tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45013218783004004642024-02-20T23:49:48.592-05:00We Like TeaThe adventures of a mother-daughter tea enterprise. Read our musings on tea, managing people, maintaining our good relationship and staying sane as we try to keep our tea business afloat in the turbulent 2000s.Dara, daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233776114337519552noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501321878300400464.post-48407329138957087172010-12-25T19:08:00.000-05:002010-12-25T19:08:45.859-05:00Warm Holiday Greetings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpGfiBCP0x5Xo0nGrtn86tOIK1kl2tWv8H9jkBLUaV-h2Myft9a7psaUjBc0ufTMt_rMt9Z0RH0CdyQZa6MiNwUZCCx8QyGxOcmRUAgYRfFUozbgxUOPVz4W6IgrhG0KHv8UFnDeLRAI/s1600/3491059409_4ba8ccaa6e_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpGfiBCP0x5Xo0nGrtn86tOIK1kl2tWv8H9jkBLUaV-h2Myft9a7psaUjBc0ufTMt_rMt9Z0RH0CdyQZa6MiNwUZCCx8QyGxOcmRUAgYRfFUozbgxUOPVz4W6IgrhG0KHv8UFnDeLRAI/s1600/3491059409_4ba8ccaa6e_s.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Let love fill your heart, </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Laughter fill your home </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">and good tea fill your cup this Holiday Season!</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Merry& Happy, sharing the love of tea,</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;">Dara </span></div>Dara, daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233776114337519552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501321878300400464.post-50737914253920943542010-11-09T18:03:00.000-05:002010-11-09T18:03:34.018-05:00Happy, Happy Birthday!<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sometimes the stars are aligned and everything just falls into place. Recently, I celebrated my birthday while driving 9 hours from Columbus to Atlanta to support my husband participate in his first long distance Road Skate. Before we left home, I opened my one-and-only birthday present--a shiny new Cuisinart Temperature Control Kettle! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Two things make this an awesome gift:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> 1) I mentioned this kettle to my husband months ago after reading a review in a magazine. I thought my subtle aside was a "hey, listen to this cool thing I read about" conversation, not a "PAY ATTENTION I want this thing for my birthday hint." He remembers it as the latter--yay for me either way!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">2) It is lovely and amazing! This is the mother of all programmable kettles. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-UFJqK2BvIAwnOGIE7XutPdPK4cmzG7_LPBmFSsZ6HLFG4hd5dP0v-3w0p3NQc3wa1971Dml9f6p5WyHtoeN9mMK0CpXC6r1AFb4lpyqG6GA7Ao5lNiIN41U_U1yGou90wNFG7ku12zU/s1600/teakettle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-UFJqK2BvIAwnOGIE7XutPdPK4cmzG7_LPBmFSsZ6HLFG4hd5dP0v-3w0p3NQc3wa1971Dml9f6p5WyHtoeN9mMK0CpXC6r1AFb4lpyqG6GA7Ao5lNiIN41U_U1yGou90wNFG7ku12zU/s1600/teakettle.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">What makes it so great you ask? </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Well, let me tell you</span></div><ul><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">It has temperature settings to heat water for a specific tea types </span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Its cordless so you can refresh your mug two rooms away</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">There is an illuminated water gage that allows you to see exactly how many liters of water are inside (so what if I don't know a liter from a kilometer)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">It has a <em>Keep Warm</em> feature that allows the johnny-come-late-cup to mosey on down to the kitchen and reap the benefits of another's hard labor</span></li>
</ul><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I could go on and on, but no one likes a braggart!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Sharing the love of tea and a thoughtful hubby,</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Dara </span>Dara, daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233776114337519552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501321878300400464.post-23734702864589375342010-09-07T12:02:00.000-04:002010-09-07T12:02:12.230-04:00My Imaginary Summer Vacation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_72o9LfzfN6jmmTfYKsFcC6sds90CnB-3BiySuZ10l8kVvFZTs2nY3HvTSlOzUKYmSNe-PDMQ9yy71SaRAgCAm4IXhFbi1_fdHEs5EXXXyKmLY6ogIPV5hVG4w3Xq861ITsEkF88Egk/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_72o9LfzfN6jmmTfYKsFcC6sds90CnB-3BiySuZ10l8kVvFZTs2nY3HvTSlOzUKYmSNe-PDMQ9yy71SaRAgCAm4IXhFbi1_fdHEs5EXXXyKmLY6ogIPV5hVG4w3Xq861ITsEkF88Egk/s200/Picture+1.png" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-small;"><em>This year for my summer vacation my family traveled to Assam, a state in Northern India. There we stayed in a bungalow on a working Tea Estate. We enjoyed "Bed Tea" each morning, a delightful take on breakfast in bed with pots of perfectly brewed piping hot English Breakfast Tea. Each afternoon we immersed ourselves in learning about a different facet of the tea estate or just wandered the land and smiled at the Assamese ladies on their breaks from picking the precious green gold.</em></span><br />
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<br />
This is how my back-to-school essay would read if I were:</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br />
a) still school age<br />
b) had actually taken this trip<br />
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Late Summer always has me wistful for a vacation. This year, I was pining for a trip to India or Sri Lanka to visit a tea estate. I love the idea of seeing the endless fields of green, green tea bushes growing under the dappled light of the acacia tree. I've fallen in love with the photos of beautiful, dark haired women with basket of leaves balance on their heads going about their daily work of picking tea leaves that might later, much later end up in my cup.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCDqmCfW8MJabJ7KIdDOWijovqnzErXYrEoOtKOXUj8hrpZMgK4kawGAdhwU-ZokmZp0z9F5K_uuiMELFxEA0mTw-XUXeXFe-rqQU28nG9h2XE8vkVGZJFgkcbddSsnRnKTV5jZnctRQ/s1600/Picture+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCDqmCfW8MJabJ7KIdDOWijovqnzErXYrEoOtKOXUj8hrpZMgK4kawGAdhwU-ZokmZp0z9F5K_uuiMELFxEA0mTw-XUXeXFe-rqQU28nG9h2XE8vkVGZJFgkcbddSsnRnKTV5jZnctRQ/s400/Picture+3.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">I've actually found the perfect spot to fulfill this fantasy vacation. It is called Ceylon Tea Trails and its website (<a href="http://www.teatrails.com/">teatrails.com</a>) boasts:</div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><span class="welcome-text"><br style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">" Guests are absorbed into life on a working tea estate, whilst reveling in five-star luxury. Tea Trails will teach you everything you need to know about the perfect brew. The unique Tea Experience tour with the tea planter in residence will show you the wonders of Camellia Sinensis."</span></span><br />
