Time Out: Tea time wellness package is self -care wrapped up in a bow, complete with hugs, friendship and maybe a little DOOL

Wellness Tea package, a self-care toolkit, comes with tea, mug, candle, slippers, and good friend hugs.

Candles as roses and slippers so snuggly

Copper tea kettles and lots of warm huggies,

Colorful packages tied up strings,

These are a few of my favorite things. . . 

To borrow from Rodgers and Hammerstein, there's a lot of simple pleasures that bring us joy. Put them in a big bag, wrapped with a bow and you have a very special present. But, that's not all - add the focus of wellness and self-care, and you have been gifted a bit of indulgence as well. Sip tea in a big cup, light a scented candle, put on cozy slippers, lay back in the recliner and queue up the latest episode of Days of Our Lives.

With the exception of those last two, that’s exactly what I received last week from my very good friend, Laura — who, for clarity and tradition, has always been referred to by her full title: my very good friend, Laura.

On our way to our mid-way refresh cup.

Born the same year, married the same number of years, raising millennial children, and navigating careers that zig‑zagged through the same industries and cities, it’s surprising we didn’t meet until 2009. But when we finally did — at a once‑Fortune 500 company — we bonded instantly over The Banana Splits (the ’60s TV show), Foreigner, and musicals.

Now that we're both retired, we've turned hour lunches into half-day events. Our most favored restaurants bring us new coffee/tea cups when we've hit the two-hour mark.

Having the time for marathon catch‑ups is a gift, but even then, with all the activities that fill retirement (that oft‑repeated motto — “I’m busier now than when I was working” — turns out to be true), intentional “time‑outs” can slip to the back burner. So when your very good friend gives you all the tools to take a break, there's no excuse to let that self-care slide.

Self care box has everything but the recliner and TV remote. 

The Wellness Tea Care Package comes from Modern Elegance. The box contains a 13 oz earthtone mug, comfy cloud socks, a flower-shaped sea salt and nectar wax candle (handmade with love!) and, the piece de resistance - Wellness Blend tea, a mix of black and green tea with turmeric, ginger, and cornflower petals. It's deliciously relaxing.

And, just like in the office, I respect my good friend Laura's direction. This afternoon, I put the copper kettle on, steeped my tea, put on my cozy slippers, lighted my candle, threw back the recliner to "rest position" and caught up with DOOL. 

Taking time out from time to time is important and so is having a very good friend. 😊💗

 

Duck Sh*t Tea (and Chocolate): It's real and it's spectacular!

Tasty tea (and chocolate) with unsavory name.

If you were trying to entice customers to drink a specialty tea, cultivated from lush plants and rich terrain that strongly delivered in both taste and smell, you would most likely favor descriptors that evoke beautiful imagery, fragrant aromas and delightful flavors. 

Duck doo-doo does not rank high for such alluring advertising.

However, if you are trying to dissuade people from seeking your tea out - say, ruthless competitors or big business takeovers - labeling it foul fowl feces would be a good start.

That is the legend of Duck Sh*t tea.

A confession:  in all my years in the tea business, I had never heard of this tea of type.  Though my memory is often tested, I am certain I would not have forgotten a tea with this misleading moniker. And, misleading is key here, as I have come to discover more about this odd duck tea.

My Story:

Last week, as part of my ongoing birthday celebration, my daughter, Rachel and son-in-law, Sean, gifted me with a collection of chocolate and tea and chocolate tea. Truly, they know what I love (including them). But, of course, the Duck Sh*t Tea Chocolate label immediately got my attention.  

Daughter, Rachel, had Duck Sh*t tea when living in China a few years ago.

While they purchased this at a gourmet food emporium in Salt Lake City during a recent trip, Rachel, was already familiar with this Chinese tea and explained the name, is, indeed, real. She actually drank Duck Sh*t tea when she lived in China a few years ago. She also shared what she knew of the tea's lore: a tea farmer cultivated such an extraordinary tea that, to guard against unwanted attention, he gave it a name to offend and repel.

Duck Sh*t Tea's Story: 

Digging a bit deeper, according to UK's TeaTrade, there are two theories of the branding origins of Duck Sh*t tea. The first involves a tea farmer, Wei Chunse, who lived in a mountain village in the province of Guangdong (southeast China). He introduced a tea bush from a higher altitude village to the unique yellow-soil of his own farm. It produced such an aromatic tea, superior to those in the area, that at the risk of theft - played out by the cutting of branches and grafting - a name was given to get the competitive hounds off the alluring scent.

