Jane Austen House in Chawton and tea at Cassandra's Cup

I am experiencing much felicity this afternoon as I ruminate on my journey to London a little more than a fortnight (times two!) ago. It was a trip designed to experience all that was tea and all that was Jane Austen and, I tell you dear reader, it was all that and more!

Yes, it is so, that in only a few days’ time this past July, equipped with merely a Frommer’s travel guide, a few folded up emails with directions, a daughter with a tremendous ability to navigate uncharted territory and a debit card ready for action, I embarked on visiting the Austen sites that comprise the dreams of any serious Janeite. On the “hit list” was Jane’s home in Chawton, Winchester (to see the cathedral where she is buried and the place of her last residence) and, once back in London, the original Twinings tea store, where Jane, herself, bought tea.






















Heating up the kettle for tea in the Austen kitchen

Starting our journey from our hotel in the Marylebone section of London, it was trains, subways and buses to get to Chawton. A one-hour train ride takes you from London to Winchester, but that’s just the first leg. From Winchester to Chawton, you take a thirty minute bus ride to the English countryside. The bus stop where we were dropped off is on a country road bordered by open fields which give little indication that the home of one of the greatest novel writers in history is less than a ten minute walk away. There were no flashing signs or souvenir shops to dot the pathway to our destination, but, somehow that seemed fitting. It doesn’t take much to imagine you are back two hundred years ago, heading back home after long walk to take in a good meal and a hot cup of tea.





















Rachel was invited to play the piano forte in the Austen parlor
























Where Jane liked to write (top photo). If she had had access to the internet, this is where she would have composed her blog.


And after visiting the Jane Austen House, we did just that: we had lunch at Cassandra's Cup, a bright and cozy tea room across the street. My daughter chose comfort food in the form of meatloaf and mashed potatoes, but I rarely pass up the opportunity to have afternoon tea fare when it's on the menu. I had a tasty salmon sandwich and we both shared a pot of Earl Grey. It felt like we were in the comfortable kitchen of Jane's neighbor.























Ceiling of Cassandra's Cup tea room


Once restored with a fitting meal, we used that energy to pay one more visit to the Jane Austen House to engage in some fine souvenir shopping at the gift shop. It is here where we subscribed to the Jane Austen diet. Ah, yes, dear reader, we shed many pounds in that enticing store. (I ask, can one truly have too many Jane Austen mugs – especially when one commemorates the 200th anniversary of Sense and Sensibility? I think not!)

It was the start of the first of our Austen sites and a very good one, indeed.

London trip starts with afternoon tea at Brown's Hotel

This afternoon I am sitting down with a cup of the Brown's Hotel's custom blend afternoon tea. The hotel sends each guest off with a small cellophane package, labeled with their signature "B" on the front, filled with enough loose tea for two generous cups to have at home and - in our case - savor the memories of a week in England doing all things tea and Jane Austen.

Last month, my daughter, Rachel, and I crossed the pond for a visit to London. Rachel is attending Regents College for six weeks as part of Michigan State's study abroad program and it seemed a good opportunity to work in a mom/daughter mini-vacation before classes started.

Thanks to some intense pre-planning, suggestions and advice from friends and Rachel's quick grasp of navigating trains, buses and the underground (and, equally important, a good sense of humor), we hit just about everything on my wish list in less than a week's time, including three afternoon teas, two Jane Austen homes, a cathedral, a palace, and, the first Twinings tea shop on the Strand.

First stop was the Brown's Hotel. The dining room, with its dark wood paneled walls and fireplace, along with melodious tunes coming from the grand piano, lets guests know this is the very tradition of afternoon tea.

Starting off with our own silver tea pots with our personal selections (I chose Brown's Afternoon Blend, as noted above), our three-tiered tray of sweets and savories soon followed. The tea sandwiches and scones were delicious and the pastries were almost too beautiful to eat.


As one who enjoys a unbalanced dessert-to-meal ratio (more sweets than savories), the Brown's Hotel did not disappoint. After our three-tiered tray was empty, the dessert cart was wheeled to our table for our choice of cake. These were as rich and satisfying as the hotel itself.

In a previous trip to London, we dined at the Ritz, which also has a classic afternoon tea experience. The gilded decor, the string quartet and the suited waiters gracefully wielding silver serving trays all contribute to the ultimate blending of tea and pageantry. In contrast, however, the Brown Hotel with its earth tones and overstuffed sofas, offers subdued elegance and a comfortable refinement that brings home the feeling that tea may be enjoyed at a leisurely pace in a stately, but relaxed environment.