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<span class="welcome-text"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Sounds fantastic, right?</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Maybe next year (sigh)</span></span><br />
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<span class="welcome-text"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Until then, I will be enjoying a bright cup of English Breakfast on the veranda overlooking my rolling hill of green, green grass.</span></span><br />
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<span class="welcome-text"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span><br />
<span class="welcome-text"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Sharing the love of tea,</span></span><br />
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<span class="welcome-text"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Dara </span></span>Dara, daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233776114337519552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501321878300400464.post-54469168623127984132010-08-25T17:41:00.000-04:002010-08-25T17:41:17.277-04:00A Good Slap in the Face<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmf3ee6rWsaYOvJvqtJ5IkKwCH4wBPAlpBJk3AFIE5LSUD3XAkOJviLSGJ9GMWZHMW3FyFjwbp-F-vUlZY_1OHGMBXRDgqDILB9ZNf6M3wParyADhk4xma6Uu0CpaEAGEMNsClwmWA9EM/s1600/img_5826sencha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmf3ee6rWsaYOvJvqtJ5IkKwCH4wBPAlpBJk3AFIE5LSUD3XAkOJviLSGJ9GMWZHMW3FyFjwbp-F-vUlZY_1OHGMBXRDgqDILB9ZNf6M3wParyADhk4xma6Uu0CpaEAGEMNsClwmWA9EM/s320/img_5826sencha.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>My Brother-in-law is visiting from Italy. He mentioned once on a previous visit that green tea is very expensive in Italy, so I always have a bag of his favorite Japanese Sencha on hand during his visits. I brewed it for him once or twice using the brewing instructions my mom and I painstakingly created for <span style="color: #38761d;">Two for Tea</span>. Each of our bags of hand packed tea came with brewing instructions for maximum enjoyment.<br />
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Mr. Brother-in-law laughed when I pulled out the timer the first time. "You take tea way too seriously," he quipped.<br />
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<em>Of</em> <em>course I take it too</em> <em>seriously</em>, I thought--duh! <br />
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I have actually heard him say, on more than one occasion, that he likes his Sencha so strong "it jumps up out of the cup and slaps him in the face." Yuck! Apparently my perfectly timed brew is a bit weak for his taste. We shared a laugh about his comment, but to me over brewing is no laughing matter. Because I drink mostly Black tea, when I want Green or White tea I have no shame in referring to the instructions, getting out the measuring spoon and setting the timer.<br />
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Here are my key points on appropriately brewing tea: Use good water (spring or filtered tap) and measure both the tea and the water. Using too much tea can taste as bad as over brewing. Generally speaking you will want to use 1 heaping teaspoon for each 6 ounce cup. For Green Tea the water temperature is critical! Heat the water to 185 to 190 F. How the heck do you know when it is 185? If you don't have a programmable kettle--and I don't--heat the water until the first few wisps of steam start to escape. <br />
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DO NOT BOIL. <br />
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Follow the manufacturer's steeping time suggestion and pour all the tea from the brewed leaves at once. Any liquid left in the pot continues to steep. Green and White teas usually brew for 1 to 2 minutes, Black tea for 3 to 4 minutes.<br />
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Adjust to suit your taste. Or for a good slap in the face.<br />
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Sharing the love of tea,<br />
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DaraDara, daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233776114337519552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501321878300400464.post-29706366874533390842010-08-05T13:31:00.005-04:002010-08-05T15:47:47.882-04:00Minty Fresh Summer<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I am not a big fan of iced tea. This is mainly the result of many disappointing glasses of mediocre restaurant iced tea. In the summer however, I do tend to indulge, but I prefer to make it at home in the style of my paternal grandmother, Elvira Jackson. Grandma Jackson made amazing iced tea! During my annual summer visits to Bessemer, Alabama, she'd make what seemed like endless pitchers of it--brown, super sweet and with sprigs of fresh mint. In all my worldly adolescent travels, I knew of no other person clever enough to use mint in iced tea. Genius, I concluded. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My involvement in making the iced tea, or anything else in Elvira Jackson's kitchen, was usually relegated to picking some vegetable or herb in the sprawling backyard garden behind the house. Under heavy direction from one or both grandparents, I'd select the best possible sprigs. In that garden, during those long, summer days, I learned a lot about gardening. Much of the knowledge I employ today in my own garden was obtained, by osmosis, on iced tea afternoons. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEita2tY1tC7FlEcfAOQGDFBT3Lzb6SCngKWjF3oV3gy8KU4nWTKic-gN7jaCyRyfSRwP0GjsrU0CM7SGDhf3c2zdRx2zypydQH_aZFm2_UhYG2I9KUxE7HGJ8dKI6LhYyTf_oMVfhIr570/s1600/100_0511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEita2tY1tC7FlEcfAOQGDFBT3Lzb6SCngKWjF3oV3gy8KU4nWTKic-gN7jaCyRyfSRwP0GjsrU0CM7SGDhf3c2zdRx2zypydQH_aZFm2_UhYG2I9KUxE7HGJ8dKI6LhYyTf_oMVfhIr570/s200/100_0511.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo: dara jackson wiggins</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">So, when the mint plant near the garage at my own home started taking over our sunny border, I came up with the idea for making Mint Simple Syrup to jazz up regular Black Iced Tea. This homage to my grandmother borrows from her original "recipe" but uses more mint and keeps nicely in the fridge for a month or more. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I still put a fresh sprig in my glass as a tribute to Elvira. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I think she would approve.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Sharing the love of minted iced tea,</span><br />
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Dara<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia;">Mint Simple Syrup</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;">1 cup mint leaves</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;">1 cup sugar (I prefer brown sugar)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;">1 cup water</span><br />
