The Tea Lady Blog

This blog has moved

2010-03-26T22:03:00.001-02:30

This blog is now located at http://britanniateas.blogspot.com/.
You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here.

For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to
http://britanniateas.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default.

Strawberry!

2010-03-26T21:57:00.001-02:30

2010-03-25T10:58:00.002-02:30

Some great new products have come in over the past couple of weeks. One of my favorite lines is Papaya. We have been selling this card line for about a year and we have picked up a few new products from them. Including canvas art prints, sketch books and postcard tins.

These beautiful tins come with 18 postcards. There are 6 designs in each tin and you get three of each design. The tins will make a great place to store your tea after you have sent a note to all your friends. The Charmed print makes me think of mermaids.

Our window is done up for Easter. I can't believe it's next weekend, wasn't it just Christmas? The painted eggs with birds, insects or flowers are a lovely addition to any mantle piece and there is no risk of extra calories. I love the bird platters and the insect tablecloth screams summer to me. The tablecloth comes in two sizes 54x72 and 60x90.

We have gotten our flour sack tea towels in and there are some great colours and fun designs. It feels like spring in the store.

A Rare Treat

2010-03-05T15:28:00.004-03:30

I am a lover of Lapsang Souchong! I love the smoky, earthy scent and the smooth, rich flavour. Whenever I smell it I am reminded of tea in the woods. Fishing trips that end in a boil up and a cup of tea made over the fire in a tin can. This tea is pleasing to my palate in a physical and mental capacity.

I have purchased a rare Organic Lapsang from the Tong Mu estate in Fijian province in China. This estate is located near Mount Wuyi which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is part of the Chinese biodiversity conservation zone.
This tea is produced by a family whose tea production can be traced back 25 generations and have mastered the art of producing a fantastic Lapsang. The leafs for this tea are a spring growth pluck and only 1000 kilos of Organic Tong Mu Phoenix Tree are produced each year.
The leaf is hand picked and sorted and then smoked in a special centuries old factory that is built over brick ovens. It has a smooth crisp character with a remarkable and heady aroma of a pine and oak wood fire.

This special reserve tea will be available in 25g bags for the cost of $18.00. We only have 20 bags available for purchase at this time.

We, also have three two year aged Pu-erh tea cakes in stock at a cost of $35.00.

Spring is in the Store!

2010-03-04T14:03:00.002-03:30

The new spring stock is arriving and there is a lot of it! I guess I went a little mad at the buying show.

Some of my favorite items are the Painted Bola Eggs. They are little works of art that would look lovely on a mantelpiece or on top of a piano.

There was a In the Garden feel to this years show and since I love gardening I was entranced by just about everything. There are some fantastic napkin rings and tea light holders in stock. The flicker dragonfly tea light holders are beautiful!

Our teapot watering cans are back in stock and are currently hanging in the window. They have been a real draw into the store. People have crossed the street just to come in and take a look at them.

We, also, got in some new treats. Boiled sweets from Monty Bojangles in London got a great review from one of our customers. "I'm giving Monty Bojangles' Rhubarb & Custard candies 2 thumbs up! Good brisk rhubarb flavour, nicely offset by the sweeter custard" These candies are also available in Lemon and Sherbet Pips. The Monty Bojangles line includes yummy, melt in your mouth cocoa dusted truffles. We are carrying the orange and salted toffee truffles.

There is so much more coming! Hope to see you in the shop!

March Giveaway

2010-03-04T13:56:00.003-03:30

Come in and quote us a nursery rhyme or spend over $20.00 to be entered to win a Colours Kids Teaset. The contest runs until March 31st.

February Giveaway!

2010-01-29T15:19:00.004-03:30

We will be giving away this beautiful Britto bag to one lucky Britannia Teas customer!

The Britto line is ful of colourful teapots, mugs, cream & sugar, spoon rests and salt & pepper sets. But you don't have to purchase from the Britto line to be entered for the draw, just wish us a Happy Valentine's Day and we will give you an entry form. The draw will take place on February 14th!

Remembering my tea set.

2010-01-26T17:06:00.002-03:30

I had a teaset when I was a little girl. It was white with a blue pattern. I think it was flowers but for some reason Holly Hobbie is ringing a bell. I loved my teaset! My brother loved it , too. He loved the crashing noise it made when it hit the pavement in our driveway. He wanted to see if it would break. Alas, no more teaset.
Funnily, a number of women who have been in are reminded of the set they had before their brother smashed it. I have heard a number of stories this week. One lady told me she has her complete set which was given to her by a neighbour. The neighbour had the complete set from when she was a little girl. What a treasure!
While some of the sets we just got in are breakable, a number of them are made of tin. So, they should be safe from the destructive tendancies of siblings. Although, kids an be very creative.

