What is afternoon tea
Afternoon Tea, or low tea, is a small meal of tea sandwiches, scones, pastries, cakes, and other delectable treats piled up on plates and served with tea between lunch and dinner. Afternoon tea may be enjoyed as an informal social gathering at the coffee table. It may also be a more formal affair at the dining table, either at home, or at a restaurant offering afternoon tea service.
Afternoon tea originated in 1840’s Britain as a private social event. Traditionally served at 4pm, this small meal was intended to fill the long gap between lunch and dinner, which could be served as late as 8pm. Like tea itself, afternoon tea has gained popularity over the years, and has become an anticipated experience in hotels, tea rooms, and spas throughout the world.
How to serve afternoon tea
Afternoon tea may be served in the afternoon (go figure), between lunch and dinnertime. All you need is some tea, food, and friends.
What tea to serve
As for tea, the sky is the limit. Tea should pair well with food. The safe play is a good strong pot of black tea, like a breakfast tea, or a single estate black tea. When serving guests with limited tea exposure, this is often what they imagine when they think ‘tea.’
To spruce up the experience, try serving a seasonal blend. This can go well with a seasonal themed afternoon tea service.
For a caffeine-free experience, try a robust rooibos blend, or explore herbal tisanes. Herbal tisanes have a good potential for interesting food pairings.
Green teas and certain oolongs may be paired with lighter flavor foods. An amber oolong, such as Wu Yi has a more robust and toasty flavor that goes well savory foods, and compliments sweets very well. Pu-erh blends are very rich with a distinct earthy flavor, and may be better suited for heavier meals.
On a sweltering day, flip the script; try a tall glass of iced tea. It’s afternoon, it’s tea, why not?
Afternoon tea food
Fresh scones with preserves and cream or butter, tea cakes, tea sandwiches, tarts, biscuits, and french pastries piled up on plates. And plates piled up on tiered trays. Small dainties in abundance for your guests to pluck to their heart’s content. That is the afternoon tea experience.
The recipe ideas are endless. Some are very simple. If it’s small and beautiful, and pairs well with tea, put it on a plate!
Check out The Spruce for afternoon tea recipe ideas.
Afternoon tea tableware
The standard tea service tableware will do. You’ll need a large teapot and infuser, tea cups and saucers. If serving with milk and sugar, you’ll need a cream pitcher and sugar bowl.
Aside from small plates for serving and silverware, you may need ramekins for individual portions of preserves and cream if you are serving scones or other pastries that require spreads. While afternoon tea is typically served on tiered trays, they are not essential.
Shipping Policy Update
/0 Comments/in News /by sojournerwebEffective today, we are making some updates to our shipping policies. Due to increased shipping costs, we are raising the threshold for free tea shipping within the US to $50. The good news is that we are lowering the free US shipping threshold for teaware orders from $100 to $50. So simply put, all orders $50 and over now receive free US shipping.
You would benefit most from this new change if you occasionally want to add some tea sacs, tea tins, or other teaware to your order but don’t want to lay down $100 just to take advantage of free shipping. In fact, we will be expanding our tea selection over the coming weeks for a more well rounded offering. Feel free to reach out to us if you are looking for us to stock something.
If you buy 2oz – 1lb tea here and there, you’re going to see that shipping charge come into play. For those who typically order under $50, we recommend upping your tea order to take advantage of free shipping. Remember, properly stored tea can last up to a year. Another option is to buy some more variety of teas to expand your palate.
Stay tuned, because we are expanding our tea selections too. If you’ve ever visited our retail location, you might have noticed our offering is far greater than on our website. We will be expanding our tea selection online to more closely match our store offerings. Feel free to contact us if you are looking for recommendations on new teas to try.
For domestic orders under $50 we will defer to our discounted USPS priority mail shipping rates. All orders shipped outside the US will still be quoted USPS Priority Mail International.
Questions? Feel free to reach out to us.
Thank you,
Black Friday – Cyber Monday Special: 15% Off Orders 50+
/0 Comments/in Uncategorized /by sojournerwebHope you are enjoying yourself this Thanksgiving! We wanted to give you a heads up on our biggest sale of the year: the Black Friday – Cyber Monday special!
