FIRST THE TREE, THEN THE TEA

THE NEW TREE ARRIVED TODAY...

Very pretty, 7 1/2", flocked (which I couldn't capture in this picture) & lights made in! I don't even want to put any decorations on it - it looks perfect the way that it is. I have it in front of the glass wall but the deck supports spoil part of the view.

Now, it's tea time. Not as fancy as yesterdays tea party at the Ritz but nice just the same.

I have my favorites. I prefer tea from India - just enjoy them more.

JUST A FEW FACTS ABOUT TEA FROM INDIA...

Three Indian Teas - Assam, Darjeeling, Nilgiri...

Assam...The sweetest of Indian-grown teas, in omy opinion. Full-bodied with slightly malty tones. Rich and sweet, excellent with milk and sugar. A.K.A. Irish Breakfast.
Assam tea comes from the North Eastern section of the country. This heavily forested region is home to much wildlife, including the rhinocerous. Tea from here is rich and full-bodied. It was in Assam that the first tea estate was established, in 1837.


Derjeeling...This Vintage Estate Tea is well known and sought after by lovers of the Darjeeling-leaf. Darjeelings are described as slightly muscatel in flavor as well as being called the 'champagne of teas'.The Darjeeling region is cool and wet, and tucked in the foothills of the Himalayans. The tea is exquisite and delicately flavoured, and considered to be one of the finest teas in the world. The Darjeeling plantations have 3 distinct harvests, and the tea produced from each 'flush' has a unique flavour. First flush teas are light and aromatic, while the second flush produces tea with a bit more bite. The third, or autumn flush gives a tea that is lesser in quality.

English Breakfast ...(Assama Blend) A morning cup that is good any-time. Sweet Keemuns blended with Fine Indian Ceylons and Assams. Glorious body, great with milk and sugar.


Nilgiri...The Nilgiri growing region is located in the southern Indian peninsula. About 850 years ago, the inhabitants of the hills that line the western reaches of the state of Tamil Nadu decided to call their domain ‘Nilgiris,’ or the ‘blue mountains,’ because a blue haze of clouds always enveloped the hill slopes. Other legends say it's because of a plant that blooms only once every 12 years, blanketing the hills with its blue flowers. Tea has been cultivated in the Nilgiri Hills since the late 1800's, where tea is grown at elevations ranging from 1000 meters to above 1000 meters. Rainfall varies from 100 to 160 centimeters. These conditions favour the fine flavour and brisk liquor of Nilgiri teas. The combination of fragrance and briskness makes Nilgiri a truly unique tea found nowhere else in the world.
All of these teas are fully oxidized, and may be prepared with boiling water and steeped for five minutes, unless otherwise noted.

Earl GreyEarl Grey is a blend of Indian and Ceylon teas. The tea gets its unusual flavor from oil of BERGAMOT. Bergamot is a small acidic orange.


Even though it's late in the day, I'm in the mood for the English Breakfast blend. This tea is a blend of Keemun (a China tea that we'll talk about another time & other black teas). Irish Breakfast is a stronger blend of Assam & Ceylon but tasty none the less. It's as good a wake up beverage as coffee I think but a little too late in the day for me to enjoy. Lily...