High time for tea: connoisseurs and newcomers put the brakes on their busy lifestyles to embrace an old-fashioned pastime.Additional afternoon pastime is experiencing a reawakening reawakening n → despertar m reawakening n → réveil m reawakening n → Wiedererwachen nt in the Magnolia State as more and more Mississippians slow down to enjoy teatime with family and friends. Jackson tea enthusiast Charlotte Waller says she enjoys taking tea as a way to celebrate life. Charlotte began hosting tea parties for her nieces 15 years ago in her home, and, more recently, her tea parties have become known as "Heavenly Teas." "It's sharing through friendships, prayer, and support," she says. Charlotte shares her message by hosting tea parties for birthdays, baby showers, graduations, mother-daughter gatherings, and more unusual occasions--she even gave a cowboy tea for her young nephews once. "Tea complements whatever you are celebrating" she says. There is only one tea plant; it is how the leaves are harvested that determines if it is classified as black, green, white, or oolong oo·long n. A dark Chinese tea that has been partially fermented before drying. [Chinese (Mandarin) w tea. (Herbal tea is actually not tea at all but rather an infusion of herbs and spices.) During teatime, Charlotte often serves a light oolong tea with the first course, which includes sandwiches. A sweeter tea such as peach or citrus may also be served. She serves Lady Grey tea, black tea, or a bolder tea to accentuate ac·cen·tu·ate tr.v. ac·cen·tu·at·ed, ac·cen·tu·at·ing, ac·cen·tu·ates 1. To stress or emphasize; intensify: the flavor of the breads and scones. With dessert, she serves English Breakfast English breakfast Noun a breakfast including cooked food, such as bacon and eggs or Darjeeling tea
When she hosts a birthday tea for little girls, Charlotte offers lemonade instead of tea, and she sets up tables for putting on makeup and playing dress up. The girls frost teapot-shaped cookies, and Charlotte provides a cake with a miniature tea set on top. Grown-ups have their own special activities at Charlotte's tea parties. Ladies arrive in hats and beads, and the hostess asks each guest to bring a teacup and share the story of why it is special to them. The taking of afternoon tea can be credited to Anna, the Duchess of Bedford. During the early 1800s, the custom in England was to serve two main meals a day: morning breakfast and a heavy meal around 8 or 9 p.m. When the Duchess experienced a "sinking feeling Noun 1. sinking feeling - a feeling caused by uneasiness or apprehension; "with a sinking heart"; "a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach" sinking " around 5 p.m., she began taking tea along with bread and butter sandwiches, small cakes, and assorted sweets. Soon, she was inviting friends to join her, and the afternoon activity quickly grew in popularity. Traditionally in England, low tea was customary for the elite and was often taken at a low-sitting table. The menu included what might be called afternoon snacks today. High tea was taken in the late evening and included a full hearty meal of meat, vegetables, breads, and desserts. Afternoon tea was served around 5 p.m. and included savories, breads, and desserts. Today, the terms high tea and afternoon tea are often used interchangeably, referring to afternoon tea. Tea service is now offered throughout Mississippi in a variety of venues that are open to the public. Simply TeaVine in Hattiesburg, owned by Dean Smith and Peggy Bullion BULLION. In its usual acceptation, is uncoined gold or silver, in bars, plates, or other masses. 1 East, P. C. 188. 2. In the acts of Congress, the term is also applied to copper properly manufactured for the purpose of being coined into money. , offers a library complete with wireless Internet access See how to access the Internet. , a whimsical whim·si·cal adj. 1. Determined by, arising from, or marked by whim or caprice. See Synonyms at arbitrary. 