January is Hot Tea Month! Celebrate at home, the office or tea room!

Celebrating Hot Tea Month at Pemberly Pines tea garden

Although January - and hot tea month - are almost over, there's still time to celebrate! 

Certainly, hot tea is welcome any time of the year,  but there's something refreshing and re-energizing about a simple cuppa after the festive indulgences of the holidays. And, even though Michiganders will always welcome a warming brew in the winter, this January, we weren't the only ones experiencing chillier-than-usual temperatures. So, surely, a good month for all to partake in celebrating hot tea.

We honored the month devoted to our favorite drink in a number of ways.

Hot tea month begins with homemade pecan scones and Homestead Harvest jam

Starting in early January, I began sampling new teas I received over the holidays and paired them with home baked scones. My husband whipped up a batch of pecan scones using the basic recipe (with cream!) from Joy of Cooking and adding Georgia pecans, a traditional Christmas gift from my BTS buddy, Pam. They are delicious straight up, or super scrumptious with a spoonful of  black raspberry jam from Detroit's own Homestead Harvest.

We started Hot Tea month with a flourish, but were very soon to be outdone - on January 12th, to be exact. For those of you who may not be aware, January 12th is Hot Tea Day and I was reminded of that by Barb Tabb, my highly informed tea friend. (How did I not know that???). Barb texted me to send  "Hot Tea Day greetings" along with a few incredible pictures of how she brought the celebration to her office.

Barb T. brings Hot Tea Day to the office with homemade scones, jams and tea

Barb brought homemade scones, jams, several types of tea and an electric tea kettle to work.

Barb wore her tea charm necklace for the special day.

Even her accessories carried on the holiday theme!

We at BTS are inspired; next January 12th we will share the joys of tea time in similar fashion.

Loretta and Barb G. at Tea Totallers in Traverse City. (There's a secret inside!)

A week after Hot Tea Day, I visited my bestie from junior high, Loretta, who recently moved to a new home in northern Michigan. She made reservations for us at TeaTotallers, a unique tea room in downtown Traverse City. There's a secret to be unfolded here, but suffice to say, the ambiance is "pure parlor" and the drinks warm you to the core.

Enjoy Hot Tea Month at home; curl up by the fireplace with a new Tea Time

Even though there are only a few days left of January, there's still time to tea-partay! No matter how you honor Hot Tea Month - at a tea room, at the office or at home - a teapot full of hot tea is always a reason to celebrate.

Kate Middleton does not put this in her tea (do you?)

Kate Middleton revealed what she does not put in her tea. Do you have such royal sensibilities?

As reported in Travel and Leisure, last week Prince William and Kate were guests at a cafe run by a charity that helps the homeless. Here they were served tea and treats on a tray, along with a pitcher of almond milk. A volunteer at the cafe said they made sure to include the almond milk as they had read it was something Kate favored.

Kate was not amused.

The Duchess of Cambridge is quoted as saying "Don't believe everything you read. I don't even like almond milk".

No almond milk here (Getty images)

This revelation caused us to reflect on other additions to tea which may also be steeped in controversy.

One of these things just doesn't belong here . . .

And to be clear, we're talking about black tea;  green, white and most oolongs are a bit too delicate in flavor to handle any accompaniments. That being said, milk is a very popular addition to tea,  but not cream! Cream is too heavy and can overpower the tea. If you use half and half - you guessed it - you're half right in the world of tea connoisseurs.

Granulated sugar is acceptable, but cubes allow fancy sugar tongs

Sugar is another favored addition to tea. While granulated sugar is acceptable, we prefer cubes. Not only is it neater, but it allows one to use those fancy sugar tongs which enhance any tea table.

When tea time gives you lemons, serve them in slices, please!

And, when life and tea time give you lemons, be sure to serve them in slices (no wedges, please!)

Although, Kate was quick to point out the almond milk was not to her taste, the Royal couple are reported to have enjoyed the pretty confections served with the tea. Prince William exclaimed that the sweet treats were worthy of the 'Bake Off' (referring to the reality show, The Great British Bake Off).

