A Nice Cuppa

I admit it, when it comes to hot beverages, I am pretty much stuck on coffee and tea as being the only ones I fixate on when the weather chills. I do love hot apple cider, especially swirled with a cinnamon stick, and of course, when the snow falls in Minnesota and I spend time […]

I don’t know why I do it, but every few months I forget my prior experiences and decide to pick up a new tea flavor at Trader Joe’s.  Their prices are always so great, and the flavors of the Trader Joe’s brand of tea always sound a bit exotic.  Let it be known that I am a […]

The frozen hot chocolate thing has been done fifty times over, but just in case you didn’t catch that wave, here’s the secret:  it’s a sham.  All you need is a packet of hot cocoa mix, a cup of milk, and some ice cubes.
The craze was actually somewhat legitimate.  I crave hot cocoa at all […]

With summer winding up and the cool weather fast approaching, I’d say there’s just enough light left in the evening to make a batch of tea-flavored ice cream. I came across a recipe for tea-flavored ice cream in BHG magazine. It’s got an interesting base–evaporated milk and heavy cream–whose richness reminds me of tres leches, […]

Butter Tea or Po Cha is a staple of Tibetan life. Several cups or rather bowls of this black tea, milk, salt and butter concoction are consumed every morning. Because of the butter, the drink is high in calories and thus provides energy for work throughout the day. 
I think I’m drawn to the idea of […]

Tea Recipes 
 
Scones, Scones, Scones!
Scones are as expected on the tea table as the teapot itself. Quintessential examples are the following recipes, made with currants, cinnamon, or walnuts. Traditional companions for scones are butter, jam, and a dollop of Devonshire or softly beaten cream.
Scones originated in Scotland, where the word is pronounced “scaun.” The name originally […]

For those looking for a caffeine bolster in the dog days of summer, a tall glass of iced tea might be just the ticket.  But instead of going with the same old, same old, try these new twists from Better Homes and Gardens and perk up your summertime tea:

Frozen frills: Freeze edible flowers or mint […]

The Tea Experience, the latest publication from TeaTime magazine, offers a smashing array of recipes and images from tea rooms across the country that would make even the Queen herself drool (if Queens actually did such things). It’s a bit heavy on the Southern tea establishments (13 reviews to 5 actually) as the majority of […]

Last week’s Dining In/Dining Out section of the New York Times featured a short and sweet article about iced coffee. Turns out you can brew coffee cold. Who knew? Cindy Price writes that “without the bitterness produced by hot water, the cold-brewed coffee had hints of chocolate, even caramel.” And who […]

It was a summer afternoon when I was out on my bike in the hip town next to mine with a chai-fiend friend. I was really, really overwarm. I asked for a chai at the hip coffee shop and a very hip-looking man gave it to me. Looking back, he was probably […]