Another suspect in the Duck Sh*t label is the soil itself.  Rich in minerals, the dirt has a distinct yellow loam and an overall yellowish-brown hue, which, to the locals, resembles excrement of the grain-fed poultry in the region. 

It is suggested that the truth of the Duck Sh*t name may be a combination of both theories. Our clever tea farmer may have drawn inspiration from a common reference to protect his unique tea creation.

Would Duck Sh*t Tea by Any Other Name, Smell as Sweet? 

When the Duck Sh*t hit the fan, fans demanded it not change. In 2014, a Chinese Tea Farmers Association tried to "gentrify" the tea and package it with a more attractive label, "Silver Flower Fragrance". Customers rejected the change, preferring its "earthy original", signaling a trend in the high-end tea market which places value on authenticity and provenance.

List of ingredients on candy bar, notably absent, duck doo doo

Waiting for the tea, but chocolate is just fine

Currently, I'm making my way through my Duck Sh*t tea chocolate bar from FOSSA Chocolate. It's delicious - definitely malty and earthy with hints of floral. It's not sugary sweet, either, which gives it staying power on my serving platter.

In the meantime, I'm sourcing some Duck Sh*t tea. I like that its true to its authentic self and ditched the Silver Flower for a name we'll all remember. Duck Sh*t tea happens and I can't wait to sample more.

'Guilded Age' of Gourmet Confections: Ontario's Guild Chocolates is a treasure across the border!

Jaclyn Sanders (right) with BTS' Barb Gulley

In 1866, oil was discovered in Petrolia, setting off a series of boom periods for the small Ontario town. Nearly 150 years later, gold struck again in the form of hand-crafted, high-quality chocolate and its home is Guild Chocolates.  

Last weekend, we embarked on a remarkably short international trip to meet with the owner and award-wining chocolatier, Jaclyn Sanders. 

Though Guild Chocolates has been in business for over a decade, my husband, Chris, and I just recently learned about it. An upcoming tea event, hosted by the folks behind Guild Chocolates, showed up on our social media feed.  Afternoon tea and chocolate? No surprise, we're their demographic.

Guild Chocolates award-winning sweets, miniature works of art.

The shop is only open on Saturdays, so Chris and I carved out a weekend to cross the Blue Water Bridge, traveling the easy distance from Sarnia to nearby Petrolia, to meet up with the chocolate artist behind Guild Chocolates.

Jaclyn is as sweet and inviting as her chocolate and within a few short minutes, I felt like I was talking with an old friend. Her resume is impressive - studied Art History at Cambridge, lived in NYC for eleven years honing culinary skills -  yet she's equally down-to-earth and engaging and her passion for her craft is evident in all her chocolate creations on display.

Guild Chocolates is open only on Saturdays, but hosts special events throughout the year. 

The variety of confections include solid bars and truffles in various forms from frogs to bubbles. Many of Jaclyn's chocolates have won top awards in both international and national competitions. In fact, there's a six-piece sampler of some of the medaled chocolates (which we bought and loved!), including FruitTea, made with matcha, kukicha, peanut praline and raspberry.

That's not where the tea connection ends, however. Guild Chocolates also sells several loose tea blends and other tea-infused sweets. One of our favorites in the latter category is their Earl Grey chocolate, which received Gold in the Canadian Chocolate competition, 2023.

Earl Grey chocolates, recipient of Canadian Chocolate competition, 2023.

In addition, Guild Chocolate hosts special tea and chocolate events throughout the year with historical themes (Churchill, Titanic, Dickens, Frank Lloyd Wright), tastings and Afternoon Tea (which is coming up in May!).

Inspired by Victorian writer, artist and central figure of the British Arts and Crafts movement, William Morris, Guild Chocolates not only offers extremely tasty treats, but individual works of art in every bite-sized sweet.

Guild Chocolates in Petrolia, Ontario - a town that continues to strike gold!

Guild Chocolates is a delicious get-away. For those in the Detroit Metro area, a relatively short (1 - 2 hour) drive. We'll be crossing the bridge again in May, for more chocolate and afternoon tea.

For more information on Guild Chocolates, their hours, location and upcoming events, visit their website at guildchocolates.com.

Barb's Tea Service: Podcast of the Year!

Barb's Tea Service wins Podcast of the Year from ONTV Studios.

Barb’s Tea Service is excited and honored to share that we were awarded Podcast of the Year by ONTV Studios.

Last week, at the ONTV banquet and awards ceremony in Lake Orion, my co-host and arm candy, Chris, along with our son—and five-time BTS guest—Rob, joined me to dine and mingle with studio staff, fellow producers, and creators.

