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"Saying that, my top tips for getting the most flavour out of your leaves include using freshly drawn water from the tap rather than re-boiling any water left in the kettle - also only use the water you need to save energy!

I also recommend using boiling water for black tea and not almost boiling or water that boiled a minute ago. Green tea needs to be brewed at around 85C, otherwise it will taste quite astringent.

"Another tip is to give the teabag a little stir to allow the leaves to infuse properly, but dont abuse the poor fellow; I brew for 2-3 minutes to allow the tea to infuse properly before adding milk."

If you want to attend a Platinum Jubilee tea party or another event over the bank holiday weekend, you can check what's going on near you on the Government website here.

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How to throw a Platinum Jubilee tea party fit for the Queen - Express

Shellys Tea Room, Plymouth

Michelle and Sean Sinclair ran award-winning tea rooms in England for 10 years. In February, they brought their tea-centric skills to downtown Plymouth. Youll feel like you wandered onto an episode of the Great British Baking Show when you spy their tray of treats. Options include Victoria sponge (Britains favorite cake) and Battenburg, a colorful cake square wrapped in marzipan. And if youve ever wanted try a crumpet or petticoat tail, this is the place. Pastries are baked on site daily. We are the only English tea room in Massachusetts owned by English people, serving authentically English fare, says Sean Sinclair.

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Their basic cream tea service includes scones and clotted cream and a pot of loose-leaf tea. (More than 100 choices of tea are available.) Ramp up the indulgence factor with the full-on Windsor tea, featuring hibiscus iced tea, crustless finger sandwiches, a selection of petite cakes and desserts, and a pot of tea. Vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free choices are available. For the under-10 set, Shellys offers the Prince & Princess High Tea: two finger sandwiches, a scone, a mini cake, and a drink. Love those scones? Nab some Take & Bake Scones at the gift shop. Cream tea, $14.95 per person; Windsor tea, 1 hour 45 min.; $34.95 per person; Prince & Princess High Tea, $14.95 per child; open daily 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Reservations recommended. 51 Court St., Plymouth; 508-927-4402; http://www.shellystearooms.com.

Fancy That, Walpole

You may not score an invite to the Queens Jubilee, but you can take a selfie with a life-size cutout of Her Royal Highness at this whimsical little spot or strike your best royal pose on a pink vinyl couch. Glittery tea pots and pink bejeweled tiaras (for birthday girls) are among the fanciful (and Instagrammable) touches here. Says owner Sarah Erlandson, I offer people a place where the problems of the day evaporate into laughter over tea. Among the 100-plus blends of tea, she offers black tea blends including Malted Magic (made with malted milk balls) and Don Drapers Bourbon Tea (no alcohol, but bourbon-y flavor.) Among green teas, theres one that tastes like a Cherry Bakewell tart, and a figgy pudding-flavored tea, if you want to go Full Brit. Love the idea of afternoon tea, but not a huge tea fan? Herbal teas (made with flowers, fruit, or bark, not tea leaves) are a great option; Erlandson recommends raspberry sweet, a blend of pineapple cubes, apple, dragonfruit, and freeze-dried raspberry that tastes like cotton candy.

Dine-In Afternoon Tea, designed for ages 12 and up, and up to six guests, includes a pot of tea from the expansive tea menu, two scones (the flavor of the day, with clotted cream) and a savory cheddar and chive scone; four tea sandwiches (chicken salad with apricot jam and golden raisins is a favorite), and three mini desserts mousse or parfait in a shot glass, a French macaron, and a bite-sized cupcake. Afternoon tea, 90 minutes; $34 per person; seating at noon and 3 p.m. weekdays; 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. on weekends. Reservations required. 272 Main St., Walpole; 888-323-2832; http://www.afternoontea.com.

Wenham Tea House, Wenham

Welcome to the most charming spot in Wenham, a 110-year-old tea house, the oldest operating tea house in the country, they say. Closed during the pandemic, its future uncertain, this beloved institution is now owned by local restaurateurs Brenden Crocker and Milissa Oraibi of Black Arrow in Manchester. Their goal is to add modern flair to the classic tea service check out their jazzy teapots, made by Australian firm T2 but not too modern. Our tea service still serves fresh-baked scones with lemon curd, Tiptree jams, and Devonshire double cream, Oraibi says.

