Tea Book Giveaway! Win "Tea in the City: New York": It's easy and fun!

Barb’s TEA Shop is giving away one "Tea in the City: New York" book (authored by  Elizabeth Knight and photographs by Bruce Richardson) to one of our lucky followers. All you need to do is send us your name and tell us what your favorite tea is.

We’ll conduct a random drawing in one week and announce the winner September 7th!!

You can email us at barb@barbsteashop.com

In 2007, I had the great opportunity to have a one-one-one tea tour of New York City with Elizabeth Knight. The former tea sommelier for the St. Regis Hotel and author of several tea books, Elizabeth Knight also hosts a number of tea tours. They are offered in scheduled times for groups, but she also will work with individual requests. Since I was going at a specific time with my brother and sister-in-law to see my niece’s high school choir group sing at Carnegie Hall (another highlight!), I contacted Elizabeth to see if she would be available so I could take advantage of the time I would be in the Big Apple.

Lucky for me, Elizabeth could work with my schedule and, once I arrived, she met me at my hotel lobby and we started our walking tea tour of the city in “smart casual attire” and “comfortable shoes”. It was a wonderful trip from the exclusive fine china retailer on Park Avenue to an unpretentious, wood-floored tea room in Greenwich Village.

This month, I caught up with Elizabeth and interviewed her for The Detroit Tea Examiner. Although, Elizabeth has put her tours on hold due to a move closer to the City, she will be at the World Tea Expo East this fall. I’m hoping once she posts her new schedule, my daughter and I can sign up and take another exciting tea tour of New York.

Good luck everyone!!

Tea sets for little girls: an investment for the future?

Spoiler alert! If you invited me to a pink baby shower this month and you want to be surprised by what’s in store for your little girl, look away now.

For everyone else, I have to share my latest tea shopping indulgence – tea sets for little girls! Since my “baby” is almost 23, it’s been awhile since I have been fully immersed in tea accessories for the younger set. However, after receiving two pink baby shower invitations for this month, I was given the excuse – I mean the opportunity - to check out what’s new in tea fashions for children.

Tea Set times two for baby showers in August

Now, I know some may think baby showers are a little early to start bringing on the tea sets, but I can go you one better. Before I was married – in fact, I don’t even think I was seriously dating anyone at the time – my Mom and I were browsing through stores at our favorite mall. We happened upon a boutique toy store’s window display which featured a creamed-colored china teapot trimmed in pink, complete with matching creamer and sugar bowl. It was so adorable, we stood there just staring at it for several minutes. My Mom, never one to second-guess or hesitate, said, “I’m buying that for you for when you have a daughter. It’s too pretty to pass up.”

Elegant, yet adorable, tea set purchased for the future

Of course, my Mom never doubted it wasn’t the right thing to buy, even when it sat in my bedroom closet for a few years, unopened, but never forgotten.

Interestingly enough, my Mom was not a heavy tea drinker or frivolous at all. She was generous to a fault, but far more practical than I could ever aspire to be. So, that  tea set purchase surprised me,  but as you come to learn the older you get, more often than not, your Mom knows things you best not question.

That tea set sat in Rachel’s room when she was a baby, put away when she could potentially break it, and brought back out when she was in elementary school for real use. Along the way from preschool to junior high, we had tea sets for Barbie’s, Muffy VandeBears and, the ultimate in tea sophistication, Samantha, American Girl’s Victorian doll.

And after all that, one day, you’re making pink “tea” to serve in a multi-colored plastic tea set and the next day, your little girl is standing next to you, (taller, she’ll have you know), and expertly preparing tea for a twenty-five person tea tasting. Your little girl is now your tea business partner. (I swear, there was no ulterior motive in all this.)

So, really, is it ever too young to start with the tea sets?

Which brings me back to my shopping excuse . . .I mean excursion. I found a fun tea set from Fisher-Price for this month's baby showers. It talks and sings songs and repeats “please and thank you” to reinforce proper etiquette. I think I could play with this one for a long time, so imagine the good times a baby could have with it.

Adorable tea cart: is there room in Rachel's closet?