A great place to start our tea journey in England. More to follow, to be sure.

(See our short video below for feedback on the Brown's Hotel afternoon tea experience.)

Merry Fourth of July with tea from India

This Fourth of July feels a bit like Christmas: reuniting family and lots of presents. The only things missing are snow and decorations(both of which are fun for December, but need to be put away by March).

My husband, Chris, just returned from a three week business trip - the first week was spent in Spain, the last two in India - and he came back with lots of treasures, including, of course, a variety of tea.

Along with silver earrings, an exquistely hand-embroidered and colorful bedspread, framed tribal art, and hand-carved elephants each with a miniature pachyderm encased within their frames, Chris brought me back a selection of Golden Tips tea. These Indian teas were packaged in an eco-friendly jute box that I couldn't wait to open.

This morning, with some very American bagels and cream cheese that my husband was craving, I opened up the Darjeeling to brew. While in India, Chris had become quite a fan of this tea and so I started with that. It was absolutely delicious, smooth with a confident taste - neither timid nor strong. A great cup of tea for anytime of the day.

I am so looking forward to trying all the others: Assam, Nilgiri, Kangra, Dooars, and Sikkim. I'm not well acquainted with the last three, so I am excited to not only sample, but learn more about their back story.

While most of the "souvenirs" were from India, en route from Spain to Pune, Chris made a stop in Switzerland and brought us back a tin of Swiss chocolates: a perfect pairing for Darjeeling tea!

So, although the 80 degrees temperatures tell me different, having chocolate and tea for breakfast makes it seem even more like Christmas than the 4th of July. But that will change shortly once my brother sets up lawn chair badminton and starts cooking hot dogs and cheesburgers on the grill. I'll bring my usual snacks and veggie dip, but this year, I'll supply the most amazing iced tea ever.

Continuing with our international travel, my daughter and I will be leaving for London soon, so I'll have more updates from the country who we won our independence from just a few centuries ago.

In the meantime, wishing everyone a safe and happy weekend - no matter what holiday you are celebrating.






tea tablescape in Pune, India

Jane Pettigrew at Amherst Rose: celebrity tea event complete with swag

Two weeks ago my daughter, Rachel, and I made the three and a half hour drive from Detroit to Massillon, Ohio for a major tea event at the Amherst Rose. Jane Pettigrew, tea historian, author and former London tea room owner was the guest speaker at the elegant Victorian tea room owned by Mary Jane Corwin and her husband, Carl.

First alerted of Jane's upcoming visit to the States by Elmwood Inn Tea's newsletter, I sent a note to Bruce Richardson for more details for The Detroit Tea Examiner. He kindly directed me to Mary Jane, who was hosting her own Jane Pettigrew event at her tea room in Ohio - a closer drive for most Michiganders. After a twenty minute phone conversation with Mary Jane two things were certain: I was attending the June 11^th afternoon tea and I felt like I just hung up with a friend I had known for years.

When the day finally arrived, Rachel and I made it to Massillon with time to spare at the sold-out event and were greeted warmly by both Jane and Mary Jane. The beautifully restored and richly decorated Victorian tea room housed lavish tea tables set with china, crystal, tea-cup-picture-name-cards and a tea swag bag worthy of the best red carpet event.

The swag bag contained a tea pot picture frame, a tea towel, Tea A Magazine, measuring spoons (for recipes that require a “pinch” and a “dash”), tea cards and tea samples. What a treat! - and this was before the multi-course afternoon tea and Jane's fascinating presentation on “The Social History of Tea”.

It was an amazing afternoon tea: charming hosts, captivating speaker, excellent savories, sweets and tea and a tea swag bag to hold treasures as well as many great memories.

For more details on the complete menu and some of the highlights of Jane Pettigrew's tea talk, see our recent article in The Detroit Tea Examiner.

Celebrate Iced Tea Month with some twists on the traditional

Memorial Day cook-outs are nothing new and traditions are great to hold on to, but there's something to be said for a changing of the guards to literally mix things up and that includes some new ideas for iced tea. A change-up to the familiar drink of summer is even more relevant now that it's officially Iced Tea Month according to every tea blogger's calendar and the Food Network's website.

In January of this year, we noted it was "Hot Tea Month", and a real comfort since it was very "iced" outside in Michigan. Now, however, with temperatures over 90 degrees this holiday weekend in metro Detroit, I can tell you, iced tea was a welcome relief. Even better, we didn't have to depend on the old school black tea and white sugar - not with "Summer Cook-out: the Next Generation". This year, we got a twist on the old with the twenty-somethings taking charge.

Awhile back, when my oldest son was still in college and living in an old, but somewhat charming, house near campus, he and his girlfriend (now wife), hosted their first Memorial Day get-together for family and friends. Drawing on the staples of summer holiday parties, they grilled burgers, supplied drinks and brought out the games, but with their fresh new spin, everything seemed a little extraordinary. That little something special continues every summer, right down to this year's refreshing new iced-tea dressed in party red.

Right on the cusp of Iced Tea Month, my daughter-in-law served an unconventional iced tea mix of white and herbal teas from Teavana. Their Youthberry White and Wild Orange Blossom Herbal combine citrus, berry and rose petals to make a deliciously tart and sweet drink on the rocks. We found it didn't need any additional sugar, but for those who like a sweeter drink, Teavana suggests trying rock sugar which, according to the national tea retailer, will "enhance the natural sweetness of the drink. . . and easily dissolve in the hot water".

So, we recommend shaking things up a bit in the iced tea jug and experimenting with different teas and flavors. This year, think outside the black tea box and make some new traditions this summer. Just don't mess with the plentiful table of delicious snacks or bocce ball rules - some things need never change.

The Royal Wedding doesn't have to be over: keep the memories with a close-knit family

Three weeks ago today, my daughter and I donned silk dresses, sparkling jewelry and fancy high heels to attend a public viewing of the Royal Wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton at the Wanderer’s Tea House – the only challenge was getting there at 5:00 am. But, get there we did, along with a full-house of other royalphiles and tea enthusiasts, many wearing hats worthy of a Westminster Abbey invitee.

We watched on the big screen as the crowd shouted out when William and Harry’s car pulled out in full view, soon to be followed by the collective gasps at the first glimpse of Kate and her gown as they exited the coach.


Treating ourselves to the Wanderer’s English-inspired brunch, we watched the long walk down the church aisle while sampling Welsh rarebit and strawberry tarts accompanied by lots and lots of pots of English Breakfast tea.

From the red carpet guest spotting to the two kisses on the balcony, the two hours went by quickly. With a weekend filled with recaps, wedding fashion commentaries (who doesn't want a fascinator now?) and British monarchy specials on every cable station, Monday felt like the day after Christmas. After weeks of anticipation and excitement for the Royal Wedding, it was over too fast.

We found, however, it doesn’t have to be completely over thanks to the book, “Knit the Royal Wedding” by Fiona Goble. It gives step-by-step instructions on how to knit the royal family in their wedding attire so that one can commemorate the joyous occasion throughout the year.

My knitting skills are basic, at best, so I gave this book to my master- knitter sister-in-law for her birthday. Last Christmas I gifted her with a knitting project book with the tea cozy page discreetly earmarked. Shortly after, she gave me a beautiful, rose-colored knit tea cozy for my birthday. Self-serving? – perhaps, but I’m hoping to find a little Prince Harry in my stocking next Christmas!

Tea cups and cupcakes: Delightful Easter treats thanks to daughter and Tea Time Magazine

The recent March/April issue of Tea Time Magazine, had an entire section devoted to hosting "An Elegant Easter". This magazine is always inspirational for tablescape ideas and menu planning, but perhaps even more importantly, Tea Time's recipes are amazing. Even holiday-themed meals are continually fresh and delicious. The fact that they are visually appealing is, literally - in some cases- the icing on the cake.


My daughter, Rachel, a senior at MSU, loves to catch-up on Tea Time Magazine recipes whenever she is home on breaks and she usually treats us to some wonderful creation she's uncovered during her stays. This Easter, she volunteered to make dessert after seeing the strawberry cupcakes on page 36 of our favorite tea and foodie periodical. After a quick trip to the grocery store for a few ingredients we didn't have on hand, Rachel was back at home and unleashing the Kitchen Aide from storage.

The only challenge she faced was a pastry bag with a missing tip, so the fancy swirls were at a minimum. But, the overall look was still lovely and they tasted fantastic.

These will be an encore production for sure and they did, indeed, add to a most elegant Easter with family and friends. I just can't wait for the semester to end and the new Tea Time Magazine to arrive!