Beyond those tea-time mainstays, Chef Brenden likes to be creative and change things up, in terms of menu, Oraibi notes. Dainty bites, arrayed on three-tiered trays, might include ham and Brie in pastry cups with fig jam, roasted portobello on a baguette with red pepper jelly and chevre, or a chocolate-coconut vegan brownie topped with pomegranate cream. (Vegan and gluten-free bites are available, but not a full vegan or dairy-free high tea at this point.) Tea comes from Harney & Sons Fine Teas, with more than 20 kinds available. And if you happen to know some oh-so-civilized small fry, treat them to Tots Tea (ages 12 and under, $29 per person, with kid favorites like grilled cheese and PB&J and mini-desserts.) The garden patio is set to open this spring. Classic tea, 90 minutes; $44 per person; served Friday and Saturday from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.; by reservation. 4 Monument St., Wenham; 978-468-1398; http://www.wenhamteahouse.com.

The Dunbar House, Sandwich

Want to see a childs face light up? Present them with two tiers of tiny sandwiches and luscious miniature sweets like Funfetti scones with cream and jam. Thats Wee Tea at the Dunbar House. Because why should teensy royals George, Charlotte, and Louis have all the fun?

For adults, the Windsor Afternoon Tea, served all day, is a great way to pay homage to the tradition of tea time. The setting is a 1920s carriage house, transformed into a British-themed tea room. When you walk in, youll hear jazz and swing music that will take you back in time, says owner Kate Wolstenholme. Theres nothing like taking the time for tea!

Choose a beverage from their lengthy list of loose teas and tisanes, along with a scone with fruit and jam, fresh fruit (nice!), four finger sandwiches (perhaps turkey with mango chutney or lobster salad), and four decadent seasonal desserts. Or give tea time a vegetarian or gluten-free spin. All the baking is done in-house. Lunch and brunch menus carry on the Sandwich-meets-UK theme, when chef Patrick Hurley whips up a beef stew or ploughmans platter. Upcoming events include a Downton Abbey-themed afternoon tea and a celebration of the Queens Jubilee. Afternoon tea, 90 minutes, Thurs.-Sun., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Reservations recommended. Windsor Tea, $30 per person (may be higher for special events); Wee Tea, $17 per person; One Water St., Sandwich; 508-833-2485; http://www.thedunbarhouse.com.

Abigails Tea Room & Terrace, Boston

How could we do a tea story without mentioning the most infamous tea party of all? At the Boston Tea Party Museums tea room, you can taste the five historic teas that were thrown overboard at the Boston Tea Party: Bohea, Congou, and Souchong (black teas) along with Singlo and Hyson, both green teas (Hyson, an early spring green tea, was a favorite of Thomas Jefferson and George Washington.) Who knew the museum had a tea room, with harbor views and an outdoor deck? And if youve ever hankered for a souvenir mug with your name on it, this is the place.

Abigails doesnt serve a traditional high tea, but they offer a counter-service-style menu of sandwiches, clam chowder, scones, and cookies, so you can create your own afternoon tea. Employees wearing Colonial-style garb are happy to chat about life in Boston in 1773, adding to the motif. While youre sipping tea, the kids can play period games like draughts. A tea platter, serving up to four people, includes scones and a pot of Abigails Blend tea, named for Abigail Adams. Since 80 percent of the tea thrown overboard during the Boston Tea Party was black tea from China, and quite strong, tea master Bruce Richardson added some teas from India to temper earthiness and add smoothness to Abigails Blend, along with a bit of black tea from Kenya to suit modern tastes. Open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thurs.-Mon. Tasting of five teas, $3.99 per person; Abigails Tea Platter, $14; 306 Congress St., Boston; 617-338-1775; http://www.bostonteapartyship.com.

