Favorite Things (Holiday Tea Gifts)

 

If you're looking for gifts for the tea lovers in your life, here are a few that I recommend. These support small businesses, people whom I know personally and respect deeply.

TEA

Young Mountain Tea - Try the tea bundles! 15% off sale through Dec 12. Support sustainable futures for Himalayan tea farmers and families.

Jasmine Pearl Tea Company - Among many great choices, they have just released a Sampler Set, blended in partnership with Young Mountain Tea. Jasmine Pearl has a wide range of herbal options for those in your life who prefer caffeine-free deliciousness. 

Floating Leaves Tea - Carrying some of the best Taiwanese oolong teas available in the US! I recommend Oriental Beauty (sweet), Dong Ding Traditional A (roasty), and 2021 Winter Smooth Water Baozhong (light, excellent broth).  Sale Fri 11/26 - Mon 11/29.

OTHER 

Papaya Bento - Art prints inspired by Camellia Sinensis, along with notecards of the same prints (I LOVE these!).  Artist Mitra Nite

Vintage Christmas Cookbook - Cookbook by tea lover and author Angela McRae.

Padded Tote for Gaiwan/Small Teapot - If you sew, you need this pattern! Snuggle in that precious tea ware.

Note: I received no products or compensation for this post.

I prefer fireworks in subtle, quiet ways, like a cup of tea and a moment of tranquility.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Library Love! And Happy V-day

These cute little silicone teacup forms came from my library, which has recently added a bakeware selection to the lending offerings.  Cool!  I made a basic cake batter and cooked the cupcakes right in the forms. Then I topped with a coconut cream-chocolate chip icing.  (As an aside, it's yummy and vegan.)  

 The fabulous fabric is from Angela.  It's sweet and cheerful, just like her.

And Happy Valentine's Day!  I confess, I love this day.  I look forward to sending Valentines to my friends and family, and I love the sweetness.  I know that it's cool to dismiss this day as fabricated fluffery, but nonetheless I love it.  I think of Valentine's Day as an appreciation of friends day as much as anything else.  

So enjoy this day, even if it's simply to give yourself a little love.

Happy Hot Tea Month!

Happy 2015 and Happy Hot Tea Month!  

I'm celebrating tea in all its many forms.  Here are just a few:  Afternoon tea (above, a recent tea party with my family, table styling by my 7-year old niece), Japanese green tea (below)...

Bowl-style oolong tea

Chinese-style gong fu tea

Japanese tea ceremony (That's me at  Hatsugama, "first kettle," today.)

Mug tea and much more!  No matter how you take your tea, may it be with a joyful heart.  Best wishes for the new year!  

Stephanie

Tidings of Comfort and Joy

Confession:  I'm feeling a little like Grinch right now.  Work deadlines have me spending this weekend at the PC, instead of at tea class and other fun things.  And I've got miles of projects to sew before I sleep.  

But the truth is that my grumbles are so, so minor. I enjoy the work I'm doing and this bubble of intensity is temporary. I have a life filled with health, love of family and friends, beauty, creativity, good tea and many other treasures.  I wish that for each of you, and especially for those who are needing a kindness.

On Gift Giving

'Tis the season of gift giving and receiving.  I enjoy both, I think most of us do.  Truthfully, I like this best when it's at unexpected times.  Nonetheless, we all find ourselves giving gifts or receiving them at prescribed intervals.  It can be a little maddening on top of the enjoyment.

I've been refining my gift-giving philosophy.  Here are a few of my guidelines.  What are yours?

• Am I giving from a place of joy?  If not, then something has to change. I have cut back deeply on obligation gifting in favor of  giving with more thought and heart.  
• Am I in a gifting pattern that is no longer necessary? Some long-time friends and I made the agreement a few years ago to stop the annual Christmas gift exchange.  It had become a habit, but none of us needed the stuff.  Instead, we spend time together.
• Can I make a gift this person would appreciate?  Or can I give something made locally?
• Can I give an experience (rather than another thing)?
• Is this something that I think the person will love?  (I try to avoid "generic" gifts when possible.  A tea suited to the person's tastes or personality is always an awesome gift!)
• I'm learning that the wrapping and unwrapping of something is half the fun!  The Japanese understand this well.  I'm not a neat corner-folder-wrapper, but I am creative so I go with that.

