Barb's TEA Shop - In the News!

Barb's TEA Shop is featured in this week's Mirror. Read about one young lady's quest to learn more about tea parties at our recent TEA Seminar at Berkley Library.

The Royal Oak Mirror

TEA Tour in Paris (or Remembrance of Tea Things and Re-Past)

Bonjour Les Amies du Thé!

After an incredible week-long visit to the City of Lights, I am trying to recreate a bit of France this morning sur ma maision with a cup of French Breakfast tea from the premier Paris tea room, Mariage Freres. Although, I think it's a pretty good cup of tea, I have to admit, I haven't quite mastered the artistry of the tea someliers a la francais.

Mariage Freres was one of the several venues we visited on our "Tea Tour De France" just two weeks ago. Like the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and The Louvre, there were the "must-see" tea rooms on my list: the Paris Ritz, Mariage Freres and Angelina's. But, in between, we left room for many lesser-known sites that made the tea adventure - - well, exactly that - - an adventure!

With my well-worn "Tea in the City - Paris" guide (by co-authors Jane Pettigrew and Bruce Richardson) in tow, we earmarked locations , or arrondissements, for our premiere choices. After that, we were open to whatever crossed our path.

When we first arrived at our hotel (a striking six- story building with window views of the Eiffel Tower and onetime residence of famed author, Marcel Proust) , it was shortly after noon, Paris time. We had taken an evening flight from Detroit, so by the time we dropped off our luggage and took a saunter down the Champs Elysees, we had been up for well-over 24 hours. Since we had afternoon tea reservations at the Ritz in a few hours, we didn't want to fall prey to the temptation of a nap. We figured a little air, a brisk walk and a light snack might be just the answer.

The Arc du Triumph/Champs Elysees was a two minute walk from our hotel, so once we were awed by the sight of that magnificent structure and the legendary boulevard that stems from its perimeter, we exited down one of the neighboring narrow streets to give ourselves a rest and repast. We found a little corner brasserie (combination restaurant/cafe/bar), "Sir Winstons" which, like most restaurants in Paris, posted its menu outside to assist potential customers in their selection. Sir Winstons had a full page selection of all their teas on display and I couldn't wait to sit in one of those authentic cafe tables and sip some warm brew. When we were seated, I asked our waitress for a tea recommendation. Without hesitation, she said in heavily French-accented English, "Detox!" I was puzzled for a moment - had the jet lag hit me more severely than I had thought? But, then, I glanced back down at the tea list before me, and there it was, about half-way down the page, "Detox". It was listed as a green tea and the waitress was quick to say it was her favorite. Seemed like a good choice since we were going full-leaded at the Ritz in only a few hours. So, Detox it was. As we sat back and watched the endless stream of cars and people and the gendarmes who did their best to control the refined chaos, I sipped my delicious green tea and spent a wonderful afternoon in "rehab"!

In subsequent days, we went to Anrondissement 4 for Mariage Freres and Anrondissement 1, at the Rue du Rivoli, for Angelina's (full review of the "Top Three" in next blog installment), but also visited other Salons de Thé along the way. In Paris, "Salons De The" is posted on many cafes, brasseries and other eating establishments. Like so many phrases, when expressed in French, it gives the air of being, perhaps, much more than it really is. A Salon de Thé just means tea is served - it doesn't necessarily mean it's of high quality. We did, however, find a few salons/patisseries - dangerously within walking distance of our hotel - that served a wonderful cup of tea with melt-in-your mouth works of art. Oh, to have a buttery madeleine with my French Breakfast today would be tres merveilleux!


Journeying out of Paris, we took a drive to Giverny, Monet's residence and home of the famous gardens and water lily pond. It was here, we learned, that the renowned impressionist, not only painted, buy enjoyed a cup of tea in the beautiful countryside estate he cultivated. We sat in one of the many pastel-infused jardins (near the equally lovely gift shop, I might add) and imagined tea time in this rich landscape.

Then, from one extreme to another, we headed to Versailles, which is, in every sense of the word, "rich landscape". This is the great palace that was built by Louis the XIV to get the nobility out of Paris and, ultimately, under his immediate control. To say this is excessive would be modest - it gives excess something to strive for. We viewed the luxurious gardens and ponds as well as the endless stream of interior rooms, including the bedchambers of Louis the XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette respectively. There was not an inch of wall or floor or furnishings that wasn't flocked, gilded or gleaming. How extravagant would it be to have afternoon tea in these surroundings?