Rachel at Kensington Palace, home to Kate. No almond milk here.

Which is a reminder to us all, no matter what's considered the most appropriate accompaniment to tea, it literally boils down to personal taste. And, no arguments here, scrumptious goodies are always a welcome addition to tea time.

Chocolate cupcake, worthy of the Bake Off?

In fact, we're enjoying a freshly brewed cup of Earl Grey with nothing added but a chocolate cupcake we baked and decorated this afternoon. It, too, is worthy of a place on the great Bake Off (but, don't believe everything you read!).

Tuesday Tea and Tomes: A Jane Austen Christmas

Enjoy "A Jane Austen Christmas" with Regency flair: a yule log, mead and green tea punch

Christmas in the Regency period, before the Victorian era upped the ante on holiday falderal, still had much to offer with the search for the perfect yule log, creating and imbibing specialty  mead or champagne and green tea punch, and attending the numerous balls and parties of the season.

In "A Jane Austen Christmas" by Carlo Devito,  the author describes not only Regency holiday traditions that would have been enjoyed by the Austen family and their society, but also six influential Christmases in Jane Austen's life. Devito begins with Jane, in early adolescence, at her family home in Steventon, concluding with her final years, filled with prolific writing, at Chawton Cottage.

I enjoyed "A Jane Austen Christmas" not only for the interesting tidbits about my favorite author and the Regency era holiday customs, but also for allowing me to reminisce about other Austen-inspired writers we've had the pleasure to meet and the travels we've taken to residences where Jane would have spent many a Twelfth Night.

With Margaret Sullivan, author of the Jane Austen Handbook

A fun, fact-filled book, with a forward by Margaret Sullivan who wrote the Jane Austen Handbook, Devito crams his slightly less than 200 pages with accounts of Jane's family, travels and a regrettable 24-hour engagement of marriage. While citing many sources for these tales, including Margaret Sullivan and John Mullan (both of whom we met at the Jane Austen Festival), the only caution in reading this tiny tome is that it's filled with quotes rather than the voice of the author. So, if one approaches this book as compendium of assorted clippings tied together by subject and timeline, it's a very enjoyable read.

Rachel and John Mullan, author of "What Matters in Jane Austen"

Starting with the Christmas of 1786, when Jane was just eleven, the Austens host their cosmopolitan neice, Eliza de Feuillide, at their Steventon home. Eliza captivated not only the budding author, but two of her six brothers as well, and became the inspiration for the independent women of Jane's novels.

In Bath, across from the Pump Room and near the Jane Austen Center. Jane, by most accounts, was not a fan of Bath.

By  1802 (Christmas, Part Four), Jane is in Bath, living with her sister, Cassandra, and her parents. Although a somewhat dismal time for Jane -  staying in a city she did not like, compounded by the aftershock of an early December proposal of marriage, readily accepted and then as quickly rescinded -  she nonetheless mined much rich material for upcoming novels.

Chawton Cottage. Happier times for Jane

In 1815, Jane moves to Chawton with her mother and Cassandra and lives in a charming cottage, courtesy of her brother Edward. It's here that Jane finds the solace of the country once again and returns to penning more novels. That Christmas, "Emma" is published.  We're told Jane "busied herself with dispatching presentation sets of Emma to select friends and relations". (How I'd love to have been on her friends gift list!)

Rachel plays melodies on the piano forte at Chawton

At Jane's desk,  Chawton Cottage

"A Jane Austen Christmas" is really a book for any season and for all audiences, be they longtime Jane-ites or Jane-neophytes. I confess, the day after Christmas, I consumed this book as quickly as the two accompanying pots of tea I brewed, and found them equally delicious and satisfying. You may be inspired to fire up the yule log, grab your favorite Austen novel for an afternoon diversion and toast the new year with champagne and green tea punch!

Recommended tea pairing:  Christmas at Chawton (while supplies last!), Mr. Knightley's Reserve or Compassion for Mrs. Bennet's Nerves, part of the Jane Austen collection from Bingley's Teas.