On the flip side, there is a skill to receiving gifts, as well - and gently directing what you'll receive from those closest to you.

• The Dear Hubby (DH) and I seldom exchange gifts for the big holidays.  Instead, we share little surprises throughout the year.  On the "big days" we favor spending time together in a special way. If one of us really wants a thing, we make a specific request.  This took me a bit to wrap my head around in our early days, but the DH and I are both much happier with a specific list!
• I also give Mom a list.  Thank you, Mom, for all of your generosity.
• I am appreciative of any gift I receive (even the odd ones!) and write a thank-you note.  There is grace in practicing gratitude.

I hope your holiday gifting and receiving season brings you joy.  Do you have tips to share?

Tea and Toast for Halloween

Boris Karloff as Frankenstein

Happy Halloween!

I do love this day of imagination, playfulness and embracing childhood delight.  I also love the reverent side, the Day of the Dead observations and family remembrances.  I recall with fondness my time in New Mexico, seeing the graveyards decorated and people spending time there to honor loved ones that have passed.  May we all find both sides of our spirits today.

A little more fun...

From The Nightmare Before Christmas

"Dr. Finkelstein:  

That's twice this month you've slipped deadly nightshade into my tea and run off.  

Sally:  Three times.  

Dr. Finkelstein:  You're mine, you know!  I made you with my own hands."

And this one:

"Doctor, I made your favorite brew, just the way you like it - six ounces of lemon tea, and three-quarters of an ounce of frog's breath, plus three-quarters of an ounce of worm's wort!  And I definitely did not add three-quarters of an ounce of deadly nightshade."

Treacle Scones

Treacle scones

Ah, a slow Saturday morning!  The DH is out already and I slept in, then arose to nothing hurried.  I turned on Weekend Edition on NPR and made treacle scones.  Why do I make these only in March each year?  They are so delicious, I need to make them a regular treat.

For those of you thinking of St. Patrick's Day teas, here are a few additional ideas:

• Guinness soda bread scones
• Irish-themed tea party
• And another St. Pat's tea party
• Matcha brownies (gorgeous green and brown)
• Matcha jelly role (bright green!)

Do you have any fun St. Patrick's Day plans?  I'll be working, but plan to enjoy these treacle scones until then!

Matcha Brownies

OK, these were really, Really, REALLY good!  And easy.  And green.  :-)

Take your regular brownie recipe.  Pour the batter into the pan.  Spoon the filling (recipe below) in dollops across the top and blend with a knife for the swirl effect.  Bake as normal - it may need a wee bit longer.  I also keep them refrigerated, due to the cream cheese.

Matcha Filling:
*4 oz cream cheese
*1 egg
*2+ teaspoons of matcha, depending on how green you want it
*2 tsp sugar

Blend in mixer until smooth.

By the way, use food grade matcha for this.  Matcha can be expensive and you want to save the more expensive tea grade for drinking.  The less expensive food grade is perfectly fine for cooking. 

Happy New Year!

May you spend a moment in reflection of all that 2013 has brought you.

May you sweep clean your world for the start of a new year.

May 2014 bring you peace and joy.

Photo taken in Miaoli, Taiwan in May, 2013

Info on poet Matsuo Basho

Solstice

Twinkle, twinkle oh bright star

Happy solstice!  I'm observing this longest night with a fire, herbal tea, Portland Cello Project music, cinnamon incense and a Japanese sweet I've also named Solstice.

Cinnamon incense

Solstice

Japanese sweet made from red bean paste, lima bean paste, rice flour and sugar. I hope you have the opportunity to try something like this one day. They're delicious. 

Have Yourself a Cozy Little Christmas

Different people need different things at the holidays.  Some people love big, loud family gatherings. Others prefer quiet moments of reflections alone or with a loved one.  I enjoy both!  As I mature, I find that those quiet times are even more necessary to my well being.

