Design Time

I do not have any actual followers yet, but do get some people who look at my blog (not sure if it is the same people or different people) so I decided to ask a few questions about the design I have for my teahouse that will be opening sometime in May.  I will know a more precise date in a week or two.  What do you think of it?   Here is the front counter and a stairs and railing that I really like and will probably have a close version at my place.

Part 2 of Old Tea Images: Tea Making Process

Part 2

Bamboo trays of tea exposed to sun and air. From Harper's New Monthly Magazine, November, 1859 www.TeaCourse.com


Charcoal fires beneath bamboo trays of tea. From Harper's New Monthly Magazine, November, 1859 www.TeaCourse.com

Tea is thrown together in a large basket and tossed about, thrown in the air and compressed by the arms. From Harper's New Monthly Magazine, November, 1859 www.TeaCourse.com

Rolling teas on bamboo mat. From Harper's New Monthly Magazine, November, 1859 www.TeaCourse.com

Roasting. From Harper's New Monthly Magazine, November, 1859 www.TeaCourse.com

Deeper green tea roasting pan. From Harper's New Monthly Magazine, November, 1859 www.TeaCourse.com

A Little Itchy to Garden

The last couple weeks we have had a few days in the 50s and 60s, which means that most of the snow has melted.  Which is making me itchy to get out and garden.  I have been slightly obsessed and fantasizing about planting spring, cool weather veggies.  Been clearing parts of the garden and have seen some herbs with new growth and a few flowers too, but the ground is too wet to actually plant yet.  The tons of snow that melted over the last few weeks and the rain that we got all day yesterday hasn't helped in this dilemma. The ground is saturated.  So I restlessly sleep, fantasizing about spinach, radishes, peas, lettuce, onions, swiss chard, carrots and beets.  Dreaming about the first shoots bursting through the soil.  Watching and waiting earnestly as they grow into mature edible plants.
If you garden, what do you plant in Spring?  Do you plant in Spring or wait until frost is not likely and the ground is warmer?

More Old Tea Images: Tea Making Process Part 1

Because I really enjoy these old pictures from http://www.teacourse.com.  This is part 1 of a 2 part series, part 2 will be shown a week later, on the tea making process.


Second Roasting Oven from Harper's New Monthly Magazine, November, 1859 www.TeaCourse.com



Tea rapidly stirred about to permit dense vapor to escape. From Harper's New Monthly Magazine, November, 1859 www.TeaCourse.com



Leaves passed through sieves and winnowed in baskets. From Harper's New Monthly Magazine, November, 1859 www.TeaCourse.com



After second rolling, shaken down upon a sieve, fixed midway in a tubular basket and placed over a charcoal fire. From Harper's New Monthly Magazine, November, 1859 www.TeaCourse.com



Stove for Roasting from Harper's New Monthly Magazine, November, 1859 www.TeaCourse.com



Resting arms, rolling with feet for commoner kinds of teas. From Harper's New Monthly Magazine, November, 1859 www.TeaCourse.com

Helping the Japanese during these times of trouble

I received an email from Kyoto Obubu Tea Plantations, they were not directly affected by the disaster but had a few customers 
in the area, about spreading the word about donating.  Here is part of what they 
wrote and the link to donate.

Donations
In the spirit of the Operation Sakura (www.operationsakura.org) theme "Letting hope blossom" (the sakura flowers bloom in just two weeks!), we hope to aid our fellow tea lovers in Japan get through this hard time by raising funds that will help them rebuild their lives, and showing them that tea lovers are a global family!

The donation page is located at http://www.obubutea.com/donate and allows you to "purchase" virtual "Sakura Sencha of Hope" and "Sakura Sencha of Cheer". We hope you will cooperate with us in this small effort to bring hope and cheer from one tea lover to another.