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Bring the mint, sugar and water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Stir occasionally until the sugar is dissolved. Remove the pan from heat and allow to sit for 30 minutes. Strain the liquid into an airtight container like a mason jar and refrigerate until ready to use or at least three hours. Syrup will keep in the refrigerator for about a month.<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">Using Mint Simple Syrup in Iced Tea</span>: Brew your favorite tea according to instructions for making iced tea. Add simple syrup to taste. Stir, taste and add more if desired. I usually start with about a 1/4 cup for 2 quarts of tea. Unless you like really, really sweet--like Southern style--iced tea, DO NOT ADD sugar!Dara, daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233776114337519552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501321878300400464.post-80414147458604384402010-04-13T10:18:00.002-04:002010-04-13T10:20:53.313-04:00Enlightened Tea<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>“… Your own attention is what spiritualizes things. Attention to the meal you cook, the clothes you wash. Attention is love. And that’s transformative.”</em></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Are you present when you prepare tea? Can you verbalize the steps involved in preparing the elixir that sustains you? I read this article from<a href="http://www.wholeliving.com/"> <em>Body & Soul</em></a> on the meditative possibilities of housecleaning [“The Meaning of Cleaning” by Amy Marlin, April 2010] and thought about my morning tea routine. How many steps are involved? Do I take advantage of the in-the-moment opportunity? </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia;">Here's what it looks like</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Each morning at the behest of the cat or the alarm clock, I pad down to the kitchen. Almost always, I prepare the cat’s food first, fill the tea kettle and turn it on. While it cycles through its two minutes of preparation, I measure out two teaspoons of loose leaf tea, typically Earl Grey, and though I love the smell I rarely stop top savor it in the morning. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The tea drops into my glass French press. Often I spill a few leaves on the counter. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Save or Toss?</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I move between spacing out and watching the steam to billow our of the kettle, a sure sign that the cycle is nearly complete. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Click” says the kettle indicating its doneness.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A sound I recognize with almost Superwoman-like power from almost every room in the house. I pour water just to the silver band ¼” from the edge of the top of my glass press. The plunger top on, the long silver plunger erect and ready and pull out a cup. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">On this morning I skip heating the cup—conserve water. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">By wrote I add sweetener, then a squirt of organic milk. I’ve tried many times to break the sugar fix in my tea, but nothing doing. A quick peep at the clock to determine if its time to plunge. When preparing tea for others, I am a meticulous timekeeper, but for myself—a little weak or strong is no biggie. Did I start at 8:06 or 8:09? Well, it looks done enough! My favorite part, I slowly press doe the plunger. The steeping successfully stopped, I pour the brew into my prepared cup. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Stir and enjoy! </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Taking time to really ponder the steps I’d have to admit is enlightening.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Sharing the love of enlightened tea,</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Dara</span>Dara, daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233776114337519552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501321878300400464.post-49448484443594105742010-03-15T13:00:00.000-04:002010-03-15T13:00:00.972-04:00Afternoon Tea At Least Once Each Year<span style="font-size:85%;">It has been over a year since I've enjoyed a formal Afternoon Tea. Pretty much since we packed up Two for Tea to be precise. I love Afternoon Tea anytime of year and truly drink hot tea even when it is 90 degrees outside, but something about winter makes we think of my favorite places to enjoy the fine art of taking tea. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The last time EJ and I enjoyed Afternoon Tea not by our own hands was a delightful trip to The Lobby at the Peninsula Hotel in Chicago. The Peninsula is a Five Star hotel on Chicago's magnificent Michigan Avenue. I am not sure of the history of fine hotels serving tea, but there is definitely a connection. Perhaps that will be a future post. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Until then, s</span><span style="font-size:85%;">ince Two for Tea is no longer open, I suggest these fine places for Afternoon Tea:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">1. The Peninsula Hotel in Chicago</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">2. The Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">3. The Waldorf-Astoria in New York</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">4. The Plaza Hotel in New York</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">If your taste runs to the less high brow, what a shame! However, I suggest consulting <a href="http://teamap.com/">teamap.com</a>. This resource is a fairly comprehensive list of tearooms nationwide. Please call the tearoom ahead of time as many require reservations and even more may no longer be open.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Sharing the love of (Afternoon) tea,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Dara</span>Dara, daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233776114337519552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501321878300400464.post-8544274378216599832010-03-11T14:38:00.000-05:002010-03-14T17:59:39.720-04:00Thrif-tea!<div align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447463540949993474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 309px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 229px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81_HPniDChH7kF_k8ELPTLQblNoam3rRMgjitEUSLIIiwerq5qZ9IwufvAV73EgRKgfa4-bl1dcLBD4tuSvd83KgBfCeUL4WGqg0A3boOSmPznR3cfRnwDmi8dmdGUvA33yxhIIZmTJE/s320/new+tea+book.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span></span><span></span> </div><div align="left"><span></span> </div><div align="left"><span><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;">Look what I found for $1.99 at the thrift store! I wouldn't call myself a collector, but I do have a few things that might appear that way to the casual observer. I have approximately 16 mismatched tea cups, 12 tea pots and 10 books about tea.<br /><br />Just before I was married, my girlfriends hosted an Afternoon Tea Bridal Shower. The invitation requested that each guest bring a teacup to start my collection. I love them now, but at the time I thought, "what the heck I am going to do with a bunch of mismatched teacups?" And I still use the same 2 or 3 cups for my daily cuppa.