Awards ceremony hosted by ONTV's Ian Locke and Tracy Marsh.

Executive Director Ian Locke, who also served as Master of Ceremonies this past weekend, opened the evening with highlights of ONTV’s programming and achievements. After a delicious catered dinner, Ian resumed his emcee duties and, alongside ONTV’s Administrative Assistant and outstanding hostess year-round, Tracy March, presented the evening’s awards.

BTS' five time special guest - and son - Rob, joined us for the awards banquet.

After only two years in the studios, Chris and I were both surprised and thrilled to hear Barb’s Tea Service named Podcast of the Year.

Earlier this month, Chris and I were celebrating both our 70th podcast and our second anniversary. Looking back at our 2025/2026 highlights, we sampled over 30 different tea blends, hosted six special guests, and explored a wide range of tea and tea-adjacent topics -  from a dozen tea events  and travels to eight different states to milestone birthdays (Jane Austen and Chris).

Barb's Tea Service team of Barb and Chris Gulley awarded Podcast of the Year.

With all that behind us, we already know this year’s highlight. 😉

That being said, rest assured, we're not resting on our laurels. We've got another fun year planned full of more special guests, more tea and more surprises (mostly to us!). 

Podcast of the Year award will find a place of honor at the Gulley homestead.

We're thrilled to be recognized by ONTV, but, honestly, it's icing on the cake.  As we noted after completing our first year of podcasts, our regular trips to the studio feel more like visiting family than just "renting" space. 

A wonderful banquet, complete with swag bags.

A heartfelt thank you to ONTV Studios for their continued support over the past two years: Ian Locke, Tracy Marsh, Joe Johnson (Studio Manager), and Joey Tysick (Production Coordinator).

And to all our listeners, viewers, and special guests—thank you. As we like to say at Barb’s Tea Service, please stay tuned!

This item is trending. But what it is?

Antique silver items can serve as conversation starters -  in this case, what is it? 

Napkin holder?

Mail sorter?

Coaster carrier?

Those were just a few of the guesses I received when I asked a select group of millennials to identify this curious little object.

Creative guesses, all of them — and honestly, excellent ideas for repurposing. But none were correct.

According to two recent Country Living articles (“6 High-Value Silver Pieces That Buyers Always Search For,” Nov. 2025, and “5 Antique Styles Making a Major Comeback in 2026,” Apr. 2026), vintage silver of all kinds is trending again — including the humble toast rack.

A toast rack is exactly what its name suggests: a serving piece designed to hold toast. While undeniably charming in presentation, it also served a practical purpose — keeping buttered slices separated so they wouldn’t turn soggy.

Popular in well-appointed homes of the 1800s, when even breakfast demanded a bit of ceremony, the toast rack offered both beauty and function at the table.

Toast racks - not just for toast! Many are repurposing as mail sorters.

In the April article, Abigail Albers, co-owner of The Found Cottage in Hudsonville (my home state of Michigan), spoke about silver’s resurgence. She noted that “antique silver makes a great conversation starter,” and confessed she’s currently hunting for the “perfect antique silver toast rack to add a little charm to my brunch table.”

While some, like Albers, are seeking toast racks for their original dining‑room purpose, many modern buyers are more likely to use them exactly as one of our millennials guessed: as mail organizers. Prices today range from $100 to $600, depending on age, design, and whether the piece is sterling or silverplate.

I bought my own toast rack more than twenty years ago during a weekend of dining and shopping with friends in Holly, Michigan. I don’t remember the exact price, but it was definitely under $20. And for that modest sum, it has spent two quiet decades tucked into the back of my china cabinet.

Until now.

This week, I pulled out the silver polish and revived my long‑neglected treasure. Whether it ends up in our breakfast nook or my home office, I haven’t decided. For the moment, it’s enjoying a place of honor in our front hall — once again popular and a conversation starter for sure.

Roses of Silverbell: April in Paris and Lake Orion - antiques, tea and honey!

Kevin and Bonnie West, owners of Roses of Silverbell in Lake Orion

 

Roses of Silverbell is a Lake Orion gem filled with my favorite things:  antiques, honey and tea. The only disappointment for me is that I hadn't found this lovely shop sooner.

Last week, I, along with husband, Chris and son, Rob, journeyed past ONTV studios, our weekly podcast home, to discover more in Lake Orion's downtown, specifically Roses of Silverbell. Upon entering its doors, we were warmly greeted by Kevin West, who co-owns the store with wife Bonnie. 

Roses of Silverbell has its own line of honey and teas.

