Sweet Tea In A Hurry

If you love sweet tea in the summertime, this is a great reference article with a link to a recipe for the tea concentrate. Sometimes you just don't want to wait for the refreshing cold glass of tea and this is the solution.

Teapot Quilt Block

Looking for something interesting that is tea related, brought me to more than I could have imagined. Beyond a quilt with teapots there lies a wonderful world of food quilt blocks. Imagine hopping into a bed quilted with tiramisu, rugulah, strawberry cheesecake, peach praline pie, croissants and chocolate donuts. Could you even sleep? Stitch away quilters, calorie free.

Get Acquainted with Pu Erh!

We've had a long, healthy relationship with Pu Erh, the often misunderstood aged black tea from China's Yunnan Province. Processed in both cake and loose-leaf form, Pu Erh has an earthy, robust flavor that is sometimes compared to... Well, dirt.

But don't let that scare you! Pu Erh is believed to aid digestion and is customarily served with oily dishes like roast duck to cut the fat. It's a great option for someone looking for a strong, hearty black tea. Here's some healthful Pu Erh info from next month's issue of Bon Appetit:

Studies have shown that drinking caffeinated, antioxidant-rich teas like pu-erh regularly has health benefits, such as boosting metabolism and lowering cholesterol. But pu-erh has more than that going for it. Its unusual richness makes it a nice match for savory dishes.

Be sure to come in and try some at the shop. We have a great Pu Erh from 1998 just waiting to be sampled!

Special Tea Bags for Mom

This is a unique idea for the tea lovers in your life that don't want to be bothered with loose leaf tea, but who would enjoy the very best tea if it were in bags. It's a craft idea that would be easy to do for Mother's Day or it might be a way to take your favorite teas on trips.

If you're looking for a great place to have tea, how about a tea party with the Mad Hatter in the new Alice in Wonderland movie. Walking on the tea table to welcome tiny Alice is such a welcoming moment. All the regular guests are there, the March hare and dormouse. Enjoy this tea party moment if you dare!

Spring Tea Basket

Spring comes whenever it wants to, but we are ready with a cheerful way to hurry it along. Our tea basket has three teas, Morning Dew, Party Pear and Wonder Tea, tea filters, a mug a lots of bunnies, chickens and eggs.

Invite A Bird To Tea

We'll forgive this painted bunting for using a tea bag because he is so beautiful. This limited edition handmade screen print is 10" x 14". How spring-y to have a bird brew your tea.

IPhone Timer For Your Tea

What a great idea for anyone with an iPhone! The app has multiple timers and can alert you with a silent flashing screen so that your tea moment isn't ruined with a jarring beeping sound. You can time several teas at once, you can time your scones, you can even time yourself drinking tea. It's TIME for tea.

Paul Revere Reflected in a Teapot

This painting by John Singleton Copley shows his friend, Paul Revere, reflecting on his reflection.

Revere is pausing in the final stages of making a teapot. His look suggests his comparison of the round teapot and the roundness of his head. Are we reading too much into this?

Martha's Teacup Pincushion Project

If you are itching to start a little craft project, this might be just what would float your boat. The instructions are on Martha Stewart's Craft of the Day for today. Send us a photo if you try this pincushion and we'll post it.

Amy Williams Wins Gold on Tea Tray

Hurtling head first at 90 MPH down an ice track on a tea tray named Arthur gave Amy William a gold medal in skeleton for Great Britain. Check with your Great Gran before borrowing the sterling silver tray in the dining room.

Two Thermal Mugs of Tea

Megan's husband* Dr. Paul has introduced Todd & Holland Tea to his British friends on his base in Afghanistan. It turns out our tea is quite a hit with the English at tea time. "It's great an American can teach an Englishman about tea!" quips Dr. Jon. Earl Grey is his current favorite.

*Megan is the voice of mail order

Love and Chocolate

A special chocolate threesome for your Valentine. A gift that says love you, like you, or thinking of you in a delightful way. Included are: Truffles, Honeybush Chocolate Torte and Pear Helene. (.8oz[23 gr] of each for $11

Tea (and Apple Crumble) in the Big Apple

While in New York for the International Gift Fair, we took a break from looking at decorative Austrian eggs to have dinner at Pearl Oyster Bar, a fantastic little spot in the West Village. The lobster rolls and the company were superb, but the tea could have used some work. No matter, we were too absorbed in the apple crumble pie blanketed in ice cream to notice.

Bill's Back from Sri Lanka!

Little did he know he was spending two weeks in the #1 travel destination according to this New York Times list. Read about his trip and view some photos in our on line newsletter.

Former NYTimes Critic, William Grimes: Tea Drinker!

Last month, Grub Street asked former New York Times food critic, William Grimes, to describe his eating habits for a week. In his food diary, he explains that he prefers tea over coffee, (fantastic!) but that he makes his own English Breakfast blend out of someone else's black teas (ouch!) Surely, our English Breakfast blend would change his mind...

You can read his entire "New York Diet" diary here.

It's Not Just for Drinking...

This recipe (courtesy of Gourmet) produces delicious Parisian macarons lightly flavored with Earl Grey tea. For a stronger flavor, try using our Earl Grey Double Bergamot and brew yourself a cup to dip your macarons in.