<br /><br />The books were a more natural extension of my interest in tea. EJ and I starting snapping up every book we could find about tea and tea parties as a part of our research to prepare for opening Two for Tea. On a recent excursion to the thrift store (a guilty pleasure since childhood), I found a copy of A Passion for Tea by Hattie Ellis. My mother already has a copy for which she paid full price at the local bookseller. It is not the best book about tea I've ever read, but it is a sweet little book with very nice photographs. Plus, who can deny anything useful that costs less than $2.00!<br /><br />On of my favorite elements of Ellis' book is in "The Teas" chapter where she summarizes the various tea producing countries and the varieties for which they are best known. I forgive her for not including any African countries, since they are mostly known for beverages that are commonly called tea, but are really herbal beverages or tisanes.<br /><br />So make that 11 books about tea.<br /><br />Sharing the love,<br /><br /><br />Dara<br /><br /><br /><br /></div></span></span>Dara, daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233776114337519552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501321878300400464.post-50082288211303056022010-03-01T12:56:00.000-05:002010-03-01T18:59:25.538-05:00I'd Do It Again and Again<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;">People often ask if I'd do it again. If I would again become an entrepreneur. I like to compare it to riding a roller coaster:</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;">You wait for what seems like FOREVER </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;">Gathering information, killing time, waiting for the right moment & </span><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;">only moving inches.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;">Finally it's your turn!</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;">Now you're excited, scared, nauseated, and locked in.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">There are highs and lows, flips and turns. You think, "I could die here."</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">And in the end, it was your decision, and you survived.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">"Yes! Of course I'd do it again." </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Next time I will have the benefit of experience. My second ride will be different. I will narrow my focus, quit my secure day job and <em>really </em>commit to making the business work. There is something about being an entrepreneur that makes all of the sacrifices worthwhile. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Tea is a luxury. A delicious & delightful luxury for some. We tried, and to a small degree succeeded, to capture our key demographic market and tell them, everyday deserves a little luxury. Take this drink, this experience, this luxury and incorporate it into your daily life. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I can't wait to do it again.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Sharing the love of tea,</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Dara</span><br /><br /><p></p><span style="color:#006600;">p.s.</span> <span style="font-size:85%;">Here is a little something I found at <a href="http://www.sba.gov/">SBA.gov</a></span><br /><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#006600;">Top five reasons why start-up businesses fail</span>: </span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;">1. Insufficient capital (money)</span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;">2. Lack of management experience </span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;">3. Poor business location </span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;">4. Poor inventory management</span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;">5. Lack of initial planning</span></p>Dara, daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233776114337519552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501321878300400464.post-29637792299771272532010-02-09T16:27:00.000-05:002010-02-10T11:29:14.319-05:00Staying Warm<span style="font-size:85%;">I am so excited! It is snowing and I am enjoying a hot cup of tea. A cup that has been hot from beginning to end, thanks to my new Mr. Coffee Mug Warmer. </span><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:85%;">We live in an old and drafty house. I love this house dearly, but it makes drinking tea by the pot full a slightly less enjoyable experience because inevitably by the time you get to the bottom of your cup, your beverage is stone cold. So naturally, EJ and I went on a search for an electric cup warmer. I looked in big boxes and small independent store alike and while a few had heard of this mysterious "cup warmer" few had actually seen it in person and fewer still knew where to find one. EJ lost interest, but I pressed on.</span></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436652068665561410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicx0I7WJV7K4oghSZn3bA6g7QG62x4grxVOhGDSEWJmRzcinXKSCWhrV5gwjanP8sVeZeRELGpdtZ7pCRoUwXgX3vc9D6zhrGinzq_hDG7dWF9jSKh7SjtYHFgU3UMNsPs61pRvuRl6Y0/s320/mrcoffee.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;">THE INTERNET I thought with excitement! I wanted to support a local business, but this was a job for the Internet. A few clicks into my search and voila! I compared the nearly $30 Bodum warmer to a tiny thing from Salton. Features, benefits, price, delivery time. I finally settled on a $10 (well $9.59 from amazon.com) Mr. Coffee MWBLK Mug Warmer. It promises to be, <em>easy to clean, </em>has a <em>convenient cord length for use almost anywhere</em> and be great for a <em>variety</em> <em>of hot beverages and soups.</em></span></div><div><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;">Sold! I only wish it came in green.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;">Sharing the love of (hot-hot) tea,</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;">Dara</span></div>Dara, daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233776114337519552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501321878300400464.post-79824996236213173002010-02-04T16:51:00.000-05:002010-02-04T17:29:33.280-05:00Made from Scratch<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwJ8fy4Wgttyl1Z9xDCaSzPXZ9d-uu78f9UhylQPcrmZfgMoehIPCALDYifcddoPjIzKEOIhgkxwSJ6BtqGIs1gyzZ8I7Ebi2czdj-JcM0quCeh5maAtwC20Xj87Ng2GWSStpCm1O_xQ/s1600-h/cake2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434511125925818946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 256px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 170px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwJ8fy4Wgttyl1Z9xDCaSzPXZ9d-uu78f9UhylQPcrmZfgMoehIPCALDYifcddoPjIzKEOIhgkxwSJ6BtqGIs1gyzZ8I7Ebi2czdj-JcM0quCeh5maAtwC20Xj87Ng2GWSStpCm1O_xQ/s400/cake2.jpg" border="0" /></a>Being unemployed has its benefits. One such plus is that I have time to make my favorite cake--from scratch. I found this recipe for Coconut Cake with Lemon Curd Filling in <a href="http://www.essence.com/">Essence </a>magazine about two years ago. I have only had time to bake it one other time. And with a growing waistline and a non-coconut eating, sugar-busting, exercise freak hubby, I wasn't really motivated until now. <div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>This