Dear Friends,
Today, I ventured outside The Beloved Tearoom in my mind to take tea in the real world with a very dear friend of mine, one who I don't get to see nearly as often as I would like. We went to Teaism in Penn Quarter, here in Washington. There, they serve a rather eclectic, Pan-Asian menu, which includes a really lovely traditional afternoon tea (with some slight Asian twists). Here was our menu:
Tea-Smoked Salmon Tea Sandwiches with Miso Mayonnaise
Cucumber and Watercress Tea Sandwiches with Wasabi
Ginger Scones with Jam
Two Tiny Lemon Mousse Tarts topped with Strawberries
Vanilla, Chocolate and Matcha Tea Shortbread Cookies
Chocolate Truffles
A Pot of Tea (mine was Earl Grey, of course and hers was the Berry Tisane)
Very lovely. Also, there was a beautiful koi pond with huge orange, white and black koi!
Recently, I have been particularly interested in all the delicious looking Christmas teas from all our favorite Houses of Beautiful Tea in Paris. Which one would you pick if we could all have a lovely toasty afternoon in front of the fire, back at Our Tearoom of the Imagination?
-Soir de Noël (A Christmas Night) from Fauchon - with flavors of caramel, pineapple, sweet orange and marachino cherry.
-Any of the Christmas teas from Dammann Frères - Noël à Londres, Noël à Paris, Noël à Pékin, Noël à Prague, Noël à St. Petersburg, Noël à Venise, Noël à Vienne, Noël à Alsace, Noël à Provence (Christmas in London, Paris, Peking, Prague, St. Petersburg, Venice, Vienna, Alsace and Provence, respectively)
-Kusmi's Christmas tea (Chinese black tea flavored with orange, almond, vanilla and spices) or Ginger Lemon tea
The snow is falling outside.
Inside, all your favorite friends, the fireside and a delicious cup of steaming tea are waiting for you...
Posts
Thank you so very much for introducing me to new kinds of Tea! I have redescovered tea while being in London. In the US tea is not as popular and somehow I lost taste for tea over the years.My favorite tea is made of pieces of fruits and herbs and I usually buy it from the local boutique. I will, most certainly, try suggested teas and will let you know which one is the best.Wishing you the most beautiful pre Christmas weekend!:-)
ReplyDeleteThank you for a lovely, lovely afternoon, Ms. Betty! It was so good to see you! :)
ReplyDeletexo,
Nina
Dear Anya, I have not had the chance to try any of the teas I wrote about, but thought they all sounded like something nice we could sip while we chatted away in big comfy chairs in front of the fire!
ReplyDeleteWishing you and your loved ones a very happy weekend and Christmas!
Betty
Dear Nina, You are so very, very welcome! We did have fun, didn't we? And thank you for the beautiful gift you gave me! I will make a frame for it and it will hang in my new art space! Of course, the very cute pencil you gave me will live in my box of art supplies where I will see it and think of you when doing projects! I was so happy to get to see you too! V & I are wishing you, C and Mr. B the happiest of Christmases!
xo,
Betty
I would pick the Noel Christmas tea! I am loving the smooth deep spice right now too, like never before! Thank you for sharing your amazing tea with us. Love to you!
ReplyDeleteXO's
Tea-Smoked Salmon Tea Sandwiches - yummy! I absolutely love tea time! I had never particpated in such a thing, let alone had REAL tea until earlier this year when a dear, dear friend of mine introduced me to it. I cherish tea time at home or at a local venue. It holds so much meaning and warmth for me now. :)
ReplyDeleteDarling, I thank you for your love and support this past year when I needed it most. Your kindness has left me feeling blessed. You have made my first year of blogging a memorable one!! I am certain that 2010 will be an amazing year for us both. Enjoy the last day of the year and have a marvelous 2010 full of good health, happiness, prosperity, love and blessings.
ReplyDeleteLove & Hugs
Duchess