Out of town, but intriguing: Tea meets art at the Mayflower Inn, Washington, Conn.:

Its afternoon tea-meets-art salon: Tea is served in an exclusive set of porcelain cups, saucers, and teapots created by Montreal-based artist Marie-Claude Marquis, an extension of the artists exhibit in the hotels library, Too Tired to Sleep. Running through June 30th, the show is a series of vignettes that celebrate rest and self-care. The private experience (for up to four guests) includes tea sandwiches, cookies, scones, homemade preserves, tartlets, and the inns signature Bellocq tea. Afternoon tea, Mon.-Fri., 2 or 4 p.m.; $55 per person; $75 with champagne; 118 Woodbury Road, Washington, Conn.; 860-868-9466; http://www.aubergeresorts.com/mayflower.

Diane Bair and Pamela Wright can be reached at bairwright@gmail.com

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Pinkies up! 6 great spots for a spot of tea around Boston - The Boston Globe

To the Editor:

A May 4, 2022 letter in The Globe expressed concern over the proposed carbon dioxide pipeline going through the area landowners fields.

Here is why this project is totally worthless for controlling global warming: The pipeline would capture some 8 million metric tons of CO2 per year from 31 ethanol plants then pump it into the ground in North Dakota.

Using an average size coal-fired power plant like Coal Creek in North Dakota as an apples to apples comparison in regard to CO2 emissions against what the pipeline handles; here is a breakdown of its effect on global warming.

About 3.2% of all CO2 in the atmosphere is manmade. (D.O.E. 2000). About 44% of manmade CO2 is coming from coal-fired power plants worldwide. (U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2019), so that makes coal-fired CO2 about 1.4% of total CO2 in the atmosphere.

America burns about 9% of the total worldwide coal usage (Enerdata, 2017), so that makes the total U.S. contribution to atmospheric CO2 about 0.126%. Coal Creek was emitting about 10 million tons of CO2 annually. That comes to about 0.7% of Americas coal-fired CO2 emissions stated by E.I.A. (1.36 billion tons per year).

So, this brings Coal Creeks CO2 contribution to the reservoir of CO2 in the earths atmosphere to a whopping 0.0009%; which is also what this CO2 pipeline would do to Save the planet.

Water vapor, another greenhouse gas, traps about 1,300 times more heat than mans CO2. Thats based on a 1% global atmospheric water vapor content; however, it can, at times, go up to 4% in places. Even a somewhat small up or down change in the massive quantity of water vapor may release or absorb far more heat, and therefore have more effect on temperature, than would a doubling of our current tiny CO2 level.

Even a 2020 Bloomberg article said the COVID-19 pandemic brought down air pollution due to a drop in fossil fuel usage; but had no effect on rising atmospheric CO2 level.

With China burning over four times more coal than the U.S.A., is this not a totally futile endeavor?

Ethanol companies should be throwing a Boston Tea Party over government imposing carbon points penalties on companies it feels are pumping out too much CO2. Its really taxation without representation.'

Phil DrietzDelhi

Originally posted here:
Letter: Ethanol plants should throw a 'Boston Tea Party' over carbon point penalties - The Globe

The Executive Committee of the Wesson Garden Club hosted a 50s and 60s retro tea party for the members to mark the end of the Clubs year. Those attending were Marilyn Britt, Sherri Carty, Sherry Davis, Rebecca Harrison, Debbie Hoaglin, Denise Jackson, Vickie Martin, Pam McLemore, Ashley Munn, June Owens, Pam Owens, Jennifer Peets, Joy Phillips, Jean Ricks, Debbie Smith, Lisa Smith, Nancy Sullivan, Dixie Thornton, Brittney Warren, Cathy Warren, and Joy Wesbrooks. Invited guests in attendance were Paige Anderson and Cherry Head.

