The Tea House Times Society Page

As in our printed publication, the Society Page is for sharing stories about your experiences relating to Afternoon Tea, Victoriana, or Friendship. Tell us about your tea parties, tea room experiences, great times spent with friends, comments about our printed publication, anything you would like to share. Click here to send us your comments.

Visit back soon. We will have some great stories to share. Click here to read our new BLOG entries by Lady Gayle.

Send us YOUR STORY. Tell us about your tea parties, why you love The Tea House Times, why you enjoy afternoon tea, who do you like to go to tea with?, how do you share your passion for tea & friendship?, if you have started a tea business, tell us WHY.

A NOTE FROM LADY GAYLE: I've been receiving several emails lately and some phone calls from members of The Red Hat Society. I mention this because so many of them share our passion for Afternoon Tea, they are excited about The Tea House Times, our website information, and free, printable tea themed games. The comments we receive are very kind and enthusiastic in general. Thanks to all who have been writing in to share their tea experiences with us.

Some creative writing sent by Laurie Nienhaus, The Gilded Lily, www.glily.com

John Sullivan was so proud of his invention. Sir Thomas Lipton loved it because he could put advertising on it. The English and some of my very dear friends are completely enamored of it, especially if it's PG Tips or Typhoo.

But, place a tea bag before some of us tea drinkers and you'll likely see a furrowing of our brow or a slight falter in our step. You might even notice the shiver of horror that reels through us as we attempt to maintain our gracious teatime demeanor. You'll know our first thought is one of resignation and that our second is a sulky, "The water's probably tepid as well."

It’s the height of snobbery. I know! But sadly, I can no longer help myself. I confess to slowing down a pace as I stroll past the grocery’s tea bags. It is with only mild interest, however, that I gaze upon their packaging, so colorful and inviting. In the end my nose still wrinkles with disdain and I find myself muttering, "Only fannings and so much dust."

There’s no doubt tea bags are convenient and quick. But, part of what I love about tea is the anticipation of waiting. I love the drama of it all – the agony of the leaves. I ask you, how much agony can exist in a tea bag? At the most, there might be a bit of the blues. But real agony? I hardly think so so.

I hear that, nowadays, there are some very fine teas contained within tea bags but I say…hmph! If Mr. Sullivan were still with us I would have to beg his forgiveness for I've become a lover of full leaf, loose teas. I'm forever spoiled and I doubt there's any turning back.

Tea is often spoken of a journey and, as January is National Hot Tea month, I’m brimming with eagerness to see where the next leg of my journey takes me and who my latest travel companions might be. Just yesterday a shopper near me put several packages of tea bags into her cart. With all the passion of a true tea lover, I cried out, "For the love of God woman, it’s National Hot

Tea Month! Start your journey! Let me help!" Judging by the look of alarm on her face and the speed in which she and her cart disappeared around the corner, she clearly wasn't quite ready. Remembering the days when I was just like her, I smiled to myself and called out to her once more, “Happy trails, my friend.”

June 1, 2007 Men: To Tea or Not to Tea . . . . by James E. Patterson www.earlenegrey.com

Reprinted from the July/Aug 07 issue of The Tea House Times - full article here (Article condensed in publication).

We as a species are not smart enough to make anarchy work, so we have had to devise sets of guidelines that govern every facet of our lives. Although many of these guidelines appear to be inflexible, most if not all, are in constant flux.

When we entered the 1900’s the guidelines for social behavior for men and women were well established and vastly different. By the time we crossed over into the year 2000, the gap between the social expectations for men and women had narrowed to the point where it is easily traversed from either direction. The guidelines for Afternoon Tea, however, remain intact.

Anne Russell, the 7^thDuchess of Bedford, is credited with “inventing” Afternoon Tea in the 1840’s. Since that time this well-established event has been governed by a more genteel set of guidelines called protocol. For a variety of reasons women appear to be more adept at the protocol for Afternoon Tea than men. That does not mean, however, that men are too barbaric or such social miscreants that they can’t learn and appreciate the finer points of a well presented Afternoon Tea. In this country, most likely men’s lack of participation and social acuity regarding Afternoon Tea has to do with one thing⎯ they have never done it before.

