London Fog Makes Me Think About Earl Grey

England is a moody place. The air is chill and the sky almost, always painted grey with clouds packed with pockets of rain. I was only there for a couple days nearly a year ago ( it bizarrely seems like a decade now) and I mostly remember days of solid rain and gloom. I think of London because of Earl Grey tea.

The name Earl Grey tea was coined after a British Prime Minister from the early 1800’s. No better name for a British tea, I think! Mr. Earl Grey always requested tea with bergamot oil which has since been a characteristic flavor and aroma of the black tea. This tea is one that I associate with an afternoon tea time in England; one where you sit at the Ritz London sharing laughs and chatter over a tower of pastries and finger sandwiches. It’s timeless and simple, no frills other than the flavor of bergamot.

I am a huge fan of citrus and cannot seem to stop talking about it either! Bergamot, is a type of orange grown in Italy and looks cross between a lime and lemon! How oddly beautiful a fruit variety could be? And, not to mention I never got my hands on one while in Italy, at least I don’t remember. But, goodness it is an amazing fruit and it’s made itself one of the most important teas in Harney and Sons vast tea collections.

Turn Savory Cornbread into a Harney Tea Citrus Tea Cake

As an after school snack in grade school, my grandmother used to bring over corn muffin tops for her and I to snack on. She loves them! We would toast and smear with butter. So so delicious, even right from the local grocers bakery. So while I believe that we should treat ourselves to something different and calorie filled every so often, it was in my best interest to make fried chicken and test out a new cornbread recipe this weekend. Cornbread could either be really tasty or quite dry and boring, and I have had it both ways.

So here is my proposition. Savory cornbread is best for a dinner of greasy, buttery, tender and juicy fried chicken. You can sop up the leftover juices on your plate with cornbread! In my opinion cornbread is at its best the day of too. After a day it gets super cold and firm unless you toast it, but then you run risk of drying it out. I do believe that day old cornbread is the perfect model for some simple syrup action! Turn a savory carb into a sweeter treat.

A fried chicken side turns itself into an after dinner tea cake.

It’s citrus season baby! And I love my citrus. So. I have turned my day old cornbread into a sweet blood orange soaked cake. And! I glazed it with a mixture of powdered sugar and Harney and Sons Blood Orange tea. I garnished it with a beautiful spiral of orange peel that I coated in sugar and fried in olive oil!

I always look forward to my next meal- gratefully so- and I think this is a nice treat to pack for lunch during the work day. A sweet pick me up, and hopefully it doesn’t knock you out ;)

Get out of that holiday funk

So here we are at the holiday’s end. The fun has blown over. How? That fast really? It always happens that way and when all is said and done we go back to work and school feeling kind of funky. But, there is no need for that because our blessings are more exciting everyday than what Christmas could bring us once a year. And the Harney and Sons tea giveaway has closed and one lucky person will be receiving something a little extra this year.

Thank you to those who participated! The garnished selection has taken place and the winner will be contacted shortly. Gifts are fabulous baby!

Harney Sons Gift Giveaway Continues with Chai Tea Moments

Nothing more do I love than a perfectly creamy and indulgently sweet chai tea. I am in love. I always get Chai tea wherever I go even if it’s the cafe at the edge of town. Except Italy! I don’t remember how I got through without my chai? Nonetheless, it’s my favorite, so at home in the absence of a milk frother I lightly whip heavy cream instead. This “foamy” version of frothed milk made me say “hell yes!” The heavy cream sticks around a little longer and doesn’t melt into the tea like foamed milk would. Sweet, dense, warm, yum. The spices are equally balanced throughout, yum!

So, what the heck is Chai tea anyways and why can we purchase jugs of Chai tea concentrate at Harney and Sons? Chai is a black tea base with cinnamon, clove, cardamom, nutmeg, and vanilla. Black tea is full of caffeine, so I must take caution, but I rather enjoy my 20 minutes of bliss no matter the consequence. I feel as if though Chai tea, like matcha, has been morphed into its own category. You have white teas, black teas, oolongs, and greens, but within those categories are the all mighty sub category of bold, concentrated, and noteworthy teas. Teas that don’t necessarily act as cold remedies and teas that you don’t make in the morning like a cup of Jo. These teas like Chai are what memories are made around. Charismatic and full, Chai tea is best to drink in moments where only good things happen.

Harney and Sons Gift Giveaway!

This year along with Harney and Sons Tea I will be giving away a special gift inclusive of Harney and Sons Tea products! Here is what you need to tell me….

I want to know what it is that makes your favorite food memories so special. Food in some form is always a part of our culture. Food memories are nostalgic and they evoke feelings from past experiences, memories with people, and memories of feelings. When I learned about this simple concept in culinary school it always stuck with me. Part of why I tell stories in my posts has to do with my love for sharing memories in relation to food. Even though we may share the same food with the same people in the same space, we all take something different away from those moments.

I’m not sure that every one of us has memories with tea, but if we do then I want to know what it was! What did you drink, who were you with, what did you talk about, and why was it special?! Or was is it that time you ordered Bucatini Amatriciana from Pasta Beach in Rhode Island that kept you going back again and again… (if you want to know more then you tell me your stories too)!

Tea or no tea, what foods or drink evoke your best memories?

