Lovely Electric Tea Kettle 2

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Lovely Electric Tea Kettle

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.

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 share it?

"You can use it when you two are testing teas," he said cheerfully. "It'll save a lot of time," my husband added, helpfully.

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.

And I liked it. I mean, I loved it!

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.

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.

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.

Sharing the love of tea,

Dara

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.

Is it January already?

Long time no see.

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.

Uuughh.

If you are out there hanging on my every word, I'm sorry. I'll do better.

I will start tomorrow :)

Sharing the love,

Dara

p.s. As a teaser--I had a tasty little mug of Genmaicha tonight while visiting with Chinatsu and Kengo. More later...

Pretty Tea Things

{Knitted Sheep Tea Cosy from treehouseblue.co.uk}

{its teatime art print by seasprayblue on Etsy}

{Tea Cosies by Re : made at by remade shop on Etsy}

{Tea Pot Clock from shop.feyhandmade.com}

{Lavender Sachet found at bugsandfishes.blogspot.com}

Really, an order?!

I was perusing our Two for Tea email box recently and came across an invitation to attend the World Tea Expo East 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.


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 very 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.

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?

By the way, just under the expo email was a reorder from a new loyal customer. There is hope!

Sharing the love of tea {online orders},

Here's to your health

{photo: mat.teo}

Beware: this is post is slightly political.

My wish is that the drinking of health and its subsequent health benefits will be added to our current national healthcare debate.
Tea is really good for you. Drink lots!

Sharing the love of good, healthy tea

Tea Shelf

{photo: www.designspongeonline.com}

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.

Two for Tea 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.

Sharing the love of tea - inspired!