Interview: Tatjana and Tom of Teapro UK

Tatjana and Tom, photo courtesy of Teapro UK

Instagram is by far my favorite way to connect with tea people, I love looking at all the creative tea photos! One account that always entertains and amuses is Teapro UK. Founders Tatjana and Tom are incredibly whimsical and artistic. They do a great job of illustrating the joys of tea. Teapro UK is a virtual tea shop where you can browse tea and teaware, or order tea subscription boxes. Our interview below gives you a peek into the life of two tea-entrepreneurs, and how they keep the creative juices flowing.

Teaware History: The Mote Spoon

(not a mote spoon)

I love sharing the random tidbits of teaware history that I pick up in my reading, and today's post is on the mote spoon. The mote spoon is a tea accessory with an influential history. In fact, authentic mote spoons are so coveted that it's tough to find a real one.

not a mote spoon- but used like one

History Of The Mote Spoon

This little spoon was actually a very handy tool! Originally called a 'tea strainer spoon', mote spoons were used in the 17th and 18th centuries.  A 'mote' is a speck or tiny piece of something, and in this case a bit of tea leaf. As with many tea accessories, there is a bit of a debate on how it was originally used. 

Mote spoons were in use before tea-caddy spoons were created. They may have been used to lift the tea leaves out of the canister and into the pot. This would sift the tea dust away from the leaves, keeping the tiniest bits out of the teapot. The mote spoon had another important feature, a tapered pointy end, which was used to dislodge leaves from the teapot's spout. 

The second reported use was to scoop out errant tea leaves floating in the cup (the 'motes', if you will). In the 17th century, tea leaves were added to the pot and the brew poured directly into cups. Leaves were always escaping into the tea cups, causing the tea to continue steeping and taste bitter. The pierced mote spoons could easily scoop up the little rogue floaters, saving that delicious cup of tea. The tea was 'demoted', but in the best way possible.

It's tough to say if mote spoons were used to sift the dry tea leaves from the caddy, as the piercings could be quite small and wouldn't sift much of the tiny leaves out. But it would have been well suited to skim the leaves off of the poured tea.

How The Mote Spoon Evolved

According to master teaware historian Bruce Richardson, the mote spoon paved the way for the victorian tea strainer, which we still use today. In an interesting video, Mr. Richardson mentions:

...and they did away with the mote spoon because as you know you just put the strainer on top of your teacup and then pour your tea through the strainer and all those wonderful holes catch the any errant tea leaves or motes and demote your tea easily and then you place it back into this wonderful little catch basin that catches any errant drips and keeps your table nice and tidy

possibly a tea strainer

Collecting Mote Spoons- Beware Of Fakes!

Mote spoons can be difficult to find if you're interested in collecting them. Because of this, they have a high price attached and are often faked. Real mote spoons start at well over $100, and can be quite a bit more depending on rarity and decoration.

Looking through online auctions and antique sites, I found many mote spoons that ranged from possibly real, to definitely not. There are a few important things to look for if you are interested in collecting them.

(from top to bottom) spoon, fake mote spoon, genuine mote spoon (photo from ASCAS online)

Fakes are easily made by taking an 18th century silver spoon and piercing decorations into the bowl and re-shaping the handle to a point. The photo above gives a good example of a spoon, a faked spoon, and a real mote spoon. Faked spoons are (obviously) the size and length of a teaspoon. Mote spoons are generally longer, and the bowl of the spoon is also longer and more narrow than a typical teaspoon. The piercing on the spoon can also sometimes help determine if it's fake or not. But again, all of this is very difficult to authenticate.

I'm not sure if the spoon I have (and use in all the photos) is a tea strainer (it doesn't really fit over the cup at all), or more likely a fruit or bonbon spoon. It's definitely not a mote spoon as the bowl is rounded, and the end is flat, not tapered to fit into a teapot's spout. Whatever it is, I enjoy the way it looks.

So if you see something you like, just go for it. You should enjoy your collection, not just stress about authenticity. But if you're looking for the real thing, now you know what to look out for. Do you have an authentic mote spoon? I'd love to hear more about them!

History of Tiny Tea Sets

I was recently gifted a vintage tiny tea set. The amazing attention to detail on the set had me wondering when these little sets became popular, and how I could start collecting more. As I learned about these beautiful little tea sets, I realized there was an interesting history to share.

