Monday, December 05, 2016

Tea in the Library

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The title of this post "Tea in the Library", sounds like a hint from the game of "Clue" doesn't it?

Last week, I went to my local libray... 

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and I had the most delightful time,
learning about tea & taste testing several different types.

We were asked to bring our own special teacup from which to sip & sample the tea.

I brought my pretty teacup with matching infuser & lid from TEAVANA
It was one of my birthday gifts a few years ago.

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I just LOVE how it makes having a single cup of tea such a special experience.

It says the Ume blossom on the cup is the beloved symbol of hope in Asian art.

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There was a beautiful array of GORGEOUS Hall teapots, (highly collectable)

each with its own special clear glass warmer stand with a little candle inside.




The individual teabags had been filled by hand with various flavors of widely different teas.

There were also bowls of spices, like star anise to examine, smell & savor.
We learned how Jasmine tea made by allowing the tea leaves to lay in racks with another rack of jasmine flowers in between each layer.  There is a fan moving the air about in the room until the tea master decides that the tea leaves have gotten enough aroma infused into them.  Amazing!

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This event was put on by Angela Strach-Gotthardt, creator & owner of *The Secret Tea Society*.

She is extremely knowledgable & was a delightful hostess, sharing tips on herbal & botantical teas as well as secrets to making a really good cup of tea.

She frequently holds a tea tasting "Salon" in her own lovely historic home in Hudson, OH, which once hid runaway slaves beneath its floor boards!





A description of a salon from her website:

"A Secret Tea Society salon is a special gathering for tea and conversation. We seek out and create sometimes minimal and sometimes highly embellished venues for the gathering of interesting and interested individuals to share tea and conversation about virtually any given topic. A historic home, a public venue, a private room, any beautiful space can serve as the backdrop for a morning, an afternoon or an evening of curated teas, delectable treats, and conversations that foster learning and understanding of the world and of each other. Those conversations may leave one with, perhaps, more questions than answers–and that is a wondrous thing."

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I was totally in love with her wonderful collection of teapots!

I collected them myself for many years, until I ran out of room, but none of mine are as special as the ones she shared!

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She & her assistants passed around little bowls, filled with loose tea, for us to smell & observe.


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Some were delightful...others, not so much. ;-p  Many smelled like perfume!  Not what I thought I would care to drink.


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There were glass pedistals filled with nuts & unusual teas...I wish I could remember the name of this one with the little white tips....perhaps it might have been "white tea"!
I wish I had thought to take notes.



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These are just some of the DARLING teapots Angela brought to share.
I was PEA-GREEN with envy over her collection.


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I was also tickled PINK to receive a little brown envelope, tied with a PINK ribbon, 
filled with one of her special blends...Citrus Almond Herbal...DELISH!

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The library had put out a cart with a selection of books on the topic of tea.  

I wanted to check out each one!

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Angela also talked about chilled tea, often infused with fruits & how refreshing it could be during the warmer months. 

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Angela is holding what she calls a "pop-up" store within the historic Brewster Mansion right on the square in Hudson, OH both this weekend & next.


Secret Tea Society Holiday Pop-Up

Friday, December 2nd - Thursday, December 22nd
10am-5pm Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays | 10am-8pm Thursdays
Brewster Mansion — 9 Aurora Street, Hudson, OH 44236
Our Secret Tea Society Holiday Pop-Up

 Shop is the place to shop your tea, tea

 equipage, candles and correspondence

 paper for holiday gift giving. 

Tea tastings are gratis all day, everyday.

 Enjoy relaxing on the leopard settee or on

 the porch overlooking Hudson's town

 green to sip, chat, taste, relax and shop.

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Don't you just ADORE the little wooden teapots she uses to denote her location?  

All the more noticable with their trailing ribbons blowing in the wind.  So creative!

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She suggested we put a slice of orange rind (without any of the white pith) into the cup, to make your tea even more special.

My sewing/smocking/quilting friend, Nicole visited shortly after the event & we tried it & it tastes divine!  I'm going to save the peel from all my oranges & freeze the bits of rind for future use.