2. Erratic in behavior or degree of unpredictability: a whimsical personality. garden room, an English pub, and an Oriental tea room. The gift shop offers specialty teas and gifts. "We want to provide a place where one may enjoy the simple pleasures of life ... read a book, share a conversation with a friend, or just rest, all over a cup of tea," says Dean, who plans to teach a two-day class about tea this summer as part of the University of Southern Mississippi's continuing education continuing education: see adult education. continuing education or adult education Any form of learning provided for adults. In the U.S. the University of Wisconsin was the first academic institution to offer such programs (1904). program. Classes about tea's history and health benefits, as well as the art of taking tea, are also taught at Tea Time Treasures, located in Pickens. In the city of Pearl, tea enthusiast Gloria Miceli formed the Ladies' Tea Society two years ago for women over 40 who embrace the Southern way of living, which she defines as "love of family and friends and hospitality to others." Group members share a love for tea, books, poetry, and art and seek to develop personal Christian friendships. Every room in Gloria's home demonstrates her love of tea. In the dining room hangs a teapot painting she created when she was only 12 years old. A plethora of tea sets both large and small are displayed throughout the house. Even the bathroom is adorned a·dorn tr.v. a·dorned, a·dorn·ing, a·dorns 1. To lend beauty to: "the pale mimosas that adorned the favorite promenade" Ronald Firbank. 2. with teapot-shaped soap and hand towels covered with teacup patterns. Her collection of tea paraphernalia PARAPHERNALIA. The name given to all such things as a woman has a right to retain as her own property, after her husband's death; they consist generally of her clothing, jewels, and ornaments suitable to her condition, which she used personally during his life. also includes tea notepads, coasters, and picture frames. There are books in the shape of teacups
The Teacups are an amusement ride that have a rotating floor. Each set of teacups has a circular floor, or a motor that will turn 360 degrees. and teapots, a tea scrapbook A Macintosh disk file that holds frequently used text and graphics objects, such as a company letterhead. Contrast with "clipboard," which is reserved memory that holds data only for the current session. , and a tea party game complete with the tea set and tea condiments. Upstairs is Gloria's tea room, with a nameplate on the door inscribed in·scribe tr.v. in·scribed, in·scrib·ing, in·scribes 1. a. To write, print, carve, or engrave (words or letters) on or in a surface. b. To mark or engrave (a surface) with words or letters. with the word "Blessing." Gloria gave the room this name because she says the friends she has made through her tea group have blessed her life. The table is set for four with her best silver, linens, and antique Haviland china from Limoges, France. Above the table hangs a wire mesh wire mesh, wire netting n → tela metálica chandelier with a teapot-shaped center and four suspended teacups and saucers illuminated by candles. Gloria regularly hosts afternoon tea parties for her closest friends, and she says she considers the experience a respite from the world. "Anytime you can make a memory is worthwhile, and giving of yourself builds the bonds of friendship," she says. "It doesn't matter what kind of tea you have if you share your love," Charlotte adds. To both Charlotte and Gloria, teatime is not just about tea but about coming together in a quiet time to enjoy the company of others, in the true tradition of Mississippi hospitality. PREPARING TEA Use bottled water if possible to prevent a fiat-tasting tea. Bring water to a boil in a tea kettle, but do not continue to boil. To avoid cracking your china teapot, rinse the teapot with warm water before filling it with the steaming hot water from the kettle. Place the tea bags in the teapot, and let steep according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. package instructions. For more flavorful tea, use loose tea instead of bagged tea. HOW TO SERVE When hosting a formal tea, three courses should be served. Your best china and napkins must be used. Attire is dressy dress·y adj. dress·i·er, dress·i·est 1. Showy or elegant in dress or appearance. 2. Smart; stylish. dress . When hosting an informal tea, the food can be served buffet style. Paper napkins can be used, and attire is casual, but it is still best to use fine china. If possible, the hostess should pour the tea. Each person should have her own spoon, and there should be a different spoon for each dish. WHAT TO SERVE Tea service should include three sandwich choices, three bread choices with three condiment choices, and three dessert choices. One, two, or three types of tea can be served. First course: Savories (Meat sandwiches or vegetable sandwiches) Cucumber sandwiches are a favorite. Tea sandwiches are made from very thinly sliced bread Sliced bread usually refers to a loaf of bread which has been pre-sliced and packaged for convenience. History Otto Frederick Rohwedder of Davenport, Iowa invented the first loaf-at-a-time bread-slicing machine. with crusts removed; cut into squares, rectangles, or diamond shapes. Tea sandwiches may be made ahead, covered with a damp tea towel or plastic wrap, and refrigerated re·frig·er·ate tr.v. re·frig·er·at·ed, re·frig·er·at·ing, re·frig·er·ates 1. To cool or chill (a substance). 