The Tale of Peter Rabbit

 The Tale of Peter Rabbit

"I am sorry to say that Peter was not well during the evening.

His mother put him to bed, and made some camomile tea:

and she gave a dose of it to Peter!"

From The Tale of Peter Rabbit.

I can't help but think of Beatrix Potter's

adorable Peter Rabbit at Easter time.

Hilltop Farm Garden Gate
(I took this photo when we visited Beatrix Potter's
Hilltop Farm in The Lake District, England)

As the tale goes, mischievous Peter squeezed under the garden gate to Mr. McGregor's garden and ate too many vegetables that gave him an upset tummy.  That is why his mother gave him camomile tea.

Chamomile herbal tea is soothing for an upset stomach and calming as well. 

Peter Rabbit

Since it's Easter week my Peter Rabbit figurine and friends are out for tea. 

I hope you enjoy fresh baked scones or hot cross buns with tea this Easter week.

And if you're ever travelling in The Lake District, be sure to visit Hilltop Farm and have afternoon tea at  nearby Sharrow Bay Hotel on Lake Ullswater.


***If you are interested in the life of Beatrix Potter, you might enjoy my 2009 post about her on my knitting blog.  She was a woman way ahead of her time.  I admire her so much.


(In the photos:  Royal Winton Old Cottage tea cup and Richmond plate, vintage Beswick Peter Rabbit figurine and Wedgwood Peter Rabbit tea caddy.) 

Royal-Tea Memorabilia

King George VI Coronation Mug

Thanks to the upcoming Royal Wedding...

there's a lot of buzz over British Royal Commemorative china again.

I might even snag a William & Kate Royal Wedding mug when I visit The Potteries

(Stoke-on-Trent, England ) next month. 

Commemorative china and Royal souvenirs honoring coronations and royal events have been collectible for years. 

Check out this neat article The Queen of Royal Memorabila from the UK newspaper, The Times.  I loved it!

Princess Elizabeth

I spotted a fantastic 1937 King George VI Coronation Mug (top photo) today at

Folsom's Antique Peddlers Fair. 

The British antique dealer was quite lovely allowing me to photograph it.  She couldn't wait to come over and turn it around to point out the mug's backside with the adorable HRH Princess Elizabeth on it. 

I loved the movie The King's Speech and it was so neat to see an actual 

commemorative mug from his reign today!

Royal-Tea

A Royal Wedding Tea

I've got my fascinator and Union Jack tea mug...

I'm ready for a Royal Wedding Tea Party...

How about you?

Well then, we better get to planning. 

British Tea Books

We've got just over 2 weeks to plan a lovely Royal Wedding Tea Party. 

Now is a perfect time to pull out any British tea books you may have for menu inspiration, ideas and recipes.  A few of my favorites are The London Ritz Book of Afternoon Tea and Taking Tea at the Savoy. 

From Taking Tea at the Savoy:

Think of afternoon tea and what comes to mind?  Ladies in smart hats, floral tea dresses, and white gloves, sipping Earl Grey from bone china cups, little finger poised in mid-air, then daintily cutting off a piece of fruit tart with a silver cake fork or delicately eating a cucumber sandwich, crusts removed....

Feeling inspired?  Let's talk about the menu!

The Savoy

The Savoy is one of London's great hotels for afternoon tea. 

My husband and I honeymooned at The Savoy ten years ago. I love my little tea book souvenir, Taking Tea at the Savoy.

I think Savoy Scones are perfect for a Royal Wedding Tea menu. 

Chef Anton Edelmann's scone recipe is not only in Taking Tea at the Savoy but also here when he was a guest on The Martha Stewart Show.

For perfect scones both Chef Anton Edelmann and Britain's Delia Smith have this tip:

 for perfect English scones, dough should never be rolled out to anything less 3/4" (2cm).  Hmm, so that is why scones in England always have more height than American scones!

Tea at The Ritz

Besides tea and scones,  A Royal Wedding Tea menu should include cucumber sandwiches,  traditional finger sandwiches, a few sweet treats and, of course, strawberry jam and clotted cream for the scones.

I've never had tea at The Ritz London due to its strict formal dress code (gentlemen must wear a jacket & tie) but I have sneaked a peak at the gorgeous Palm Court Tearoom inside.  A nice gentleman even gave me an Afternoon Tea Menu.  Feel free to use this Afternoon Tea Menu as a guide for planning your Royal Wedding Tea menu.

Lastly, don't forget to bring out your best china and your favorite pot of tea.  I'm thinking a lovely Earl Grey or commemorative Royal Wedding Blend is just what the Royal Couple ordered!

Good luck planning your Royal Wedding Tea Party.

Remember you can even treat yourself to a "tea party for one" while you watch the Royal Wedding in your pajamas, like me.  Just don't forget to wear your fascinator...

Kate would like that!

(In the photos:  Emma Bridgewater Blue Toast & Marmalade Tea Pot and Union Jack mug, Fascinator by August from Nordstrom, and assorted tea books.)

A Cottage Tea

 Anne Hathaway's Cottage

I love English cottages, gardens and tea! 

I've been thinking a lot about England lately preparing for our trip "across the pond" next month.  Whenever we visit England, I try to take an afternoon tea break everyday. 

One year while visiting Anne Hathaway's Cottage in Stratford-Upon-Avon, I had my tea break at The Cottage Restaurant & Tea Gardens. 