But, while I was toddler tea set shopping on-line, I found a real treasure at Pottery Barn Kids. They not only have tea sets and kettles for little ones, but - (oh my) – a tea cart, too. A sassy, white, wood tea cart for $129.00. It’s adorable. I love it! I’m suppressing the urge, but, well. . . I’m just thinking. . . is there room for a tiny tea cart in  Rachel’s closet?

Fifth Annual Jane Austen Festival: boxing, bonnets, blushing and Bingley tea!

Fifth Annual Jane Austen Festival at Historic Locust Grove in Louisville

Where can one experience a boxing match, a 19th Century “Magic Mike” show and a refined afternoon tea with a just-purchased bonnet? Although it sounds like a mash-up of the Las Vegas strip and Colonial Williamsburg, we found all of this last weekend –much to our merriment –at the Fifth Annual Jane Austen Festival in Louisville, Kentucky.

My daughter, Rachel, and I started attending this event in 2009 and then back again in 2010. Last year, we couldn’t make it as Rachel was in London on a study-abroad. I joined her for a week, but, unfortunately, the time conflicted with the JA Festival for 2011. (However, while in England, we did make a trip to Winchester and Chawton, both homes to Jane Austen, so we were, at least, faithful to our July date with our favorite author! - See Jane Austen House in Chawton blog entry for more).

Selecting ribbon for a new bonnet purchased at Marquette Trading Company

This year, we were amazed at how big the festival has grown and the increase in Austen-attire as well as the number of gentlemen in attendance. Feeling somewhat in the minority, I rushed to purchase a straw bonnet from the Marquette Trading company, a fashion retailer on-site at Locust Grove.

Bare-knuckle boxing demonstration

We took in a bare-knuckle boxing match with two fine lads who explained the contrast of the sport from the 1800’s to today. Back in the day, fights were longer, rougher, and, not surprisingly, careers were shorter.

Undressing Mr. Darcy with Brian Cushing

And, much to our happiness, the boxing match was not the end of our macho men show for the day. The long-anticipated “Dressing Mr. Darcy” was next although it could be more appropriately titled “Undressing Mr. Darcy”.  Reenactor Brian Cushing pealed off layers of clothing while describing each article. Starting with the top hat and moving quickly to the jacket, waistcoat and ascot, we experienced 50 shades of Earl Grey as Mr. Darcy slid one suspender and then the other over his broad shoulders. Oh, my where did we leave our smelling salts?

Experiencing 50 shades of Earl Grey as Dressing Mr. Darcy heats up

Then, as we circled the shopping district of Meryton once again, Rachel cast her eye on a novel telescope necklace. Truly, a charming little piece that would have served us much better had we bought it before the Mr. Darcy fashion show.

Rachel's telescope necklace was, unfortunately purchased after  Dressing Mr. Darcy

For balanced reporting, I must assert, the JA festival had more than handsome gentlemen to offer (not that there’s anything wrong with that)! We enjoyed afternoon tea in the “tea room” and we were seated with a wonderful group of ladies from the Louisville area. A shout out to Connie and Barbara who shared their travel stories over herbal infusions and chocolate cake.

Afternoon tea featuring Bingley's Teas

Back in the village, there were also many old-time craft demonstrations including the making of Turkish paper and hand-crafted lace. We learned with the latter, a shawl of lace in Jane’s time could have equaled the cost of two horses.

Finally, we had the great pleasure of being introduced to Bingley teas, the creation of Julia Matson whose booth was literally manned by husband and sons. There is a great variety of tea offered from herbals to black and all developed and named for Jane Austen characters. Our current favorite is the Earl Grey. For more on Bingley teas see The Detroit Tea Examiner article, Bingley's Teas:  novel tea at Jane Austen Festival.

Once again, we departed the historic Locust Grove with a bag full of goodies, a little more Jane Austen knowledge, a few new friends and memories long enough to keep us going until next July. Cheers to JASNA Louisville Regional Coordinator, Bonny Wise, who is the ultimate host and we look forward to seeing more good company in 2013!

Hot tea on the 4th of July: family fun and most appropriate Boston Tea

This Independence Day in Michigan, you had no choice but to have hot tea, even iced. With temperatures hovering near the 100 degrees mark, nothing stayed cool for long, including the 20-plus crowd of friends and family that gather each year at my brother Glenn's for a day of food, fun and fireworks.

