Gong Fu Cha - The How

So far I've shared a little about gong fu cha, describing some skills involved and the tea set itself, but I haven't explained how to practice. Everything I've tried to write seems so complex and convoluted. So I called upon my friend Niraj for help. He's the man who introduced me to gong fu cha, so who better to help explain the process. What's better, he has a video so that you can watch making it easier to understand than reading my description.




Instead of using a gaiwan, Niraj steeps his tea using a Yixing tea pot in this video. Perhaps one day we'll work on a video showing a gaiwan!

Niraj usually posts here on the fourth Tuesday of the month so be sure to read his posts. He's moving his tea studio, so was unable to post this month, but happily helped me out today.

A Review of Primula Tea's Green Tea with Fresh Jasmine Blooming Tea

Karen here and today I am sharing a review of PrimulaTea.com's blooming green tea with fresh Jasmine. I bought myself a clear teapot a few Christmas' ago and love to bring it out for blooming tea when I have tea party guests.

There is something very pretty about a blooming tea and it always gets ooh's and ah's from my guests. It felt very indulgent to make this tea just for myself.

You maybe wondering how blooming tea is made, I know I was!

Google explains blooming tea as " a handmade tea by skilled artisans, usually in the Yunnan or Fujian provinces of China. The edible sweet-tasting flowers, which could also be fuchsias, roses, lilies and many others varieties, are sewn together into a ball"  This particular blooming tea had a lovely fresh and crisp taste that I found both refreshing and quite relaxing. 

To learn more about primula tea's line of blooming teas please click here for their website.

I also found the above youtube video that shows how the blooming teas are assembled I loved watching it as much as I loved watching my tea bloom!

I would love to have you join me for a cup of tea daily at www.acupofteaandacozymystery.com 

Rooibos with Lavender = Red Lavender

I've been enjoying another Rooibos tea from Zhena's: Fire Light Chai, which I reviewed on May 16.  This rooibos blend is much simpler; there are no spices as found in the Fire Light Chai, simply French Lavender blossoms.  The label describes it as a Blossoming Garden tea: "Native to France and the Western Mediterranean, Lavender is well-known for its soothing effect and for its use to calm an unsettled stomach.  We've blended antioxidant rich South African Rooibos with organic garden grown lavender blossoms."

As someone who loves lavender, I could not smell it while brewing and did not discern the flowery flavor I expected.  I added a teaspoon of blue agave as sweetener and enjoyed it hot.  However, it was a disappointment.  I have discovered since tasting teas for this blog, that I generally prefer spices to flowers but thought my love of lavender would win out.  It does have a lovely sienna color, and I intend to make it iced and try again.

The Gong Fu Cha Set

The other week I started telling you about gong fu cha; what the term means and some of the skills involved. Today I thought I'd tell you about the different parts of the tea set.

First you start out with your tea tray. Notice the slats. This is important! The tea you spill runs off into the slats and is collected below! I love how they know I'm going to spill and be messy!

The top comes off and you can easily pour out the spilled tea and clean the tray.

This next piece is the gaiwan. The gaiwan is used to steep your tea. You would use it instead of a teapot.

You put your tea leaves in the bottom of the gaiwan, pour in your hot water, cover and let steep.

When the tea is ready, you move the lid of the gaiwan to the side and pour. This step requires skill and lots of practice.

When you pour your tea, you don't pour directly into individual cups. Instead, pour into a justice cup. This ensures a uniformity to the tea, so that each person will enjoy the same tea.

From the justice cup you pour the tea into your aroma cup. You don't drink out of this cup either. The design focuses the scent. You simply smell and appreciate the aroma of the tea. You pour the tea from this cup into your drinking cup.

Here's your drinking cup. Notice how small it is. You are meant to savor each sip.

Finally, we have a tea pet. Tea pets are made from the little bits of clay left over from making traditional tea pots. They are happy little creatures. You share your tea with them by pouring it over the pet.

Make A Refreshing Milk Tea Bath

Karen here, today I want to share my cooling, mint tea milk bath perfect for these hot summer days and nights. You can take a full soak in this natural two ingredient tea bath or make yourself a a refreshing foot bath and soak those swollen summer feet!