The American Legion Post 79 was transformed into a beautiful Tea Party setting with lots of vintage decor with beautiful tea pots, tea cups, beautifully decorated tables, awesome floral designs and accents plus, of course, delicious refreshments. Many members even wore styles of the 50s and 60s. Jean Ricks led in the reading of the Clubs Collect, June Owens blessed the food, and Debbie Smith read a beautiful poem entitled The Meaning of Garden Club Work from the National Garden Clubs A Collection of Inspirations and Installations.

After a time of fellowship and enjoying the delicious treats provided by the Executive Committee, President Dixie Thornton recapped the Clubs year and thanked the members for all their hard work throughout the year making for a very successful year. The Wesson Garden Club received five first place awards, one second place award, and one honorable mention at the 93rd Annual Convention of The Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc. held April 19-20, 2022 in Brandon. Awards received in the Clubs category were First Place: Garden Education Center, Carrie Avent Bird Award, Container Gardening, Social Media by Club Member/s, National Garden Week (plus Overall); Second Place: Public Relations; and Honorable Mention: Publicity Press Book. The Club also received First Place Bird Award from Deep South Garden Clubs, Inc. for the Clubs Blue Bird Trail project spearheaded by JoAnn Miller.

First time competitors in the Girl Power National Garden Clubs State Petite Design Speciality Flower Show held in Brandon on April 18, 2022 were Debbie Smith and Dixie Thornton. Debbie received honorable mention in the Serving Others Reflective Design Class and Dixie received 2nd place in the Preparing to Entertain Table Design.

The Tea Party was a great ending to a very successful and productive Club year Making Things Happen.

The Wesson Garden Club youth gardeners, the Butterbeans, held their final meeting of the school year on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at the Wesson Park. The 3rd through 6th graders were treated to ice cream and snow cones at Park Place Ice Cream! They then enjoyed Mrs. Kris Sullivan reading her recently published book, Truly Too Green. The Butterbeans were pleased to present to Mrs. Ann Clark from the Wesson Library the book, We are The Gardeners. Thank you Butterbeans for a fun year.

The Wesson Garden Club is a member of The Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc., National Garden Clubs, Inc., Deep South Garden Clubs, Inc., Natchez Trace District-Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc.

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Wesson Garden Club marks end of year with parties - Daily Leader - Dailyleader

VIRGINIA BEACH As I entered the room at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, the upbeat sounds of a jazz quartet caught my ear. They made me want to shake a white handkerchief in the air to the beat. I settled on a two-step.

It set my mood for a Saturday afternoon of fruity teas, finger foods and fashion, the Virginia Beach History Museums Elegance & DiviniTea.

This was the latest in the museums annual tea events. The first, in December, was Victorian themed, with Christmas carolers in ankle-length skirts and festive capes. This tea, on May 14, was hat-inspired and grounded in African and African American culture.

It just seems to fit what we are the Virginia Beach History Museums and Cultural Affairs, the museums director, Annmarie Reiley-Kay.

One of the partnering organizations for the event was the Princess Anne County Training School-Union Kempsville High School Alumni and Friends Association, the only school for Black people in what was then Princess Anne County. Black and white images from the graduating classes decorated the lobby. In the tea room, women greeted each other with colorful fascinators pinned behind their ears, and purple hats with wide brims and matching bows set high on their foreheads.

Gathering for the tea. (Bill Tiernan/Freelance)

Some tables included vintage headdresses, provided by the Little Theatre of Virginia Beach, on top of the floral arrangements. Other centerpieces of greenery, babys breath and pops of color from carnations also made me smile.

In the center of the room, seven strobe bars formed a runway. As I took my seat, I admired the hats in the room, such as a yellow satin pleated hat with an inner diamond circle. Another was turquoise with a matching ribbon, and another was pink felt with three strings of pearls wrapped around the band.

Gold tablecloths draped each four-seat table. An orange vanilla cream rooibos tea bag sat in flowery china cups, and a watermelon hibiscus tea bag and Ceylon black tea bag waited on the saucers. A silver-plated tea bag holder was included to hold the used teabags. The organizers thought of every little detail, including the gold plastic utensils wrapped in thick white napkins with a gold paper band to secure them.

