A Nice Cuppa

Getting a great shot of espresso at home is no easy feat. There are so many different variables, from the beans, how they were roasted, the grind, the dose, the tamp and even the ambient humidity that day. A great shot from the same batch of beans may be terrible the next day if you […]

The simple cup of coffee, poor thing, has gone through some staggering personality issues in recent years. It has been shamed, vilified, shunned and proven to be a poor choice of beverage. And then, miraculously, it has come full circle to tout its antioxidant health benefits and cholesterol fighting abilities.
But can coffee be good for […]

You may have stumbled upon the newest merchant on the tea block in Food & Wine magazine, in the New York Times, or, if you’re lucky, in a classy grocery store.
But in case you haven’t yet heard about the Highland Tea Company, allow me to introduce you.
Wanja Michuki drew up the plans for a Kenyan […]

When I discovered a recipe underneath the box lid of my Chocolate Caramel Enchantment tea, I realized there was a treasure trove waiting to be found. A quick search for “cooking with tea” led me to several excellent sites. The Cat-Tea Corner website is a good set of guidelines for those just starting out. Celestial Seasonings, […]

I’m always on the look-out for unique gift ideas, especially for those challenging occasions when you have to send or buy a gift for someone who seemingly has everything.  Here’s a new one for your favorite tea lover … why not send them the gift of old-fashioned tea and biscuits?
Chocolatier MarieBelle New York has just […]

A Mocha Frappuccino from Starbucks sure tastes good, even more so when you add the whipped cream and chocolate syrup drizzle.  It’s a perfect way to cool down on a hot day.  Unfortunately, if you’re not careful, the sugar, fat and calories in these drinks can catch up to you, and fast.  Are they all […]

I’m not a big fan of warm weather.  As soon as it gets hot, you can more than likely find me inside with my AC on full blast.  Now that warmer weather is finally reaching the Northeast, it’s a perfect time to start sipping some ice cold drinks, and the folks at Real Simple magazine are […]

In the May issue of Every Day with Rachael Ray, they featured a perfect centerpiece that would be ideal for tea parties and brunches alike. How cute is this?

“Fashion designer Liz Lange has a knack for pleasing moms. When we asked her for a Mother’s day centerpiece, she came up with this smart idea: […]

I stumbled upon this recipe the other day in a Martha Stewart Good Things book that I picked up at a used bookstore. My rhubarb is already starting to shoot up like a weed, plus rhubarb is one of the very few local, organic fruits you can find in season this time of year, so […]

Giles Coren, the host of the latest in British reality TV, Edwardian Supersize Me, weighed in (har har) on the trials and tribulations of a week of Edwardian eating.  Most interesting to afternoon tea-takers and modern day caffeine junkies alike are the menus for Edwardian tea parties.  Ridiculous amounts of food accompany everyone’s favorite drink; scones […]