As with most things, gentlemen, the hardest part of participation in your first Afternoon Tea is deciding to do so. After the decision is made I guarantee that the women in your life will trip over themselves trying to find a place to go for tea. Because of that, here are some basics of tearoom protocol that will help the uninitiated male get through the front door without looking like the poster child for the socially inept.

First of all, in the US many people think chivalry is dead and want it to be so. This is not the case in a well-run tearoom. If you can do something nice for someone do it. This starts with opening the door to the tearoom and allowing friends and family to enter first. To put this in a context that most men will understand, if this was a game of golf opening the door for others is worth a birdie on the first hole.

With the advent of several tea related social groups for women, wearing hats has become more and more common. At this point it should be noted that (sorry ladies) putting a hat on your head is not necessarily wearing a hat. Like a certain female specific undergarment, wearing a hat correctly requires the proper garment, the proper fit and the proper adjustment.

For men, regardless if you can wear a hat or just use your head to hold one up never have it on at tea. If you have a hat on past 3 feet into the tearoom you have just hit your drive out-of-bounds…enough of this sports talk. You get the idea.

Pulling the chair out for a lady is a nice gesture but it can be tricky. Many tearooms use every inch of available space for seating so assess this one carefully before you give it a try. Even though this courtesy is awkward for both men and women, and often thwarted by uncooperative furniture the value is in the effort and not necessarily in the outcome.

As far as dress is concerned, no denim, no tennis shoes and wear a shirt that has some kind of collar. A sport coat would be nice. Although it may be considered fashionable in other arenas, while at tea your underwear should never, never be seen over the top of your trousers. If this occurs (okay, one more sports analogy) you are DQed and it is “game over”.

After everyone has been seated, start your tea by thinking calm, quiet and relaxed thoughts. Afternoon Tea is all about the process and the people you are with, and can take one and a half to two hours. Here are a few helpful tips that will help you get through your first Afternoon Tea:

1. Eat before you go or plan to eat after tea. Afternoon Tea is not lunch or dinner. Remember, it is all about the process and the people.

2. Make sure you have a teacup that you can get your finger through the handle. It is somewhat disconcerting to discover that in mid-conversation you have unconsciously loosened your grip on a too small handle, your cup has dipped a little and you have just poured hot tea in your lap.

3. Women don’t talk in a linear fashion. They will start with one subject then interject how the color of one garment is or is not compatible with the color of another garment. After returning to the original subject they will detour to the subtle qualities of their tea or the recipe for the cucumber sandwiches. This process will continue until, believe it or not, they will return to the original subject and finish their thought. Be patient and listen.

4. Stay away from any teas blended with jasmine, lavender or raspberry, and any French teas⎯ leave the perfume teas to the ladies.

5. When the subject turns to how hot or cold, or how hot and cold the temperature is in the tearoom quietly sip your tea and have another salmon pâté sandwich⎯ you will be fine.

I realize that about now many of you are asking yourselves, “Why would any man want to put himself through all of this?” There are several reasons and they are good ones. First, heart attacks and strokes are the biggest killers of men in America today. Afternoon Tea will allow you to stop and smell the flowers… just not jasmine or lavender. Learn to be calm. Second, the health benefits of tea far out weigh most other liquids we consume on a daily basis. Also, as far as I know, no one has been arrested for “driving under the influence” for being one cup of tea over the limit. Third, if you like variety you can start today, drink a different tea everyday for a year and without having the same tea twice, still have teas left to try. Fourth, women are interesting. Afternoon Tea will allow you to hear what they have to say and how they say it. Fifth, any business arrangement negotiated over a fine Darjeeling will be longer lasting and more profitable. And sixth, we all spend too much time producing this or providing that. Let someone else produce and provide for you and be sure to give yourself the permission to enjoy it.

This is only a starter list. Go to tea, enjoy the experience and find your own benefits. If you need help, turn to a woman. They are very good at this. Remember, a woman “invented” Afternoon Tea. ~JEP~

Last fall I wrote about my church's Victorian Tea -- well we just had our 8th annual tea and what a lovely afternoon it was. This year's theme was God's Incredible Gifts. For two months we made bows and wrapped box after box and made 100s of bows (I was the primary bow maker.) A two sided tent was put up in the Nartax and was decorated with lace, tulle, ribbons, roses and butterflies and of course those gifts we wrapped. When you walked through the doors into this magical entrance you would never know it was an ordinary tent. We dined on the usual tea dainties and the program included a lovely, inspirational poem. Each lady was given a Silver Box to take home. What a beautiful time to turn back time and be a true Lady for the afternoon.

Since the first celebration held in April 1996, the Academy of American Poets established National Poetry Month to:

Catherine along with her husband and two girls were having their customary evening tea and discussing school projects one night. Their daughter, Rebecca, had a creative writing assignment: “using your imagination, write a 300 word story describing how something came to be ... like an apple pie.”

Because they create special tea events for “The Pines of Millville” and tea-time adventures for Catherine’s character education presentation in public schools, tea and tea related topics are always on their minds. Rebecca had read the few facts of the 7^th Duchess of Bedford creating tea-time. With great literary license, she wrote this fun piece for her English class. The administrators loved it and asked Catherine to hold a tea party for the creative writing class to encourage their writing skills. Maybe tea rooms could piggy-back this event and invite a group of teenagers to come to tea, give them writing assignments, then return the following week for another tea to read their offerings. We will try it here at “The Pines.” So here it is -- Rebecca’s version of what caused the Duchess to begin the tea-time craze. Hope you enjoy it! SEE BELOW Nice job, Rebecca!! :-)

(PACE 1140, Page 33, #11, 300-word story, using your imagination, describe how a food or invention was created)

In the nineteenth century, fashion determined the culture of the day. There was nothing so odd in that. The dictates of fashion have always effected societies from early Atlantis, where people refused to heed the warnings of putting too much gold on the island, to today’s culture of 6-inch high heels and short, skin-tight dresses worn during artic temperatures. However, it was in the nineteenth century that one woman found a way to maneuver around the fashion laws and create a tradition that has lasted more than a century after her death.

Anna Russell, 7th Duchess of Bedford, did not enjoy the schedule of the day. In the morning, she would have a heavy breakfast, followed by performance of her duchess duties. At the end of the day, she would have a late supper consisting of enough drinks accompanying the traditional 13-course meal to make her “knee-walking drunk” by dessert. This was the reason and the need of a hearty breakfast the next day. The aristocracy was well satisfied with this culinary schedule, but with the lack of a meal from breakfast to the first sip of sherry, the Duchess felt “peckish” by the afternoon. “I have to find a way of overcoming this sinking feeling every afternoon,” she told her husband as they were on the way to a 21-course celebration at Lord Hammond’s estate.

The Duchess was a close friend of Her Majesty, Queen Victoria. In fact, her future position in the palace was “Lady of the Bedchamber” which was rather an odd title considering the Queen had servants to make her bed and clean the chambers. The Duchess’ role was actually one of a confidante. (Also not odd as that has always been one of the official functions of royalty – to create irrelevant titles for everyone.)

One afternoon, after recovering from post-inebriation, the Duchess was summoned to the Queen’s drawing room to play cards. By four o’clock, right on schedule, the Duchess had another uncomfortable bout with that “sinking feeling.” The Queen noticed her discomfort and inquired, “What is the matter, my dear?” Anna related the story of her daily “sinking feeling.” The Queen was rather blunt, “Good Heavens, Anna, you are not standing in quick sand. You are merely hungry!” So the Queen orders her maid to immediately bring a plate of raspberry tarts and green grapes for the Duchess.

While nibbling her tart, Anna proposes a proposition, “I was thinking we should have heavier, longer breakfasts.”

“We cannot.” replied the Queen. “It would not be in good taste for royalty to spend all day breakfasting.”

“Then,” the Duchess went on thoughtfully, “why not have light meals at noon? We can serve flattened dough baked with tomato sauce and cheese as well as drenched salad with bits of stale bread on top and—”

“We cannot.” the Queen interrupted. “We have enough trouble burning carbs as it is!”

