Victoriana Lady Lisa enjoying a cup of English Breakfast Tea
I no longer cater food at parties but I still entertain all over the country as Victoriana Lady Lisa's Traveling Museum, circa 1860-1910. One of my presentations that I still offer is the History & Etiquette of Tea. Brew a cup of your favorite tea, relax, and enjoy my article.
One of my favorite Rose Chintz Tea Pots
Lapsang Souchong Tea
My experience with Lapsang Sochong Tea or, is there a fire in the house?
During my research I learned that LS Tea was the tea dumped in the harbor at the Boston Tea Party.
I decided I should look for it and try it. I was catering a tea that weekend, so I bought 8 boxes.
While driving home I kept thinking that there must be a fire somewhere, it seemed like I smelled smoke.
I got home and set the bag of tea bags on the kitchen counter. I went upstairs a few minutes when I heard my son came home from school.
He came looking for me right away to ask me if something was burning downstairs! I panicked and ran to the kitchen.
Perplexed I said to him, I smell it too.
In fact I smelled it all the way home from the store.
We followed the smell and realized it was coming from the tea bags! I unpacked the cellophane covering and now it was really strong!
I thought perhaps it gets better when it's brewed so I put the kettle on. For me it did not get better. :)
I tried to drink it, but all it reminded me of was a house on fire smell.
I did a little more research and found out Lapsang Souchong tea leaves are fermented over burning Pine wood. THAT explains everything! :)
I bravely took it to my tea event, along with several other choices. I knew it was not just me when several ladies coming into the kitchen asked me, Is something burning? No I replied, It's just the tea.
Only one of the ladies in the entire party enjoyed the LS tea. I told them my story and we all laughed.
I guess it must be an acquired taste. Try some and judge for yourself. :)
I inherited my great aunt's Blue Willow dishes and often use them at my tea parties
Tea, or Camellia Sinesis, is the world’s second most consumed beverage, water being the first. Tea is calorie & sodium free, contains fluoride and traces of vitamins. It is very rich in antioxidants and contains more than any other food or beverage. In 2737 B.C. Emperor Shen Nung relaxed with a cup of hot water in his garden. He was health conscious and believed boiling his water protected him from sickness. Legend has it that one day a leaf from a nearby bush blew into his cup. Soon a delightful aroma came forth. He enjoyed the flavored water so much it became his daily drink. Thus, tea was born!
Tea for many years in China was only for the aristocrats. Over the next 500 years processing improved and consumption expanded. Tea was pressed into cakes or bricks for easier transporting during this time. The Dutch are credited with bringing the first tea from China to Europe. The Dutch were spreading the word about teas medicinal value, and levying a high price to go with it. $100.00 a pound!
One of my Valentine Day Tea Parties- I love to bake!
Afternoon Tea, or Low Tea was started by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford in the late 1700’s. In England at that time breakfast was eaten early. They did not eat lunch as we do. By mid afternoon Anna would get a sinking feeling. Supper was not until late evening so to cope with her fatigue she began to order little cakes with her afternoon tea. Before long the menu expanded, and the trend caught on all over England. Afternoon Tea was born!
Tea was a forbidden pleasure to Princess Victoria, whose governess did not allow her to have it. As soon as she became Queen in 1837, she immediately ordered her first cup of tea. It was Queen Victoria herself who started the tradition of 4:00 teatime in England.
What is the name of the tea dumped during the Boston Tea Party?
- Earl Grey
- English Breakfast
- Lapsang Souchong
The answer is C - Lapsang Souchong. This tea has a distinct smoky flavor from being
fermented over burning pine.
Table setting of Blue Willow
Iced tea was invented here in this country. 80% of all tea consumed in America is iced. Iced Tea was invented in 1904 at the St. Louis World’s Fair by RICHARD BLECHYNDEN. He was sent from England to introduce black teas to Americans. However because they were having a heat wave, no one wanted hot tea. He decided to pour the tea over ice, causing a big sensation. It quenched the peoples thirst that hot day, and the rest is history, as they say.
We also have the distinction of inventing the tea bag. In 1908 a tea importer named JOHN SULLIVAN began sending samples of his tea in small silk bags, instead of the standard heavy tins. The customers assumed these were to be dunked into their hot water. Women flooded him with requests for more of the wonderful, convenient little tea bags.
This was a Spring Tea Party with mismatched antique China
Camellia Sinesis is the botanical name of the tea plant, which is a tropical evergreen bush. Although the tea plant is the same in various regions, the soil, climate, altitude and processing methods determine the different types of teas. The bush is kept to a height of about 3 feet tall. In it’s wild state it can grow as large as 20 feet!
THE THREE MAIN TYPES OF TEA-
1. BLACK TEA - The most widely consumed, is made from leaves that are allowed to ferment, or oxidize. This process is what gives the tea its distinct flavor. Oxidation is also responsible for the caffeine in tea. The more oxidation, the more caffeine it contains. The leaves are then heated to remove moisture. It is this heat that turns the leaves black. It is a hearty brew with more caffeine than other teas. Although it still has considerably less caffeine than coffee. Lipton & Tetley are popular examples of black tea. Also in the black tea category is Darjeeling, considered the Champagne of teas, English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Lapsang Souchong and Red Mudan, which is brewed from a single Peony flower.
2. GREEN TEA - Is not fermented therefore it has no caffeine. The leaves are steamed, then fired. Green tea has a delicate flavor. It is full of antioxidants, which can help protect against a number of cancers. New studies have shown that women, and men who drink at least 3 cups of tea daily have lower risk of developing a stroke, heart attack and high cholesterol. Green tea is the favored tea in the Orient.
3. OOLONG TEA - This tea is partially fermented, with some caffeine. It’s taste is stronger than green tea, but milder than black tea. Two examples of Oolong tea are Formosa Oolong, having a peachy flavor and Black Dragon having a fruity flavor.
One of my favorite artists & friend, Sandy Clough, designed this tea cup and gave it to me for my birthday
HERBAL TEAS - Did you know these are really not teas at all? They are infusions or tisanes as the French say, made from roots, leaves, seeds or fruits. These are always decaffeinated since they do not contain any true tea leaves. Camomile is a very popular herbal infusion of dried flowers and leaves. This aromatic tea is often sipped for health benefits, new studies are showing that it may boost the immune system. The best quality Camomile comes from the Nile Delta in Egypt. It is naturally caffeine free and is known for its ability to soothe and relax, often being referred to as the night time tea.
FLAVORED TEAS - These are teas, which contain essential oils, herbs, fruit juices, or spices. Those in the Middle East enjoy KarKadeh tea, made from Hibiscus flowers. The Hibiscus gives this tea a beautiful ruby color.
Consider this the next time you enjoy a cup of tea. Tealeaves are still plucked by hand, a very labor-intensive process. The tealeaves are so delicate that machine harvesting would never work. A large tea garden will employ hundreds of workers who wear large baskets on their backs to hand pluck the new growth from the bush. The finest plucking is a highly practiced art. Since pluckers are paid according to the weight and quality of what they harvest, they must learn to pluck well to survive. The best tea is made from tender new leaves and buds called First Flush. Did you know that women are considered the best tealeaf pluckers because their fingers are more nimble?
MAIN EXPORTERS OF TEA -
- India- Darjeeling, the champagne of teas.
- Sri Lanka- Various Teas.
- China- Oolong, Gunpowder, and Lapsang Souchong.
The only tea plantation in America is in Charleston South Carolina.
From my tea tin collection
SSince tea is fermented or oxidized and dried, then packaged, it stabilizes the flavor. Unlike coffee bbeans which suffer over time, tea can be stored for long periods of time in a cool, dry, dark place.
Orange-Pekoe, the most widely consumed tea is not orange flavored at all. This name refers to the location of the leaves on the tea plant. Orange-Pekoe, which means small leaves, are the second branch or second flush of leaves from the top of the tea plant. Pekoe is medium size leaf, and Pekoe Souchong refers to large leaves.
The first three American millionaires, T.H. PERKINS of Boston, STEPHEN GIRARD of Philadelphia and JOHN JACOB ASTOR of New York all made their fortunes selling tea. Together they broke the English monopoly on tea because their ships were faster, and because they paid in gold.
TEA ETIQUETTE
Did you know, Tibetans, Mongolians and people in parts of Western China put salt in their tea, instead of sugar?
Another tea tin in my collection
Afternoon Tea consists of Scones, the proper English way to pronounce this rhymes with gone, Tea Sandwiches and Pastries. Other desserts may be added as well. Afternoon tea is the typical tea party that we think of and enjoy in America, generally between 12:00 and 3:00 PM. England’s teatime is 4:00 PM.
A Cream Tea is when only scones, jam & Devonshire cream are served with tea.
High Tea refers to the height of the table served on, much like a dining room table. It also means it was a more substantial meal with hearty foods served such as quiche, shepherds pie, meats and salad. High Tea was actually the workingman’s supper in England.
For proper tea brewing fill a kettle with fresh cold water. The cold water contains the oxygen needed to release the flavor from the tealeaves.Heat water to a rolling boil. Don’t boil too long, or you will lose that oxygen!Warm your teapot by pouring some boiling water into it and swirling it around.Next pour the water out.Measure 1 tsp. of tea or 1 teabag per cup. If it’s a 5 cup teapot you measure 5 tsps. or bags, and so on. Place bags, or tea infuser into teapot.Pour boiling water into teapot. Let steep 3-5 minutes for black tea, no longer or tea is bitter.Green Tea should steep 1-3 minutes.Herbal Tea can steep 3-5 minutes. The proper English etiquette is to bring the teapot to the kettle, not the kettle to the teapot.
When pouring tea proper etiquette is to add lemon first to the teacup, then sugar, cream [if not taking lemon] then add your tea.
 A Teddy Bear Tea Party that I hosted a few years ago
If you are cold, tea will warm you;
If you are too heated, it will cool you;
If you are depressed, it will cheer you;
If you are exhausted it will calm you.
William Gladstone
Thanks for stopping by and sharing a cup of tea with me!
Victoriana Lady Lisa- Bringing history to life since 2003
To book a program please contact me - Victorianaladylisa@gmail.com
References available upon request.
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