Turkish apple tea

Last week I went to a local turkish restaurant for our end of term work dinner. At the end of a delicious meal we had tea and coffee and yummy sweets kindly gifted to us by one of our beautiful preschool families. I ordered an apple tea and when it arrived it looked so pretty alongside my friend's coffee that I had to take a photo to share.

The tea was sweet, warm and just perfect for a cold Winter's night. I expect it is full of sugar or honey but it is worth it! It reminded me of Ella's discovery of hot apple cider in New York when the temperature was below zero. We all enjoyed a few cups over our time there - it warms up both your body and your soul.

Mmmm - time for a cup of tea now, and then I'm going out to buy some apple tea, or maybe find out how to make some of my own.

Stay warm,
Vanna xx

Tea in the cupboard

I found this beautiful little package of tea in my cupboard yesterday. 

 

I bought it when we were in Tokyo which was around 2 years ago so I wasn't sure how fresh it would be. I think I've resisted opening it because of the gorgeous packaging. 

I love the quote  - tea always makes me slow down a little and I do enjoy a wonderful time! I can't imagine my day without the ritual of tea even when it's usually just a tea bag in the cup. I enjoy choosing the cup depending on my mood, and the opportunity to stop whatever I'm doing for a few minutes as I prepare the tea. I try to be mindful as I drink and be thankful for another moment to reflect and take a breath. 

The tea was a lovely peach flavour, and to my surprise there were 3 teabags inside so I have two more to look forward to. 

Vanna xxx

TTotaler

Its been a while since I've blogged about tea so here goes ...

Yesterday my friend Wendy and I had a wonderful tea experience at TTotaler in Newtown. Going there was on my list of things to do this school holidays and I'm so glad we did!

Wendy enjoying her Chai Yoga tea - and amazing apple and orange cake.

I couldn't resist one of my favourite teas - French Earl Grey. My cake was delicious too - carrot, walnut and chai!

I love the simple style of the cafe - it sort of felt like a very comfortable old science lab that was being slowly taken over by plants as they grew quietly around us.

I'm looking forward to going back and trying more tea - the selection is large and interesting. Have a look on their Facebook page or website  - www.ttotalertea.com

The Way of Tea

Finding out more about the tea ceremony was high on my list of things to do while we were in Japan.

I have always been drawn to rituals - they make me feel comfortable and give me a sense of being in control. I think this is why the ritual of making a cup of tea is such a big part of my everyday. If I miss out (or if there's no milk at home or work!) I feel quite lost.

I found a place in Kyoto called "En", which offered an introduction to the tea ceremony. The information on the En website appealed to me as it talked about connection - a concept that is very important to me.

Our host began by telling us about the spiritual aspect of the tea ceremony and the 4 attitudes that must be present at the tea ceremony and that everyone attending must observe -
"WA-KEI-SEI-JAKU" which means:

Harmony - everyone is equal at the tea ceremony, there is harmony in the room as there is harmony in nature.

Respect - for everyone and everything including the objects that are part of the ceremony.

Purity - leave any worries or thoughts from everyday behind before coming into the tea room.

Tranquillity - this occurs when the 3 attitudes above are present.

What a wonderful way to approach any event - and life itself!


After sharing lots of interesting information , our host performed a short tea ceremony for us. It took about 20 minutes - apparently they can take up to 3 hours.

I found the experience meditative and beautiful. Each movement was considered and had significance. The absence of words meant that we could hear and appreciate every sound - the water as it was poured, the tea whisk mixing the tea. It was totally focussed on the present moment which was very calming - I certainly felt tranquil after watching the ceremony.


We didn't take many photos during the ceremony, however these ones from when we had tea at Kinkaku-Ji, a Zen temple known as The Golden Pavilion also in Kyoto, show the beautiful frothy, green matcha tea. Tea is usually accompanied by a sweet - this time decorated with gold leaf.



 

Happy me drinking tea!

When we came home my Mum gave me this lovely little book which I'm looking
 forward to reading, and learning more about The Way of Tea.

 

 

 

 

 
 
 

 

An abundance of (mostly green) tea!

Cherry blossom tea - we were given this on our arrival at the ryokan (traditional guest house) in Kyoto. It was very salty and served with a slice of watermelon which balanced the taste.

I loved this teapot which was also in the ryokan for us to serve ourselves green tea.

Tea was offered on arrival or available at every restaurant. This is at a fantastic sushi train place in Kyoto which had lightly flavoured green tea on tap! By this stage of the trip I was really enjoying green tea after drinking so much of it!

As green is my favourite colour I just loved seeing the many shades of it and the way it contrasts so beautifully with the cups. 

 

Green tea bags - all the way from Kyoto! Now in my kitchen in Sydney waiting to be enjoyed during a quiet moment - or used to encourage some quiet when it's needed.

 

Iced green tea on the Shinkansen

Hello from Japan!!

We have been in Tokyo for the last four days which has been amazing and fabulous!!! We have done lots of shopping, eating ramen and noodles, and enjoying being swept along by the crowds as we explore different parts of the city.

