Archive for August, 2010

“There is a great deal of poetry and fine sentiment in a chest of tea.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
I used to marvel at my grandmothers tea cup collection.  I would spend hours looking at all of the beautiful cups and saucers hanging from the display rack above her buffet.  My sisters and I would take special care to pick out our favorite sets.
Tea was always a staple in my grandmothers home, but it was never a formal event.  My family simply perfected iced or sweet tea and sun tea.  I found myself using teas in the winter to soothe my cold body and at times when I needed to calm myself for a good night’s sleep.  It wasn’t until just a few years ago that I had the pleasure of experiencing an actual formal English tea party.  I found a new appreciation for the power and formality of tea.
After that amazing experience, I was given a starter tea set which sent me on my way into a life of tea.  Recently, I happened upon a tea shop while relaxing in St. Petersburg, Florida.  The Hooker Tea Company is a wonderous place.  They carry over 100 varieties of premium loose teas.  Green, White and Black teas, Oolong, herbal and fruit blends, Mate, Roobios, Pu-erh and more in simple silver tins which line the walls making a subtile statement of elegance.  The smell of freshly brewed teas steeping fill the air.
I began to get overwhelmed just flipping through their extensive tea menu.  The helpful clerk kept bringing over tin after tin letting me smell each tea that caught my eye.  With 2 ounces here and 2 ounces there, I ended up with several new favorites.  I purchased three amazing teas to enjoy at home:
Blood Orange Pu-erh- Pu-erh filled with hints of orange and grapefruit
Forty Winks Herbal – Chamomile tea with orange peel, spearmint, lemongrass, rosehips and lavender
Coco Star Black Tea – Blends anise, coco and coconut
I am in love with each of these teas.  Iced or served hot with milk and sugar, each tea is an amazing experience.  Beyond using tea as a drink, there are medicinal properties to behold as well.  Herbal teas can be used to fight off a cold, ease stress, soothe the stomach and more.
I implore you to dive into a cuppa.  Join me in the art of enjoying the world’s most popular drink.