The Tea Gastronomer

A Melange of Tea!

2011-10-03T22:08:00.005-04:00

I know, I haven't been updating TTG as much as I'd like to. But, due to a busy schedule and an overwhelming amount of work I've had on my hands the past few weeks, updating has been a dilemma in and of itself. That isn't to say I haven't been drinking tea. Of course I have! As the weather changes to Autumn and New York begins to become brisk and breezy, I like deep black Assams and Keemuns to keep me warm. Pumpkin anything usually wins my heart quite easily, and tis the season for Pumpkin Spice Chai, Pumpkin Pie Tea, and Pumpkin Muffin Tea. Search hard and you will find! Here are just a few teas I've had over the past month:

I recently picked up Zabar's own loose leaf Assam. Okay, it isn't the best Assam tea I've ever tasted, but it also isn't bad. A nice ritual with a two-cup teapot and Royal Albert China, a splash of milk and a bit of sugar. The perfect way to break during the day.

Dragon Well Green Tea at Cha An Teahouse in the East Village. A light and fragrant Chinese green tea that is smooth without much bite or bitterness. The thing I love about Cha An is that they refill your teapot multiple times...four in my case! I could drink this green tea all day. Have you looked up the health benefits of green tea? Do. You'll be happy to make it a part of your daily cuppa.

Iced Chai at Hampton Chutney Co. To assuage the heat of that severely spicy dosa, grab an iced chai. Milky and cold, and not too sweet, this chai combines cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and a strong black tea to create a delightful concoction. Now that the cold has started, it may be time to switch to the hot chai.

Taro Bubble Tea from Queen Bakery on Mott St at Grand. Although Queen Bakery uses tea powder for their bubble tea, they make a really great cup. It may have something to do with the fact that they use a blender in the process. The women who work there are all very nice (a surprise for Chinatown) and this is one of the best Taro Bubble Teas in Chinatown. Especially a surprise because it comes from a bakery, where most people are eating buns or slurping noodle soup.

More tea to come! Stay on the lookout!

-TTG

Radiance Tea House, New York, NY

2011-09-06T17:23:00.002-04:00

I've been meaning to go to Radiance Tea House for the past couple of year, but only this Sunday did I finally make it out to the tearoom. Located on 158 West 55th St, between 6th and 7th Avenues, Radiance is an East Asian Tea House with an extensive tea room and a focus on the Eastern tradition of enjoying tea in a tranquil surrounding.

My friend and I arrived at around 11:30 this past Sunday afternoon and there were only a few other sippers, so we mostly had the place to ourselves. The room is bright and open, with wooden floors, wooden chairs and tables, and plenty of Chinese teapots and cups on display on shelves throughout the space. I particularly like the tea brewing station set up in the middle of the shop. There is also a bookstore/gift shop within the space selling books on tea, teapots, and Radiance Tea House's own blends that you can browse after you finish your tea and snacks.

Although I really wanted to try the purple yam latte, I wasn't really in the mood for something milky and sweet, and I was so taken with the vast variety of tea on the menu. I decided to go for a Pu'er, settling on the Tuo Cha (Bird's Nest) tea. Radiance describes this tea as a "A traditional cooked pu’er that is brisk, smooth and earthy, giving the body and clean and detox feeling." The tea arrived in a Yellow Dragon Chinese teapot with an accompanying white teacup and was poured for me tableside. My first sips revealed that earth flavor with notes of smooth sweetness and a very clean taste. I really loved it. I haven't been drinking as much Chinese tea lately, so this was a good remember of why I should get back on that. My friend ordered the Southern Joy Iced Tea, "Radiance Classic Black, fresh lemon, rock sugar" mixed together for a tart and sweet iced tea.

Tuo Cha

Southern Joy

To pair with our tea we got some small dim sum. What they call "soupy pork dumplings" are similar to Shanghainese Xiao Long Bao. The dumplings were good, but they were lacking in soup and were too small. And for the price, I could certainly get more and better Xiao Long Bao in Chinatown. We also ate sticky rice filled with pork which was fine, but nothing special. The portions are small and rather expensive, for what you get. Still, it is important to have snacks with your tea and the food is quite nice. I think next time I'll go for sweets and order the green tea scone.

Xiao Long Bao

Sticky Rice in Banana Leaf

All in all, I had a very enjoyable experience at Radiance and I look forward to returning. The service was friendly and attentive, the room is beautiful, the tea is delicious and the menu is extensive, and they let you linger as long as you like. All qualities that make up a fine tea room. For your own bit of serenity from the hustle and bustle of midtown, visit Radiance.

Iced Matcha Latte, Takahachi Bakery, New York

2011-08-04T17:56:00.002-04:00

In the early afternoon, I found myself wandering the FiDi, a bit peckish. I knew exactly where to go: Takahachi Bakery on Murray Street. It has been a while since I've been over to this spectacular Japanese Bakery, but it's nice to see some great things don't change. Entering, I noted that the prepared foods are all still up front, and the fresh buns and pastries line the casings by the register.

Without even looking at the menu, I knew to get one of Takahachi's signature iced matcha lattes. The nice thing about the Takahachi matcha latte is that the matcha flavor comes through fully and it isn't overly sweet. Mixed with fresh milk, and enough ice to cool you down, but not to dilute your beverage, you have a perfect anytime pick-me-up. Paired with a corn-mayo bun on the side, this for me is a great Japanese afternoon snack!

Takahachi Bakery
Murray Street (Btw Church and Broadway)
New York, NY

Bosie Tea Parlor, West Village, NYC

2011-07-21T10:21:00.005-04:00

Bosie Tea Parlor is one of the newest additions to the tea scene in downtown Manhattan. Since my time away in South Africa, I had been reading up on Bosie and had only heard and seen what looked like a great new tearoom. All my expectations were met and exceeded this past Monday evening when I met with friends for some tea and catching up.

The room itself is comfortably decorated in dark oak, wooden tables, and soft lighting. Golden tea tins line the shelves and a cake display is filled with macarons, french pastries, and golden croissants. We were greeted by a friendly server who we chatted with for the majority of the evening and she had no qualms about keeping the shop open as we stayed into the night. It's nice to find a tearoom that stays open past 5:00 PM. Of course, this is Manhattan, so everything stays open quite late, unlike South Africa.

As I had already had my supper, I had to pass on food, but I will certainly return for a proper three-course tea complete with sandwiches, scones with cream and jam, and cakes. Instead, I ordered a matcha macaron with my tea, which was delicate and delicious, filled with green-tea flavor.
All of the tea served is from l'Age de The, a very fine tea purveyor. My first tea was the Golden Monkey, a nice blend of blacks that handles milk and sugar well, although I took mine black. Following my Golden Monkey, I enjoyed the pure Assam which was, as a good Assam should be, rich and full-bodied. What I really appreciated at Bosie is that the water temperature is perfect, the teacups are warmed before being brought out, and the tea leaves are steeped and then removed from the pot after the proper brewing time to allow a fine brew without any bitterness.

My friend Anna ordered the tea sandwiches and they came out beautifully. I can't wait to go back and have them myself. I give Bosie high marks in all categories. The tearoom is truly a nice blend between elegant and casual and all varieties of tea drinkers are welcome!

Contessa Tea Shop, Rivonia, South Africa

2011-06-19T01:58:00.005-04:00

I have been meaning to go to Contessa Tea Shop for the last four months, but I only finally got around to doing it this past Friday. Contessa is a Tea Shop and cafe located in Johannesburg's northern suburb of Rivonia. Despite the huge tea drinking culture here in South Africa, for the most part, variety and loose leafed teas have not steeped themselves deep into this culture, yet (pun intended!). Contessa is on a mission to change that, with a sprawling menu of over 70 different types of tea ranging from premium black, flavoured, green, white and herbal infusions.

My tea partner in crime, Alex, and I arrived at Contessa at about 10 AM and the place was bursting with life. Men and women alike were sitting at tables indoors and out sipping on pots of tea. We chose a quaint two person table in the corner by the front. What I love about Contessa is the rather eclectic style. Mirrors and portraits and old tea tins adorn the room, while exposed wooden tables and rustic chairs are planted on the checkerboard floor.

When presented with our tea menus, my eyes immediately gravitated toward Coconut Snow, a flavoured black tea. Alex decided to go for the Masala Chai. The tea at Contessa is presented in lovely glass pots, infuser inside so you can steep for as strong as you like. The cups and saucers are beautiful, flowered china cups, and as I always say, tea just tastes better from fine china cups and saucers. My Coconut Snow was a deep and powerful black tea laced with hints of coconut joy. Only a splash of milk and sugar bring out the its full glory. Alex's chai was full of cardamom and ginger flavour, and transported me to India for a brief moment. After we had finished our two pots, we opted to share a pot of Blackcurrant. Although I'm usually not a fruity tea drinker, I do love Blackcurrant, and this particular blend proved to be superb. Light and refreshing with subtle notes of the berry bursting.

Contessa has a full food menu with lavish breakfast such as Full Englishs, pancakes, toasteds, and oats. There is also a very impressive cake stand brandishing the delicacies of the day. Although I would have loved to try the chocolate coconut cake, it was just too early for me, so Alex and I opted for two muffins, which we split between us. The cappuccino and cheese muffins were large and fresh, served warm. What I love about South Africa is along with your serving of butter, strawberry jam, and apricot jam, you also almost always get a side of grated cheese to sprinkle on top. This mix of savoury and sweet is so delicious, and I want to continue this trend once I get back to the states.

Our bill total came out to about 60 Rand each, which is about 8 dollars a person. Very reasonable for three pots of tea and two large muffins. If I have the time, I would love to go back to Contessa. This is a tea shop that knows what its doing, and I promise you won't be disappointed with the selection or taste!

-The Tea Gastronomer

Simplicitea!

2011-06-01T03:56:00.003-04:00

I spent the past weekend in the Kingdom of Lesotho, a landlocked country within the confines of South Africa. It was extremely cold, but the mountainous countryside was beautiful and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. On a bitter Saturday morning, I woke up to this simple, little pleasure: a hot pot of green tea, served with a small bowl of buttermilk rusks, tennis biscuits and custard creams. So simple, yet so perfect. Taking time for tea and a biscuit allows you to appreciate your hosts and surroundings no matter where you are! Take time for yourself and make some hot tea and have something sweet to go with it. I promise it will brighten up your day! Will hopefully have some South Africa updates for you all soon!

Afternoon Tea, The Mount Nelson Hotel, Cape Town

2011-04-29T13:03:00.004-04:00

Afternoon Tea at the Mount Nelson in Cape Town is somewhat of an institution. The hotel is said to not only serve one of the greatest teas in South Africa, but one of the oldest. Since the turn of the century, the royal and the rich alike have met at the Mount Nelson to partake in this age old tradition. Today, all walks of life come together to indulge in this British tradition that sets apart the day and allows ultimate relaxation.

It was a beautiful and sunny Friday afternoon that I set out with my American counterparts to the Mount Nelson. We traveled on foot as the hotel was only a fifteen minute walk from our accommodation in center-city. The occasion was also very special because I would be meeting with a friend I went to high school with but hadn't seen for over three years! She has been studying at the University of Cape Town and we got in touch. The last time we were together, we were wearing our graduation robes and now here we were sitting down to tea in South Africa! That is the magical thing about taking tea; it brings people together.

The Mount Nelson is beautiful. Old colonial elegance set against lovely and flourishing gardens. This alone was enough, but as we were led through to our reserved seating on the terrace, I knew the afternoon would be perfect. White porcelain cups and saucers waited for us next to linen napkins and a gorgeous view of the grounds made for the perfect setting. Before long, our server Sydney came to chat with us. I want to applaud Sydney for being one of the best servers I have had to date. His knowledge and friendliness made the experience so much more memorable! I will hopefully return to meet him again one day!

The Mount Nelson is nontraditional only in that instead of the food being served on tiered stands, it is set up as a buffet with unlimited access. None of us were complaining. And the extensive tea menu with over thirty teas to choose from, and unlimited coffees and drinking chocolates were all at our disposal. And for the price of R165 (about $24) you get so much more than what you pay for.

View from the Terrace

My first tea selection was the Mount Nelson Blend. The blend is made up of Assam, Ceylon, Darjeeling, Keemun, Kenyan, Oolong, and Rose Buds. I knew it would be enjoyable from the exciting mixture alone. All tea at the Mount Nelson is served in glass, see-through Nigiro teapots. These beauties allow you to watch as your leaves unfurl and alter your boiling water. I also appreciate that each table is equipped with a time to allow for appropriate steeping. Sydney all showed us how to work the glass pots. The glass infusers stick right into the pot and there is a side plate waiting for them after steeping is complete. My first sip was perfect. No milk, no sugar and all taste, the Mount Nelson blend was true and full-bodied triumph. For any black tea lover, this should be at the top.

Mount Nelson Blend Steeping

As it was a proper afternoon tea, we decided to explore the buffet table. Although some of my friends decided to take what they pleased as they pleased, I wanted to maintain tradition in the order of sandwiches followed by scones followed by sweets. The sandwich selection was quite impressive. I munched on cucumber sandwiches, egg mayonnaise, and roast beef. I loved that all the finger sandwiches on offer with presented on your choice of brown or white bread. I chose brown for each sandwich. I also picked up a miniature quiche which was divine and I munched on a bite of a friend's mushroom pie.

As my Mount Nelson blend began to diminish, I ordered a fresh pot of tea from Sydney. This time I went for Ceylon Dimbula. A pure, unblended Ceylon with a lovely, rather oakey taste. I did add sugar to taste, but only a very small bit. This was my tea for the scones. I had one of each, a plain and a fruited, and spread with the fresh cream and apricot jam, they were splendid. These were probably the best scones I have had in South Africa yet!

Tea and Scones (and some milktart)!

Already feeling full, I took a bit of a break, but knew I wanted to sample some of the sweets on offer. Although I couldn't handle everything, I picked what was most appealing to me. I chose a miniature milk tart, a mini lamington, a mini Cape Malay koeksister, and a slice of the banana bread. All of this paired with a fresh pot of Rooibos tea made for a sweet ending to a particularly perfect Afternoon tea.

Beautiful Hibiscus Tea Steeping

We all sat and chatted, basking in the ambiance and beautiful weather as Sydney came by frequently to chat and replenish our teapots. The afternoon could not have been more perfect. Before we knew it, it was getting close to 6:00 PM and the last diners were leaving. We all said our goodbyes, but not without a picture with Sydney first.

The American Crew and Sydney

All in all, it was an afternoon tea above and beyond what you might get somewhere else, and a fraction of the price you would pay in Europe or the States. Bravo to the Mount Nelson for providing such a great experience all these years down the road.

Chai Tea, Biesmiellah Restaurant, Bo Kaap, Cape Town

2011-04-27T11:22:00.004-04:00

Cape Town has a very interesting and diverse culture. During the Dutch occupation of South Africa, the Dutch brought slaves over from Indonesia and Malaysia who would form what is today called the "Cape Coloured" or "Cape Malay" group of people. Although the people look very similar to their Malaysian ancestors, they speak Afrikaans as their first language and their connection to Southeast Asia is only really through blood. Bo Kaap in Cape Town is the Cape Malay quarter where traditionally and to this day, Cape Malay people still make their homes. Colorful houses and Halaal restaurants line the streets.

