Countdown to Christmas with Adagio Teas' Advent Calendar: Treat yourself to a new tea everyday!

Adagio Tea Advent Calendar: a new tea for each day until Christmas!

Is there a better way to count down the days to Christmas than with a different cup of tea each day?

 Adagio Teas has created an advent calendar that reveals a new tea packet under each numbered "drawer" in a beautifully packaged box that fits right into the season's décor. It's a grown-up version of the advent calendars which hide a tiny treat or chocolate behind doors that have delighted children, including my own, for years.

When my kids were growing up, my Mom would purchase a new advent calendar every December. The days to Christmas seemed so interminably long to my two young boys and little girl, and opening those tiny doors to get a piece of candy, and see one more day out of the way, helped the days go by faster for them.

Behind each door is a new tea - mine started with Gingerbread tea.

Of course, as adults, the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas feels like it moves at warped speed and we'd actually like to see it slow down just a little bit to help us get to all the shopping,  baking and decorating.  While the Adagio Teas' Advent Calendar doesn't buy us more time, it does serve as a reminder to take a break for ourselves and have a little fun to boot!

Each "day" has a different single-serving tea bag hiding behind a numbered door. In the interest of true reporting on the Adagio advent calendar - and also because I couldn't wait to try it! - I went ahead and opened up the first day. I was treated to gingerbread tea. With a festive photo of gingerbread cookies on the wrapper, it got me started on holiday spirit right away.

Adagio Advent Calendar is a treat for tea lovers and a reminder to take a tea break for ourselves.

Although each day will bring a new tea, the gingerbread tea was a great way to start. It's a black tea with ginger, cinnamon and orange pieces - a spicy tea just perfect for sitting next to the fire and gazing at the twinkling tree lights. I rarely add milk to tea, but I decided to try a little in my gingerbread tea because I was pretty sure this hearty blend could handle it. Plus, I wanted to make this break - if only for ten minutes - a special one, with "milk and cookies".

I'm looking forward to opening each new tea. And, I promise to stay with the program and not get ahead of myself. 

Santa's jolliness is due to tea

I love everything about this tea calendar:  the pretty box with a reindeer featured prominently among the twenty-four doors, the surprise tea waiting for its daily reveal and the bold note on the side that proudly proclaims, "The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he drinks tea".  That makes so much sense!

The Adagio Tea Advent Calendar is not only a treat for oneself, but sure to be a welcomed delight to any tea enthusiast on your holiday gift list. Why not surprise someone early with present sure to be enjoyed throughout December? They'll no doubt be jolly throughout the season - and with the attractive packaging, all you'll need to do is add a bow.

Adagio advent calendar is a great gift for any tea enthusiast - with such nice packaging, you only need to add a bow!

The Adagio advent calendar is available on the Adagio website at Adagio.com.  While there, be sure to peruse the seasonal items for more ideas for holiday gift giving and stocking stuffers!

Product review disclaimer:  I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free or a discounted price. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Holiday Tablescapes: Let 'Twelve Etiquette Essentials, Formal Dining and Tea Time' help!

Twelve Etiquette Essentials, Formal Dining and Tea Time can assist with tablescapes and gift giving

The holidays are upon us and Barb's Tea Service's Twelve Etiquette Essentials, Formal Dining and Tea Time is here to help -  not only in place settings but gift giving as well!

Guests can read up on proper dining etiquette

                              

This time of year, many of us are busy hanging wreaths on doors, draping garland over the mantle and placing twinkling lights on anything that doesn't  move to welcome all the friends and family who come to visit. For me, it's also a welcomed opportunity to bring out some of the fine china, crystal and silverware I've inherited (or otherwise acquired) and create tablescapes that are worthy of my husband's gourmet cooking!

Twelve Etiquette Essentials by the Barb Gulleys

                                 

We kick-started the holiday season, - and festive table settings -  this week when we had the family over for Thanksgiving dinner. Although I (literally) wrote the book on dining etiquette, Twelve Etiquette Essentials, Formal Dining and Tea Time, I found further inspiration for table arrangements from my mother-in-law's drawings in the aforementioned tiny tome.