A lot of twenty-somethings stay cool in the pool

My brother has been hosting this event for two decades and we've watched the younger set graduate from the wading pool to the large, inflatable watering hole that probably wasn't meant to hold almost half a dozen twenty-somethings (although no one will argue it's refreshing, even at that number). Aside from a dip in the water, we play croquet, basketball, and - my favorite - lawn chair badminton. A low energy game where you can bring your beverage of choice, sit in a chair, swing a racket and believe you are participating in an Olympic-worthy event. Although, easy in execution and exertion, this year's biggest challenge seemed to be how we rotate seatings after the serve. There should be an app for that.

"Who's serve?" and "Where do I sit?" are the two most asked question of lawn chair badminton

Another treat this year was a surprise visit from my other brother, Ed, who came in from China for the week. (He's been there on business - and, yes, Barb's TEA Shop is going there this fall, complete with tea plantation visits!). Although a bit jet-lagged, he was roused a few times from the comforts of the air conditioned living room to serve as croquet judge - a title bestowed on him several years ago and still intact. Is the ball technically poison if it is still half-way through the hoop? The croquet judge weighs in and there is no appeal - or, better, yet, no app for that.

Hot job grilling dogs, brats and burgers

A day like that deserves a special tea - but what would tea would be most app-ropriate for an event such as this? Before we packed up our veggie tray and homemade chocolate chip cookies and headed to my brother's, I got on-line and ordered the limited edition Boston Tea Party tea gift set from Elmwood Inn. (For more information, see The Detroit Tea Examiner, "Celebrate July 4th with limited edition Boston Tea Party tea"). The deadline for ordering was midnight on the 4th - or until supplies last. I checked the webpage today and didn't see it listed any longer. I'm looking forward to a new tea tasting and will be sure to let you know when my-  Boston Tea Party ship-ment comes in!

Another successful Fourth of July party at my bros with my peeps, and despite the soaring temps, I can't think of a better way to spend the holiday. Here's hoping, though, for next year, the 2012 record temps will be history and historical teas will stay cool for the afternoon!

Chicken dinners, holiday shops and now tea! Sue and Esther's American tea room in Frankenmuth

Last weekend, my husband, Chris, and I stopped at Frankenmuth on our way home from our up north retreat. But this time we didn't stop for the "world famous" chicken dinners, or the beer expo, or early holiday shopping. No, on this occasion we paid a visit to Michigan's little Bavaria to have afternoon tea at Sue and Esther's American Tea Room. And, though I'll admit, tea and scones are not something I had previously associated with Frankenmuth, after a sitting down to three-tiered tray filled with goodies and some deliciously-filled teapots, I do believe that mindset has changed dramatically.

Owner of Sue and Esther's American tea room, Lisa Murlick, with daughter, Abbey

Lisa Murlick, owner of Sue and Esther's, refers to it as an "American tea room". It has the feel of a traditional tea room, but it's not over-the-top in stuffy décor. All will feel welcome and that's the intention. 

American tea room, traditional but not too stuffy, welcomes all

While the decor and friendly service will invite you in, the tea and menu items will keep you in your seat.  All the food is made on-site, and where possible, with local ingredients. Everything tastes fresh and delicious. The tea sandwiches had a good mix of tradition (cucumber and cream cheese) with bit of spice (roasted red pepper and artichoke). Scones were delicate and flavorful and served with lemon curd and “American cream”.

Three-tiered stand includes scones, savories and sweets. (Check out the creme de menthe brownie!)

The “petite sweets” were perfect sample-sized portions of rich desserts. My favorite was the crème de menthe brownie, but that's only because I forced myself to decide which I liked the most. They were all delicious.

We sampled earl grey, white champagne tea and a delicious berry iced-tea

And for something fun and  different, we were taken with the wine-inspired teas. Lisa said she came up with the idea after attending a tea seminar in Chicago. Since grapes and tea leaves have a lot in common, having a great dependence on climate and elevation for their flavor, it just makes sense. 

