For many tea lovers, tea is so much more than just a beverage. Tea becomes a comfort, a joy, a means of sharing special moments, a way to quiet the noise of life, a way of making friends, a glimpse into another culture.
Tea ceremonies from other countries may be studied and practiced. Special tea times are set aside to focus the mind on the fullest enjoyment of the beverage and the rituals that go with preparing it, alone or with friends.
Gong fu sessions have become an important part of our household. While we do not do this every week, it is a treasured time of quiet and relaxation with our favorite beverage.
To prepare for our special tea times, we play soothing music, usually traditional Asian music, turn the lights off, and light candles. Everything begins to slow down. Water is heated, cups are chosen, the tray is placed on the floor, and we settle ourselves around the tray.
When I saw the brass sanctuary candle on Bellocq’s website, I knew I was going to try to get it one day. I am very budget conscious, though, and will not frivolously spend large sums, except when quality dictates worth. Everything I have ever purchased from Bellocq has been high quality and I have not regretted a single one of them. I decided to watch for a sale. (I may have picked up some tea in that order since there was a sale on. That’s just being smart!)
I always feel special when a box from Bellocq arrives. Their signature yellow tissue paper cushions your goods in a fabulously strong reusable box. Even their labels are artistic. Everything arrives looking like a thoughtful gift.
As for the Sanctuary Candle, was it worth it? Every penny. This is very thick brass, with lovely proportions and beautiful, useful design. The brass cylinder stores the candles, and when you are ready to use them, you take off the lid and flip it over to serve as the candleholder.
This is a really heavy gauge of brass and I think it would be pretty indestructible. I would buy it again in a heartbeat. I fully expect to own it for the rest of my life and pass it down to my children. Seriously.
They say the candle should burn for about one hour, and I can almost perfectly time our tea sessions by it. I have never seen any dripping wax – it burns that cleanly. I have taken no special measures to protect the flame, yet it burns brightly and cleanly. I do not have to trim the wick mid-burn, because it is well-sized for the diameter of the candle. These things count!
When tea time is done, the lid that holds the candle goes back on and the Sanctuary Candle is placed back on the mantel to lend its warm, golden glow until our next tea session.
Now that I have experienced the Sanctuary Candle, I will be watching for another sale to try their long-burning tea scented candles in brass containers. I can hardly wait to see all the ways we think of to re-use the empty brass holders!
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Leaf Type:
Where to Buy: Bellocq Tea Atelier
Description
Eighteen hand-dipped ivory tapers, presented in a brass vessel expertly crafted by Bellocq metal artisans, to adorn the armchair traveler’s moments of sanctuary, and to illuminate journeys of ritual and light. Each slender taper fits into the underside of the brass container with elegance and serenity.
Created from a blend of high-quality waxes, including beeswax, and a pure cotton wick,the Sanctuary Candles are long burning, drip and smoke resistant. Packaged in our elegant peacock blue candle box.
Burn time per taper: 1 hour
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No. 12, Le Hammeau/Bellocq Tea Atelier -Ashmanra-
I have purchased a few herbal tisanes in the past year for those nights when I want to avoid caffeine. I wanted something that isn’t thin and pale beside my beloved tea but is also delicious without resorting to fake tasting additives or sweeteners. This offering is all organic.
First, the aroma really knocked my socks off. It is so lemony and sweet smelling. And then the taste holds up to the aroma! It’s a miracle! The texture is rich and broth-like.
The lemon flavor is coming from lemongrass and lemon verbena, and since the last ingredient listed is natural essence, I am guessing it may be lemon oil, but I could be wrong.
I grew lemongrass last year and I made a tisane from it, but it had a much thinner body than this, and since it was lemongrass alone, there were no layers of flavor as we have here.
Lemon is at the forefront in aroma and taste, but mint comes in midway and then lingers for quite a while. The rose is adding sweetness with the peppery rose notes and also is surely the source of the rich, creamy body that fairly coats the tongue.
I offered a cup to a family member standing by and promptly had to make another pot. Fortunately, this tisane resteeps well so I can enjoy it with abandon as often as I like.
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Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Bellocq
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!