You have to love a book with the title of How the Queen Found the Perfect Cup of Tea. This children’s book written by Kate Hosford and illustrated by Gail Swiatkowska is all about the Queen’s determination to find the perfect cup of tea.
The book opens with the Queen being frustrated with her current cup of tea and decides that she must embark on a journey to find the perfect cup of tea.
Through her adventures, she discovers that there are different ways to brew and enjoy tea in a multiple ways and that she can even brew the tea herself. She also learns that she is capable of doing tasks on her own and that the best way to enjoy a good cuppa is with friends.
The illustrations in the book are gorgeous and the book is written in a way that captivates readers of all ages. Even at 38, this book had me smiling, giggling, and just enjoying the story in a whole.
I would image this would be a perfect book for any child who either has an interest in tea or having their own tea party. I’m excited to pick up a couple copies for my nieces’ birthday coming up soon.
A wonderful book to be shared at bedtime or even during a tea party. I’m quite excited to see what the rest of the Sisters think of this wonderfully quirky book about a tea adventure that we’ve all been on.
Illustration copyright (c) 2017 by Gabi Swiatkowska from HOW THE QUEEN FOUND THE PERFECT CUP OF TEA by Kate Hosford, published by Carolrhoda Books/Lerner Publishing Group. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Here’s the scoop!
Click here to find more information about this wonderful book!
TeaEqualBliss’s TOP Flavored Black Teas of the Moment
- Rose Marzipan Black Tea from Stylin’ Tea Blends
- Orange Cookies Tea from Kent & Sussex Tea & Coffee Co.
- Persian Rose from Tay Tea
- Peach Vanilla Tea from Full Leaf Tea Company
- Persian Plum Rose Black from Blossom *
- Apple Cinnamon French Toast Black Tea from Simpson & Vail
- Earl Grey from Metolius Artisan Tea
- Pineapple Old Bay from Handmade Tea
- Sweet Slo-Sippin’ SimpliciTea: Lemon Sweets Black from Cup of Love
- Lemon Myrtle from The Tea Can Company
- * This tea review has yet to go LIVE at the time of writing this review. Look for a full length review SOON!
Here at the Sororitea Sisters we have been asked time and time again what we would include in our TOP TEN Teas. Since we drink SO MANY TEAS we have decided to occasionally release our TOP TEN TEAS of the MOMENT. This is one of those posts. This post is specifically highlighting some of the BEST Flavored Black Teas I have tasted the last few months! Of course MY taste buds differ from YOURS but these are just a few of MANY I thought deserved a little extra push!
Uper Fagu Darjeeling Oolong from The Tea Shelf
Hello Tea Friends.
Darjeeling, one of the most famous tea growing regions in the world. Did you know tea produced in Darjeeling accounts for 7% of India’s total tea export? I love to read and learn about tea, there are some great facts on Wikipedia.
The Tea Shelf specialise in Indian teas from source and offer worldwide shipping. A new company to me but they offer worldwide shipping and have a wonderful selection on their site.
The tea I will be reviewing is Uper Fagu Darjeeling Oolong. Upper Fagu is a tea garden in Gorubathan, Darjeeling. This particular sample was picked in 2015 and is second flush with a silver tip grade. I did my best to try and break it down and explain where this tea comes from and what it is. The packet contains a lot of this information which is always useful to buyers.
Opening the packet and scooping some leaves into my hands I see long, thin leaves with a natural curl in a mixture of earthy green and brown colours with plenty of silver tips. The tips also have downy hairs. They bare a dry and floral scent with a touch of fruit.
Steeping Parameters: 1 teaspoon of leaf, 95C water. 3 minute steep.
Once steeped the tea soup is golden and light in colour with a sweet floral and fruit scent, very similar to it’s raw form.
The first few sips reveal a clean, peony base with a nutty, dry aftertaste. Further sips reveal a crisp citrus with honeyed tones. It becomes thicker in strength as it cools slightly.
Overall it’s delicate but very refined. A very nice example of a Darjeeling Oolong. Very nice tea and a company I will certainly be looking at in the future if this is the calibre of what they have to offer.
Happy Steeping!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: The Tea Shelf
Description: One of the finest oolongs of Darjeeling, the aroma of dark chocolate envelopes your senses, reminiscent of a cold wintry day! The leaves are springy with a moss like mosaic of silver and copper. The infusion shows another surprise with individual leaves clearly visible with bright colours of copper and mauve. The chocolate experience continues but now coupled with citrus and fruity notes. The steeped leaves give way to a gorgeous sunset yellow cup, which is very brisk on the palate with notes of jasmine and citrus, which linger on.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Taiwan Honey Black Tea by T-Oolongtea
I couldn’t find any instructions for steeping this tea, even on the internet (which seems to be the story of my life lately. I’d get frustrated if it weren’t so funny, and also a chance to have fun experimenting!)
So I used two heaping teaspoons and about a cup of water that was a little below boiling temp, and steeped it for a few minutes until it looked good to drink! The liquid turned out a bit amber-ish but a bit on the brown/orange side. It gave off aromas of malt and sweet potato (Sweet potato is one of my favorite black tea flavors, so yay!). I definitely detected some floral notes too.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: T-Oolong Tea
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Superior Sencha – Compass Teas. . . . .
Hello tea friends,
It’s always nice to drink something with the word superior in it’s title. From what I understand; superior Sencha is one of the highest grades of Sencha. It is also more refined and elegant in general, from those that I have tried anyway.
This tea is no longer sold by Compass Tea but it may be something they restock in the future, or have something similar to.
The leaf is dark green with a high shine and a sweet, floral scent with a touch of grass. The leaves are of medium size with some broken pieces present, overall it looks as expected ie no discolouration or holes.
Steeping this at a lower temperature around 65C for one minute to try and draw out some of the umami and sweetness.
A golden brown/green liquid is produced (again typical of Superior Sencha) and it bares a toasted grass and seaweed scent, also slightly vegetal.
Flavour is medium strength with sweet grass highs and toasted peony lows, with a salty seaweed and kale type mineral after taste that lingers and becomes dry.Only a touch of astringency but some umami is present. Half way down my yunomi and it becomes so sweet and floral it’s picked up a perfumed quality has real mouth feel to it. Also slightly bitty at the bottom of my bowl.
A second steep of the same parameters reveals: less sweetness but more umami, mimicking soup broth in this steep. More mouth feel and dryness in the after taste and less perfume. Still it bares little astringency as such and it remains vegetal. It reminds me of Matcha, has a similar sort of flavour and feel about it in this steep. Just a very watery and non foamy Matcha.
Overall I was impressed. The quality was expected (average for a Superior Sencha) but it steeped well and had wonderful characteristics and flavours. A nice example of Sencha and pleasing to drink. I recommend low temperatures if your an umami fan though, at least to start with, I’m an umami fan at heart.
A nice introduction to Compass Teas for me and while this is no longer sold I will certainly keep my eyes open to see what line of Sencha it has in the future.
Happy Steeping!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: Compass Teas
Description: This tea is no longer available for sale but they have many other teas for sale.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!