Another home birthday tea party




I had a great time at this tea, this was for some friends at church.  The daughters and daughter in law were throwing a birthday party for their mom.




They sent me a message about the flavors they liked and I picked the teas based on their favorite flavors.


I did a tea for 8. They had some much fun food to accompany the tea.  As they ate I shared the teas.  The tea usually lasts around an hour to hour an half.  I come about an hour early to prepare the tea and get set up- if I am not doing bubble tea, it doesn't take as long to set up.


I made the 5 hot teas and then had them on tea warmers.  These warmers did a great job of keeping the tea a nice temperature until I was ready to serve it.


I had a coconut oolong, a cacao tea, a hot cinnamon, a green coconut tea, and a summer cooler.  They shared that they liked coconut and cinnamon.  
I also always try to do a variety of teas- so they get an idea of what the different tea flavors bring to the cup.  I did the oolong, an herbal, a black, a green, and a rooibos.  

It is always fun to see who likes which teas.  Everyone has such different tastes they like.  I think that the coconut oolong and the summer cooler might have been the favorites of the night.



I am ready!!!


Some of the girls were not sure if they were going to like the tea, but they did.  They even had some seconds.



I gave a few tea facts and shared how to make a great cup of tea.  We also did the teas mystery style.  They had to guess the teas.  I passed around an unmarked container for them to see and smell.

I can do the tea as educational or detailed as you like.  I work with you to fit the tea to your needs.


We saved Bubble Tea Flight for last.  I asked the girls if they wanted it first or last- they said last, like a dessert.  The bubble tea flight is extra to purchase.  It is $3 a person. 


The flights have 4 bubble teas and then each tea has something different for the bubble.  I had pineapple jellies, strawberry bursting boba, mango bursting boba, and black tapioca balls.


Taro, Mango, Coconut, and Lavender Bubble Teas


They provided their own cups and dishes. I can bring dishes, but it is extra.  


It was extra special, because the I grew up with two of these girls and the daughter in laws husband.  We all went to church together- but I hardly ever get to see them since they live in different cities.  

I was really touched they thought of me to host this birthday party.  I had a great time.






You can have a party too!!!

$40 serves up to 8 people, $5 for each additional person...basically $5 a person.
.50 a mile, first 5 miles are free
I bring sugar, milk, teapots, electric kettles

If you don't have tea cups I can bring those for $10
I can also bring plates for $10

You provide snacks, silverware, and napkins.

If you want treats- I can bring those- but that is extra and they will not be homemade by me.  If I make the food, then I have to deal with the health department.

I do charge tax and you can pay cash, Paypal, or Venmo.

Contact me with questions.



Psalm 96:3
Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples!


Teapot warmer using a tealight candle - searching a great deal

I love a good deal!!

I decided I needed a some tea warmers for my tea parties.  I found this one, after much searching Amazon.  I bought one to try it out.




Then I found the SAME warmer for HALF the price!!!





These tea warmers worked great for my teas.  I was glad that I found a better deal though before I bought more at the $13.99 price...

Because then I found an even better deal!!   Temu I found them for $5.99 so I bought 6 more!!  They are the exact same thing!!!  They work great for my tea parties!!  Always looking for the best deal!!!

  https://www.Temu.com 



You can't tell any of them apart!  They are all identical.  


You can make the tea at the correct temperature and then let the tea stay warm on these warmers.  I would never make tea in a pot over these warmers...because they are just warmers.  They will not heat the water to a temperature correctly enough to steep a cup of tea.



Psalm 96:3
Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples!

Russian tea party

To have people over once in a month in my home for try teas from other countries has been a dream in the making for the last few years.

I decided this was the year.  And I decided to go all in!!  I want this to be a fun, relaxing, encouraging, educational, and entertaining time with old friends and new ones.  I want anyone who wants to come to come and drink tea!!


I was ready to have friends over for my first ever, Passport to Tea 2023.  January we visited Russia.  I was going to share 4 kinds of Russian Teas.


I purchased 3 Caravan teas...they are called Caravan teas because in the 18th century teas was brought from Asia to Russia by camel caravan.  The tea is smokey and mimics the dusty, smokiness of the caravan travel.

