Fourth Tea Tasting at The Rendezvous With Tea

Yesterday my girlfriend and I drove to Grosse Pointe Woods, MI to attend the fourth and final tea tasting of 2014 at The Rendezvous With Tea.  There were 10 ladies in attendance, and because this tasting was with high end teas, the cost was $25.00. The tasting was scheduled for 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. but we didn't leave the shop until after 5:30 p.m.  

The retail area of the tea shoppe, including the front window, was nicely decorated for Christmas. It's hard to believe Christmas is only 49 days away!

~ Exterior front window photos ~

~ Interior retail area ~

The tea tasting area of the shop was set-up and waiting for us.

We tasted eight teas.  In the photo below Naszreen, the Sri Lanka born owner, is pouring the tea.  

We began the tasting with Ruhuna - a luxury black tea from the Lumbini Estate in Sri Lanka.

The next two teas were Black Darjeelings from India - a 1st flush from the Gopaldhara Estate, and an Autumn flush from the Makaibari Estate.

The fourth tea was a prestigious Wuyi Oolong from China - Da Hong Pao [Big Red Robe] known as the 'King of Teas.'  It is considered a Chinese national treasure.

The fifth and sixth teas were Green - Bi Lo Chun [Spring Green Snail] from China, and Gyokuro [Jade Dew], one of the most expensive types of sencha available in Japan.  

The seventh tea was a Yellow Tea - Huang Shan Mountain Huang Ya.  I don't recall ever tasting a yellow tea before, so I was very intrigued by this tea.  Naszreen said it undergoes a special process similar to green tea, but with a slower drying phase where the damp tea leaves are allowed to yellow.  It was very good, and I bought some to bring home.

The last tea we sampled was White Silver Tips from Sri Lanka.  The buds are plucked by hand, hand rolled, sun dried, and packed in air-tight containers.  The leaves were white, long and slender.  There was almost no color to the liquor, but it produced a delicate, delicious taste.

Naszreen always serves a savory and a sweet at the conclusion of the tastings, and this month she out-did herself!  We had a slice of Artichoke Quiche and a German-Austrian spice cookie.  I chose a cup of the Yellow Tea to accompany my food.

And... a fabulous slice of orange cake [eggless and made with ground almonds instead of flour]. The recipes will be on her website in a week or so.

This tea tasting was a grand finale!  Naszreen will soon be celebrating her first anniversary at The Rendezvous With Tea, and I wish her continued success.  

Below are the teas I purchased yesterday.  This is the third time I've purchased a bag of the Bohemian Raspberry Green Tea.  It's SO good!  And I couldn't resist the Christmas Merry Berry - Ceylon Black Tea with a blend of wild mixed berries.  It smelled wonderful.  I got more Magical Motown sachets too.  What a fun way to spend an afternoon!  Thank you for a wonderful tea experience, Naszreen!

Newest Postal Deliveries

I collect "Broulee Spoons" [also known as Brandy Warmer Spoons, Cognac Spoons, or Cafe Royale Spoons].  I recently saw five silver plate Reed & Barton spoons on E-bay with an opening bit of just $9.95, so I placed a bid.  To my surprise and delight no one else bid against me and I won the auction.  Five Broulee Spoons for $16.80 [after shipping was added] is almost unheard of.  That's just $3.36 a spoon!

Isn't it fun when a package arrives in the mail?

The spoons need some polishing, but they're all in excellent condition.  I'm collecting enough to be able to serve a large group.  You can read a November 9, 2012 post I wrote here about flaming oolong tea using broulee spoons. 

I used ten of them when I did a Downton Abbey tea at Meadow Brook Hall this past spring. The April 7, 2014 post can be read here.

A second postal delivery came from Amazon, and contained two of their newest books from the hugely popular PBS television series, Downton Abbey.

I'm planning to coordinate a pre-season V Downton Abbey tea, so I can hardly wait to delve into the books.  I'll keep you posted as plans for this tea unfold.

The Teapot Song

Who doesn't love The Teapot Song [more commonly known as "I'm a Little Teapot"]?  I've sung it with all of my granddaughters, complete with the motions.

When I was with my girlfriend last Saturday, she brought her vintage record and cover of the song to show me, and to share with you.

It brought back memories of a tea party I hosted on September 13, 2003 for the residents of Shelby Nursing Center.  Shelley Marshall was a young wife and mother who perished in the horrible 2001 terrorist attack on the Pentagon.  Her husband, Donn, set out to prove that evil shouldn't triumph. Shelley was passionate about tea and often hosted tea parties, so Donn issued a plea for volunteers across America to host tea parties of love and compassion to those with failing health in all 50 states on the weekend of 9/11, while at the same time honoring all those who perished in the terrorist attacks.  

I read about his aspiration in TEA A Magazine, and volunteered to host a tea party representing Michigan. I don't know if the annual teas are still in existence, but the Teapot Song was part of my program sung by granddaughters, Marissa and Brianna.  Below is a photo of them singing and doing the motions.  Marissa [left] is now 19 years old, but she's got her spout and handle in position.  So cute!

I did a little research on the song and discovered it was originally written by George Harold Sanders and Clarence Z. Kelly, and published in 1939.  Clarence Kelly and his wife ran a children's dance school.  One of the dances, the "Waltz Clog" was a tap dance routine, but was too difficult for younger students. So George Sanders wrote The Teapot Song to accompany a dance called the "Teapot Tip" that required minimal skill. It became enormously popular in America and overseas.  I wonder if dance schools still teach the Teapot Tip?

