Muslims Will Put You In Jail For Worshipping Tea Pot

A sharia court in Malaysia jailed a woman for joining a "tea-pot worshipping" cult.
Kamariah Ali, a 57 year old former teacher, was arrested in 2005 when the government of the Muslim majority country demolished the two storey high sacred tea pot and other infrastructure of the "heretical" Sky Kingdom cult.

World's Largest Tea Party

India has set a new world record as more than 32,000 people attended the world's largest tea party in Indore.

Thousands of tea drinkers queued outside the Nehru Stadium in Indore over the weekend for the record-breaking feat. Nearly 1,000 volunteers served tea to 32,681 participants while an electronic counting machine kept track of the total number of people taking part in the event.

Japan's Nishio city has held the record from 2006, when it hosted the largest simultaneous tea party. 14,718 people took part in that event.

Zen Green Tea Liqueur, made-in-Japan liqueur.

Zen Green Tea Liqueur is a premium liqueur from Japan that is made with neutral spirits that are infused with special Kyoto green tea leaves from a prestigious tea producer in Japan that has been cultivating tea for over 300 years, is blended with herbs including lemongrass and natural flavors.

Schools in England may stop selling tea

Schools in England could be told to stop selling tea to pupils younger than 16 under options being considered by education chiefs.

Hot coffee and tea pose potential health and safety risks for young children, the School Food Trust suggested.

Teachers are being asked for their views on whether the beverages should be restricted to adults under proposed new guidelines.

Teashops Becoming More Common In USA

According to the Tea Association of the United States, teashops are becoming more common, because consumers are more health-conscious. With many coffee drinks pushing 300 to 400 calories, switching to tea can be a way to loose weight. And many studies have linked tea to health benefits.

New York Lawmaker, Drinking Tea May Lead To Crime

A Queens lawmaker is asking store owners to pull Arizona Ice Tea off their shelves because he says the packaging glorifies graffiti. City Councilman Peter Vallone, Jr. who has spent years making an issue of graffiti in New York says.

"Apparently Arizona thinks this is something that should be glorified," "They've come out with a drink called All City. All City is the name for a vandal that has destroyed property in much of New York."

A statement on the Arizona's website says they are paying tribute to the passion and creativity street artists. Artists who have made their mark in all five New York boroughs.

Tea May Be Good For Your Bones

Drinking tea regularly may be good for your bones. Researchers in Perth Australia studied over 200 women aged 70 to 85 and found that those who drank tea had higher bone density at their hips and less bone loss than women who didn't drink tea. Although the study did not find a link between the cups of tea consumed per day and bone mineral density, it found the bone density at two places at the hip was higher in tea drinkers than in non-tea drinkers. Tea drinkers also had less loss of bone density over a four-year period compared to the women who did not drink tea.

Alexander Litvinenko and a cup of tea

The death of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko by polonium-210 is still damaging relations between the UK and Russia. The evidence suggests that the polonium was added to a cup of tea served in the bar of the Millennium Hotel. Later, after it had been washed, the pianist drank out of the same cup and also showed evidence of polonium ingestion.

Polonium is a metal, so in order to be used as a poison it would have been administered as a soluble compound similar in form to table salt. To be fatal, all that would be needed would be about ten millionths of a gram, a speck almost too small to be seen with the naked eye.

Black tea could lower Parkinson's risk

A new study claims drinking black tea could help prevent the onset of Parkinson's disease. People who drink 23 cups of the beverage a month are 71 per cent less likely to contract the disease, said researchers from Singapore's Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and National Neuroscience Institute.

Theft Of Tea

Police are hunting for the owner of a warehouse, and a company that forged documents used to steal up to Sh30 million worth of tea leaves meant for export from the port in Mombasa. The forged documents claimed that the consignment in eight containers were wrongly marked and were therefore being recalled for correct marking. On Monday evening, the police were tipped off that the consignment had left the port, and was in the process of being diverted into the local market. The consignment was originally on its way to the United Kingdom.

Turmoil In Kenya Has Disrupted The Tea Supply

The political turmoil in Kenya has disrupted the tea supply across the world. Prices to consumers have not yet gone up in Europe or North America but they may if the turmoil in Kenya persists.

Ozzy Osbourne loves his tea

The former Black Sabbath frontman and Rock star Ozzy Osbourne says that he loves to drink tea. He even keeps a popular British brand of tea in his Los Angeles home.

Tea Time

According to English tradition Tea time occurs around 4 p.m. High tea is a casual family meal where a savory supper of leftovers was served, low tea is more formal. The names probably refer to the height of the table that was used.

Kenya tea exporters affected by violence

Tea exporters in Kenya are feeling the affect by post-election violence. Last week’s outbreak of political violence has paralysed operations in the tea industry. Rioters blocked major roads and the weelky tea auction in Mombasa was suspended.

Industry officials said blockades caused by the political unrest in the main tea growing areas of Rift Valley have hampered distribution to key international markets such as Pakistan and the Middle East.

Old Silver Elephant Tea Pot On Ebay

I found this old silver elephant tea pot on Ebay and I thought it was nice.

Just go to Ebay and use Item number: 120203786989

Robot Serves Tea

Engineers at the Honda company have taught Asimo the humanoid robot how to serve tea to guests.

The tea needs to be prepared by a human and placed on a tray on a cart. Asimo will then push the cart to the table, lift up the tray and place it on the guest's table. The robot then takes a couple of steps back and bows, as is the tradition in Japan.

Tea as a cooking ingredient

Tea, used as a cooking ingredient, adds depth and subtlety to a variety of dishes.Tea Cooking

World's Largest Tea Bag in Toronto

On Saturday, December 15, 2007 Toronto's is host to a Tea Party and Guinness World Records record-breaking attempt sponserd by Celestial Seasonings. Measuring 12 feet x 12 feet, the World's Largest Tea Bag is the highlight of this wintertime outdoor tea party. Guests can warm up with cups of hot complimentary Celestial
Seasonings tea, see the future in tea leaf readings and "tea off" at mini golf to win some great prizes. Costumed characters will entertain the crowd while Celestial Seasonings' tea blendmaster reveals secrets of the tea trade through tales of worldwide travels in search of tea. The Tea Association will be on hand to discuss the role tea plays in maintaining good health, and donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation are encouraged. The Tea Party is located at Yonge-Dundas Square, Corner of Yonge Street and Dundas Street.