cake takes a good afternoon to make from start to frosting. You have to plan ahead so that you have coconut, heavy whipping cream and lemon curd on hand. The truly gifted could make their own lemon curd as well. I have made a few tweaks to the original recipe, but you'll never know the difference. The result is a heavenly triple-layer confection that is not too sweet and goes with almost any tea! </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><span style="color:#009900;">Makes about 16 servings. </span> Preheat oven 350 F</div><div> </div><div> </div><div><span style="color:#009900;">Batter:</span></div><div>2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour</div><div>1 teaspoon baking powder</div><div>1/2 teaspoon baking soda</div><div>1 cup butter (2 sticks), softened</div><div>1 teaspoon coconut extract</div><div>1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract</div><div>4 large eggs (at room temp)</div><div>1 cup buttermilk</div><div>1 cup lemon curd</div><div>Fluffy White Frosting</div><div>3 cups sweetened flaked dried coconut</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Preheat oven. Grease and flour three 8-inch round cake pans. In bowl, stir together flour, baking powder and baking soda, mixing well. In large mixer bowl at medium speed beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in extracts. One at a time, beat in eggs. Alternate adding flour and buttermilk, ending with flour. Pour batter into prepared cake pans; smooth tops with spatula. Bake until wooden pick inserted into centers of layers comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool in pans on wire rack 10 minutes; remove from pans and cool completely on racks.</div><div> </div><div>On cake plate or stand, place first layer top side down, spread with half of the lemon curd. Add second layer top side down; spread with remaining lemon curd. Add third layer top side up. Frost sides and top of cake then sprinkle with coconut. This cake tastes best when made ahead by a few hours.</div><div> </div><div>While cakes cool, prepare frosting:</div><div> </div><div><span style="color:#009900;">Fluffy White Frosting</span></div><div>2 cups heavy cream</div><div>1 cup confectioners' sugar</div><div>1/2 pound cream cheese, at room temperature</div><div>1/4 teaspoon coconut extract</div><div><br />In bowl using mixer on medium speed, whip together cream and 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar until stiff peaks form, about 2-4 minutes. In a separate bowl, beat together cream cheese and remaining 1/2 cup sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, fold cream cheese mixture into whipped cream. Fold in coconut extract.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Sharing the love of tea (and real homemade cake),</div><div> </div><div>Dara<br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div>Dara, daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233776114337519552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501321878300400464.post-31491335484086927782010-01-24T14:02:00.001-05:002010-01-24T14:04:36.227-05:00Lovely Electric Tea Kettle 2<a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2708/4301356800_7f6b9b4d2f_m.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 180px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2708/4301356800_7f6b9b4d2f_m.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Photos!</div>Dara, daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233776114337519552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501321878300400464.post-53167762155337829402010-01-24T12:51:00.000-05:002010-01-24T14:02:15.560-05:00Lovely Electric Tea Kettle<a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2708/4301356800_7f6b9b4d2f_m.jpg"></a> For years, I would fire up my gas stove to heat water for tea. I had a lovely whistling tea kettle. I just got used to the wait. It was natural, normal and expected. Pour in fresh water, wait for kettle to fill. Put kettle on stove, wait for click-click ignition of the gas burner. Wait, wait, wait for the rise of steam and the whistle, a Pavlovian love song for tea time.<br /><div></div><br /><div>Then, two years ago, my husband bought EJ (my mother and business partner) and I an electric tea kettle. What was the man thinking? Mother and I don't live in the same house, how could we possibly <strong>share</strong> it? </div><br /><div></div><div>"You can use it when you two are testing teas," he said cheerfully. "It'll save a lot of time," my husband added, helpfully.</div><div></div><br /><div>I really didn't want it. I had a tea kettle at home. The natural thing to do was to leave it at EJ's place, but something funny happened. I used it, you know just to tell him that I did. </div><br /><div></div><div>And I <em>liked</em> it. I mean, I <em>loved </em>it! </div><br /><div></div><div>By the time I had my Silver Needle measured out and my cup selected, the water was done. No more eternal waiting for hot water. No more "sorta" hot water from the water cooler down the hall. No more annoying whistle. </div><br /><div></div><div>I discreetly removed the tea kettle. EJ is fine with water from the cooler and she has a lovely whistling kettle for her much faster electric stove, I rationalized.</div><br /><div></div><div>The kettle lives happily on at my house. I use it at least three times a day and wonder how I ever survived without it.</div><br /><div></div><div>Sharing the love of tea,</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Dara</div><br /><br /><div>p.s. Mine is a Chef's Choice and cost in the ballpark of $60. It has a separate base so you can move the pot without the cord and best of all it has an automatic shut-off for the forgetful. </div>Dara, daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233776114337519552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501321878300400464.post-38899263080300869872010-01-13T23:30:00.000-05:002010-01-13T23:39:02.801-05:00Is it January already?<span style="font-family: georgia;">Long time no see. <br /><br />I have been remiss. It makes me feel terrible to know that my last update was in November! Seriously?! Sorry dear reader. Sorry bloggosphere. Sorry adjectives.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Uuughh.</span> <br /><br />If you are out there hanging on my every word, I'm sorry. I'll do better. <br /><br />I will start tomorrow :)<br /><br />Sharing the love,<br /><br />Dara<br /><br />p.s. As a teaser--I had a tasty little mug of Genmaicha tonight while visiting with Chinatsu and Kengo. More later...<br /></span>Dara, daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233776114337519552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501321878300400464.post-24334105059031897702009-11-01T14:40:00.000-05:002009-11-01T15:28:40.151-05:00Pretty Tea Things<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bdwgKXlT4IRy3Hp9lNVvkU3wokOs5qcZcbzTCoZaib5uQhsyGkAeE8i8-0phw3J1la3AcE1Q4n_Wmghr_kIURz-h-JpdSDXqeN5K64IJ93WA4UFlFLOcEoVEZDOmeHOqjS7u1Fg5RBQ/s1600-h/kenana_sheep_tea_cosy2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 236px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bdwgKXlT4IRy3Hp9lNVvkU3wokOs5qcZcbzTCoZaib5uQhsyGkAeE8i8-0phw3J1la3AcE1Q4n_Wmghr_kIURz-h-JpdSDXqeN5K64IJ93WA4UFlFLOcEoVEZDOmeHOqjS7u1Fg5RBQ/s320/kenana_sheep_tea_cosy2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399233298127112530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">{Knitted Sheep Tea Cosy from treehouseblue.co.uk}<br /><br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifY0u6OZ1s5MQiBg3U_jFGu5zV-Is0uCkEB4wfP43SZnnjTVXFC9znueJwlYZrREFKVMILTHmt6BJZEwCfNlHbWWW7k1xni2AA1WYU3hk28fN23p2G7CUBRPdpfwiqyh9Nda1kEh28avM/s1600-h/il_430xN.97278166.