Love, Love, Love, Love, Tea.

I've been writing, dear reader....I've been writing...just not always here.  But if you love tea, which you must or else you wouldn't be reading this tea blog, then allow me to direct you to some of my other writings - recently all having to do with love and tea.

Falling in Love....with Tea  

Steeped in Love!

7 Ways Tea Increases Love

Tea is love and like any passion it is best when shared!
xoxox,
Madam Potts

The Romance of Jasmine Tea

There is a lot to be said for Valentine’s Day - a day that the collective conscious of the world will focus on love.  All this talk about love is fine, but what’s love without a little romance?  Can you be romanced by a cup of tea?  Oh, I think you can and I don’t doubt that you have already been romanced.

Tea will snuggle and cuddle your insides with its warmth and love - just like a good Valentine should! The senses are heightened and if we have chosen well then we fall madly in love with the tea and the steamy romance begins.

Not all teas have the same sensual elements.  So my #1 choice for a romantic cup of tea is Jasmine Tea.  Everything about Jasmine tea can be seen with the rosy-glasses of romance.  From the way it is created to the final moment of taste sensation, jasmine tea speaks the language of love.

Consider that the initial tea season comes in the Spring – a time that the world breaks forth with new life, a time marked by the blossoming of new love and flowers.  It is in the first few weeks of the first flush that the buds and leaves must be plucked and the fresh blossoms of the jasmine flower chosen and then are layered within the tea leaves.  Then the two leaves are curled up together in a tight union. Upon completion the two are now one and the scent of the jasmine have infused the tea. The soft flowery fragrance of the jasmine tea is the very essence of romance.  And the taste of a quality jasmine tea is nothing short of divine.

If you want to show your love this Valentines’ Day, don’t just say it with flowers – say it with flowers and pearls, by sharing the gift of pearled jasmine tea!

Steeped in the New Year

2011 is going to be a special year.  Perhaps I'm superstitious about the date ending in two like numbers, or perhaps it's the fact that 2011 kicks off the second decade in the new millenium. But whatever the reason, there's always something new to talk about, a new tea to sip, a new pot or cup to use, a new cafe to check out, a new friend to meet....sometimes indulging in the small things helps us increase our perspective and our enthusiasm!

Recently my writings have been for other publications, and so in keeping with the New Year's theme for just this one last time, I'd like to share some links on this topic.

Tea Helps You Stick to Your Resolutions

New Year, Old Tea?

Make a Champagne Toast with Tea

Talking about NEW things:  This blog has it's first sponsor, Sanctuary T.  I'd like to welcome them aboard.  If you can't make it to SoHo in NYC, then by all means, check out their quality line of teas and innovative products online.

The Gift of Tea: DIY style

There is a never-ending supply of tea, tea wares and tea-related gifts for the tea lover that you can buy. Oh, there are teapots and fancy flowering tea sets, to special honeys and unique blends aplenty!  So when I was invited to the Steeped in Beauty: DIY Holiday Gift Workshop, which was held on December 4th in Philadelphia, I knew this would spark some thoughtful and fun ways to share my love of tea with others.

The event itself was lead by two Philadelphia residents passionate about tea and wellness: Jolene Hart, a certified Beauty & Health Coach, and Alexis Siemons, a tea writer & branding consultant, and the founder of teaspoons & petals blog and her delicately crafted line of haiku teaware.  Not enough amazing things can be said about her Haiku-wares.  I've said it before and will no doubt be featuring them again because they are so awesome they rock my inner tea pot.

The event started with Jolene Hart as she led us through some easy to make natural beauty and health products like a Peppermint Lip Balm, A Spicy Holiday Sugar Scrub, and a Natural Fragrance Oil Diffuser Set.  Not only how to make them, but how to personalize and create a lovely presentation in the packaging of them (Thank you Ikea for cheap goods!)

Then Alexis took the floor and shared how to make tea cards, tea soda, and even a matcha lemon poundcake.

I  especially like the personalized tea note cards - so easy to do and a great idea for any occasion - even if it's just to say "Hi!" to a friend across the miles...  In the photo, you'll see a tea pack of Orchid Oolong from Mighty Leaf Tea Company.  After teaching us how to make the card, she shared a special way of enjoying the Orchid Oolong in a cup of hot cocoa.  The essence of the tea with its rich and floral notes gave the cocoa an exotic feel.

We also learned how to make a tea soda.  a festive beverage with a million flavor possibilities!  Simply carmelize some sugar and tea together, into a syrup.  Bottle and enjoy.  To serve, pour a bit of the syrup into the glass and add club soda or seltzer.   Here I am holding my cup of fizzy tea soda.

