One delicious little company, that I consider to have aced creativity and quality when it comes to tea and related gifts, is Leaf in London.  They offer 100% natural, whole leaf, hand packed teas and herbal infusions.  Founded in 2005 by a woman named Delphine, a veteran of the food and beverage industries, this small tea company works hard to keep things unique.

Westchester County in NY State is host to a range of cultural and culinary destinations.  One such place is the Caramoor Center for Music and Arts. This former private estate hosts incredible musical performances ranging from chamber performances in the music room to outdoor concerts on the lawn and in the gardens.  They also operate as a museum, displaying fine decorative objects within rooms of the main house and host special educational programs for children and adults.  But possibly best of all (for those reading this blog), they host afternoon teas on Thursdays and Fridays through the month of October.The setting is lovely and offers a tea experience reminiscent of the days when the extraordinarily wealthy spent their summers on the Hudson.  Each ticket costs $30 ($22 for children 16 and under) and includes a tour of the Rosen House and sitting for a formal tea in the Summer Dining Room. 

With a view overlooking the romantic Spanish Courtyard, the experience is transporting.  The afternoon tea includes English scones with cloted cream, tea sandwiches and a selection of desserts.  There are two seatings on Thursdays and Fridays, one at 1:30 and another at 4:00.  To make reservations or for additional information, including notice of special tea events, visit the Caramoor website or call the Rosen House 914-232-5035 x221.

Images are the property/copyright of the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts.

Illustrator and author Christoph Niemann published a brilliant series of “cocktail napkin” sketches and statements about his love for coffee within the Abstract City blog of the New York Times website.  His work is sheer brilliance and really worth a look.  It is rare to find art that so perfectly illustrates life.  His work and sentiments within this entry seems to do just that.
He starts off by saying “I like coffee so much that I have tea for breakfast: The first cup of the day in particular is so good that I’m afraid I won’t be able to properly appreciate it when I am half-asleep...” He proceeds with sharing how he developed such a passion for coffee through clever illustrations and witty storytelling.

Image is property/copyright of the New York Times.

Mother’s Day is quickly approaching and Adagio Teas has assembled an assortment of gifts to meet budgets ranging from $19 to $49.  Choose from various components shown in the image above: Jasmine Bloom display tea; 12oz jumbo g lass tea cup; 17oz petit glass teapot, or choose them all!  This is a lovely idea and a great way to celebrate the beauty of spring and mom all at once.  I have personally enjoyed this Jasmine Bloom tea, it is delicious and a beautiful sight to watch as it steeps and unfolds in the teapot.  The teapot is one of my favorites as well, it is perfect for brewing tea for one or two people.  These items can be purchased directly from Adagio Teas.

Images are the property of Adagio Teas.

Looking for a fragrant, soothing and delicious gift for mom? SerendipiTea has created just the tea sampler for this purpose! A handsome wooden display box has been filled with a sampling if six SerendipiTea favorites, including:

• Genesis - Chinese green tea flavored with apple and mango.
• Iron Goddess of Mercy - Oolong aka Ti Kuan Yin
• Lili’uokalani - Chinese Black Tea flavored with apple, mango, tropical fruit, peach, papaya, orange peel
• Rose Alongi - Chinese green tea with rose buds and petals
• Ruby Sipper - Dried blood orange (tisane)

This lovely sampler is available for purchase from SerendipiTea.com, 5.5 oz., $35 Image is the property of SerendipiTea

Image is the property of Zingerman’s

These little porcelain cups are fun to look at and smart to use.  Each is encased in a silicone sleeve, making it easy to hold on to those piping-hot cups of coffee and tea!  Available in a range of colors, each measures is 4.3 x 3.5″ and is $29 at Generate Design.

For those looking for a clear map to identifying a new place, I can recommend a great book:

A few years ago Elizabeth Knight released a wonderful book entitled Tea in the City: New York, it is filled with reviews and summaries of tea spots located in Manhattan and the boroughs.  Ms. Knight is incredibly knowledgeable and shares her wealth of information with her readers.  Her book is broken down by neighborhoods, such as Chinatown and the Lower East Side; Soho and NoLita; Greenwich Village; Chealsea and the Meat-Packing District, among others.  Interspersed between the neighborhood sections are informative pages on the various traditions of tea: Chinese, Indian, French and Russian.  The final pages of the book contain definitions of various teas and tea-time customs.  This little book has a cover price of $18.95 and is available through Amazon.com.

As the seasons change and hints of color once again begin to fill the landscapes, I am reminded of a visit I made years ago to the Huntington Library in California.  I have the most beautiful vision of a Japanese garden implanted in my memory as a result of that visit.  I can recall walking down a series of steps into an incredibly alluring garden of seemingly sculpted trees and shrubs, koi ponds, sand paths, and stone bridges, punctuated with an elegant house, pagodas and lanterns.  My walk into this fantasy land was punctuated by a shower of cherry blossoms drifting elegantly through the light breeze.  It was a cinematic moment.  This garden is but one of the themed gardens at the Huntington Library in San Marino, California.  For those who enjoy Japanese tea and culture, this garden provides an incredible foundation of beauty akin to an in-person visit to Japan.

My next favorite garden at the Huntington Library is the Rose Garden.  In addition to being filled with approximately 4,000 plants, stone sculptures and gazebos, this lovely garden also boasts the Huntington Library’s Tea Room.  The Tea room overlooks a stunning three acres of roses and offers traditional English tea service.  Each table receives a pot of brewed tea and a basket of freshly baked scones, diners then select finger sandwiches, cheeses, fruits, salads and desserts from a central buffet station.  Their full menu is available online by clicking here.  The best part is, the Rose Tea Room offers limitless refills of tea and scones, all you have to do is ask!  There is no dress code and children are welcome.  Their signature tea is a delicious black tea that has been layered with rose petals.  Reservations are strongly recommended and can be booked online or by calling 626-683-8131.  The prices are $24.95 per person, plus tax with a discounted rate of $12.49 for children ages 4-8.  Regular admission to the Huntington Library grounds is additional and required in order to access the Tea Room (Adults range from $12-20 and Youth passes are $6).

The Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA 91108
626.405.2100  
Hours and Admission information, click here
Rose Garden Tea Room - Hours and info, click here
Images are the property of The Huntington Library

Late last month, at the International Stroke Conference in San Diego, California, research was presented linking coffee and tea consumption with lower risk of stroke in both men and women.  Kathleen Doheny of Health Day, a health news syndication service, published an excellent article detailing the findings.  You can read the article by clicking here.