TeaTime September - October 2017

As autumn ushers in cooler temperatures and changing foliage colors, it brings with it an array of opportunities for tea, many of them highlighted in this issue. If you have a penchant for hosting tea parties, our fall-themed table settings, menus, and tea pairings will inspire you. From a casual come-and-go to a sit-down affair to an intimate teatime for two, there’s something for all aesthetics. A visit to a new-to-you tearoom or tea shop offers another wonderful way to indulge. Be sure to read, beginning on page 46, about some excellent venues in beautiful western Maryland. And if your travels take you to storied Canterbury in England, you really should put Tiny Tim’s Tearoom on your itinerary. Kerry Vincent writes about this reportedly haunted tearoom in an article on page 51. If…

Kudos for TeaTime “I subscribe to TeaTime, read it from cover to cover, and then refer to it again and again. Thank you for an exceptional magazine.” CAROLYN BAIN Salem, Virginia TeaTime Tea Parties “I love TeaTime magazine. Thank you for all the wonderful articles and recipes. I am a pastor’s wife and have used several recipes and decorating ideas from the magazine to host tea parties for the young girls, teenagers, and women of my church.” THOMETRA FOSTER Via Facebook Father’s Day Tea Appreciation “I have been buying your magazine for years. This [May/June 2017 issue] is the first in which I loved every single recipe, and the Father’s Day tea is your best yet.” ROBIN HELZER Via Facebook Sharing Family Traditions “I’ve been a subscriber to TeaTime magazine for a few years. Even now, every time I read…

September 2 Bye Bye Birdie Evening 6:00 p.m. Erika’s Tea Room Clermont, Florida “Put on a Happy Face,” and join Erika’s Tea Room for an evening devoted to the musical sensation Bye Bye Birdie. “We’ve Got a Lot of Livin’ To Do,” so come and enjoy a five-course menu paired with complementing teas for each course. Guests will test their movie knowledge with trivia and games and are invited to dress up. The cost is $30 per person, and reservations are required. For reservations, please call 908-670-2305, or visit us online at erikastearoom.com. 8 & 9 Friendship Tea 11:00 a.m. Miss Spenser’s Special-Teas New Virginia, Iowa It’s Friendship Tea Month at Miss Spenser’s! Everyone knows a “shared joy is a double joy.” Bring a special friend (or two), and double your joy with the gift of friendship and a lovely traditional English…

Classic Delights Few things complement a cup of tea better than a shortbread treat, especially if the wedges are made in a pan imprinted with a variety of teapot designs. ($34.95, fancyflours.com or 406-587-0118) Linens for the Season From gorgeous tea towels to intricate crochet-trimmed and floral napkins, April Cornell’s Fall 2017 line of linens brings autumn wonder to your table. ($19.50 each for tea towels, $29 for set of four napkins, aprilcornell.com or 888-332-7745) Fall’s Golden Hues Accessorize your napkins with charming gilded napkin rings. Each set of four features a variety of elegant leafy designs. ($11.96, worldmarket.com or 877-967-5362) A Nice Touch Write a thoughtful letter, or invite your loved ones to tea using pretty note cards. Each boxed set comes with 10 fold-over cards and soft pink envelopes. ($12.95, papyrusonline.com or 707-399-3775) Tea Among the…

Smoked Grey NEWBY Newbyteas.com/us | 517-999-0590 CUP & SAUCER: Wedgwood Trentham “A bold smoky aroma and flavor make this black tea an enjoyable libation with a pleasantly soothing aftertaste.” —Britt Stafford, associate editor Bodo Black Assam LAKE MISSOULA TEA COMPANY lakemissoulatea.com | 406-926-1038 CUP & SAUCER: Spode Regency “Wonderful notes of molasses, chocolate, and raisin abound in this hearty black tea that is grown in an elephant-friendly garden.” —Lorna Reeves, editor Andean Princess CAPITAL TEAS capitalteas.com | 888-484-8327 CUP & SAUCER: Spode Indian Tree “A well-balanced blend of grape, raspberry, and hibiscus notes in this black tea creates a delicate cuppa that leaves you with a sweet and subtle finish.” —Sarah Howard, editorial assistant English Breakfast ELMWOOD INN FINE TEAS elmwoodinn.com | 800-765-2139 CUP & SAUCER: Royal Crown Derby Chelsea Bird “This traditional English Breakfast tea, with its full-bodied richness, will be a welcome addition to my selection of morning…

The world of tea continues to expand with seemingly unending choices for consumers: rich black teas from Africa and Sri Lanka; malty teas from Assam; floral first- and second-flush teas from Darjeeling; herbaceous green teas from Japan; rare, handmade teas from Taiwan; honeylike white teas from China or Hawaii; and flavored teas of all types. Even people who once claimed to not like tea are finding the beverage’s bountiful flavors to be both fascinating and alluring. How do students of tea explore the myriad intricacies of the world’s favorite beverage? How do we discover new teas for our unending tea collections? I suggest copying a popular tasting scenario used by our wine and beer friends, who have for many years offered a set of small servings, or “flights,” especially curated to…