Not only can you use any leftover tea to make the base for the soda, but when creating a card or gift tag to go with the present, steep the note card in tea for an vintage, antique look. 

I look forward to trying my hand at the gift ideas that Jolene and Alexis presented.  Also, when they have their next event, I will be eager to attend. The communiTEA spirit was certainly alive at this DIY Gift Workshop.  I have since been in contact with the lades who were present - and everyone who was there left steeped in excitement and in inspiration which is the most beautiful thing of all.

For more info & better pix of the things made: Visit Tea&PetalsBlog

Spring is Here!

I have not yet been to Japan, but when I do I hope to be there for Hanami - the viewing of the cherry blossoms. This festive time of year seems to be quite like a holiday - and something that anyone of any language or nationality can admire - the world come alive and in full bloom!

In learning about this Springtime celebration, I was inspired to write about the tea, the Kyoto Cherry Rose Tea, that was created in honor of this special time of year.

Read more about it on The English Tea Blog: Celebrate Spring!

Going for the Green (tea) on St Pattys

What better day to talk about all things green than on St Patrick’s Day! And while some will opt for pitchers of green beer tonight, I’ll be seeing green in pots of tea! If ever I was to find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, I’m sure it would be a tea pot of the most beautiful golden hued liquor of a very satisfying green tea.

You needn’t be Irish to celebrate St Patty’s Day, nor do you need the luck of the Irish to reap the healthy benefits of green tea. Luckily there is a lot of research these days which verifies what people have known for centuries – that green tea is good for your health and your health is worth its weight in gold!

Follow the link to find out

"Why it's lucky to drink Green Tea!"

Catch Madam Potts LIVE: December 11th

Tis the season to share the warmth of friends and family -- and what better way to do that than with a pot of tea? As many of you know, my company only sells custom blends of tea. Obviously, as a tea artisan blender, these PersonaliTEAS are not the only blends I have, in fact I make many many blends of tea. So anyone hoping to find other Mad Pots of Tea! blends must seek me out in person. It just so happens that those local to the Jersey Shore region will have their chance next Friday, December 11th.

Just in time for the Holiday Season,
Mad Pots of Tea! is releasing 3 Seasonal Blends ~

* Silent Night: This herbal mix of soothing, relaxing, caffeine free herbs will help your find your calm amidst the holiday rush. Great before bedtime too!
* Peppermint Dreams: This minty white tea mixed with candy canes and peppermint will have you dreaming of a white Christmas... and
* Chocolate Orange Spice: Chocolate and spice and everything nice in a black tea blend! Yum!

These 3 Teas will be featured at the Ocean Avenue Holiday Bazaar!
Come and Meet Madam Potts
When: Friday, December 11th
Time: 6-9pm
Where: Ocean Avenue PTA Holiday Bazaar
Address: 235 Ocean Avenue,
North Middletown, NJ
See Map

Now if you would like any of these teas (loose, bagged or in Mad Bags) and you don't live in the New Jersey area, email me and I will ship your order anywhere in the world!

Looooove Tea

Dear Tea Blog (and tea blog readers) ~

I know I have been a less than attentive Madam. Though I have not blogged in two weeks, my love is still strong. I have spent more time in the kitchen than on the computer.

My most recent custom order, a sweeet & spicy rooibos, was sent off to a very sweet lady in Connecticut. I realized that I hadn't made a Valentine's Tea this year! But what with my recent surge of positive feedback with this red tea, I may dub this Royal Red Tea the honor of being this year's Looooooove Tea. After all, a little sweetness and little spice and lots of warmth - sounds like a perfect Valentine to me!

So to lovers and tea lovers and loving teaspoons everywhere....

Happy Valentine's Day!

Warm Holiday Wishes

Twas the day before Christmas and all through the house, not a teapot was steeping, because I had traveled home for the holidays.

I am not sure where I developed my fondness for tea, but it sure wasn't from my family. But there are lots of differences...case and point - I live in The City [NYC] and going "home" is a travel 4+ hours upstate and west....

Having had the resources to avoid the recent transit strike I hadn't spent any time home and so I could not arm myself with tea to go. I sure hope there's some loose tea under the tree!

I made it very, very easy this year for my family to figure out what I wanted if they wanted to gift me some tea. Although I did that last year too yet they still decided that somehow or another I would prefer black tea - flavored black tea at that.

But that's why MAD POTS and CITY SIPPERS will be starting up the January 2006 White Elephant Tea Swap. So stay tuned for more details on that...

And no matter how you celebrate, I wish you all the perfect blend of love.

Warmly,
Madam Potts

International Tea Day

Today is International Tea Day!

Enjoy your Day.

Now go make some tea.