The Ritz London Book of Afternoon Tea

As the name suggests, it's full of lovely tea related goodies! Seriously. Recipies, etiquette, interesting and witty quotations...Can't wait to review this properly for you!

This was just a quick post to let blog-watchers know that I haven't gone away forever; I've just taken a brief unplanned break from blogging BUT I promise I am here and have lots of hot drink tidbits to share with you...

Till next entry,

CBC

xx

Organic White Peony

This tea was unusual at first glance. I was very excited to try it as I have not tried much white tea apart from Whittard's Cherry Blossom Tea. It was brewed for 4 minutes as per the brewing guidelines on the sachet and gave off a smooth floral aroma. After I tasted it I thought that the smooth aroma must have come from some form of honey/caramel element. The colour also was light yellowy brown, almost caramel like.



I must add that it was quite an unusual tasting tea but not in a negative sense. I don't often have honey in any of my hot drinks apart from the rare intake of honey&lemon tea when I have a sore throat, so the smooth honey note was a bit of a surprise. The light floral taste combined with the honey makes for an interesting and delicious combination. This would be a nice tea to have either first thing in the morning or during a break in a long stressful day at work...methinks! It felt like it would relax

Overall rating: 4/5

I know that there probably isn't ACTUAL honey in the tea but it was the closest flavour I could use to compare what I was tasting...

Alpine Berry Herbal Tea

I tried this tea from Two Leaves and a Bud a while ago but because I've been swotting up for my Professional Conduct exam (next Tuesday) I hadn't quite got around to it until now. This tea from the outset was amazing! Firstly, it reminded me a little, in aroma, of blackcurrant/blackberry and I thought it smelt a little Ribena-esque but with a hint of citrus. It had a deep purple colour which quickly developed, (so quickly that I was worried that I had steeped it for too long). I followed the guidance on the sachet of 3 minutes and found that it really did not need any longer to release the flavour. I did try however, to use it again as I thought that it looked as though it could have taken a second brewing. Oops! It really did not react as I had anticipated as it turned a light blue/indigo colour...very entertaining!

Overall this tea had a very pleasant sweet berry/citrus flavour and smelt heavenly.

Rating: 4/5 (because I might be slightly biased towards berry flavours stemming from a childhood of Hot Ribenas!)

p.s. you can see the blue colour the tea turned on second brewing on the paper 'dipper' at the end of the string!

Coffee keeps Britain working

According to PR Fire, new research conducted by Lyons Coffee, highlights several interesting office habits of British office workers including the fact that 12.8 million office workers make a coffee to gather their thoughts during the day before returning to work. It was found that following this 'coffee break', 19% take a toilet break and 14 % take a cigarette break. Brits are also allegedly claiming back lost hours from occasions where they take less than half an hour to have their lunch; A reported 7.3 million lost hours...

With the change in financial health of the country, more and more employees are reluctant to take breaks lest they be viewed as not being as hardworking as their other colleagues and thus lose their jobs. 45% of 45-54 year olds surveyed were found to be more likely not to leave the office for lunch. Psychologist Donna Dawson said,

"The present credit crunch has made people cut back on extras such as take-away coffees, and it has also made the office a much more competitive place with money tight and people afraid to lose their jobs, workers want to be seen to be prudent and company-loyal, by cutting their lunch-hour and breaks to a minimum. Older people, who are closer to redundancy and also wiser in the ways of office politics will be keener to do this. However, research shows that if a 15-minute break is not taken every two hours, then concentration and productivity actually go down."

So the humble coffee can take some of the credit for keeping office workers fresh and focussed during a long, hard day at work and aiding in productivity...

Very interesting statistics can be found at the site. I particularly like the one where it was found that men were found to be more likely to take FULL lunch breaks than women, with a 5% difference in the figures. Make of that what you will gents!

Is gulping hot tea linked to cancer?

I know that this is probably old news, seeing as it was reported in March 2009 but according to Iranian Scientists, drinking large quantities of hot tea could be linked to an increased risk of oesophageal cancer. Notably, this is concerning tea which is drunk at 70c or higher and the risk is lessened when milk is added to tea, thus cooling the overall temperature. The article said,

"Drinking a cup of tea in under two minutes straight after it was poured was associated with a five-fold higher risk of cancer compared with drinking tea four or more minutes after being poured..."

Furthermore, a doctor commenting on this issue suggested that tea drinkers simply wait until their tea goes from 'scalding' to 'tolerable' before drinking it. In addition, it was said that in Iranian cultures, there is more of a tradition of drinking tea at such a high temperature and that in the UK, as 'we' tend to add milk to our tea, this cools the tea enough for it not to be risky.