We learned that the shop has been at its current downtown location on Broadway for four and a half years. Bonnie, who joined us a little after we came in, said she had an antiques collection for years in her barn and this storefront was a natural progression of that business. 

After a quick perusal of the vintage items on display - an exquisite, eclectic collection of fine crystal and porcelain (e.g. Herend, Lalique and Orrefors), home decor and unique high-end bric-a-brac - I was drawn to a corner hutch filled with custom blended teas and honey.

Roses of Silverbell offers fine crystal and china, home decor and high end bric-a-brac.

Kevin W. explained his own journey of finding partners in both tea and honey, which has culminated into Roses of Silverbell's brand of products. Current tea blends offerings are about half herbal, half true tea in all categories (black, oolong, green and white). 

Honey varieties include special blends with wildflowers, western Michigan blueberries and apples from Blake's Orchard. 

Not surprisingly, we didn't go home empty.

Since our visit coincided with my birthday, Rob, treated me to both Wildflower honey and - it had to be - April in Paris tea! The latter combines black and oolong teas with red cornflowers and natural flavors of vanilla, pomegranate, caramel and bergamot. 

Brining home gifts in pretty packaging.

Tea for this month had to be April in Paris.

But, I wasn't the only one being shopped for. My niece's upcoming wedding reception is being held at a local apple orchard and cider mill - so we picked up some of that apple honey as part of the couple's treasure bath.

Roses of Silverbell is located in downtown Lake Orion on Broadway.

We absolutely loved Roses of Silverbell. We'll be talking more about the Wests, their amazing establishment and unique products in the near future. As, we like to say on our weekly BTS podcast, please stay tuned!

🌹🌹🌹

For more information on Roses of Silverbell, visit their website Antiques - Welcome to Roses of Silverbell

Aldi for tea? Low budget finds for high end tea time.

Aldi's Spring Tea Time collection inspired my first trip to Aldi this week. 

An Afternoon Tea table outfitted by Aldi? 

To my surprise, the answer is "yes", and, like Garth Brook, I found I, too, have tea friends in low budget places.

Today, I paid my first ever trip to Aldi, a discount store that emphasizes bargain prices over upscale aesthetics and its own private labels over name brands. I've also come to learn, it has weekly "Aldi Finds" featuring seasonal and limited-time offers: this week, it's "Spring Tea Time".  

Toile teacups with scalloped saucers, sold as a set of two for the low price of $9.99.

It was time to pay a visit to my neighborhood Aldi.

As expected, there's a warehouse ambiance. The "Aldi Finds" are located on a few center aisles filled with a hodgepodge of items including children's toys, holiday decorations, garden supplies, home decor and, what I came for- an assortment of tea serving ware that were both pretty and pretty cheap.

While the display is a bit haphazard - a mix of thrift and dollar store friendly chaos - I was charmed by the Spring Tea Time collection. There were two styles, a blue toile and solid cream accented with a pink bow.

There are teapots, tea cups, plates and tiered trays (although, in our particular store, I did not see any evidence of the latter). There's also gold and silver toned teaspoons, table runners and other tea accoutrements to complement the tea serving ware.

I purchased the blue and white teacups with scalloped saucers, which come in a set of two, for $9.99.

A little Aldi backstory. . . 

I've seen these stores in various spots in our locale for quite a while, but never thought to patronize. Now that I have, I was curious about their origins.

According to a January 2026 Food & Wine article, Aldi’s story begins in Essen, Germany, in 1913, when Theo Albrecht opened a small baked‑goods shop. A year later, his wife, Anna, opened a grocery store focused on value. Their sons, Karl and Theo, took over after World War II, building the business around a limited product selection, minimal overhead, and low prices.

Rapid expansion followed. In 1961, the brothers split the company—reportedly over a disagreement about selling cigarettes—forming Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd. Today, they operate independently. Aldi Süd runs all Aldi stores in the U.S., where it arrived in 1976. Aldi Nord, meanwhile, has owned Trader Joe’s since 1979.

Aldi Finds, found in the stores' center aisles, feature seasonal and limited-time merchandise weekly.

Which brings us to Aldi in my neighborhood. Less than a year in its location, I drove by several times, but never stopped in. 

It took a Spring Tea Time to entice me, and I'm glad it did. 

𝅘𝅥𝅯'𝅘𝅥𝅯'  Cause I've got friends in low budget places
Where warm scones rise and Earl Grey chases my blue toile away
And I'll be okay
Yes, I'm quite big on social graces
Think I'll look through a bunch more battered cases
Center aisle of Aldi places  𝅘𝅥𝅯'𝅘𝅥𝅯'