History Of Tiny Tea Sets- The Dollhouse 
Miniature tea sets are too small for traditional dolls, but the perfect size for a beautiful dollhouse. So to learn more about them, I started looking at the history of dollhouses. Sure enough, these sets were made for tiny houses. I was lucky enough to have a dollhouse growing up, and my daughter now has the grand Victorian house, hand build by my artistic father. Dollhouses can be little slices of history, and can take dozens of years to build and furnish.

Miniature Dragonware Tea set and photo provided by Jo-Ani Johnson

I've written about the history of children's tea sets before, but these sets are much smaller. The first dollhouse tea sets weren't actually meant for children at all, but for adults. The history goes back to the 16th century, where Dockenhaus (small houses) or 'baby houses' were collected to display wealth. Just like early porcelain teaware, dollhouses were created to flaunt the riches of the owner. They could be replicas of the owner's home, or just beautiful houses in their own right. The rooms were furnished with painstaking attention to detail. Tea sets weren't a part of dollhouse collecting until tea became popular in Western Europe. From Forbes magazine:

Tiny tea sets or pieces of furniture weren't originally made as children's playthings, even though their small scale shares a natural affinity with the proportions of childhood. Miniatures have been made and collected in Europe since the 17th century, when miniature pieces of silver became one of the first great collecting crazes.

In Holland and other European countries these dollhouses looked more like grand cabinets, with rooms to display the treasures and trinkets acquired by their owner. Up until the mid 19th century, these 'baby houses' were costly as they were custom made for each owner. The tiny houses were also used for young women to learn how to manage the household.

miniature tea pots and photo provided by Jo-Ani Johnson

Miniature tea sets for dollhouses were created for grand collectors in silver and fine porcelain, but they start to pop up more frequently in the Victorian era, where they can be found in brass, porcelain, clay, and wood. Mini tea sets were mass produced in the 19th century which made them more affordable.

Once industrialization began, dollhouses became less expensive and were considered toys for children. At the time, if a child owned a dollhouse, they were encouraged to create the miniatures to furnish them instead of just purchasing premade pieces. Later, mass-produced furniture and houses became the norm.

Frans Hals Museum dollhouse. Credit Sailko, website

If you're interested in viewing doll houses from the past, there are many museums that have them on display. Next time I'm in London I may need to see Queen Mary's Doll House from the 1920s. It was commissioned to have every detail of the royal home, including running water and flushing toilets! And my favorite part, from this Medium article:

The Strong Room contains a complete set of miniature crown jewels; a flowery trellis on the ceiling of the King’s Bedroom includes the opening bars of the National Anthem in its design; and the Saloon holds a pair of miniature throne chairs. The Queen added her own items to the House, too, including a miniature dolls’ tea service in copper (presented to Queen Mary by her mother) and a small model of a mouse made by the firm of Faberge.

Collecting Miniature Tea Sets

So, where to start collecting your own miniature tea sets? First you'll want to focus on a time period. This will also determine the quality you'll find. Pieces from the Victorian era and earlier are more likely to be handmade and have fine details. Anything post war through the end of the 20th century will more likely be mass-produced. But there are still hand made pieces to be found in all time periods, and really you should collect what speaks to you. It doesn't matter if it's mass-produced or hand made, look for things you enjoy. If you're purchasing online, you'll find sets of all sorts of quality on etsy, ebay, and ruby lane. Sets can run a few dollars for a 20th century set made in Japan, up to the thousands for an antique French porcelain set. You can peruse antiques stores and local auctions to find miniature sets as well, but they may be a bit difficult to find. Dollhouse stores sell new sets, and there's no reason why you can't start there. New sets such as these are lovely to look at, and aren't a huge investment.

Mini yixing and mamma pot, photo provided by Jo-Ani Johnson

I'll definitely be keeping my eyes open for more vintage miniature tea sets in the future. Just like standard-sized teaware, once you're bitten by the collecting bug, it's tough to stop! If you have your own special miniature tea sets, I'd love to hear about them.