Who knew?

Tamayokucha Green

According to the literature, this is a tea which is steamed as it is dried and so retains a sweet, light flavour with no bitterness. I would have to agree. The tea was light and refreshing with a slight tinge of a spinachy 'green' flavour BUT without the bitterness that I encountered when tasting Whittard's Sencha. Admittedly, I had brewed the Sencha for a little longer that it should have been but even when brewed lightly it still bore the bitter aftertaste.

Tamayokucha was a very pale green, almost yellow colour when brewed for the suggested length of time and sweetened to my taste. I must apologise for not having taken photos of the actual cup; I still have not tracked down a transparent mug suitable for reviews. I do have a few spare white mugs which I might use to photograph from above so that you can appreciate the colour. One thing I also noticed about Two Leaves and a Bud's tea sachets was the quality of the actual tea bag. It appeared to be made from a form of muslin, thin and transparent enough to let you see the contents BUT with amazing strength and an almost plastic texture...as though it had been reinforced. I comment on this because I have had many an incident with a tea bag that has ripped in my mug, spilling the contents everywhere!

Overall rating: 3/5

Light, refreshing and a great everyday tea that I'd recommend to anyone, especially as it was light in caffeine, so perfect for those of us who consume large quantities on a daily basis!

Note: I do not use any sophisticated equipment or methods in brewing my tea. I merely use a kettle and mug! I am not an expert in any way; I just enjoy a good cuppa'!

Exciting tea samples to be reviewed

Good morning tea (etc) lovers,

Just a quick post to say how excited I was to wake up to a package all the way from Colorado, from the Tea Company 'Two Leaves and a Bud'. (A link to the site can be found in my link list)Reviews and photos of tea loveliness will follow shortly. For now, have a look-see at my pretty package (no laughing please!)

So there you have it. Lots of new flavours to try and share with you... I must apologise for the lack of tea reviews and general posting recently. I've been drinking one particular tea over a period of time so that tea will be reviewed in a post to come. I've also been trying to resolve issues with the speed of my computer and uploading of photographs.

Look forward to sharing stuff with you!

CBC

xx

Best Biscuits for Dunking?

On the suggestion of my friend and fellow blogger, The Aimless Wanderer, 'AW', I'm looking at which biscuits are the best for dunking into tea. AW's dilemma is that the biscuits she tends to use are fine on the surface but then on finishing the tea, she finds a mass of melted dunked biscuit.

Personally, I am not a dunker. I love biscuits with my tea but I do not dunk them into my tea. I also love a nice slice of cake to accompany my 'cuppa', preferring to keep tea and accompaniment separate.

My favourite 'tea biscuits' are:

Bourbons
Nice
Custard Creams
Shortbread

I must add that I do like other biscuits, including chocolate digestives BUT I prefer the above whilst drinking my tea.

However, according to a Telegraph article online, published some months ago, the chocolate digestive is the favourite biscuit of the nation. The article further delves into good 'dunking' practice and techniques.

Apparently, chocolate digestives came out in front of the others because,

"...their coating protected them from the effects of the hot tea..."

According to the source, the choc digestives can withstand, on average, at least eight seconds in tea OR coffee. For more information on biscuits related etiquette, you might also like to take a look at Nice Cup of Tea and a Sit Down!

Happy Dunking!

CBC

Fizzy Milk?

When I first saw the headline, I almost thought it was my eyes deceiving me...or a misprint. Nope. The Coca-Cola company is planning to launch a new product on the US market bearing both the qualities of cola in its fizziness and milk in its nutritional value (I must add that I am not sure whether milk will still bear any nutritional value once it is carbonated). I imagine it to taste like cream soda which is not unpleasant, just an acquired taste.

I am a little disappointed to learn that there are no plans for a British version of this product. It seems like it will be more a novelty than ACTUALLY a substitute for milk or a cunning way to get more children to drink milk...Still, I would love to see (and taste) its effect on tea, coffee or hot chocolate (*gag*)

Mmmm...curdled. Will there be a soya version for the lactose intolerant amongst us?

'Cake and tea' - the perfect partners

This topic has been one I have been considering for a while. I recently posted about biscuits and dunking and whilst I don't dunk my biscuits, I have them with my tea. I also enjoy a slice of cake along with my tea. However, if the cake is covered in icing, (e.g. cherry bake wells or lemon slices) it somehow detracts/overpowers the flavour of the tea so I rarely have this sort of cake with anything other than ordinary everyday black tea (with milk and two sugars...well one and a half.) If I am drinking lightly flavoured tea, I prefer to have this without a 'bit on the side'.

