This week's assignment from Gracious Hospital-i-tea Blog-a-thon:
April 27 - May 3 The White, Green, Black, and Herb of Tea Tell about your favorite tea. How do you prepare it and serve it? Milk and sugar? Plain? What are some of your best memories of serving or sipping on this tea? Share a picture if you can. Tell the health benefits of the tea(s) you prefer. Where do you purchase your tea? Is there someplace you enjoying purchasing tea from? Who from and where?
I just love to drink tea, more importantly I like the ceremony behind tea. When I drink it in the morning or afternoon, there is something special about it. I can't really say that about any other beverage that I drink on a daily basis.
I love hosting tea parties for my girlfriends so that we can try different teas. In the fall, our favorite was Autumn Orange Spice and when I host my Jane Austen theme tea parties, I serve a black tea from the Jane Austen Centre in Bath, England.
In the spring, Strawberry Kiwi and Rose Tree Cottage Pasadena Rose (made from the roses off of the Pasadena Rose Parade floats) go quite well with scones. Of course, my ol' morning standard is Earl Grey.
I have lately been brewing some Lipton Green tea with Mandarin Orange flavor to have iced with my lunch. Quite yummy!
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My friend Jan, whom I have known since we were juniors in high school, invited me to view the Pasadena Showcase house and have tea at the Scarlet Tea room. What a lovely afternoon. Even though it was 87 degrees by 10am when we started the home tour and 98 by lunchtime, it still did not deter us from having a wonderful time together. It was both our first time at the tea room. We did not have reservations but they did manage to squeeze us in. It was quite elegant inside. They had a tea and a lunch menu. There were some big parties around us. One table was celebrating a birthday. Having tea with friends is always my favorite way to spend a birthday! I had the Scarlet Tea Ceremony. Jan had the warm mushroom sandwich. I started off with some refreshing strawberry sorbet. Then came a 3 tiered silver stand with a blueberry scone complete with Scarlet cream (so yummy), homemade lemon curd and strawberry preserves. I chose 4 different sandwiches: Cucumber, turkey and cranberry, green apples and cheese and brie, watercress and walnuts. I had a vanilla almond and a chocolate hazelnut petit four. The tea ended with strawberry compote with vanilla bean whipped cream. Sorry I didn't get a picture, I was too busy eating! The tea I chose was "Amour" tea- a blend of strawberry and hibiscus. I just LOVE the pink color! Even though it was blazin' hot, we both decided to have "hot tea".
Jan had a pot of pear and blood orange. Both were very good. Overall, we had a lovely time, catching up on things since we don't live close to each other and we are both extremely busy with our families.
With my tea group "Table for 8", we take turns hunting down different tea rooms to experience together. They are all unique. The Rose Tree Cottage in Pasadena is a charming place run by a Brit- Edmund and his lovely wife, Mary. The British Consulate, Emma Thompson and Julie Andrews are 
We always seem to end up at the Ritz Carlton Huntington Hotel for Christmas. It is so festively decorated with a giant gingerbread house. We always do a gift exchange while someone reads "A Cup of Christmas Tea". We pass a gift to the right whenever we hear the word "tea" in the story.
Next week, my friend from high school, Jan, is taking me to the Scarlet Tea Room in Pasadena. I will be sure to post my review on it.
I like to make a menu of the tea and I print it in Jane Austen font, of course! I always have it displayed on the first tea table. I usually serve tea and scones while we watch the selected Jane Austen movie of the month. After the movie, we move into the dining room for a high tea. Since I like to have a lot of friends over (about 8-9) I usually have to set up 2 tables. Each table has a 2 tiered server, fresh flower arrangement, and a pot of tea.
I also like to give my friends a little party favor. For the Pride & Prejudice movie, I gave them a paperback copy of P&P. I wrapped it in brown paper and tied it with vintage seam binding and added a sprig of pine. I didn't use any tape. (I wanted it to be somewhat authentic).
For the Bridget Jones's Diary movie, I gave them a Mr. Darcy (with Colin Firth ) keyring and for Sense & Sensibility, I gave them individual tea packets with Jane Austen tea inside. I packaged it in small cellophane bag and then cut scrapbook paper to fit the bag. I printed "Have a "cuppa" on me" and then I sewed it shut on the sewing machine.