The DH and I recently snuggled into our window seat and shared tea and snacks.  It was a wonderful way to spend time together before the holiday travel and rush. 

I'm hoping you find beautiful moments to savor over the next two weeks.  Happy Holidays of Light!

Another Way to Cook a Holiday Bird

A whole chicken, deep fried
Muzha, Taiwan

Well, here's another way to cook up a holiday bird - you can deep fry the whole thing!  And how do you serve the meat? Like this!  With oven-proof gloves covered in plastic. 

The turkey was very moist and delicious.  It's a local specialty.  At this feast (and feasting was a daily occurrence), we also enjoyed sauteed greens, bamboo shoots, eggs with pickled daikon (another local specialty), soft noodles with tea oil (below), fried shrimp, soup with fermented winter melon and bamboo, fried soft tofu, fried sweet potato, and a special seasonal green onion from a field nearby.

This Turkey Day, I am going bird-free again.  The DH and I are having a quiet dinner in front of the fire with cava (sparkling Spanish wine), cheese and crackers, and fruit.  Happy Thanksgiving to you however you eat your bird (or don't eat it).

A Bit of Green

A beautiful tea tray and hospitality from a friend

My Mom's been visiting, yay!!  We called upon a friend and she made us feel very welcome with this lovely and festive tea tray. We enjoyed cups of Murchie's Prince Charles blend, and good conversation.

A bit of green brightens the day, don't you think?  Happy St. Patrick's Day!

V-Day, Another Look

Vegan chocolate zucchini cake 

Happy Valentine's Day!  I've been enjoying making chocolate cake and taking simple little Valentine's Cards to my teammates.  My niece sent me such a sweet one that she authored and illustrated herself, "I hope you enjoy this very card I give you."  My heart melts!

And so it is for my niece and the world of girls and young women that I turn my thoughts to a very non-sweet topic.  Some estimates suggest that one in three women will be beaten or raped in her lifetime.  One---in---three.  As women, as women and men, we all suffer from the abuse.

On this Valentine's Day, I'm so grateful for my DH and my family and friends.  They love and support me even when we disagree.  I contemplate what I can do to make a difference to those who aren't so fortunate.
And I'm looking forward to this film coming my way soon! (My company is a sponsor, and I'm so glad to see the good work here!)

 

True Riches

May you enjoy true riches:

Love, family and friends, quiet peace
and good tea!

Stephanie

Celebrating Light

You can't have a light without a dark to stick it in. ~Arlo Guthrie

Today is the Winter Solstice, a day that I like to acknowledge.  We've made it through hours of increasing darkness and now the earth and we passengers in the Northern Hemisphere turn toward the light once more.  Light and dark - both important.  It's what we do with those times that matters. 

Keeping it light, I had fun last evening.  I joined a group of fellow revelers to run through a festively lit part of town.  The entire neighborhood of old Tudor houses goes all-out with twinkly lights.

Wishing you a light-filled holiday!

My Wonderful Mother

Niece, Me, Mom

This picture (taken by my sister) makes me happy and teary.  I'm so grateful for my mom.  She led my sister and me through heartbreaking times, made sure that our family had fun and adventure, encouraged us to pursue our interests, and showed us how to be strong, responsible women.  Mom made sacrifices that I've only begun to understand as an adult.  I love you, Mom!

Anticipation...

Anticipation...does your mouth water as you see this photo? Mine does! 

What do you anticipate this time of year?  Special treats like above, or perhaps your favorite treat made only once each year? 

Do you look forward to giving that heart-felt gift?

We celebrate this "season of light," as I like to call it, in so many unique ways.  Do you anticipate...

A landscape covered in snow?

A walk along the beach?

Time with family?

Quiet, alone time?

Songs and merriment?

Contemplation and remembrance?

Whatever you anticipate this year, I hope that it comes to you with love and warmth.

The photos above come from a day trip to Pomeroy Farm.  I'm sending a very special thank you to my friend who treated me to this wonderful afternoon!