BUT, I have found the most ingenious way of having any tea with cake and not getting a marring of flavour. Have a fake cake on the side! A website and London store, All the Fun of the Fair sells the cutest knitted cakes, tea cosies and other gifts. It also runs classes to learn the art of knitting and crafting! I stumbled across this site some time ago whilst looking for crafting supplies and wanted to share it with you.

Enjoy!

CBC

x

p.s. I will be paying a visit to Carnaby street very soon...(after my exam hopefully!)

Chocolate Ecstasy Tours?

Me neither... I hadn't heard of them before today BUT I sure as heck won't forget them in a hurry. Chocolate Ecstasy Tours started in 2004 after its founder Jennifer Earle wanted a way to share all the hidden chocolate shops in London with fellow chocolate lovers.

Prices start from £35 for 3 hours of chocolate induced highs and includes chocolate sampling, VIP discounts and a hot drink (for the Mayfair Chocolate tour)

I think that this would make a lovely present or treat for a chocolate lover or a day out with a difference. I must admit that for an unemployed 'student' as myself the prices do seem a bit much but on removing my student hat, this is a reasonable price for a unique tasting experience...well worth trying.

Another addition to my 'To Do' list methinks!

CBC

xx

(Photo Source )

Buy yourself some art-tea prints

In looking for some inspiration for my next instalment of tea in art, I have come across a website which contains an array of paintings and prints containing tea related loveliness. It is however, an American site which may be an issue when it comes to shipping AND I cannot locate any shipping information on the site. That does not stop one appreciating the artistic representation of tea though! There are also paintings with a coffee theme available for purchase...or dribbling over!

UNUSUAL PHOTO OF THE DAY

I found this photo of Flickr (From The Lawleys photo profile) and it takes 'tea bags' to a whole new level!

Keep on drinking your hot tipple of choice! (Which according to the July poll thus far is COFFEE!!) Keep voting and soon we'll have the final results of your favourite hot drink in the sidebar!

Hello again!

Hello dear tea(etc) lovers,

I must apologise for the lack of posting recently! I haven't given up before things have even began! No way! I have been a little pre-occupied with things lately so though this has not stopped my tea consumption, I haven't been as dedicated. My fridge broke down and so I have not been able to store any fresh milk which has subsequently meant that my black tea consumption has decreased because I do like a smidgen in my tea!

Service will resume shortly as I now am the proud owner of a shiny new, fresh- smelling fridge with lots of room for my milk!!

Roll on the tea blogging...

CBC

P.s. I have put a book aside at work which I will scan before I purchase and read it to review on here. It is about the history of tea!

Tea and Impressionsim

Mary Cassatt (1844-1926) was an Impressionist born in Pennsylvania, USA, the daughter of a wealthy merchant. At a young age, she left the USA for Paris and inspired by what she had experienced there, become an artist on her return. Cassatt's subjects were often women and children for whom she had a fondness. You can find out more about the artist in this Wikipedia article. This, one of her pieces is entitled 'Five O' Clock Tea', was painted in 1880.

I love the way the subject on the right is holding the cup, with her little finger sticking out. I think it perfectly conveys a feeling of 'poshness' and formality despite the relaxed posture of the subject on the left. I wonder who these two ladies are having their tea with!

And to think that this post was inspired by a work colleague who is particularly passionate (and knowledgeable) about arty things! Brilliant idea...

I hope to find more examples of tea in art and share them with you.

CBC

xx

Cassatt Biography Source

The Various Flavours of Coffee

I read this book a while ago and wanted to share it with blog readers as it seems in-fitting with this blog. This is a perfect read for coffee fans. It is written my Anthony Capella and is littered with clever Freudians and funny quotes; a coffee-filled love story with a difference. Robert Wallis is a man with an eye (and appetite) for the ladies and a nose and taste for coffee. The free-spirited man you meet at the beginning of the tale is almost unrecognisable towards the end where he falls hopelessly in love with a African slave, Fikre and tries to 'free' her. A overall good read full of references to coffee from plant to cup and interesting twist to its conclusion.

You can read more reviews here although the cover on the site is different from mine which seems to convey the feel of the story better.

