Fun with afternoon teatime

This coming Saturday:

First Tea Hop in historic downtown Frederick

A young mind sure is creative!  An AmeriCorps volunteer at Asian American Center of Frederick designed an innovative tea appreciation event in light of the abundant tea shops in Frederick. I will be giving a pre-hop talk to introduce three varieties of Chinese tea and the role of tea plays in Chinese daily life and cultural arts.

Here are articles for perusal before my presentation:
A. Tea and general health
B. Tea and specific health related issues
C. Tea composition

Perfect Settig for Mid-autumn Moon Viewing

 

Today is lunar new year's August 15, the mid-autumn festival day for full moon viewing.  A good friend knowing my love for opera and ballet sent me an e-greeting featuring soprano Lucia Popp's "Song to the Moon" (from Dvořák's opera Rusalka).  What a beautiful combination to view the moon while listening to her illuminating voice pouring out the delicate poem from the heart.  Adding a pot of light green tea and few moon cakes, I think, would be an ideal poetic setting for moon viewing tonight! 

Downton Abbey Tea Set

I was happily surprised upon spotting the English breakfast tea service set among Downton Abbey costume exhibit at Winterthur Museum.  It was tucked in a corner in the servant costume display area.  The fruit basket, rolled London newspaper and ironed cloth napkin--pure English elegance!

Besides costume display, my friends were happily surprised as well when I made Oolong tea for them with my petite tea set during the break.