Below is a copy of the vintage sheet music which can still be purchased on Amazon.

"I'm a little teapot,

Short and stout

Here is my handle

Here is my spout

When I get all steamed up

Hear me shout

Just tip me over,

and pour me out."

Michigan Depression Glass Show

Southeastern Michigan has two Depression Glass organizations - The Michigan Depression Glass Society, and the Great Lakes Depression Glass Club.   The Michigan group has their annual show in November, and the Great Lakes Club has their's in the spring.

In 2012 I went to both shows and blogged about them here, but I didn't attend either in 2013.

~ Postcard I received promoting this year's show. ~

I returned to the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn, MI last Saturday for Michigan Depression Glass Society's 42nd annual show and sale. Vendors come with their glassware from all across the United States. What prompted me to attend this year was the Society's recognition of six different Detroit businesses located on Woodward Avenue [the heart of downtown]. Only two of the businesses exist today under different ownership, and in different locations - Sander's and Vernor's.

 ~ Hat and hat box from Hudson's Woodward Shop ~

~ A Hudson's Advertisement ~

Sanders Chocolates was first opened by Fred Sanders in 1875.  In 2002 Morley Candy Makers purchased the Sanders name and original recipes.  Morley's is another Michigan based company founded in 1919.

Vernor's is a ginger flavored soft drink, and the oldest surviving ginger ale brand in the United States.  It was created in 1880 by James Vernor, a Detroit pharmacist.  Vernor's is currently owned and manufactured by Dr. Pepper Snapple Group of Plano, TX

I loved the Lipton Tea dispenser pictured below, but it wasn't for sale. The vignettes were such a nostalgic and fun way to display vintage glassware and memorabilia of yesteryear.

Two of downtown Detroit's  dime stores were Woolworth's and Kresge's.  They were located directly across the street from J.L. Hudson's Department Store.   

Below is a photo I had taken in the "photo booth" at Kresge's Woodward store.  I was a Junior or Senior in high school on a downtown Detroit shopping trip with my girlfriend. Kresge's water colored the photo for a fee, but I don't remember what it was. Those were the days!  ;-)

Ernst Kern Department Store was across the street from Hudson's at Woodward and Gratiot. Detroit shoppers used to meet under Kern's clock.  The store closed in 1959, and the structure was torn down in the 1960's as part of urban renewal.  The clock, however, was saved and now sits at the corner of Woodward and Gratiot.

[Internet Photo]

The glass show opened at 10:00 a.m., and I got there around 10:30 a.m.  It doesn't look very crowded in my photos, but it was very well attended.

Lots of beautiful Depression Glass.  Believe it or not, I didn't purchase a single piece, but it was well worth the $5 entrance fee to see all of it.

The display below was near an entrance of the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center advertising an upcoming art event.  A drawing was to take place for the winner to have tea with one of the artists, so  I had to take a picture of the display!  ;-)

When we finished looking at the Depression Glass displays, my girlfriend and I drove a short distance to the Dearborn Inn for lunch - the same place where the American Girl fashion show and tea was held a week ago - only no ball room this time. We ate in Edison's Restaurant. [Henry Ford and Thomas Edison were good friends.]

By the time we finished our lunch and visiting, the restaurant had pretty much emptied out so I was able to take photos.

Henry Ford had the Dearborn Inn built in 1931, so there are photos of him, Clara [his wife], and some of his friends displayed throughout the hotel lobby, hallways and restaurant.

Close-up of the photo above where Henry is carving Clara's and his initials on a tree trunk.

My girlfriend and I made it easy on our waitress by ordering the same thing... A pot of tea [Tetley's black], a cup of soup du jour [split pea], and a half Reuben sandwich.  It was a delicious lunch in a classy restaurant!

Another enjoyable Saturday afternoon in Dearborn, Michigan!

Sunday Reflection...

The contemporary Christian hymn, In Christ Alone, written in 2001 by Keith Getty [music] and Stuart Townend [lyrics], can hold its own with any great old hymn of the church. It first became popular in Ireland and the UK [where the composers live], and then in the United States.

There are four verses, and I couldn't pick a favorite, so I'm sharing them all.  The lyrics offer hope, inspiration, and resolve.

[1]  In Christ alone my hope is found
       He is my light, my strength, my song.
       This Cornerstone, this solid ground
       Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
       What heights of love, what depths of peace
       What fears are stilled, when strivings cease.
       My Comforter, my All in All
       Here in the love of Christ I stand.

[2]  In Christ alone, who took on flesh
       Fullness of God in helpless babe.
       This gift of love and righteousness
       Scorned by the ones He came to save.
       'Til on that cross as Jesus died
       The wrath of God was satisfied.
       For every sin on Him was laid
       Here in the death of Christ I live.

[3]  There in the ground His body lay
       Light of the world by darkness slain.
       Then bursting forth in glorious day
       Up from the grave He rose again.
       And as He stands in victory
       Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
       For I am His and He is mine
       Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

[4]  No guilt in life, no fear in death
       This is the power of Christ in me.
       From life's first cry to final breath
       Jesus commands my destiny.
       No power of hell, no scheme of man
       Can ever pluck me from His hand.
       'Til He returns or calls me home
       Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

May God bless your week!