Tea Stories
Back in the saddle again... November 11 2015
Back in Playa del Rey last night after our great trip to the AZ Central Food & Wine Festival in Scottsdale, AZ. I will be mailing out books and tea today, and thank you all for your patience. Thanks too, to all who came out to have afternoon tea with us and Dinner With The McCartneys, and especially to Jo Gemmill, Owner of English Rose Tea Room in Carefree, AZ for providing the mouth watering food for the afternoon teas. If you are in that neck of the woods, be sure to make a visit. You can find them at www.carefreetea.com. So now, back to the grindstone, and let's keep this thing rolling.Arizona, here we come... November 04 2015
http://www.ahwatukee.com/news/valley_and_state/article_dcf219bc-8ea8-57a2-ac82-f156f9cc6be3.htmlIn-Store with Mrs McCartney's Teas November 01 2015
I am so pleased to announce that Ruth and I will be conducting an in-store display and tasting of Mrs McCartney's Teas at A.J.s Fine Store at 7141 E. Lincoln Drive, Scottsdale, AZ from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday next, November 6th. That will lead us nicely into the next 2 days at The Scottsdale Fashion Mall where we will have Afternoon Teas at 3 p.m. on both days, and a Dinner With The McCartneys at 5:30 p.m. (cocktails) for dinner beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Friday night.There are so many exciting people going to be there, Chefs galore, and food and wine experts from all over the place. It's to be hoped the airlines don't weigh the passengers on their flights back home! I'm looking forward to hooking up with old friends Jim Gath (who was my boss way back at USA TODAY) and writer Marshall Terrill.
AZ Food and Wine Experience in Scottsdale Nov. 6 & 7. October 31 2015
I am very excited to be presenting Mrs McCartney's Teas at several events at Scottsdale Fashion Mall next week, November 7th & 8th.
AZ Food & Wine Experience
Tea - from food to medicine October 30 2015
Anthropologists speculate that prehistoric humans (the species Homo erectus) discovered indigenous tea trees growing wild in the forests of Yunnan. The quest to discover edibles in the environment would have eventually tempted these early inhabitants to chew on the leaves of the tea trees, perhaps stimulated by their own curiosity or from watching the actions of forest-dwelling animals. They would have discovered these leaves to be a source of invigorating energy that might sustain them on their daily rounds of foraging for food.
Once these prehistoric humans learned the skills of fire building, they gained warmth and protection from the elements, and soon they acquired the ability to cook meat and boil water. Surrounded by an abundance of wild-growing tea trees, they felled these trees to use for fuel. Most likely alng the way, they experimented by adding tea leaves and other forest barks and leaves to boiling water, which was then stewed into various strong, bitter and invigorating concoctions.
Tea and Religions October 30 2015
China's three great philosophy religions - Buddhism, Confucianism and Daoism, sprouted toward the middle of the Zhou dynasty. Each of these religions embraced tea for its healthful virtues and powers of rejuvenation. Monks and priests who were introduced to tea found that this beverage would help them stay awake during long meditations. To these holy men, tea represented a virtuous and necessary tonic, which they declared to be the "elixir of life" that should be consumed daily by all people. As the popularity of Buddhism, Confucianism and Daoism spread throughout China, so did an awareness of life-enhancing tea.The Tang Dynasty October 29 2015
Tea was consumed differently by the various members of the social classes in the Tang dynasty. Many tea drinkers favoured adding onion, ginger, orange peel, cloves or peppermint to their tea. Mixing salt into the tea became a popular choice in the western provinces. Ladies of the Court sipped tea that was mixed with delicate extracts of fruits and flowers. Now that I could understand - but onion? Really?The Elegance of the Hedgehog October 29 2015
When tea becomes ritual, it takes its place at the heart of our ability to see greatness in small things. Where is beauty to be found? In great things that, like everything else, are doomed to die, or in small things that aspire to nothing, yet know how to set a fewel of infinity in a single moment?"
Muriel Barbery
More from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy October 28 2015
Arthur blinked at the screens and felt he was missing something important. Suddenly, he realized what it was. "Is there any tea on this spaceship?" he asked.
Douglas Adams
Demonglass October 27 2015
"Dad was at his desk when I opened the door, doing what all British people do when they're freaked out: drinking tea."