On a Friday morning, I ventured into Bo Kaap with a friend just touring the area on foot. As we had afternoon tea planned later on that day, we didn't want to eat too much of a breakfast, so decided to grab something light at Biesmiellah Restaurant, a Cape Malay favorite in Bo Kaap. Although delicious favorites like chicken curries and bobotie lined the menu, I just wanted something simple and delicious. Cape Malay food is a mixture of Malay, Indian and African and it is reflected in the spices and flavors. I ordered a pot of chai tea and a potato wada, a deep-fried potato snack of Indian origin. My friend ordered a Cape Malay koeksister. The koeksister is a South African twisted donut, but the Cape Malay variety is a bit different. Cooked in brown sugar syrup, it is then adorned with desiccated coconut.

My chai tea came promptly, smooth and milky with just the right level of strength. Real cardamom pods and other spices were found in the pot among inspection and the tea was hot but not too hot. It was so nice to sit their sipping a local blend in the midst of Bo Kaap, taking in the magnificent amalgam of culture so vividly displayed in the people and their cuisine.

Rooibos Tea, Timbuktu Cafe, Cape Town

2011-04-27T03:27:00.003-04:00

After an 18 hour bus ride from Johannesburg to Cape Town, I wanted to see the city, but first, I had to re-energize. Of course this, for me, means finding a nice cup of tea and a cozy place to sit down. Timbuktu Cafe, located on the upper level, nestled within Cape Town's Pan African Market ended up being the perfect spot. Despite being called "Timbuktu" the cafe serves traditional Ethiopian Fare in a relaxed and bohemian environment. As much as I do enjoy Ethiopian Coffee, I ordered a pot of rooibos tea.

The tea is served in fine china pots, with a mismatched cup and saucer, or in my case, a glass see-through teacup. My teapot was adorned with Japanese geishas and flowers. A simple, yet robust rooibos is presented with a side sugar bowl. After one sip, I knew I'd be just fine for the night ahead. As I sat sipping the earthy blend, full of naturally sweet notes, I chatted with my friends as the sun began to set over Cape Town's Long Street. A perfect welcoming.

The Little Church Tea Garden: Van Reenen, Free State, South Africa

2011-03-22T05:31:00.004-04:00

This isn't a postcard! It's the actual landscape!

I just got back from a long weekend road trip. My friends and I rented a car and drove out to Durban, a beach city in KwaZulu-Natal. It was a great trip, indeed, but one of my favorite parts of the trip was the halfway point to our destination. Tucked into a country side town along the Drakensburg Mountains is the smallest independently owned Catholic church in the world and adjacent to it, a lovely little tea shop with one of the best views you can imagine.

The Tea Garden

The Little Church Tea Garden has a lovely standard tearoom interior, complete with a lovely cake display. On my visit it was sporting milktart, chocolate walnut, another chocolaty concoction and a plate of scones (pronounced sc-awn-s here). As beautiful as the interior is, on a warm South African summer day, nothing beats sitting out in the garden with one of the most natural and beautiful views you can imagine. I took pictures and I couldn't even believe they were real.

Inside the Tearoom

The Cake Stand

The lovely staff was very attentive and before long, I had ordered my cream tea. A pot of Ceylon tea was presented to me in a lovely silver setting and a simple white porcelain teacup. My tea was a perfect relaxing cuppa to break up the drive. Shortly after, I was presented with my scone, already dressed for me in a swirl of fresh cream and homemade jam.

Ceylon Tea with a View!

The jam was the most special part of the cream tea. When I asked her what the deep purple and berried serving was, the proprietress replied, or at least what I heard, "nache". It turns out she wasn't saying "nache" at all, but nightshade. The thick Afrikaaner accent threw me off at first! Nightshade is actually a berry endemic to the Free State. Although it grows in the UK and Australia, it is poisonous there. Here, however, it is perfectly safe to eat and produces a lovely and perfect jam for scones. The scones by the way were fresh and crumbly, just how I like them!

Handmade Scones

Nightshade Jam

I could have sat for hours looking off at the mountains and sipping my tea, but eventually, the road called. As we were leaving, a family was gathering for a wedding in the Little Church. Lovely. It was a perfect stop off in the most perfect of South African country towns. The best respite I could have asked for!

Eric, Me, and Alex

More Perfect View

Having a Cup of Tea

2011-02-26T02:10:00.004-05:00

The thing I love about most former British colonies (my home country of the USA excluded) is that when you sit down to order a cup of tea, you really get your tea! Last week, I went out for a leisurely weekend lunch with some friends at Zoo Lake Bowls Club here in Johannesburg. I ordered my afternoon cuppa and was so delightfully presented with this:

A simple but nice tea tray complete with a silver set of teapot, creamer and sugar bowl. I take my tea with milk and sugar, and not having to ask for it is always a nice touch. It's the little things that make a tea lover happy!

Laduree, London, England

2011-02-21T14:22:00.003-05:00

For a delightful French Tea Time, without taking the journey over to Paris, stop into French imported tea salon, Laduree, located in Harrods. Around 4 o'clock, I headed over for my tea and the place was packed. I joined the line and waited about 5 minutes before I was seated. The tearoom is lovely, in a very elegant French style. Laduree is known for its exceptional macarons and teas. I ordered a pot of their house blended ceylon and partnered it with a large pistachio macaron. The macaron is heavenly and fresh. The tea, perfect. The ceylon is fragrant and full bodied and it helps that it's served in such elegant china.

The Original Maids of Honour, Kew Gardens, England

2011-02-21T13:47:00.004-05:00

The Original Maids of Honour is a tearoom I have wanted to visit for years. It is a historic, old tearoom located outside of London city in the quaint town of Kew, with the royal Kew Gardens, just north of Richmond. I went with the express intention of having tea on a hot summer day in 2009, but to my dismay the shop was closed. This time, while I was in London, I was not going to pass up afternoon tea at a classic place. I booked a reservation for Monday afternoon and was joined by my friend from the states, Jill, who was studying in London. We spent the afternoon having lovely conversation and so thoroughly enjoying the surrounding of Maids of Honour.

Maids of Honour is the epitome of classic British teashop complete with wooden tables, a fireplace, portraits of British royalty on the wall, a display of sweets up at the front, and a well-dressed staff. However, unlike an afternoon tea at a hotel, Maids of Honour is much more relaxed. You don’t have to dress up, you can put your elbows on the table if you please, and no one will scold you for taking a bite of your scone before your sandwich.

Jill and I came for the afternoon tea and so that’s what we ordered. Soon enough, we were brought out a silver pot of black tea with lovely bone china cups, a saucer of milk and a sugar bowl with massive sugar cubes of brown and white sugar. We sipped on our tea and waited anxiously for the three-tiered server to arrive.

And arrive it did! We started with the assortment of tea sandwiches, all the most classic ranging from cucumber, cheese, smoked salmon and egg mayonnaise, all on brown and white bread with the crusts properly cut off. The sandwiches were quite satisfactory and a welcome addition to the tea party!

As we moved down to the scones, we were pleased to find that we each received two scones, one plain and one fruited. They were served with fresh clotted cream and mini jars of Wilkin and Sons Raspberry jam. They went down a treat, and you could taste how homemade and fresh they were. Perfect.

On our sweets server, we both opted for the famous sweet that the shop is named after: The Maids of Honour. These are sort of a flaky puff pastry sweet filled with an egg custard. They were quite tasty, although I wouldn’t say they were my favorite item of the tea.

Jill and I so thoroughly enjoyed our tea and conversation, so much so that we were the last people to leave the shop! All in all it lived up to my expectations and was a wonderful experience. Not to mention, it is a much more economic tea than say, The Ritz. The next time I am in London, I would love to go back and sit at Maids of Honour with a good book and a nice pot of tea and a scone!

Miss Marple’s Tea Room, East Looe, Cornwall, England

2011-02-21T10:00:00.002-05:00

For the best Cornish Cream Tea in the towns of Looe in Cornwall, head to Miss Marple’s on the main street. My host and family friend Avril took me for this proper and ancient tradition known throughout the world. The cream tea originated in the areas of Cornwall and Devon and in Southwest England you will see teashops and bakeries all over advertising their cream teas.

Miss Marple’s is a quaint upstairs shop with a few tables, a windowed cake stand and a lovely staff. We were there for one thing and one thing alone: cream teas! Before long, we were presented with personal pots of tea, one large scone and a two big servings of homemade jam and clotted cream. This is the best clotted cream I have ever tasted. Clotted cream is made fresh in Cornwall and Devon and so of course, you only get the freshest and best quality there. I learned that the Cornish way of eating your cream tea is to spread the jam on first and then layer that with clotted cream. I usually make it the Devon way myself, so that I can get more cream on the bottom, but seeing as I was so happily being introduced to Cornish culture, I made my scone the Cornish way.

Another thing to note is that the scones here are not the hard, crumbly scones we find in the states, but much softer and more breadlike. Avril explained to me that before scones, people made cream teas on Cornish Splits, which is a soft bread roll that goes very well with cream and jam. Because of this, I think the scones here are more closely related to splits. They were fresh and delicious. I could certainly see myself back at Miss Marple’s enjoying a pot of Assam tea and a fresh scone. And to add to it, the people are so friendly and let you linger as long as you want! A lovely place, indeed!

Forsyth's Tea Room, Edinburgh, Scotland

2011-02-21T06:40:00.003-05:00

Forsyth’s Tea Room, on the High Street, in Edinburgh, is an amazing little hole-in-the-wall teashop singlehandedly run by the lovely Christina. On my two days in Edinburgh, I went twice, sharing a pot of tea and amazing conversation with the lady behind it all who has been baking, cleaning, and selling lovely cakes, snacks, and teas for sixteen years! In the off-season, when the shop isn’t bustling, Christina makes herself busy crocheting sugar covers, tea cosies and the like. Her shop is so homey and comfy, you won’t even realize how the time will fly with either a good book or a long talk about Scotland and the culture with Christina.

My first day in Edinburgh, I was groggy and a bit jetlagged after a six hour flight to London, a layover and then a one hour flight to Edinburgh without a wink of sleep. But to fight the time change I found myself wandering the Royal Mile and the High Street with my destination in mind: Forsyth’s. I received the loveliest welcome and Christina was very keen to learn about my American background and travels plans bringing me to South Africa. She showed me around the space, emphasizing the exposed stone walls, fresh flowers on the tables, quaint mugs of Scotland for sale (one of which I now own) and of course the goods for sale. Before I could say anything, I was presented with a lovely pot of black tea. For some reason, regardless of the quality of tea, in the UK tea just tastes better! I wasn’t in the least perturbed that the tea was coming from a tea bag, as the atmosphere and company elevated the taste tenfold! I also ordered a Scotch Pie for lunch, a meat pie filled with steak and Scottish seasonings, with a bottle of HP Sauce on the side, of course.

My second day in Edinburgh was rainy and windy and very bleak, but I promised Christina I would be back, and no rain would stop me from getting to Forsyth’s. I was warmly welcomed and despite the wide array of delicious looking cakes on selection (including a particularly attractive carrot cake), I went for a cream tea complete with a sultana studded scone, homemade jam, cream and fresh butter. It was lovely of course and sharing Christina’s company again was a welcome respite from the gloomy weather. I mentioned that I was going to the Lyceum Theatre later that night to see a production of Arthur Miller’s “A View from the Bridge” and without a moment to think, Christina jumped up and said she would wrap me up some Scottish shortbread and tea bags for my interval snack! I couldn’t have found better hospitality anywhere, and despite wanting to try some of the other tearooms in Edinburgh, I was so happy to have spent time with such a lovely woman in such a lovely little shop. Next time you are in Edinburgh, visit! You won’t be disappointed.

A Proper Cup of Tea in the UK

2011-02-07T07:17:00.004-05:00

The Brits know how to make a cup of tea. This is evident, even on a train ride, as the attendant pushes around a trolley, making me a super delicious cup with milk, perfect in proportion. I will be leaving for South Africa in 4 days, but am still on holiday in Great Britain. I have many updates to post from tea rooms around the country, but for now, let me whet your appetite with some images of proper british cuppas! More updates to come once I'm settle in Johannesburg!

A perfect cream tea at Forsyth's Tea Room in Edinburgh

A Scottish Breakfast Pot of Tea

Dammann Freres Tea Sampler

2011-01-19T17:20:00.007-05:00

On a recent trip to Washington DC, in an Illy Cafe where I was blasphemously sipping a cappuccino, I noticed Dammann Freres tea for sale. I of course had read about the tea, the highly regarded French company competing with France's other best known tea union, Mariage Freres. I'm a big fan of Mariage Freres teas, and I would probably go so far as to say that Mariage Freres is some of the best and finest tea in the world. However, I have only read extremely good things about Dammann Freres and I decided to give this other elite French tea purveyor a try.

I purchased the sampler, so I could try a wide variety, which comes in a very nice box. When you open it, it is almost like a fancy filing system, the black teas separated from greens and herbals by little card spacers with information on each one. The company already had points within the realm of presentation and this just added to it.

The teas that the sampler includes are:

Goût Russe: The blend ""Goût russe"" is a preciously treasured receipt with a blend of special Chinese teas. The addition of citrus fruits essential oils gives an attractive character to this blend.

Darjeeling 1st flush: This Darjeeling First Flush comes from gardens which are situated on a height of 2.000 m, in the south of the Darjeeling province. Aromatic and astringent at the same time with slight green notes in the aftertaste. This tea last tasted and delights lovers of strong and flowery Darjeeling tea.

Jardin Bleu: The blend Jardin Bleu combines Chinese unsmoked tea with rhubarb and wild strawberry flavours.

4 red fruits: A blend of China and Ceylon black teas flavoured with cherry, strawberry, raspberry and redcurrant and embellished with strawberry bit and redcurrants resulting in a fruity bouquet.

Green tea mint: The green tea mint offers a green tea leaf of Chinese Gunpowder tea, sprinkled with «Nanah» mint. To be drunk very hot and sweet: the desert tea.

Earl Grey: The Earl Grey is a traditional oriental blend of unsmoked Chinese teas. It casts a spell on all lovers of the fine bergamot from Calabria.

Breakfast: The Breakfast blend combines Ceylon, Darjeeling and Assam tea. Tea, milk: the perfect first cup for early risers.

Jasmine: This green Jasmin tea is naturally perfumed with Jasmine flowers. A tea that fits excellently to the oriental cooking.

Being a lover of black tea, I have started with the blacks and have so far sampled the Breakfast bled and the Darjeeling. As expected, the tea is amazing. I don't even want to compare it to Mariage Freres. The breakfast holds milk and sugar very well and is strong for the morning, but not astringent. The Darjeeling is so fine and delicate with aromatic notes coming from every sip. Definitely drink it as is, no sugar. I am excited to get into the more interesting blends as well. Although I usually don't love fruity teas, the combinations presented look divine!

You can find Dammann Freres tea at Illy Cafes or online directly through the website! Happy Tea Tastings!

High Afternoon Tea?!, Queen Vic, NYC

2010-12-21T17:22:00.005-05:00

I should have been alarmed when I read the title. High Afternoon Tea. What on earth...? A new British Pub, the Queen Vic, recently opened in the East Village on 2nd Ave and 4th St. A bit of an anglophile myself, I was very surprised to pass by it a few months ago. Even more surprising to me was that, on their menu, after the bangers and mash and meat pies on offer, there was an afternoon tea. High Afternoon Tea, but I wasn't alarmed. I was excited to see this cute little British pub promising "finger sandwiches, scones with cream and jam, and cakes".

The semester ended and finals were done with. Sarah and I were ready to have a lovely afternoon tea. We decided we wanted to try somewhere new. Of course Podunk is on the top of the list, but it's important to give all of the tea spots in this city a chance. I contemplated the Crosby Street hotel that serves what looks like a very traditional and delightful tea, but then remembered the Queen Vic and at ten dollars cheaper, it seemed a good deal.

