Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Tuesday at the Table

Tea and I go way back. I remember as a young teen, whenever we went to Canada on vacation, I'd choose a bone china teacup for my hope chest. And in later years, my parents would bring one back for me when they traveled to England. I also received them as gifts now and then, so I have quite a collection now.

As a family, we enjoyed going out to what was called (incorrectly I've learned) "high tea", which in reality was "afternoon tea" - a light meal consisting of fruit, little sandwiches, scones, sweets, and of course, the requisite tea. As daughter dear was growing up, she just loved tea parties, and many of her birthday parties were celebrated in that fashion. I've got quite a little library of tea books still, as well as all the appropriate accoutrements. So you can see, even though I'm mostly a coffee drinker these days, I have a real fondness for tea, especially when accompanied with all the special touches and tasty treats.
So when I was invited to a tea party last weekend, I was intrigued. It was the maiden gathering of a home party venture by Queen Mary Tea Room, which just happens to be the oldest independent tea room in America, conveniently located here in Seattle.

The invite promised:

Enjoy sweet and savory tea fare.
Experience a tea tasting and learn about the wonderful world of tea.
Shop for everything to make your perfect cup of tea with an experienced tea queen.
Find the idea gift for everyone on your holiday list!
Mom and I went and really enjoyed tasting teas (my favorite was a seasonal chestnut), learning a few things (like the high tea inaccuracy), and of course consuming some scrumptious nibbles.
Oh, one fun bit - we got to pick what tea cup we wanted to use, and I chose one unlike anything in my collection - this bright yellow one!
It all kind of took me back . . . like visiting an old friend.

18 comments:

  1. Lovely post Debbie - there is something very special about afternoon tea :) Doesn't your mom look wonderful?

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  2. Afternoon tea is still popular here in Australia. Some of the best hotels in Melbourne host lavish ones on the weekend and I believe they are very popular! I love the yellow cup and saucer. I have a teaset my mother left me!

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  3. What an amazing collection of tea cups! So many beautiful shapes and colours. I love a nice pot of tea and a proper china cup, but it's often he'd to justify the time and energy for just me. However I may have to go pop the kettle on and make myself a pot! I'll also have to put a visit to a nice tea room on my list of things to do these holidays :-)
    E xx

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  4. What a lovely idea to spent the time together with your mum. It really looks gorgeous even if I am totally into coffee.

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  5. Is that a bowl of colorful sugar? It's so pretty!

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  6. love your post. I'm a tea girl too, always have been. my collection is teapots, received the first one when I was in HS from my little brother and I still have it.

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  7. How fun! Your teacup is gorgeous

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  8. So special. I love the bright yellow tea cup you chose.

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  9. It's wonderful to see this appreciated when, here in England, we take it as common place and regular day to day practise. I love to use bone china cups and saucers and have some exquisite tiny sets so my little grand daughters can have dollies tea parties. It's Heaven to do it with them, with items of tiny food, but at the moment they don't appreciate a good "brew" of tea!
    Jo

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  10. Sounds like a lovely way to spend the day :o) If you think the whole 'afternoon tea'/'high tea' thing is challenging though, you should see the problems 'dinner' causes lol

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  11. That is so fun! There's nothing like a steamy cup of tea out of proper china. Where did you vacation in Canada that had bone china tea cup shopping? Victoria?

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  12. I used to have a similar tea cup collection, but when I moved gave them all away! Kind of sorry now :(

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  13. it sounds like you had a lovely time. I love that bright yellow teacup! although I am now mostly a coffee drinker, I have a collection of teacups also. reading your post makes me want to savor a cup of tea in one of them :)

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  14. Nice!! Did you ever go for "high tea" (or afternoon tea?) at The Empress in Victoria??

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  15. It looks like you had a great time. I'm hosting a ladies Xmas tea in a couple of weeks. I love the whole ceremony of making tea and the dainty nibbles. I use my husbands great grandparents early Victorian tea set and a Victorian silver teapot his grandmother had from Boston

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  16. what beauty... and I loved the cup you chose... I loved that table runner too. I wonder if it was dyed with tea???

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  17. Oh--I would love to have tea with you and your Mom. Loved your photos the cup you chose...and your Mom looked to be enjoying herself soooo much! Love you both! Looking forward to seeing you soon...soup instead of tea...ah well. It will be divine!

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  18. I'm a real tea lover, and fancy afternoon tea is becoming a really popular party theme in Australia. How good does your Mum look! She has beautiful skin. Makes her look very young.

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