British Tea History: From Tea Bowl To Teacup

I was recently reading a bit of history on 18th century England and noticed a passage where the author mentions an aristocratic woman drinking a 'dish' of tea.  It made me think of the post I wrote back in March about the value of 18th century teaware. I started researching tea bowls a little deeper, and somehow ended up down an ebay rabbit hole. A few days later I was the proud owner of a British tea bowl and saucer. I know, I shouldn't be allowed to have internet access; teaware just magically shows up at my door! The new teaware inspired me to learn more about British tea bowls, how they were constructed, and when the handle was added. 

Early European tea drinking gained popularity in the 1700s. England wasn't the first European country to sip tea, but it's where the beverage really took off, so I'm focusing on British teaware for this post. At first England imported its teaware from China because it was difficult to locally replicate the fine porcelain used in Chinese teaware. There were many pottery producers in England at the time, but they were unable to recreate the delicate Chinese porcelain. The recipe for Chinese porcelain was a well guarded secret.

A Family of Three at Tea by Richard Collins (1727). © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Hard vs. Soft
During my online auction search for early British tea bowls, I noticed a few vendors mentioned the cup was made of 'softpaste'. At the time I had no idea what it meant, but it seemed like it indicated an earlier tea bowl. True porcelain is referred to as 'hardpaste'.  Until about 1760 European manufacturers were using softpaste porcelain using materials such as steatite or soapstone to get a porcelain-like material. During my research I found the helpful book British Tea And Coffee Cups by Steven Goss that discusses the materials, and early British teaware:

Softpaste porcelain began in about 1745 at Chelsea and within just a few years there were also factories at nearby Bow, Vauxhall and Limehouse...tea wares were amongst the first items to be produced and many of the pieces were decorated with oriental scenes, often copied straight from Chinese imports...Softpaste porcelains needed to be glazed as the body would otherwise be porous. 

To decorate softpaste, bowls were either left uncolored with molded flowers (this technique was called blanc-de-Chine) or painted blue and white. The blue decorations were commonly used because oxide of cobalt (the blue paint) was able to withstand the high firing temperatures. Other colors would be hand-painted or transferred onto the bowls and saucers after the first firing, and then fired again at a lower temperature.  These colorful decorations were mixed with a lead base. The use of so much lead in the glazes led to many instances of lead poisoning for the potters working with the materials.

The formula for hardpaste porcelain was finally discovered in Germany, but to be feasibly manufactured in Britain the materials had to be sourced locally. Once again from the book British Tea And Coffee Cups:

Although the formula was eventually discovered at Meissen in Germany in the early eithteenth century, it did not reach Britain until about 1760, when an apothecary called William Cookworth found china clay (kaolin) and china stone (petuntse) in Cornwall and subsequently set up his factory in Plymouth...These two raw materials are essential to the production of hardpaste porcelain as made by the Chinese.

Can You Handle It?
Many sources say a handle was added to tea bowls because the high-temperature black tea the British enjoyed made the cups too hot to hold comfortably. I also read with the invention of hardpaste porcelain it was easier to produce a handle that wouldn't break during the firing process. But I found an article from NPR that says something a bit different:

Christina Prescott-Walker, a European ceramics expert and the director of the Chinese ceramics department at Sotheby's, believes the invention of the handle may have been a fashion statement more than a utilitarian choice. "In England, tea bowls were still being made as late as 1800," she tells The Salt. Faulkner writes in his book that the original bowls were perceived as more "authentically oriental" than their handled cousins.

The tea bowl and saucer that I purchased online (pictured above and below) seems to be from the early 19th century, which certainly helps to prove this point. Cups became more ornamental in the late 18th century, and this could be when the addition of the handle really kicked in. 

What About The Saucer?

The use of a saucer appears to be function over form. It may have been used to hold the bowl while drinking, and keep cups stable while serving tea to others. I also read articles where it's assumed the early saucers were more bowl-shaped (see my saucer in the picture above) because hot tea was poured into the saucer to cool, and then sipped. I had a difficult time finding proof of this, but it is mentioned in several articles.

A closer look at my saucer

Tips For Collecting
If you are interested in collecting antique British tea bowls, there are a few things to keep in mind. The earlier pieces usually did not have a maker's mark on them, so it can be difficult to pinpoint the factory it came from. The absence of a mark doesn't mean it's a fake piece. But even when you do see a mark, it's difficult to know where the bowl came from as many factories copied the marks and decorations of other well known companies. As I mentioned, sometimes sellers will mention if the piece is 'soft paste'. This is a good indication of the age of the piece (if accurate) as it's difficult to determine otherwise. Since it's difficult to truly know the age of a tea bowl unless you're really serious with your teaware collecting, just go with what appeals to you.