Happy New Year: Fresh reboots on resolutions

The new year brings in a reason to start anew

As much as I love the holidays, I look forward to January with almost as much zeal. The new year brings a break in the indulgences (delicious as they are!) of the festive season and gives us a reason to start anew.  For me, that usually means a reboot of my standard resolutions: eating healthier, exercising more, and getting organized. Combine these goals with tea, and yes, you have my attention!

Of the three reboots, decluttering and organizing have always been the most challenging for me. But the older I get, and the more boxes I go through from our move last Spring, the less I'm enamored with keeping stuff and the more alluring creative organizing becomes. If I can keep some of what I love and use it more efficiently, so much the better.

Repurpose tea cups to hold jewelry

On the Today Show this weekend, Dayna Isom Johnson, etsy trend expert, shared some repurposing ideas for organizing and storage. She suggested lining tea cups in a dresser drawer to house jewelry, especially earrings, which can easily be un-paired in a catch-all jewelry box or vanity tray.

Because my collection of tea cups numbers in the vicinity of "a lot", I took some "strays" and tucked them into one of my top dresser drawers. (An added benefit of doing this is clearing out a dresser drawer. I found three items to discard and one lost sweater.)

Another goal this year is more exercise. I received a new dress for Christmas, in the size I was two years ago, and I plan to wear it this Spring (and without the aid of "shapewear").

So, today, I joined a gym! Inspired not only by my new dress, but by my husband and daughter, who have been members of the same gym for quite some time.

After the treadmill, I'll enjoy a cup of tea at my gym

I clocked in some time on the treadmill and even less on the elliptical, but it's a start. And, to sweeten the deal (figuratively speaking, of course), this place has a little cafe, complete with coffee and tea!

Other goals for the new year on my list: more blogging (watch for the return of "Tuesday Tea and Tomes"!), publishing my next book and, perhaps most importantly lighting more candles and cursing the darkness less.

So, on to fresh starts: to becoming more active, more organized. more disciplined and lighting a few more candles, all  accompanied by lots and lots of tea.

Happy New Year to all our tea friends from BTS!

Barb's Tea Service In/Out List for 2018

Cheers to a what's in for 2018 in my all white kitchen with quartz counter tops

As we approach the new year, I not only look forward to fresh beginnings, but eagerly await the multitude of experts who weigh in on what's trendy and what's not for the next twelve months. Inspired by these lists, BTS, in its humble opinions (and we have many!), offers up its own In/Out List for 2018.

Drawing once again, in particular, from the Detroit Free Press' Homestyle "What's hot, not. . .", we are saddened to learn white kitchens are out, since we just put one "in" this spring.  Another strike against us:   Sherwin Williams "Poised Taupe" is replaced by the deep, blue green hue "Oceanside" for its color of the year.  We do however, find solace in our quartz countertops and Prince Harry and Megan Markle's upcoming nuptials. Both are IN and we're on board.

Jane Austen Christmas by Carol DeVito

IN:   A Jane Austen Christmas.  As described in Carlo Devito's book of the same name, a Regency period Christmas, before the Victorian falderal, still had much to offer with yule logs, mead, champagne and green tea punch and lots of parlor games, including charades and whist. Add a fortified Syllabub to your next pinochle tournament and jump bids will receive much approbation.

OUT:  Hallmark Christmas movies . . . until next year.  We have another 11 months to wait for incognito Princes to meet up with attractive, amnesiac, ladies in a town laden with fake snow.

Beverage center away from the kitchen, easy to self-serve!

IN:  Beverage stations.  This year, my husband, Chris, created a "beverage station" in our hallway between the kitchen and the great room. This lessened the kitchen congestion and provided a convenient help-yourself drinks buffet for our family and friends. (We also found further "IN" support of this handy innovation in Mary Carol Garrity's "Style at Home: Cheers in the New Year" with her pop-up bars outside the kitchen.)

OUT:  Congested traffic patterns in all white kitchens (but with quartz counter tops which provides us some redemption).

This year brought in new DA gowns

DA teddy bears - cute or a cry for help?

