Race for Olympic Tea Pot

After having watched the emotional race of a lifetime as Bradley Wiggins created cycling history, making a brew was all I could do to calm down afterwards – and oh how I wished I had this historic china teapot to make that celebratory cuppa in. I adore the retro 1948 austere simplicity and the stylish olympic rings decoration at the lid. Just the perfect teapot to brew your celebratory cuppa with Great British pride.

Wedgwood Museum collection 1948 olympic teapot

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What to Do When you are a Tea Girl who is a Long Way from Home

Wouldn’t it be dreadful to live in a country where they didn’t have tea?

So said Noel Coward. Quite honestly, what self respecting tea drinker could possibly disagree. Indeed, I would go so far as to advocate the need to employ some sort of tea strategy to avoid at all costs that situation where you are unable to get a decent cuppa. Well, you wouldn’t wish to be caught short, craving for that all important and restorative cup of tea, especially when you are on holiday and meant to be having a splendid time.

Here are some thoughts on potential options:

1 Find a fabulous tea room PDQ (that’s pretty darn quick)

A local option is frankly an upside miracle in some situations, and plan B at best.  but what a rescue if you can locate such an establishment.

There is hope for this approach, as I have stumbled across some lovely places whilst on my travels.

2 Locate an amazing leaf tea supplier

I shudder to think of the scenario if, heaven forbid, you are in the inevitable position of having left or, she gasps in amazement, forgotten to pack your tea supplies from home. In this case, you’ll be hoping for strategic option 1, however, failing this, finding a seller of gorgeous leaf tea is then another possibility to remedy the omission.

3 Create you very own, home from home, portable travelling tea kit

As you may have guessed, this is my preferred approach, as at least you know you have something to fall back on! What I would advise, strongly is to create, or find your own kit. In my kit is an unbreakable tea pot, flasks with hot water and cold milk, and the all important leaf and ahem, tea bags (one never knows the constraints of the situation that may dictate the tea making…needs must and frankly this is preferable to no tea at all), flasks, and lovely cups. What I would just love to have in my possession though is a gorgeous vintage tea making picnic hamper. No hot water flasks requited here as the means to heat water is part of the set up. Quite frankly, freshly boiled water is so much better for tea making.

Beautiful and Practical Tea Picnic Hamper – From Huey Ying Hsu pinterest

If abroad from old Blighty, there are other key tea factors at play

I do confess that even the self created tea kit does have its limitations however……..The water will be different  for sure. I remember using filtered water when I lived in the US, and still tea just never quite was the same. I could not achieve that perfectly remembered brew until I returned home. Then, there is the additional complication if you take anything in your tea. As I am one of those, it is access to fresh milk that taxes me, and in hotter climes, my experience is that this is virtually an impossibility. Without wishing to sound like I am never going to leave the security of my home for fear of the lack of a decent cup of tea, one country that delighted the tea sense was Japan. I would return in a heartbeat.

It goes without argument then that when you are a tea girl who is a long way from home, clearly, one would wish to avoid being caught short. I’d be thrilled to hear of any more idea for avoiding such a dire situation as lacking tea while travelling.

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The Intangible Health Benefit of Tea

The health benefits of Tea – just what you need when feeling under the weather

There have been many, many articles on the health benefits of tea.

However, there have been a few articles also that point in the other way. A notable recent study was in prostate cancer in men. Quite honestly even its authors could not mitigate that this finding could be due to the fact these men had lived to an older age where the incidence and likely risk of prostate cancer is increasing. So what is the truth? Is tea doing anything at all?

A true test of tea

The prostate cancer data was from a collaborative study, but it got me to thinking that there can never ever be a truly double blind randomised controlled trial that is regarded as totally de rigour. For one, there could never be an absolute “double blind”, as quite honestly, it would be a bit tricky to disguise whether you were being given tea or not. In other words, all the participants would know, even if the “prescribers” were “blind” to who was getting what. There is undoubtably something in the anecdotal evidence that exists though, and the antioxidant argument  for one can be supported through other means. I would argue it is more than the tea per se.

There is another more essential Tea element

And it is this. Beyond the qualities of  the quite wonderful flavours of tea, there is the act of brewing that brings a moment of peace, a glimpse of mindfulness. More importantly though, there is an innate sense of belonging and feeling of care that is bestowed when one is making, or being made tea. It is that communion as well as the heady warmth of that first sip that I think gives an intangible health benefit of tea.

When unwell, what has perked me up is the prospect of a warm fragrant cup that will wake me, brewed under instruction by my darling whose pinnacle of tea brewing sophistication is Yorkshire Rwandan bag as he so eloquently has described it. Please don’t mistake me here, I am a huge fan of Yorkshire tea, and this seasons Rwandan is lovely, but  I do believe there is so much more to the health benefits of tea than its taste alone.

P.S. My thanks to the lovely friends who sent this card with their very kind and wise words that accompanied it.

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More useful than a chocolate teapot – A Practical and Beautiful Paper Teapot Vase

Practical & beautiful Teapot Vase – Talking tables pastries and pearls

Just perfect for adding that finishing touch to any self respecting vintage afternoon tea party, I loved these paper teacup vases from Paper Parlour. Practical as well as beautiful, they have a clever plastic inner to ensure your flowers remain in perfect bloom and the teapot does not get soggy. I will be rushing to order as very fortunately have a surfeit of lovely flowers at the moment.

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“New Balls Please” – Inspiration for A Wimbledon Tennis Afternoon Tea

Wimbledon Tennis inspired afternoon tea treats – Dorchester Hotel London

The Wimbledon tennis championships are almost upon us. For those in need of any context, this is a time when the UK weather becomes either amazingly good, or spectacularly bad. All hopes are pinned on the possibility of a British winner – again. Perhaps fate will deem that time is now here – after all, it is the Jubilee, London Olympic’s year, she says in ever optimistic tones.

Cucumber sandwiches, strawberries with cream are the traditional fare of course but looking for inspiration for a tennis afternoon tea, I stumbled across a wonderful tennis ball and court cake – quite the perfect creations for such an occasion. Another favourite I feel compelled to share is the very creative collection of Wimbledon inspired cup cakes from Hummingbird Bakery. The grassy one is just amazing!

Serving up a tennis treat – Grassy lawns, tennis balls, racquets & strawberries – Wimbledon inspired cupcakes from the hummingbird Bakery

Now, you may be thinking what is the perfect drink  to accompany your afternoon watching tennis?

Now I know I am biased but what could be more perfect that iced tea. I love Lahloo tea’s cold infused summer punch tea. Truth be told though my dears, it may be very likely that you will be battling with your umbrella against the horizontal rain whilst clinging to your flask of hot water, thereby ensuring there is a more traditional, and importantly hot brew available. Whatever the weather though, do enjoy your Wimbledon tennis afternoon tea.

More afternoon tea time inspiration can be found at:

5 splendid ideas’s for amazing afternoon teas

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A Mad Paper Tea Party by Su Blackwell

Su Blackwell is a very talented artist, sculpting her art from books. Being a tea obsessed kind of girl, I adore her Alice, a mad tea party, The detail of the cups, teapot, table and chairs is exquisite. I am sure you will love it too.

Alice, a mad paper tea party by Su Blackwell

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My Summer Tea Cup Runneth Over

My summer tea cup planter runneth over

 

It is the longest day. It is raining. I love the rain.

My cup runneth over is a phrase that conjures a meaning of having more than enough for one’s needs.

As the noise of the rain taps the windows, I have a view – my summer tea cup runneth over . This is quite literally, as it is a giant planter that was bought as a lovely gift. This is quite figuratively too, as with a little persuasion, my dearest is braving said rain for a picture of my beautiful giant summer tea cup. I have everything I need. I hope you adore it as much as I do – and that your cup runneth over.

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You will want this Storm in a Tea Cup

I have always loved the term “storm in a tea cup” – its utterance implies to those listening that what appears to one party to be a massive problem may from another perspective be just a small fleeting item of no real consequence. I do advise use of such a splendid phrase only at those moments of greatest need. I am sure you can imagine my delight when I discovered this wonderful tea set, complete with boat at the bottom of the cup , revealed when you have drained your tea – a quite delightful creation to illustrate this wonderful saying.

you will want this beautiful storm in a tea cup – from the gifted penguin

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Meeting the hearts desire of any self respecting leaf tea Fanatic

Swan Hotel Newby Bridge guides the way with its Tea pot lights

In 1623, near Lake Windermere, the foundations of the now very elegant Swan hotel were laid. Luckily for all us tea lovers, they are not only using tea pots for very stylish lighting. Big brown tea pots with their house blend compete for table space at breakfast as well as serving a really wonderful range of leaf tea at other times of the day  - spectacularly meeting the hearts desire of any self respecting leaf tea fanatic. I adore the decor and would very happily copy  any aspect of their beautiful interior design. Tea with Mary Kate will be rushing back to this gorgeous venue.

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Father’s Day Treat – A Rather Posh Gentleman’s Tea at the Grosvenor Hotel Chester

Gentleman’s afternoon tea – perfect for a posh father’s day

The Grosvenor Hotel in Chester is one of those places when you step in the door that you know you are going to be apprehended I stand a little taller prior to the question – even if I know I have a good response – I always think it is harder to throw someone out who looks the part. But we have the necessary booking and all is efficient service once this initial encounter is done with. In our case, we are heading to the intimate Arkle bar and select a generous sofa to relax and await our tea. The tea is served freshly brewed, and poured for you if you wish. It goes without saying my dears that more hot water is supplied that easily brews another pot with the excellent tea leaves.

Gentleman’s Afternoon tea

At the perfect moment, just before we can no longer resist the cakes, we are tempted with the offer of more crusty bloomers and the gorgeous Cheshire Appleby cheese, a very nice touch that will have me returning bravo Grosvenor! A generous portion of chunky chips cannot fail to keep the chaps happy, but I have my eye on the liquorice macaroon and slab of fruit cake. The Grosvenor more than exceeds expectations. A great feature of this gentleman’s tea is the generosity of the experience. You can imagine that I can drink a fair amount of tea, but the Grosvenor has almost out tead even me. Their other rule – no electronic devices - Well, after all, one needs to concentrate on the essentials of a gentleman’s afternoon tea, and it does quite set the tone. With Father’s Day fast approaching, Tea with Mary Kate’s recommendation is a proper gentleman’s tea – just the ticket to treat that special man in your life.

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