In terms of style, there are many different ways the bowls would have been decorated: sets were either molded with flowers and left white (blanc-de-Chine), or  could be fired with cobalt and then hand painted. Patterns were also transferred onto the pottery. This was done by etching or engraving the design to a copper plate, then inking the plate. A special paper was then applied to the plate until it absorbed the ink and was then transferred to the pottery. This is referred to as transferware, and it was used on my bowl and saucer seen above. In many instances you can see a very subtle seam on the design, where the ends of the paper meet. Transferware techniques are still used today, so it's not the best indication of the age of a piece.

As you can see, I certainly learned quite a bit about British tea bowls! It has certainly given new fuel to my teaware collecting endeavors. For more on British tea history check out some of my older posts here and here. Is there a bit of tea history that you're eager to learn more about? Let me know what it is in the comments, and I will write a post all about it!

Tips For Taking Your Tea Outside

It's the time of year when the incessant rain leads to vivid springtime blooms. The trees are finally lush, and the grass is long and cool. The ocean starts to beckon. It's time to take those tea sessions outside, but how to package up that cherished teaware for an outdoor adventure?

If you're like me, you've taken the time to carefully choose and purchase your favorite pieces of teaware, but they end up staying in the house where they're less likely to break. In this post I'll explain a few easy ways to take your favorite teaware outdoors. There are some amazing travel sets out there, but this post is about using what you've got, whether you are taking out your gongfu set just for yourself, or need an afternoon tea picnic for a crowd.

Teaware Review: Primula Glass Teapots

I love a good glass teapot. It allows you to observe your leaves dancing around as they steep, and are simple enough in design that your tea takes center stage. I have a collection of vintage Bauhaus glass teapots that I tend not to use very often, only because I can be a bit of a klutz. So I'm always on the hunt for simple glass pots for daily use. I was excited when Primula reached out to see if I'd like to review their glass teapots, and also do a giveaway! Have a look at my review of their useful pots below, and make sure you pay attention for the giveaway details!

Teaware Review: Aloha Aina Ceramics Cup

Teaware is quite personal. Some people prefer fancy porcelain cups and pots, while others want everything necessary for a traditional gongfu session. Teaware fanatics like me want all of it! It's not necessary to have lots of teaware, a few simple pieces will do. But many of us like to collect it and I'm always looking out for potters and artisans that create special pieces.

I recently received a beautiful cup from Aloha Aina Ceramics, so it's time for a teaware review! Aloha Aina Ceramics is based in the south of Mexico. The company was started by Alex Krotkov a teaware obsessive that decided to start making and selling cups (I checked in with Alex and they were not hit by the terrible earthquake). Alex is Russian, and the cups are made using a traditional Russian technique that involves multiple firings. According to Alex, the first two are at about 950° celsius, and then a third at a lower temperature that uses the addition of milk to give the clay additional protection and a unique distressed/wooden look. Alex told me this technique was used in Russia centuries ago and in some workshops they keep passing that technology.

The cup is a perfect size for my daily use. It's about 7 ounces, and holds a full pour from the gaiwan I regularly use. I like this as I can use just one large cup when I'm having a tea session just for me. It's a luxurious feeling to have the large cup of tea all to myself! It also makes it easier if I'm taking my tea set outside since I wouldn't need a separate pitcher.

The cup is perfect to use with any type of tea, as the thick walls will keep the heat in but also spare your fingers. It's easy to hold in both hands (or it'll fit in one, of course) to cozy up with on a chilly day. The designs on the outside of the cup are organic and reflect objects found in nature. The appearance makes it a nice piece to use for a tea meditation. My cup also has a nice crackle glaze on the inside. I can see myself taking this cup along for some tea in the park, or after a hike in the woods. Alex also sent a smaller cup as well, which could be used if you want to share your tea, or give a little tea critic a taste. It's very sweet and I love the designs on it.

Thank you to Alex and Aloha Aina Ceramics for this beautiful cup! If you would like to learn more about the company, you can visit the etsy store here.