2. To preserve (food) by chilling. until serving time. Second course: Breads and pastries Scones in an assortment of flavors are a classic choice. Muffins and your favorite bread can also be served. This course is usually served with orange or lemon curd Noun 1. lemon curd - a conserve with a thick consistency; made with lemons and butter and eggs and sugar lemon cheese conserve, conserves, preserves, preserve - fruit preserved by cooking with sugar Britain, Great Britain, U.K. , Devonshire cream Dev·on·shire cream n. See clotted cream. [After Devonshire, or Devon, a county of southwest England.] Noun 1. or clotted cream clot·ted cream n. A thick cream made primarily in England by heating milk until a layer of cream forms on its surface that is then cooled and skimmed off. Also called Devonshire cream. , and jam or jelly. Third course: Fruits and sweets Lemon squares and chess squares are popular. Cookies or brownies can also be served. Strawberries dipped in chocolate or sprinkled with confectioner's sugar are also delicious. Tea Serve lemon slices, whole milk (not cream), and sugar cubes Sugar cubes may refer to one of the following:
TEA ETIQUETTE When having tea buffet style, the saucer should remain on the table. However, when sitting at a coffee table, the saucer should be placed on your lap on top of the napkin napkin See Sanitary napkin. . The saucer should remain in your lap while drinking your tea, but it is entirely appropriate to hold the saucer up while sipping your tea Look into the cup rather than over the cup when drinking to avoid spilling. Remember to sip, not slurp. When holding the tea cup, the index finger is placed through the loop and rests against the cup. The other fingers point inward toward the wrist. Put cream, curd curd the proteinaceous part of milk precipitated by rennin. Usually contains some fat when whole milk is used. , and jam on Jam On is a Jam Bands radio station on Sirius Satellite Radio channel 17 and Dish Network channel 6017. It has featured basketball great Bill Walton hosting a Grateful Dead show, Woodstock MC Wavy Gravy, and pedal steel genius Buddy Cage as a DJ. your plate with the utensils provided, and, once seated, prepare each bite before eating it. Take small bites. Swallow food before sipping tea. Stir inside the cup to prevent clinking clink 1 intr. & tr.v. clinked, clink·ing, clinks To make or cause to make a light, sharp ringing sound: clinked their wineglasses together in a toast. n. . Never use the sugar spoon or tongs tongs long-handled, about 3 feet, shaped like pincers with knobs on the ends of the grasping blades. Applied by standing behind the subject in a confined space and closing the jaws to grasp the animal's head just below the ears. to stir your tea. taking tea in mississippi Cottage Tea Room 109 E. Washington St., Aberdeen 662/369-1157 (by reservation only) English Garden The term English garden or English park (French: Jardin anglais, Italian: Giardino all'inglese, German: Englischer Landschaftspark Tea Room and Catering 428 E. Broad St., Monticello 601/587-0034 Fairview Inn 734 Fairview St., Jackson 601/948-3429 (by reservation only) 228/872-2554 My Friend's Place and Tea Room 441 W. Madison St., Houston 662/456-5576 (by reservation only) Simply TeaVine 1604 S. 28th Ave., Hattiesburg 601/268-5523 (by reservation only) www.simplyteavine.com Tea Time Treasures Classes and other sea resources. 1556 Hwy. 51, Pickens 662/468-2555 www.teatimetreasures.com where buy tea and accoutrements ac·cou·ter·ment or ac·cou·tre·ment n. 1. An accessory item of equipment or dress. Often used in the plural. 2. Military equipment other than uniforms and weapons. Often used in the plural. 