Learn About Tea and Tea Culture — Category_Joy of Tea

Chai tea jelly is a sweet interpretation of a classic Indian tea that's perfect for the holidays. 

Ingredients:

• 2 cups water
• 12 teaspoons of Chai Tea, 
• 3 cups sugar
• 1 (3 ounce) package liquid pectin
• Yield: 4 1/2 pints

Directions:

1. Bring water to boil,
2. Add tea (Use infuser or prepared bags)
3. Steep for 10 minutes
4. Remove infuser or discard tea bags
5. Add sugar to brewed chai tea and bring to a boil
6. Boil for 2 minutes slowly stirring constantly
7. Remove from heat 
8. Add pectin
9. Return to boil and allow to boil for 1 minute
10. Skim off any foam
11. Pour hot chai tea jelly into mason jars, cover
12. Let sit for a minimum of 20 minutes

Serve with cream cheese & toasted bread or as a filling for a yellow layer cake!

-- Recipe altered from original. Prepared by Hunca Munca's Good Karma

Once upon a time, there was a princess who lived in the land of artificial sodas and not-so-fruit fruit juices. As she grew older, the soft drinks began to taste much too sweet and burn a tad too much. So, the princess left her home and ventured off into a new land.

On her travels, she found a known land where the real fruit juices flowed freely. Elated, she found herself swimming in rivers of orange juice, frolicking in streams of lemonade and dancing under a waterfall of sweet tea. She liked this land and could have stayed here forever, but destiny was not done with her.

Along came a prince from a distant land called Tea. The princess gave him a warm smile because she knew of Tea, but the prince had assured her that she had not known the tea of which he spoke of so passionately. Intrigued, the girl followed the Prince back to his homeland.

When she arrived, natural aromas were bursting all around her. She brushed passed unfamiliar yet beautiful leaves and flowers. The Prince sat her down in the lemongrass while plucking  the leaves and flowers growing throughout his tea garden. He taught her about Matcha and Darjeeling and Chai and Oolong.  He recited epic tales of hilltop monks training monkeys to hand pick teas and of nations going to war for their lust of tea. With his hand gesturing and voice ranging through different characters, he knew he had the princess intrigued, but he didn't stop there. He took her hand and pulled her to a tree garden. There he gathered tea leaves, almonds, and dried fruits in sealed jars laying under the fruit trees. He took the mix and taught her about tea blends. After a deep inhale, the princess was enthralled with the art of tea and experimented with peppermint sticks in green tea, cinnamon sticks in ginger tea, and sugarcane in dried fruit blends. She loved all the teas and got lost in all the gadgets used to steep a perfect cup.

The next day, the princess would visit her first home of sodas and not-so-fruit fruit juices one more time, but the tastes she loved once upon a time now left her with bitter disappointment.  Her new and true home would be in the land of agave, cane and honey. The distant land called Tea... and she lived happily ever after. 

Appreciating tea is not only a process of preparing tea to extinguish thirst, it is also the pleasurable fulfillment found within the ceremonious aspects of tea. Organizing a tea pet on a tray, alongside the accouterments of tea, and then offering your life-giving elixir to this well-nurtured companion greatly adds to your overall satisfaction and experience.

History of Tea Pets

Dating back to the Yuan tradition of Ancient China, teapot artisans began shaping extra pieces of clay into animal shape. These molded animals were then fired alongside teapots and cups and kept as a matching mascot for the finished tea set.

Tea Pets of Today

Tea pets also known as tea lovers pets are usually made of Yixing clay, a material praised by potters for its absorbent properties. Another beloved element of Yixing clay is that it gradually changes its shading. The more it is "presented" to hot tea, the more colorful the shading of the clay. As time passes by, tea pets develop a delicate gloss and tea fragrance. Like in ancient times, the tea pets of today are typically molded into Chinese legendary animals, characters, or zodiac creatures to symbolize good luck, fortune and bliss. Contrary to tradition, the most popular figure of today’s tea pet cosmos is the "pee-pee kid", which is utilized to judge whether the water is sufficiently hot to make tea.

How to “Raise” a Tea Pet

Mixing tea with your favorite alcoholic beverages is a fun way to create fragrant cocktails with surprisingly complex flavors.

Chandon Passion Tea Mimosa

Iced Green Tea Mojito

An Asian twist on a traditional Cuban cocktail makes this mojito the perfect drink for a hot summer day. Cocktail Recipe:

• 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
• 4 large spearmint leaves
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1/2 cup brewed green tea, chilled
• 1 oz Appleton White Rum

Directions: Muddle the lime juice, mint, and sugar together in a tall Collins glass until the leaves bruise lightly and the flavors release. Add ice until glass is about 3/4 full and then pour in rum and green tea. Stir well and garnish with mint and lime. Suggested glassware: Collins Glass

Hot Toddy

• 1 tbsp honey
• 3/4 glass Earl Grey tea
• 2 shots Rémy Martin Cognac
• 1 slice lemon