While I confess I don't know many details concerning the tea-drinking habits of Marie Antoinette, I do have an "authentic replica" (I know that sounds contrary, but keep the faith) of a tea cup with the pattern she commissioned for her china. (I bought this at an exclusive china shop in New York last year - see original blog story, June, 2007). In any event, I was able to purchase a bag of Marie Antoinette loose tea in the Versailles gift shop. This was among the rather large selection of Marie Antoinette souvenirs that apparently many of us have a need for. I haven't yet thought of an occasion appropriate for this tea, but I'll keep you posted.

During our out-of-Paris excursion, we met up with a couple of lovely ladies from England at a quaint country-side inn, Moulin Fourges, just outside of Giverny. They had the most excellent thoughts to share on tea and they were gracious and compelling lunch companions. A special "bonjour" to Susan and Sophie and a tea toast to the continuing debate on "milk-in-first or milk-in-last"!

Once back in the city, we continued our tea and art travels to, no surprise, The Louvre. After the requisite stops at the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, passing through the grandeur of Napoleon the III's apartments, admiring the French masterpieces and, to satisfy my brother Ed's curiosity, a trek to the basement where the original palace fortress still stands, we stopped at the Louvre Cafe for a cup of Earl Grey and - what else? - a Napoleon. Nothing satiates a patron of the arts like a smooth cup of black tea and a flaky, French pastry. Culture can be absolutely delicious!

After visiting all these legendary landmarks and upscale shops and restaurants, we needed to come down a bit and transition to our life back home. Our last stop before the airport was to McCafe, but this was not the McDonalds of Kansas, Toto. Oh, no, this was McCafe Magnifique! With its marble floors and columns and sparkling glass counter filled with a variety of colorful pastries, this is surely where the Versaille folks would have come for their grande macs avec frommage et les pommes frites. It only made it harder to leave this place where even the "manger vite" is a beautiful thing.

So, away from our Parisian hotel, I am inspired by its former resident, Proust, to reflect on all things past and - pardon moi - all things tea and repast from our trip. (Based up on his volumes of work, I take some comfort that, in his day, if Proust had blogged, it would have been lengthy as well!) As I view yet again the many digital photos of all the sites we visited and peruse all the newly acquired teas from Mariage Freres, Angelina's, Hediards, and, oh, yes, that rather odd one from Versaille, there's no doubt I will enjoy the memories of my Paris trip for many years to come.

Dans le thé et l'amitié,

Barb

Poste Scripte - Stay tuned for "Premiere Salons de Thé Review" in upcoming blog!

Traverse Bay TEA - Absolutely Grand!

Hello TEA Friends,

Barb's TEA Shop had the great pleasure of presenting "Tea History and Etiquette" at The Grand Traverse Bay resort in August for the CAR partner's program. We also sampled four different types of teas. A wonderful group and a beautiful venue. We can't think of a better place to be in August, enjoying a view of the bay and drinking cherry tea (really! -but more of that in a future blog).

Our thanks to all our special guests at this TEA event!

A Cup of Emp-TEA Nest Syndrome

Hello TEA Friends!

This morning I am sampling the last of my Harrod's Earl Grey. It's the end of my cherished loose tea supply from our London trip two years ago and I'm savoring every moment with those last few choice tea leaves before moving on to new, uncharted alternatives.

If this seems like a poorly contrived metaphor for my current "empty nest" syndrome, I will confess wholeheartedly, it is. Two weeks ago, we drove our youngest, and only daughter, Rachel, to her college dorm and her new life away from home. There was so much excitement and preparation leading to that incredible day, it gave my always-fully-charged emotional being something to be diverted by. There were the stream of graduation parties where the college-bound celebrated their independence at the pool or badminton net, while we parents stared at the poster collages and scrapbooks of our children's milestones. Here, we looked at the pictures of kindergarten graduation and literally turned the page to senior prom, shaking our collective heads in disbelief and wondered aloud, "where had the time gone?", thinking it such revelation rather than a tired, old cliche.

Then, there was the overnight college orientation that ran so smoothly, both moms and daughters left less anxious than when they arrived. With a feel for the campus - class schedule in hand - and a few new friends, it all seemed okay.

And, finally, there were the trips to Target and IKEA for domestic dorm furnishings and accessories, along with the texting coordination of who was bringing what appliance to share. Items were checked off the list in an orderly fashion and we were confident we were ready for the big day.