The space itself was well decorated. A small pub with photos of the Queen on the wall, Christmas decorations brightening up the dimly lit space. The only waiter/bartender in the space paid us no mind on entrance, so we seated ourselves and picked out our teas. The tea list is small, but they have three traditional British blends on hand: Typhoo, PG Tips, and Yorkshire Gold. I went for Yorkshire Gold. Sarah decided to order Earl Gray, her favorite. I went up and ordered, mentioning that the sandwiches for Sarah had to be vegetarian. The bartender/waiter seemed a bit confused when I even said afternoon tea, but here is where the journey began.

We watched as he took down two oversized china pots and two cups and saucers. Okay, I thought to myself, no worries so far. Sarah's pot was a tall China, actually used for coffee, but a little creativity is never an issue. It was when we saw him throwing teabags into the pot that we jumped a bit. The menu states "all our teas are loose leaf". The pots came over and my Yorkshire gold was loose, but Sarah had two bags floating in her pot. Luckily, she's not hard to please and we just decided to accept it. It was then, a minute later, when the waiter came over and put down an extra bag, Twinings Brand, saying "in case you want it stronger". We had a good laugh over that...but seriously, Twinings bags.

The food would be better, I told myself, trying to be positive. We waited for a while, as the bartender sat up at the bar with his friends, drinking wine and flirting with patrons. Finally we heard a bell ring and he left and reappeared shortly with sandwiches.

Neither of us said a word. We just immediately laughed out loud as soon as he left. Mini white bread sandwiches, cut up like club sandwiches with the frilled toothpicks sticking out of them lined the plate. As if we were to be watching a football game or something! I was shocked. Sarah's very small portion of vegetarian sandwiches had cucumber, tomato and onion, and the meat ones had a thick ham and orange cheese. They were pressed and warm, and didn't taste bad, but for afternoon tea, I do not want wonder bread and grilled cheese! The waiter came over again and said "this is our first time serving afternoon tea, so we are going to give you guys half off. Let us know if you need anything else to add to it."

Well...At this point I had lost hope. Sarah ordered some french fries, because, let's face it, this wasn't a real afternoon tea. I was ready to switch over to gin and tonics as soon as the pots ran out. Surprisingly, about ten minutes later, warm and homemade scones emerged from the kitchen. They were dotted with fresh dates, three on a plate. It was almost a shock to receive this after what we had gotten so far. To remind us though, that this was no real afternoon tea, canned whipped cream swirls were placed between each scone and there was no jam. No cakes ever came to follow the scones. The chips eventually came out for Sarah and they were decent.

All in all, this was a laughable experience, and I really hope this little British Pub gets its act together. If they want to tout a "high afternoon tea", they better do it right, or not serve it at all. I seldom give negative reviews, but with the service and with the food and quality, I must say I was not pleased. For the two of us, the bill came out to a total of $25. We split it in half, and sure, we saved some money, but in all honesty, I would have been willing to double what I paid to go to the Crosby St. for a real tea. I'll be surprised to learn of how the next few months changes the Queen Vic and maybe I'll go back when I return to NYC in July.

Hot Taro Milk Tea, T-Kettle, NYC

2010-12-21T17:13:00.003-05:00

Sometimes, the only way to get through one of these bitter New York City days is to stop into one of the numerous bubble tea cafes for a hot milk tea. This past Saturday, after a two-show day, I was exhausted and needed a bit of hot comfort. I settled into T-Kettle on St. Marks, and ordered my favorite milk tea, taro, hot without tapioca. The beverage came out promptly, served in a modern glass mug. Strong taro flavoring meets with tea and milk to created a wintertime oasis in a cup. Hot milk tea: a perfect excuse to get out of the cold!

Hong Kong Style Milk Tea

2010-12-03T21:50:00.003-05:00

A perfect breakfast accompaniment, HK Style Milk Tea is a strong black tea brewed in a long "sock-like" bag, then mixed with sugar and evaporated milk. This overflowing cup came with a the handsomely priced $3.60 breakfast special at M. Star Cafe on Division Street. A perfect way to start the day.

Old Friend's Tea @ Podunk

2010-12-02T14:13:00.003-05:00

Podunk, my favorite tea room in the city, has all sorts of crafty names for their various set teas. The classic British tea, complete with cucumber sandwiches, scones, and a sewing of the various sweets of the day is entitled "Old Friend's Tea". On a recent visit with a friend, Elspeth explained to me the logic behind the title. Originally, her menu didn't have the British sampler, but people kept asking for it, so Elspeth decided she would pay homage to our British neighbors and add the set to the menu, hence our "Old Friends" (the Brits) tea!

I enjoyed this lovely afternoon tea with a pot of Ceylon, simple and robust!

Podunk
E. 5th St (btw Bowery and 2nd Ave)
New York, NY

Vietnamese Iced Tea, Tu Do, Chinatown

2010-11-15T22:43:00.004-05:00

This Vietnamese restaurant sits on Bowery in between Grand and Hester with a simple red awning that reads Tu Do-Vietnamese Cuisine. I met up with Candice this evening for dinner and we both had an enjoyable time. The husband and wife couple who own the restaurant are quite kind. I ordered a Viet Iced Tea, basically iced tea sweetened with condensed milk. This blend was particularly sweet, even for my sweet tooth. But it was refreshing and rich nonetheless and helped balance out the savoury banh mi bo kho, a beef stew served with baguette.

Green Tea Baguette, Takahachi Bakery, NYC

2010-11-15T22:34:00.003-05:00

25 Murray Street at Church Street in the FiDi wouldn't seem like a particularly special intersection to the unassuming New Yorker, however this particular corner is home to Takahachi Bakery. This little Japanese gem is a lovely spot overflowing with Japanese goodies including buns, muffins, cookies, cakes, breads, macarons and an assortment of teas and coffees. Not to mention there are already prepared lunch sandwiches and homemade ice cream. All baking is done on premises and you can see it being done through the glass window by the seating area. On this particular Saturday afternoon, friend Nicole and I lounged at Takahachi for a while sipping on Matcha Lattes and Espressos (both fabulous!) But something I was really intrigued by was the green tea baguette on offer. I had to buy one. It was fresh and lovely and subtle hints of green tea poured through each bite. Later, I toasted the remains of the baguette and added some Yeo's Brand Kaya. After toasting, the tea flavor was more intensified and it was a perfect partner to the kaya! Although I love Panya and Cafe Zaiya, there is something a little more laid-back and calm about Takahachi that the others lack. I can't wait to return for a weekend breakfast of an-pan, tea, and a good book! Go visit today!

Teh Tarik, Malaysia Kitchen for the World, NYC

2010-11-15T22:25:00.003-05:00

Last weekend I was pleased to attend the Malaysia Kitchen for the World event at Grand Central with friends Dani, Candice and Melissa. Many restaurants around the city came out and supplied guests with some iconic Malaysian staples including Nasi Lemak, Rendang, and assorted Kueh (pandan cupcakes in our case).

Of course for me, the most exciting part was the free samples of teh tarik being given out by the Malaysia Kitchen for the World food truck outside. This truck has been making its way around Manhattan and Queens, doing the Malaysian Tourist Industry a great service.

The teh tarik was hot and frothy, sweet and light, not overly powerful, just like I remember it in Malaysia. A really sweet and nice balance. The vendors were so friendly and allowed us to take multiple samples of the mini cups. Did I mention there was also free plates of mee goreng? This is a perfect noodle accompaniment to the sweet milk tea!

Check out the Malaysia Kitchen for the World twitter to learn about the truck's locations and upcoming events!

-TTG

Cha An, East Village, NYC

2010-11-06T15:35:00.003-04:00

Cha An is a slice of heaven in the hustle and bustle of the East Village. The storefront is located in the Little Tokyo area that makes up 9th Street in between 3rd and 2nd Avenues. A set of stairs leads you up into a traditional Japanese Tea Parlor. It's so easy to forget you are in Manhattan after stepping into this other world. The staff is friendly and attentive and after I walked in from the chilly night air, I was quickly escorted to a private table in the back. I couldn't get over how much I was in love with the space. It was just beautiful. There is also a private room covered in tatami mats where a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony takes place. For a very reasonable charge, you can experience the art of matcha.

But, because I was a solo diner on this particular night, and I just wanted some "me time", I ordered dinner, "Set A" from the food menu. There are several sweets that I would have loved to try, but I will be back for that. There is also a huge book of tea that is not only informative, but also just plain fun to read. I was learning about all sorts of Japanese teas that I did not know about before. However, I settled for a Matcha Latte, as I have read wonderful things about their iced lattes, and I had to try one of my favorite drinks at this authentic spot. The latte was perfect! It came out promptly, extremely well mixed, blending the sweet and powerful taste of matcha with milk. The latte was smooth and delicately blended, and I certainly appreciated that. To make it even more indulgent, there is a dollop of azuki beans (red beans) on top of the latte that you are to mix in, and then enjoy as you sip them up through the straw with your matcha. Heaven.

My set meal came out not too long after my drink arrived and it was simply stunning, both visually and gastronomically. A big bowl of Japanese 15 Grain Rice Porridge takes center stage. It was great. Along with the rice porridge, I enjoyed a mackerel in miso broth, along with small Japanese assorted bowls of Chinese cabbage, egg, seaweed, and a daikon salad. Everything was delicious. I will admit, I sampled the bit of sour plum that sits at the side of the tray, however it was much too sour for me and I left it off to the side. I could have been in Japan though, that's how authentic the food tasted. It was really quite nice.

In the set meal, dessert of the house is included. It rotates, but this evening, I was presented with homemade vanilla bean ice cream studded with mixed berries, sandwiched between two puff pastry outer shells, creating a splendid homemade ice cream sandwich. Delicious! If they have this when you are there, order it! The vanilla bean ice cream is out of this world. Very high quality, indeed!

I really loved Cha An. The space, the food, the tea. I want to return to try some of the house blends and sample some of the other menu items. I must say, although the menu seems like it is expensive, my whole meal with tea came out to only about twenty dollars. Not too bad. Head over and try some traditional Japanese tea house fare for yourself!

Some More Tea!

2010-10-25T23:15:00.003-04:00

Here are two recent cups of tea I really enjoyed:

This is a pumpkin spice iced chai from It's a Grind Coffehouse, located in Plainsboro, New Jersey. One of my hometown coffeshops, It's a Grind has always made a really exceptional chai. There is no reason it wouldn't be even better with pumpkin. This is a gift from the gods in all of their orange, pumpkinlicious glory!

This is a simple chinatown milk tea from my local bakery on Hester St. The proprietor makes the cup extremely quickly and for 80 cents, you can't do much better. The red tag reads "Hong Kong Style Red Tea", however it is definitely not Rooibos. This is a Hong Kong Black mixed with milk and sugar in the Chinese fashion. Quite a tasty morning treat!

The Adore, New York, NY

2010-10-25T22:37:00.003-04:00

I've been going to The Adore (say tea in French) for quite some time now, so I'm surprised I haven't written anything yet on this gem of a tearoom hidden away on 13th street between University and 5th. This little hideaway is actually very unique. All over Japan, there are little French-style tearooms serving up pots of tea alongside French patisseries and savouries. Many of the french style baked goods and lunch dishes have a Japanese style twist, namely cuteness and perfect presentation. The Adore is one of these Japanese wonders, but here's the kicker, it's located in Greenwich Village. I love taking newbies over to The Adore, regaling them with the fact that we are going to a French tearoom, owned and operated in a Japanese style, located in New York City. There is something just oh-so-awesome about that multiculturalism.

The place itself is tiny, so I try to avoid extremely busy lunch hours. Some of my favorite hours are bright and early, just as the sun rises to take in their continental breakfast special, which includes a pot of tea, a croissant, and toasted baguette with butter and jam all for a very reasonable price. The room itself is adorable. The downstairs is a bakery display and take out counter where you can get your fruit tarts and scones or mini sandwiches with a cup of tea to go. Venture up the staircase (gracefully darting past the customers waiting for their downstairs orders) and you'll find yourself in a very rustic and homey environment. Wooden tables and chairs grace a lovely little space ending in a giant picture window that overlooks 13th st, however you'd never know you were in Manhattan looking out the window. There is a beautiful old tree that brushes up against the glass. Each table is adorned with a fresh flower and the menus are on delicate paper.

The tea menu is extensive. All of the teas are imported Mariage Freres brand, one of the highest quality teas in France, and in the world. I am never disappointed with this tea, and although I own a tin of MF Darjeeling, I try to save it for very special occasions as buying it comes at a high price. At The Adore however, four to six dollars. This price may seem relatively high, but this is a very fine tea and is worth each dollar. I of course usually order one of the two Assams. I enjoy both, but the Sankar is a maltier blend than the meleng. I have also tried most of the Ceylons, which are terrific and full of taste. The Marco Polo is one of Mariage Frere's most popular blends, and although I don't like fruity teas, I don't mind the burst of flavor that highlights this particular black blend. For the non tea drinkers, there is a wide variety of coffee options that always arrive at tables looking very appetizing. They are served in bowls, like in French cafes.

The food is also delicious! On a recent visit I enjoyed a light salad with fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, avocado, in a vinaigrette. My go to order is the croque madame (ham, cheese, and a sunnyside up egg) and I also love the ham and brie on baguette. The baguette at The Adore is simply amazing. One of the best in the city. You can order it on its own also, and it always comes toasted and hot. Crispy and full of that good bready flavor. Ah. Their soups are also all homemade and very good.

If you still have room for dessert, try their madeleines. They are oversized and generously priced. Their scones are sweet and crumbly, and if you are in a more indulgent mood, try something like cheesecake or a raspberry tart.

This is a great place to unwind, relax and bring a book. Enjoy your tea time and really reflect on your life. After all, that's part of what tea is about!

*The Adore is a cash-only establishment, so make sure you visit the ATM before coming.

A Cuppa in the Morning

2010-10-25T08:21:00.003-04:00

Nothing like a nice cup of my favorite blend, Assam, to start you off in the morning. This is a first estate Assam that I was lucky enough to find at a little Syracuse breakfast joint, Funk N Waffles. The Assam was full-bodied and hearty with a really delicate and malty aftertaste. It paired very well with milk and sugar, and was certainly not an overly pretentious leaf. The restaurant has a nice selection of loose-leaf tea to go with your morning indulgence. If you are curious, I ordered a buckwheat waffle with chocolate chips and peanut butter. It was delicious!

Tea with an Accent, Yardley, Pennsylvania

2010-10-11T20:15:00.007-04:00

The Teatime Setting

You know when you walk into a tea room and something just feels completely right? I had that feeling this past weekend. I went back to New Jersey to spend some time with my mother. I have been wanting to try Tea with an Accent in nearby Yardley, PA for some time now, and we decided Saturday would be a perfect day. Oh, and it was a perfect day by the way. Did anyone else notice how beautiful this weather has been? Anyway, we booked a 12 PM seating for afternoon tea service and from the moment we stepped in the door, everything was beyond perfect.

Sugar Cubes Over Sugar Packets Any Day!

Shari Titterton, owner and tea connoisseur, a native of England, greeted us with a warm smile and showed us to our seats. Shari is as passionate a tea lover as any of us and it shows. Her warm and gentle nature, joined with her knowledge and expertise has helped her to create a top-rate tea room in a pocket of Pennsylvania. The room is painted in soft hues and fine China and tea-related pieces adorn the walls and mantle-place. It feels like you are sitting in your English mother or grandmother's drawing room. I loved it from the start.