CHOCOLATE EARL GREY MACARONS

MAKES 2 1/2 DOZEN SANDWICH COOKIES

ACTIVE TIME:1 HR

START TO FINISH:4 1/2 HR

Ingredients:

• 3 oz almond flour (2/3 cup) or blanched sliced almonds (3/4 cup) or slivered almonds (2/3 cup)
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
• 3 tablespoons Dutch-process cocoa (preferably Valrhona)
• 3 large egg whites, at room temperature 30 minutes
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon Earl Grey tea (from 1 tea bag)
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 3 oz fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (60 to 64% cacao if marked), finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 
  

MAKE MACARON BATTER:

• Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Grind almond flour or almonds with confectioners sugar and cocoa powder in food processor until powdery, 30 seconds for almond flour, about 2 minutes for almonds. (If using grinder, grind in small batches.) Sift through a medium-mesh sieve into a bowl (if not fine enough for almost all of nuts to go through sieve, regrind). Sift again into a large bowl.
• Beat egg whites with salt in a bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until they just hold soft peaks. Beat in granulated sugar, a little at a time. Increase speed to high and beat until meringue holds stiff, glossy peaks, about 1 minute. Fold meringue into almond mixture with a rubber spatula until completely incorporated. (Meringue will deflate and batter will be loose.)
• Grind tea to a fine powder in grinder.

PIPE AND BAKE MACARONS:

• Put small dabs of batter under corners of parchment to secure to baking sheets.
• Spoon half of batter into pastry bag. Holding bag vertically just above baking sheet, pipe 1 1/2-inch-wide mounds of batter about 1 inch apart, stopping pressure and flicking tip sideways to avoid peaks (tamp down any peaks with a wet finger). Refill pastry bag and repeat. Sprinkle tops with about 1/4 tsp tea powder (reserve remainder). Let macarons stand, uncovered, at room temperature until a light crust forms, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 300°F with racks in upper and lower thirds.
• Bake macarons, switching position of sheets halfway through, until crisp and interior does not give easily when a macaron is gently pressed, 22 to 28 minutes total. Cool completely on baking sheets (for residual heat to harden bottoms) on racks, about 30 minutes. Loosen macarons from parchment with offset spatula (they will be fragile).
• Meanwhile, bring cream and remaining 3/4 tsp tea powder to a simmer in a small heavy saucepan. Remove from heat and stir in chocolate and butter until smooth. Chill, whisking occasionally, until thickened, 20 to 30 minutes. Transfer to sealable bag and snip off corner.

ASSEMBLE COOKIES:

• Pipe about 1/2 tsp ganache onto flat side of half of macarons, then sandwich with remaining macarons. (There will be ganache left over.)
• Layer macarons between sheets of parchment in an airtight container and let stand at room temperature at least 2 hours to soften before eating.

Filled macarons can be kept in an airtight container wrapped in plastic wrap, chilled 2 days or frozen 1 month. Bring to room temperature in wrapped container (to avoid condensation), about 1 hour if chilled or 2 hours if frozen.

An Expensive Cup of Tea

We don’t sell anything quite this expensive…

Diner's Journal is reporting that the Pink Tea Cup, an iconic New York City eatery that closed earlier this month, was recently purchased for $400,000. It will re-open next month around the corner from its original location on Grove Street. Lawrence Page, who bought the restaurant’s name, says he will employ the staff from the original Pink Tea Cup.

“I thought it was a good business to save,” said Page. “I just wrote the check. The name is worth that — 50 years of legacy.”

If you’re in NYC, be sure to stop by the Pink Tea Cup for some Southern comfort food and, of course, a cup of tea.

Helen Dardik's Tea Art

We love funky prints and artwork (check out some of our stationery here) and Helen Dardik is one of our favorite new artists. Her work features colorful, retro designs and quirky characters, but we’re especially obsessed with her prints that involve tea.

Everyone knows that tea is the only thing that can make dogs and cats get along.

Why don't you relax with a romantic cup of tea?

You can see more of Helen's work on her blog, Orange You Lucky, and purchase her work on Etsy.

It's the Perfect Day for a Tea Party

It's a bleak, chilly day in Forest Park, Illinois. The 6 inches of snow covering the ground has lost its freshness and the sledding hills are showing patches of bare ground. So what do we do with the kids on days like this? How about a tea party? We have lots of adorable children's tea sets, from classic porcelain to retro tin. How about having a cup with Curious George? We've got him here, ready to go home with you. Just watch out he doesn't get into mischief!

Would you like a little comfort food to serve at your tea party? Our Iveta Gourmet Scone Mix is simple to make and oh so good. They come in all kinds of flavors, from creamy Vanilla to spicy Ginger. We just sold Lemon to a customer who is adding fresh blueberries. What could be better? Of course you'll want to serve only Todd & Holland tea, but we already know that!

Hello!

Welcome to the new Todd & Holland Tea Merchants Blog! Here, you'll be able to find new information about the shop and our products, as well as get updates on upcoming special events. Be sure to stop by the store, located at 7311 Madison Street in Forest Park, IL.

Check out our website: http://www.todd-holland.com/ , follow us on Twitter, and become a fan on Facebook!