When eating an English scone, what goes on first? The clotted cream or the jam? This is one of life's most pressing questions for students of tea traveling for the first time through the tearoom-filled villages of Southwest England and The Cotswolds, or taking tea at a stylish London hotel like Claridge's or Browns. You…
The Beautiful Foolishness of Things
"Meanwhile, let us have a sip of tea. The afternoon glow is brightening the bamboos, the fountains are bubbling with delight, the soughing of the pines is heard in our kettle. Let us dream of evanescence, and linger in the beautiful foolishness of things."This is just one of many serene scenes painted for us by…
Five Best Afternoon Teas in London
"Where can I experience the best afternoon tea in London?" is a question I am asked again and again as my friends and readers prepare for their first trip to England. I've been writing about the tea scene in London for over 20 years and have had ample opportunities to sit at countless tea…
Afternoon Tea on Waikiki
Afternoon Tea might not be the first thing that pops into your mind when you think of visiting the sun-drenched beaches of Waikiki, but tea folks are always on the lookout for great tea experiences to share with their fellow tea lovers back home. And of all the Hawaiian islands, Oahu has the most afternoon…
All the British Tea in China
English Tea makes the cover of Shanghai Times, August 6, 2014 The Westward flow of tea out of China has been unending since the first tea was brought to Europe in the mid-1600s. Now, thanks to a growing generation of young tea drinkers enamored of Downton Abbey, British literature and Western television, that great river…
Best Afternoon Tea in Paris
Are you planning to visit the best spots for afternoon tea on your next trip to Paris? The City of Light has long been a hot spot for tea and the Parisians love affair for the beverage is getting more passionate by the day.It may surprise you to learn that ladies in Paris were drinking…
Best Afternoon Tea in Chicago
Afternoon tea is hotter than ever in Chicago. From the glittering hotels along Michigan Avenue to the friendly tea stores of the suburbs, residents and visitors alike can be seen drinking tea all day long. Tea is everywhere, and served any way you desire: hot or cold, fast or slow, green or black, in porcelain…
Best Afternoon Tea in Montreal
Where do you go for the Best Afternoon Tea in Montreal? This is one of my favorite North American cities because it’s filled with art, food, history, and tea - all infused with a bit of la bonne vie, the good life. Here are a few of my suggestions for seeing the city with tea on…
Tea in a Time of War
Cafe owner pours tea in a London street. As German bombs fell on London in September 1939, the British tea industry faced a dilemma it had feared for some time. How would they protect the commodity that fueled an empire? That fuel was tea. Lord Woolton, Minister of Food, recounted the tumultuous time: “When…
The Traditional British Cup of Tea Is Changing
The UK needs to nurture younger tea drinkers.The traditional English cup of tea, once considered a necessary luxury, is undergoing its biggest change since tea was first advertised for sale in London in 1657. British tea consumption has fallen from 2.5 ounces per person per week to less than an ounce. That means Britons are drinking…