A marvelous green tea to start the new year

I am so blessed to have friends who remember my tea hobby during their travel.  Recently I was given a beautiful tin packet of 竹叶青 (direct character translation: Bamboo Leaves Green), an organic green tea from China's Emie Mountain in Sichuan .  The unique tea  was named by a high ranking official (as many other Chinese teas) who paralleled the beautiful shape,  light greenish scent and color of the tea to those of fresh young bamboo leaves.

Each pale green leaf lays plumb as a ripe snap pea pod. Upon opening the individual tea packet, the fragrance waded towards me with a refreshing bamboo leaf's aroma. And what a delight to see the leaves swelling, drifting, swimming and gently diving down to the glass bottom.   The first sip met all my anticipation of a good tea: a light mouth feel along with a pleasant, soothing taste.  After enjoying the first steep,  I felt as if I was sitting on a mountain clearing surrounded by nature's beauty.

Afterwards, I chanced to read the tea company's press release dd July 2011.  It recorded a French winery host's comment after an invitation tea tasting : "I can taste nature in this tea." 

(note for readers: click on the google tool bar for web links' translation)

Where would you like to have tea today

My first grape harvest under the arbor

If someone asks me today where would I like to have tea, my answer is  Lumière in Paris ! With music in the air, warm fall color surroundings, sipping "le thé" with my favorite almond croissant -- c'est la vie!

Setting for tea and music, chez moi

Make believe French fun in my backyard

So the next best place to have tea today is chez moi--right at home! 

French Pastry at Teatime

A delightful paring for the smooth Darjeeling black tea could be any French pastry longingly perused by calorie-conscious women young or old.  The eye candy picture above frequently comes to me through my favorite blog feed: ParisBreakfast by Carol Gillott.  Her March 2nd entry is quite a guide for Paris tea salons.

Timing is right for me to mention the newly relesed documentary Kings of Pastry .  One can't help but respect the devotion of French chefs' dedication to their craft.

After viewing the movie with the cine club of Alliance Française of Frederick, I surely appreciate every bite of  beautiful pastry as a work of art!

Winter Garden

archway view of the formal garden



winter camellia shrub with profuse flowers

My recent Thanksgiving break at Outer Banks, NC brought me a surprise which I longed to encounter: winter blooming camellias at Elizabethan Gardens.  So many varieties were showing their unique beauty just like model displays seen on nursery catalogs!  Better still, I could smell the fragrance and see the shrubs in established form with glossy leaves (they shine like polished shoe tips).

Another surprise was to learn how to prune myrtle tree French style "pollarding" : topping the branches at same spot every spring before new growth.  The tree forms unique knuckles where new growth sprouts for summer blooming branches.  The picture on top highlights the contour of a well pruned myrtle tree.  More garden views below.  Enjoy!

entrance cove to the garden

view of Atlantic ocean from garden gate

Chinese Tea in French Garden

Lalique Compiegne Bowl (in leaf design)

I chanced to discover a fascinating tea blog by a French resident in Taiwan.  He diligently writes (alternately in English and French) on my favovite subjects: Taiwan Oolong tea tastings, tea arts (display, music, tea wares) and above all: tea outings!  The July 24th, 2009 entry is esp. a timely complimentary read to my last blog.

What's to your liking for the style of tea service?

tranquil Chinese style with poetic flair,

tea tasting with fellow tea connoisseur,

weekend dim sum accompanied by oolong tea,

tea in the garden,

afternoon tea British style  ,

or thé a la Français at an outdoor café?

For me, the answer is all the above!  To find out more on the pursuit of tea enjoyment in England, here is an article about the tea devotion British style.  As for views of delightful Parisian tea settings,  ParisBreakfast (esp. June 30 and July 7, 2010 entries) will surely feed you often by images of well dressed pastries.

More about my favorite websites

adorable "Camellia Petite Yellow"

elegant "Camellia Heavenly Beauty"

One website that add the joy to my life is reading ParisBreakfasts blog on weekday mornings. The short whimsy comments accompanied by author's descriptive photos or drawings cover most of my French fascinations about teacup, pastry, architect, fashion, book... . 

While doing my readings or work, I listen to web cast archives of French Toast or Coffeetime. It provides quite a warm touch and soothing background for my study. Try the websites along with your cup of coffee or tea.  Enjoy!      (note: the first few minutes of web cast might be silent or just the last portion of radio station's previous program)

My pride and joy (Camellia bush)

March 2009: plein de vie et ma joie!

jolies fleurs

about 3 months before the flower show

Tea for Warm Memories

(photo courtesy of Carol Gillott )

For most people, the word "tea" conjurs up the image of peaceful setting, one alone or with friends in a warm and cozy place. Likewise, "coffee" calls up the image of livlier, albeit sensory-filled atmosphere. The recent article in NYTimes by Judith Warner about the life's memorable moments (coffee for her) draws overwhelming responses by the readers. Comments after comments relate to warm sentiments of coffee or tea moments in their life. One can sense how dearly the role coffee or tea has imparted in the essense of humanity. The drinks are God's bountiful gifts--for us to share and savor those tender memories again and again.

Paris Breakfast with Tea Touch

(above watercolor painting by Carol Gillott)

One of my favorite blog posting is http://www.parisbreakfasts.blogspot.com/ by Carol Gillott, an artist who writes about Paris/NY and all things that make the cities magical . Her short whimsical writings intermingled with adorable drawings are so fun to read and it always starts my day with smiles.

Without much effort, I have already mentioned five of my six favorite websites so far this new year. The one other site which I promise to benefit all will be coming up next...:))