The Duchess made other suggestions of alternative meal options. “We cannot” was the Queen’s adamant answer to all the ideas. The Queen had her reasons for dismissing them all so the Duchess left it at that.

It was a few days later, when the Duchess went out riding, her hunger pains returned at precisely four o’clock. With thoughts of only what was in her larder, she remembered the delightful teacakes she had enjoyed for breakfast. She remember those little cakes quite distinctly because her headache had gone away while eating them.

When she arrived home, she ordered her butler to bring a pot of hot tea, more of those desirable teacakes as well as a variety of sandwiches cut in little triangles. It was quickly brought to her drawing room. This small snack satisfied her until supper.

During the fish course, the Duke noticed that his wife was not as hungry as usual. The Duchess told her husband of her innovative idea to eat teacakes and sandwiches during the late afternoon. The Duke encouraged her to continue, but privately thought, “This idea will never catch on!”

From that day on, the Duchess of Bedford made time for tea every afternoon. She invited the Queen and other friends to come and share this new idea of “tea-time.” The Queen enjoyed herself royally (how else would a queen enjoy herself?) and even encouraged this new tradition. It is an observable fact of history that any idea coming from royalty, whether good or bad, becomes instantly fashionable by those copycats holding sway over society.

So afternoon tea-time spread throughout the Empire as well as overseas to those renegades in “The Colonies.” Tea rooms, tea-cozy makers, mail-order catalogues, and Royal Doulton have made quite a profit on her idea. With the money from the patent, the Duke and Duchess opened up the “Bed-e Ford” Clinic which continues to be popular to this day among aristocracy seeking relief from 13-course meals and post-inebriation syndrome.

Yes, the Duchess of Bedford dared to challenge the norm and is therefore remembered and honored for this enjoyable pastime. She is mentioned in a variety of stories, magazine articles, and websites—albeit more historically accurate.

Catherine Boyce, Semper Studiosus Publishing -- Tea With the Queen -- children's book and CD

As a side line, and eventually when I retire, I give ladies Luncheon Teas/Afternoon teas, etc. at my home.

My chapter loves to attend the quarterly meetings at my home, since they never know what they will find.

All food items are home made, and they are served out of "Fine China", crystal goblets, with table linens, candles, etc. This particular tea I used glass goblets as my crystal would have been too large for the luncheon plates for this afternoon tea.

I have given many different luncheon tea themes through out the past few years, and do enjoy them. Whenever a tea is booked with me, my home/garden is theirs for the time allotted. I want the ladies to feel at home, and enjoy their moment in time.

The highlight of the year is my Annual Christmas Tea which will be 5th one in December.

According to Tasty Temptations cookbook author Connie Bandstra, sometimes food is more than just food. Bandstra, who owns the famous Teacups & Tiaras tearoom, takes the menu beyond the kitchen. With the following list of great decorating ideas using food at the holidays – buffets transform to a holiday canvas and even the simplest tricks using old pumpkins and simple marshmallows will have guests dazzled.

Connie Bandstra’s Top Tips for Decorating at the Holidays with Food:

Connie Bandstra, “everywoman” entrepreneur has noticed a heavy decline in Cleaver-type home cooked meals and sit-down family dinner traditions. Her first book Tasty Temptations (Specific House Publishing, November 2005), is a collection of over 50 handcrafted-and-tried recipes served to thousands of her tearoom guests annually.

I am from Brandon, Fla and I just found your Web site, I saw an ad in "Country Victorian Magazine", I love your Web site. I feel special when I am exploring all the nooks and crannies in the site.

I attend what used to be a small church in Brandon, Horizon Christian Church. In 1999, the ladies Ministry hosted their first annual "Victorian Tea". We hosted about 25 ladies. It was beautiful and a great success . This past March, we hosted our the annual "Tea". Different ladies from the church and some not from the church hosted tables. We decorated our own table, I used a collection of vintage hankies and true Victorian items from my Great grand Mother and her sisters. I made a table skirt with the hankies and the Victorian Collection as my centerpiece.. There were so many beautiful tables. The Narthex of the church was transformed into a Victorian Emporium. Instead of 25 ladies, we had almost 200 Ladies and young ladies, For about 3 Hours. We are taken back in time and enjoy feeling special and beautiful.