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifY0u6OZ1s5MQiBg3U_jFGu5zV-Is0uCkEB4wfP43SZnnjTVXFC9znueJwlYZrREFKVMILTHmt6BJZEwCfNlHbWWW7k1xni2AA1WYU3hk28fN23p2G7CUBRPdpfwiqyh9Nda1kEh28avM/s320/il_430xN.97278166.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399233296646512338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size:78%;">{<span style="font-style: italic;">its teatime</span> art print by seasprayblue on Etsy}<br /><br /><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ywvUvTJCw8cTxT7koPpihfhVYZehnfNESfEUwxbrTpw90yHhJbiKNvMMEBkFrIvHdE9SRTiF3hH7e6qZtYTigfECimbuxl0DxgVAIRfcywrDjgRo9KcT-ZkSMU5IayEgzwsfHHqHaSs/s1600-h/il_430xN.68705408.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ywvUvTJCw8cTxT7koPpihfhVYZehnfNESfEUwxbrTpw90yHhJbiKNvMMEBkFrIvHdE9SRTiF3hH7e6qZtYTigfECimbuxl0DxgVAIRfcywrDjgRo9KcT-ZkSMU5IayEgzwsfHHqHaSs/s320/il_430xN.68705408.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399233292739363234" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeovAXR3x_RUkuAE994fFGRR5ZL33xjVz5CIO85G82aH-y1hCoZ7QgItfIrNcwT0MzYT5_1RfLmYCTNP-gw_FPMtBwg10WvpD5kX69G9gLoH3pVdoMkoQd_Ca9JlsRpM3aCJZ4rN3s7HA/s1600-h/il_430xN.67454317.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 316px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeovAXR3x_RUkuAE994fFGRR5ZL33xjVz5CIO85G82aH-y1hCoZ7QgItfIrNcwT0MzYT5_1RfLmYCTNP-gw_FPMtBwg10WvpD5kX69G9gLoH3pVdoMkoQd_Ca9JlsRpM3aCJZ4rN3s7HA/s320/il_430xN.67454317.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399233291163667730" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">{Tea Cosies by Re : made at by remade shop on Etsy}<br /><br /><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS-j-h2UBzEFx2JQPKAAKX5-cxZoVOQN-hvFKi0OkPYcT7MnrD0UmQbJnLWrv6aNJi1nPv0xBIpV25GpUdKAyAUwyvfBAFbzPD_66hc6SQs3HCHBDVaX-6Bj2qDo2OhIIqhpqOfKLrBFE/s1600-h/il_fullxfull.68028560_large.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 334px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS-j-h2UBzEFx2JQPKAAKX5-cxZoVOQN-hvFKi0OkPYcT7MnrD0UmQbJnLWrv6aNJi1nPv0xBIpV25GpUdKAyAUwyvfBAFbzPD_66hc6SQs3HCHBDVaX-6Bj2qDo2OhIIqhpqOfKLrBFE/s320/il_fullxfull.68028560_large.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399226505395693186" border="0" /><blockquote></blockquote></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:78%;">{Tea Pot Clock from shop.feyhandmade.com}<br /><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPwPWZl8AHSf5rwSNx4DeHv7S90dvUR59ZOFC-qtu_Xg8xyUDCoFfLSxq4mOXm1AjXb15uropndYbqhyphenhyphenF2bpH9pnVD8F_DXva5-TL95jxoSkFJBR18Ndi0hyphenhyphenlh1ShDfynjAbV5aVZwe7Y/s1600-h/Tea+Sachet.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPwPWZl8AHSf5rwSNx4DeHv7S90dvUR59ZOFC-qtu_Xg8xyUDCoFfLSxq4mOXm1AjXb15uropndYbqhyphenhyphenF2bpH9pnVD8F_DXva5-TL95jxoSkFJBR18Ndi0hyphenhyphenlh1ShDfynjAbV5aVZwe7Y/s320/Tea+Sachet.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399226499840739282" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">{Lavender Sachet found at bugsandfishes.blogspot.com}<br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /><br /></span>Dara, daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233776114337519552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501321878300400464.post-41250767693532355002009-09-06T16:53:00.000-04:002009-09-06T17:56:17.134-04:00Really, an order?!<span style="font-family:georgia;">I was perusing our Two for Tea email box recently and came across an invitation to attend the <a href="http://www.worldteaexpo.com"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">World Tea Expo East</span></a> in Boston. The subject line caught my attention because it was about selling tea online. This is something we have been trying to do with very little success for a couple years now. We have a few loyal followers, but we can't quit our day jobs.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRL_ZkCPPug3F9K2DLtZsVvgBLgmTgW5mNtFyRoK4TZNyhWe8t5-eeYjs5xp_cCT_7yxfLNkulXaIaaI3nEt4t7XLhPZgMhn438gANHZR9JU8-0mXWvwHQai0kNxW3e9SUURiyS0lLJWY/s1600-h/3893731309_cb2c7d800f.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRL_ZkCPPug3F9K2DLtZsVvgBLgmTgW5mNtFyRoK4TZNyhWe8t5-eeYjs5xp_cCT_7yxfLNkulXaIaaI3nEt4t7XLhPZgMhn438gANHZR9JU8-0mXWvwHQai0kNxW3e9SUURiyS0lLJWY/s320/3893731309_cb2c7d800f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378473916487085234" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Of course I would love to attend the expo and especially the talk on selling successfully online. If you have never attended the World Tea Expo, it is a giant trade show for people who are <span style="font-style: italic;">very </span>serious about all things TEA. Things you only dreamed of are already available at the World Tea Expo. We attended our first show the year before we became tea entrepreneurs. It sealed the deal and we were sucked in big time! There are workshops, demonstrations, free tea, incredible swag and people, lots of them, all as enthusiastic about tea as we are.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br />If you are in the "tea business" or plan to be, I highly recommend checking out the expo. It is a great place to learn a lot and network with like minded people, plus did I mention the swag?<br /><br />By the way, just under the expo email was a reorder from a new loyal customer. There is hope!<br /><br />Sharing the love of tea {<a href="http://www.shoptwofortea.com">online orders</a>},<br /></span>Dara, daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233776114337519552noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501321878300400464.post-68768003125880992292009-08-30T18:00:00.000-04:002009-08-30T18:32:09.631-04:00Here's to your health<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2azV5uCOOOWbquUgOsD-0p9vZ3otPpP0WrZvAVvUnXPVcm44-87OGSOlhVDqF37lTAWnWQ_1hyV97k5mGd1DF4orT4yTxe6qTNTN0nmJC2MVtJKpNZqRTbDNDT4c_-3HI3VIgJhotXw/s1600-h/3+teas.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2azV5uCOOOWbquUgOsD-0p9vZ3otPpP0WrZvAVvUnXPVcm44-87OGSOlhVDqF37lTAWnWQ_1hyV97k5mGd1DF4orT4yTxe6qTNTN0nmJC2MVtJKpNZqRTbDNDT4c_-3HI3VIgJhotXw/s320/3+teas.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375887733324288562" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:78%;" >{photo: mat.teo}</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" ><br />Beware</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">: this is post is slightly political.</span><br /></div></div><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br />My wish is that the drinking of health and its subsequent health benefits will be added to our current national healthcare debate.