Tea Plants

Camellia sinensis is an evergreen plant and grows in tropical to sub-tropical climates. Many high quality tea plants grow at elevations up to 1500 meters (5,000 ft), as the plants grow more slowly and acquire a better flavor. Only the top 1-2 inches of the mature plant are picked. These buds and leaves are called flushes, and a plant will grow a new flush every seven to ten days during the growing season. Tea plants will grow into a tree if left undisturbed, but cultivated plants are pruned to waist height for ease of plucking. Two principal varieties are used, the small-leaved China plant and the large-leaved Assam plant.

Tea Container Exhibit At DeWitt

Museum goers have just a few days left to view a rare exhibit of Tea Containers.
On view through Sunday at the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum in Colonial Williamsburg, The Wallace Museum is accessed through the Public Hospital of 1773, Francis and Nassau streets, just south of Merchants Square. Call 757-220-7724 or log on to www.history.org/history/museums for more information.

CRANBERRYSPLASHED GINGER ICED TEA

CRANBERRYSPLASHED GINGER ICED TEA

Serves: 4

3 cups water

2 tea bags

4 (1-inch) pieces fresh ginger, peeled

1 cup sugar-free cranberry juice cocktail

2 to 3 tablespoons pourable sugar substitute (such as Splenda)

In a medium saucepan over high heat, bring the water to a boil.

Remove from heat, add tea bags and ginger and steep for 2 minutes.

Remove the tea bags. Let the ginger and tea stand for 20 minutes.

Pour the tea and ginger into a small pitcher, add the juice and sugar substitute and serve over ice.

Add Some Vitamin C To Your Tea

A new Purdue University study suggests adding citrus juices or vitamin C to green tea may raise its antioxidant goodness, a new study suggests. The antioxidants are called catechins, and they are believed to be responsible for some of green tea's reported health benefits, such as reducing the risk of cancer, heart attack and stroke.

Using a laboratory model that simulates digestion in the stomach and small intestine, green tea was tested with a number of additives, including juices and creamers. It was found that citrus juice increased absorbable catechin levels by more than five times, while vitamin C boosted recoverable levels of the two most abundant catechins by six and 13 times.

So add some citrus juices to your cup after brewing.

Black Tea Could Provide Protection Against Suns Rays

According to researchers black tea gel could provide double the protection against harmfull UV radiation by absorbing UV rays and repairing DNA damage inside the skin. Topical application of black tea gel significantly reduces skin redness after exposure to UV light.

World's First Tea Espresso

A South African company has started selling what is being called "the world's first tea espresso." The tea is produced by the Red Espresso Co., in Cape Town, South Africa. A special, patented grind of the tea leaves gives the tea "a rich espresso intensity."

Is that Mold In My Tea?

A Michigan man got a nasty suprise in an unopened bottle of Gold Peak Sweetened Iced Tea. Shane Smith describes what he found as "slimy...with dark spots...a gooey gunk." The button seal on the bottle has never been disturbed and its expiration date is February 25, 2008. Smith called the 800 number on the bottle and talked to a Coca Cola spokesperson. The spokesperson said from what it sounds like the substance in the bottle is mold from heat exposure when the bottle was stored after shipping. He said the mold will not pose a health hazard but the product should not be consumed. They will offer Smith a replacement product.

Kenya Top Exporter

Kenya is the world’s largest exporter of tea this year, surpassing Sri Lanka and China.

Green Tea Could Be the Cure for Sepsis

Researchers at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research have found that a component in green tea might help in the treatment of severe sepsis, which is an abnormal response of the immune system to a bacterial infection.

They discovered that there is an ingredient in green tea called EGCG, that can save mice from dying of sepsis. The laboratory results are so promising that they could lead to clinical trials in humans.

Sepsis a condition that kills 225,000 Americans each year, has puzzled researchers for years. No matter what techniques they used, half of those who contract sepsis die.

Tea For Troops.

Judah Sanders and Dave Dahl, co-founders of the California-based Dragon Pearl Tea Company, are against the war in Iraq but they feel compelled to support the men and women who are serving there. The tea company has shipped almost $10,000 worth of green tea to the U.S. troops on duty in Iraq.

Two hundred and fifty cases of Dragon Pearl Tea were shipped this fall to troops in Iraq through an all-volunteer group called U.S. Troop Care Package

Second Annual Red Rose Tea Fair

The second annual Red Rose Tea Fair will be held on the weekend of Nov. 9-11 at the Hilton Garden Inn on Corporate Drive.

Companies exhibiting at the fair will include Redco Foods (the makers of Red Rose Tea), Wade Ceramics Ltd., C&S Collectibles, Wade New England, The Water Closet, the Tea House Times, Happy Wadeing, Curiosity Collectables and PaulaWalla Imports.

The weekend-long event will include a Welcome Dinner and Tea Cup Auction, Wade vendors from the U.S. and England, Swap-n-Sell tables for collectors, an Edwardian Tea Party, tea leaf readers, and Wade authors Ian Warner and Mike Posgay.

Fair hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11. A shuttle will be available to transport visitors to various off-site events from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m Sunday.
Admission to the fair is $5.

The Windsor Chamber of Commerce Tourism Committee developed this event in conjunction with Windsor's Economic Development Director Jim Burke and Redco Foods.
For more scheduling and event information, visit the Web site
www.windsorcc.org.

Poci tea

Poci tea originates in the Central Javanese city of Tegal. Mixed with jasmine flowers and brewed in a special earthenware pot (the poci) that is only ever rinsed with clear water —thus imbuing it with its heady scent and making it more delicious each time — it has a unique aroma that has made it popular all over Java.

High tea at the Ritz

Following a £40 million refurbishment, the Ritz is back to the former elegance. High tea at the Ritz, Piccadilly is £32 per person and served daily by reservation only at three sittings, 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm and 5:30 pm. Bookings can be made either through the Reservations office on 0207 300 2305 or book online at www.theritzlondon.com.

Tea Table Sells for $6.7 million

At Christie's last week, a Philadelphia tea table in a remarkable state of preservation sold for $6.7 million, three times the expected price and a record for Philadelphia furniture sold at auction. Experts say the table is worth every penny.

It had passed from generation to generation in the same family since its crafting in the mid 18th century. Most recently the table sat quietly in the family's Main Line, Philadelphia home until a local appraiser clued them in that the table could be worth more than the house.