Setting the Table for Tea

At our tables, wine glasses of ice water were waiting. The table was preset with Royal Albert China, my cup being a particularly gorgeous design. The teapot napkin holders were absolutely enchanting and I was slowly falling in love with the silverware. My mother and I chatted about the lovely atmosphere and the pleasantries of the day. In no time at all, Shari rang a bell and tea service began! Shari explained the two types of teas that would be served that day during tea-time, Lily's Delight and a Lemon Rooibos. After a brief introduction the piping hot tea came out!

What a Cup!

There is something SO special about Tea with an Accent that I think you would be hard-pressed to find at most tea parlors in this country: Instead of ordering your afternoon tea off of a menu and receiving a personal tea pot at your table (they do have an extensive tea menu that you can select off of during lunch seatings!), Tea with an Accent pairs their scrumptious food with an initial tea and a dessert tea. White-gloved tea mistresses gracefully glide across the floor with large Royal Albert teapots, making sure your cup is always filled. I love this because it reminds me of an earlier time, when in London tearooms, servers would come up to your table with large silver teapots offering "India or China" teas. Also, despite not knowing the other diners, this way of serving gives off a community atmosphere. Everyone is drinking the same tea from the same pot and enjoying the same treats together in this wonderful little space. Something about that just warms my heart.

My First Cup of the Afternoon

The teas were phenomenal. My mother and I could not stop talking about them the whole afternoon. The first serving was of the house blend, Lily's Delight. This is a black tea blended with vanilla and bergamot. I've certainly tasted similar blends before, but in my experience either the black tea is too strong or the vanilla/bergamot flavor too powerful. This blend was perfect. Light, crisp, and I could taste the notes of vanilla and bergamot meeting the black tea without a dictatorship of any of the taste elements. I am a professed milk and sugar tea drinker, but not only did I not need milk for this tea, I also didn't even need any sugar! It was just that good. My mother and I both enjoyed this thoroughly. The Lemon Rooibos was also fabulous. I have to say, I really don't like lemon or citrusy flavors, but this I did not mind at all! It was light, crisp, refreshing and paired so perfectly with the sweets. So on to the food!

I Added Milk Initially. Then I Drank it Black!

Iconic for All Afternoon Teas

The service started out with a cheesy vegetable soup served in a very nice gold and pink laced bowl. The soup was excellent and despite wanting to save room for the three tiers to follow, I couldn't resist finishing every drop. After the bowls were cleared, our magnificent three-tiered server arrived with all the necessaries for a splendid afternoon tea. We continued the savoury course and began from the top of the server with sandwiches. All the perfect teatime amenities, we enjoyed cucumber, turkey, chicken salad, and mini quiches. I always appreciate a finely cut cucumber and this was no exception. Perfectly sliced to form a finger sandwich worth remembering.

Great Soup

Savouries

Tea was changed over as we began to tuck in to the scones course. Shari brightly explained the large extras bowl, a place where we could dump our first brew if we had any extra so our cups were ready to receive the rooibos, steaming hot. At this time, I also had the pleasure to begin chatting with Shari about tea and her experiences working at Tea with an Accent and traveling and trying other tearooms. She had so much to say and I was so glad to talk to her. A kindred tea spirit! She made me and my mother feel so welcome, and I felt as though I was talking to an old friend, not someone I had just met.

These are True Scones!

The scones were of the autumnal variety, cinnamon chip. One of my favorite varieties! And they were perfect. Just the way a proper scone should be. Not excessively large (America, you are doing it incorrectly!), not overbearingly sweet, light, flaky and oh so good! I enjoyed the fresh whipped cream and strawberry preserves and ate my scones the Cornwall way, not the Devon way (for some fun, look up the difference)!

Fresh Cream and Jam

And on to the sweets! We were both feeling pretty full at this point, but some amazing variety awaited us. They were all phenomenal miniatures! There were earl-grey cookies, jam crumbles, lemon curd tartlets, petit-fours, and chocolate mousse tarts in a dark chocolate shell. The mousse cups were my mother's absolute favorite and although I loved them as well, my heart and soul were with the petit fours which were out of this world! My mother even let me have the second half of hers after she saw how much I enjoyed it. We couldn't finish it all, but luckily Shari brought us a little box to wrap everything else up in.

A Sweet Display

After tea, we headed on back to the shop, a great little post full of exceptional teas and teaware. My mother bought a small blue pastel tea cup and saucer set, and I purchased another piece of Royal Albert to add to my collection. Because Shari couldn't find the saucer at the time, she said she'd send it to me, and because of the inconvenience she threw in a free matching plate! A genuinely kind soul, indeed! We chatted more about tea, travels, and the world and I was so thoroughly impressed with Shari! She runs a quality business! I also picked up some White Christmas Tea because I don't have enough white teas at home, and I'm trying to get more into the white blends, particularly as the season gets cooler.

Tea with an Accent featured in Bucks County Living

I left the shop extremely happy. I've had many wonderful tea experiences in the past, but the little extras that make Tea with an Accent stand out make it that much better of a tea experience. Unfortunately, Tea with an Accent will be shutting its doors after this holiday season. But Shari will be selling all of her wonderful teas online, so you can always purchase Lily's Delight to delight your soul! If you can make it over, please do! I'll hopefully be attending a tea tasting next month, and a holiday tea in December! Enjoy your cuppa!

The Best Part of the Afternoon: Spending Quality Time with My Lovely Mother

-The Tea Gastronomer

Pumpkin Spice Chai from Starbucks

2010-10-04T22:54:00.002-04:00

Okay, if you read my blog enough, you know that although I will always promote the high-end, good quality teas, there is a place in my heart for the lesser varieties...even if that means visiting Starbucks every now and then. Their matcha lattes are not bad, and I have always been a fan of their chai.

It's at this time of the year when I get super excited, because the pumpkin spice flavoring, a seasonal addition, is back at Starbucks locations across the city. On this brisk, rainy evening, before my 9 PM meeting, I stopped in at the Washington Square location for my autumnal favorite: a tall pumpkin spice chai tea latte. The complex flavors of Fall are all present: ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon, clover, and of course pumpkin. These robust spices are combined with milk and tea for a robust combo that leaves a light tingle on your tongue. Although the cold is already getting to me, at least I have a nice hot beverage to quell those cold-day blues!

-TTG

Oolong Tea, Chinatown, NYC

2010-10-02T11:19:00.003-04:00

I've been exploring my neighborhood more and more lately, and every Friday morning, I'm trying to try a new place for Chinese breakfast. This past Friday I went to Big Wing Wong on Mott Street for a hot bowl of shrimp congee and youtiao (fried cruellers).

One thing many of us take for granted when entering almost any Chinese establishment is the excess of tea streaming from a giant metal carafe into your cup, be it little Chinese bowl or regular water glass. In the morning, you will usually receive the latter. At Big Wing Wong for breakfast, I took time to reflect on the Chinese tea culture, and its centrality to life. The tea you will inevitably be given is a simple Oolong Cha, a tea not fully oxidized, falling somewhere between the categories of green and black. I have recently begun to appreciate a nice Oolong more and more.

At Big Wing Wong, my cup was always filled, with a very nice, light and refreshing Oolong. The flavor was crisp, but not overly powerful. And there is something so nice in looking around and seeing all the other patrons sipping on the same tea, from the same pot in their own little water glasses. Tea is everywhere and unites people, and this particular Friday morning, I was certainly reminded of that.

The Oolong selection from China is extensive and varied and easily available for purchase at any Chinese grocery in the neighborhood. Pick up your own box today...or have any meal at a restaurant in the area!

-TTG

Always Tea Time!

2010-09-28T16:39:00.002-04:00

Even at my desk, in the midst of writing homework and learning monologues, I never fail to make time for "a nice cup of tea and a sit down" (quote borrowed from nicey and wifey's book/website). Something about tea helps me make everything going on just a bit more relaxed. My spirit is already feeling lifted.

Pictured is my Royal Albert "Golden Glory" cup and saucer set, filled with Tea and Sympathy's English Breakfast Blend. Biskut Kelapa, or Coconut Biscuits from Malaysia, made by 21st Century Biscuits, are my tea biscuits this afternoon. What are you sipping on?

-TTG

Monday Milk Tea @ Saint's Alp, New York, NY

2010-09-27T19:18:00.003-04:00

Since returning from Southeast Asia, it's hard to be satisfied drinking New York Chinatown's 90 cent bakery milk teas: a tea bag sitting in a small cup with light cream and sugar (the price is DAMN good, though). I miss those street teas from Mamak Stalls in Kuala Lumpur, rich and full bodied, made from real tea leaves and sweetened so perfectly! And yet, I drink my neighborhood's milk tea for cultural and comfort reasons. There is something very soothing about starting the day in a Chinese bakery in NYC surrounded by my neighbors.

This rainy, Monday evening, I popped into the greatest spot for bubble tea in Manhattan...and no, it isn't in Chinatown! Saint's Alp Teahouse on 3rd between 9th and 10th streets never fails to impress. This Taiwanese teahouse is a great place for snacks and tea with friends, and very decently priced dinner bowls. Because of the dreary weather, I ordered a hot pot of milk tea, no tapioca. The tea comes in Saint's Alp teapots with matching mugs. You can get a small pot for a very fair $2.75, and the thing I love about this tea is that it reminds me of Singapore and Malaysia. The brew is creamy and thick, and is truly a comfort to drink. Although I'll keep it local for a morning brew, when I'm in the East Village in the afternoon and want something richer and tastier, Saint's Alp is the place to go!

-TTG

Making Singaporean Breakfast in New York!

2010-09-23T08:50:00.004-04:00

One of my favorite, favorite meals in Southeast Asia is the infamous Kaya Toast Set in Singapore and Malaysia. Kaya is a coconut jam that takes hours of constant stirring to create. It is a staple of most households in Singapore. I am very happy to report that down here in Chinatown, bottled kaya is easy to come by. Of course it isn't as delicious as the homemade variety, but it is still quite good. The most common variety, easy to pick up at Hong Kong Supermarket or The SE Asian Grocery on Mulberry St is Chanhong Kaya. So how do you put this lovely breakfast together? Start by brewing a cup of tea, as of course this is a tea blog and where would any of us be without the liquid gold? In Singapore, one of the common ways to drink tea is teh-c, tea with evaporated milk. I brew a strong black tea blend, such as English Breakfast or Assam, add 2 tsp of sugar, and then add the evaporated milk until you get a light, khaki color, and a rich flavor. While your tea is brewing, soft boil two eggs. When they are cooked, crack them and mix them into a bowl with soy sauce and white pepper. And of course, your kaya toast. Toast your favorite type of bread, I like to use a whole grain, whole wheat bread (Arnold brand is great!). Put a few pieces of butter on one side, and slather the other side with kaya. Put the two pieces together and cut as you like...I make them into fingers, almost like tea sandwiches.

Look at the beautiful kaya and butter pairing together! Take these fingers and dunk into the egg and soy sauce concotion. If you've never tried this dish before, the combination of sweet and savoury may seem odd to you, but believe me, it's delicious. Wash the meal down with your hot cup of teh-c, and you are ready to start the day! I love being able to have a little piece of Singapore in New York City!

Happy Tea Days!

-TTG

The Art of Making Tea in Indonesia

2010-09-03T08:49:00.004-04:00

The Way of Tea

This is my last Indonesia post...until I return. Then I'll have a slew of new posts! But, I'm back in New York...Until January, and then I head to South Africa for the semester so be prepared for lots of Rooibos related articles!

If you haven't realized already, tea is HUGE in Indonesia. Everyone drinks it at every time of day. Teh Melati (Jasmine Tea), hot or iced, with or without lemon, always sweet. You can always find a kaki lima (literally five feet, meaning a street stall) selling your cuppa.

On my last day in Java, I went with Ria and her cousin Monika to visit their family in Solo, another small city in Central Java only an hour away from Jogja by train. When we arrived at the station, we had a bit of time to wait until we were swooped away by family for a wonderful day. So what to do? Drink tea of course! The tea kettles in Indonesia are these huge, metal monstrosities. They need to be big though, for all of the tea the locals are drinking. The tea leaves are popped right into the kettle of boiling water and set to brew. Depending on how you like your tea, it is then made to order.

The Giant Kettles

It wasn't until I got to Indonesia that I could appreciate drinking tea out of glass cups. But all the tea is served in small beer mugs or small glasses and it soon became a way of life for me. The sugar goes into the cups, the tea is filtered, and then additionals are added. That morning I had teh panas (hot tea), Monika had es teh manis (sweet iced tea) and Ria has es teh lemon (you can guess what that is!)

Tea Time!

I never had a bad cuppa in Indonesia, that's for sure. The tea men and women make tea all day and certainly know what they are doing. Anyway, this post is making me nostalgic for a hot beverage. So before I begin to ramble I'm going to put the kettle on and enjoy some Teh Sosro Heritage Jasmine Tea from Indonesia! Thanks for reading!

Me having fun in Solo

-TTG

Afternoon Tea, Biku Tea Room, Seminyak Bali

2010-08-26T17:24:00.004-04:00

Fresh Jar of Flowers

The area of Seminyak, just north of Kuta in South Bali is a bit less chaotic and a bit more refined. It is in this area along Jalan Petitenget that you will find a beautiful tea room, Biku. It was a terribly hot Balinese afternoon and my parents and I had been walking around the southern part of Seminyak, trying to find this place. I kept asking the locals in Indonesian and they all sent me in different directions. When I finally spotted the storefront, we all rejoiced and hurried inside. Part bookstore, all tea room, Biku is a wonderful respite. The Teak Joglo, native to East Java, that houses Biku is 150 years old and all charm. East truly meets West in the best way possible here. British afternoon tea in a traditional Indonesian environment? Can it get much better than that? I don't think so.

Front Tea Bar and Cake Stand

And of course, I had just that: A traditional afternoon tea. My mother ordered a salad and the Biku Blend over ice "served with mint, star fruit, and fresh wild ginger flower". The iced tea was presented beautifully and my mother said it was so refreshing and flavorful. My afternoon tea for one did not skimp out on anything.

Biku Blend Over Ice

I went with my favorite black blend, and ordered the Assam Seasonal. Perhaps being closer to the actual fertile tea lands of India's Northeast gave this particular blend of Assam one of the most vibrant flavors I have tasted yet. Full of body and complexity, only a touch of milk and sugar was needed, and the color was such a vibrant golden-brown.

Yes, There was Even a Tea Cosy

Unmistakably Royal Albert

The China used at Biku is all Royal Albert, as I could tell even before mine arrived. It's just nicer to drink and eat off of such nice China. Something makes the experience just that much more elegant. The savouries plate included salmon and cream cheese, cucumber, and ham and mustard sandwiches along with mini quiches. All sandwiches were cut finely and delicately. The taste was equal if not better to tea sandwiches I have sampled in London.

Elegant, yet Refined Presentation

Fresh Ingredients

The scones were big and fluffy, still warm upon arrival and served up with fresh jam and cream. The sweets were almost too cute to eat, particularly the mini gingerbread man. But they were all too delicious to pass up. Aside from the mini gingerbread man, the sweets sampler offered up a butter cookie, a mini chocolate cupcake, and a petite fruit tart. I was too full to finish everything, let alone touch the strawberries and cream dish that accompanied the whole meal. Nonetheless, I was very content. Make sure to browse the cake stand in the back to see what's on offer. If I hadn't gone for the afternoon tea, there was a carrot cake over there calling my name!