IN:  Downton Abbey.  Reboots and possible movies are dangled before us Downton Abbey-ites almost weekly in social media posts to both taunt and delight. We've filled the gaping void with Crawley family teddy bears and Edwardian dresses. To assist, BTS is still scheduling Downton Abbey-inspired afternoon teas for 2018 (our first DA event is in February).

Tera, our own Downward Dog, shares her fav magazine, Bark

OUT:  Down-ward Dog:  Sadly, this new TV show didn't last a whole season. Although not the period epic of Downton Abbey, it featured an emo talking dog that observed his family environs with the keen and entertaining quips of any Dowager, (e.g,. "Who fluffs your pillows in the wild?").

Costume changes are tiring

Cat with bow tie for Sept. wedding

IN: Dressing your family pet, (eg. dog for the holidays and your cat for weddings).

OUT:   Rolling your eyes at dressing dog or cat and saying, "not again".

Gown in Venice dress shop, not considered business casual

Pretty dress from Saks, always in vogue

IN:  Beautiful, pastel party dresses from Sax!

OUT:  Ornate, wide-hipped gowns accompanied by a powdered wig, unless you are attending the masked ball in Venice.

Sip soothing limited Crown Teas while binge watching the series.

IN: Season Two of "The Crown". This fascinating mini-series tells the story of Queen Elizabeth II, royal warts and all. Enjoy binge-watching with The Crown teas from The Republic of Tea.

OUT:  The Last Jedi.  I'll be considered a heretic in my own family, but really, isn't "last" in the title?

Da Vinci painting at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence

IN:  Da Vinci, This genius artist has never gone out of style, but his story has gained a renaissance (if you'll forgive me!) with the new biography out this year by Walter Isaacson. If you find the hardcover a bit heavy to hold, download the Kindle version like we did.

Golden Girls coloring book

OUT:  Golden Girls Coloring Book.  Well, not really. If you don't have the talent of a renaissance painter, this is a fun pastime while binge-watching your favorite mini-series. However, note there's not much demand for your finished product (and none spotted in the Uffizi Gallery. . .yet).

All-IN:

Etiquette! Never out of fashion, BTS offers classes on dining and tea etiquette. Watch for a new companion book to our etiquette series to hit the stores in 2018!

Discovering Michigan! Whether its Michigan tea rooms, waterfalls, train stations or the wonders of the UP, there's many trip-worthy destinations to uncover. This February we'll be in Marquette for the annual dog races - bring on the thermos of hot, black tea!

With author of 100 Things to do in the UP, working on no. 34

Homestead Harvest  made in Michigan

And, whether you're in Michigan or not, you can enjoy some home-grown products from the Mitten State wherever you are. We recommend Mindo and Bon Bon Bon chocolates (see below) as well as Homestead Harvest (available at Eastern Market). Sample their canned products including dilled onions, sour cherry smoked Habanero sauce and Black Raspberry Jam, the latter  being the perfect accompaniment to scones and a cup of Earl Grey.

Afternoon tea can be anywhere, but be weary of party crashers!

Afternoon tea from luxurious to rustic! Celebrate the joys of bringing folks together for a pot of tea, an assortment of sweets and savories and the company of family and friends. Among our favorites this year: The Townsend, Abiding in  the Vine, Royal Tea Room, Babbington's, and Pemberly Pines. Just watch out for party-crashers!

BTS with Mindo Chocolate, stocking up on supplies

Tasty treat sans caloires

Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate! When you write a tea blog and a large percentage of your content is devoted to chocolate, you know said blogger looks for ways to combine the two for some extraordinary results. Consider a cup of Republic of Tea's Double Dark Chocolate Mate or try sampling a Mindo candy bar or a Bon Bon Bon truffle with complementary tea  or, perhaps best of all,  booking BTS for a chocolate tea pairing!


Whether you're in or out this season, we know you're always trending! We raise our tea cup to all in the spirit of the holidays and with all good wishes for a wonderful new year.

Happy New Year from Barb's Tea Service!!