We serve a various assortment of dainty Tea Sandwiches and Desserts and of course a variety of teas. Each lady is invited to bring a favorite tea cup or we have them on hand. We are now in the planning stages for 2007.

I was honored to be invited as the "mystery guest" at the North Course Ladies Golf Club Luncheon recently. The ladies did a hilarious presentation of my tea party mystery "Sherla Combs and the Case of the Great Jewel Robberies." The ladies that had character roles all entered together, in costume, making quite a grand entrance. They walked around the dining room, laughing and chatting with the 50 or more ladies seated at tables. The hostess then introduced the theme of the party, and one by one, each came up to the microphone to tell the story of how she had been robbed of her precious jewels. Lunch was served in between stories. I really enjoyed their interpretations of the characters, and it was very rewarding for me to see the guests laughing and really enjoying the program.

When things in your lives seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of tea.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. H e shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of tea from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things--your marriage, your family , your health , your friends and your favorite passions ---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.

The sand is everything else---the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Talk to your spouse, Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the tea represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. "

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, " there's always room for a couple of cups of tea with a friend."

Please share this with someone you care about. I JUST DID

I have just returned from a delightful "Tea Etiquette" seminar by Nan Taylor, author of The Graceful Art of Tea. It was held at Truffles and Lace, a new tea room in Old Town Temecula, CA. I don't know which to rave about first - Nan's seminar or the fantastic food!

I'll start with Nan, a charming, gracious lady. She held everyone's attention with her teachings on the proper way to sit at a table, drink your tea and eat your food. Everything from napkins, gloves, conversation and basic manners was covered, intermingled with anecdotes and humor. By the way, do you know why you should never call it a napkin in a foreign country? Everyone attending the seminar received one of her books.

Truffles and Lace has been in business for less than a year, but the hostess and serving staff are real professionals. It is without a doubt, the most beautiful tea room I have ever attended. The decorations and gift selection is outstanding. And the food! Absolutely scrumptious, and so much that you end up taking some home! Lady Betty, owner and gracious hostess, started us out with butternut squash soup, quiche and salad, then we had an assortment of tea sandwiches, cheese and crackers and fruit. Then came savories - a puff with a marvelous sauce, and shrimp that we rolled up on butterleaf lettuce and ate like a taco. Still to come, was lemon bars, mousse over angelfood cake and the scones. We were served various types of tea throughout the multi course meal. (Maybe meal isn't the correct word for a tea, but I felt like I had just partaken a full meal.)

I will remember this event for a long time! Maxine - www.mysteryteaparties.com

April 11, 2006 email from Faith-Killian Fassnacht --a lovely 8 yr old with a traveling teacup exhibit.

Recently 225 women from many neighborhoods in Tampa Bay enjoyed a unique tea and fashion show at the Tampa Yacht & Country Club. Stein Mart presented fashions to a capacity crowd who cheered on ten very special models, each chosen to model because of her heart for Tampa Bay women over the past twenty years. Strands of each model’s life story, how each started a ministry and what impact they all have had on Bay area women was interwoven into the fashion commentary. A special guest speaker followed with a presentation that encouraged the women to speak words of love to others. “Very inspiring!” and “The best day I have ever had” were comments made by attendees.

A check for $1500 was later presented to Cindy Churchill, one of the models and the director of Steppin’ Stone Farm in Lithia for 29 years, a residential home for at-risk girls with a success rate of 86%! The event, publicized as an “Opportuni-Tea” was organized by Love Your Neighborhood to encourage neighborhood friendship and hospitality and to honor women who have positively impacted the community.

Gail Henderson, Love Your Neighborhood, 813.926.2960 or 15006 Maurine Cove Lane, Odessa, FL 33556. Email gailforceiii@aol.com .

Feb. 2006 email from Jean Howarth (Queen Revelry from the Red Hat Society Chapter named the Radiant Elegant Dolls, Lawrenceville, NJ) "I truly want to thank you for the free games at your website. I was so pleased that you passed them on to your viewers, it is very generous. I want to subscribe to The Tea House Times and I plan to keep "tabs" on your valued website!"