Sweets and Scones

Homemade Jam and Cream

Oh, and did I mention the price...? 65,000 Rupiah, which translates just barely into 7 U.S. Dollars. The small baguette sandwich I ate for lunch in Manhattan today cost more than that! Quality for such a small price...only in the East! The next time you are in Bali, make your way over to Biku for an afternoon you won't soon forget!

What was Left Unfinished...

The Scone Shoppe, Point Pleasant, NJ

2010-08-11T10:45:00.004-04:00

British Breakfast-My Tea of Choice Here.

I already have two posts on The Scone Shoppe. I can't say enough nice things about this wonderful establishment. Please read the full reviews from earlier posts. Here is a feast for the eyes from a Sconelady Tea from TSS this past week. More Indonesia posts to come soon!

Tea Sandwiches of Egg Salad, Tomato and Mozzarella, and Mini Quiches

Chocolate Delight Scone

Desserts du Jour: Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies and Chocolate Frosted Cupcake

The Scone Shoppe
2401 Bridge Ave
Point Pleasant, New Jersey

Puncak Tea Plantation, Puncak, West Java, Indonesia

2010-08-09T10:04:00.003-04:00

On the morning of Sunday, June 20th, at 4 AM, I left Jalan Thamrin in central Jakarta with a group of 8 friends. In one hour we were in Puncak, the gorgeous tea plantations outside of Jakarta. Getting home in the afternoon took something closer to 4.5 hours, but we won't discuss Jakarta's traffic here, just tea.

Sunrise over the plantation and mountainous area was beautiful. After the sun rose we took our first tea walk of the day, making our way through the area, enjoying good company. Our hike led us to the Walini Tea Parlor, where the tea comes straight from the source. We had a delicious breakfast of strong black tea and pisang goreng (fried banana).

After breakfast, we went on to explore another tea trail. At this point, the Western Java sun was in full force. It was hot, but it was also beautiful. And up in that area, it isn't as bad, climatewise, as the city. I highly recommend Puncak. It was a beautiful morning and afternoon. However, make sure you have the time, because you aren't going to get back to Jakarta very quickly. Unless you have a motorbike...

Tea Addict, Jakarta, Indonesia

2010-08-03T07:47:00.004-04:00

This outing took place of Saturday, June 19, 2010 at around 4 PM

Tea Addict is a cozy tea cafe located in the Kemang district of South Jakarta. The shop blends a variety of in-house teas and also has a snack menu. After a day of adventure around Jakarta, Vero, Widya and I were more than happy to pop into Tea Addict for a much needed rest.

Nice Interior

The room itself is modern, yet relaxed, with an earthy feel from the tree branches that sprout out around the interior. And don't get me started on the couches. They are some of the most comfortable seating arrangements I came across in Indonesia, maybe in the world. You can sink into them for hours, enjoying conversation and tea with friends, or simply a solo respite from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Oh, and Tea Addict comes complete with an assortment of magazines to tantalize your brain (or to fry it) as you wait for your pot of tea.

The Most Comfortable Couches!

The tea menu is extensive, but I wanted to go for a Tea Addict in house blend, and seeing as I love anything vanilla in my tea, I opted for the Sweet Vanilla. I am quite glad I did. The tea was presented in a simple, yet nice white porcelain pot, alongside a glass tea cup. On a side note, before I left for this trip I really hated drinking tea out of any type of see-through glass. However in Indonesia, mostly all tea is served in regular drinking glasses or miniature beer mugs, and I quickly became accustomed, even endeared by this. My Sweet Vanilla tea was spot-on. The black tea was strong and full-bodied, with a naturally sweet but not overly sweet kick from the vanilla. It almost had the taste of bourbon vanilla, however it wasn't too heavy of a flavor. Just a little bit of sugar brought it out fully.

Sweet Vanilla Tea

Vero had English Breakfast and she was quite happy with her order. Widya, on the other hand, decided to order a Cappuccino. Although I don't endorse the ordering of coffee at a tea lounge (hehehe), I respect and appreciate Tea Addict's versatility, serving not just tea fans, but their coffee counterparts as well.

Vero and Widya at Tea Addict

If you find yourself in Southern Jakarta's Kemang area any time soon, do yourself a favor and check out Tea Addict. You will be glad you did.

The Tea Bar

Thanks for reading!
-TTG

Afternoon Tea @ The Social House, Jakarta, Indonesia

2010-08-01T08:10:00.004-04:00

This Afternoon Tea took place at around 4 PM on Friday, June 18, 2010

I went to Jakarta the weekend of June 18-20, for a weekend of art and tea with friends who live over there. I was very lucky to have a group of friends awaiting my arrival, as I feel that to get around Jakarta and really see things in the city, you need to know insiders. If not, you will be trapped mostly wandering the massive sitting, and inevitably sitting in traffic.

After getting off my short plane ride from Jogja to Jakarta, friend and tea-partner-in-crime, Vero, picked me up from the bus station in Central Jakarta. After I dropped off my bags, our first destination was The Social House. The Social House restaurant, located within the Harvey Nichols at Grand Indonesia on Jalan Thamrin, is considered the "it" place to be in Jakarta these days. My attention was piqued by reading about their afternoon tea special. The wood walls and forested atmosphere make the environment comfortable and luxurious. And, the views are simply incredible! About half way into our tea, as the light was changing outside, the massive windows completely opened, making the restaurant into almost a full balcony! Gorgeous!

The tea set is so reasonably priced, as is everything in Indonesia by American standards. Vero and I decided to share one full afternoon tea (later, our friend Widya joined us and ordered a fancy latte...even with this added, the bill came out to under US$10!). I was a little put off initially when they brought out the tea pot...I saw a tea bag string hanging from the side...and then furthermore it was Lipton!!! If you've read my previous posts, you know how I feel about Lipton. I was shocked that such an elegant and "it" place was serving Lipton with their afternoon tea sets. But it was marked "Yellow Label", which means it is of a higher grade. So I grudgingly poured myself a cup and mixed in some gula (sugar). I was SO pleasantly surprised. I'm almost embarrassed to say it, but the tea was aromatic and light. Very refreshing. I guess the Lipton in Asia is working a little harder to meet the standards of Asian teas. This was a simple black, Chinese tea, but the flavor was spot on. Don't get me wrong, I'm not about to start promoting Lipton, but this was a nice surprise.

After some laughs and conversation between Vero and I, our three tiered server appeared. It was quite beautiful to look at! A rather modern set-up with all the appropriate, traditional servings. The light greens of the sweets really stood out.

The tea sandwiches included mozzarella and tomato on white tea bread, ham and cheese on focaccia, and a third that I cannot for the life of me recall! They encompassed a handful of upscale potato chips. All were delicious.

The scone serving was presented beautifully. Two sugar-dusted raisin scones were presented with pistachio cookies, raspberry thumbprint cookies, and cocoa-walnut cookies. There was also a generous portion of mock clotted cream and strawberry preserves. All of the mini cookies were delicious, my favorite being the cocoa-walnut. However, as I bit into the scone, something I highly anticipate in all of my tea times, I was sorely disappointed. The texture was fine, crumbly and delicate, however there was a strong tinge of lemony flavour, that I sorely disliked. The scones were too sweet and too sour, and the combination of those extremes did not satisfy.

The sweets course scored high points in all categories. The pistachio eclairs were to die for. The pistachio icing still remains in my thoughts. Very light and delicious. The mini tarts and banana cakes were sure to satisfy. And with a simple black tea, the combination of tea and treats all paired quite nicely. Vero, Widya and I took our time enjoying each other's company and the delectable tea set before us. It was a great way to arrive in Jakarta. It was particularly a nice change after a couple of weeks of solely Indonesian food from kaki lima (street vendors) and warungs (small shop/restaurants).

As the evening sun began to set, I looked out into the lights of Jakarta and felt quite content. "I don't ever want to leave Indonesia", I thought to myself. And I will be back. Certainly. Sooner, than later, that is for sure.

Thanks for reading!

-TTG

Teh Bungkus

2010-07-31T16:01:00.003-04:00

Indonesians and Malaysians love plastic. Well, maybe they don't love it, they just seem to use a whole lot of it! And, they are the masters of tying plastic knots for all of your food and drink to-go needs. One of my favorite morning activities in Indonesia was to wake up, take a long walk, and bring along teh bungkus. Bungkus means wrap or package, and teh bungkus translates more or less into "tea to go". Any street stall or warung will set you up with your very own teh bungkus.

Now, here is the really unique part. The tea comes in a plastic bag, that you drink out of, with a straw! Ever sipped hot tea with a straw? I hadn't until these past months, but it's actually not so bad. You get used to it quickly, and it helps me to savour my tea.

In Indonesia, you order "satu teh panas bungkus" ("one hot tea to go"). You will be presented with a lovely plastic bag, filled with a hot and sweet jasmine tea just begging to be enjoyed on your morning stroll!

Teh Bungkus from a small stand in Solo, Central Java, Indonesia

In Malaysia, you want to ask for "teh tarik bungkus satu" ("one pulled tea to go"). Teh Tarik is a specialty of Malaysia and Singapore. It's a black tea sweetened with sugar and condensed milk, then strategically pulled from heights of up to one meter, transferred between two glasses to achieve a frothed and bubbly top to the tea. My favorite teh tarik came from the mamak stall down the road from my hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

The infamous teh tarik!

Thanks for reading!

The Tea Gastronomer

Angkringan: A Traditional Javanese Tea Spot

2010-07-30T08:24:00.003-04:00

Well, I am back from Indonesia! It was an amazing two months, and although it's good to be home, I'm terribly homesick for my new home (most precisely Yogyakarta, Indonesia). From my small updates abroad, you might notice that I consumed A LOT of tea while away in Asia. It was endless. My usual three cups a day was upped to something more like six cups a day. I was certainly in tea heaven. Expect many updates over the next couple of weeks, sharing tea experiences in Indo!

One specialty of Java is the traditional Angkringkan. These teahouses are open until the wee hours in the morning. You can have a variety of hot tea and jahe (ginger) drinks along with a serve yourself buffet of food. The rooms are typically dimly lit, and it's a wonderful place to stay up chatting with friends. During my last week in Jogja, I went to Lek Min with friends Ria and Octo.

Teh Poci, Indonesia

I had the traditional teh poci. Teh poci is Indonesian for tea pot. At any angkringan, you will find teh poci on the menu. A wooden Javanese tea pot is served to you filled with hot jasmine tea. Inside your glass cup you will find a large lump of palm sugar. Be careful, if you let the sugar sit for too long your tea may become sickeningly sweet. But part of the fun is finding the right balance adding tea and sugar! I am so hooked on Jasmine tea right now, as it is the major tea in Indonesia and everyone drinks it iced and hot, daily. The teh poci was delicious and a perfect way to end a night with friends.Ria and I enjoying tea!

Jakarta Weekend of TEA!

2010-06-21T04:52:00.002-04:00

I spent the weekend in crazy, hot, crowded Jakarta! I had a lot of fun and drank a lot of tea. Expect full reports upon my return home in August. Here's a teaser! I went to Harvey Nichol's Social House, the "IT" place to be in Jakarta these days. On day one, Friday June 18, I, along with friend Vero shared afternoon tea of delightful status! Despite using Lipton (Yellow Label) I thoroughly enjoyed the elegant and leisurely experience!

Saturday, June 19, I went with Vero and Widya to Tea Addict, a really cozy tea cafe located in the Kemang area of South Jakarta. We spent a while relaxing. They have over 30 special Tea Addict blends. I had Sweet Vanilla and Vero had English Breakfast...Widya had a cappuccino, for shame!

Yesterday, June 20, we drove up to Puncak to hike through the tea plantation! It was really beautiful. And then we drank tea straight from the source along with a breakfast of pisang goreng (fried bananas).

A weekend of great tea and friends! Get ready for a single review full of pictures for each! For now, enjoy the brief update.

-The Tea Gastronomer

Hello from Yogyakarta, Indonesia

2010-06-09T07:23:00.002-04:00

Hello from Indonesia! I am sitting in one of the many lovely internet cafes that grace this wildly exciting city. The proprietor has just switched on an Indonesian cover version of Lady Gaga's Pokerface after having "I wanna make love right now now now" on repeat for 35 minutes...Anyway, I am quite enjoying the country. A real culture shock for me, but in a good way. And the good news is I am drinking lots of tea! I have multiple glasses of homemade es teh manis daily. And bottled teh hijau (green tea) is not only delicious, but extremely sweet. Central Java loves sweet tea! Also, you can buy tea powder and tea mixes at every convenient store. Photos to appear on my return to the states. Until then...Selamat Minum!

The Tea Gastronomer Heads to INDONESIA!

2010-06-01T15:39:00.004-04:00

Here I go! I am departing in just a couple days now for a 2 month journey to Indonesia! I'm quite excited! I'll be spending my first month in the artist town of Yogyakarta on Central Java, where I'll be working with Papermoon Puppet Theatre, a modern puppet theatre company who I began collaborations with during their six month stay in NYC. Following that, I will venture over to Bali where I will train in traditional Balinese dance in the village of Pengosekan Ubud with the Gamelan and Dance group, Cudamani. I expect many exciting things to come out of this experience! I am psyched!

Oh...and near the end leg of my trip I will be heading up north to the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia to visit the tea plantations and sample straight from the source. Expect updates from me as I drink the many varieties of tea Indonesia has to offer. I wish you all the best! The next time I post will be from the another coast!

Indonesian Tehbotol (Tea Bottle)
Sweet Jasmine Tea

-The Tea Gastronomer

Mind on Matcha

2010-05-28T18:05:00.002-04:00

Matcha Powder

Today I want to speak with regard to matcha, a recent obsession of mine. Matcha is a finely milled powder green tea powder which comes from the lovely island of Japan. Matcha is drunk of course, but you can also use matcha powder in certain recipes. This is what gives those matcha cakes and cookies the lovely green hue. I naively thought, as a youngster, that those green foodstuffs behind the bakery counter at the local Asian store were just stale pastries and not wanting to argue with cultural customs I quietly accepted that. Good thing I have moved on from those days! Although green tea is grown all over the world, matcha is endemic to Japan and you will find it at the centerpiece of the particularly precise and beautiful tea ceremony. Matcha is also a lovely palate cleanser that you may enjoy at the end of a meal.

Matcha's taste is very unique. Certainly full of twists and turns, the taste is not at all stagnant. There is a hint of bitterness, a touch of serenity, a wealth of flavors all packed into this tea. Matcha is thicker and lovelier than your average green tea. A long-lasting sweetness stays after your first bitter taste from the tea making it alluring and addicting. I crave it as I write...Aside from delicious taste, you can of course count on the health benefits that come along with green tea. A plethora of nutrients, antioxidants and fiber are all part of your daily cup of match green tea. It is healthful also in that it is sugar free, but you get a taste of sweetness from the tea itself. But don't expect it to come cheap. Being an export product of Japan increases price as well as the fact that matcha processing is limited and much of it is grown and picked by hand.

Bowl of Matcha Green Tea

Right now I am wild about matcha lattes. Milk and Matcha with a touch of sugar paired to create a sweet morning, afternoon, or evening treat be it iced or hot. It is quite simple to make at home if you buy your own matcha. Look up a recipe online or create your own! Very fun to serve to guests. Matcha lattes are also popping up more and more on coffeeshop menus. New to matcha? Give it a try and tell me what you think? Matcha expert? Share your thoughts!

Enjoy this holiday weekend and have an extra cup of tea for me!

-Ethan

Kirin Milk Tea

2010-05-14T15:17:00.002-04:00

I am surprised I haven't posted on Kirin Milk Tea Yet. This refreshing Japanese product is probably my favorite pre-prepared and bottled tea beverage. I usually either have a large bottle chilled in the refrigerator or buy a small bottle to take out with me.

The Japanese product is simply a strong black tea partnered with milk and sugar. When enjoyed cold, it is a lively and sweet treat, smooth and milky. I've been enjoying this product for years now. What I love about Kirin milk tea is the variety. You wouldn't think that you could do so much to milk tea! There is the regular milk tea, my usual purchase, but there is also reduced sugar milk tea (still completely tasty and refreshing), healthy milk tea, royal milk tea (stronger black tea), and you can also buy Kirin's milk coffee if you need an extra jolt of caffeine.

The lovely beverage is available at most Asian Groceries or Asian Convenient Stores in the USA and of course easily available in most of Asia. Go get yourself a milk tea and take a break from the summer heat!

-The Tea Gastronomer

Chai on Ice, Podunk, New York, NY

2010-04-20T17:18:00.004-04:00

Today was filled with essay-writing and a class. I decided I wanted a nice lunch and some tea from one of my favorite spots in the city to mellow out, Podunk. To learn more about Podunk, please read my previous posts on this lovely getaway on east 5th st between Bowery and 2nd Ave!

I was greeted by Elspeth and I ordered an iced chai, perfect for the warm weather today has been offering. Elspeth's chai is maybe the best in the city. Your large mason jar (or you can get it in a pitcher for larger parties) comes filled with chai on ice, a plump red strawberry, two orange slices, a real cinnamon stick and a sprig of mint to top it all off. Milk and sugar is on the side, so you can control how milky and sweet you like your chai. I of course opt to have mine extra milky and extra sweet! The chai was decadent and long lasting. So delicious!

Beautiful Chai

Close-Up

Elspeth gave me a recommendation for my lunch, and I'm glad she did! It was superb. Her own homemade wheat bread topped with melted cheese and cherry tomatoes. On the side was a sweet yellow mustard and a cranberry dipping sauce that accentuated the already delicious open-faced sandwich and some stray blackberries, perfectly ripe and in-season!

I finished off with one of Elspeth's homemade scones. They were hot out of the oven and there is no way of avoiding a trip to Podunk without a scone! Simply the best way to break up the afternoon!

Podunk
East 5th St btw Bowery and 2nd Ave
New York, NY

Milk Tea, TKettle, New York, NY

2010-04-19T09:57:00.003-04:00

Milk tea is one of the most popular beverages in Taiwan, China and Hong Kong. The smooth flavor of strong tea blended with milk and sugar is a refreshing pick-me-up at any time of day. I'm a bit of a milk tea addict. I love a simple strong black tea on ice around 3 p.m. In the mornings, I always get it hot. You can get milk tea at almost any Chinese bakery for around one to two dollars. It is simple and refreshing. However, if you are willing to splurge a bit, and you go to a bubble tea cafe, for a few dollars more you will get a richer, more flavorful milk tea.

TKettle on St. Mark's Place in the East Village recently underwent renovation and is now reopen. They have an expanded menu with plenty of options for bubble tea, smoothies, and shakes (try the avocado shake, it's delicious!). This past week I went in for a relaxing milk tea. The taste was rich and frothy and perfect to wake me up. Remember to use a small straw and not a bubble straw when drinking milk tea sans tapioca pearls. This is the only way I can savour it!

Milk Tea at TKettle

TKettle
St. Mark's btw 2nd and 3rd
New York, NY 10003

Thanks for reading!

-Ethan

Es Teh Manis, Satay Junction, New York, NY

2010-04-12T19:38:00.004-04:00

In Indonesia, Coca-Cola is not the popular drink of choice. It is too expensive of an import for people to drink everyday. To quench one's thirst in the hot, tropical weather, Indonesians prefer sweet iced jasmine tea, es teh manis (es meaning ice, teh meaning tea, manis meaning sweet). This is my kind of place! I'll actually be heading to Indonesia in June for two months! I'll be sipping on this iced tea everyday to save me from dehydration! The most popular types of es teh in Indonesia are the ever popular companies Teh Botol Sosro and Teh Kotak. They taste very similar, with Teh Kotak being a bit sweeter of the two, in my opinion.

Anyway, NYC just recently was hit with a lovely sliver of a restaurant on my favorite street: Greenwich Avenue in the West Village (not far from Tea and Sympathy!) Satay Junction is serving up some delicious Indonesian street foods like Nasi Goreng (fried rice), Mie Goreng (fried noodles) and a wide assortment of Satays! I met up with fellow food blogger, the incomparable Dani of Romancing the Scone (www.romancingthescone.blogspot.com [she has the food report so go check it out!]) and we had a wonderful time chatting and laughing as the tiny space that holds only 16 diners at a time filled to capacity. It helps that Dani is Indonesian and knows what is good!

We both ordered Satay Junction's Es Teh Manis to cool down our palettes from the lovely, spicy food. Satay Junction's es teh is a lovely, fragrant cool jasmine tea with sugar settled at the bottom. You stir it up and enjoy. This version of es teh is not as sweet as Indonesians in central-eastern Java take it (the way I like it as well!), but it was still very refreshing! Go spice up your dining options and try a cuisine less indulged in by Americas. And drink es teh manis! As they say in Indonesia, Selamat Minum (Cheers)!

Es Teh Manis!
Thanks to Dani for the Picture!

Satay Junction
28 Greenwich Ave
New York, NY

My Birthday Afternoon Tea at Podunk, New York, NY

2010-03-21T12:21:00.006-04:00

Since I last wrote on Podunk in the fall, I have fallen more and more madly in love with this rustic, country American/Scandinavian tea room that is the most perfect respite from city life. I couldn't imagine a better place than the quiet fifth street nestled between the Bowery and 2nd Ave for my favorite city tea room. Every visit I have is a beautiful rest from my regularly hectic life, partnered with glorious tea and delicious sweets and savouries.

And let me mention the wonderful proprietor, Elspeth. What a kindred spirit! Each time I go, we end up talking at length about our passion for tea and culture and life in general. She is so wonderful and kind. A genuinely kind soul, who does what she loves and does it exceptionally well! Not to mention that every single thing she makes is out of this world delicious!

My 20th birthday was this past March 9th and my friend Lulu from Vancouver was in town to celebrate and to enjoy her spring break. I knew I wanted to enjoy afternoon tea at Podunk, so off we went at four o'clock for a spectacular birthday afternoon. Upon walking in, Elspeth emerged behind the counter with a bright and cheery "Hello Ethan!" Any place where the owner knows and remembers my name is a place I will go to again and again. She isn't just the owner, but a friend! We chatted and I introduced Lulu and we settled on my favorite tea set on the menu, the "Old Friends Tea". Seeing as Lulu and I are old friends, it was perfect.

Lulu at Tea

I ordered a rooibos tea which Elspeth gladly infused with vanilla for me. How delicious. As you may know, I am a huge fan of rooibos, and vanilla is a favorite flavor of mine in teas, so it was perfect for me! Lulu ordered a vanilla chai, which she raved about as we sipped and waited for our food, reading the cute children's books on Podunk's shelves and chatting about life.

The presentation is always spectacular at Podunk. My birthday tray was no exception. The sandwiches area always splendid, in my opinion. So delicately cut and beautifully presented, we had a plate of half cucumber, half assorted meat and spreads. Each sandwich was superb. As I mentioned in my initial post on Podunk, I think Podunk does the best cucumber sandwich I have ever had. A dark and light side of bread, delicate rectangles, extremely thin cucumbers and a delicious, light taste! Also, the mini cheddar biscuits that top each sandwich set are to die for! Scrumptious!
Tea Sandwiches!

The scones at Podunk are baked fresh daily, and they are always delicious. Light, crumbly, and fresh, they pair so spectacularly with Elspeth's fresh cream, strawberry preserves and orange marmalade. AND, you get one large scone and one mini scone in each order so you can enjoy your scone course with your tea for just a little bit longer than usual! This I like...very much!

Great Presentation!

The sweets usually have some standards that are always on the tray, such as Elspeth's fantastic chocolate chip cookies and her mini cupcakes with pink royal frosting. Both of these are favorites of mine, so I'm not surprised they are standards. For my birthday tea though, we also received a blackberry purse and sweet cinnamon apple purse, both delicious and light with a fresh flavour. A mixed bowl of fresh strawberries and blueberries sits at the center of the tray with almond cookies marking the final small bits of the sweets course.

Delectable Sweets

I can't praise Podunk enough. It's always spectacular, and I am so thrilled I got to spend my 20th taking in this age-old tradition with both an old friend and a new one. Tea brings people together though, so I'm not surprised that smiles line all faces of the lucky people who pass through the doors into this safe haven of peace, tranquility, and tea!

Lovely Teaware

Podunk
East 5th Street btw Bowery and 2nd Ave
New York, NY 10003

Afternoon Tea at the Carlyle Hotel, New York, NY

2010-02-28T17:27:00.005-05:00

What an experience! I had been wanting to do a fancy hotel tea for a while right here in Manhattan, and my dream finally came true. I had been planning to take tea with my friend Hailey for a while, and we had set the date for tea at The Gallery at NYC's beautiful and elegant hotel Carlyle. I invited friends Kiley and Sarah along for the decadent afternoon and they were certainly happy they arrived.

To begin, the room itself is a masterpiece. From the tea booklet awaiting us at the table:

"Exotic, elegant décor by legendary decorator Renzo Mongiardino sets the stage for a private retreat favored by the rich, the famous and the beautiful since the hotel's inception. Inspired by the sultan's dining room at the Topikapi Palace in Turkey, The Gallery is divided into two tiers.

The upper gallery is wrapped in deep red, hand-painted wallpaper. Banquettes made of antique kilims and red-fringed velvet chairs invite lingering. The lower gallery features an intricate blue-and-gold wallpaper, inset with intaglio-like views of such landmarks as Venice's Church of the Saulte and Istanbul's Hagia Sophia."

Pillows lined the couches and beautiful white, crisp linen with set tea cups awaited. We each indulged in a full afternoon tea. Although the tea listing was not extensive, it was certainly a fine choice. I went with a classic, English Breakfast, which couldn't have been better. The girls all indulged in Earl Grey Supreme.

After not too long of a wait at all, the beautiful china plates on three tiered servers arrived. The first tier held the sandwiches, which is where I will begin. They were all fantastic! Larger than your average finger sandwich, but more to enjoy that way. I enjoyed ham, turkey and watercress, cucumber and cream cheese, spiced egg salad, and smoked salmon and cream cheese bites. The crusts were perfectly cut off and everything was going to my liking. Not to mention that the English Breakfast was pairing perfectly with each sandwich.

The second tier held the scones, of course. Accompanied by strawberry jam, orange marmalade, and real devonshire clotted cream imported from England, there was a raisin and plain scone for each of us. I've certainly had better scones, but there was nothing wrong with the Carlyle's scones and I so admired the freshness of the preserves and clotted cream.

At this point, I needed a refill on my pot, which came out promptly. A bit of relaxing period on the comfy couch before the sweets ensued as well. After some lovely chat with my good friends (and a quick interaction with the table next to us-everyone was so friendly that afternoon) we tucked into the sweets tier.

My favorite sweet was the dark chocolate torte with gold shaving on top. I also loved the espresso creme cakelet. The other sweets offered were apricot-pistachio tarts, banana chocolate meringue, and mini apple tartlets. They were all spectacular.

In total, we spent three hours enjoying tea and conversation, but it felt like no time at all! We were all so relaxed and enjoyed our time thoroughly. For the ultimate tea experience, the Carlyle is certainly it! The service was terrific and they certainly adhered to all of the afternoon tea guidelines. I recommend the Carlyle wholeheartedly.

After we had paid, we retired to Bemelman's bar, right across from the Gallery for another three hours (how time flew!) where we enjoyed more great service at the Carlyle, sipping Martinis and eating cheese crisps. The pianist was terrific!

The room is lit very dimly, so unfortunately my pictures aren't the best, but I hope you can still enjoy! Thanks so much for reading!

-The Tea Gastronomer

The Scone Shoppe, Point Pleasant, NJ (Revisited!)

2010-01-03T13:43:00.005-05:00

Delectable Scones

Delicious Sweets!

Made-to-order Savouries

The Sconelady's Tea

The Interior

Table Setting

One of my initial posts on this blog was of the cute, hidden gem, "The Scone Shoppe" in Point Pleasant, NJ. I traveled out in August with my mother to visit the tearoom, and we were both so pleased. The service was excellent, the food was delicious and the prices were wonderful. Now, don't get me wrong, this is no top-notch, ultra-fancy tearoom. If you want that, there are plenty of options in this state. This tearoom, however, is a very comfortable, welcoming environment with a taste of warmth and joy. This visit, accompanied by my good friend Sharanya, once again exceeded expectations.

Upon entrance, we were seated at a lovely corner table. I remembered instantly the friendly waitress who came to take care of us, as I had had her in August...What was amazing and so thoroughly enjoyable for me though was that she remembered me! And my mother! And inquired about my health, my life, and made me feel as though I was part of her family. She is such a kind spirit, and I think you will know just who she is if you visit this lovely location (They finally have a website!)

The room is decorated wonderfully, and the aroma of warm scones permeates the air. They bake 10-12 varieties each day. We entered at about 3 o'clock, an hour until closing, but there were still six varieties to choose from, which in my book is more than enough! The table settings are adorned with teapot napkin rings, antique bone china, and fine silver flatware. As we sat and chatted about the great environment, other parties sipped on tea and laughed, keeping warm as the winter wind chilled the outside.

Sharanya and I opted for the traditional Sconelady's tea, which comes with everything a proper afternoon tea should. It is ONLY $14.95 and you get a tea sandwich, a scone, and sweets. We knew there would be more than enough food, so we shared the order and just added an extra scone.

Our tea came out promptly. We ordered the British Breakfast blend. Still Republic of Tea, still in tea bags, but the bags were decanted and the flavor was fine. And for the price, I'm not complaining! We sipped on our lovely tea and recounted our semesters and enjoyed each others company. In no time at all our three-tiered server arrived at the table.

I just want to point out how accommodating The Scone Shoppe is. Sharanya is a vegetarian, and I wanted to make sure the food would satisfy her. The Sconelady's tea is traditionally served with a chicken salad sandwich (delicious from my own experience there!) and an egg salad sandwich, but the lovely server took care of Sharanya right away. She made us the most delicious fresh mozzarella and tomato on white tea bread in place of the chicken salad and we were more than happy with it!

Along with the sandwiches, the savouries included miniature quiches, a classic which of course was delicious! The scones at the scone shoppe, are more like dessert scones, American-style triangle, dusted with powdered sugar. They are superb! Sharanya opted for the cranberry and white chocolate, and with a taste of hers, I can vouch for it's deliciousness! I had the cinnamon chip which was also terrific! The scones are served with strawberry preserves, lemon curd, and butter which is in a three-sectioned glass server. I loved the scones so much, I ordered one of each remaining variety (five different scones) to bring back home for my family and friends.

And then there were of course two miniature sweets, just enough to create a perfect tea without making you feel guilty! There was a tiny banana cake which was fine, although I wouldn't order it if I had the option. But the standout was the chocolate mousse tart. A fine mini chocolate tart, covered in fresh cream and chocolate shavings. Sharanya and I loved that one the best!

And, at the end of our meal, we still had extra tea from our large pot to finish off. I just want to applaud the whole team over at The Scone Shoppe for the great job they do and wonderful environment we create. I certainly left our server a well-deserved tip! Will I be back? No doubt about it. I will probably accompany my mother there within the next week! Oh, and our bill...The Sconelady's Tea plus an added scone came to a total of about $17.00. For two people. This is the best tea bargain you may find anywhere! If you can get over there, go!

Thanks so much for reading, and I hope your New Years are off to a great start!

-Ethan Nicholas

Lipton: Pyramid Bags

2009-12-28T14:24:00.002-05:00

I am a purist when it comes to tea and Lipton is at the bottom of the list for me. Lipton's tea is mass produced using tea dust or fanning, the industry's name for the lowest grade quality of tea. The tea is usually flavorless and dull and really gives people a bad idea of what tea is.

Today while shopping in Shop Rite, I came across a box of something that surprised me. Lipton Pyramid Tea bags with actual whole leaf tea, instead of the usual fannings. Although I would never go out of my way to purchase Lipton, I decided to try this new product. I purchased a box of the Vanilla Caramel Truffle.

From the website: "Our long-leaf tea is handpicked from only the top two leaves and a bud. LIPTON premium long-cut tea is delicately packaged in unique pyramid-shaped bags that allow the tea room to flow freely with real pieces of fruit for a truly authentic tea infusion. The result is an exceptionally pure tea flavor and aroma. LIPTON Premium Pyramid Tea Bags are now available in six delicious new flavors. Try them all. "

"A perfectly sweet indulgence. Delicate vanilla blends beautifully with pieces of real caramel and the taste of rich chocolate truffles. Go ahead. You deserve it."

Upon brewing myself a cup of Lipton's seemingly up to scale product, I'm sad to say that I was disappointed. I was really hopeful that perhaps this big step forward for Lipton would mean better taste. However, the caramel bits don't look real, and the black tea, although whole leaf, does not look high-quality. And the flavor is still lackluster. Even with added milk and sugar, I don't get the strong hints of flavor, which should definitely come out in this combination.

Although Lipton is taking steps forward to integrate into the quality tea world, I don't believe they have succeeded completely just yet. If you have tried the new Lipton Pyramid Bags, let me know your experience.

Thanks for reading!

-The Tea Gastronomer.

The Art of Tea in Cramped Quarters!

2009-11-14T18:52:00.003-05:00

Dorm-Apartment living is tough. I live with three other young men, in a very small Manhattan apartment. 2 people sleep in each living space, there is one bathroom, and a tiny kitchen. Ah, the life of an actor. Still, who's to say you can't enjoy a full out luxurious and relaxing cream tea under these circumstances? No one! I called my friend Kiley over this afternoon and did just that. 30 minutes before her arrival, I baked fresh scones. I use the Tea and Sympathy recipe every time. They came out beautifully. The texture was brilliant and the shape was awesome. I served the scones with fresh strawberry jam from the Union Square Farmer's Market and I opened up my jar of Double Devon Cream from the Devon Cream Company for the occasion. How delicious the two met when partnered on one of my homemade scones. I boiled Serendipitea's Coco-Loco in my new teapot from Chinatown.

Ah, when space is limited...we make a floor setting. I decided to go for a mismatched theme. I had two different bone china cups, my new teapot, my porcelain creamer, and new jam/cream servers from Broadway Panhandler. The LOVELY tea cozy is from Set to a Tea and they are available through me and the website.

Sitting on the floor can actually be fun! We enjoyed our chit-chat and I played some classical music in the background. Sometimes simple pleasures are the best...especially when shared with a good friend. Scared to do this on your own? Don't be. Set to a Tea will help you plan your very own afternoon tea event. Contact me and I'll help you plan an afternoon your friends won't soon forget! Of course, I'm sure you'll have more room to spread in your quarters than I do in mine! That's the Greenwich Village, lifestyle though ;-).

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend so far! Let me know about your tea stories! I'm here not just to type, but to listen!

Best and Blessing,

Ethan Nicholas!

The Best Things in Life May Not be Free...

2009-11-13T22:03:00.002-05:00

...but they sure are cheap! I just had to share this steal of a purchase I made yesterday. I was getting some groceries at Hong Kong Supermarket yesterday afternoon, and I was in the basement picking up Malaysian noodles. I ran across the homeware section to look at plates and chopsticks and right before my eyes...this gorgeous white porcelain teapot with blue flower detail. The price tag? $6.99! What a bargain! It certainly made my day! Ah, the tea to be drunk in this pot. Especially my favorite Set to a Tea flavor...Coconut Truffle! Get yours through me now!!!

Tea and Sympathy, New York, NY

2009-11-03T18:50:00.003-05:00

TEA AND SYMPATHY!

This is probably my favorite spot in all of the city. Located on my absolute favorite street, Greenwich Ave, Tea and Sympathy is about as British as you can get in New York City. I have been visiting this British Tea Room/Restaurant in it's tiny shop location for the past year and have already made multiple visits. Whether I am ordering a pot of tea and an order of scones with fresh clotted cream and jam, or going for a hearty dinner of Chicken and Leek pie served with mixed peas and carrots, mashed potatoes, and a smile I am always in for a treat. Their treacle sponge pudding is delicious and they do a full English breakfast the best this side of the Atlantic.

The spot is perfect to bring friends or a book. I tend to go alone when I'm feeling really overwhelmed and just need a break from the world. I can't even count the number of visits I've made to T&S, but it's always above excellent. I've never had a complaint. Nikki Perry, the owner and founder always is sure to give great service, along with the rest of the British girls who work there. There's so much on the menu that I'd love to try, and it's a goal of mine to enjoy, but I am a sucker for the cucumber and cream cheese sandwich which I usually get at lunch. They also do afternoon tea for 35 dollars at any time of the day! GO VISIT!

I might write a full review soon, but for now, here's a heads up. After my rehearsal at Lincoln Center for the Tisch Gala this past Sunday, I went in to enjoy a cup of Vietnamese Vanilla Black Tea with an order of scones. What a lovely afternoon!

Tea Dreams!

-Ethan

More Pumpkin! Happy Fall!

2009-10-27T19:11:00.003-04:00

We are certainly into the Autumn season. And if you haven't noticed by now, I LOVE pumpkin! I have been enjoying pumpkin tea, pumpkin scones, any pumpkin item I can get my hands on! Me and my roommate have a little pumpkin display on our mantle right now with some faux Fall leaves. In between school and rehearsals today, I decided to calm my nerves and do some baking. I prepared a lovely pumpkin bread, and with the remaining batter, added chocolate chips and baked some delectable pumpkin chocolate chip muffins! The smell of pumpkin and spice is weaving its way through my apartment right now. Delicious! Browse the internet and find your favorite recipe. There are so many. I'm using a secret recipe that I LOVE! Oh, also, those awesome pumpkin kitchen towels that go so well with the baked goods are from K-Mart! Cheap and perfect for the season. Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the change of colors!

Best,

Ethan

Tea is for the Soul!

2009-10-19T22:38:00.003-04:00

Sorry for the lack of updating lately!

This will be short, because I am really am so, so busy at this time in my life! Not only am I working on two shows (the first goes up in one week!), I am also singing at Lincoln Center on November 2nd, for NYU's annual Tisch Gala. I am more than thrilled, but with all of my school work, on top of rehearsals, on top of everything else that happens in this crazy city, it sometimes feels like too much. But there's an easy solution to rid myself of this fear, of course. A nice, hot pot of tea. It always does the trick. After a 9 am to 9 pm day at the studio and rehearsal, a cuppa never hurts! Right now I am enjoying a pot of Yorkshire Gold, one of England's favorites for your pot!

I will hopefully be updating more frequently soon!

Until them, Tea Dreams!!!

-Ethan

High SocieTea and Set to a Tea, Wayne and West Milford NJ

2009-10-04T10:13:00.004-04:00

Yesterday I had the honor to enjoy a delectable afternoon tea with Kathleen Rogers, owner of Set to a Tea. I am proud to say I am a new consultant of the wonderful business that brings the joy of afternoon tea straight to you. For tea lovers and novices alike, Set to a Tea is a wonderful way to gather a group of close friends at your home and enjoy a relaxing conversation over a pot of tea and fresh scones. We want to share our passion with everyone interested in learning about it! I am more than thrilled to start hosting parties. If you are in Manhattan and are interested, don't be shy to contact me! I was so touched to learn of Kathleen's beginnings in the tea world and how that shaped her business. This isn't about moving quickly and pushing for sales, but really about relaxation, joy, sharing, and the love of tea. It's a connection of people who want to take a break from the hectic world that many of us live in. The Set to a Tea shop in West Milford is beyond adorable and filled with the goodies you see in the catalog, designed so nicely around the store. I was in heaven from the minute I walked in and saw the teas, pots, and scone mixes! The shop is located at: 1616-H Union Valley Road, West Milford, NJ 07480 973-728-3300 and you can of course visit the website at: http://www.cascadedata.net/stat_dnn/default.aspx

Before I went to see headquarters though, Kathleen and I enjoyed such a delectable "Queen's Tea" at High SocieTea in Wayne. As soon as you step in, you are surrounded by a gift shop of to die for tea goodies. I was so tempted to make purchases! They have wonderful cups, china plates, teas, tea stationary, and more! We were promptly shown to our reserved table. The room is very nicely decorated, not overly done, and quite a nice size. The table was adorned in nice linen, and had a three-tiered tray sitting on it, with china set properly, tea cups, and two pots with cozies on them! A beautiful setting.

I ordered Taste of Blarney tea which was a full bodied mixture of Assam and Ceylon. I quite enjoyed it, however because the tea leaves were in the pot and not decanted at any point, the tea became too bitter after a while, so we had to change our teas after a bit. Kathleen had the caramel chai, which I tried and really enjoyed! The taste of caramel was not too overpowering, but was just enough. I really loved both teas!

Our first course was a delectable salad with nuts, dried cranberries, and feta over a bed of spinach leaves dressed in an AMAZING homemade maple vinagrette. I am never usually a fan of vinagrettes, but this dressing was delectable! The salad course was served with a warm asparagus quiche which was very yummy.

Next came the scones course! Homemade and delectable! My mouth is watering just thinking about them. There were two warm caramel apple scones, and delicious maple cinnamon scones. They were served with fresh cream and lemon curd, and plated with watermelon slices and oranges.

Then came sandwiches followed by sweets. The sandwich plate was great! Cucumber and cream cheese done just right, sliced thin on white bread, egg salad on light wheat, and chicken salad with apple on dark wheat was accompanied by Parmesan crostini and mini quiches. I was in heaven and already getting full, but of course we had some sweets to devour with the rest of our tea.

The shortbread hearts were light and buttery, the peanut butter brownie bites were chocolaty and rich, and there were apricot crumble bites that I didn't try, but the leftovers are eagerly awaiting me in my kitchen!

Kathleen and I were both too full to enjoy the plated desserts, so we had them wrapped up to go. I am so excited to taste my carrot cake triangle sitting in my refrigerator. The cream cheese icing looks so rich and tasty!

Overall, High SocieTea is a definite five stars! I loved it from start to finish. And it was of course made better that I had such wonderful company. Kathleen and I shared wonderful conversation both tea and non-tea related and took time to really relax and enjoy our tea, something that we all sometimes take for granted. Thank you Kathleen, for such a terrific afternoon!

As a new member of the Set to a Tea family, I invite you all to browse the catalog online and feel free to contact me. I am so excited about starting to share something that I love with others. Enjoy your Sundays and relax before the week starts up again!

Peace and Tea Blessing!

-Ethan Nicholas

Rainy days and Mondays...

2009-09-27T11:04:00.002-04:00

...Or Sundays! The time to curl up, get your work done, and do some baking! Today is a gloomy day in New York so I think I'll make a pot of English Breakfast and make something yummy!

Let's share our favorite rainy day recipes here! Don't be shy!

My favorite dessert for the cooler months is a British staple. Treacle Sponge Pudding. The recipe I will provide is from Tea and Sympathy, here in Manhattan. The thick golden syrup that makes the pud can be bought at many grocery stores and all gourmet groceries. Don't be afraid to slather it in hot custard and enjoy the delicious combo of hot and sweet! My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

TREACLE PUDDING

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
A few drops of vanilla extract
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 heaping teaspoon baking powder
1 1/4 cups Tate & Lyle Golden Syrup (a little extra will do no harm).

With an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add the eggs, one at a time, along with the vanilla.
With a spatula, fold in the flour and baking powder and mix until smooth.
Preheat oven to 350F.
Butter and flour a 10-inch round Bundt pan.
Pour the syrup into the pan, then spoon in the sponge batter, gently smoothing the top with a spatula.
Bake for about 30 minutes; the sponge should be golden on top.
Remove the pudding from the oven and let it cool for 2-3 minutes. Place a plate on top of the Bundt pan, then quickly but firmly turn the plate and pan upside down to release the cake onto the plate.. You may need to loosen the edges very slightly with a knife before you flip it.
Serve with hot custard.

HOT CUSTARD

3/4 cup heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
1/4 cup plus 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 egg yolks

Heat cream, milk, sugar, and vanilla until hot but not boiling. Remove from heat, whisk in egg yolks.

What do you love to bake?

Rooibos Tea

2009-09-22T16:21:00.005-04:00

One of my favorite teas as of late, this naturally decaffeinated red tea is good for any season. The taste is so unique and delicious, I'd recommend this South African native beverage to both tea novices and aficionados alike!

Taken from TeaMuse:

"Deep in the heart of South Africa, in the mountains and valleys of the Cedarberg region near Cape Town, vast vistas, fields of verdant green bushes, fill the landscape. Traveling throughout this precipitous expanse, one may not suspect that this bright bush, which the locals refer to as "Rooibos," (pronounced roy-boss), could be such a versatile and remarkable herb. Among Rooibos' many uses, Rooibos' most popular utilization is as a tisane, or herbal beverage. Also known as Red tea, Bush tea (no relation to our 41st or 43rd President) and Redbush tea, Rooibos tea has become the hottest trend in the tea industry."

Rooibos is fine to take properly in fine china at tea, but one should feel just as comfortable to sip it out of a mug. I like to boil myself a mug of Twinings Rooibos with milk and sugar before starting the day. It is also quite the soothing tea to help one fall asleep. Also, there are a variety of flavors. I recently took tea and scones at Alice's Tea Cup on 64th St. and enjoyed a lovely pot of their Admiral's Rooibos which included vanilla and chocolate essence within the tisane. There have been many varieties to the delicious blend. Go and enjoy! I think I'll go grab myself a cup now!

Podunk, New York, NY

2009-09-12T19:56:00.007-04:00

Half empty or half full?
Fine sugar pot
Amelia is glowing
Seasonal berries up close
Berries, preserves, and cream OH MY!
Wonderful scone
Fresh pot of Vietnamese Vanilla tea
The scone platter. 8 Scones for 3!
Another view
Cucumber Sandwiches
Teapots and Sandwiches
Kiley basking in the surroundings
Very rustic, homey environment
The front counter
A NEWFOUND HAVEN ON FIFTH STREET!

This lovely little "American Tea Room" sits nestled on the quiet, unprepossessing fifth street, between Bowery and 2nd Ave. Upon entering, mismatched lawn chairs and cute, homey decorations highlight the family-run establishment. Children books adorn shelves on the walls, and behind a lovely little counter up front is the woman who runs it all. Elspeth Treadwell, along with husband and daughter run this adorable room. Inspired by Scandinavian heritage, the extensive menu offers wonderful traditional tea items, plus Scandinavian dishes like potato crepes with cinnamon and cardamom cake, which I must try on my definite return visit!