Chapter Two illustrations, and all others in the book, are by Barbara R. Gulley

Also a Barbara Gulley, my mother-in-law provided the illustrations to the dining etiquette book. Chapter Two covers place settings and my mother-in-law drew an attractive arrangement of plates, utensils and glassware in our guide to all of their proper placements. 

Holiday place settings inspired by Twelve Etiquette Essentials illustrations

Like my readers, I turned to page six to make sure the spoons and glasses were lined up correctly, but the pretty green bordered plates in the illustration reminded me of my own mother's very lovely fine china, so I added that to this year's Thanksgiving table.

Once you know where everything goes, the creative juices can go to work! This year, we found a fall-hued table runner and candles on sale at Sur la Table and added that to our much loved (and used) brown leaf-motif tablecloth. My grandma's gold and cream-colored china joined my Mom's green bordered dishes, along with her full array of  silverware. 

Twelve Etiquette Essentials will have something for all of our your guests!

And, of course, all our guests got a copy of  Twelve Etiquette Essentials. (In the picture above, the author is seated between her editor, Matt, and formatting expert, Rachel).

At the start of this blog, we mentioned Twelve Etiquette Essentials can help not only with your tablescapes, but gift giving as well. Our book will be useful not only in  place settings, but proper etiquette for business dinners or afternoon tea. What a great stocking stuffer for college grads just starting a new job or friends who have expressed an interest in attending an elegant tea, but are unsure of proper protocol. And, for all of us, what foods can we eat using only our fingers and which require utensils? Also, there are instructions for proposing - and accepting -  toasts!

Twelve Etiquette Essentials, Formal Dining and Tea Time is available on Amazon. This book will help with your holiday tablescapes and (almost) everyone on your gift list!

Not everyone is interested in etiquette, some are just looking for leftovers from the Chef

The Tea Shoppe: Delightful Afternoon Tea in Morgantown

Lisa Biafore and Barb Gulley at The Tea Shoppe in Morgantown, WV

Morgantown, West Virginia has a lot going for it:  university life, Barney Fife and a delightful tea shop with the name of, not surprisingly,  "The Tea Shoppe".

Lisa Biafore, with daughters, Gina and Rachel, who are part of the family tea business.

What is surprising is the impressive tea selection (over 140 blends on the menu) the scrumptious meals, and the Victorian/Vintage-chic décor all tucked neatly and unexpectedly inside the Seneca Center,  an old glass factory turned shopping mall.

Impressive tea menu boast over 140 blends

Footprint of tearoom extends out to the mall lobby

Owned and operated by Lisa Biafore, The Tea Shoppe was first thought of as a "fun retirement" endeavor. After 30 years in the corporate world, Lisa and her husband purchased the small tea shop. In the five years since they bought it, they've expanded the footprint and made it truly a family affair with daughters, Gina and Rachel, the latter who puts her culinary training to work as the tea room's pastry chef.  (We at Barb's Tea Service, certainly appreciate a Mother and Daughter tea business!)

My brother, Ed, (who "discovered" the Tea Shop for our trip) and sister-in-law, Sandy, join Chris and I for afternoon tea.

Along with my husband, Chris, (specially decked out in bow tie and pocket square), my brother, Ed - who actually found the Tea Shoppe on-line while planning our travel itinerary - and sister-in-law, Sandy, I ordered afternoon tea. The savories, scones and mini-desserts were delicious and beautifully plated. 

Delicious afternoon tea fare, beautifully presented

Although tempted, this visit we didn't don hats, but there are plenty that dot the walls of the tea room which guests are encouraged to try on.

The Tea Shoppe also has several special events throughout the year (there was a "Moana" tea just before we arrived), including tea tastings.

