greet you in this hidden courtyard as the soft blue sky warms the lavender scented breeze – it is pretty nice sitting here she notes in understatement…….

In the distance I hear the distinctive hiss of boiling water.

I raise my expectations for a more than average cup of tea that can live up to these delightful surroundings. Truth be told my dears, I already know I am onto a tea winner here. There are not too many venues that boast a separate blackboard listing their tea. I have chosen a black rose.

A moments apprehension sweeps over me. At this point, my imagination has dreamt perfection.

I need not have had a moments doubts though. Ah, leaf tea in its own brewing bag is brought with, yes, you have guessed it, extra boiling water to infuse the splendid aromatic blend. If you are ever passing Campos, I hope this has given you reason to pause and indulge in the quality leaf tea at this splendid establishment. A contented Tea with Mary Kate is thrilled the Spanish have expanded their taste beyond coffee!

a lovely cup of leaf tea in Mallorca

 

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A Review of James Pogsons Northern Tea Merchants Rose Congou Tea – in a Vintage Tea Cup of course

I have had the great fortune to meet with and visit James at Northern Tea Merchants. 

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

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Seize the Tea Moment – Contentment in a Cup

Seize the Tea Moment!

I think we all have moments when thoughts drift passed, you think oh, that looks interesting but I’ll do it later, I’ll try that another time…and  before you know it, time has passed, the moment is almost lost. I was in danger of doing just that – leaving some interesting leaf tea that my curious & enthusiastic self had purchased still sealed in its packaging but edging towards its sell by date.

Take time for tea & Seize the Tea Moment - Tea letters

Tea – One Sip on the Way to Contentment in a Cup

I remind the very same self of a promise to expand and experiment in the new found world of tea. I seized the tea moment and was determined to brew a selection of different tea’s throughout the day, the choice an echo to compliment my mood and the time of day.

Before you start you tea journey, there is one very important decision to be made – the cup from which you chose to sip your warming brew.

For my tea day, I am drawn to a beautiful vintage bone tea cup from Colclough China, with a gorgeous soft green and golden floral decoration, I do hope you approve.

Tea tasting Moment - Contentment in a Vintage tea cup

Then, it is onto the day’s Tea Tasting Journey! And my dears, it goes without saying it is leaf tea…….

• For breakfast, I start with a blend from Yorkshire Gold – Strong and  brisk, oh how I love its bright, robust flavour, perfect to wake up to.
• Mid morning, I reach for Tippy Assam – Malty and rich, it tastes of liquid biscuit in a cup.
• At lunch, I decide on Tieh Kwan Yin – Oolong tea is so refreshing, but bewitching and confusing to the palette, somewhere  between vegetal green and black, the combination both strange and enchanting.
• Finally, I finish my tea day with an evening cup of Rose tea – Fragrant and warming, the beautiful scent of rose oil mixed with pretty rose petals is delightful as I wrap my hands around the cup.

Take Time for Tea

Once you have tasted gorgeous tea, I would argue it is hard to go back to a standard tea bag. Fresh, properly brewed tea lifts a veil onto another world that it is difficult to forget, indeed, why would you wish to? By necessity, the ceremony of taking time for tea slows you down, pausing to steep the tea, it is both familiar and calming. In that magical alchemy of hot water infusing tea leaves, between that first sip and the last, contentment in a cup drifts over you, all problems are solved.

And per chance another adventure in tea tasting is on the horizon, as I have recently discovered Rare Tea, a company founded by Tea lady Henrietta Lovell, whose heart is quality, with a sharp focus on provenance and tea ethics, sourcing from small boutique growers of high unique tea. Already, I feel another tea day coming on…..

A personal P.S – My heartfelt thanks to a very special talented friend for her creative genius with the beautiful Tea letters.

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Tea With Mary Kate’s Inspiring Idea’s for a Rose Vintage Afternoon Tea

I was enchanted by a marvellous demonstration on how to make a corsage at the RHS flower show in Cardiff.  I loitered just long enough, and was given a beautiful rose corsage, just the inspiration for a rose inspired Vintage Afternoon Tea.

Make it special – Send an invitation for a rose inspired Vintage Afternoon Tea.

The sheer delight of receiving such an invitation is a signal that it is special. I think 3.30pm is the perfect time, ideal to do your preparations, and still have enough time for you to get ready too.

Elegance Vintage Attire is just the ticket

Your invitation could include a dress code, I would suggest nothing too complex or expensive, but something that will mark the event as a special occasion, which of course it is! I am enchanted by the elegance of a 1940s vintage tea dress, it conjures up waitresses in black and white uniforms serving an elegant clientele, quintessentially the perfect outfit for afternoon tea.

A rose corsage for each of your guests as they arrive is such a lovely gift.

I adore those corsages that are designed to be worn on your wrist, so very vintage! Do choose a perfumed rose, and the smell will be gorgeous. A creative alternative is to make them as part of your afternoon tea event on the day.

What really makes a vintage afternoon tea  is authentic vintage crockery

Of course, lay the table the vintage table cloths. In my imagination, there is chatter and the sound of teaspoons chinking on bone china. Harlequin sets are quite lovely, and you are feeling terribly generous, you could even give everyone their tea cups as a gift from the day. A favourite vintage china tea cup of mine at the moment is this beautiful Wellington china cup -  I love the bright yellow contrast to the stylish pink roses.

 

Beautiful vintage crockery makes all the difference

 

Another key element is a vintage Cake stand to display all those gorgeous sandwiches and cakes.

What you choose to serve is of course up to you but delicate sandwiches are a must. It could be a Welsh inspired theme. I look for inspiration in yesteryear cookery books like Mrs Beetons household management. For my rose themed tea, I’m planning on creating rose scented panna cotta.

No ifs, no buts, no maybes, Leaf Tea it must be!

The only rule I have stipulated for this rose inspired vintage afternoon tea event  is that the tea must be leaf tea. But oh, I hear you sigh, hesitating, what about washing out the teapots afterwards? Dismiss that minor inconvenience immediately – it is a vintage tea after all, where there would never have been a bag option – and leaf tea tastes so much better! I’ll be choosing a rose flavoured leaf tea, in keeping with the rose inspired vintage afternoon tea theme. As it’s fairly unusual, I’m looking forward to the novelty in exploring quite a different flavour. And you can always have a less exotic  but gorgeous blend on standby for those that are feeling less experimental. A personal favourite is Yorkshire Gold, a wonderful blend, with a good strong flavour, and to my palate has a gentle aromatic hint of peaches.

No reason is too big, too small, all it takes is the idea and some encouragement to motivate you!

Tea with Mary Kate is all about inspiration for living life, with idea’s for events that provide the motivation to connect with those who are important to us. Your Rose inspired Vintage Afternoon Tea could be to celebrate a birthday, to raise money for a charity event, or just to have a lovely girlie afternoon together.

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