TeaTime Summer 2005

Tea is probably the most versatile and intriguing beverage I know of. It is rooted in ancient history; it is available in countless blends and flavors; it can be served hot or cold; it can claim medicinal properties; it inspires tranquility and relaxation—its positive attributes are many, and I can’t think of a single negative! With the coming of summer and the freedom to move outdoors to porches, patios and gardens, teatime takes on a new, relaxed feeling. I hope your day will be brightened by the whimsical tea service shown on the cover. While the serving of tea usually conjures up images of finest china and sterling silver, and an air of formality, there are times when a playful spirit is appropriate to the brew. We’ve included three summer teas—one set…

The spirit of the tea beverage is one of peace, comfort, and refinement. —Arthur Gray Going out to tea is one of life’s most delightful pastimes. A hotel lounge or tearoom may use various titles to describe its tea offerings. Menus offer Afternoon Tea, Cream Tea, Light Tea, and Royal Tea. You will also encounter an offering of High Tea in certain establishments. Afternoon Tea No one is quite sure when afternoon tea was introduced into England, but the ceremony became widespread by the 1840s. Credit is given to Anna, seventh Duchess of Bedford, who, because of the long hours between lunch and the evening meal, suffered from afternoon “sinking spells.” She remedied them with a tray of tea, bread and butter, and cake. Unable to give up her delightful new habit, she…

Old-Fashioned Charm A thesaurus search of the phrase “old-fashioned” yields some rather saddening results: outdated, antiquated, outworn, fusty, and passé. How unfortunate such a lovely phrase, which used to infer sweet nostalgia, is now relegated to the idiomatic wastebin. At Dempsey & Carroll in New York City, old-fashioned is still in vogue. The shop employs hand-tooled dies and hand-stamping techniques to create their posh cards, invitations, and stationary—virtually unchanged from the methods first used when the store opened in 1878. The company, which caters to the likes of the late President Ronald Reagan and Katharine Hepburn, is painstaking in production because “no other priting method can approach the visual and sensory pleasure unique to engraved work,” or more simply put, “because it is the best.”…

Artful Afternoon The elegant restraint of afternoon tea is part of its appeal—the etiquette is defined, the ambience is understated, and the presentation is polished. Such decorum is part of the pleasure, elevating the status of the occasion from everyday diversion to artful interlude. But as the breezes of summer begin to blow, we are reminded that sometimes joy is to be found not in the “don’ts” but in the “do’s.” Summer gives us license to liberate our senses, imbues us with boldness. The magic of the season lies in its riotous lack of rules rather the preponderance thereof. Let that spirit of playfulness and whimsy guide you as you plan your next tea gathering—and your afternoon.…

Radical Redesign Ticolino tea wands, courtesy of Serengeti Tea Company, make singleserve infusions a snap. A radical redesign of the tea bag, the no-muss, no-fuss wand delivers a steaming cup of tea in just 90 seconds, and is available in six flavors, including Earl Grey. Fresh Cup Your next cup of tea is only as good as the canister it comes in. Ceylon Treasures’ airtight canister set is lovely to display, but most importantly, ensures the freshness of the teas inside. The company’s line of Batik loose-leaf teas are hand-picked from the tea gardens of Sri Lanka’s hill country. Slippery Wicket A dilemma is solved and seed is served in this ceramic Lavender Hill House teapot-style bird feeder. The feeder is a unique addition to any tea-lover’s collection, and the satiny glazed finish keeps hungry…

It has a brilliant luster, an attractive quality that draws the eye and interests even non-collectors. Silver, a classic collectible, possesses ageless beauty that has endured centuries of use and wear. So when you find that perfect piece at an auction, flea market, or antique store, it would be safe to assume that if it looks like silver, and you know it is not silver plate, then it must be sterling. Correct? Not necessarily. There is another possibility. American coin silver is a class of hollowware and flatware that was made from the time of the colonies until 1868, when the United States adopted the sterling standard. This required silversmiths to use sterling that was at least 925 parts per thousand pure silver. Prior to this, their canvas was coins. “The term…