"Tea is to dessert as what wine is to an entree." (Tomislav Podreka)


With the dawning of 2005 I found myself enthralled with dessert teas. Using dessert teas on their own for a healthy alternative to more traditional sugary desserts. My journey thus far has brought me much enjoyment. One of my favorites being Cherry Almond with cream and sweetener topped with whipped cream! What an excellent treat day or night.

Alas, not being alone in this diverse and thriving world, I realize that many people still enjoy the tastes of regular desserts in many familiar forms. Why not have your cake and drink with it too. Pairing tea with foods and desserts is not a science, yet starting out may be a bit trickier than your usual wine pairings. Below you will find a compilation of different ideas for pairings desserts and tea. This is in no means all inclusive, but it is a good starting point.

Oolong, Pu-erh, Assam, Darjeeling with dark chocolates.

If you favor milk chocolates you may consider Yunnan, Dragonwell, Sencha, Darjeeling and as always Oolong.

Carrot cake (my favorite) melds well with Darjeeling and Keemun

The American classic pumpkin pie is excellent with green or black Ceylon or a lovely Dragonwell

Try Dragonwell, Darjeeling and Keemunwith sinful cheese cakes.

Some other potential pairings:
Ceylon Black with coffee cake
Yun Wu Green tea and apple pie
Vanilla Moon tea with cinnamon rolls
Chai tea with chocolate mousse

And of course after a nice meal and dessert, you may face the time of digestion with ease, by enjoying a lovely cup of aged Pu-erh.

We must not forget the timeless classics of tea biscuits or cookies with Earl Grey and Black teas.

Of course your preference always is the most important aspect of pairing gourmet loose teas with your dessert of choice. My suggestions dear reader, are simply a guideline, or starting point on your journey.

"In the end, goodness is for the mouth to decide"
Lu Yu the Cha l' Ching

This just in for our PA readers....

Nibbles: Teas will help out Newborns in Need
Thursday, January 26, 2006

By Nancy Anderson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Thursday, Jan. 26, 2006

Fresh scones with curd, bite-size quiche, tea sandwiches, gourmet pastries and pots of tea are the bill of fare Saturday and Sunday at the Victorian Tea Garden, 82 S. 12th St., South Side.

The teas, which feature two sittings at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., cost $20 and will benefit Newborns in Need, a nonprofit organization that donates preemie and newborn clothing to babies in need. For tickets, call 412-823-4272.

During my youth, I developed a secret love affair. A love affair (besides for tea) that has endured until this day and one that my partner definitely approves of! At the age of about 18, I was exposed to the music of the 30’s and 40’s by a dear friend. Until that time, I had only experienced a very brief smattering of music outside of Lawrence Welk and my father who whistled all the time. At about 21 I became obsessed with the Andrew’s sisters. Little did I know that the swing era was about to become popular again with America’s youth.

I found every song that they recorded, all the sheet music eBay could offer up on a short note and a slim buck and headed out on a journey that is still blooming today. As I searched and learned more about these amazing women, I found that they gained their singing style and inspiration from The Boswell Sisters (Vet, Connie and Martha). So my search for these lovely ladies and the tunes they crooned began. It is amazing to listen to recordings of these phenomenal women from the 30’s. One of my all time favorites that they sang is When I take My Sugar To Tea. Besides it being about love and tea (my other obsession), it is a very catchy tune. It was written in 1931 by by Sammy Fain , Irving Kahal and Pierre Norman. This along with Dinah were the sisters first hits!

The lyrics are below and here is a link to a midi file of one of their other great songs. Be sure to check out the Boswell Museum while you stroll down memory lane. And this Valentine’s Day be sure to treat your sugar with tea, tea from SBSteas.com that is!

Written by Sammy Fain , Irving Kahal and Pierre Norman
1931

I'm just a little "Jackie Horner"
since I met my sugar cane.
That gang of mine has been revealin'
that they're feelin' sore.
I left the lamp light on the corner,
for the moon in lover's lane.
I'm doing things I never did before.

When I take my sugar to tea, all the
boys are jealous of me, 'cause I
never take her where the gang goes,
When I take my sugar to tea.

I'm a rowdy dowdy, that's me,
She's a high hat baby, that's she,
So I never take her where the gang goes,
When I take my sugar to tea.

Ev'ry Sunday afternoon,
we forget about our cares,
rubbing elbows at the Ritz,
with those millionaires.

When I take my sugar to tea,
I'm as Ritzy as can be,
'cause I never take her where the gang goes,
When I take my sugar to tea.

ScentBySpirit.com has a lovely new fragrance they call Tuscan Dreams. I was looking for a Christmas present for my sister and thought this would be a nice option since we are Italian and love all things Italian. This fragrance is aptly named because it truly is dreamy. It's lightly citrus with a creamy vanilla finish. She loves it, I love it and we keep getting tons of compliments on how lovely we smell.

The first taste of you washes my heart with gold,
waxes my moon,
brings me to the depths of primordial bliss.

The second sip binds my eternal soul slave to your divine kiss.

With the third I am set free,
climbing toward heaven as a morning glory embracing a tree.

A fourth sip brings me to the brink,
my heart full of joy into your eyes I sink.

Gypsy Love Song

As I read these words the other day, it came to me that this is so perfectly aligned with what I often feel drinking my first cup of morning tea.

It is interesting to me that words can often so aptly describe sensations that are almost unfathomable as you experience them. Then often times there are no words to describe an experience. Mabye those are the times that no words need to be spoken.
Life in the moment of a good tea and a beautiful love song.

Here's some info on teeth and tea:

German researchers have found that green tea can be good for your teeth. The scientists have found that the tannic acid in green tea can be beneficial for blocking some bacteria. Black tea can also have the same therapeutic result since it contains the same acid. But, while you're sipping your tea, you may want to have a chunk of cheese as well. Researchers say cheese can
leave a protective film over teeth.
a.. Hanover - Cheese and green and black tea are good for the teeth, German experts say.
b.. The fat in cheese lays a protective film over the teeth while the calcium it contains promotes remineralisation, according to the Hanover-based health insurers Techniker Krankenkasse.
c.. Good news, too, for tea drinkers: the tannic acid contained in green and black tea helps check certain bacteria.