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Showing posts with label Tea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tea. Show all posts

Video: The Perfect Cup of Tea

Posted by Brittney Murray Thursday, April 21, 2011 4:48 PM
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CIA Episode 2: The Perfect Tea from Brittney Murray on Vimeo.

Sorry this post is late everyone, I've had an incredibly insane week.

Things to Remember:

  • Japanese cast iron teapots are the best, but you don't have to use them
  • 1 teaspoon per 8 oz. of water (don't use a measuring teaspoon here)
  • Don't use the infuser that comes with the teapot and remember to prep it by swishing around hot water inside the pot (remember to dump it out before adding the tea)
  • Boil your water and dump it inside the teapot, allow it to brew according to the type of tea you're using (for black tea, between 2-3 minutes)
  • Place a small strainer over the cup to catch the tea leaves and pour yourself the perfect cup of tea

Recipe: Earl Grey Tea Cookies

Posted by Brittney Murray Thursday, April 14, 2011 8:31 AM
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It's been a while since I posted something pertaining to tea, and in my opinion, that's a shame. I'm from the South, so most Southerners are used to good tea, although it's usually iced and sweet. I'm not opposed to sweet tea, but I encourage my readers to branch out a little in the realm of tea. Truth be told, I didn't fall in love with hot tea until my trip to Ireland in 2005.


A few months back, I went to visit a good friend who is as equally addicted to coffee as I am, and that's when I was introduced to Earl Grey tea cookies. First of all, doesn't that cause the brow to furrow in confusion right there? Stick with me here because these cookies are fantastic and great to have not only with tea, but coffee as well. Remember, I enjoy things that can pull double duty. If you don't have Earl Grey tea? No problem, use this recipe with any other tea that you may have. I've discovered that chamomile is a wonderful substitution for this recipe.


Yield: 2 Dozen

  • 1 cup all purpose flour 
  • 1/4 cup sugar 
  • 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar 
  • 1 tablespoon Earl Grey tea leaves (use the ones in tea bags, not loose leaf) 
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt 
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 
  • 1 teaspoon water
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter

Preheat oven to 375°F. Pulse together all the dry ingredients in a food processor until the tea leaves are pulverized.
Add vanilla, water, and butter. Pulse together until a dough is formed. Form the dough into a log onto a piece of wax or parchment paper. Wrap the paper around and roll the log smooth. Freeze now, or chill for at least 30 minutes.
When chilled, slice the log into 1/3 inch thick pieces. Place on baking sheets and bake until the edges are just brown, about 12 minutes. Let cool on sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks.

Japanese Tea Ceremony

Posted by Brittney Murray Monday, March 28, 2011 8:08 AM
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Last Thursday, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Elizabeth Johnson, a friend of mine from college who had just returned from Japan after studying abroad. While in Japan, Elizabeth was able to participate in a Japanese tea ceremony which is a practice that’s rooted deep in Japan’s culture. The tea ceremony, or Ocyaka (pronounced “oh kuh kye”) is a form of spirituality in Japan much like a church service is in the U.S. The three major schools of tea ceremony in Japan are the Urasenke, which is the most popular, the school Elizabeth participated in called the Omotesenke, and Mushakōjisenke. There are more similarities than differences between the schools. Imagine gansta rap, hip-hop, and R&B, they’re essentially the same thing, but still different.


Most ceremonies last between one to four hours, typically longer if food is served along with the tea. The food that is served is usually sweet, which I would imagine would intensify the bitter taste of the matcha, which is a green powder that the host makes into tea. If the host is a woman, she will be dressed in a traditional kimono and will stir the matcha until it is very frothy. I was curious how Elizabeth felt participating in such a ceremony and asked if she felt awkward at all during the ceremony. She was studying abroad with students from other countries as well, so she told me it wasn’t as awkward as one might think, even though she had to ask on numerous occasions when to say certain things. In Omotesenke, there are times during the ceremony where certain phrases should be said prior to drinking the tea, etc.


In Japan, tea, especially green tea is an integral part of their culture, so much so, that nearly every vending machine in Japan contains a bottle of cold green tea. The tea ceremony is something that’s so important to Japanese culture, that often women will learn how to perform the ceremony prior to marriage so that it may be performed with her husband. The tea ceremony is a very intricate and beautiful ceremony, that many people take years upon years to master. It’s like playing the guitar, it’s very difficult and takes years to become adept to, but once you do the results are beautiful.


In response to the earthquake and tsunami that have devastated Japan, I urge you to click the link and donate to the Red Cross. Every little bit counts no matter how much you're able to give.