Tea tables became fashionable in England as the tea trade with Asia gained steam. Upper-crust Americans quickly fell in love with the style and began commissioning their own tea tables from the finest Colonial craftsman. Historians tell us that in the 1760s, many important meetings relating to the planning of the American Revolution took place around these early tea tables, adding to their cachet today.

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Life Is A Beach. Drink Tea.

Thousands of bottles of barley tea drinks washed ashore on Kouyuwuan Beach in Taiwan, drawing crowds of local residents to come "clean up" the beach by collecting the "suprise gifts".

The tea came from the freighter "Tan Ting No. 2, " which sank Friday in bad weather while transporting the tea drink cargo to Xiamen, China. The ship had been carrying 3,900 cases of the Mugicha tea drink.

Women are like tea-bags - put us in hot water and watch us get stronger

"Women are like tea-bags - put us in hot water and watch us get stronger."

Well this blog is not really about tea. But I like the Quote. If you want to know more about it go toTea Bag Lady

Tea In The National Museum of China

Wuyi Mountain is renowned for the quality of tea leaves grown there. A sample of the leaves collected and baked in Wuyi Mountain entered the collection of the National Museum of China in Beijing this week.

The sample leaves were picked from a 350-year old tea tree, in May of 2005. The leaves were baked and processed exactly in accordance with ancient technique. They were among the last leaves harvested from the tree. It came under government protection in 2006. This marks the first time the National Museum of China has included contemporary tea leaves in its collection.

$2 to 6 million Tea Table

In January 2008, Sotheby’s will offer one of the greatest masterpieces of American Furniture, the Fox-Tilghman Family Chippendale Carved and Figured Mahogany Tilt-Top Piecrust Tea Table, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, circa 1755, as the centerpiece of its sale of Important Americana 2 during Americana Week 2008. The table is expected to fetch a estimated $2 to 6 million.

Tea and weight loss

Severl recent studies indicate that drinking green tea can help you loose weight.But what does green tea have that other beverages dont? Some scientists say the magic lies in it's EGCG, a powerful anti-oxidant known to stop the growth of cancer cells, blood clots, and lowers cholesterol levels.

Tea treatment for attention deficit disorder

Neuroscientists have evidence that the amino acid theanine, which is found in green, black, and oolong teas, causes a decrease in the brain's "alpha rhythms" when people perform complex attention tasks, causing them to pay closer attention. This may help people with attention deficit disorder.

Tea's Make You Smarter

A growing number of scientists theorize that tea is far more complex than most people might think. As a result, they are exploring new ways to uncover the chemical secrets nature has tucked into the leaves of green and black teas.

Read More

Iced Tea Makers Recalled As Fire Hazard

West Bend is voluntarily recalling 10,000 iced tea makers because some components could fail and pose a fire hazard.

The product, IT400 Iced Tea Makers, were manufactured in China. No reports of injuries or incidents have been reported, according to a notice from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The products were sold at Bon-Ton department stores and hardware stores nationwide, the JCPenney catalog, and Internet retailers from April through July 2007 for between $40 and $50.

Rainforest Alliance Certified Tea

Unilever Foodsolutions has launched the first Rainforest Alliance Certified Lipton Kericho Estate Tea, to the UK. The new Lipton Kericho Estate Tea will come directly from Unilever's own 100% Rainforest Alliance Certified tea estate in Kericho, Kenya.

Earl Grey Tea at Buckingham Palace

"Earl Grey is the most-often served tea at Buckingham Palace," notes Darren McGrady in Eating Royalty. "It is a black tea flavored with oil of Bergamot – a fragrant citrus fruit – and named after the second Earl Grey in 1830.

Jane Seymour, Let Them Drink Tea.

More than 50 of actress Jane Seymour neighbours arrived at her estate near Bath to dispute a 24 hour entertainment licence granted to St Catherine’s Court, a venue which Seymour rents out for functions. Locals complain the noise and increase in traffic is making their lives miserable.

Seymour has responded to the protestors camped outside her English country home in a unique way - by instructing her butler to serve them tea.

Instead of confronting the protestors, Seymour’s estate manager Hein van Borstenbosch provided them with refreshments, in fine bone china, and accepted a 200-signature petition.

Women and black tea antioxidants

Researchers at the Queensland University of Technology monitored the intake of antioxidants called flavonoids, found in tea, in 500 women aged between 40 and 80.
The study found 81 per cent of the women's flavonoid compound intake came from drinking black tea.

Magical Mushroom Tea

For thousands of years, health-conscious Chinese drank kombucha, a fermented tea said to benefit drinkers with everything from better digestion to thicker hair.
Now the brew, which tastes like carbonated vinegar, is going mainstream. It's on the shelves at local health food stores and at Whole Foods, where you can find it near refrigerated juices.

Believed to have originated in China around 250 B.C., kombucha is called mushroom tea because the culture used to brew each batch is mushroom-shaped. You won't see mushrooms in your bottled tea, though those feathery solids are drinkable remnants.

The drink's supposed therapeutic benefits include better skin, weight loss, increased energy and detoxification.


Read The Rest Of The Story

Tea Leaf Green is a Band?

Well I guess I am getting old. When looking around the net for something to Blog about I came across Tea Leaf Green. As it turns out Tea Leaf Green has nothing to do with Tea. Apparently it is a San Francisco Rock Band. However from what I have found online they are quite good.

Of course this is not surprising considering the name of the band.

Armed Gunman Takes Pint Of Ice Tea

A man armed with a gun took money, cigarettes and iced tea from a Rutters Farm Store early yesterday. The man entered the store at at 1:20 a.m. Sunday, displayed a handgun and demanded money, according to state police.

Police said the man then fled the store with an unknown amount of money, a carton of cigarettes and a pint of iced tea. He was wearing black shorts, a green sweatshirt and a red baseball hat and fled in an unknown direction.

War in Iraq Hurts Tea Workers In India ?

In an interesting look at how events in one country can effect people in another. Indian tea exports have recorded a decline in the first six months of 2007. Exports fell by 11.74 million kg for the period. Industry sources attributed the fall to low buying from the main consuming country “Last year’s major buyer Iraq is inactive in the market.

2.3 billion served

In the last year fast-food restaurants in the U.S. sold some 2.3 billion servings of iced tea.

Look Good Beauty Tea

A Boston company has developed a brand new category in the beauty market. Tea that will make you look better. The "Look Good Beauty Tea" or Sipping Beauty as it is called is the first and only beauty tea line.

