A Sampling of Tea

Assam: an Indian black tea named after the region where it is produced, Assam in northeast India. Assam tea has a refreshing malty taste and is used in Irish Breakfast Tea.

Black Tea: dried and oxidized tea leaves popularly served at English style Afternoon Tea and used for making iced tea and Southern sweet tea

Chai: Indian black tea blended with spices and served sweetened with milk

Darjeeling: an Indian black tea named for the area where it is grown. One of the most popular black teas, Darjeeling has an elegant, refreshing flavor.

Earl Grey: black tea blended with bergamot, a citrus plant

English Breakfast Tea: a blend of black teas originating in Assam, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and Kenya. This robust blend creates a strong tea suitable for serving with milk or sugar at breakfast. As its name suggests, this tea blend is popular throughout the British Empire.

Green Tea: tealeaves that have not been dried and oxidized. Green tea has been used as a medicinal beverage for centuries, has a refreshing taste and is high in antioxidants.

Jasmine Tea: Chinese green, black or white tea blended with dried aromatic jasmine flowers to produce a fragrantly scented tea

Lapsang Souchong: a Chinese black tea dried over burning pine, thus developing a strong, smoky flavor

Genmai Cha: Japanese green tea mixed with roasted brown rice with a hearty, popcorn-like flavor

Matcha: powdered green tea popular in Japan and used in the Japanese Tea Ceremony. Because Matcha is made from powdered green tea leaves, the tea drinker consumes the entire leaf, not just leaves steeped in hot water. As a result, Matcha is very high in caffeine, and has been used by Zen monks to stay awake during long hours of meditation. Matcha also has a very strong, pleasant fresh flavor.  

Oolong: Wilted, bruised and partially oxidized tea, a popular beverage in Chinese
restaurants

Portuguese Milk Tea (Cha Com Leite:) green or black tea grown in Portugal and flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg, honey and milk. Since Portuguese missionary priests and merchant sailors were the first Europeans to travel to Asia, it is not surprising that Cha Com Leite resembles Indian Chai.

Pu-erh: a type of post-fermented tea produced in the Yunnan Province of China, used for centuries as a medicinal tea

Sencha: a Japanese style pure green steamed tea with a refreshing, grassy flavor

White Tea: a delicately flavored and expensive tea picked from the first buds, and thus the least processed form of tea

THE TEA BOOK
The Road Back to Civilization
A Brief History of Tea
  Philosophy of Tea
     Harmony
     Humility
     Respect
     Creativity

Guidelines for the Host/Hostess

  Gathering and Greeting
  Sharing Stories
  Sharing Food
  Sending the Guests Home

Guidelines for the Guest

  Respect your Hostess/Host
  Bring a Gift if You Wish
  Practice Humility
  Monitor Your Conversation
  Arrive With a Grateful Attitude
  Help if Help is Needed
  Do Not Criticize
  Leave Gracefully
  Send a Thank you Note

A Checklist for Planning a Tea Party
Teas of the World and How to Make Tea

  A Sampling of Teas
  Herbal Teas and Tisanes
  How to Make Tea
  Making Iced Tea
  Tea Concentrate
  Brewing Tea for a Crowd

Tea Utensils and Accessories

  Tea Kettle
  Tea Pot
  Tea Cozy
  Teacups
  Plates
  Silverware
  Teacart
  Tea Strainer
  Tea Infuser
  Three-Tiered Server
  Cream Pitcher and Sugar   Bowl
  Cake Pedestal
  Trifle Bowl
  Jam Pots
  Serving Dishes, Platters, and Trays
  Silver Tea Set or Silver Tray
  Linens
  Kitchen Equipment for Food Preparation

Tea Menu Basics

  Sandwiches and Savories
  Savory Spreads and Dips
  Scones and Tea Breads

About Lemons

  Afternoon Tea and the Four Seasons

     A Spring Tea
     An Outdoor Summer Tea
     A Winter Afternoon Tea
     An Autumn Afternoon Tea

A Calendar of Tea Parties

  January:A Japanese New Year’s Tea
  February:Valentine’s Day Tea
  March:A St. Patrick’s Day Irish Tea
  April:An Easter Tea
  May:Mother’s day Tea
  June:A Wedding Reception Tea

Lemon Yogurt Wedding Cake

  July:A Picnic Tea
  AUGUST:A FAMILY REUNION TEA

A North American Family Reunion Tea
  An Eastern Mediterranean Family Reunion Tea
  A Kosher Family Reunion Tea
  A Scandinavian Family Reunion Tea

  September:An Ozark Farm Harvest Tea
  October:A Tea to Honor   Our Ancestors(Dia de los Muertos)
  November:A Post Thanksgiving Tea
  December: A Christmas Tea

  In Defense of Fruitcake:Fruitcakes and Candied Fruit

A World of Tea Parties

  A Chinese Dim Sum Tea
  A Portuguese Tea
  A Classic British Afternoon Tea
  An Indian Chai Party
  A California Tea
  A Hawaiian Tea
  An Italian Tea
  An American Southern Tea
  A Russian Tea
  A French Afternoon Tea
  A Kosher Teawith  Traditional Jewish Foods

Afternoon Tea for Special Occasions

  An Afternoon Tea for  Children
  A Tea for Our Elders
  A Honey Bee Tea in the Garden
  An Urban Tea on the Go
  Tea for One
  Afternoon Tea For a Large Group
  A Vegan Tea
  A Rose Tea