Teh Bungkus

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

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!

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!)

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

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!

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!