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Tea is really good for you. </span> <span style="font-family:georgia;">Drink lots! </span><br /><br />Sharing the love of good,<span style="font-style: italic;"> healthy</span> tea<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /><br /> </span><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size:78%;"> </span><br /></div>Dara, daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233776114337519552noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501321878300400464.post-32336474384620703292009-08-17T22:19:00.000-04:002009-08-17T22:36:26.577-04:00Tea Shelf<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTc8LMlpmRhAReLYPslOl6PfRdFsUBFJZ7SQSWOQN-2EFZDbYfph-uuqOUtI1EBfqEvgf4hSOvvlRSZ2XPA9yUFPWiIiP1nHwJR1e7m3v2idlDcrtya1VLtHkFa2I4SeqazhBKD0Tkq9w/s1600-h/shelf1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTc8LMlpmRhAReLYPslOl6PfRdFsUBFJZ7SQSWOQN-2EFZDbYfph-uuqOUtI1EBfqEvgf4hSOvvlRSZ2XPA9yUFPWiIiP1nHwJR1e7m3v2idlDcrtya1VLtHkFa2I4SeqazhBKD0Tkq9w/s320/shelf1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371123235544791522" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">{photo: www.designspongeonline.com}<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">I found this really sweet tea shelf on Design*Sponge while searching for inspiration. There is a lot of inspiration out there in the world! You never know what event, activity, book, photo or person will create your next aha! moment.<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />Two for Tea</span> was inspired by a book EJ and I started writing about Entertaining & Tea. We never finished that book, because in the midst of researching and writing we were so overwhelmed with the desire to take our vision to the people that we opened our business. Now I am more inspired than ever to complete that book! I learned so much about entertaining while serving Afternoon Tea, I can't imagine not finishing the book.<br /><br />Sharing the love of tea - inspired!<br /></div></div>Dara, daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233776114337519552noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501321878300400464.post-34131367412067674672009-08-06T11:00:00.000-04:002009-08-06T11:00:00.942-04:00The Replacement II<font style="font-family: georgia;" face="georgia">At the behest of one lovely reader I am offering a more substantive review of my replacement tea infuser.</font> <div style="font-family: georgia;"><br />Q: Does it give the tea a plastic taste?</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8yGsky7gqj0xNjzI_g8qTWjsGMSq8NcZcahHISoRMbuwuC-xbM92PkB8EEqfg9LimNI9tzfcRjPo7pIEXI-20RQ75uK73y3AqitnZGD-_VUwgGsunAlZN-4erC6R6ZC5McQRLLonSsg/s1600-h/3477773077_774552427e_m.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 178px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8yGsky7gqj0xNjzI_g8qTWjsGMSq8NcZcahHISoRMbuwuC-xbM92PkB8EEqfg9LimNI9tzfcRjPo7pIEXI-20RQ75uK73y3AqitnZGD-_VUwgGsunAlZN-4erC6R6ZC5McQRLLonSsg/s200/3477773077_774552427e_m.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366706616506359362" border="0"></a><br /></div><br />A: No way! I can't stand that. In all fairnness, I must share that it is not<font style="font-style: italic;"> perfect</font>. I find the infuser basket to be a little small as a ratio to the the amount of water one can put in the vessel. Also, the little arm does not stay up with most teas, but for sure not with heavier leaf greens. That means the tea keeps infusing after it should, so I either have to drink fast (ouch burnt mouth) or pour some off (ouch hate to waste tea).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76jH7X1foSNY-a9_48-lzYVPm9oWA2RWz5rRwYMVICBOW2ZucsE5qBdV6pyUwlkM6Uj5BgNuPki7ymuaVjKcQMNeg0TBNxpTNK7c9yuK6oPX03SCWddLnyVKV0_qjdOqFGbl7323rp5Y/s1600-h/3478383522_7e22b4e92c_m.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76jH7X1foSNY-a9_48-lzYVPm9oWA2RWz5rRwYMVICBOW2ZucsE5qBdV6pyUwlkM6Uj5BgNuPki7ymuaVjKcQMNeg0TBNxpTNK7c9yuK6oPX03SCWddLnyVKV0_qjdOqFGbl7323rp5Y/s200/3478383522_7e22b4e92c_m.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366708317525270706" border="0"></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">What is<font style="font-style: italic;"> great </font>is that this infuser is totally portable. I can make tea 2 minutes before leaving the house and then again at work with little hassle. If the Aladdin "development team" called me right now, would I have some suggestions? You betcha! If they offered to advertise on my blog in return for a ringing endorsement, would I sell out to the man? You betcha! But only because it is a pretty good infuser.<br /><br />Sharing the love of tea (to go).<br /></div></div>Dara, daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233776114337519552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501321878300400464.post-62155774043987538252009-08-05T23:40:00.000-04:002009-08-06T00:14:02.032-04:00Death and taxes<span style="font-family:georgia;">Confession: I haven't filed my 2008 taxes yet.<br /></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">I can't.<br /></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">I can't file my personal taxes until we have the partnership taxes done.<br />We can't do the business taxes because Two for Tea </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">has no money to pay </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">the accountant.<br />The accountant won't do the 2008s until the 2007s are totally paid for. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">It is a big vicious circle. Running a business is hard, stressful stuff.<br /><br />I could really use a cup of tea. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Too bad I can't pay the accountant in tea. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">A nice relaxing herbal tisane for dealing with clients like us with no money. </span>Dara, daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233776114337519552noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501321878300400464.post-35059410495506046982009-06-24T22:49:00.000-04:002009-06-24T23:17:55.059-04:00After Dinner Tisane<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCNF4n2L9EVvQYQL4ZLLbWPksET4Ns7f0hKCe_xVREMAgYVkguoW4oeJS76aX6iQRb537pzINhQRnj4KNcqxuGXUY-q7wjbUgjLEPoluByU05MPWfetWbI9PEfAJpoKmxuiNaIIwpGAY/s1600-h/tisane.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCNF4n2L9EVvQYQL4ZLLbWPksET4Ns7f0hKCe_xVREMAgYVkguoW4oeJS76aX6iQRb537pzINhQRnj4KNcqxuGXUY-q7wjbUgjLEPoluByU05MPWfetWbI9PEfAJpoKmxuiNaIIwpGAY/s200/tisane.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351099127150700482" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I am always excited when I come across tea world knowledge out there in the mainstream. Perfect example is 3rd and Hollywood, a new-ish restaurant that does not specialize in tea or tea foods but has an "interesting" little mint and ginger tisane on the menu.<br /><br />We enjoyed it as an after dinner digestif (sans alcohol) and for that it worked well. I applaud the effort of the management of this new establishment. It is so refreshing to order tea or a tisane out and get something that is not Lipton or a tired, half-full box of Tazo Teas.<br /><br />I am currently growing mint, basil, lavender and dill that I plan to mix and match randomly to create my own tisanes. I'll post the results in a few.