Feb. 2006 email from Barb Gulley (Queen Mother from the Red Hat Society Chapter named The Royal-Teas in Troy, Michigan) "As a Tea and Red Hat enthusiast - and a Tea House Times devotee - I was excited to receive your email today which touched on all my favorite things! I am Queen Mother of "The Royal-Teas" Red Hat Chapter in Troy, Michigan. We are starting our third year and just had a kick-off meeting this past weekend. I hosted our annual "Red Hat, Royal-Tea Kick-off Meeting and Afternoon Tea" in my home with an additional treat. We also honored one of our members, Lady Plum, and toasted to her upcoming nuptials which will take place soon. We had a meeting, a tea, and a bridal shower all in one afternoon! It was quite a family affair as well. Lady Plum brought her daughter (who was married last year) and she donned a very pale pink hat. My daughter served all the tea and scones (as she is my partner in my tea consulting business: Barb's TEA Shop Seminars, www.barbsteashop.com ) At any given time, we have a dozen or so ladies who join us for a tea outing or other fun event. I am grateful for the opportunity the Red Hat Society has given us - which is to NOT need an excuse to go out and have fun. I am the "tea-phile" of the group, so my contribution is my passion for tea and as I learn new things, I pass them on to my friends. When I get a new Tea House Times, I am so thrilled. I can't wait to read through it and share it with my group. I love the new look of the magazine, and I can only think of two ways to improve it: add more pages, and publish more than 6 times per year. It's hard to wait every other month! : ) "

It was my heart's desire to start a business centered on the feminine elegance of taking tea paired with the simple beauty of the garden. I am a firm believer in the importance of details and desired a pretty, green, high-quality ribbon to secure the ivory tulle covering my gift baskets. During an online search, I found the lovely ribbon The Tea House Times offers. Not only was the exact color I desired available, but the gold lettering and tea theme is gives the perfect finishing touch. It looks rich and classy and is durable and easy to work with. It definitely exceeds what I had hoped for to complete the look of my gift baskets. Thank you, so much, Gail.

In this photo, Michele is using the wired ribbon in a dark green color (Bottle color). Easy to form, easy to use. You can make larger bows with more loops too by using our English bow maker. See gift shoppe page for ribbon choices.

Celebrate National Hot Tea Month and infuse your diet with a little more tea!
In the spirit of the New Year, many of us will resolve to live healthier

It was on my list last January when I contemplated how many
Christmas cookies I effortlessly inhaled during the Holidays.
Before the Holiday cookie binge got off to a feverish pace this past
Holiday season, I resolved to eat healthier. Yet in spite of my best efforts,
the cold & flu season and the stress of the holidays had visions of hearty stews,
chicken soup and warm biscuits dancing in my head. This got me thinking
about one of my favorite things, cooking. I thought, what if comfort food
could be good for you? Would it be less threatening? Could we embrace all
those warm and cozy dishes without all the guilt?

We have all heard of techniques used to prepare healthier foods.
Substituting high fat ingredients with low fat ones, adding whole
grains, beans and vegetables to our favorite recipes. But, what if
we could infuse our favorite comfort foods with an extra dose of
antioxidants? This got me thinking about my favorite beverage,
TEA! After a little research I found that TEA, the World’s most loved
healthy beverage is not just for drinking anymore? As a matter of fact,
infusing food with tea is one of the biggest trends in cooking today.

Tea is good for you, this is a well known fact. Did you know that
drinking just two cups of tea a day is equal to the antioxidant properties
of 7 glasses of orange juice and 20 glasses of apple juice! So, the key
to doubling up on those wonderful antioxidants is putting extra cups
of tea into the foods you eat! Now, this may sound strange but it is a
practice that has been around for centuries. Follow the following
tips and guideline to get cookin with TEA!