The hour long trip to campus went quickly and we were all eager to see what dorm Rachel had been assigned. She and her roommate were designated their second choice, the oldest dorm at the school. When Rachel unlocked the door for the first time, we were in awe of what was to become her home away from home. This dormitory is every image you conjure up when you think about college, from the ivy colored brick to the large bay windows with crank out handles. These were the buildings that were erected before the cookie-cutter efficiency of the later years. What these room lacked in "loft ready" furniture and suite bathrooms, they made up for in charm and uniqueness - much like their inhabitants, Rachel and Annabelle. With their Rory Gilmore sensibilities of unconventionality and the love of old movies, arcane trivia and tomes of all a varieties, this place was a perfect match.

So, after a send off lunch and hugs and good-byes that seemed too short and insufficient, my husband and I and our son, Matt (who had volunteered to come to help move things as well see his little sister off) headed back to the parking lot where we had violated the 20-minute time allowance. In retrospect, I think the time was set for physically moving things, the "good-bye time" was open to interpretation.

The ride home, and the week that followed, was tough. I kept hearing that song my husband I would listen to occasionally on Sunday Morning Over Easy on the radio. With my apologies to the artist, its refrain goes something like this: ". . . after the kids are gone, all I'm left with is two dogs as dumb as mud and you. . ."

Well, we have two dogs and, though I don't question their canine intelligence, they don't fill up the room with giggles or ask if I would like to watch Season Four of the Gilmore Girls for the tenth time or share a cup of herbal tea for no reason at all. I come home from work and feel lost without the happy chaos. Last year, at this time, my oldest son had moved back temporarily to save money while in his senior year of college. Son number two, was home almost every other weekend for dinner or laundry and Rachel, of course, was just starting her last year of high school. Our house was running at 100 mph and we were back in the old routine of meal planning and car parking logistics. It was the most comfortable of zones.

But, now, the house is quiet and it's going to take some time to transition, for sure. We're comforted by the fact that Rachel has an expanding network of friends, is enthusiastic about her course schedule and is already participating in student political meetings. She can get to classes now without a map and is in walking distance to fulfilling about any conceivable need. She's adjusting beautifully - now its our turn.

So, with today's tea, I'm adding a bit of honey to sooth an irritated throat - I think its seasonal allergies, but maybe it will also help with that persistent lump that doesn't seem to go away.

I'll fire up the tea kettle again and then join my husband on the deck and just do - well, heck, absolutely nothing! You know, there may just be a lot to look forward to with no one here but my husband. . . and two dogs as dumb as mud!

Enjoying an off-campus tea toddy and latte at Cappuccino Cafe with College Student Rachel - All good after two weeks of college life (for both Mom and daughter!)

More Unique Tea Cozies from Barb's TEA Shop

Hello TEA Friends!

We're excited here at BTS to introduce three brand new tea cozies! Our inventory is depleting, but we're adding different designs all the time. Our three new offerings (pictured at right) are delightfully unique: a V-shaped, multi-stripe in a velvety-like texture; a yellow and cream leaf motif, and a geometric landscape pattern. (Note: these will fit your medium sized teapots).

Remember, these are "one-of-a kinds" that you won't find at any department or super stores. Give your favorite tea enthusiast a gift that's both beautiful and practical with these charming cozies. Or better yet, treat yourself to something special at your tea table.

Prices for these are $25.00 plus shipping and handling.

Contact Barb's TEA Shop at barb@barbsteashop.com or 248-840-4356 to place your order today!

Tea for Two's a Collection

Greetings Friends!

As a lifelong collector of many things, I subscribe to a few observations that have been attributed to this past time. The first is, if you have two of anything, you've got the start of a collection. The second is, that most collections start as a gift from someone. It probably wouldn't surprise you to learn that my most recent collection fits this description to, well, . . . to a tea!

After all these years as a tea enthusiast, I never really had a tea cup collection of high regard, although, I had amassed several tea cup display racks over the years in my aspiration to achieve such a goal. I will confess, I was distracted along the way with cherished teddies, Maude Humphrey figurines, limited edition Hallmark ornaments and, what I'll call "The Doll Years". But, I got closer on track with my assortment of Wedgwood jasperware and really zoned in when I targeted teapots. But the teacup collection, for whatever reasons, still eluded me.

That is until last year - and from such an unexpected source it emerged! For Mother's Day last year, my son, Rob, gave me my first vintage teacup. It was a wonderful gift - not only because of its delicate beauty and color, but the fact that he actually entered an antique store to purchase it. He was visiting a resort town on the west side of Michigan and noticed an antique storefront window display of teacups. He thought, "My Mom would love this store!" and figured it would be the perfect place to find a Mother's day treasure. (This is from a son who usually struggles with such holidays because they feel "forced".)