Review: Minos Living Tea Set

Like most tea fanatics, I also harbor a teaware obsession. Since space is at a premium in our apartment, I can't let my whims run wild but I do have a cherished collection including handmade and vintage pieces. When I was recently asked to review a tea set from Minos, I knew I couldn't refuse. More teaware? Of course.

I was pleasantly surprised when the set arrived. It's a sweet little stainless steel pot with matching cup and saucer, sugar bowl, and creamer. I'm not a stranger to stainless steel pots- I have a large one that we use on the weekend for oversized mugs of tea. This Minos pot is small, about 17 ounces, perfect for tea just for myself.

The teapot has a fairly large infuser basket, which makes it great for office use. It's easy to remove and is wide enough to let large tea leaves expand. The teapot has a nice pour, very smooth and comfortable. My only critique is that the stainless steel is thin, and gets extremely hot to the touch. Minos provides three silicone rings in festive colors to put over the pot handle, which keeps fingers cool. But don't touch the side of the pot, like I did out of curiosity. Ouch! Since the stainless steel is thin, it retains heat but not quite as long as I really need for the office. I often need to step away from my desk for 30 minutes or so, returning to a lukewarm brew. But honestly, it's not fair to expect a teapot to keep tea hot for that long.

The teacup is adorable, and is thicker than the pot so it doesn't burn any fingers. It's a nice size to enjoy a small cup of tea, but I can't use this cup for the early morning. That's when I require my largest mug. As nice as it is to pour little cups of tea, I just want a big mug I can slurp from. However, this is the perfect cup to use for an afternoon tea break. I also like the matching saucer.

The matching creamer is attractive and also pours well. I don't often use milk, but it would be nice to  put on a table to serve guests. The sugar pot (didn't get a good photo of it, sorry!) is also quite nice, the only issue is that it doesn't come with a small matching spoon. It's not easy to find a tiny spoon to fit inside. I'd love to see a little spoon included, maybe with a matching silicone tip on the handle. But, perhaps that is asking too much. Maybe it's more fun to have a spoon that doesn't match? If you don't mind hunting down your own matching spoon, it is a lovely little sugar pot.

Overall, this is a delightful little set that is fun to use. Just be sure to watch your fingers. It would be best for teas that use cooler water temps, to make sure you don't run into any unhappy fingertips.

A big thank you to Minos for this set! You can learn more about this set here and here.

Tea And Women's Suffrage

Photo taken from this site

I've always been interested in history, particularly when it involves tea. Lately I've been curious about US tea history and have done a little digging for previous posts. I recently ran into information involving tea and women's rights both here and in the UK. This post skims the surface on the subject matter, as I don't want this to get too lengthy. But I think it's interesting and quite relevant to today. This post has a political slant to it, but it's all in the name of tea and humanity.

In the late 1800s, British women didn't have many choices when it came to informal gatherings. It was considered inappropriate for a woman to be seen eating or drinking alone. During the suffrage movement it was difficult to find places to discuss ideas unless it was in their own homes or large formal meeting spaces. Emerging suffrage groups discovered they were able to meet in tea houses, which had become 'acceptable' places for women to go on their own to socialize. From the site Women's History Network:

There may be those who scoff at the idea of investigating ‘Suffragettes and Tea Rooms’, but political movements need sheltering spaces in which views can be exchanged. During the 19th century women attended hundreds of suffrage meetings in Britain’s town halls and assembly halls – and, if suitably couth, in the drawing-rooms of the better-off, but there were few places outside the home in which they could congregate informally.

Tea shops gave women a place to gather and helped the suffrage movement strengthen and develop a voice. Fundraisers were held at tea houses, and teaware was even created to fuel the movement. In the UK the Women's Social and Political Union (WPSU) commissioned tea ware with their logo and other symbols for fundraisers. Sylvia Pankhurst, a noted daughter of a suffragist leader designed much of the teaware. From A Social History of Tea:

The WSPU commissioned a tea set from her in 1910 for their refreshment stall at the Scottish WSPU Exhibition in Glascow, and another set by her featured an image of the Hollaway Prison Badge that was awarded to women who were locked up in the prison for their militant pro-suffrage activities.

Sylvia Pankhurst designed quite a bit of teaware for the movement, including the set you can see below. This set was designed for sale at the the Women's Exhibition in 1909. If you are interested in learning more about china commissioned for the movement, this article is a good place to start.

