Yesterday I sent an order of tea to a Duchess. I love the idea of Her Grace drinking Rare Tea from the finest Spode in one of her elegant drawing rooms, looking out over the most beautiful garden in England.
Xed, pictured here, is a celebrated tattoo artist. He is also one of my best customers. I also delight in an image of him sipping a subtle oolong in his studio as he works.
cant live without my OOLONG
Xed Lehead
Rare Teas are now served at the Pelham Hotel in South Ken.
Next time you have tickets for the Albert Hall or you want to go and look at the dinosaurs in Harrods, no, no, I mean, The Natural History Museum you’ll know where to stay.
This place doesn’t just meet needs it anticipates them
Travel and Leisure
This week we are exhibiting at the Taste Festival in Regent’s Park, London.
It’s Thursday - Sunday with two sessions a day. The evening session is 5-9 so you can come after work.
No excuses. Unless you live in Inverness.
I’ll be serving tea as a true tea-lady should and will bring along some really rare teas I’ve just discovered in Malawi. If you ask nicely I’ll make some specially -as a small reward for the tedium of reading my blog.
One of the first people to really champion my tea was the sommelier at Chez Bruce -Katie Exton. It was an incredible boost at the begining when I really needed it. With her endorsement people who care about flavour began to take Rare Tea seriously.
The ongoing support of Katie and Terry Trelfall at Chez Bruce has made a big difference. Not only do they serve my teas but they talk about them with the same passion and excitement that they talk about wine.
I can’t tell you how wonderful it was when I overhead someone order tea when I was there one lunch-time. The sommelier went to their table and explained the subtleties of each tea and helped them chose a Jasmine Silver Tip, explaining it had been hand scented six times with fresh jasmine flowers. Then I was able to watch the customer enjoy it.
I blushed.
Henrietta’s teas are just wonderful; full of flavour, purity and freshness and yet still so delicate. The jasmine tea is the best I’ve ever tried.
Katie Exton
“Henrietta’s white silver tip tea is simply exquisite.”
Anjelica Huston
Just so you don’t think I’ve been swanning about in Manhattan this is a tea tasting I did this afternoon. Its not a bad life tasting tea. But sometimes you do need a martini afterwards. Just to refresh the palate, obviously.
I’ve had a few emails as to whether iced-tea is okay for small children.
I’m just a tea-lady not an expert but if you want to keep the sugar and caffeine levels low use silver tip tea.
Silver Tip tea is low in caffeine and because it is un-processed (just dried) it retains very high levels of antioxidants. This lack of processing and the fact that is made entirely from un-photosynthesizing leaf buds means that it is very low in tannins which makes tea bitter. So you wont need to add so much sugar or honey.
Now I’m definitely not saying that children shouldn’t have sugar but I don’t suppose they need a huge amount. Some honey sweetened iced silver tip tea is the most refreshing drink for anyone.
I’m off to New York tomorrow and in honour (I suppose in this case it should be honor) of all things American here is a recipe for iced tea. This isn’t any old iced tea laced with so much sugar that your teeth melt.
If you use a really good whole leaf green tea it wont be bitter so you wont need a lot of sugar. A little manuca honey is much more delicious.
Iced Green tea
One pot of Green tea
Infuse for slightly longer than usual- about 6 minutes.
Strain into a jug and allow to cool.
A couple of springs of fresh mint
Three slices of lemon
Manuca honey to taste. I add it in spoon by sticky spoon until its right.
Refrigerate or serve over ice.
As part of their Big Tea Party fundraiser Home-Start are having an on-line auction. Please have a look and see if there’s anything there that you would like to bid for …
IT GOES LIVE AT 8 P.M. THIS EVENING AND RUNS UNTIL 8 P.M. ON MONDAY 26TH
Here’s the link:-
http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/home-startbigteaparty
‘The tea from the Rare Tea Company is truly unique. Sourced directly from the small mountain tea gardens in China its pure and natural flavours create some fantastic blends. I am proud to offer this tea selection at The Kitchin as it is very much in line with the restaurant’s philosophy ‘From Nature to Plate’.
Tom Kitchin
Awarded one Michelin star in January 2007, Tom Kitchin is the youngest ever Scottish Chef proprietor to receive one.
Voted ‘Scottish Chef of the Year’ 2007
Kitchin is the most amazing restaurant in Edinburgh. I know I would say that because Tom has said such lovely things about Rare Tea and he serves it at his wonderful restaurant. But if you think I’m exaggerating, ‘all mouth and no trousers’ as you might say, his cooking stands up to the most elevated praise.
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