Starting today, November 22nd till the end of Cyber Monday, November 26th. shop on our website and save 15% off all orders over $50 (gift cards and tea club excluded), plus free domestic shipping on tea! If your order reaches $100, then merchandise is free shipping too! Enter the following coupon code from your shopping cart:
BLACKFRIDAY2018
Do you have a free customer account with us? When you are logged in, you will earn rewards points on top of your 15% discount! Your rewards points will go towards free tea and tea ware. Find out all the ways you can earn rewards points here.
Please note: Black Friday specials apply on our website only.
Do you need help shopping? Give us a call during our business hours or email any time for recommendations. Here’s some ideas to get you started:
New Seasonal Teas
Here are some brand new seasonal blends to get you in the mood for the holidays. Also, check out our Seasonal Tea category for more stocking stuffer ideas.
Organic Egg Nog
A guilt-free tea you can sip throughout the day. Our Organic Egg Nog is a smooth white tea with toasty notes of amber oolong, followed by a spicy finish of nutmeg and cinnamon. A unique seasonal blend to serve to guests.
Organic Very Berry Christmas
Our Organic Very Berry Christmas is a great holiday tisane without the caffeine kick. Enjoy a medley of tart holiday fruits with warm notes of cinnamon. A go-to stocking stuffer. Rich in antioxidants.
Top 3 Tea Ware Gifts:
1. Permanent Tea Basket
This is a staple item for brewing loose leaf tea. The Permanent Tea Basket fits in a mug or teapot without falling in. After brewing, the lid can be used as a drip catch. Taste-free stainless steel mesh filter strains even the finest loose leaf tea.
2. Tea Sac
If you hate cleanup, then you’ll love our Tea Sacs. These disposable paper filters come in a variety of sizes and are easy to use. It’s the convenience of bagged tea with the flavor and quality of loose leaf tea.
3. Double Sealed Stainless Steel Tin:
Organize your tea storage with our Double Sealed Stainless Steel Tin. The double seal keeps your tea fresher longer! The attractive design looks good on a shelf and fits a wide variety of home décors.
Thanksgiving Weekend Hours (In Store):
Thursday (11/22): Closed
Friday (11/23): 9am – 5pm
Saturday (11/24): 9am – 4pm
Sunday (11/25): Closed
And as usual, our website is always online.
Have a happy holiday season!
Divinitea
Labor Day Weekend Sale
/0 Comments/in News /by sojournerwebLabor Day weekend is here! With that comes the unofficial end of summer. We’ve switched our seasonal tea lineup to fall blends. To celebrate (or mourn) the coming cold, we’re offering a 10% off sitewide promotion on all our teas!
Valid this Labor Day Weekend, Saturday Aug 31 and ending midnight Monday Sep 3. Use the following coupon code at checkout:
laborday18
Tea club, gift cards, and tea ware are excluded from this sale.
Shop Now
As for us, we’re taking a little rest this weekend to regroup for the upcoming fall transition. Our retail location will be closed this Saturday (9/1) thru Monday (9/3), with normal hours resuming on Tuesday. But our website will be open 24/7 as usual.
Happy Labor Day Weekend!
Divinitea
Tea Bags Were Invented On Accident?
/0 Comments/in Tea Trivia /by sojournerwebAlthough cultivated tea has been around for thousands of years, the tea bag is a relatively recent invention. The venerable teapot and infuser, and other simpler tea ware such as the gaiwan were used to prepare tea for centuries.
It wasn’t until 1903 that the concept of a tea bag was patented. Roberta C. Lawson and Mary Molaren of Milwaukee, WI came up with the idea of a ‘tea-leaf holder,’ for the purpose of brewing a single serving of tea, instead of brewing a large quantity of tea in a tea pot.
As eloquently stated from the patent: “…the leaves shall be held together against separating and being dispersed through the infusion to be drunk up, which would spoil the pleasure of the drink, and yet the leaves must be so held together as to be exposed fully to the water poured thereon in the cup, so that their qualities shall be freely given off and taken up by the water to produce the desired infusion.”