Statue of Don Knotts, Mayberry's Barney Fife

Though this was my first trip to Morgantown, I know it won't be my last. It's a bustling college town (home of West Virginia University) with several quaint shops along main street. If that isn't enough, there's also a statue of Don Knotts, the actor who played the anxious, but lovable, Barney Fife, on the "Andy Griffith Show" (and anxious, but loveable, landlord on "Three's Company").

And, of course, we know a great place to have tea in town. The Tea Shoppe in Morgantown is worth the trip!

Twelve Etiquette Essentials, Formal Dining and Tea Time: BTS' new book is now available!!

Twelve Etiquette Essentials, Formal Dining and Tea Time is now available on Amazon!

A second book in BTS' "Steeper by the Dozen" series, Twelve Etiquette Essentials has something for everyone: from the host or hostess needing a refresher on proper table settings to young professionals navigating the business meal.  Twelve Etiquette Essentials also answers the daunting  question of how to handle tricky foods  - fingers only or fork and knife? And, of course, we cover proper afternoon tea etiquette!

The Barbara Gulleys (on the right) enjoying tea with Rachel and Cara

A book by the "Barbara Gulleys", this project took a village to complete. My mother-in-law and gifted artist, provided the illustrations and was up for any challenge, including a request for a picture featuring both boxing gloves and ladies' formal gloves.  (see Chapter 4, "Accessories").

Draft of one the challenging requests  (see Chapter 6, "Business Dinner" for the final)

In addition to Barbara R. Gulley's art work, my son, Matt Gulley, who has a B.A. in English and a talented writer in his own right, edited this book, spending several hours revising my content and fixing my typo's. 

My daughter, Rachel, the other half of Barb's Tea Service, worked out formatting issues from a not-so-user-friendly template in the publishing tool we used.

And, check out the top photo on the back cover. That was taken by my talented cousin, Karri Brantley, who has her own photography business, Karri Brantley Photography. 





So, indeed, it took a lot of time for a small book, but one we hope you'll find it informative as well as entertaining.

(Twelve Etiquette Essentials also got a shout out in the most recent edition of Michigan Home and Lifestyle!)

AND, just in time for the holidays - Twelve Etiquette Essentials would be the perfect stocking stuffer for anyone!

Twelve Etiquette Essentials, Formal Dining and Tea Time is available on Amazon. For more information, reach us at barb@barbsteashop.com.  

Republic of Tea's Earl Greyer full-leaf tea is a happy taste, indeed!

If you have read our Downton Abbey-inspired afternoon tea blog stories, you know we are already fans of Republic of Tea's DA-themed products. From their refreshing herbal English Rose to their hearty Grantham Breakfast blend, the labels are as fun to read as their contents are tasty to sip. We also enjoy the convenience of these teas packaged in tea bags.  However, there's much more to Republic of Tea and we were anxious to explore beyond Downton Abbey blends.

We recently sampled Republic of Tea's Earl Greyer. It's from their loose-leaf collection and we found it to be an exceedingly good tea.

As much as I am a fan of Downton Abbey, I'm equally passionate about Earl Grey. It's my go-to drink whenever I go out for afternoon tea and I am particular about how it's brewed and how it's blended. Earl Greyer hits the "just right" category - it's not overly strong and the bergamot is not overbearing (Bergamot is the Mediterranean citrus fruit that makes black tea an Earl Grey). It's accessible without giving up character.  It's been well-received by my guests, ranging from tea enthusiasts to casual sippers.

We steeped the tea our customary three minutes (although, if you like it a bit stronger, you can go up to five). The leaves did their "happy dance" in the teapot and brewed to a lovely caramel color.

Speaking of "happy", per the description on the label, you should be expecting that as part of your experience. As explained on the back of the tea tin, "you will note with pleasure the sweet, citrus happy taste". We can't argue with that.

And, while we're looking at the tea tin, Republic of Tea scores well here, too. The cooper top sets off the cylindrical tea tin,  giving it a clean, contemporary style and, for those of us who like to have our tea within reach, it looks quite nice on the kitchen counter. 

Two-gloved thumb's up on Republic of Tea's Earl Greyer.

Product review disclaimer:  I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free or a discounted price. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.