Onto chocolate news, as I type this post, I am watching 'The Vicar of Dibley', one of my favourite British comedies and this video probably illustrates how many chocolate lovers feel about their 'vice'




Hilarious!

Well, I am off to rest my head and giggle at the vicar some more but I will be back with more tidbits soon!

CBC

xx

Whittard Cherry Blossom

Today, I succumbed and bought THREE new teas from the lovely people at Whittard. Thus far I have tried the Cherry Blossom Tea Bags. This is the first white tea I have consciously drunk and I really like how light it is. One more word on this tea...SWEET. If you don't like sweet and/or floral smelling or tasting tea, then this one is NOT for you. Personally, as I have a bit of a sweet tooth and am a suckler for a sweet smell (in the form of a slight perfume addiction), this tea was lovely.


It was smooth tasting, yet crisp and felt very clean; there was no aftertaste which made it all the more pleasurable to drink (in fact, after this post, I will be making another cup!) The colour of this tea when brewed, was pale yellow with an orange-red tint.

Overall, I would rate this tea with a 4 out of 5.

I realise that I'm no expert...but I LOVE a good cuppa! (Sorry if I've said this before...tiredness+headache does NOT a coherent post make)

Well, I'm off to brew me another cup of loveliness! Till next post,

CBC.

Tea Parties

On the recommendation on a friend of mine, the site to visit for places to have afternoon tea in London is http://www.afternoontea.co.uk/. For an outing with a difference and a quintessentially English Twist, I cannot WAIT to try this out! I will be posting pictures when I do visit!

Looking through the site at the Menu, the most interesting sounding tea (which may possibly be on offer in one of the Afternoon Tea sites) I found was 'Lapsang Souchong' described as, "A Chinese tea fired over smoking pine needles, which produces a striking smoky odour and flavour."

Looks like tea parties aren't just for Alice!

CBC

How water affects the quality of your tea

Reading an article from the knowledgeable people at the English Tea Blog, it is very informative as to the effect of the quality of water on the taste of the tea you are brewing.

"Overall, it is the quality of the water you use which makes or breaks the tea you are brewing..."

I think as time goes on I will need to be paying more attention to the water which I use to brew my tea! Excellent tips from the English Tea Blog there!

My-tea fine

Hello readers! I trust that you are well and drinking lots of lovely things. I wanted to share a tea with you which I had bought reasonably recently but had not been drinking much of because the flavour takes a bit of getting used to.

As I'm going through a bit of a Japan phase at the moment and wanted to try a new tea, when shopping at my local Whittard store, I came across this interesting tea.

Apart from the tag-line of "Famous, Japanese-style green tea" the description of the tea mentioned that it had a light spinach-like flavour. As I review this, I have a mug next to me so that I can convey, as accurately as possible, my thoughts on it.

Taste

The tea does indeed have a slight spinach undertone which is slightly overbearing if you let it steep for too long. I made this mistake intially as I often drink my black tea quite strong. Apart from that, you soon get over the strange taste sensation and will find that this is a refreshing and delicious green tea. It does have a bit of an aftertaste though...

Colour

As I'm not drinking from a transparent mug (I really should invest in one for reviewing so that I can include pictures), it is difficult to observe the colour but it takes on a light green-yellow colour when steeped for about 2 minutes.

Aroma

Sencha even smells a little 'spinachy' and herby

Overall Rating: 3/5

I'll be stocking up on new teas (and possibly hot chocolate) tomorrow!

CBC

Tea News from 'The Curious Black Cat'

Here is a link to a post I've made recently on my other blog about tea and advertising.

Tea News

Planting the seeds...

Hello!

As this is the first post of my new blog (which I have been meaning to start for a while) I thought I had better explain the title of the blog, which to non Creole or 'Kweyol' speakers won't make much sense. It literally means 'Cocoa Tea' in Kweyol; a French-English melange spoken in many parts of the Caribbean. 'Cocoa Tea' is a popular and delicious drink drunk widely in St. Lucia. It is made from the compressed cocoa extract which can be bought in 'sticks' and combined with water, milk, sugar and spices makes a scrumptious treat.

The following video from You Tube is the clearest explanation of how to make this drink!




As I am a bit of a tea-o-holic, (well a hot drink-o-holic more like!) I'll be exploring lots of tea related loveliness for you to enjoy.

I hope to see some of your comments as this blog gets up and running and feedback is always appreciated so I have added feedback buttons to the bottom of each post for this purpose. Review requests are also appreciated as I love tasting new things so will gladly oblige!

Thanks again!

CBC

xx