<br /><br />Sharing the love of tea...and other leaves<br /></span>Dara, daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233776114337519552noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501321878300400464.post-35102859664419691472009-05-06T17:12:00.000-04:002009-05-06T18:30:03.044-04:00Happy Mother's Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQwPINDMmZDjamxyEgguMmZ0WV4w_TbHVZl6H-KfO3ZbRDshhT4MzvIZ4xDex889I1ArIfmpuwzQnaoAhWl_op2-KCeoqA8xf1_iMbwhMuQtrVUZs7NVAiBXs9TABP8ODQdG6Ua3e7qA/s1600-h/EJ3+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQwPINDMmZDjamxyEgguMmZ0WV4w_TbHVZl6H-KfO3ZbRDshhT4MzvIZ4xDex889I1ArIfmpuwzQnaoAhWl_op2-KCeoqA8xf1_iMbwhMuQtrVUZs7NVAiBXs9TABP8ODQdG6Ua3e7qA/s400/EJ3+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332836399781143266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Every Mother's Day I struggle to find, create or share the perfect gift. I mean, how do you honor someone for giving you life, dealing with your pubescent years and then becoming your business partner? If we didn't already have a tea business, I would throw her a really great tea party.<br /><br />Long before we started our business my mom (EJ) and I used to host wonderful Annual Afternoon Teas. Our first tea was an intimate affair with about eight women and three little girls in attendance. We planned, prepared and orchestrated everything ourselves. The menu was simple--scones, homemade lemon pound cake, a few finger sandwiches and several varieties of tea. We had such a good time, an annual tradition was born.<br /><br /></span> <span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Our Afternoon Teas grew from 8 to upwards of 40 guests. Each year for six years we opened one or the other of our homes and shared our passion for people, entertaining and tea. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >On more than one occasion we had women call months in advance to make sure they were on the list <span style="font-style: italic;">and </span>to see if they could invite a friend! So many people raved about our parties that we started to think about ways of bringing that atmosphere and tradition to an even larger group of people. Our business, Two for Tea is a direct result of those annual tea parties.<br /><br />So my gift this Mother's Day is one of hope. I will not be throwing my mother a tea party, but I will brew a nice pot of tea and have her over in the afternoon. Our conversation will surely turn to our business and our plans for the future. It is at that point that I will again thank her for all that I am. Then, I will suggest that we find a way to march on and continue to promote our shared passion for tea.<br /></span>Dara, daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233776114337519552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501321878300400464.post-55604741335123456582009-05-06T17:06:00.000-04:002009-07-29T15:58:29.447-04:00Breakfast, anytime<span style="font-size:85%;">Breakfast, anyone? I've been drinking a lot of tea lately, especially breakfast blends. My usual m.o. is to drink black in the morning, black after lunch and green or herbal in the evening. Lately, it has been black all the time. Am I more tired than usual? Who knows. What I do know is that I like the description I found below(sorry I don't remember where and hope this isn't infringement).<br /><br /><em><strong>Breakfast Blend</strong><span style="font-family:georgia;"> – Black tea blend of any variety and origin astringent enough to add milk and sugar, but balanced enough to drink straight. Appearance of the dry leaf depends on the blend. Leaves should be well-twisted and include some tip. Wet leaf is brown, copper with a toasty to citrusy aroma. Liquor is bright and clear with rich, reddish-brown hues and a medium to full bodied, mouth-feel that is balanced, brisk and astringent with a tangy high note.</span></em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I invite you to share your favorites--teas or descriptions: <a href="mailto:info@shoptwofortea.com">info@shoptwofortea.com</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Sharing the love of tea,</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Dara and Ernestine</span>Dara, daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233776114337519552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501321878300400464.post-53785641224548504562009-04-27T13:00:00.000-04:002009-04-27T22:06:31.100-04:00Holding on to an old friend<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO41-7YEXDHFIEUZS7qheLPCyNNOkQC717S8QxiIBMJTuDiySihuK860B42XY2kdertElp8U0yak0hMfEDluR8wGMbBPzvX9b_voeXzfCi4duhCWQYRce71BsT9XspqbDgdKVA0_WWw98/s1600-h/100_0191.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329201226144732306" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO41-7YEXDHFIEUZS7qheLPCyNNOkQC717S8QxiIBMJTuDiySihuK860B42XY2kdertElp8U0yak0hMfEDluR8wGMbBPzvX9b_voeXzfCi4duhCWQYRce71BsT9XspqbDgdKVA0_WWw98/s200/100_0191.JPG" border="0" /></a> Like most of you I have a morning rountine. It goes like this:<br /><br /><div><div><ul><li>wake up after hitting the snooze twice</li><br /><li>take shower<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvHkkcVzhxC6YCk9bKHA5CQ2qDhMpbBoC4fEQnsG3BcqguawemGGpCRZcPHEZElVQOJL7Okmhc10-YjNkuaX3rQC0MQnDdGIG1DWI6f8PfG_UIYgBzikvWPf6d0yRrxbbXMdXKWDmaK4/s1600-h/100_0192.JPG"></a></li><br /><li>feed cat</li><br /><li>fill fantastic electric tea kettle that heats up in like a minute</li><br /><li>scoop approximately 2.75 teaspoons of black tea du jour into really scuzzy two cup tea infuser that I have had for at least 7 years</li><br /><li>drink tea and thank the universe to be alive and have such a delicious elixir</li></ul><br /><p>Okay, perhaps you caught the scuzzy infuser part. It is my old fave. It is well seasoned and I know exactly how much loose leaf tea to use in it. I have about 20 tea pots of various description, all kinds of infusers and tea strainers and even some tea in bags. There is just something about this thing. My dear sweet husband encouraged me to let it go and he makes a good argument--it looks terrible, the flip lid is missing and I do have options, some of which he has given me as gifts. So recently, I decided to find a replacement. It is not perfect, but I found the Aladdin BPA-free Essential Infuser. It's nice, but I still have the old one. I don't want to hurt any feelings.</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p></div></div></div>Dara, daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233776114337519552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501321878300400464.post-77062586821252029142009-04-26T23:11:00.000-04:002009-04-27T22:09:49.505-04:00The Replacement<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Ur2Rxhs4cTX50ZLdJRVX9XLG_B7asvZzN9l1B46VUWmXRJximoYUj81vSjh1sGfZ-HunVwvxy4iaFWbTVEJPBTNQXtsReFQNHnXuCrasZu3Wf2NDGNaW26TQkCgnfbxihgud2CfT9zo/s1600-h/100_0186.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329203885405215602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Ur2Rxhs4cTX50ZLdJRVX9XLG_B7asvZzN9l1B46VUWmXRJximoYUj81vSjh1sGfZ-HunVwvxy4iaFWbTVEJPBTNQXtsReFQNHnXuCrasZu3Wf2NDGNaW26TQkCgnfbxihgud2CfT9zo/s320/100_0186.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>It's not perfect, but it'll do. The Aladdin Essential Tea Infuser. Purchased at Target for $14.95. </div>Dara, daughterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10233776114337519552noreply@blogger.com1