Sipping Beauty is the first line of specifically designed beauty tea. The line packs six blends that can be brewed hot or cold. Tea benefits include: keeping skin looking young and getting a full night of beauty sleep. Other selections in the line help with complexion, detoxification, weight management and even a tea formula that keeps breath smelling fresh.

The Sipping Beauty line was created and is distributed by Maswel Brands. To learn more about Sipping Beauty, please visit http://www.sippingbeauty.net .

Kids Trash Tea Hall

In a strange bit of news a pack of young vandals wrecked a Women's Institute tea party as they flooded a village hall with water and trashed members' cars.

The perpetrators of this evil deed acquired entrance to the cream tea and tabletop sale by telling the lady on the door they wanted to use the toilet - but once inside the true purpose of their visit was made clear.

They blocked drains, squirted soap and left taps running. They also scratched cars and slashed tyres before being chased away by the caretaker in Illogan, Cornwall.

One woman was in tears after finding "b@#*h" scratched on her bonnet. President Ruth Palin said: "It was upsetting."

green tea may reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases

Animal and epidemiological studies suggest that green tea catechins may reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases [e.g., coronary heart disease (CHD)]. The health benefit of green tea has been attributed to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties; however, considerable evidence suggests that green tea and its catechins may reduce the risk of CHD by lowering the plasma levels of cholesterol and triglyceride. The available information strongly suggests that green tea or its catechins may be used as safe and effective lipid-lowering therapeutic agents.

Green tea good for skin

Green tea may help treat inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis, dandruff and lupus-induced lesions, concludes a Medical College of Georgia study to be published in the Aug. 18 issue of the journal Experimental Dermatology.

The researchers found that a bath of green tea extract mixed with water slowed the development and severity of psoriasis symptoms in mice genetically predisposed to develop the condition.

Tea from Vietnam has pesticide residues

Taiwan’s Central News Agency reported that on July 27 the Food Sanitation Bureau under the Taiwanese Department of Health has discovered pesticide residues in a batch of green tea imported from Vietnam.

Taiwanese authorities have decided to return 21 tonnes of o long (black dragon) tea imported on July 10, which contained the higher-than-allowed level of pesticide.

Cheng Hui-wen, Director General of FSB as saying that the batch of green tea discovered on July 27 contained the residues of dicofol with the concentration of 0.15 ppm.

Prior to that, a batch of 21 tonnes of o long tea was discovered to contain dicofol 0.09 ppm. On June 28, FSB decided to take compulsory examination on tea imports from Vietnam.

Rhinos, elephants create havoc in tea garden

At least three rhinoceroses and 30 elephants have been causing havoc in the Jadavpur tea garden in Jalpaiguri district of India. The animals have put a complete stop to work in the garden as panicked workers refused to report for duty. More than 200 tea bushes have been destroyed by the frenzied herd of elephants in the garden, which is located close to the Gorumara National Park.

USP proposes label cautions for black cohosh and green tea extract

The U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) is proposing to require cautionary statements on the labels of dietary supplements that claim to contain USP-grade black cohosh (Actaea racemosa syn. Cimicifuga racemosa) or green tea (Camellia sinensis) extract. The proposed statements are:

Caution: In rare cases black cohosh has been reported to affect the liver. Discontinue use and consult a healthcare practitioner if you have a liver disorder or develop symptoms of liver trouble, such as abdominal pain, dark urine, or jaundice.

Caution: Must take with a meal. In rare cases extracts from green tea have been reported to adversely affect the liver. Discontinue use and consult a healthcare practitioner if you have a liver disorder or develop symptoms of liver trouble, such as abdominal pain, dark urine, or jaundice.

Fake Tea A Danger

Belgian customs officials intercepted a shipment of 20 000kg of fake Lipton tea from China last year. A factory in Pakistan has 20 people making at least a ton of counterfeit tea a day. The tea often contains sawdust or dyed wood chips. Colgate-Palmolive this week warned US consumers that fake Colgate toothpaste had been found that might contain a toxic chemical.

Last year EU customs officers seized 253 million fakes, up from 85 million in 2002. Seizures of toiletries rose to 1.6 million items from 112 132 items. Officers caught 1.2 million food and beverage products, up from 841 000.


The Bottom Line.....Be careful what you put in your mouth.

A Bug In My Tea

Dr. Rong Jun Zhao at New Nam Foo Ling recommends cicada tea to his patients with colds and laryngitis. The essential mixture is made this way: water is brought to a simmer or boil. Then the cicada shells are dropped in and cooked for, in some recipes, hours.

A cicada is an insect with big eyes wide apart on the head and usually transparent, well-veined wings. Many people around the world regularly complement their standard diet with cicadas: the female is prized for eating as it is meatier. Cicadas have been eaten (or are still eaten) in Ancient Greece, China, Malaysia, Burma, Australia, North and South America and the Congo. Cicadas are employed in the traditional medicines of China and Japan for hearing-related matters.

Earl Grey

The Earl Grey blend is named after the 2nd Earl Grey, British Prime Minister in the 1830s, who reputedly received a gift, probably a diplomatic perquisite, of tea flavoured with bergamot oil.

Green Tea Donuts

Dunkin' Donuts Taiwan menu includes such foreign flavours as green tea and honeydew melon donuts, while Mister Donut also offers green tea and flavours like strawberry and sesame. Mister Donut hopes that flavours like green tea will create a more healthy image.

Need A Cup Of Tea Fast?

Researchers have designed a kettle, which, according to them, can produce a cup of hot water in only three seconds, reports the Daily Mail. The Tefal kettle uses a new spiral heating element that almost instantly makes piping hot water. While the water the machine produces is very hot, it is not quite at boiling point. As a result, tea lovers may find it doesn’t draw as much flavour from a tea bag. However if you need your tea fix fast this may be the device that you have been looking for.

The kettle also includes a water filter, which is intended to clean up the tap water it uses, reducing chlorine.

Big Red Robe Tea

Da Hang Pao ("Big Red Robe Tea") is a legendary and much revered oolong tea which is grown in the Fujian province of China. Appreciated by sophisticated tea drinkers around the globe" this tea sells for over $300 for a half pound. What makes this tea so exceptional is the way it grows. It grows on rocks in the Wu Yi Mountains where water trickling down the crevices nourishes the tea plants throughout the year.

Antwerp Tea Houses Sell Tea With A Real Zip

An undercover journalist working a current affairs magazine programme was able to buy drugs at tea houses masquerading as social clubs for the members of Antwerp's Moroccan community.

