Steep Thoughts- Tea and Remembrance

I had been composing a post about my recent tea gifts, but then I received the tragic news that my beloved grandfather passed away. All thoughts of tea happiness were thrown into the recesses of my mind. I posted a few months ago about tea and grief, and how it is a component of comfort and fuel for remembrance. This week I found myself sitting at my parents' table, sipping strong tea and thinking about the long life filled with hardship and happiness that my grandfather led. He survived persecution, starvation and war to finally meet the love of his life and raise a family. He will always be an inspiration to me. After being ripped from his family and homeland, he managed to start a new life in New York, and lovingly support a family as a talented dressmaker. He lived a long life full of weddings, Bar-Mitzvahs, the birth of his grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. I can only hope that all of us are lucky enough to experience such joy in our lives.

As I watch the tea leaves dance in the pot, I think about these things, and revel in the beauty of our mysterious existence.

Steep Thoughts: The Parenting and Tea Edition

Today I've been digging out the teas that give me the most caffeinated bang for my exhausted buck. Right now I'm once again steeping Taylor's of Harrogate's English Breakfast, because it's the strongest-tasting tea I have in the office. I know that taste doesn't correspond to caffeine content, but at least it helps me think that I'm waking myself up. Our daughter has been having sleep troubles for quite awhile now, and I need every bit of caffeine I can get.

I find that being a parent makes me approach tea differently than before I had kids. Of course I need that caffeine now more than ever, but I am more desperate for a break, and time to reflect. Often I can only steal a sip here and there, but when I have time for a cup, it's a moment just for myself. Not time to answer questions, or make sure no one is going to hurt themselves, or eat a moldy cracker that has been hiding under the couch. Taking a moment to drink tea also helps me brainstorm and problem solve. I get a chance to mull things over. It also keeps me sitting on the edge of insanity instead of hanging off of it. It helps me find patience, which makes me a better parent.

I enjoy sharing tea with my daughter. She already knows the difference between green and black tea, and is familiar with some of the flavors. I hope she develops joyful memories around sharing a cup of tea with her mother. A special time for just the two of us to relax and reflect.

For those that have children, do you share your tea with them?

Steep Thoughts- The 'Fancy Pants Tea' Edition

I'm running low on black tea, so as my emergency bagged tea steeps, I'm thinking about the amazing restaurants I've experienced in the past week. I've been extremely fortunate to have dined at two lovely NYC restaurants, both of which had good tea choices.

First, we went to Eleven Madison Park for my husband's birthday. To our surprise, much of the menu had a tea theme to it! We had a few savory courses that were made to look like tea, which made me quite happy. It felt like it was my birthday, too!

smoked apple 'tea'. amazing.

Some of the tea-related highlights were a smoked apple 'tea' that tasted smokey, herbaceous, and of course like a big juicy apple. A lovely wake-up for the palate. My favorite dish was a 'clam chowder' that is probably the most amazing soup I've ever had. The presentation was gorgeous- it came in a stunning teapot that looked similar to the yixing style (it was made by a local Brooklyn artist, I later found out) and was poured into perfect little cups. Creamy, savory, amazing. Unfortunately I was unable to get a picture that would do the teapot or cups justice, but I had to post them anyway.


gorgeous presentation of the 'chowder'

the tea cup awaiting the delicious elixir

The post-meal tea selection is very nice, but in my food coma I forgot to take a picture of the menu. I also forgot to ask where they sourced the teas from. I sent an email to the restaurant a few days ago, but I haven't heard back yet. If I do, I'll post in the comments. I had a delicious oolong that capped the meal off quite nicely. It was served in a tasteful teapot and made me feel quite fancy.

A few days later we went to Gramercy Tavern for a rare night out with friends. It's My husband and I actually dined there on our 3rd date, and it was fun to return. The memories of the romantic, rustic restaurant came flooding back as soon as we walked in the door. We even had the same waiter as last time. They have a nice tea selection from In Pursuit of Tea, but I was feeling worn out and was hoping to go right to sleep after we got home, so I selected the lemon verbena tisane instead of a regular tea. I guess I'm feeling my age...

The tea was quite nice, light yet very flavorful. I was surprised at how much I liked it, since I don't usually drink herbal teas. I need to remember to keep an open mind!

After two fancy dinners, and two sick kids it has been quite a week. I look forward to more fun and tea adventures in the week to come!

Contest Winners!

Happy Monday! It is time to name the winners of the two leaves and a bud contest! I used Random.org to pick the three lucky winners.

The winners of one box of tea of their choosing:
Kim
Tracey

The winner of the sampler box
Jackie

Congrats to the winners! Check your email for further instructions

Thanks for helping me create our first giveaway!