Naturally, this became one of my most prized possession (note, it is the solid green cup in the photos above, but inside there is a scene from the "famous Hamilton Rock Gardens".) I took my cherished cup and put it on display on a small tea table in our front room. There it resided, alone, for almost an entire year. Then came my birthday!

My sister-in-law, who lives in Denver, surprised me with another vintage tea cup for my 50th this year. She culled her own enviable tea cup collection for something she thought would best suit the occasion. And, she found such a treasure in a cup she had inherited from her grandmother, selected primarily because of its predominate color - gold! (to mark the half-century mark, of course).

When I opened the box from UPS that arrived in April, I was thrilled with the contents. I loved the "new" cup, but something more struck me immediately. This cup looked very familiar. In fact, upon further examination, it looked it could be a cousin to the one my son gave me.

So, I put them side-by-side and they were dead-ringers. Then, I looked at the stamps on the bottom of the cups. Identical markings! Both were stamped, "PARAGON" as well as "By appointment to HM the Queen". This was most incredible and sent me right to "google" to learn more.

I discovered that Paragon started out as "Star" China in 1899. It was founded by the Aynsley brothers in Longton, England. They produced quality china products including art deco patterns that competed with Shelly in the 1920's and 30's and a line of nursery-themed tea ware that is highly collectible today.

Star China later renamed itself "Paragon" to reflect the high quality of its product. Hugh Irving, a salesman at another china company, married a sister of the Aynsley brothers and became a partner. Later, the brothers retired and Irving and his sons took complete ownership. The Irving promotion skills grew the company and in 1933, Paragon was commissioned to make a tea service for the Duchess of York. That same decade, the company was granted two royal warrants (hence the notable stampings).

Paragon was bought out by Royal Albert in the 1960's, which in turn was bought out by Royal Dalton in the 1970's. The Paragon patterns were eventually incorporated in the designs of Royal Dalton and the Paragon name was discontinued. However, many of its pieces, especially the commemoratives, are still sought after.

So, that is the (somewhat) brief history of my new collection. But, as with any collection, the fun is not only in the receiving, but in the hunt as well. Last weekend, my husband and I made our annual trek to the Royal Oak Garage Sale . For those of you who may not be familiar, it's the city's big flea market in the month of July in one of its monster parking garages. What it lacks in ambiance, it makes up for in its variety of unique product offerings. I came loaded for Paragon and I was not disappointed.

Second level, third booth to the left, I found it. Among an assortment of pretty tea cups, it was right in the middle and most distinctly "Paragon" (now that I've become such an "expert" in only two short months). It had the same shape and design and green color of its siblings residing at my home and, after inspecting for the absence of chips and stains, I took out my wallet. I was ready to offer 20% lower than the ticketed price, when the booth owner said, "everything is 50% off." BONUS!! Not only did I get to add to my collection, but I got such a deal, too. Oh, what a happy afternoon that was.

So, next jaunt out, I will be looking for another Paragon tea cup to add to my significant collection. Final observation of this fun hobby - when you have three of anything, your collection becomes "significant'.

Yours in Friendship,

Barb

ps - to any Paragon Collectors (or any tea-related collectors, for that matter), an invite to share your information with BTS!

Tea Time Gets Warm and Cozy!

Exclusive Tea Cozies Now Available at Barb's TEA Shop - Special Introductory Offer


Barb's TEA Shop is excited to now offer one-of-a-kind tea cozies that will not only beautify your tea table, but keep your tea warm in the pot as well. These are handcrafted items made with amazing fabrics - some vintage! - and all offer special features you'll appreciate. Each cozy has a removable liner, which can be washed separately. In addition, each of these charming teapot warmers has a tab at the top for easy removal.


If you are looking for a unique gift of high quality for your favorite teaophile, that's both pretty as well as functional, you'll want to put these tea cozies on your list.

We offer two sizes: small and medium. Small fits most 4-cup teapots (approx. size 10 x 9.5). Medium fits most 6-cup teapots (approx. size 12 x 10.5). (Note: the medium will not fit your "Old Country Rose-sized Teapot".)

In the small size we also offer beautiful tea cozies made from vintage napkins (size 10 x 8). You'll love the charm of the delicate fabric and lace.


All of these tea cozies are available for $25.00 (plus shipping), but during the month of July, BTS offers a special introductory price of $23.99 (plus shipping).

To purchase, contact BTS at barb@barbsteashop.com or call 248-840-4356.

Keep in mind, these are custom-made items, so no two are alike. With fabrics from funky to elegant, we have something for every tea lover's taste!

Medium Tea Cozies Small Tea Cozies
(leopard, yellow "tapestry", grape and leaf) (circles, flowers, stripes)