Many people in the Moroccan community say that enough is enough and that it's time that the police and the judicial authorities got tough on tea houses that sell drugs.

World Tea Expo Opens Next Week in Atlanta

The world's largest trade show dedicated to tea and tea-related products. 300 exhibitors and 5,000+ buyers gather in Atlanta at the Georgia World Congress Center, June 9-11, for three days packed with new trends and educational workshops.

They will have a New Products Showcase, over 50 Workshops and Seminars, cooking with Tea Demonstrations and lots more.

To register visit the website, www.worldteaexpo.com.

A Brief History of Time and Tea. Part 1

They say the second emperor of China, Shen Nung, discovered tea. We do not know if this is correct but in about 350 A.D. a Chinese dictionary cites tea for the first time as Erh Ya.

Europeans first learn about tea in 1589 when a Venetian author credits the lengthy lives of Asians to their tea drinking. In about 1610 the Dutch start to bring back green tea from Japan. The Dutch East India Company market the tea as an exotic medicinal drink, but it’s so expensive only the aristocracy can afford it.

Health Canada Approves Several Health Claims for Tea

Health Canada's Natural Health Products Directorate has deemed tea to be a natural health product and has officially recognized tea for its role in maintaining good health. After a period of extensive review, the NHPD has approved three health
claims for tea. All types of tea infusions (black, green and oolong) are
recognized as a source of antioxidants for the maintenance of good health. Tea
is approved for increasing alertness. And tea is further accredited as helping
to maintain and/or support cardiovascular health.

Chocolate And Tea Could Improve Your Memory

A chocolate bar with your next cup of tea could help your memory.

A British study has discovered that Falvanol, a chemical found in chocolate, tea, grapes and blueberries improved the memory in mice.

Think I will go have a cup:)

Tea Tasters Could Lose Their Jobs

Scientists have developed a mechanized ‘nose’ that can detect complex odours and potentially help lead to better quality teas. The instrument uses sensors to detect and discriminate complex odours. An odour stimulus generates a characteristic fingerprint or pattern, and based on these patterns the teas can be classified, identified and graded as odour lends flavour to tea.

Tea tasters who manually taste teas could lose their jobs to this ‘nose’ that can also act as a tongue. The computing system of the instrument is capable of sensing compounds of tea and predicting the scores that are otherwise manually calculated by tea tasters.

Professional tea tasters of major brokerage firms taste the teas manually before fixing their grades. All this can now be avoided if the teas come with score cards done by a machine. Tea tasters here say it is too early to say if the new nose is any better.

Let your tea steep

Scientists have established that the traditional way of making a cup of tea releases more cancer fighting chemicals than simply dunking a tea bag in a cup of boiling water.

Scientists at the Rowett Institute in Aberdeen Scotland found that the concentration of antioxidants reaches its peak after about five minutes. Scientists found that blood antioxidant levels were 60% higher among people who drank tea that had been brewed for five minutes than those who drank tea that had steeped for only one minute.

Cutty Sark Fire

The 280ft vessel Cutty Sark was ravaged by fire in the early hours of Monday and police believe the fire, which caused £25 million damage, may have been started deliberately. Donations have poured in since the blaze left the 138-year-old vessel in charred ruins. But despite firefighters doing all they could to save her, the tea clipper will need millions of pounds spent on her if she is to rise from the ashes.

Forensic examination of the remains of the Cutty Sark has failed to establish how the fire started. Scotland Yard said tests on the remains had proved "inconclusive".

Named after a fleet-footed witch in the Scottish legend of Tam O'Shanter, it has become one of London's biggest attractions. The 280ft vessel, built in 1869, was once the world's fastest tea clipper sailing from Australia to England in a record 72 days in 1885. The Cutty Sark left London on her maiden voyage on February 16 1870, sailing around the Cape of Good Hope to Shanghai in three-and-a-half months. She made eight journeys to China as part of the tea trade until steam ships replaced sail on the high seas.

Bid on a chance to have tea with Nelson Mandela

Bidding opens on eBay Monday for an online auction of 50 "priceless moments" with renowned South African and international figures to raise money for seven African children's charities.

Up for grabs is afternoon tea with anti-apartheid icons Mandela and Albertina Sisulu. Also up for grabs is a visit to one of Richard Branson's charity projects with Branson plus two nights at the entrepreneur's private safari lodge.

Bidding for tea with Mandela which is expected to be the hottest item opens at 1400 GMT on Monday and other items will be posted at five minute intervals.

Bidding on the world's biggest online auction site eBay lasts until May 24.

Green tea an effective measure against acne.

Green tea is used to cure and prevent many illnesses in Asia. Green tea is a healthy alternative to the many creams and lotions that have been widely popularized as acne medicines.

Changes to Lipton PureLeaf

The Pepsi-Lipton Tea Partnership has announced that Lipton PureLeaf, the leading U.S. brand made with fresh-brewed tea, has just arrived on store shelves with all- natural ingredients, new packaging and updated graphics. Formerly known as Lipton Original, Lipton PureLeaf now offers pure, delicious tea with no artificial flavors or colors.

"Consumers have told us how important it is that their tea is pure, straight from the leaf, as nature intended," said Stacy Reichert, vice president and general manager, Pepsi-Lipton Tea Partnership. "As leaders in the ready-to-drink tea category, our master tea blenders have the expertise to produce the kinds of healthy, great tasting teas consumers are seeking."

Tea drinkers may have lower skin cancer risk

People who drink tea may have a lower risk of two common forms of skin cancer, new research suggests. In a study of nearly 2,200 adults, researchers found that tea drinkers had a lower risk of developing squamous cell or basal cell carcinoma, the two most common forms of skin cancer.

Men and women who are regular tea drinkers, one or more cups a day, were 20 to 30 percent less likely to develop cancers than those who didn't drink tea.

The effect was even stronger among people who have been tea fans for decades, as well as those who regularly had at least two cups a day, according to the findings published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

The theory is that tea antioxidants may limit the damage UV radiation inflicts on the skin. In particular, a tea antioxidant known as EGCG has been shown to reduce burning on UV-exposed skin.

The Tea market has grown

The Tea market has grown from a $1.8 billion industry in 1990 to $6.5 billion last year, according to the Tea Association of the USA.