However, tea bags were popularized in 1908 as a happy accident. Thomas Sullivan, a New York tea merchant, sent samples of tea to his customers in small silken bags. Some recipients mistakenly placed the silken bags directly into a teapot instead of emptying out the contents.
It wasn’t until Sullivan started receiving feedback from customers complaining about the fineness of the silk that he realized what happened, and started making gauze tea bags with a more porous weave for the intent of infusing.
Due to their ease of use, tea bags became popular in the US, with commercial production beginning in the 1920’s. In 1930, the heat sealed paper fiber tea bag was patented, resembling the tea bag we are familiar with today. Post WWII, tea bag production ramped up globally.
Today, tea bags are a mixed blessing. It’s easy to find a dizzying array of tea bags in grocery stores, making tea widely accessible to the public. However, the tea that most people are familiar with, at least in the US, is of a considerably low quality.
Tea bags allow for the use of fannings, or dust, which is what is left over from processing higher quality teas. Typically, teas found at the grocery store are of this grade, leaving many with a false perception of what good tea tastes like.
However, a quality tea experience can still be obtained with open ended tea bags. These disposable paper filters offer the convenience of single use and can be filled with any loose leaf tea. Even in the era of modern conveniences, you can still have a quality cup of tea.
Resources
New Tea – Golden Milk
/0 Comments/in News /by sojournerwebGolden milk has a satisfyingly complex flavor of chai spices and turmeric. Simmer with milk for a rich creamy texture and a vibrant golden infusion. Naturally caffeine free, Golden Milk can be served at any time of day. This sweet, spicy, robust beverage will become your new revered tradition.
Traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine for its anti-inflammatory properties, it is also promoted for liver health, as a digestive aid, for improved immunity, and for healthier skin.
And great news for summer – you can have Golden Milk hot or iced! Golden milk makes a very refreshing latte!
New Tea – Pineapple Jasmine Green Tea
/0 Comments/in News /by sojournerwebSHOP NOW
Happy Father’s Day!
Divinitea
Mother’s Day Tea Sale
/0 Comments/in Uncategorized /by sojournerwebMother’s Day is almost here. Surprise mom with a flavorful tea blend! We’re featuring our floral tea blends this weekend at 10% off. Browse our Mother’s Day Tea category. Add any tea from this selection to your shopping cart and enter the following coupon code:
MOTHERS-TEA
Browse our Mother’s Day Tea Collection Here: https://www.divinitea.
In addition to 10% off, logged in users earn rewards points. Be sure to log into your customer account before you place your order! And as usual, all tea orders receive free shipping.
Teaware For Mother’s Day
Not sure mom has what she needs to brew loose leaf tea? There are a few easy tea ware options:
Divinitea Hack: Here’s a little trick to optimize your shipping costs. If you’re order is below $100 and has tea ware in it, order the tea and tea ware separately. You’ll get your free shipping on tea, and pay for shipping only on the tea ware.
Gift Message?
We’ve updated a feature on our website. When you checkout, you’ll notice that the spot to enter order notes now includes the option to enter gift message. If you want to ship your order directly to mom, you can enter a gift message at checkout. Please note that you can only enter order notes OR gift message. If you want to enter both order notes AND gift message, just email us after you order, we can print out a separate gift message with the order.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Divinitea
What Is That Red Tea I Had On Vacation?
/0 Comments/in Tea Profile /by sojournerwebHibiscus is an herbal tisane made from the roselle flower (hibiscus sabdariffa). It goes by many names, such as roselle, sorrel, and agua de Jamaica. The color is deep red with an unmistakably tart flavor. It is often sweetened to balance out the tart flavor and served iced. It is sometimes blended with ginger, cinnamon, or clove and a little rum.
The herbal tisane is high in vitamin C, and makes a great caffeine-free beverage, both hot and iced. Because of it’s strong flavor, it tastes best when blended with other ingredients. Here are some hibiscus blends for you to get your Caribbean red tea fix:
Need help making iced tea with loose leaf tea? Check out our iced tea guide!