The last tea I purchased was from Georgia- a country that was once part of Russia.

*******

Georgian Tea was nice. Not smokey.  But, we did enjoy it.




This tea from Mahamosa Tea Bar, was the most popular tea of the day.




This tea from Ohio Tea was the most smokey- and that would be the lapsang tea.  A classic smoked black tea, made with a blend of Keemun, Lapsang and Assam.




This was a Sweet Russian Caravan Tea from Simple Loose Leaf.  This tea is a mix of sweet China and strong Indian tea.




I had only one real Samovar.  But, I created 3 other Samovars with teapots that I already had.


I had fun putting the "table" together.  I tried to stay Russian with the decor, but I did use my french plates.  I found these 12 floral plates from France at a Goodwill for .25 a piece.


I ordered the traditional cups from Ukraine.  I enjoyed helping some people in Ukraine as well as having traditional cups.  Part of the Passport to Tea 2023 is using traditional items- I want people to get the feel that they are in cafe in the country that we are "visiting".  I want people to come away with some great tea and cool educational facts.



I also have Passports for everyone attending.  They will get a Russian flag for their passports too.


I put 4 heaping teaspoons into the smaller tea pot with around a 1 C to 2 C of hot water to make the concentrate. I let the tea steep for over 2 hours.





I had so much fun making these teas and preparing for this tea.  I loved studying the Russian Tea culture and learning about some of their fun traditions.  I also watched lots of You Tube Russian tea videos to prepare.  I found it super helpful.  I also had a friend who lived in Russia as a missionary, so she helped answer questions for me too.


I had some non-traditional treats too.

(on a side note, I painted some Russian Nesting Dolls- too...each doll is holding a tea cup too)
Nesting dolls are called matryoshka

Here are the tops of my nesting dolls. 







I had lemons, milk, sugar, honey, and blueberry jam to try with the tea.  I read that some people drink tea with sugar cubes between their front teeth.  Some take spoonfuls of jam, some add lemon, some add milk, etc.  So, as we drank the tea we tried it a bunch of different ways.  That was fun too.


 

These were homemade Samovars.  They worked really well!!  I do have to say that you need to put the tea kettle lid on the big tea kettle when you pour the hot water on the concentrate or you will get burned by the steam.  



Today is the day...and in January you never know what you will get- but the weather was great!!  I salted the steps just to be sure though.  I love that the weather did not stop the party!!


The Kettle is On sign is out and the tea light is on in the window- let the guests arrive.


I had 9 guests.  It was like my worlds were colliding...people from so many aspects of my life.  One of my best friends from high school and her mom came.  My mom.  One of my best friends from church and one of my best friends from work her mom.  Then also a new friend and her daughter and her daughters friend.  

There were lots of laughter and slurping happening.  I had a blast!!!



A dear, sweet lady from my church passed away- and her daughters gave me her tea kettle...I used it for this tea.  It was super special to have Carolyn's Tea pot!



I also taught some Russian words  while we were together too.

Russian tea words...

Samovar-double teapot

Stakan- glass

Podstakannik- metal cup holder

Zavarka- Russian Tea Concentrate 

Kipyatok- boiling hot water

The word for tea in Russian sounds like CHJA

 



The jam from France was a huge hit too!  It had chunks of blueberries in it. It was sweet and delicious. 


These teas last around an hour and are meant to be laid back and fun.  The Russian tea was $5 a person.  This tea or aspects of this tea can be added to your home party if you would like.

February 4, 2023 is China.  
The 11am seating is sold out, but I do have some seat available for the 9 am seating.
Each seat is $5.  
Everyone gets a passport and a Chinese flag for attending to put in their passport.
You will get to see a traditional eastern style Gong Fun Tea ceremony.   I also have Gaiwans for everyone to use.  You will get to try 3 or 4 different kinds of tea.

March will be make your own Chai from India
April will be Milk Tea from Hong Kong
May will be Matcha from Japan
June will be Bubble Tea from Taiwan
July will be Dominican Republic 
August will be Morrocan
September will be Turkey
October will be Attaya tea from Guinea
November will be Thailand
December will be an English Tea

Psalm 96:3
Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples!