TeaTime May/June 2018

Warming temperatures, blue skies, blooming flowers, and chirping birds beckon us to have our teatimes and tea parties outdoors at this time of year, and I am certainly happy to oblige. This issue is filled with al fresco tea parties in what may be slightly unexpected locales, as well as indoor gatherings with plenty of inspiration from nature. While I enjoy drinking hot tea year-round (yes, even in hot weather), I know that many of you prefer to have yours iced and, perhaps, with a little (or a lot) of sugar. To celebrate your penchant for the cold version of this marvelous beverage and to mark June as National Iced Month, the TeaTime staff is pleased to showcase some of our favorite iced infusions from our recent tasting. (See page 15.)…

Praise for March/April 2018 Wonderful article on Elyse and John Harney! Thanks to James Norwood Pratt for this enjoyable story of their beautiful romance and how they worked together as a team. Your magazine is always a joy and highlight of my day when received. SHIRLEY ALBRIGHT-SIMPSON Via letter Just received my latest issue of TeaTime. Eight lovely places for tea in France. This first-ever French issue is the absolute best! I am recommending it highly to several friends. The recipes look fabulous. I can hardly wait to snuggle up with a cup of tea and read it cover to cover. Merci beaucoup! LAURA MARTIN-WILLIAMS Via Facebook From Cover to Cover TeaTime is my favorite magazine. I always sit down with a cup of tea as soon as I receive a new issue and read cover…

May 6 Afternoon Tea and Evensong 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. Trinity Church Princeton, New Jersey Fresh from their successful tour of England in 2017, Trinity Church’s exceptional choir will perform a Choral Evensong in the historic church. This musical evening will be preceded by an afternoon tea, featuring a special blend of tea created for the occasion and plenty of homemade savories, sweets, and traditional scones. The event, which costs $35 per person, kicks off a fundraising effort for the choir and parish to raise money for their next tour in the United Kingdom in 2021. Reservations are required and can be made by e-mailing trinitychurchtea@gmail.com or calling 609-924-4807. 13 Mother’s Day Tea 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Old Caledonian Bed & Breakfast Caledonia, Missouri Spoil mom with a proper afternoon tea in an 1849 historic mansion, which now…

Fancy Fowl These elegant, handcrafted Bird Napkin Jewels from L’Objet are accented with Swarovski crystals and are available in gold and platinum (pictured). (Set of 4 for $135, l-objet.com or 855-562-5388) Perching on Pillars Enhance your tablescape with a pretty pair of aluminum Bird & Branch Pillar Candleholders from SPI Home. ($49, amazon.com) Birds and Blooms Send warm wishes and joyful greetings with these artful Cherry Blossoms & Hummingbirds notecards. ($20, lauraleeder.com or 250-254-0083) Nice and Cozy Let your brew nest inside this adorable Birdsong Tea Cozy embellished with brightly colored illustrations from artist Madeleine Floyd. ($16, english-teapots.com or 909-718-9999) Conservation Cuppa Donate to a worthy cause while enjoying the full-bodied, World Bird Sanctuary black tea blend from Trail Lodge Tea. ($8.50, traillodgetea.com or 314-680-3015)…

Lemon Quencher Black Iced Tea SIMPSON & VAIL svtea.com • 800-282-8327 PITCHER: Simon Pearce Meridian “As the name implies, this black tea has a pleasant zesty hint of lemon, perfect for quenching thirst on a warm afternoon.” —Leighann Bryant, art director W ld Strawberry Green Tea ELMWOOD INN FINE TEAS elmwoodinn.com • 800-765-2139 PITCHER: Majestic Gifts Classic Rectangular “Infused with strawberry essence and papaya pieces, the mild notes in this Japanese green tea are especially enjoyable cold.” —Britt Stafford, associate editor Moroccan Mint SIMPSON & VAIL svtea.com • 800-282-8327 PITCHER: Juliska Berry and Thread “This refreshing green tea is so well balanced with just enough mint for a delightful finish without being overpowering.” —Lorna Reeves, editor Hibiscus Berry Iced Tea HUGO TEA COMPANY hugotea.com PITCHER: Zafferano Provenzale “The vibrant color of this herbal brew only hints at its refreshing floral taste. One sip calls to mind images of an…

Much of the world continues to be baffl ed by America’s fascination with iced tea. We drink 80 percent of our tea poured over ice and, for over a half-century, we have expected this ubiquitous beverage to be “a crisp, clear tea that’s never cloudy,” as first advertised by Nestea Instant Iced Tea in 1971. While we writers wax eloquently about the legendary tea gardens of China, India, and Sri Lanka, many readers will find it surprising that over 40 percent of the tea imported annually into the United States comes from Argentina. In that South American country, tea bushes, planted in long rows on flat terrain, are skim-cut weekly by tall-wheeled harvesters that vacuum the clippings into hoppers. Truckload after truckload of fresh green leaves are quickly transported to adjoining…