A Trip Back in Tea Time

Some of my favorite things about living in NYC are the relics of days past. You feel history all around you. Walking through each neighborhood, you can pretend to be living in a different era, listening to shouting street vendors, trolleys, and carriages. There are historical secrets to unlock on just about every corner, you just need to take notice. One of my favorite tea and coffee shops in the West Village quietly holds some of these secrets.

Much of the West Village feels like you've stepped into the late 1800s, but that feeling is increased tenfold when you walk through the doors of McNulty's. The sign will tell you they've been in business since 1895, and it shows. With your first creaky step inside you are met with the scents of old wood, quality coffee, herbs, and of course tea. History is in the air. The cozy store is lined with wooden shelves that are slightly slanted from years of use. A dizzying array of jars filled with tea are placed on every available surface. Imported and domestic packaged teas also line the walls, along with coffee and lots of accessories.

Even though the store is tiny, it is packed to the gills with products. It took me awhile to walk around and get my bearings. I was impressed that the two gentlemen behind the counter waited patiently to see if I needed any help. I wasn't immediately bombarded to see if I needed anything. I liked this.

I was still in search of a good black Yunnan tea, so after looking around for awhile I asked the gentleman behind the counter for a recommendation. He happily started talking about the black Yunnan teas, and how they smelled and tasted. This man clearly knew his stuff. I ended up with two different teas that I couldn't resist (post coming soon). An older gentleman measured out my teas in a beautiful old fashioned scale that looked as if it had been sitting there since the store opened its doors. I was able to get 1/8 a pound of one of the teas, which was nice. Not all tea shops allow such a small amount to be purchased.

My one gripe is that the teas were stored in glass jars. Teas are very sensitive to light, and this impacts the freshness. But there wasn't a large amount stored in the jars, so I'm hopeful a high turnover keeps the teas nice and fresh. I'd also suggest transferring your purchased teas to an airtight canister and not keep them in the paper bag for too long.

 This last visit was about an hour before they closed, so the store was quiet and peaceful. It does get quite crowded during the day though. So if you go, be prepared for some close quarters. It is worth it, to experience a place that radiates over a hundred years of history. There are not many places where you can browse a huge selection of tea in such a charming atmosphere.

For those of you that have visited McNulty's, do you have any favorite teas?

McNulty's Tea & Coffee Co.: 109 Christopher Street NY, NY 10014 - Recommended for teas to purchase

A Giveaway! Win tea from Two Leaves And A Bud!

I'm very pleased to announce our first Tea Happiness Giveaway!  two leaves and a bud offer a wide range of organic teas that are high quality and packaged very well. I recently tried their Darjeeling and found it quite enjoyable. The company cares deeply about their product and has great customer service. They have generously offered us three great prizes to give away!

TO ENTER: Visit two leaves and a bud on facebook and 'like' their page, as well as follow them on twitter. Once you've done that, leave me a comment with the tea you'd most like to try, and be sure to leave your email address if it's not in your profile. Two winners will each get to choose a box of tea, and one grand prize winner will get a complete sachet sampler which you can find here http://www.twoleavesandabud.com/p_Complete-Sachet-Sampler-159.html!

You have until Midnight on Saturday, March 17th to enter. I'll be choosing the three winners at random. Good luck everyone!

Steep Thoughts- The 'Why Tea Is Better For Me' Edition

I used to be a morning coffee drinker, but for the past few years I reach for tea. Lately, Rishi Organic China Breakfast is my go-to morning tea. It's strong, with a good bold flavor, and is very smooth. It's also easy to find at my corner store, so I can replenish when necessary and not wait for a delivery. There are other Yunnan teas that I love for the morning, but China Breakfast has just been my recent favorite.

Nowadays when there is a lull in our morning craziness I prepare it in my tumbler, take out the strainer, and tote it along to work. I like to sip it while I'm on the train so I can relax for a few minutes and read a book. So by the time I get to the office I'm almost sane, and awake.

I had an accidental experiment the other day- there was a large amount of coffee left over from a brunch party, and I decided to take some in my tumbler instead of my morning cuppa tea (I know that is blasphemy, but I don't like to waste things). I sipped the coffee on my morning commute, and I didn't have the overall feeling of peace I usually do while I'm drinking tea and reading my book. Sitting on a crowded (and often smelly) train is not exactly setting the stage for relaxation, but good tea plus a good book usually does the trick. But when I arrived to work, I felt anxious, and unsatisfied. It didn't occur to me until later that it was the coffee! I brewed some coffee the next day, and tried again. Still anxious and unhappy. Today I switched back to my usual tea, and voila! Such a better morning. Even though I was up at 3am with an antsy toddler, I still felt more relaxed than if I had a cup of coffee.

So today as I steep my second cup of Yunnan, I am thinking about how tea enhances my mornings, keeps me more aware, at peace. Tea friends, what is in your morning cup?