The table couldnt hold any more goodies, so vibrant yellow and purple church fans, displaying the program on one side and the tea menu with their histories on the other, waited on the cushioned chairs.

With host Bonita Billingsley Harris at left, Otealia Jennings of Virginia Beach sings "America the Beautiful" at the beginning of the Elegance & DiviniTea event. (Bill Tiernan/Freelance)

I started with my rooibos. It had a subtle flavor profile with delicate vanilla aromatics. The menu contained a brief history. Rooibos, or red bush, is a herb native to South Africa. It was cultivated by the indigenous bushmen, the Khoisan people, and has been cultivated for more than 300 years. Rooibos began to rise in commercial popularity between 1904 and 1968. It could barely be imported to the United States before 2000 because of sanctions during South Africas segregationist apartheid era.

The timing was perfect. Model Mikel Fuller of the ss community which practices the religion and spirituality of the Yoruba of West Africa hit the runway with a showstopper. She wore a stunning tall, red Nigerian head wrap called a gele. Golden tones reflected in the light as she sashayed down the runway.

Professor Omiyemi Artisia Green from William & Mary, a priestess for the ss spiritual community of Hampton Roads, walked to the podium in her green gele. She talked about the history of the gele. In Africa, a gele symbolizes social status. African Americans now wear the head wrap or hat to connect to their spiritual crown.

The program host, Bonita Billingsley Harris, reminded the audience of the adage: The higher the hat, the closer to God.

The name of the event became clearer and aligned with the purpose elegance and divinity.

Models from Teens with a Purpose wore derby and church hats, a few vintage offerings from the Little Theatre. Then Stark & Legum, one of the oldest local haberdashers, showcased mens and womens hats.

They ranged from black or white fedoras with decorative bands to a summertime panama hat with blue-black ribbon a brown suede cowboy hat. If the leading male model looked familiar to some, it was the longtime area coach Elisha Cadillac Harris, and husband of the host.

Zion Smith Designs featured some incredible pieces, giving us a peek into the future of headwear. The crowd admired a model wearing the red satin ribbon all-year material accented with Swarovski crystals. I pulled out my camera.

I was seeing red and sipping it. I switched my tea to the watermelon hibiscus with its ruby liquor, my favorite of the day. It gave me subtle sweet notes with a juicy tart finish. The Hibiscus sabdariffa is native to North Africa, Southeast Asia and grows in tropical climates. In some African countries, its used for medicinal purposes. Its popular in West Africa, Central Africa and the diaspora. Hibiscus plants were on ships with enslaved Africans in the 1500s.

As the event ended, people collected their dessert boxes: a strawberry lemon tart with lemon cream, fresh strawberries and whipped cream, and a French macaron, perfect bites to end an afternoon tea. The lightly sweetened macaron, with its buttery crust, would have complemented the earthy boldness of a cup of the Ceylon black tea.

Served along with three kinds of tea and a catered boxed lunch: history and abundant creativity. Church fans, arrayed on each chair, had held the menus. (Bill Tiernan/Freelance)

As I reflected on the days event, I plotted my order of indulgence for the savory boxed lunches, which contained traditional tea party favorites. I enjoyed the freshness of the chicken salad on wheat bread. The roast beef on a mini brioche with cranberry chutney tasted like quality beef meeting a hint of sweetness. I loved the smoked salmon salad with fresh dill on wheat bread so much that I went to the companys website to see if it was a regular menu item. No such luck. I savored the fresh, smooth, herbaceous bite. The cucumber and cream cheese with fresh chives on white bread didnt disappoint my palate either. It had a thin layer of creaminess with a little crunch. Then I tried a moist blueberry scone with its burst of fruity flavor.

Hillary Plate, the cultural program and grants coordinator for the Virginia Beach Cultural Affairs Department, wants a tea series with a taste of history that brings the community together. She accomplished this with Elegance and DiviniTea.

Rekaya Gibson, rekaya.gibson@virginiamedia.com, 754-295-8809

The rest is here:
Tea, hats and history: Women gather to celebrate all three at Elegance & DiviniTea - The Virginian-Pilot