Black tea has given way to or at least been been joined by red, white, green and what seams like a million herbal blends. And they come in the traditional bags, large conical sacks, perforated foil tubes, loose leaves and more. In addition to hot tea, cold bottled tea drinks are growing in popularity and account for the majority of tea consumed in the United States.

Green Tea May Curb Rheumatoid Arthritis

New research conducted at the University of Michigan Health System and presented Sunday at the Experimental Biology 2007 meeting in Washington, DC suggests an ingredient in green tea may benefit people with rheumatoid arthritis. The study found Green tea contains a potent anti-inflammatory compound, called "epigallocatechin-3-gallate" or EGCG, that curbs production of several molecules known to contribute to inflammation and joint damage in people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Capitol Tea

This is a interesting Tea Tin from Ottawa Canada. Capitol Blend Ceylon Tea. This tin is from the early 1900s and was made by Macdonald Co of Toronto.

The Best Tea In The World

O.K. It is just my opinion but I think Twinings Earl Grey Tea is the best tea. You can get Twinings at most stores in Canada.

Red Cross Tea Cup

 Interesting tea cup! An antique Red Cross teacup used in hospitals.

Antique Tea Cup

 

What could be nicer than drinking a fine cup of tea out of a beautiful antique tea cup like this one?

Bluestone Bistro

Bluestone Bistro in Unionville, Ontario is one of our favourite restaurants. Service is good, food is good and the decor is decent. With the new renovations, you feel more private than before.

One tip - unless you like the smell of smoke from a wood fire, don't sit near the front by the fireplace and the open wood ovens where they make the pizza.

They are very accomodating about special orders, I don't eat ham (or most red meat) so they substitute chicken for me on the salad they make.

All in all, we give this Bistro 4 teacups

The Ultimate Espresso Machine

We haven't been to a good tea or coffee house in quite awhile. So I thought I'd tell you about my new Espresso Machine which I love! After lots of complaining (from me) about my Faema machine, I did my homework and researched which espresso machines were the best - the ultimate (Okay I asked a guy making my cappucino in a restaurant)

Gaggia. That's what I was told. Off I went to Gaggia House in Toronto where the owner and his pal took oodles of time to explain the art of making cappucino - and to demonstrate the machines. I had so much cappucino by the time I left I was buzzed.

But I came away with the Gaggia Classic plus a Gaggia Bean Grinder, and I love 'em.

Now I make my own cappucino every morning - and the steamed milk is the best!

Williams Coffee Pub Stratford

Williams Coffee Pub on Erie Street in Stratford was small but friendly. Cleanliness was okay. Lorine had some of their chocolate covered cream filled donuts and pronounced them much better than Tim Horton. The Chicken wraps were tasty.

All in all, a good experience, much better than the OTHER Williams Coffe Pub in Stratford! Let's give this Cofee Pub 3 out of 5.

The Pie Plate, Virgil Ontario

The Pie Plate Bakery & Cafe in Virgil looks cute from the outside. Inside is a different story. Forget "shabby chic" this is just plain shabby! The couch is threadbare and looks like it has survived from 1953. Loose threads were hanging from the cushions.

Everything had that neglected feel and our table was dirty, with crumbs and other food bits.

I had coffee and a lemon tart. Both were very good although Pie Plate was a bit stingy on the lemon filling. Brian had organic apple juice which he hated - it was full of apple chunks and the colour of (dare I say it?) urine.

I rate Pie Plate as 2 teacups out of 5

Chicken Coop Bakery & Snack Bar, Greenback Ontario

I really liked Chicken Coop Bakery & Snack Bar in Greenback Ontario. It's nothing to look at from outside, or inside for that matter... but... the food is really good! And the staff are friendly and helpful.

It's a big building full of tables with baked goods. Each set of baked delights has a yellow card labelled with the name of the item. Hungry for more healthy foods? The fridges and freezers are full of such itmes as chicken pot pies, quiches, etc. Each is clearly labelled as to what it is.

You get a tray, walk around and choose your items. I picked a chicken pot pie and cheese danish. Then you take your tray to the cashier, where they heat up any pies etc, you get your hot or cold drink and off you go. You choose a table, take your tray and enjoy. The meal was delicious. For reading pleasure there's all kinds of chicken posters and information on the walls.

I hope to return and learn the story behind the name and the chicken information.

It's cute and funny, and the food's great. What more could we ask for? I rank this bakery and snack bar 4 chickens (I mean cups!) out of 5.

Mylar and Loretta's, Singhampton Ontario

If you go through a tiny town called Singhampton just south of Collingwood Ontario stop in for lunch or dinner at the restaurant Mylar and Loreta's. It's an old brick building from the 1860's with its very own ghost - Mylar!

He likes to play pranks, and occasionally is seen in the dining room, kitchen and bar. There's a wonderful story about Mylar settling in Singhampton circa 1860. He sent for his love, Loreta, but her ship went down on the voyage over. I suppose his ghost still haunts the building as he waits for her for eternity.

They have delicious homemade meals and a nice atmosphere, with cozy mismatched tables and linens. Very nice, it's worth the stop, even if you don't find Mylar!

I give this 4 out of 5 tea cups.

Pizza Palace, Fowler's Corners, Ontario

I know this isn't a tea room or coffee house but it has great food! Clean, clean clean ... and neat. This hidden little gem doesn't have any ambience or decor to speak of, but with food this good, who cares! We loved the pizza - it was perfectly cooked, lots of cheese, just yummy. 4 cups out of 5 from this pizza lover

Thornbury Bakery Cafe

"More Than Just Great Buns!" is the motto on their business card. However this little bakery cafe in Thornbury Ontario will have to do a bit better than cute to get my rave vote.

Brian and I stopped there on an antiquing trip, and while it was okay, it wasn't what I expected. I had an egg salad sandwhich - but it wasn't on home-made bread! This is a BAKERY, shouldn't the bread be something other than mushy store-bought? They forgot my tomato, putting it on Brian's sandwhich instead - and he hates tomato. That's not the end of the world but it left my sandwhich rather bland.

Service was friendly, and the cafe is cute (there's that word again!) but I can only give this eating establishment 3 teacups out of 5.

Razmatazz Coffee Bistro in Orillia Ontario

Really all I can say about Razmatazz is that I have never had a worse cup of cappucino! I ordered cappucino and tiramisu. The cappucino came mixed, in a glass cup. Not only did it look awful, it was so bitter I couldn't drink it. The tiramisu was good, not great but tasty.

Rating 1 out of 5, and that's only for the dessert.

Meaford Ontario: Eath Harvest Cafe

It looked great from outside. On entering we saw a cute little room, with yellow walls, dark wood floors and kidney shaped purple tables. The ceiling was great, an old tin one.

You place your order from a limited menu, at a big old counter. There wasn't a lot of choice but sometimes that's good!

I had egg salad on brown bread - which arrived sans lettuce. Hmmm...didn't realize you had to ASK for lettuce on a sandwhich! The egg itself was very nice, it had chopped peppers, a nice change from the ordinary. Problem was the plate it was on was marbled from having food cut on it. The blackened crack-like lines didn't add anything to the eye appeal.

My cafe au lait (Single shot) was so strong I had to get up and ask for more hot milk - and another bigger cup to put it in. I went to add brown sugar which was in an open container on a side counter, but a fly was crawling around inside. Up to the counter to ask for brown sugar in a package but alas, they had none! So I had to use white sugar which just doesn't cut it for me.

Brian wanted pie and hot chocolate but they had no pie. He asked for cheesecake but it had just been made and wasn't ready (at 2 pm). My overall impression? It was too seedy and that fly really put me off. I doubt I'd go back.

Rating 1 out of 5 cups.

Leeky Canoe Pub & Eatery - up the creek without a good paddle?

This Meaford Ontario restaurant could stand a makeover. It was very grungy, the carpet was filthy and torn in spots, edges of runners curled up, and the chairs looked like something out of a 50s or 60s movie - "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore"

My Caesar salad was good, not great, but not terrible either.

After my salad (I froze with the cold wind of an airconditioner on me) I went to the washrooms - which are ever so quaintly (NOT!) called "outhouses". If I'd gone there first I'd never have eaten in this pub....

It's just your typical northern Ontario diner which is trying in vain to have a cute image. "Don't feed the lizards" is one of the signs on a fake tree with plastic lizards hanging from it.

Sorry guys, the Leeky Canoe just doesn't cut it with me. 2 out of 5 ranking from this courier de bois!

Chez Piggy

Chez Piggy is a cute little outdoor cafe in Kingston Ontario. There's an interior sit-down part too but the outside is in a courtyard setting, and is a great place to go on a cool spring or autumn day. You feel like it's summer - you're surrounded by greenery. Even though it's right in the middle of the city but you don't even notice.

Food was great, service excellent, we had good company and a fun time eating and people-watching.

This hungry and thirsty traveller gives Chez Piggy 5 teacups out of 5.

Coffee & Company, Kingston Ontario

Oh do I love this place! It's an old building, with wide hardwood floors, lots of windows, right on the main street of Kingston (Princess Streeet, near Chez Piggy).

As soon as I walked in I knew this was the kind of place I could spend hours in... reading, writing, sipping lattes and cappuccinos.

I've only been twice but can hardly wait for a summer antique trip so I can drop in again. I give Coffee & Company 5 coffee cups out of 5.

Ossawippi Express off the tracks

When Lorine and I pulled into the parking lot of the Ossawippi my first thought was why are we the only car in the lot, its lunch time in the middle of the week, that can not be a good sign. And it turned out that my first impression was the right one. Now the restaurant itself is kind of neat. It is made from old railroad cars that have been converted into a restaurant. A lot of the original RR hardware has been retained which makes for an interesting decor. If you are a train fan you will probably like this restaurant for that reason alone.

As far as the rest goes I was not all that impressed. It is a little grubby and run down not disgusting or anything but a few crumbs on the table or something floating in my glass is enough to put me off (I had both). As far as I am concerned an eating establishment should be spotless and the Ossawippi is far from spotless. The big spider crawling down the curtain was not that nice nor was the bug that crawled across the table in the middle of our meal.

The waiter was friendly but not that good and the food was tasty but perhaps a little bit overpriced for what it was. However as we were the only customers there was a lot of overhead they needed to cover. I had the Short Line Sandwich which consisted of hot chicken strips on bread with a mushroom sauce and some fried potatoes. It was tasty but the root beer I had with it was a bit flat and had no bite. I finished with a cup of tea which was fine except for the flecks of something in my cup. Call me weird but when I order tea that's all I want, no extra bits are required.

Bottom line if you are into trains it is worth a stop but otherwise you might want to wait for the next train.

2 teacups out of 5

Ossawippi Express Dining Cars, Orillia Ontario - fast track to oblivion?

Brian and I had been to the Ossawippi about a year ago, but it's getting a little seedy these days. It is old railroad cars that have been converted into a restaurant. The cars are actually on a railway track. You enter one car and are taken to the car you will eat in. Decor is quaint (but a bit rough around the edges now, in need of a facelift), with old luggage on the brass luggage rails, posters on the walls and so on.

The velvet chairs are threadbare. It would like fine in dim candlelight at night, but at lunchtime, which is when we went, with full sun streaming in the car windows, all its flaws are glaringly visible. We were the only customers in our car, in fact, the only ones in the whole restaurant. Not a good sign....

Our server almost immediately committed what for me is an unforgiveable error. He picked up my water glass by the lip of the glass! That is not okay! Everyone knows they need to pick it up by the stem or by the underneath part of the glass. The server's fingers should never touch where a customer drinks from. Second problem -- my cup had lipstick on the rim, which I didn't notice til my coffee was poured.

Okay, food arrrived. I didn't see our server arrive with it, and he suddenly bumped into my arm and shoulder from behind as he hastily shoved the plate in front of me, then reached over the table past me (still in my face!) to put Brian's plate in front of him. I was so startled I jumped and gave a little scream. He didn't bother to apologize for knocking into me. How unprofessional and rude is that??

The Ossawippi was on a fast track to nowhere in my books!

I had the Conductor's Special, chicken and asparagus on bread dipped in egg and fried, with caesar salad. It was tasty, my only complaint is that the lettuce was a bit old and there was too much dressing on the salad. Dessert was an expensive ($6.50) Profiteroles Caramel (vanilla ice cream in puff pastry with caramel sauce). The ice cream had melted so it was actually puff pastry in whitish-brown swirl sauce. Not impressive, especially for $6.50.

Overall it wasn't a good experience. I rate this 2 out of 5 teacups.

Mrs. B's Has Seen Better Days

Last time we were in St Marys Ontario, Brian and I stopped for supper at Mrs. B's Country Style Dining at the Stone Willow Inn. It is a very small restaurant, open for meals or for tea/coffee and desserts. We used to love it here. Note the words "used to" ...

Although small, it has always had friendly service, good food and a nicely set table. Until now. Having raved about the place, we took friends. What an embarrassment! The tables were the kind you sit at in a High School cafeteria - remember those? Chipped, stained, yukky...

There were no tablecloths, not even a paper placemat!! Our server apologized, saying that their table coverings were at the cleaners.... well, sorry, but I don't really care about your problem. It's disgusting to sit for a meal at a bare table that is chipped and stained. I mentioned that the owner might have thought to send someone out to buy a few paper placemats.. when there was no response I asked for another paper serviette so I could put it under my plate and flatware. It was better than nothing. Our server gave me quite a look - which only added to my ire.

Service was poor, we were the only people in the room but our server forgot items and never came back to find out how we were. We had a meal, which was adequate, not great, not the worst I've had either. I had to ask for water when my glass ran dry. We were never asked if we wanted anything else to drink.

Our server asked if we wanted dessert, there was a pregnant LONG pause while we waited to find out what they had.... finally I had to ask what our choices were. I don't know, maybe we were supposed to just kind of know what was available?

All in all a terrible experience. It was so bad we won't be back, and that's a shame because we used to look forward to our trips there just to go for their food and desserts. I rate this ZERO teacups out of 5.

Brewed Awakenings Coffee House & Tea Room

I stopped at this little coffee house and tea room. It doesn't have a particular style of decor but it was clean and tidy. There is only room for about 4 people to sit, most people probably get take-out.

Their selection of teas and coffees is somewhat limited so I ordered Earl Grey tea, which was okay. The food menu was limited - a few sandwhiches, brownies, cookies, muffins and so on. I had a bran muffin which was okay, nothing special, but tasty.

It was a typical decent small-town Ontario spot to get a cup of tea or coffee - a nice alternative to Tim Horton's if you are a coffee lover!

I rate this tea room 3 teacups out of 5.

Brewed Awakenings Coffee House & Tea Room
16 Main S,
Grand Valley, ON
L0N 1G0
Canada

Serendipitea - jury is out whether a happy accident or not...

Serendipitea -- a cute name for a fairly new Tea Room in downtown Midland Ontario. The decor is lovely, it has that wonderful old fashioned Victorian feel. Tables at the front and a couch and chairs at the back add to the warmth and charm.

The food that Brian and I have had was wonderful. Very nice presentation with little doilies under the cups added to the charm. Tea is served in china cups and saucers. The menu is limited, which I often think is a good idea. That way you are almost bound to get good food, whereas if the menu is large, it's not always possible to achieve greatness with every item. I prefer quality over quantity!

I had the scones with clotted cream and homemade preserves and it was very good. I'll let Brian talk about his meal.

So those are all the good points - good food, great decor. Now comes the bad -- service. It stinks.

Brian and I have been there twice. We had different servers both times. First time the gal serving was sloppily dressed, wearing a hoody and jeans. It doesn't fit with the atmosphere! C'mon let's have the staff in long skirts and little blouses or something more suitable for this cute tearoom!

Our server never smiled. She sighed, as in "Do you know what you want? (sigh)". She brought our tea and coffee without spoons to stir them. She didn't bring serviettes. We had ordered 1 tea, 1 coffee, 1 scone with cream and preserves. Hmmmm is it that hard to remember to bring tableware and napkins?? When I asked for a spoon, she sighed. When I asked for napkins she sighed. I was pretty sure she wanted to lie down and have a nap.

Okay next time we went, we had a different server. Still not great in the wearing apparel but better than a hoody and jeans. This one also forgot our napkins. She forget the milk for my coffee. We both ordered scones and instead of bringing us 2 servings of the cream and the preserves with the 2 scones, we were given one tiny serving of cream and preserves, exactly the same size as when I had ordered one scone. So I asked for more. She told me this was all we get. I said that since one order came with this size serving of cream/preserves then obviously 2 orders came with double and it wasn't enough for both of us, could we please have more. She shrugged her shoulders and walked away without a word. No more cream or preserves appeared.

We haven't been back since. That's a shame because we loved the idea of going once a week as an outing. The owner is friendly and gracious and is perfectly groomed for the style of this tearoom but she needs to have a better handle on her staff - especially their lack of friendliness and their inability to get customer orders right.

I'm torn on how to rate this tearoom. For decor and food I would give it 4 out of 5. For service and friendliness I'd give it 1 out of 5. Okay I've decided. It's an overall experience and for me, the good food and decor doesn't make up for the unpleasant experience of disinterested, forgetful and rude staff. I rate Serendipitea as 2 out of 5 teacups

Pieces of Olde - Landlubbers Should Eat Here!

Pieces of Olde, 28 A Queen St W in Elmvale Ontario is classified as a "Lunch Parlour" by the owner, Jill. Brian and I love it - the food is great, with that honest to goodness just like Mom makes experience.

Decor is nothing special but it's clean and Jill has cute table decorations that are theme-oriented so they change frequently.

Service is slow (not necessarily a bad thing!) but friendly. Elmvale is in the middle of farm communities so the Restaurant/Lunch Parlour has a small town atmosphere which is very inviting.

There aren't many tables, and they are part of a store that Jill runs. If you have to wait for a table (and you will if you go at breakfast or lunch time) you can browse the items for sale.

Jill makes two soups as part of the daily special, one is cream-based (my fav) the other is not. The tea biscuits are flaky and melt-in-your mouth delicious.

There are usually 3 daily specials for lunch and I've never had one that wasn't tasty. I sometimes find the salads a bit limp, that is my one and only complaint. The sandwhiches are made on home made bread, thick as can be - and you create your own with an incredible variety of choices of fillings and condiments. What could be better than a custom made sandwhich, just as you like it?

Desserts are amazing. If you have a hankering for old fashioned Rice or Bread Pudding, this is the place to get it! And the butter tarts are not to be missed.

I rate this Tea Room 5 teacups out of 5

Princely Pear Tea Room Not Suitable for Royalty

The Princely Pear Tea Room has a nice atmosphere but the food was only adequate and the service wasn't great.

My teacup was dirty and I couldn't get our server to look my way even though there was only one other couple in the room with us.

The Ham sandwich I had was okay - I mean really what can you do wrong with a ham sandwhich? My salad was okay, not great.

Dessert was Pecan Chocolate Pie. It wasn't the best, I've had better.

I give this tea room 2 1/2 teacups out of 5.