My Fall Tea

The Fall season brings with it spices and sweets that light up my taste buds. In trying to resist all things naughty and thus absolutely fattening I have created my own tea mix! Twinnings is one of my favorite brands of tea and the Chai has a good kick to it. Add in a little caramel delight and there you have the ultimate balance of naughty and nice. Try it and let me know what you think! xoxo Tasha

Sugar Bread on Teatime Tuesday

My parents were sharing childhood stories last weekend when my mum mentioned sugared bread as an afternoon tea snack. My ears perked up at the sound of sugared bread and in the same breath my heart sunk as she explained that the sugared bread was a result of not being able to afford anything else to eat. Far from the streets of London where my mum was raised are the worldly plains of Iran the country that my father is from. My dad talked about how they would eat the same snack but simply for the taste. While the cultures are so different both had a shared experience that although painful for one strengthened their connection.

Next time you are hungry try toasting some bread, spreading the butter and adding a sprinkle of sugar with a cup of tea and allow yourself to feel connected to many people and cultures around the world.

Teetime Tuesday

Pickwick & Weller t-shirt, H&M trousers, Ann Taylor heels, Anthropologie necklace and Aldo clutch

I literally had to persuade my mum that I am not wearing PJ's but in fact real trousers! She's convinced I  just couldn't be bothered to put an entire outfit together. I love how relaxed this combination is though - all I had to do was add a statement necklace and bejeweled heels to take it up a notch.

What do you think about these trousers? Are you siding with my mum or me?
xoxo
Tasha

                                                 Revlon 'jaded' nail polish

Granville Island

                                            "While there is tea, there is hope" 
                                                                - Sir Arthur Wing Pinero

I was given some Cream Earl Grey tea by my dear friend Pardis and of course couldn't wait to go home and try it! It's no secret I have an ongoing passionate love affair with tea.

Granville Island is based in Vancouver but entices travelers from all over the world for its extensive tea collection. The Granville Tea company is rumored to have up to 150 teas from diverse lands.

I actually drank this tea hot and then decided to experiment by making some ice tea! If anyone has any iced tea making tips they would like to share I would love to hear them. Lord knows I need them!

I used a teaspoon per cup but you can use more or less depending on how strong you like your tea

That lovely space looking glass dome sitting on top of a burner is my tea pot with inclusive strainer! Fancy I know, but not entirely necessary. If you are only just stepping foot into the tea world use a simple tea strainer like this one here. This way you won't gag on loose tea leaves when your having a cuppa! Add milk and sugar if you desire before drinking.
TIP: The longer you keep the tea leaves in there the stronger it will be. I found four minutes the perfect amount of time for brewing. Experiment a little so you can see what works best for you.

Ok so I had the bright idea of adding mochi balls to my iced tea. All they did was sink to the bottom and turn mushy! I recommend you simply crush some ice, pour the tea over with cold water and enjoy!

Tea for Beginners

If you're on the fence about getting a tea set, it may be best to start small. One of the best places to do that is Anthropologie. The essentials of a decent tea set are: cups, saucers, sugar bowl and a milk jug, and they don't have to look like your grandmother's china! Whether you're a trendsetter, corporate man eater, IT girl or tree hugging type, there's a little something for everyone.

Anthropologie has an entire section dedicated to YOU! Each cup is monogrammed so you can feel extra special. This cup is perfect for anyone that serves coffee as much as they do tea, as the cups are deeper than a traditional tea cup.

Not sure where you stand? Off-white is simple and timeless - it will take you through all the seasons and is perfect for all occasions.

This design is still simple but adds a dash of excitement to teatime!

These are some of my favorite tea cups from Anthropologie. Delicate and feminine yet sturdy. Instead of just choosing one color mix and match between the three - it makes for a far more interesting spread when having guests for tea.

For the bold and the beautiful, behold the ultimate floral print tea cups. This set screams "all eyes on me, I know how to serve my tea!"

I would love to hear from you. Which tea set do you take a fancy to? Have a great Teatime Tuesday!

