Tea in Children's Books IX

Welcome to the ninth installation of tea scenes in children's books. We are back with scenes from two three picture books.

In Al Pha's Bet by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrated by Delphine Durand, Al Pha creates the alphabet on a bet.  He takes a tea break close to the end of his creative process.

Spoon, in Spoon, also by Amy Krouse Rosenthal but illustrated by Scott Magoon, thinks that the other utensils have more fun until his mother points out all the things he can do that fork and knife and chopsticks cannot, like stirring a cup of tea!

Just before his seventh birthday, Crispin imagines the things he will do with his fiery breath such as "boiling water to make tea"!  Crispin is the protagonist of Not Your Typical Dragon by Dan Bar-El with illustrations by Tim Bowers.

Let me know if your favorite children's book has a tea scene. You can also tweet the title with the #teainbooks tag. Catch up on the series here and check out Amy Krouse Rosenthal's website.

Tea Review: Chambre de Sucre's World Wayfarer Tea

In advance of Valentine's Day we reviewed Chambre de Sucre's Love Cycle tea flight.  Today we present the company's World Wayfarer Tea.  This tea series also has a story based on the family of Chambre de Sucre's Lisa Kunizaki.

I prepared these teas during one of the many deeply cold spells this winter and was transported to places I imagined to be warmer than where I was while drinking the teas.  Tea No. 6 Kyushu honors the birthplace of Lisa's father with sencha and fruits. The green rooibos and fruits of Tea No. 24 Waiahole Valley represents Lisa's extended ohana while Tea No. 22 Mon Frere, a blend of vanilla oolong and hazelnut pieces, was created with her brother in mind.  He's a peripatetic.

My favorite is Tea No. 22 but I look forward to making iced tea this summer with Nos. 6 and 24.

Tea Review: TeaVivre's Chinese blacks

In late January I received a generous package of samples from TeaVivre.  The three black teas I received were Premium Keemun Hao Ya, Bailin Gongfu, and Golden Monkey.  I have been enjoying them! The oolongs will be enjoyable too, no doubt, but I have not yet steeped them.

Keemun has always been a favorite black tea and the TeaVivre keemun does not disappoint with classic bold, malty flavors. This keemun is also smooth with a fruity profile.

I have now added Bailin Gongfu to my list of favorite black teas.  The liquor smelled roasted but the taste was more subdued with hints of fruit and malt.  The tasting notes on the TeaVivre website mention caramel so I will have to steep another cup to see if I can detect this flavor.

The Golden Monkey was the sweetest and lightest of three teas as well as the prettiest with with "golden hairy tips."  This Fujian black tea is a good starter tea.

My thanks to Stella at TeaVivre for the samples.

Tea Review: Chambre de Sucre's The Love Cycle

Here's another way to celebrate Valentine's Day with tea.  Try The Love Cycle line of heritage teas from Chambre de Sucre.  This tea flight is based on the "'cycle' that romantic relationships take," influenced by the romance of the founder's parents!  Start with Chocolat et Fraise, then Evening Engagement, and then Love Spell.

My favorite of the three teas is the Chocolat et Fraise or Tea No. 20, a blend of puerh, chocolate pieces, and dried strawberries.  Evening Engagement or Tea No. 104, a blend of Bai Mu Dan white, rose petals, and chrysanthemum blossoms reminded me of the Ipsahan pastry at Bosie Tea Parlor, which is a rose macaron filled with rose-butter cream, lychee, and raspberries.  Love Spell or Tea No. 14 is an herbal of rose petals, lemon peel, rose hips, and apple pieces.  I think this tea would be best served iced; think summer love.

Thank you for the generous package of teas and sugars, Lisa Kunizaki!

Tea Review: Les Amants Miniatures by Palais des Thes

If you like me will not celebrate Valentine's Day with champagne, you might consider the limited edition Valentine's Day Thé des Amants or Lovers gift set from Palais des Thés.  The gift set of three flavored teas plus sugar hearts would make a sweet gift in its pretty presentation.  Or you could serve all three teas throughout the day.

Each tea - a rooibos, black, and green - is flavored similarly with apple, almond, cinnamon, vanilla, and ginger.

The most successful blend is is the Rooibos des Amants.  It is reminiscent of a masala chai and if you are caffeine sensitive makes a wonderful dessert tea.

Dried strawberry is the lingering note from the Thé des Amants Black Tea.  I would recommend this tea with chocolate covered strawberries.

The warm spices do not overwhelm the green tea; they add a bit of sweetness.  I would save this blend for pitchers of iced tea in the summer.

A large sugar heart could sweeten a pot of whichever tea you decide to steep.

Best wishes for the day!

Thank you to Fraiche PR.