Rachel Hawkins
Armageddon October 26 2015
"Honestly, if you're given the choice between Armageddon or tea, you don't say 'what kind of tea' ?"
Neil Gaiman
Truth and Beauty October 25 2015
"Writing is a job, a talent, but it's also the place to go to in your head. It is your imaginary friend that you drink your tea with in the afternoon."
Ann Patchett
Zen October 23 2015
"Who would then deny that when I am sipping tea in my tearoom, I am swallowing the whole universe with it, and that this very moment of my lifting the bowl to my lips is eternity itself transcending time and space?"
D.T. Suzuki, Zen and Japanese Culture
More news on green tea October 22 2015
Green tea has been a big tea topic in the U.S. for several years with discussions of its potential health benefits, rising interest in cold steeping techniques, its culinary uses, and, of course, the recent matcha craze. Research and Markets, a large-scale market research provider based in Ireland, has just released its latest report that aims to make some projections about the drink’s future.Penny Lane Peppermint October 11 2015
This for me is the most delightful afternoon tea, to be served with shortbread biscuits (or cookies, as they are known in the United States). It's an unmistakable blend of mint with an earthy, irresistable aroma of chocolate. And remember, chocolate was originally drunk, not eaten, with origins being traced back to Maya and Aztec civilizations in Central America. Then in the 1600s and 1700s there was a huge import tax on chocolate in Europe, making it something that only the wealthy could enjoy. For me, it has the decadence of an after dinner thin mint. It is equally enjoyable drunk either hot or as iced tea.50 Shades of Earl Grey October 10 2015
Traditionally, Earl Grey tea was a blend of Chinese and Indian teas, scented with the oil from the citrus bergamot plant. The legends of its origins are numerous, but my favourite is the one that tells the story according to the Grey family They said the tea was specially blended by a Chinese mandarin for Lord Grey, to suit the water at Howick Hall, the family seat in Northumberland, using bergamot in particular to offset the preponderance of lime in the local water. Lady Grey used it to entertain in London as a political hostess. Earl Grey was three times Prime Minister of England in the 1800’s, and had a colourful personal history, especially with the ladies. That made me wonder if it carried on into 50 Shades ... Who knows. Just my fanciful mind.
Abbey Road Apple Tea October 09 2015
Although apples have a long history in the United States, cultivation of apples is thought to have originated in ancient Rome. The Romans brought the trees to England, and the British brought them to Massachusetts. The popularity of the apple grew across the United States, thanks to the hard work of John Chapman, aka Johnny Appleseed, who travelled the country planting apple seeds. We're glad he did. Their delightful flavoour in tea brings a refreshing quality.
Zen October 07 2015
"Who would then deny that when I am sipping tea in my tearoom I am swallowing the whole universe with it and that this very moment of my lifting the bowl to my lips is eternity itself transcending time and space?"
D.T. Suzuki, Zen and Japanese Culture
Another from Sir Sydney Smith October 07 2015
"A man who wishes to make his way in life could do no better than go through the world with a boiling tea-kettle in his hand."
The Reverend Sir Sydney Smith
From The Rev. Sydney Smith October 06 2015
"Thank God for tea! What would the world do without tea! How did it exist? I am glad I was not born before tea."
The Rev. Sydney Smith
Wise words from William Ewart Gladstone October 05 2015
"If you are cold, tea will warm you; if you are heated, it will cool you; if you are depressed, it will cheer you; if you are excited, it will calm you".
I guess if anyone would know, it would have been him. He was Prime Minister of England four times and no doubt drank a lot of tea.
Tea tattle October 04 2015
"As far as her mom was concerned, tea fixed everything. Have a cold? Have some tea. Broken bones?" There's a tea for that too. Somewhere in her mother's pantry, Laurel suspected, was a box of tea that said, "'in case of Armageddon, steep three to five minutes.'"
Aprilynne Pike, Illusions
More words of wisdom October 02 2015
“There are those who love to get dirty and fix things. They drink coffee at dawn, beer after work. And those who stay clean, just appreciate things. At breakfast they have milk and juice at night. There are those who do both, they drink tea.”
Gary Snyder