TeaTime

come for tea May I let you in on a secret? From time to time, we have to photograph our tea parties out of season. Although we try to avoid it, we are no strangers to decorating a room for Christmas during the broiling heat of summer. The only times of year that are difficult to replicate out of season are, of course, outdoor settings, such as flower gardens. Autumn content can also be challenging to photograph in other times of the year, especially if real pumpkins are required, such as with our cute afternoon tea for children in which the seasonal gourd is used as an ingredient, food shape inspiration, and table décor. We hope you’ll use this whimsical menu (page 49) to introduce the kids in your life to…

Longstanding Subscribers “I love, love, love TeaTime magazine! I am a longtime subscriber.” JOYANN PUSZTAI via Facebook I will always be so grateful for all the beautiful places recommended in TeaTime magazine that I have been reading for more than 20 plus years. For example, visiting Lady Bedford’s Tea Parlour [now sadly closed] in Pinehurst, North Carolina, while driving home from Florida back to Canada in 2015. Then, there was such a wonderful article in your July/August 2014 issue titled “Finding la bonne table in the Province of Quebec.” In [the photo below], we are cele-brating my daughter’s 50th birthday at the Mandarin Oriental [now a Waldorf Astoria] in Las Vegas, a great recommendation from your May/June 2017 issue. I could go on and on with more pictures, but I simply want to express my gratitude for…

September 20 & 21 Pennsylvania Tea Festival 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Rosemary House & Sweet Remembrances Tea Room Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania Held in the fragrant gardens of The Rosemary House and Sweet Remembrances Tea Room in charming downtown Mechanicsburg, this two-day festival will feature guided tea tastings; tea samplings; vendors; informative programs, including one by TeaTime editor Lorna Reeves; musical entertain-ment; and more. Tickets are $15 in advance or $18 at the door. A tea tasting cup is included with admission. Advance tickets are available online at humanitix.com (fees apply), in person from The Rosemary House, or by emailing therosemaryhouse@aol.com. For more information, go to teafestpa.com. 28 & 29 Northwest Tea Festival 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturday; 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Sunday Exhibition Hall at Seattle Center Seattle, Washington Immerse yourself in a two-day event showcasing the multifaceted world…

Charming China Steep tea in Portmeirion’s Pomona Apple 2-pint teapot, featuring a beautiful fruit motif from a hand-colored book from the 1830s. ($94.60, portmeirion.com, 888-778-1471) Personal Touch Add an element of whimsy and charm to your table with these intricate, hand-painted Farmer’s Market Apple Place Card Holders. ($89 for set of 4, antiquefarmhouse.com) Teatime Sweets Treat guests to a tempting selection of decadent chocolates found in this Autumn Collection Chocolate Truffle Box, which features such fall-inspired flavors as apple cider, pecan pie, and pumpkin spice.($28.95 for 9 pieces, delysia.com, 512-413-4701) Sophisticated Server Enhance your tablescape and display a variety of tempting treats on this elegant Leaf and Branch Serving Tray. ($186, wildlifewonders.com, 512-531-9030) Sensational Spices Savor the delightful flavors of fall by sipping a warming blend of bright apple, cinnamon, orange peel, and clove found in this Hot Apple…

Autumn Spice Black Tea CHICAGO TEAHOUSE | chicagoteahouse.com TEACUP: Aynsley Chintz #C869 (Orange) “Star anise and fennel contribute slight notes of licorice to this well-balanced blend, which also has hints of citrus and cloves.”—Lorna Reeves, editor Nutty Pumpkin Pie Rooibos NATURE’S TEA COMPANY | naturesteacompany.com TEACUP: Foley EB & Co. #V4204 “This tea is the perfect blend of spices and delicate nutty flavor for a delightful brew that is reminiscent of the beloved dessert.”—Shelby Duffy, editorial assistant Apple Spice Rooibos Herbal Tea THE BOULDER TEA COMPANY | boulderteaco.com TEACUP: Grosvenor China #B268 “Sipping this smooth, cinnamon-forward caffeine-free infusion is a delight anytime, but especially during autumn.”—Leighann Bryant, art director I Am Divine Rooibos Chai SIBAHLE TEAS | sibahleteas.com TEACUP: Royal Standard (pattern unknown) “Warming chai spices intermingle with rich, caramelly rooibos. Add a splash of milk to make it especially decadent on a chilly afternoon.”—Katherine…

I have enjoyed matcha across Japan in myriad ways. I’ve knelt on tatami mats in 200-year-old tea huts in Uji while slurping whisked tea made by robed tea masters who continue the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. I’ve drunk hot or cold cans of matcha from vending machines in Tokyo. And, on hot days, I’ve licked matcha ice cream dispensed into cones from soft-serve machines in Kyoto. Matcha has found a new audience, with American tea drinkers intrigued by its health benefits but baffled about how to make it. Should it be whisked, steeped, stirred, or frothed into a latte? Can it be added to a fruit shake or baked goods? The answer to all the questions is yes! What Matcha Is Matcha is a superior green tea that has been finely ground into…