Flower Blooming Art Tea

Art Tea. Blooming Tea. Flower Tea. Those are some of the names used for a category of tea that is the dried tea leaves and flowers which are hand-tied into balls the size of a large marble. The other day I had a chance to sit down and really enjoy the latest edition of "TeaTime Magazine" and sip some Flower Tea. I have a been a faithful reader of this Hoffman Media Publication since their very first issue. The magazine is always filled with delightful teascapes, recipes for tea party foods, and interesting tearooms around the Country.
"TeaTime Magazine" is also celebrating National Hot Tea Month during January...you can visit their Facebook HERE and find a lot of great tea ideas!
The Flower Tea I steeped in a glass pot is 'Jasmine Fairy Maidens,' available at Harney Tea. This tea is sweetly flavored with jasmine flowers and has a vegetal flavor. It is a very light tasting tea. The water for this tea should be heated to 180 degrees and the tea ball steeped for 3-5 minutes. When steeped, the green tea leaves gradually blossom revealing a cluster of orange flowers perched atop a sphere of tea, while the jasmine petals blossom upwards. This tea may be infused 3 or more times.
The tea leaves and flowers are shaped into a ball, the size of a large marble...
Flower teas make great centerpieces or may be presented in a goblet.
A buttermilk scone and my homemade strawberry preserves pair well with the very light tea.

Remember that there are many health benefits of tea...it helps to lower your cholesterol and blood pressure, aids in digestion and weight loss, and of course the caffeine gives you a boost of energy...a pick-me-up in the afternoon!

Practice hospitality...serve someone tea!

Happy Birthday Lady Katherine!

May I introduce to you my friend, Lady Katherine. Today is her birthday and she's such a special lady, I'm having a tea party for just Katherine and myself to celebrate her!

Here's Lady Katherine enjoying tea in her home in Mississippi...
I am delighted to take part in the Birthday Tea Party being held in blogland for Lady Katherine at Lady Katherine's Tea Parlor! Lady Katherine is a Mississippi girl who loves to visit tearooms just as much as Miss Janice. She was one of the first bloggers I ever connected with--we are both Southern girls, we love all things about etiquette, and we love tea parties!

Katherine, I am so glad to have become one of your blogging friends. Even while battling breast cancer, you still make the time to create special memories for your husband and your children! You are very special to me and many other bloggers and today I wish for you the best birthday ever!

This is my tea tablescape--a Light Afternoon Tea for Two...just me and you! A Light Afternoon Tea is a lighter version of Afternoon Tea. Afternoon Tea consists of three distinct courses: Savories, scones, and sweets. Only scones and sweets are served at "Light Tea." In this photo, there are vanilla scones with strawberry preserves. For the sweet treat, there are coconut macaroons and lemon bars. The tea is a White Peony "Bai Mudan," grown in the northern Fujian Province of China, and it's a very light and delicate tea, just right for a Light Afternoon Tea with you and me.

Happy Birthday to you Lady Katherine! I'm sure I speak for all your blogging friends in saying that you are truly an inspiration to all of us. We love you and continue to pray for you always. Be strong and have a wonderful day!