 The Cottage Restaurant

& Tea Gardens

The Cottage Restaurant & Tea Gardens is a perfect place for a tea break.   I loved it's conservatory building and it's just a "hop and a skip" away from Anne Hathaway's Cottage. 

 A Welcoming Sign

This adorable "Open sign" caught me eye
and hearkened me in for a cream tea!

Freshly Baked Scones

Tea & scones
always taste better in England! 

Cream Tea Break

The Cottage Restaurant is a small family-run little place  
but huge on friendly hospitality and tasty scones!  It's a perfect stop for a cream tea break.

And...I loved that they had Liberty of London fabric table cloths!

If you visit Anne Hathaway's Cottage be sure to "take time for tea" and have a tea break at
The Cottage Restaurant & Tea Gardens.   The tea menu is available all day. 

Fleur de Geisha

 Fleur de Geisha

Hanami (flower viewing) is the Japanese custom of enjoying the beauty of  flowers. 

Every spring from the end of March to early May the Sakura (cherry blossoms) bloom all over Japan.  The Japanese people enjoy the tradition of hanami today by celebrating in parks and festivals with outdoor parties under the Sakura trees.

 Geisha Girls

Hanami is also celebrated in the United States. 

On March 27, 1912, Japan gave 3,000 Japanese cherry trees as a gift to the United States.  These trees were planted in Washington DC.  In 1965 another 3,800 gifted trees were planted there.  Japans' gift of the cherry blossom trees celebrates the enduring friendship between the people of Japan and the United States. 

Washington D.C. has had a Cherry Blossom Festival since 1935 to celebrate spring and the gift of the cherry blossom trees.  Today the festival has grown into a 2 week spring celebration known as the National Cherry Blossom Festival. 

 Le Palais des The`s

A wonderful way for to celebrate the arrival of spring and hanami is to drink

Fleur de Geisha tea by Le Palais des The`s.

Le Palais des The`s is tucked away in the le Marais in Paris. I discovered this wonderful tea purveyor while meandering the Marais on my last trip to Paris. 

My favorite tea discovery in their shop was Fleur de Geisha .  This tea is actually inspired by the Japanese tradition of Hanami viewing cherry trees in blossom.  Fleur de Geisha is a Sencha (green tea) delicately scented with cherry blossom. 

Fleur de Geisha

Fleur de Geisha is the perfect tea to celebrate the cherry blossom trees.

This special tea blend can be ordered online from Les Palais des The`s but I've decided to wait and pick mine up on my upcoming trip to Paris in May.

I hope you'll try this lovely taste of spring and take time for hanami. 

Special note:   I would like to express my heartfelt prayers to the people of Japan and their loved ones as they recover from their devastating earthquake and tsunami.  For ways to help the people of Japan, you can visit this website. 


(In the photos:  Large Washi tea canister available for purchase at The Tea Cupboard.)

An Afternoon in Paris!

 Un Apres Midi a` Paris

(An Afternoon in Paris)

 Spring has sprung...

and there's nothing better than An Afternoon in Paris
 in the springtime!

 Place des Vosges

A lovely place to visit on An Afternoon in Paris is the Place des Vosges. 

The Place des Vosges is the oldest square, and some say the most beautiful square in Paris.  I agree. 

The Place des Vosges is located in the trendy le Marais district. 

I'll be spending an afternoon in Paris (well, actually five)  next month when my husband and I holiday in England and Paris.  This will be our first time staying in the Marais arrondissment.  (We normally stay in the Rue Cler area near the Eiffel Tower.)  The Marais is home to trendy boutiques, famous patisseries, and my favorite French tea purveyors... Mariage Freres and Le Palais des The`s!

I can't wait for Paris in springtime!

An Afternoon in Paris

Speaking of spring,  An Afternoon in Paris is one of my favorite teas to drink in springtime.  It's floral and fruity notes certainly conjure up memories of Paris afternoons.

An Afternoon in Paris is one of Fauchon's top selling blends.  This lovely Chinese Black tea is flavored with sweet Orange oil, orange peel, vanilla, rose oil and rose petals.  I find its ideal steeping time is 4 minutes.  Of course, this tea is perfect in the afternoon with your favorite French desserts.  Very Parisian, indeed!

To enjoy this tea, I'm afraid you'll have to enjoy an afternoon in Paris and buy it there.  Fauchon products are being sold again online in the US but not all products are available on the US shopping site. 

 I can't wait for more afternoons in Paris!

(In the photos:  Vintage Shelley "Woodland" Tea Cup & Saucer. 

Available for purchase in The Tea Cupboard.)

Leprechaun Tea Toddy

Leprechaun Tea Toddy

 I love that anyone can be a "wee bit" Irish on St. Patrick's Day. 

(Yes, I'll be wearing something green and making my traditional Corned Beef & Cabbage.  Yum!)

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, here's a wonderful tea toddy recipe perfect for celebrating St. Patrick's Day or anytime you need a soothing treat on a cold night.

Yum!

Leprechaun Tea Toddy

1 cup hot brewed Earl Grey tea

1 shot Baileys Original Irish Cream

1 tsp. sugar

1 dash Irish Whiskey

In a tea cup, combine the brewed tea, Baileys, sugar and whiskey.  Serve immediately. 

Enjoy!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!