How To Clear Out Winter Teas
/0 Comments/in Tea How To, Uncategorized /by sojournerwebWith Spring officially here, it’s a great time to phase out your winter teas to get ready for your spring seasonal teas. Here are some tips to get through your tea inventory.
Have friends over for a tea clearing
Have friends and family over for tea. This may be an afternoon tea party or it could just simply be a cuppa and conversation. Keep the tea flowing!
Serve your winter teas iced:
Warming, spicy teas traditionally thought of as winter teas may be served iced. Iced teas with clove, cinnamon, and ginger pair pleasantly well with heavier meals. Try your winter teas iced, you may be pleasantly surprised.
Need help brewing iced tea, check out this guide.
Cooking with tea:
Tea is a culinary ingredient. While traditionally thought of as an infused beverage, it has its uses in cooking. Here are a few ideas to get you started. Please keep in mind that caffeinated teas will indeed caffeinate your food, perhaps not as concentrated as full on cup of tea, but enough to exercise caution when eating tea infused foods later in the day.
Looking for inspiration? You can view our tea recipe collection for ideas. https://www.divinitea.com/category/tea-recipes/
Popsicles
Some winter teas make for unique and exciting popsicles. Check out this guide to making popsicles using tea: https://www.divinitea.com/iced-tea-and-fruit-popsicle-recipe/
How To Serve Afternoon Tea
/0 Comments/in Tea How To /by sojournerwebWhat is afternoon tea
Afternoon Tea, or low tea, is a small meal of tea sandwiches, scones, pastries, cakes, and other delectable treats piled up on plates and served with tea between lunch and dinner. Afternoon tea may be enjoyed as an informal social gathering at the coffee table. It may also be a more formal affair at the dining table, either at home, or at a restaurant offering afternoon tea service.
Afternoon tea originated in 1840’s Britain as a private social event. Traditionally served at 4pm, this small meal was intended to fill the long gap between lunch and dinner, which could be served as late as 8pm. Like tea itself, afternoon tea has gained popularity over the years, and has become an anticipated experience in hotels, tea rooms, and spas throughout the world.
How to serve afternoon tea
Afternoon tea may be served in the afternoon (go figure), between lunch and dinnertime. All you need is some tea, food, and friends.
What tea to serve
As for tea, the sky is the limit. Tea should pair well with food. The safe play is a good strong pot of black tea, like a breakfast tea, or a single estate black tea. When serving guests with limited tea exposure, this is often what they imagine when they think ‘tea.’
To spruce up the experience, try serving a seasonal blend. This can go well with a seasonal themed afternoon tea service.
For a caffeine-free experience, try a robust rooibos blend, or explore herbal tisanes. Herbal tisanes have a good potential for interesting food pairings.
Green teas and certain oolongs may be paired with lighter flavor foods. An amber oolong, such as Wu Yi has a more robust and toasty flavor that goes well savory foods, and compliments sweets very well. Pu-erh blends are very rich with a distinct earthy flavor, and may be better suited for heavier meals.
On a sweltering day, flip the script; try a tall glass of iced tea. It’s afternoon, it’s tea, why not?
Afternoon tea food
Fresh scones with preserves and cream or butter, tea cakes, tea sandwiches, tarts, biscuits, and french pastries piled up on plates. And plates piled up on tiered trays. Small dainties in abundance for your guests to pluck to their heart’s content. That is the afternoon tea experience.
The recipe ideas are endless. Some are very simple. If it’s small and beautiful, and pairs well with tea, put it on a plate!
Check out The Spruce for afternoon tea recipe ideas.
Afternoon tea tableware
The standard tea service tableware will do. You’ll need a large teapot and infuser, tea cups and saucers. If serving with milk and sugar, you’ll need a cream pitcher and sugar bowl.
Aside from small plates for serving and silverware, you may need ramekins for individual portions of preserves and cream if you are serving scones or other pastries that require spreads. While afternoon tea is typically served on tiered trays, they are not essential.