The Angel of Freedom tea set designed by Sylvia Pankhurst. Photo from Museum of London

Tea played an important role in British women's history, and it was also influential in the United States. Just as most First Ladies held tea in the White House as social events, suffrage leaders gathered over tea to discuss action. In 1848 tea played a significant role in the movement. Five important suffrage leaders (Lucretia Mott, Martha Wright, Mary Ann McClintock, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Jane Hunt) met for a history-changing tea in upstate NY. Once again from A Social History of Tea:

Lucretia and Elizabeth had, in London several years previously, vowed to hold a convention about injustices suffered by women, and so while the tea party probably started as a calm affair, it quickly became the launch pad for nothing less than the Seneca Falls Convention.

The Seneca Falls Convention was the first US women's rights convention. Decades later in 1914, tea continued to foster the fight for women's rights when well-connected and dedicated Alva Vanderbilt Belmont hosted a 'Conference for Great Women' and commissioned porcelain tableware including a teapot with 'votes for women' emblazoned on the front (you can see a photo of the teapot at the top of this post). The table ware was used as part of the luncheon at the meeting and also for a tea party held later that year. The events raised money for the suffrage movement and guests and each event took home 'votes for women teacups and saucers. Tea was literally helping to get the word out! The tireless efforts of these strong women were rewarded in 1920 with the addition of the Nineteenth Amendment granting women the right to vote.

As I mentioned there is much more that can be said on this topic. There are so many more diverse, strong and influential women that haven't been discussed. But what can we learn from this history? Tireless work, dedication and hope, along with gathering together (over many pots of tea) is needed now more than ever to activate change. I hope tea continues to bring women of all cultures and backgrounds together to fight and get our voices heard. Can tea really help create change? It's easy to fall into the 'tea is about sharing and being mindful and at peace' camp, and that's beautiful but it's just not enough. I know many of my own politically charged conversations have taken place over cups of tea. Perhaps it is the way to open up the discussion. It is inspiring to read about how tea fueled these influential women in history, and I do hope it can inspire us take action.

WTE: My Favorite Gadgets

 

I know it's been over a month since the World Tea Expo, but I do have a few more things I wanted to say about it. Today, I wanted to mention three noteworthy tea 'gadgets' that I came across...

Qi Aerista- I have to admit, I loved this little tea making machine and the friendly folks behind it. It's a simple machine, with 6 presets for green, oolong, black, floral, milk tea, and cold brewing. You can also customize the brewing parameters and track everything through their phone app. The device is simple, and not too large. Similar to other tea makers such as the Breville, but this one looks a bit smaller and is a little cheaper. I don't own a Breville myself, so I asked my Blogger Roundtable friends to compare the Qi and the Breville. They do seem comparable, but the Breville has a brewing basket that lowers into the water to brew, and the Qi holds the leaves in a compartment at the top of the machine while water circulates through it. Also, the Qi can be controlled through an app, and the Breville doesn't have this functionality. The Qi water temperature settings also appear to be a bit more customizable. The price for the Qi Aerista will be about $200 (the price isn't set yet but this was the estimated price I was told) and it will be 50% off during their Kickstarter campaign. The Kickstarter will be launching in October, so do keep an eye out. They made a video with feedback from attendees of the Expo, and a few bloggers make it into the video, myself included (eeps!).

Teforia: The Teforia machine certainly looks sleek and impressive. It can extract the exact flavor profile you want from your tea, and even change the caffeine level and the amount of antioxidants. It's got lots of bells and whistles. It's a well conceived device and it does make a very good cup of tea (I sampled quite a few). However, I can't say this type of machine is really for me since I don't think it's necessary to pay well over $1000 for a tea maker. I also like the ritual of slowing down and preparing a cup of tea on my own, while interacting with my leaves. At the Expo I was surprised to see all of the demo machines leaking a bit. Someone mentioned they were prototypes, so hopefully they'll get things sorted out before they start shipping them.