Choose good quality loose tea that is FRESH!
Use steeped green or white teas for light dishes such as chicken, seafood and rice.
Choose black tea or rooibos for savory dishes such as stews, soups and savory sauces.
Use tea infusions to replace the liquid in your recipes such as soups, rice, stews, sauces and glazes.
Use dried tea leaves in marinades.
Try using tea leaves and water to poach meat. Note: the tannins make a wonderful natural tenderizer!
Use ground tea leaves as a spice, or spice rub.
Use green tea in place of a dried herb, such as parsley.
Infuse tea with dessert! Try a Spiced Chai milkshake.
Add Earl Grey to a truffle recipe - Oh la, la!
Use flavored rooibos as the base for a savory bowl of oatmeal.

Remember to experiment and don’t be afraid to get creative! Celebrate National Hot Tea month
and feel good about infusing your diet with a few more cups of tea. Your body
will thank you for it and so will those you are cooking for!

2/28/06 The following was sent to Lady Gayle by a dear friend. The author is unknown. Enjoy.

One Flaw In Women
Women have strengths that amaze men.
They bear hardships and they carry burdens,
but they hold happiness, love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy
and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in.
They stand up to injustice.
They don't take "no" for an answer
when they believe there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel
and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about
a birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member,
yet they are strong when they
think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss
can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you
to show how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what
makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope and love.
They have compassion and ideas.
They give moral support to their
family and friends.
Women have vital things to say
and everything to give.
HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,
IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

THE WONDERFUL WOMEN IN MY CIRCLE
When I was little, I used to believe
in the concept of one best friend,
and then I started to become a woman.
And then I found out that if you allow your heart
to open up, God would show you the best in many friends.

One friend is needed when you're
going through things with your man.

Another friend is needed when you're
going through things with your mom.

Another when you want to shop,
share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be.

One friend will say let's pray together, another
let's cry together, another let's fight together,
another let's walk away together.

One friend will meet your spiritual
need, another your shoe fetish, another
your love for movies, another will be with
you in your season of confusion, another will be
your clarifier, another the wind beneath your wings.

But whatever their assignment in your life,
on whatever the occasion, on whatever the day,
or wherever you need them to meet you with their gym
shoes on and hair pulled back, or to hold you back from
making a complete fool of yourself ... those are your best
friends.

It may all be wrapped up in one woman,
but for many it's wrapped up in several...
one from 7th grade, one from high school, several
from the college years, a couple from old jobs,
several from church, on some days your mother,
on some days your neighbor, on others your sisters,
and on some days your daughters.

So whether they've been there 20 minutes or 20 years,
ONLY IF YOU CHOOSE TO,
Pass this on to the women that have made a difference in your life.

My name is Carol Knapp and I live in New York. I have just subscribed to your lovely magazine. I sat right down and looked at it front to back when I received my first copy! I love it! The Health Guide is a wonderful tool for me to refer to also. Thank you.

I am writing today to let you know of a wonderful business that I am associated with called Tealightful Treasures. Charlene Phillips is the Owner and Founder of Tealightful Treasures, Inc. We are a Direct Sales Company and currently we work out of her home. We make and package her unique scone mixes, blend and package loose leaf teas, and offer accessories. Charlene even has two beautiful patterns of china that she created and have our Tealightful Treasures back stamp on them!!

I have known Charlene for many years now. We used to work together at her parents insurance office. At that time she was a single, beautiful rock and roll singer and I was a new mother. Two completely different stages of life! It is amazing to me to see how she has grown over the years and has become this wonderful, capable person who created this business for herself and others as well, and has become a wonderful wife and mother to her two little children. I would have never thought this was possible.

Charlene had a tealeaf of an idea and created a business opportunity for herself and for others. She has a love of baking and of tea and family traditions and she has brought this all together in Tealightful Treasures. We currently have 35 consultants throughout the United States!

I would like to invite you to view Tealightful Treasures’ website at www.tealightfultreasures.com. After looking through your magazine, I truly feel that Charlene and Tealightful Treasures are worthy of mention in your magazine as she has a love of tea, traditions and family as your magazine instills.

Send mail to info [at] theteahousetimes.com with questions or comments about this web site. Copyright © 2003-Present The Tea House Times™, LLC Last modified: 05/06/08

Send mail to info [at] theteahousetimes.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2003-Present The Tea House Times™, LLC Last modified: 05/06/08