Kids Tea Sets

2010-01-26T16:41:00.002-03:30

2010-01-14T10:25:00.003-03:30

Two new products arrived yesterday in our food lines. Those who have fallen in love with the Bittersweet Maple Cashew Crackle and the Milk Chocolate Hazelnut crackle will be tempted by our newest edition. Dufflet's Bittersweet Toasted Almond Crackle is yummy, yummy, yummy.

The other new product to arrive is from our

Mrs. Bridges line of preserves and chutneys.

Added to our wonderful goodies from Scotland is a

Strawberry Preserve with Champagne.

A perfect gift for Valentine's Day.

A New Year and a Prize.

2010-01-08T10:12:00.006-03:30

It was a busy season here in the shop. We sold out of several teas. Some we are waiting to arrive and others like the Cream Earl Grey are back on the shelf. Our own blends were a great success and I am working on a few more to be released in the next couple of months.

Beehouse teapots were once again the hit of the season and we are patiently waiting the new shipment. New colours to arrive are silver, bronze and antique brown. As soon as they arrive I'll take a pic and post it.

Products that didn't arrive in time for Christmas were the glass teapots and the kids tea sets. The glass teapots arrived the week between Christmas and New Years and the kids tea sets shipped yesterday. Our Britto line arrived after Christmas and are actually a fantastic gift for Valentines Day. They are on display in the window.

Speaking of Valentine's Day we have a limited amount of Chocolate Covered Strawberry tea arriving. This is a black tea base and is a perfect treat for yourself or someone you love.

I am off to a buying show in February but have already placed orders for some fantastic spring lines.

We will be introducing some new promotions starting with a January giveaway. We will have two tea gift baskets one valued at $75.00 and one valued at $30.00. Every time you spend $30.00 or more your name will be entered in the draw for the $75.00 gift basket and for every purchase under $30.00 your name will be entered for the $30.00 basket. The contest opens on January 9th and closes on January 29th.

Jasmine-Orange Meltaways Recipe

2009-12-09T18:29:00.000-03:30

Jasmine-Orange Meltaways Recipe

Cookie Recipes with Tea

2009-12-09T17:33:00.001-03:30

Thanks to Heide for finding these cookie recipes, just in time for Christmas!

Earl Grey Bocca di Nonna

2009-12-08T15:48:00.002-03:30

Our IngenuiTEAS have arrived!

Our Holiday Teas will be avalable by the end of the week. This years we have Chocolate Chai, Winter Spice, Candy Cane, Chestnut and Gingerbread! We have limited quantities.

Our Holiday Hours are

Monday-Friday 10:00-9:00
Saturday 10:00-6:00
Sunday 12:00-5:00

We will close at 3:00 on Christmas Eve.
We will be closed December 25th, 26th, 31st and January 1st.

Tax Free Day

2009-11-12T15:08:00.000-03:30

It's a beautiful, sunny day downtown and it's tax free.

A new season begins.

2009-11-05T16:27:00.002-03:30

Today I got wished a Merry Christmas by customers who won't be back in town before the holidays. They live on the west coast. It was nice but I couldn't quite believe it. I do have some Christmas product out in the store, but by most retail standards I am a bit slow off the mark. Most of the stores downtown have their trees up and the lights strung I am holding off for another few days. One reason is that I love Christmas at Christmas. Seeing wrapping paper in August sends me a little over the edge.

Another reason is Rememberance Day. I am not a fan of war but I had family who fought in World War II and I find the twinking lights and glitter a bit weird on such a solemn occasion. Last year, I thought the parade had already gone by so I dismantled my window and started to put the lights on one of my trees. I felt awful when the parade went by a few minutes later. This year will be different. Christmas will be up for the next day.

New Products!

2009-10-09T13:32:00.005-02:30

Yesterday we received lots of new cookies and jams. Some of the cookies will be for the holidays only. I am hoping to convince my supplier that they should carry them all the time.

Adding to our seletion of Mrs. Bridges.

These gift sets of three or four preserves are a real treat. The preserve selection was my first introduction to the line when I was in Scotland several years ago with friends. We cruised the Caledonian Canal but didn't see Nessie.

A perfect little treat and I hate to say it so early, but a great stocking stuffer!

Our sweets display.

These cookies from Israel are wonderful and they are kosher. The Truffinos are more like a truffle than a cookie.

There are more great items to come!

Storage Solutions

2009-09-29T09:51:00.002-02:30

Do you have a built in wine rack in your kitchen? Are you wondering what to do with it? One of our customers is using his to display his tea collection.

Kimmidoll and Mrs. Bridges

2009-09-23T11:57:00.004-02:30

Here are the pictures that I tried to post a couple of weeks ago. And I just ate one of the Truffinos. It's a truffle with cookie crumbs mixed in. I just made myself very happy!!!