The Wall tea steeper. This isn't a mechanical gadget, but a cleverly designed mug. Rachel Carter and I spotted this cup while walking the floor and we instantly fell in love with it. It's just a glass mug with a built in glass strainer that covers half the top, but it's good looking, and very functional. It was originally created for herbals, but it is perfect for grandpa style tea. I've been using it every day and I've been getting a lot of joy out of this mug. They come in 'large' (about 14 oz) and 'small' (about 10 ounces) sizes. I have the large, and it's a perfect size to keep in my office. The mug is large enough to get me through a long meeting with ease. I've even had a situation where the meeting went long, I finished my tea, and I was able to covertly examine the leaves while people kept talking around an issue without actually saying anything of importance. Priceless.

If you attended the Expo or read about other gadgets on display, I'd love to hear about what grabbed your interest. I think I still have a post or two about the Expo left to cover some important seminars. Hopefully I'll get to them soon! This crazy busy summer has made it difficult to find time for blogging, but I'm going to try my best to get it all covered, at least before the weather starts cooling down...

A Glimpse of Afternoon Tea in London- Pt. 2: Sketch

 

It's finally time to discuss our second afternoon tea experience in London, sketch. For a little background and info on our first afternoon tea, check out my previous post. As I mentioned, I wanted our second experience to be unique, and boy did I pick the right place!

sketch is artistic, bizarre, surreal. An instagramer's dream come true. Afternoon Tea is served in a room separate from the restaurant, and is very hard to describe. Pink is the dominant color, black and white portraits (sketches, I assume) line the walls. It's a mix of muppets, art-deco, Rene Magritte, Stanley Kubrick, and Sardi's restaurant in NYC. I've never said all of those things in a sentence before, but it's what comes to mind when I think of that room.

The place is so visually interesting I took more pictures of the decor and tea ware than anything else. Each sketch on the wall is different, and demands attention. The tea ware have peculiar words written on them, and beg to be photographed. The room is just so...pink and flocked. I realized later that I didn't get many shots of the food. It was mostly due to focusing on the details of the place, but also because it was just 'food'. This room seems to demand something more.

Service was attentive, and we were quickly given menus with tea and champagne choices. It was very tempting to have a few glasses of pink bubbly in this setting, but we decided to save the alcohol for later in the day. The tea menu has a nice selection, although heavy on flavored teas. I chose a 2nd flush Darjeeling and was very satisfied with the choice. It was bright, floral and strong, a tea that held up well to the many different colors and flavors of the afternoon.

After having a delicious meal at Claridge's, the food at Sketch didn't quite hold up. It was still very good, and the quail egg and caviar sandwich was a standout. I also enjoyed a mozarella and pesto 'panini' that was heavy on the herbaceous pesto. I had room for a few bites of the sweets, and they were pleasant, but nothing jumped out. I think part of the problem is that I asked for sweets without walnuts but I think the server thought this meant all types of nuts. I was given a few sad skewers of fruit instead of some of the pastries. The food and sweets were quite fine, but they did not match the unique feel of the room and tea ware. I couldn't get enough of this pink, fuzzy place.

Just when I thought things couldn't get any more peculiar, I decided to visit the loo. As I climbed a space-aged staircase I stopped short to take in the view. I think it's safe to say I've never seen another bathroom quite like it. It was as if I'd landed on a Dr. Who set designed by Stanley Kubrick with a 1960s atomic age aesthetic. Toilet 'pods' grew out of the floor and once inside, felt strangely peaceful. Nature sounds were piped in, and it was oddly secure and relaxing. The bathroom area is so disorienting that there is an attendant making sure the women and the men end up going to the appropriate side.

Loo in space!

If you are planning a trip to London I'd definitely recommend trying out sketch for afternoon tea. The tea is very good and food is certainly acceptable. But come for the pink room lined with sketches. You won't forget it!

Interview: Emilio Delpozo of The Jade Leaf

Photo Courtesy of Emilio Delpozo

If you've ever daydreamed of moving to Taiwan to immerse yourself in tea and culture, this week's interview is for you. Emilio Delpozo moved to Taiwan several years ago with the intention of studying Chinese medicine and found himself enraptured with tea, tea culture, and the local pottery techniques. He has built up a deep relationship with tea through working at a tea house, and learning traditional pottery techniques. He has started The Jade Leaf to sell unique Taiwanese teas and his own stunning teaware. He's been seeking out tea through word of mouth, even taking a scooter around tea farming areas to discover the best he can find.