To make your own you will need:

Ingredients:

- 2 cups of powdered milk
- 6 bags of mint tea

Equipment:
-A bowl
-A spoon
-A measuring cup
-A clean empty jar
- *Small netting bag
-Scissors
-Fabric
-Ribbon

Method:

In a metal bowl measure out your two cups of powdered milk. Unwrap and empty the bags of  tea and poor them into the bowl. Using your metal spoon to combine.

Once combined add your milk tea mixture to the jar, place the lid on and wrap with fabric and ribbon.

Or you can add some of your milk tea to a reusable netting bag.

To use your milk tea bath,  place the bag  filled with the milk tea on the tap and run your bath.  Or add 3 tablespoons of the milk tea to your foot soak bowl or bath. 

This mixture makes a great gift or you can use it for yourself! 

I hope you enjoyed today's post. I would love to have you over for tea daily at www.acupofteaandacozymystery.com 

Peach and Blackberry Scones With Sweet Tea and Poetry

Sweet tea and poetry. July is one of my most favorite months, it is usually warm, filled with sunshine and happy memories. July is also about hospitality. It is the time when I make sure I always have something yummy baked so that when people stop over, a neighbor, friend and even unexpected visitors I have something to offer them along with the Hot or Sweet tea. Today Patricia and I are teaming up to share her poem and my scone recipe for your next tea party.

I wish I had a wrap around porch and some rocking chairs where I live to entertain my summer time guests. Reading Patricia's Poem Front Porch (Hospitality Headquarters) sums up summer visitors for me. Patricia has given me permission to share that poem with you today.

Front Porch

(Hospitality Headquarters)

Just The spot. 

For talking in a cool breeze

And watching the world go by

Friends and neighbors out

For a leisurely stroll

Stop and sit a spell.

"Lemonade"?

"Iced Tea"?

"Co-cola?"

"Did you hear about...?"

"You Don't Say!"

"My, how the time flies"

'Y'all come back, now"

"You hear?"

Karen's Peach and Blackberry Scones

To make my Peach and Blackberry Scones you will need:

-2 cups of flour

-3/4 cup of sugar

-1/2 cup of butter

-2 tsp baking powder

-3/4 cup of milk

-1 egg

-2 tsp vanilla

-1 cup of blackberries

-1 cup of chopped peaches

Pre heat your oven to 400

In a bowl combine the flour, sugar and baking powder, add the butter and combine until the bread crumb mixture starts to form. Add your milk, egg and vanilla fold the wet into the dry and then add your frozen fruit. If your mixture is to wet add a 1/2 cup more flour, if to dry add more milk until the dough is the right consistency,( hold's its shape when dropped onto a cookie sheet)
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and drop equal sized and spaced spoonfuls of scone batter on the cookie tray. Bake at 400 until the sides and top are golden brown.

Karen here, some of my most favorite poems are from Patricia Neely-Dorsey and her Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia and her follow up book Magnolia Memories and Musings.  Click here to learn more about her books. 

I would love to have you join me for tea daily at www.acupofteaandacozymystery.com

Tea and Books?

 "Some say life is the thing, but I prefer reading." I am quoting the package but wish I could take credit for that line.
I have jokingly referred to myself as a bag lady due to the multiple bags teachers are frequently found dragging back and forth to school, and low and behold as I read the back of this cute little package, I discovered they are produced by Bag Ladies Tea.

This tea is all about the marketing.  It is a lovely English Breakfast tea, but there are no other flavors; however, in addition to the Novel Teas with quotations from various sources, Bag Ladies have a Bird Watchers tea with "birding quotes," and a Whimsical line with tins wishing Happy Birthday, Get Well Sooner, and celebrating special women (sisters, moms, best friends).

They have two sizes: tins of 25 bags and the small packets of 5 bags.  I received mine as a gift, and if I find these in a retail outlet, they would make nice gifts - especially the packets like I received.

Good basic tea with packaging to make you smile.  Enjoy!