Well, the news is finally out. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and wife of Prince William is pregnant. Her stomach has been the most watched since William’s mother, Diana, married Prince Charles. Her pregnancy is not an easy one, however, with a hospital admission for dehydration from “morning, noon and night sickness”, as William said. And her pregnancy cravings have been revealed. English Breakfast Tea and Lavender Shortbread biscuits, also known as cookies in the States. She also craves scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream.
It has been claimed that the lavender has stress relief and sleep-aid properties. Others worry it will hurt the baby, the third in line to the throne of the British Empire. No studies have proved that it is but some worry it upsets the hormonal balance of a pregnant woman. Catherine has been quite ill so I would assume her nerves and hormones are already upset.
English Breakfast Tea is a combination of several black teas from Assam, Ceylon and Kenya. It is a full-bodies, robust tea that stands up well to milk and sugar. It, too, is supposed to aid in relaxation and reduces stress through the ingredient L-theanine which increases alpha waves in the brain. If I were being watched every minute of the day I think I might need the stress reduction.
As for the scones, pronounced “scon” as in “con” by 99% of the Scots or Scone, as in cone, but those of us in the States, no mention of a flavor was mentioned, so I will assume a traditional cream scone. Recipes abound. You may find a video from Joy of Baking to be most helpful. Clotted cream is difficult to find in the States due to the FDA restrictions on unpasteurized milk. Joy of Baking also has a recipe for a mock Devonshire cream, a type of clotted cream. However, a second source for making your own can be found at Cupcake Project.
Strawberry Jam is easy enough to find. There’s good ol’ Smuckers’ or, if you want to continue the homemade thing, Ina Garten will show you how.
Back to the tea. English Breakfast tea is best made with boiling water and brewed for five minutes (but you knew that, didn’t you?) It may be served with milk (Not cream. That’s too heavy for tea) and sugar. Or sugar and lemon. Remember, milk and lemon do not get along, so do not serve them together or you will have clotted tea instead of clotted cream.
As for the lavender shortbreads, apparently her father-in-law, Prince Charles, and stepmother-in-law, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, keeps her well stocked. In looking at the listed sources from the news, Charles’ own organic food company and a ritzy store, neither have the biscuits on their websites. They must be saving them all for Catherine. Camilla supposedly recommended the biscuits as she used them to help her through her pregnancies. So, here’s a video for you from WRAL. I do remind you to use culinary lavender. These cookies can also be decorated with a bit of the lavender on the top, perhaps with a bit of sugar.
It does sound like a lovely afternoon cream tea, doesn’t it? I may have to try it out.
English Breakfast Tea, Scones and Lavendar Shortbread Cookies
by teaattheunicornwineguildllcTea Party for Grown Ups
by teaattheunicornwineguildllcDawnya Sasse has been one of my mentors during my tea journey. Here is one of her articles from e-zines. com.
By Dawnya Sasse
Adults, just as much as children, enjoy a tea party that celebrates any sort of occasion. Serving loose leaf tea is a healthy alternative to any party option and with the wide range of teas available, you can incorporate any theme or celebrate any occasion. From birthdays to anniversaries or other events, tea is a fun, unique and easy way to create a party. Use the event (is it a birthday or anniversary?) to determine the best types of tea to serve or, consider hosting a themed party. A theme can be based on anything from a book character to the time of year. Your party can be as simple or elaborate as you like. Just use your imagination, because you are sure to find a tea that is perfect for the occasion!
Activities
Depending on the celebration, activities may range from traditional to unusual or even none at all! In the fast-paced world we live in, many adults will welcome the chance to sit and enjoy a hot cup of tea and good
conversation. Sometimes people need a reason to relax, and a tea party can be just that. However, if you want to incorporate activities, these can easily be based on the reason for the gathering. Consult with your local party supply store or do a quick search online.
You can incorporate a “tea twist” on many common games, for example. Bridal and baby shower games can include a tea theme (such as word scrambles or searches), and tea gifts make wonderful party favors for your attendees. Package loose teas in festive netting and tie it with a beautiful ribbon. Love bingo? Try Teago and let your guests learn about tea and its customs while competing in a familiar game. (www.teago.com [http://www.teago.com])
Decorations
Decorations will depend on the activity, such as a birthday, anniversary, or baby shower. Create a theme for the party, such as a vacation getaway for an anniversary. Decorate the room with beach balls, beach towels and have guests sit in outdoor lounge chairs (or if the weather is nice, take the party outside!). A “famous babies” theme for a baby shower is much more interesting than decorations that are all green and yellow. Try filling the room with photos of actors who got their start in “pampers.” The key is to put a twist on your party, and then, of course, offer a twist on the tea you serve such as a fruity tea for the beach party or bubble tea for a baby shower.
Music
Music selections for your parties can vary greatly. To make it easy on yourself, look for compilation CDs that incorporate the theme. A CD of soft love songs is a great choice for an anniversary, for example, or an orchestrated mix of lullabies for a baby shower. Visit your local music retailer for specific suggestions or do an online search for CDs that pertain to your theme.
Invitation Ideas
Use your theme to determine the types of invitations you will use. Get creative and make your own using specialty papers, or throw in a few loose tea leaves for a scented and enticing invitation (although some people
may not appreciate tea leaves falling out, so consider some type of mesh envelope!). Because you’ll be centering your party on tea, think of using naturally colored invitations and alternative papers. A traditional birthday invitation may not be quite what you’re looking for, so look into blank cards as well, as you can then add your own words.
Foods
What should you serve at a tea party? Again, your theme will have a lot to do with the food selections. If your theme is an anniversary beach party, for example, serve exotic fruits and finger sandwiches. If you are hosting a famous baby tea try collecting and serving favorite recipes of the stars then let your guests vote on the best appetizer.
Teas
Many parties lend themselves well to lighthearted and fruity teas and tisanes. Consider offering teas that your guests may not encounter otherwise. This is a fun way to introduce new teas and enjoy the festive atmosphere.
Creativity is a fountain of youth. Now grab a pencil, jot down your ideas and get started.
(C) Dawnya Sasse
Dawnya Sasse is the creator of the ultimate tea business training school allowing students to discover the secrets of the tea industry, “quickly and easily” without ever leaving home.
Why do some people succeed in the tea business? Discover how to “Unlock the Secrets of the Billion Dollar Tea Industry from the Comfort of Your Own Computer” and make your tea dream a reality. Free audio mini course http://www.StartATeaBusiness.com
Copyright 2006 Dawnya Sasse All Rights Reserved. Tea Events http://www.TeaEvents.com
Tea at the Unicorn Wine Guild 