TeaTime

come for tea As leaves turn an array of golden hues and temperatures moderate, autumn seems to usher in the perfect time for afternoon tea, especially ones reflecting the flavors, produce, and motifs of the season. For fitting inspiration, look no further than the “Welcome the Harvest” menu and tablescape (page 37) or a charming hat-themed teatime (page 51) that will enthrall adults and children alike. The chapeaux-shaped foods our talented recipe developers and food stylists have crafted for this menu are truly delightful. I think you’ll be surprised by the marvelous mixture of china patterns our stylist, Courtni Bodiford, pulled together for this in conjunction with Robin Wilhelm of Tea and Old Roses, a Birmingham, Alabama–based vintage china rental company. (Be sure to read Robin’s article on page 79 for…

Dedicated Readers “Eagerly look forward to every issue! This is a favorite magazine! Beautiful photography, great articles.” SUZANNE HALLIDAY via Twitter “Your recipes are so clearly laid out and beautifully presented and totally delicious. You are turning me into the perfect chef.” LYNDA MYLES TILL via teatimemagazine.com “Love this page and the magazine. I get so many terrific ideas and try to make the recipes my own.” SUSAN B. SCHEUER via Facebook A Welcome Surprise “[When] the May/June issue of TeaTime magazine arrived … I was excited to see “4 Tearooms in Southern California” on the cover. Can you imagine the smile on my face when I found that The Tea House on Los Rios was one of the tearooms featured? For more than a decade, my two daughters and I have celebrated birthdays, Christmas, and Mother’s Day at The Tea…

September 21 World Peace & Poetry Tea 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Chateau des Fleurs Eagle, Idaho Join fellow tea lovers for an inspiring event filled with scrumptious bites and beautiful poetry to promote kindness and peace in our world. A lovely three-course afternoon tea will be served and includes a pot of tea for each guest from a choice of 12 blends, a slice of quiche with a garden salad, and a delicious assortment of tea sandwiches and desserts. Tickets cost $49 per person and $39 for children 10 and under. To reserve your spot or learn more, visit chateaueagle.com. 23 & 24 Pennsylvania Tea Festival 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Rosemary House and Sweet Remembrances Tea Room Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania Held in the fragrant herb gardens of The Rosemary House and Sweet Remembrances Tea Room, the fifth Pennsylvania Tea…

Delightful Indulgence Satisfy your sweet tooth and upgrade scones by adding scrumptious Black Currant Preserves with Bergamot & Dark Chocolate, made with fresh ingredients from Ohio producers. ($14, prospectjamco.com) Welcome Refreshment Enjoy the invigorating tastes of Queen Bee Lip Balm, in flavors like Lavender Peppermint and Vanilla Chai, made of clarified beeswax from Detroit-based apiaries run by the nonprofit organization, Bees in the D. ($5.00, beesinthed.com or 313-462-9624) Beautiful Accessory Brew the perfect cup of tea and add a touch of elegance to teatime by using this handmade Copper Tea Strainer, whose sales provide aid to charitable causes. ($32.00, gardenapothecary.com or 650-727-7314) North Carolina Craftsmanship Enhance your daily teatime while supporting a local craft guild with this charming Single Serve Fox and Fern Teapot made of porcelain and hand-painted with either a sleeping or a curled fox…

Chai GARDEN APOTHECARY | gardenapothecary.com TEACUP: Denby Rockingham “Pepper, ginger, cardamom, and cinnamon flavor this infusion that is perfect for an autumnal teatime but with no caffeine.”—Courtni Bodiford, stylist Cochin Masala Chai THE TEA SHOPPE | theteashoppewv.com TEACUP: Royal Stafford 8473 “Packed with well-balanced spices of Southern India, this robust black tea is surprisingly sweet and silky-smooth.”—Lorna Reeves, editor Spiced Masala Chai MARK T. WENDELL TEA COMPANY | marktwendell.com TEACUP: Royal Albert Gold Ferns “Indian black tea leaves with a mix of spices and a hint of vanilla brews a full-bodied cup that is so enjoyable with a splash of milk.”—Katherine Ellis, associate editor Pumpkin Chai CHICAGO TEAHOUSE | chicagoteahouse.com TEACUP: Royal Albert Gloria “Creamy pumpkin mingles with familiar chai spices in a cozy blend that would be an excellent way to stay warm in the fall.”—Janice Ritter, dealer program manager Rooibos Chai Organic THE BOULDER TEA…

There is a tea that is probably absent from the menu of your local tearoom, and you won’t find it on supermarket shelves or featured in gourmet food catalogs. Known only to a small audience of tea drinkers outside of China, yellow tea lies somewhere between its siblings, green and oolong. While there are thousands of teas in the green clan, the same cannot be said for the yellow tea family. Today, only three members of this vanishing family survive. They are Huo Shan Huang Ya, Meng Ding Huang Ya, and Jun Shan Yin Zhen. The best-known and least expensive is Huo Shan Huang Ya, named for Huoshan County of Anhui Province, where it is grown. For more than a century, Anhui has been known for Keemun, one of the favorite China…