Today we travelled by Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo to Kyoto. As we had been told by everyone who has been to Japan, the rail service is amazing. The train is clean, comfortable and punctual. We were able to buy drinks and snacks from a cart that arrived twice during the trip. 

I don't really like green tea, however I am trying to learn to like it! It is very healthy and in Kyoto it is the tea used in the traditional tea ceremonies. Ella likes green tea so when she ordered a bottle of cold tea I decided to join her. 

I love the packaging here in Japan. This close up of the bottle shows the gorgeous detail - and it didn't taste too bad either.

Isn't this chip pack great? I love this image of The Great Wave. This one is coming home in my suitcase! 

More from Kyoto when I get a chance - hoping to do a traditional tea ceremony here. 

Vanna xx

Breakfast tea at The West Lane Inn

This is the beautiful inn we stayed in at Ridgefield ...

 

... and this is my morning cup of tea in the sweet dining room.

 Another perfect start to the day .

 

Love this wallpaper.

Physical Graffitea

Last night we walked past a tea shop in St Marks Place in the East Village, that I was very keen to look in, however it was late and we needed food rather than tea. I knew we'd be back this way today*  and made sure we took the time to pop in, and I'm very glad we found Physical Graffitea .

 I had discovered another warm and cosy place to escape from the cold, with friendly people talking knowledgeably and enthusiastically about tea, and happy to share some of their time with curious Australian tourists.



Claudia who served us was lovely and let us have a sniff of lots of different teas before we finally decided on 3 to bring home. There was a lot to choose from!

 I couldn't go past my favourite Earl Grey but this one is special as it is Cream Earl Grey - its got the yummiest smell! I also chose Assam, and Steve chose a Rooibos Chai.

 

Happy Vanna with her bag of tea to take home all the way from New York City!

* We were here on March 5th.

elizabella's

Thus afternoon (March 6th) we spent a few hours looking around the beautiful town of Ridgefield, Connecticut, where we are staying the night to see The Cowboy Junkies at their local Playhouse.

We had to stop at Elizabella's Bakeshop as it looked so inviting through the window, and as we walked in a group of girls told us that the cookies were great! 

                       Elizabeth, the owner, and her son, were very friendly and we had a long chat with them as we looked at her beautiful display of tea, cups and pots,  and baking goodies.
 

Isn't this display gorgeous! I wish I could have taken it all home with me! 

We left with some English Breakfast tea, chamomile and lemon tea bags, and a box of delicious chocolate cookies baked by Elizabeth. Oh, and also 3 jars of caramel and chocolate sauce - yum! 

I had to take a photo of this divine green cup and saucer. 

One of my favourite things about travelling is the opportunity it gives you to talk to so many different people. Over here our Australian accents are like an invitation to start a conversation. Today as well as loving being in such a gorgeous and fun shop, I feel like I learnt a little bit about what it would be like to live in this town which is so different from home in Sydney's Inner West. 

Vanna xxx

By the fire in Branchville

 

I began this post on March 6th ...

 

We have just arrived in Branchville Connecticut, around two hours from New York on the train (and bus today due to track work). 

It is still cold and we have found a café with a warm fireplace to stop and have a cup of tea while we wait for a taxi to Ridgefield where we are staying the night.

I am still learning how to order tea here and keep forgetting to ask for them to leave room for milk - which is always available for you to help yourself.

  The tea bags are big here too!!!

 

The café is called the Tusk & Cup and we found out later that it has a great reputation locally. I love elephants as well as tea so felt very at home here.

What a lovely way to fill in time - warm, cosy and so nice to have time just to stop and sit and enjoy the moment.

Vanna xxx 

A cup of tea in NYC

I began to write this post over a week ago and just didn't finish it - too much else to do! So here is it, now that I am back home with some time to spare. I will finish a few other posts that I started in New York over the next few days - so keep your eye out for more tea!

I can't really believe it but I am in New York having the most incredible time. We have spent the last 4 days walking, walking and walking through the city, and along with the occasional cab ride we have barely scratched the surface of this amazing town!

Along the way I have had, and plan to keep having a few cups of tea and have done my best to document these important little moments!

My first cup of tea at a New York Café -  Café O in the West Village. It is freezing here - actually below zero, so a warm cup of tea inside a cosy café is perfect.
I was happy to see that they like big cups in the USA! Delicious pumpkin bread to go with it.
 

A cup of tea and crumb cake at The Met.

A welcome relief amidst the overwhelming feeling of so many amazing things to see in such a beautiful space.

 

We walked past this gorgeous tea room - I think it was in Greenwich Village.
Unfortunately we were on the way to somewhere else so didn't stop - maybe next time!

More tea moments to come, along with book shops and vintage/thrift clothes shopping .... stay posted.
Vanna xxx
 

 

Thank goodness for tea!

I love this quote sent to me today from one of my favourite people to drink tea and chat with. We have sorted through many problems together over many cups of tea, and I know that the few problems that I have just had to accept and live with have certainly been made lighter knowing that when needed a cuppa and a shoulder to lean on is never far away.

 

Vanna xx