I wish each of you could stop by to share a cup of tea during this holiday season!



I am joining Bernideen's Tea Time Link Party
"Friends Sharing Tea" for the first time!
She has such a delightful collection of tea items!
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19 comments:

  1. A wonderful post, talking about a wonderful time you had! Thank you for sharing. Hope this finds you well and wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas.
    Hugs, Beth

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  2. What a fun outing, Rett! I'd love to share a cup of tea with you. The tea salon sounds like a wonderful idea. There's so much to learn about tea, isn't there?

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  3. Thank you for letting us join in the fun! I'll have to try the orange rind trick - sounds good. Hope you have a wonderful holiday season. I know you still miss your hubby very much, so glad you are doing well.

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  4. Thank you for sharing the photos of all the sparkling and pretty delights. What a lovely and fun time! Thank you, Rett.

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  5. What a fun event!!! I'd love to join you for a cup of tea. ☕️❤️

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  6. Oh my Rett, this sounds like an event that I would just love!! I wish I lived closer and we could've gone together. It's always fun to learn ew things and to see beautiful teapots and taste yummy teas. I really love those glass warmers for the teapots, and the idea of adding a bit of the orange rind to a cup of tea...that would smell so good and make the tea drinking experience even better. Thanks for sharing this wonderful event!

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  7. I love most all teas...and ALL teapots...:) This is a great post....and thanks for the orange rind tip..

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  8. I so enjoyed this blogpost. It just was so lovely to see all those polka dotted and softly colored pots. So pretty. Thanks for sharing, Rett.

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  9. Dear Rett:
    I am so happy to have you share this post which was so interesting. What a great educational event at your library. The teapots all looked so friendly and heartwarming! Thanks for sharing and linking.

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  10. Rett, I can't believe I'm only just discovering your beautiful blog (through your link at Bernideen's)! I'm a huge tea fan and would have loved to attend this event. Thank you for sharing your lovely experience with us.

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  11. What a fun and special event, Rett! So many beautiful teapots all in one place! I am so sorry about Ern and your loss. I hope you can enjoy this Christmas season. Hugs!. Christine

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  12. Thank you for sharing your tea outing with us, Rett. It sounds fascinating and you're right, the teapot collection is lovely! I must remember to add some orange rind to my tea. Sounds delicious and would really make it special. Thank you for your visit as well. Have a beautiful day.

    Christmas blessings,
    Sandi

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  13. What a unique tea experience! Sadler is one of my favourite teapot makers so I'm oggling the pretty Sadler teapot, as well as the Hall teapots. I wished that I lived closer so that I can attend the tea tastings! Thank you for sharing.

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  14. The tea taste testing is an wonderful experience I can imagine,. I lvd all those fat little tea pots. The chart you have provided with all the information about tea is very good to know...

    Please visit: http://from-a-girls-mind.blogspot.com

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  15. Absolutely gorgeous Rett. You have shared so many lovely teapots, tea and more. It would be heavenly to attend and see it all. We once had high tea in London. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

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  16. Rett, for some reason I have not been receiving your blog updates so I'm way behind on my visits sorry to admit. What a great opportunity! I would have been sitting there right along with you. You have given me an idea for a possible garden club meeting next year. I just need to find a tea expert who could make a presentation. '-)
    Love the teapots. I'm headed to the kitchen to make a cup of tea. Hugs to you and merry, merry!

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  17. Oh what fun and informative too Rett! I love her collection of teapots and those clear glass warmers for serving! I'm going to save some orange rind to add to my cuppa today, thanks for the recommendation! I know I would love a citrus/almond tea blend :)

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  18. I would have loved to attend this event! The tea pots are all so lovely and I also like the idea of freezing orange rinds! Merry Christmas!

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  19. Okay, this is one of the best blog posts I've read on any subject! I loved it. I'm thinking about you during this season of never ending holidays. I hope you are surrounded by precious family and friends. Somehow, I just know that you are! I'm sending you Merry Christmas blessings! Love, Cherry Kay

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Thank you so much for leaving a comment. I read them all & each one is so very special to me & I try really hard to return the visit!

fondly,
~Rett~