We have new teas!

2009-09-08T10:28:00.002-02:30

We just introduced our newest blend - English Harbour Breakfast. It is a robust morning tea that will start your day perfectly.

We, also, have two new darjeelings. One from the Mim estate and the other from Seeyok. the Seeyok is a fair trade organic tea.

There is green rooibos, butterfly jasmine and organic keemun #1 panda.

To the moon.

2009-08-31T17:24:00.003-02:30

I did not go to the moon, although I did disappear from the blog for a bit. But I am back with lots of new product and stories to tell.
While our SeaChange Savories line didn't go to the moon, it did go to the International Space Station. Their, out of this world, Smoked Salmon Jerkey and Smoked Salmon Pate were part of the provisions for the crew on the International Space Station. You can pick up these products in the store and eat like the astronauts. We have a great range of products from SeaChange Savouries including their lobster pate, crab pate, beer bread mix and various kinds of smoked salmon.

We just got in some note cards and journals. Shakepeare's Garden, Alice and Wonderland and Jane Austen are some of the themes. They are selling quickly and usually with a bag of tea.

One of the things I did do over the past month was afternoon tea. I visited The Empress Hotel and the White Heather Tea Room in Victoria, BC. The Tea at the Crypt at the Anglican Cathedral in St. John's, NL and the Tea Garden in Holyrood, NL. I enjoyed them all, but I loved the tea at The Empress! The service was fantastic and the food was wonderful. I know it costs more but I enjoyed every bite. I'll post some pictures when the computer allows me.

Kelly

The Cure for Migraines

2009-06-25T16:41:00.002-02:30

I left work early last week because of a migraine headache. I don't get them often, but when I do there is nothing I can do but lie down with a cold cloth.

My cab driver told me that he has the perfect cure and it works for him every time. Take your teabag, (Yes, he told the tea lady to use a teabag.) and steep it for 20-30 minutes in a small amount of water and then drink it. No milk or sugar.

He swears by this method. I'd try just about anything to get better, but this just isn't my cup of tea.

:)

New Products May 12, 2009

2009-05-12T15:44:00.003-02:30

May Days- a full calendar of events

2009-05-05T14:35:00.003-02:30

Mother's Day is this Sunday, May 10th. Our Royal Albert 3 piece tea sets are 20% off and make a perfect gift for moms of all ages.

Drinking tea out of a china cup was a big part of my childhood, especially when I was visiting my grandmother. Nana collected teacups and while some of them made it in to the everyday cupboard, but there were some that went into the china cupboard. Before these special cups were put away my grandmother would have a cup of tea in them. It was probably the only time they were used. I am very lucky to own some of Nana cups.

Cochrane Street United Church is having a Victorian Tea on Saturday, May 23rd. This is a fundraiser for their Restoration fund. There will be two sittings one from 2:00-3:30 and one from 3:30-5:00. Tickets at $10.00 each and seating is limited. Call 722-3023 for tickets and information. I’ll be giving a talk on tea and will be donating a tea basket as a door prize. The event also includes tea leaf readings and a Craft and Bake Sale.

On May 15th I will be on Radio Noon Crosstalk with Ramona Dearing. Call in with your Tea Tales for a chance to win a tea prize pack.

And on May 31st. I'll be at Commissariat House from 2:00-4:00. I'll be brewing up our newest tea. Drop by for a cup and chat.

Kelly

Two Years in Business.

2009-04-28T10:44:00.002-02:30

Well, it's year two, I smile every time I think of it. So, we have been having a sale, which continues until April 30th. All tea and food is 10% off and all gifts are 15% off. There are other discounts on items in the store, some are up to 50% off. We, also, introduced our newest tea-Britannia Bakeapple. It's been created exclusively for us and the response has been fantastic. Our Royal Albert 3 piece Teacup sets are 20% off until Mother's Day.

I am really happy with the store. We started off with 40loose teas and now have over 100. It's been great to see people embrace loose tea and falling in love with it. I keep telling everyone that I really did this so I could have my favorite teas whenever I felt like it.
Our food section has expanded over the past two years, as well. Our jams and chutneys have devoted fans. There are customers who come in just for those treats and don't ever look at the tea.

As a new store we are still being discovered and I take great joy in people who come back and say that they didn't know how great tea could taste. I, especially, enjoy when someone says how much they hate tea and then let themselves try the sample of the day and discover that "it's not half bad." And, as many of you know, I just love talking about tea! Sometimes I have to tell myself to stop talking about it.

As we enter year three, there are lots of ideas and hopes for the store. There are many paths that we would like to follow and we are looking forward to seeing where they lead us.