Blog Archives
Gift idea: Adopt a tea garden
Nudo Darjeeling has a sweet little offering that could make a perfect holiday gift for the tea lover in your life (or could be a treat for yourself)!
You can adopt one of their Darjeeling tea gardens for a year and receive the finest quality, first flush, loose leaf tea straight from their garden!
It starts from £18 and includes an adoption certificate and a spring delivery of a 125g tin of organic, first flush, loose leaf tea!
Xmas gift idea: The Drinksbag
British people are always coming up with genius ideas. Case in point: The Drinksbag, which goes on sale today. They are £44.95 for launch price. Unfortunately they can’t ship internationally until next year, but Brits can get them now.
The Tea Song
If you’re already on Team Tea, you probably already know that tea is an elixir that can help you cope with bad breakups, zombies and urinary infections. But if you’re still on the fence, Yorkshire Tea has launched an incredibly catchy tune called “The Tea Song.”
I fancy a cuppa right about now. How about you?
20 London bars you should have been to by now
World’s End
Where has this list been all of my life? Check out Buzzfeed.com’s roundup of the 20 best most interesting London bars, including the World’s End, allegedly the largest pub in the world (not to be confused with the latest movie by Simon Pegg).
The UK’s 50 best tea rooms
In honor of National Afternoon Tea Week this week, check out The Independent’s 50 best tea rooms! I’m sad to say I haven’t been to any of these (I’ve only ever been to the Ritz Hotel in London for tea!) but will add them to my list for a future visit!
Ever been to any of these? What’s your favorite British tea room?
10 ingredients for a jubilant 4th of July bbq
Happy 4th of July! Whether you’re stateside or in Blighty, here are Boden‘s ingredients for a jubilant 4th of July bbq.
I’ll see you back here on Monday! Enjoy the long weekend!
Cheers to gin!
I’m delighted to hear that gin is apparently the spirit of the moment. Consumption has increased by 7 percent across western Europe in the past year!
The last gin and tonic I had was on this month’s Virgin Atlantic flight of all places (side note: my return flight from the U.K. to the U.S. was MUCH better than my trip going over. We went Premium Economy, I didn’t eat the Gu and didn’t vomit once! Score!). Our flight attendant was charming, ebullient without being ingratiating and could make a mean drink! I spotted her bringing out a big bottle of Bombay Sapphire (yes, no minis!!) as she served a man in front of me and something about that cool, soothing blue shade of the bottle inspired me to order one. It was phenomenal!
There’s something extremely luxurious about someone fixing you a real drink, when you’re 30,000 feet up, using a real glass (not plastic), with a real lime and real ice cubes with a decorative swizzle stick that makes one feel positively pampered. It remains one of the top 10 best gin and tonics I’ve ever had!
How do you feel about gin? Yay or nay? And where’s the best gin and tonic that you’ve ever had?! Spill! 🙂
A hotter toddy
Photo credit: F. Martin Ramin for The Wall Street Journal
Is it just me or is this cold/flu season hitting particularly hard?
I suffered the better part of November with a lingering cough that I couldn’t kick (although I would’ve kicked it hard, wearing a pair of steel-toed Doc Martens, if I could) – and the more people that I talk to, the more I realize that this is one monster of a cold going around. But never fear … there are remedies! Good ones! In this weekend’s Wall Street Journal, a suggestion for an outstanding one went something like this:
Hot Toddy
In a large cup, combine 1 spoonful honey, juice of 1/4 lemon, 1 cinnamon stick, small dash of cayenne (optional but recommended) and the tea bag of your choice. Stick 3 cloves into 1 small lemon wedge and add to the cup. Pour in a slug of bourbon, as much or as little as you like. Fill cup with boiling water, stir well and let steep 5 minutes. Savor slowly; repeat as necessary.
Yes! Cayenne and tea jazz up this classic recipe. The writer suggests Earl Gray, Chai, ginger tea or, indeed, chamomile, if you’re seeking a little sleeping solace. I have whiskey in the house, but no bourbon (and I do think that Jim Beam would be a delightful choice in this scenario), but now have a good (and health-giving) reason to buy some.
If you try this recipe, please tell me what you think!
Best of British infographic
I spotted this infographic on Pinterest and thought it was worth sharing! Have a happy Tuesday!
Cheers to a good British organic beer
I blogged last week about a very British find at Whole Foods Market. Well, I have another discovery to share: Laverstoke Park Farm Organic Real Lager, made in Basingstoke, near Hampshire!
We bought some on our last weekly shop and I wasn’t sure what to expect (it’s not often you see a child’s drawing on a label advertising beer!) but it turns out that it is truly a great lager. Not too light, not too pissy (ahem, Coors…). Just refreshing with some body and flavor! Best of all, it’s British and organic! Superb!
BRITRISH.COM 