Pu-erh Class This Week With The Specialty Tea Institute of the US

Tomorrow I will be attending a full day pu-erh class in NYC and thought that for next Saturday's tasting we would sample some pu-erh. Pu-erh is my absolute favorite tea and if you have never tried it (or if you have and are a pu-erh lover) stop by between 10am and 12noon on July 5th. Cheers!

Iced Vanilla Rooibos Will Keep You Cool!

Try this icy rooibos beverage for a quick pick-me-up during the hot days of summer:

4 servings
Brew 3 cups of Rooibos Bourbon tea double strength (6 tsp of rooibos).
Add 1/4 cup of vanilla syrup to the hot rooibos and stir well.
Pour warm tea mixture over 3 cups of ice.
Serve in tall glasses and enjoy.

Stop by our Storytelling Event tonight to sample some Vanilla Rooibos iced tea!

Reminder: Summery Storytelling Series begins on June 27th!

Our Summertime Storytelling Series will start on June 27th at 7:00pm in our garden. Join Annie Hart, local Story Artist, as she spins a tale of love and enchantment. Iced tea and chocolate samples will be available.

Summer Wine Class Scheduled for July 18th

Join us in our garden room for an in-depth look and discussion about summer wine. Taste 8 different types of wine and learn foolproof pairing concepts that will make your summer parties and picnics the talk of the town! The class will be taught by a professional wine educator with over 20 years experience. Call 215.381.2226 to reserve your spot. Cost- $35 per person. 7:30pm-9:30pm

Angella Irwin To Play At The Hill Tea Bar on 6/28/2008

We are excited to announce that Angella Irwin will be playing live in the garden at The Hill Tea Bar on June 28th from 2-4pm.

Angella Irwin's music melds the inheritance of the american songwriter with contemporary world music in a simultaneously powerful and tolerant expression-- "a chaotic world described by a peaceful soul."

The Cheesecake Lady- Coming on June 21st!

Starting June 21st The Hill Tea Bar will begin carrying The Cheesecake Lady brand cheesecakes. These are individual size cheesecakes in amazing flavors like sweet potato, banana cream and caramel. When we met with The Cheesecake Lady (the real lady who makes the cheesecakes) we could not believe how utterly delicious they were. We are excited to offer these little gems on weekends this summer. Ask us about the best tea to pair with each!

The Tasting Menu For Saturday, 6/21/08

Stop by this Saturday between 10am and noon to taste: Chocolate-coco tea, Butterscotch tea, Rooibos Darling and Vanilla Bean tea. See you on Saturday!

When Is Tea Not Really A Tea?

Only beverages made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant can accurately be called tea. Herbal "tea" such as chamomile or any made from leaves, flowers, roots and bark are considered infusions or tisanes. White, Green, Black and Oolong tea are all derived from the Camellia sinensis and therefore real tea.

Tea Tasting for Saturday, June 14th

On Saturday, June 14th, we will be tasting Oolong tea: Formosa Oolong, Fujian Oolong, Oolong Earl Grey and Orange Oolong. Stop by to sample all four between 10am and 12noon.

Summertime Tea Recipe Class on June 20th

Sign up for our Summertime Tea Recipe Class. Learn to make an array of healthy and delicious summer drink recipes that utilize tea, fresh herbs and more! From Lavender Chrysanthemum Iced Tea and Papaya Green Tea Mojito to an original Diet Coke Addict's Elixir. You will learn recipe tricks and tips on how to sneak health-promoting botanicals into cocktails and summer soft drinks as well as methods to reduce processed sugar while increasing taste.

When- 6/20 5:30pm-7:30pm
Where- The Hill Tea Bar
Cost- $25 per person

Call 215.381.2226 to reserve your seat.

Cardamom Tea Radiates Warmth

I have a customer, originally from India, who turned me on to cardamom tea. I have to say that I have become a bit obsessed about this tea- the warmth and flavor is unique and delicious. Cardamom is related to ginger and the most common and widely used variety is grown in southern India. Cardamom is one of the oldest and most valued spices in the world and is known to be the most expensive spice after saffron and vanilla. It is traditionally used in curries, breads and pastries in addition to being one of the spices used in traditional Masala Chai. Cardamom is thought to counteract the effects of dairy allergies, revitalize the kidneys and aid with respiratory disorders. Cardamom loses its flavor rapidly so it is best to buy the whole pods and grind them yourself as the ground version has probably already lost much of its flavor by the time you get it home.

The following is a recipe for a tasty Cardamom Infusion (this will also help alleviate symptoms of the common cold or flu):

* 1 tsp of good quality dry basil

* Seeds from 1 large cardamom pod

* 1/2 tsp of ground ceylon cinnamon

* 1 tsp honey or raw sugar

* 2 cups water

Mix spices together and place in the strainer basket of your teapot or in a Finium tea filter and infuse in 2 cups of boiling water for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes remove spice mixture and add honey or raw sugar. Enjoy!

West Coast Wine Tasting - Friday the 13th

Just a reminder that the West Coast Wine Pairing Class is this Friday at 7:30pm. We have a few spots remaining. If you are interested please call 215.381.2226 to reserve your seat~ tickets are $40 each. The Wine Educator will be discussing wine from the west coast along with fool-proof ways to pair wine. The tasting will consist of 4 whites , 4 reds along with the perfectly paired cheese selection for each wine. The cheese is being provided by The Chestnut Hill Cheese Shop. This will be a fun evening for all- and a good way to celebrate Friday the 13th.

Drink Tea. Win $20,000. Experience The "Calm-A-Sutra Of Tea"

On May 9, 2008 The Tea Council of the USA, Inc. launched a $20,000 Nationwide Scholarship Competition with celebrity spokesperson Megyn Price of the CBS hit sitcom, Rules of Engagement. The scholarship competition will award one creative student $20,000 towards their education in an effort to introduce America's young people to the health benefits of drinking tea. Click on the link for rules: http://www.teausa.org/calmasutra/rulesandreg.cfm

Tea Tasting For Saturday, June 7th

This Saturday we will be tasting florals: Rooibos Rose, Rose Sencha, Lavender Earl Grey and Bianca Chamomile. Stop by between 10am and 12 noon to try all four.

Friday, June 20th Join Us For A Summer Tea Recipe Class!

Sign up now for our Summertime Tea Recipe Class being taught by tea expert Pamela Zimmerman on June 20th at 5:30pm-7:30pm. The cost is $25 and tickets can be purchased by calling 215.381.2226 or stopping in The Hill Tea Bar. Pamela Zimmerman is an experieced tea educator who has previously taught green tea cermony classes and tea history classes. She is currently writing a Tea Cookbook and will be demonstrating some of her favorite tea recipes during the class and discussing simple ways to introduce the health benefits of tea into your everyday diet. You won't want to miss this summer sizzler!