Now that so many people are interested in tea it made sense that I share all the great tea I'm drinking with people outside of Taiwan. There's so much good tea in Taiwan ands there's much more variety than you would think. It seems that some people like to think they know everything about tea and have everything neatly categorized in their mind, but there's so many random tea variations to be found in Taiwan. I'm always finding new teas that I've never even heard of.

Learn more about Emilio's fascinating story, his love for tea, and his dedication to pottery below...

Collections- Tea Steepers

Last week I showed off some of my favorite tea cups. This week, I am sharing a few of my favorite tea steepers. I don't really use these, because they typically don't allow enough room for the tea leaves to open up and exude their happiness. But I've been gifted a few over the years, and now they've become a fun collection. Each one has a little story either about where I found it, or who gave it to me. Sometimes the memories of an object are far more significant than their use.

I've had this teapot steeper since I was in college. I remember wandering around a grocery store one night, and finding it hidden among the bagged teas. I was just getting into loose tea at that point, and this little teapot inspired me to drink even more of it.

I picked up the robot at Pylones a few years ago. I was shopping for a friend and I just couldn't pass him up. He usually sits on my desk and cheers me on while I work. He always brings me a smile.

I actually won the orange leaf steeper from a contest through Miss Tea. I love the quirky orange color which looks quite cheerful sitting on my bookshelf.

The Manatea is one of my most favorite steepers, gifted by dear friends. It is a happy little creature and a popular conversation piece. I haven't used it to brew tea, but I imagine he'll look adorable hanging on the edge of a mug!

Do you have any tea steepers? I'd love to see some of your favorites!

Tea in the Office, and a Call for Suggestions

When I'm at work, I rely on my trusty yellow Bee House teapot. It's the perfect size, has a removable strainer and is very sturdy. I usually use filtered water that is heated through the water cooler or coffee machine for green and white teas, and actually heat water in the microwave until it boils for black tea. I've thought about getting an electric kettle for my desk, but I've been having a hard time choosing the right one. I want a variable temperature kettle so I can control the temperature, but most of them use plastic, and even the smallest bit that touches the water has BPA in it. I've seen a few electric kettles that are BPA free, but they just heat the water to boiling and don't have any other settings.

If anyone knows of a variable kettle that does not contain any BPA, please leave a comment below! I'm on the hunt and would love your opinions.

How do you steep tea in the office? Do you use a teapot, or paper filters, or teabags? Or are you lucky enough to work from home?

My New Favorite Tea Mug

Last night my amazing friend Kelly gave me the best present! It's my new favorite tea mug.

Warning for those reading with kids, or those that are delicate- profanity is used, so click wisely.

best. tea mug. ever.

Fun with matcha

There is so much to learn about green tea,  and now it is time to focus on matcha.  Matcha is a powdered green tea traditionally used in the Japanese tea ceremony.  Matcha is made from leaves grown only in Japan.  It may actually be even healthier than brewing loose leaves, because you are drinking the actual ground up tea leaves!  I imagine that means there is more caffiene, too. There are many grades of matcha, from food grade up to the ceremonial grades. There are two main differences in matcha, 'thick' and 'thin'. Thin matcha is called usucha.  Thin matcha is more common than the thick version, and actually has a stronger, astringent flavor. Thick matcha, koicha, is grown from tea plants that are at least thirty five years old! It has a milder taste, so more of the powder is used, giving it a thicker consistency.  Koicha is usually more expensive.

photo from greenteagourmet.com

I am trying to learn more about how to prepare matcha the authentic way. I don't yet have a chawan (tea bowl), whisk, or the other necessary accoutrements.  They are easy enough to find, but I thought I should learn a little more about the methods before jumping in and buying lots of things.  In my research I came across a bunch of YouTube videos that are easy to follow, and very helpful.  My favorite videos are with two young men, Griff and Matt.  Based solely on appearance, they are the most unlikeliest of tea drinkers. On first glance I thought that they were going to do some sort of SNL skit.  But they really know their stuff!! I feel guilty for misjudging them.  See for yourself, they have a whole channel dedicated to green tea! Their channel is:
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheArtOfGreenTea.

My matcha research has also led me to lots of beautiful chawan (chawans?), on etsy.com.  I cannot choose one! They are all so lovely!!

Tea and shopping. What could be better!! Once I have the proper tools, I will share my matcha experience.