3. The Choppin Blok 500 Hwy. 51 N., Ste. F, Ridgeland 601/607-4121 The Everyday Gourmet 1625 E. County Line Rd., Jackson 601/977-9258 The Keeping Room (teacup, above) 402-B Cynthia St., Clinton 601-924-1170 tea party recipes first course: meat and veggie sandwiches PASTRAMI AND PECAN TEA SANDWICHES 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened 1 tablespoon mayonnaise 1 tablespoon prepared mustard 4 ounces pastrami, thinly sliced and cut into 1/4-inch squares using kitchen shears 1/4 cup pecans, finely chopped White bread Green pepper jelly Whip cream cheese until soft and fluffy. Add mayonnaise and mustard. Mix well. Add pastrami, and gently mix. Add pecan pieces, and gently mix until evenly distributed. While still soft, gently spread on bottom slice of white bread. Next, spread a layer of green pepper jelly on top slice of bread. Place slices together to form a sandwich. Cut with cookie cutters or into small triangles. For best results when making triangular sandwiches, trim bread crusts with an electric knife An electric knife is an electrical kitchen device used for slicing hard-to-slice foods. The advantage of an electric knife is less physical effort is required and it's easier to make cleaner slices. The device consists of two serrated blades that are clipped together. . Yield: about 2 1/4 cups filling. Note: Filling will keep well in the refrigerator for several days or in the freezer for up to 1 month when wrapped in plastic freezer wrap and placed in a sealed container. Simply thaw and gently whip until smooth. Gloria Penton Miceli CUCUMBER SANDWICHES (above) 2 (3-ounce) packages cream cheese 6 tablespoons sour cream 2 tablespoon Good Seasons garlic and herb salad dressing mix 4 dozen cocktail rye bread slices 2 cucumbers, scored and thinly sliced 1 dozen stuffed green olives, sliced Soften cream cheese in a bowl. Add sour cream and salad dressing mix. Stir to blend. Spread on rye slices, and top each with a slice of cucumber and a slice of olive. Charlotte Waller second course: breads, pastries, and scones BASIC SCONES 2 cups flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 2 tablespoons sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 6 tablespoons butter 1/2 cup buttermilk 1 egg, lightly beaten Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Mix dry ingredients. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Make a well in the center, and pour in buttermilk. (If you don't have buttermilk, use regular milk.) Mix until dough clings together and is a bit sticky; do not overmix. Turn out dough onto a floured surface, and shape into a 6- to 8-inch round about 1 1/2 inches thick. Quickly cut into pie wedges, or use a large round biscuit cutter to cut circles. The secret of tender scones is a minimum of handling. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet, making sure sides of scones don't touch each other. Brush with beaten egg. Bake for 10-20 minutes or until light brown. Charlotte Waller LEMON CURD Lemon curd, sometimes called lemon cheese, is a very common English preserve. It is used as a spread for sandwiches, muffins, crumpets, and so forth, and it also makes a delicious tart filling. Zest of 4 lemons Juice of 4 lemons (about 1 cup) 4 eggs, beaten 1/2 cup butter, cut into small pieces 2 cups sugar Combine all ingredients in the top of a large double-boiler. Place over simmering water, and stir until sugar is dissolved. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened and smooth. While hot, pour into hot, sterilized 1/2-pint canning jars, leaving about 1/8 inch for head space. Run a narrow spatula down between lemon curd and side of jar to release air. Top with sterilized lids; firmly screw on bands. Place in a draft-free area to cool, and store in a cool, dry place or in the refrigerator. Keeps for about 2 weeks. Yield: about 1 pint. Charlotte Waller third course: fruits and sweets COCONUT RASPBERRY TEA BONBONS 1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese, softened 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract Pinch salt 3 tablespoons Kroger brand raspberry instant tea mix (if not available, use only raspberry-flavored tea with added food coloring for pink fondant) 2 cups confectioner's sugar, unsifted 1 teaspoon margarine, very soft but not melted 1 (7-ounce) bag premium sweetened shredded coconut Whip cream cheese until very soft, fluffy, and slightly warm. Add vanilla and salt, and whip until combined. Add instant tea, and whip until dissolved and color is evenly distributed. (Mixture should be dusty rose in color.) Add confectioner's sugar, 1 cup at a time, and mix thoroughly. Add margarine; mix thoroughly. Mixture should be sticky. In a separate bowl, pour coconut. Drop 1/2-teaspoon-size dollops of cream cheese mixture, one at a time, into coconut, and gently toss until surface is covered and a 1-inch ball is formed. Place in a sealed container, and refrigerate. Do not layer in container. Yield: about 2-2 1/2 dozen bonbons. Gloria Penton Miceli |
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