Tea menu includes wine-inspired teas; we enjoyed the white champagne, a bridal shower favorite

We sampled the white champagne which is comprised of white tea, safflowers, champagne and red raspberry flavorings. It was a good blend of delicate flavors with a bit of a punch. Lisa said it is very popular for bridal showers - which is another feature of Sue and Esther's. The tea room hosts many private parties.

Sue and Esther's American Tea Room, serves afternoon tea Tuesday - Sunday

Although we frequent Frankenmuth throughout the year, next visit  we will be sure to take a quick side trip off Main Street and have a delicious afternoon tea at Sue and Esther's.

See The Detroit Tea Examiner's latest article, Sue and Esther's: an American tea room in Frankenmuth.

For more information on this Frankenmuth tea room, visit their Sue and Esther's website or call 989-295-7732.

Grand tea time at the Grand Hotel

Memorial Day weekend traditionally launches the summer season and gets us thinking of upcoming, relaxing vacations by the lake. In Michigan, add a touch of elegance, and the Grand Hotel epitomizes the warm season getway destination. Throw in an upscale tea time and we here at Barb's TEA Shop, can't think of a better way to spend some time off.

Our family did just that last weekend and we had the great fortune to meet up with historian and hotel concierge, Bob Tagatz. He joined us for tea time and we received a Grand History 101 over English Breakfast tea, scones and champagne.

Tea is served daily in the parlor, from 3:30 to 5:00, and the views, both inside and out, are stunningly beautiful. The hotel's interior décor is courtesy designer Carleton Varney. The inside is filled with period furnishings in rich colors of green and coral, against dark green and bright white walls. Looking outside, you see the Grand Hotel's famous, seemingly unending porch, and the calming blue waters of the Straits of Mackinac.

While we were sampling our sweets and savories, with a harpist playing soothing sounds in the background, Tagatz told us some of the Grand Hotel's exciting past. Currently celebrating its 125th year in operation, it has experienced some highs and lows, but with a lot of care and persistence has outlasted most of its kind. Five presidents have stayed along with many celebrities'. Asked which celebrities' had afternoon tea, Tagatz said two came quickly to mind, Eartha Kitt and Rosemary Clooney. (For the younger generation, that would be the original "Catwoman" and aunt of George, respectively.)

And, as many know, the movie, "Somewhere in Time" was filmed there in 1980 and brought an entirely new group of fans to the majestic hotel. There's an annual Somewhere in Time weekend at the Grand Hotel every October.

A dress code is imposed for dinner, but for afternoon tea guests can be a little more casual. It's elegant, but comfortable and men will enjoy it as much as the ladies. My husband, two sons, and good friend, Jon, expressed what a great time they had (they'd partake in it again in a heartbeat). Of course, the staff of Barb's TEA Shop, Barb and Rachel, ranked the Grand Hotel's afternoon teas as one of their favorites.

For more information on the Grand Hotel, see The Detroit Tea Examiner's latest article, or go to the Grand Hotel website.

Don't wait too long to go back in time!

Jane Austen Tea for Michigan JASNA

Jane Austen and tea - a pairing as perfect as Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy - and Barb's TEA Shop had the opportunity to celebrate the well-suited match this past weekend with the Michigan chapter of the Jane Austen Society North America (JASNA). Last Sunday, BTS presented an "Austentacious Tea" to Austen enthusiasts at the Earhart Manor House on the campus of Concordia University in Ann Arbor.

An Austentacious Tea at the Earhart Manor House

Built in the 1930's and filled with period furnishings, the manor house was the ideal venue to get us started on our journey to the past. Drinking Twinings tea, just like Jane did, we traveled back to the Regency period. After discussing tea sources, fashions and Marie Antoinette's fine china (yes, there is an Austen connection!), we finished our presentation with a raffle of two packages of Jane Austen tea (a delicious green tea flavored with garden rose petals and chamomile available at Barb's TEA Shop's on-line store).

Twinings tea, a favorite of Jane Austen, was served.

We concluded the event in the dining room with more pots of Twinings finest and delicious afternoon tea fare, including savories, sweets and scones. Although much has changed since Jane Austen penned her novels,  one constant is the great time to be had when friends gather for tea.

Michigan JASNA members in the dining room for tea

For more information on an Austentacious Tea and other Barb's TEA Shop seminars, contact us at barb@barbsteashop.com or 248-840-4356.