So would you interrupt a good snog for a cuppa?
We all brew in a yellow submarine
What’s the best shape for a tea infuser? And what’s the weirdest shape for a tea infuser that you’ve seen? Well , the good designers at Ototo and Monkey Business tackled those two for you with the TeaSub. Now I’m not sure how good of an infuser this would be since there doesn’t seem to be too many holes in the sub for the water to circulate through the tea properly. But it sure is cute. And it would make a lovely gift for a Beatles fan who loves tea.
It looks like the only place to get it will be from Gift Lab in the UK at this point. I’ve searched high and low on the internet and can’t find it anywhere else.
(via CNET)
Gaga for teacups? What’s with Lady Gaga’s teacup?
Looks like Lady Gaga love tea just like us. But what’s the story behind Lady and her teacup? As you can probably tell, I love tea (and Lada Gaga) more than your average girl. But Lady is consistently photographed with a teacup, and I’m not sure if any two are alike. (Oh how jealous I am if she has a teacup collection that rivals mine.)
The picture to the right is from a recent trip to London, but she was also spotted with a Royal Dalton Old Country Roses teacup at the Grammys this past Sunday. Lady is all about symbolism in her costumes/outfits, so it wouldn’t surprise me if these little teacups mean something more.
So what do you think, is she a tea freak like us or does is it a symbol of something more?
Drinking tea may slim your waistline? Why don’t I weigh 100 pounds?
I always have to take any new health study with a shovel of salt. In this article from the Examiner.com they say that a new study found that drinking tea may slim your waistline, but it is not conclusive and a bit misleading. After saying that tea reduces your waistline, they state:
When it comes to coffee and tea drinking, the use of sugar vs. artificial sweeteners seems to play a role in abdominal obesity. And the findings might surprise you. For men, the use of sugar in tea was associated with a nearly 1-inch smaller waist measurement, but the use of artificial sweeteners was linked to a nearly 2-inch larger waistline. Among women, the use of milk in tea was associated with a two-thirds-of-an-inch smaller waistline. But women who used artificial sweeteners had an average of nearly an inch larger waistline.
This seems to be more of a study on the effects of artificial sweeteners than it is of tea. And if it were true, I would not have a nice belly given that I put milk and sugar in my tea.
Yes, tea is good for you, but it is not going to replace exercise and eating right.
Best places for tea on-the-go in Vancouver
With the Olympics just a few days away, there will be an influx of visitors to our little city. And many may not be prepared for the cold and rain that can chill you to the bone. But the best remedy for that is a good cuppa tea. Here are my picks for a quick cuppa, no sit-down required, tea on the go in Vancouver (in no particular order):
- Tim Hortons – various locations – Most people think coffee. But not many people know they make a good tea. Be sure to ask for the “steeped tea” and how much milk in sugar you want in it.
- Murchies –825 W. Pender St (North side between Hornby & Howe) – This is a B.C. institution. You can do the sit-down tea, but they do take out with any of their teas. They also have a location in Oakridge Mall on the Canada Line. (Prince Charles tea is my fav, but I’m still campaigning for a Prince William or Harry blend).
- Urban Tea Merchant –1070 West Georgia St. @ Thurlow (also on the North Shore in the West Vancouver Mall Village) – Another place that’s better known for it’s lovely high tea and lunches. But they do spectacular tea lattes made with their premium teas. Also, they have macarons and chocolates from France. I strongly recommend the Tribute tea latte in tribute to the games – an almond & marzipan flavored tea that’s even more yummy with almond syrup.
- Granville Island Tea Company – Granville Island Market – They recently did a well-needed expansion to accommodate the line-ups. If you’re exploring Granville Island, they’re inside the market, on the east side, next to Stuarts Bakery.
- Muzi Tea Bar – 870 west cordova street (by Canada Place) – This very sleek tea bar has some seating, but makes lovely traditional japanese teas as well as those with a modern twist. There’s a lovely milk/rose tea latte.
- Pekoe Tea Lounge (formally Steeps) – 895 W Broadway – What’s great about this place is it’s homey atmosphere and the fact there’s a tea sniffing station from which you can choose your tea. You may find the Shitty Weather Tea apropos.
- T – 1568 West Broadway – This is the tea that the Fairmont uses for their high teas, as do several other high-end hotels and restaurants around the world. It’s austere atmosphere looks like it’s only a shop, but you can order tea to stay or go. And you can also sniff the teas at your leisure before ordering. My fav here is the Mad Hatter tea.
- David’s Tea – 2199 West 4th Avenue – Okay, so I haven’t been here yet. But so many people have recommended it to me that I’d be remiss for not including it. And supposedly it’s take away only.
- Starbucks – one on nearly every corner – Vancouver embraced Starbucks as if it were a long lost child. And you can’t go 2 blocks in this city without coming across one. Their tea mistos (don’t call them lattes) are pretty good. And it’s the only non-Canadian tea shop on this list.
British tea making tips propaganda film (1941)
I stumbled on this British WWII propaganda film. Were the troops complaining that the tea maids weren’t making good tea? It seems like it if they needed to teach people how to make tea en masse. But it ends with the 6 Golden Rules for Making Tea, which if more people knew today, it would be easier to find a well-brewed tea.
I want the “Tea Revives the World” poster that’s hanging behind the male instructor.
A teacup big enough for a cat
Have a Merry Christmas!
Enjoy your cuppa tea while opening your presents Christmas morning.
Merry Christmas Teapot
Murchie’s Prince Charles Tea
Today, my friend and I stopped for a a quick tea at British Columbia’s oldest tea company, Murchie’s. We split a current scone with some thick and creamy Devonshire cream and lovely raspberry jam. And I paired it with a cup of Prince Charles tea.
Maybe it’s the media coverage of Prince Charles’ visit to Canada that had me thinking about this tea, but I couldn’t help myself from ordering it. It’s an extremely strong, rich blend of UVA Highland, Darjeeling, Extra Choice Keemun and Pure Assam. You’re going to want to have it with milk and sugar. To me its stronger than an Irish Breakfast tea. And when you’re facing the 2 o’clock blues after lunch in winter its the perfect thing to pick you up. And it’s a nice companion to the rich scone, cream and jam.
Tea vs Coffee – Which saves more water?
I was surprised just how much water is saved if you switch from coffee to tea. According to GOOD, drinking one cup of tea instead of one cup of coffee can save 28 gallons of water!
I can only guess that takes into account all the water to grow the tea and coffee beans needed for one cup, as well as the water that goes into the production of the final product.
Here’s a little movie from GOOD that shows all the ways you can cut down on your water consumption throughout the day.