Funds raised thru this effort will go to the following in this order:
1.    Obubu customers directly affected by the disaster
2.    Tea farmers and tea businesses affected by the disaster
3.    If the needs of the above have been met, we will donate the money to the Japanese Red Cross Society or other effort specifically related to the disaster

If you would like to donate directly to the Japanese Red Cross Society, Google Crisis Response has a Google Checkout account specifically for the JRCS. Money collected by the JRCS for the disaster is being pooled into a relief fund that will then be distributed directly to victims thru local prefectural governments and is another way to give directly to victims.

To refrigerate tea or not

I was reading an interesting conversation about refrigerating tea in a group I joined in LinkedIn.  Before reading this the only tea I knew that should be refrigerated was matcha tea and maybe higher grade Japanese green  teas.  The reasoning for not refrigerating the tea is because of the moisture and the worry that the tea may not be in a sealed container.  If you do put tea in the refrigerator you should make sure that the tea is in a vacuum sealed container/bag.   Another reason to put tea in the refrigerator is if you live in a humid climate because of the moisture or an area where temperatures and humidity fluctuate a lot.  This is interesting to me because I want to serve tea to others or myself that gives the optimal taste and experience from the tea.  I guess the only other thing  that I can control over the tea I buy is making sure the water, steeping time and water temperature are correct.  Oh yeah and the type of vessel I use for heating the tea too.   One more thing, the dance I do while heating the water is very important and underrated.....

Great old pictures

Here are 5 pictures I found looking on the http://www.teacourse.com that I am a member.  I really enjoy them and hope you do too.

Chinaman -- From Aunt Martha's Corner Cupboard, Stories about Tea, Coffee, Sugar, Rice, etc. - 1909 by Mary & Elizabeth Kirby

Chinaman Baking his Cups -- From Aunt Martha's Corner Cupboard, Stories about Tea, Coffee, Sugar, Rice, etc. - 1909 by Mary & Elizabeth Kirby

The Kilns at King-Tan China -- From Aunt Martha's Corner Cupboard, Stories about Tea, Coffee, Sugar, Rice, etc. - 1909 by Mary & Elizabeth Kirby

The Potter at his Lathe - Making a Vase -- From Aunt Martha's Corner Cupboard, Stories about Tea, Coffee, Sugar, Rice, etc. - 1909 by Mary & Elizabeth Kirby

Pottery -- From Aunt Martha's Corner Cupboard, Stories about Tea, Coffee, Sugar, Rice, etc. - 1909 by Mary & Elizabeth Kirby

Enjoy your Global Tea Journey - ©2008-present

Got some bakery

I went yesterday to Molly's Gluten Free Bakery http://www.mollysglutenfreebakery.com/ to get some samples to decide if I will use them for my teahouse that will be opening in a couple months.  It is almost certain that I will use them and not just because I can't find another fresh gluten-free bakery in the area, but because I think they make a decent product.  I just moved to Milwaukee from Madison a month ago and have tried a few bakeries in Madison that had gluten-free products, but I think Molly's is the best so far. With one Madison bakery the product was so dense and tough I would never use them (wouldn't have a gluten-free option if they were the only product in the area) and Silly Yak http://www.freshglutenfree.net/ was only ok (disclaimer: the last time I tried Silly Yak was 2 years ago and their options have widen since then).  Molly's also has the widest selection I have seen in the area.  When I first went to them I was just looking for breads for my sandwiches, but if there was a demand I would offer some breakfast and sweet options too.  

 My first trip I was given a sample of the white bread, French loaf and Italian herb loaf.  I bought the French and Italian herb loaf.  The Italian herb loaf was good, but the herbs were a little overpowering.  Yesterday I bought the frozen English muffins (they did not have any fresh ones left) and 2 cupcakes.  Haven't tried everything, but did enjoy the French loaf, English muffins and a sample of a brownie (not sure which one). The cupcakes were ok but a little dense, and I bet if you had to eat gluten-free they would be good.  On my next trip I would like to try some breakfast options, more of the sweet options and buy the hamburger buns.  Ultimately, I can eat wheat products and of what I have tried I would not hesitate to eat the English muffins and that brownie.