Quality Street

"If man has no tea in him, he is incapable of understanding truth and beauty."
                                                                                       Japanese Proverb

Magic moments of toffee finger, caramel swirl and coconut eclair packaged in colorful wrappers make any day better. When a tea biscuit isn't cutting it for me this is exactly what I reach for!
Put the kettle on, choose a good book and reach for a Quality Street.

Dressing for tea in the Emerald Forest

Faux fur vest Neiman Marcus for Target, H&M blouse, Zara pencil skirt and Aldo heels

While the English enjoy tea in the afternoon, Persian culture is more accustomed to tea in the evening. I recently watched the Wonderful Wizard of Oz and the Emerald City inspired me to go green for tea. Persian culture embraces many fabrics and hues in varying richness, thus creating a powerful balance of sophistication and grace.

Teatime Tuesday- Maison Paradi

Everything about Maison Paradi makes me smile like a Cheshire cat. One step through the front door and you are transported to another dimension full of richness that will make your mouth water. The tea sets in this store are to die for! I often drop by just to please my eyes with all the pretty colors and designs. I've noticed other home decor and unique items that would be interesting gifts for a house warming or hostess but truth be told I have a hard time pulling myself away from the tea sets which have been featured on Oprah's favorite things!

Take a visit to The Americana, grab a cup of tea and step into Maison Paradi to immerse yourself in all things pretty.

Happy Tuesday!

Tea in Big Bear

                               A dresser full of tea essentials at the CopperQ!

Strolling through the village on Monday afternoon in Big Bear Lake I stumbled across the CopperQ, a unique culinary destination. Every square foot of the place is covered with delightful little treasures. If there were a Tea Queen I'm quite sure this would be her grotto! I also got to wet my taste buds with a new flavor of tea I had yet to experience- Grey Fog Latte. It's a combination of earl grey, milk and vanilla, a must try if you haven't already done so. I made sure to revisit the CopperQ each day of my stay in Big Bear Lake and will undoubtedly be back on my next escape to this beautiful village.

Standing next to this table with over sized flowers and chairs made me feel like Alice after she has shrunk in size

                       My very first but definitely not last cup of Grey Fog Latte

The apron reads "It's hard to be a diamond in a rhinestone world". Every hard working beautiful woman should own one of these!

Teatime Tuesdays- Tulsi to calm the nerves

"Tea tempers the spirits and harmonies the mind, dispels lassitude and relieves fatigue, awakens thought and prevents drowsiness, lightens or refreshes the body, and clears the perceptive faculties."
                                                                                                     - Confucius

Tulsi sweet rose tea is a balance of Tulsi, Chamomile and rose petals to create a tea that relieves stress and helps protect your immune system. In India Tulsi which is Holy basil is also known as "The Queen of Herbs". I also have a sweet tooth so a little bit of Persian Gaz( pistachio nougat) is the perfect accompaniment to this tea.

Go ahead..take a deep breath, sit back and pour yourself a cup of Tulsi.

Teatime Tuesday-Beignets and Coffee!

 "(Talon pulled another beignet from the sack and held it up for her to eat.)
   That stuff is hazardous to your health.(Sunshine)
   Baby, life is hazardous to your health.(Talon)"
                                                                         -Sherrilyn Kenyon, Night Embrace

Beignet's are popular in the French Market region of New Orleans. Beignet's are French doughnuts that carry an air of sophistication, thus tricking one into thinking somehow these aren't as bad as eating a big fat glazed doughnut! I used a Beignet Mix, yes that's right an actual mix out of a box! It's not always possible to make something from scratch so I was apprehensive over how these would taste but after one batch I'm sold.

What you will need:

• Beignet Mix
• Mixing Bowl
• Rolling pin
• Powdered Sugar
• Oil
• Handful of Flour  

 Knead together the Beignet mix and water

 Roll the dough out to desired thickness. TIP: cover surface and rolling pin with flour so mixture doesn't stick and then cut into squares

Deep fry each piece until golden brown, sprinkling oil over the submerged dough 

Soak beignets to drain excess oil, then sprinkle with powdered sugar

Serve with coffee!

TIP: I cut the squares into various sizes and used the excess dough to make mini beignets