I can't say enough nice things about Elsepth. Truly a kind heart, who appreciated me and my love for tea. I was joined by friends Amelia and Kiley. We ordered at the front and sat down around 3:00, just before the small room started getting busy. Elspeth makes everything to order, fresh and delicious. The three of us shared a cream tea, plus cucumber sandwiches and individual pots of tea.

I had the Vietnamese Vanilla. It was delicious. Just the right kind of black tea for this gloomy New York day. Kiley thoroughly enjoyed her house blended coconut-vanilla, and Amelia had a classic English Breakfast, with rose petals added on request. The tea menu is extensive, so if you have a hard time making choices, you might sit with the menu for an hour! They blend their own flavored chais, create some wonderful in-house blends, and even have an assortment of drinking chocolate.

Onto the food. The cucumber sandwiches were DIVINE! They were so delicately prepared, the bread so thin, the cucumbers sliced so meticulously. We savoured every last bite. Elspeth served the sandwiches to us with cheddar biscuits that she thought we would enjoy! They were delicious. Thinking back on it, they might be the finest cucumber tea sandwiches I have ever enjoyed! That is saying a lot.

Our scone plate was tremendous. 3 different varieties of scones for each of us to sample, plus three different preserves: orange, raspberry, strawberry. Instead of the traditional clotted cream, there was a fresh whipped cream. I can see how purists would scoff at this, however at the impossibility of having REAL fresh clotted cream in the states, and with the poor mock recipes I have seen, I rather appreciated Elspeth's dedication to freshness. The scones were divine, perfect texture! The plate included fresh berries.

All three of us were in a state of content upon finishing or delightful afternoon tea. The Dorchester in London, Podunk is not, however a wonderful at-home environment for enjoying tea sweets and savouries, while chatting with close friends for an hour or two, Podunk is. The three of us paid $22 each, which for the amount of food we received, was a great deal. I told Elspeth that I would definitely be back. Her kind heart and appreciation of my passion for tea was enough. The delicious food and tea was even more! I can't say enough good things about Podunk, so I will just tell you to go for yourself! Bring your friends, bring your mother, and enjoy a hot pot of tea while you nibble on Elspeth's wonderful foods!

BONUS: Tipping is strictly prohibited! Elspeth will never accept a tip, no matter how big your party is! If that isn't enough to get you running, I don't know what is!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins!

2009-09-07T17:48:00.002-04:00

Last night, I made a fresh batch of Pumpkin Chocolate Chip muffins. I found the recipe on Joy of Baking, and it came out so delectable, that I could not resist sharing it with you! Enjoy these muffins with a nice cup of your favorite rich black tea, and a splash of milk. I will have more pumpkin coming your way, along with a belated review of my favorite spot in Manhattan, Tea and Sympathy, after my hectic week ends.

Be well,

Ethan

http://www.joyofbaking.com/muffins/PumpkinChocolateChipMuffins.html

The Season Draws Near...

2009-09-04T10:47:00.002-04:00

The Starbucks Pumpkin Scone

...For pumpkin! One of my favorite food items! There are so many delicious treats that can be made using this wonderful gourd-like squash that becomes of season in the fall. And we already start to see cafes selling pumpkin flavored beverages and treats. Additionally, Tea Time magazine, in their most recent issue, has six pumpkin recipes, including: pumpkin-chocolate turnovers, mini gingerbread trifles with pumpkin custard (YUM!) pumpkin-leek tarts, pumpkin risotto bites, pumpkin scones with maple butter, and pumpkin-bread and cranberry tea sandwiches. One could make quite the delicious pumpkin-based afternoon tea around these recipes. I advise you to purchase this issue!

In related news, I woke up this morning at 5 AM to purchase rush tickets for Next to Normal, the new spectacular Broadway show. This will be my fourth time seeing it, if that says anything about how wonderful it really is (Alice Ripley is phenomenal! And she won the Tony this year!)! Me and two friends (Rebecca and Frankie) arrived at The Booth theatre on Shubert Alley at about 6 AM and waited for four hours, first in line, to get front-row center tickets for only $25.00. We will be at this evening's performance! In dire need of food, Rebecca went out on a bagel-hunt. I shamefully admit that every now and then, I can't resist using the convenience of Starbucks for my tea needs. I am a really big Iced Chai Latte fan, and Starbucks' version of the popular beverage isn't half bad. Although I would always rather support the small, non-corporate businesses, in times of need, the fragrant, well-spiced chai certainly suffices.

Of course their menu now offer the seasonal pumpkin latte, and on display with the baked good, pumpkin scones! Of course I picked one up. American style (triangle shaped), the Starbucks scones can actually be quite good. I dislike most of the baked good items at Starbucks, however the petite vanilla bean scones are delicious. I brought back a pumpkin scone for Rebecca, Frankie and I to share. The scone is completely iced, so the flavor is a little too sweet for my liking, but everyone enjoyed it. The scone was a nice, not too dry-not too moist consistency, with a good, strong pumpkin flavor. It went quickly, and so will the season, so go out pumpkin hunting.

My good friend Danielle has been baking pumpkin scones the past couple of weeks, perfecting a secret recipe she has. She is now studying abroad in London, but if we are lucky, perhaps she will send over the recipe, and I can have it up in time for the holidays.

Enjoy the lovely day, stay well, and enjoy the search for the perfect pumpkin treats! If you find anything exceptional, let me know, and I can post about it right away!

Best,

Ethan

Alice's Tea Cup, New York, NY

2009-08-31T16:30:00.002-04:00

After a productive morning of jogging, buying textbooks, running errands and setting up the apartment a bit more, I decided to treat myself to some untried scones. I had heard very good things about the three Alice locations in the city, but have never visited. I did not sit down, so I cannot write a full review, but I did get scones and can tell you how wonderful they were!

Taking the Q to 42nd St, and transferring onto the 2 up to 72nd, I exited into the Uptown air and quickly found my way traveling down 73rd St. The storefront is extremely cute and the clerks inside were so welcoming and kind. I picked out a pumpkin scone and an unsweetened buttermilk scone. There were a couple of other varieties, and other sweets on display, including an elaborate and delicious looking carrot cake. I also received tiny to-go containers of clotted cream and raspberry preserves which was a delight.

Upon returning home, I boiled myself a pot of Serendipitea's loose Coco-Loco tisane and slathered the cream and preserve onto my pumpkin scone. The tea is a favorite of mine (tisane, so not exactly a tea, but naturally caffeine free and very delicious), and paired with the scone worked excellently.

The scone was sweet and pumpkiny, but not overly sweet. The clotted cream and raspberry preserves were divine. The texture on the scone was nice and crumbly, and the scone was shaped properly and baked just right. The pumpkin glaze was also a definite plus. I took a nibble at the buttermilk scone and it tasted very adequate, but very good nonetheless.

I look forward to enjoying more scones from Alice's. I hope to take tea there soon and report on it afterwards.

Thanks for checking in!

-Ethan

Lady Mendl's Tea Salon, New York, NY

2009-08-29T20:26:00.005-04:00

After reading splendid reviews on yelp, I was quite excited to try out this rather pricey, traditional afternoon tea. My grandfather and his wife, both avid tea drinkers, invited me and best friend, Amita, to accompany them this afternoon. The tea room is located in a lovely old brownstone on Irving Place in The Village. It has gorgeous Victorian charm both inside and out. A doorman opened the door and led us into the gorgeous first floor lobby where we were promptly greeted. We were a bit early for our 2:30 reservation, but we were taken right away to our table. We were led up a staircase. The main dining room was being occupied by a bridal party, but looked quite nice.

The upper room had only three tables and was gorgeously decorated in antique furniture and beautiful wall hangings. China teaware was displayed behind a glass case. Each place setting included fine bone china matching sets (white with golden rim). Sitting on the saucer was a beautiful sugar cube, delicately adorned with a sugar daffodil. The surroundings were too much to ask for! SO lovely.

The tea service promptly began, and this is where the review takes a rather negative turn. I had read such lovely things about the tea room, so I was looking forward to a traditional afternoon tea like what I had just one month earlier at The Dorchester Hotel in London (an extremely wonderful tea). The tea menu was set at each place. I ordered the Lady Mendl Blend, a Darjeeling infused with scented oils. I had to ask for milk and sugar, as it was not offered when the tea came. The tea had a rather bitter aftertaste, although it was not over brewed. I tried Amita's Assam, and although better than my blend, it still lacked the body of other Assams I have tried in past. My stepgrandmother ordered an Elder Flower tea which smelled delicious, so perhaps it was the black teas that were troubled.

We were quickly served an amouse-bouche of artichoke quiche with sun-dried tomato topping. It was quite good and a nice way to start off the meal.

The Sandwich course followed. The staple finger sandwiches included cucumber and mint creme fraiche on brioche, a turkey cranberry sandwich on white, smoked salmon and cream cheese of wheat, and egg salad on grain tea bread. The sandwiches were a bit bland. Cucumber, my favorite, lacked body and the bread tasted a bit dry, as though it had been sitting out for a bit, and not freshly made. The turkey cranberry was quite good, and different from what I had expected. I also enjoyed the smoked salmon, but for the most part, they were plain and certainly not as fresh as they could have been.

Scones followed. We received two varieties, a typical plain scone, and a cranberry-raisin scone. These scones were done right for an afternoon tea. They are the smaller variety, just like what I received when taking tea in London. The texture was nice and crumbly, and the clotted cream and raspberry preserves were delicious. This was probably my favorite course of the tea. The setback was that the scones were not warm. The texture and consistency made up for the lack of warmth, however I wish they brought around seconds.

The dessert course came next. We were served a layered crepe cake, divided by a fresh whipped cream served over raspberry coulis. I had never eaten a crepe cake, so it was quite new and refreshing. Light and moist, just as any tea cake should be, it was. However, I did not love it. That is not to say I didn't like it, because I did. I just would've preferred Victoria Sponge or something of the like instead.

The last course included Belgian dipped strawberry and vanilla-fondant and sugar-brushed cookies. They were all very good. Keep in mind, these are sweets hard to screw up. I particularly enjoyed the heart-shaped vanilla-fondant cookies. They had a nice sweet flavor that went quite well with the tea.

While finish our pots of tea, we all enjoyed conversation regarding Ted Kennedy (RIP), foreign culture, and travel. We were rather surprised when the waiter came over to tell us that we had to leave in five minutes. The whole tea felt rather rushed to begin with (one course right after the next) but no one was really complaining. It was just rather disheartening to be rushed out.

In totality, I would give Lady Mendl's full points in appearance. The dining room and whole facility are just beautiful. But in food quality and service, the tea room would be wise to improve. I expected an afternoon tea that would so beautifully match my surroundings, however I was disappointed with the final result. And, with a $35.00 price tag per person, plus tax, plus tip, this is no cheap affair.

I will not be going back any time soon, but perhaps if I hear things are changing over there, I will revisit the facility.

It was quite an enjoyable afternoon in all. We followed tea with a walk through the Union Square Green Market. After parting ways, Amita and I strolled along Greenwich Ave to my favorite haunt Tea and Sympathy, where in the store we purchased loose leaf teas (T&S English Breakfast, and Serendipitea Coco Loco) along with a china teacup for me, and a brown betty teapot for her.

Thanks for reading and come check back soon!

-Ethan

The Scone Shoppe, Point Pleasant, New Jersey

2009-08-28T16:21:00.009-04:00

I am going back to Manhattan on Sunday to begin my sophomore year at NYU. I am very excited, yet saddened to be leaving my humble state of New Jersey after a wonderful summer. I have spent the summer well: a balance of working and traveling and hanging out with my closest friends. On this rainy Friday afternoon before I leave to go back, my mother and I decided to do something special. I wanted to take her to The Scone Pony*, a beautiful little bakery in Spring Lake, New Jersey (The BEST scones I have EVER eaten!!!) Before that, though, we decided to take tea and a light lunch at The Scone Shoppe, in Point Pleasant New Jersey.

Located in a small strip mall along Bridge Ave, the Scone Shoppe's surroundings are not prepossessing, and the parking lot was rather small. However, upon entering the quaint, little shop, I knew I was in for a treat. Each table was delicately covered with fine linen. Napkins were fanned and fashioned inside a teapot napkin ring. Beautiful bone china teacups sat at each place setting upon a matching saucer. Our waitress was a lovely middle-aged Jersey Shore native. Adorned in bright pink nail polish, and a grin from ear to ear, she was wonderful from start to finish. She treated my mother and I like close friends and took precise attention to detail when we gave our orders. The selection of tea was not extremely elaborate, but definitely plentiful. My mother and I shared a large pot of British Breakfast blend. They use Republic of Tea brand. The only complaint I might have had about the shop was the use of tea bags over loose leaf. Although the tea was still quite good, there is a slight taste difference.

After enjoying a cup or two, our orders arrived. I opted for the chicken salad on croissant with lettuce (without tomato for me). My mother had turkey with mozzarella in a balsamic glaze served on a crusty baguette. The sandwiches are served with either soup or salad. We ordered one of each and then shared the two. The fresh greens were dressed in a balsamic dressing and the homemade lentil soup was delicious and perfect for the rainy day! My chicken salad was extremely fresh and the croissant was just the right amount of crusty and golden. My mother thoroughly enjoyed her sandwich as well.

With more than enough tea left, we happily prepared for the scones. Upon entering, you immediately see the large glass case displaying more than TEN varieties of scones! What a decision to make! I went for the white chocolate macadamia and my mother had chocolate delight! The scones were baked triangular, in the American fashion. Each scone was served with a side of jam and lemon curd. They were delicious! The texture was perfect. Nice and crumbly and not too cakey, just the way a scone should be. Also, the prices were nice and low. Our plentiful and filling meal cost a total of $23.00.

I will most certainly bring friends back to The Scone Shoppe. An enjoyable afternoon with my mom. The clientle seemed to be mostly older women, although there was some testosterone (three gentlemen, including myself). If you are in the area, definitely visit!

The Interior

A Fine Presentation

My Mother Enjoying a Cuppa

Thanks for reading! Happy Friday!

-Ethan

*The Scone Pony is located at 305 Washington Ave in Spring Lake, NJ. Although cakey and softer than typical scones, they are delicious! The vanilla bean scone is OUT OF THIS WORLD! If you have the chance to try one, TRY ONE! So delicious! Clotted cream and fine jams are sold at the shop as well.

A Warm Welcome!

2009-08-28T15:55:00.002-04:00

"If you are cold, tea will warm you; if you are too heated, it will cool you; if you are depressed, it will cheer you; if you are excited, it will calm you. Thank God for tea! What would the world do without tea! I am glad I was not born before tea."

-William Gladstone
British Prime Minister

Welcome! I am so glad you have dropped by to take a peek at my blog! About two years ago, I gave up the daily cup of joe and switched to something a bit more soothing. After taking tea in place of coffee for a while, I became enamored by the effect these fine leaves had when interspersed with boiled water. I soon had my first true afternoon tea; I fell in love with the elegant act of relaxation. Nothing compares to imbibing a hot cup of Darjeeling from fine bone China, while nibbling on dainty finger sandwiches, petite sweets, and of course a crumbly scone adorned with clotted cream and fresh jam. "There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea", said English novelist Henry James. How right he is. Over the past few years I have worked to accrue knowledge about tea and teaware, as well as the ceremony Anna Maria, the seventh Duchess of Bedford began in 1840. The following entries are my very own tea musings. I will reveal my thoughts and feelings about certain products, tea rooms and shops in my native New Jersey and school home of New York City, as well as must haves for any tea lover. Boil a fresh pot of your favorite tea, sit back, relax and enjoy!

Thanks so much for stopping by. I truly wish you an enjoyable reading!

Ethan

The Tea Gastronomer.