Subscribing to The Garnished Palate will double your chances of being chosen! Regardless, everyone who shares will be placed in my bag of tricks to be considered for a Harney and Sons gift!

Hauraki Frost Vibes

Thanksgiving is brisk this year, which means more reason to indulge in food that makes you feel cozy. More reason to drink a stronger, astringent @Harney teas Hauraki Frost from Southern India. A tea that mellows out the buttery Cherry Diane, Pumpkin, and Apple Crisp pies! There’s something comforting about taking the initial bite of pie and sipping hot tea to chase. It’s a feeling I wish could last forever but theres no way around avoiding the feeling of being full!

There are never enough ways to be thankful for all the good there is. But I am blessed to have a dual life living and working in a world where I surrounded by food in all ways imaginable. 

Blooming Art Tea Part 3: A Series Of Fashionable Teas

And it’s Autumn! I waited to post this later in the month although I was eager to do it sooner, but I had to wait for fall to show itself even (just a little). According to the calendar it’s fall, but it barely feels like it. There were days during the summer that felt more like Autumn than it does now so I do know that it’s gonna take a minute to readjust itself. For now, we just go with it and imagine the beautiful crips air, produce, and fashion trends that comes with it. This month- the final month of fashionable teas- Jessica and I decided to represent Harney and Sons Jasmine Fairy Maiden. A less bountiful tea than the previous ones in our series, but the best one to put in a glass. It’s orange blossom is a bit small which makes it perfect for a singular cup of tea.

Because the tea is a bit subtle in color we wanted to tie in some bright colors and textured patterns to bring it to life. The orange cloth automatically makes you think of fall, evoking the feelings of warmth, delicious pumpkin soup, decked out Jack o’lanterns, and thick knit sweaters. The milk carafe is essential to this photo because I bought it at an antique fair in Alberobello, Puglia while the weather was wisping cold air off the sea. That little copper vessel was the perfect buy during that cold winter season and I knew it would come to fit an occasion like this. The copper color fits the warm tone of the scene.

The Jasmine Fairy Maiden is a green tea with jasmine tea leaves flowering around and upward the blossom. The small lemon colored thread of flowers bloom out from the center of the tea leaves leaving a whimsical trail of beauty. These blooming art teas are subtle in flavor but they carry so much sophistication, that they are perfect when decorating a table scape for an elegant party. Think festive halloween party or a chilly fall morning tea meet- up with friends when sipping this tea!

Blooming Art Part 2: A Series Of Fashionable Teas

The edge of summer is near, which means there will be many less days of vibrant sun. It also means the cool colors become warm and everything in trend turns to fall. The last few days of summer are being held tightly before they are lost in a long year of work. Before all the bright and bubbly colors of summer turn to darker versions of themselves. And, not that I don't love fall because it actually is my favorite season, I really enjoy the beauty of summer and how lively everything becomes in both worlds of fashion and food. Like days I get to prance around in my yellow mini skirt or bright purple polka dot romper. Even the moments I crave a large glass of iced tea while baking for hours in a very warm kitchen. All these summery vibes will soon change over for all things warmer and more snuggly.

The name of Harney and Sons Tea, Dancing Snowflake is a bit ironic when thinking about summer. But it actually perfectly mimics the beauty of both fashion and food with its bloomed essence. A fluffy yellow flower opens up to hot water and garnishes any glass teapot with sunny sophistication. I love this tea for August because it symbolizes a time when fashion and drink are at their peak in season. Right now the trends of clothes, shoes, accessories, and colors of summer are almost full-filled. We will soon see the life of fall come to fruition. We will see lines of people waiting inside cramped coffee shops defending the cold and awaiting their order of hot tea. We will see food and beverage brands marketing their best and new fall items with clove, cinnamon, or pumpkin spice. But for now, we will savor the last moments of summer with the Dancing Snowflake tea (don't mind the name too much).

British Tea Time is like America's Happy Hour

I envy the British for their afternoon tea time with mini cakes and finger sandwiches. I think it's such a great way to break up the day and take a few minutes to self reflect or loathe or listen to other peoples drama. Is that too much?

Queen Catherine of Braganza, a Portuguese women who went from a European way of life to the British way is the historical figure noted for starting the tea trend in England. She is the one who grew fond of tea through her own culture and quickly made it come to life in England. Harney and Sons Queen Catherine Tea is a combination of three Chinese black teas: Keemun, Yunnan, and Panyang; Keemun being light, smokey, and fruity, Yunnan as sweet and Panyang as toasty. It's a great sipping (iced) tea for a hot day. The flavor is slightly bold and tannic so it may not be the chugging ice tea of your thirst quenching dreams, but something to cool you off as you float in the pool or eat lunch on the patio. Or perhaps a perfect Afternoon Tea picnic drink with a slice of peach pie?

Juicy August peaches are most definitely in our thoughts this month. Not that you have to hand make anything with peaches, but I recommend buying a treat featuring them at the farmers market! Sometimes a local farm stand will sell their produce in a thoughtfully baked way and you can find comfort in knowing it will be more likely of good quality than not. My family caught the end of day sale at the Rhinebeck market so we hit up the half priced peach pies and could not wait to cut a piece before dinner! I bridged the flavor of Harney and Sons Queen Catherine tea into the whipped cream ontop of the peach pie, which offered a very subtle hint of earthiness.  I won't dare eat any pie without whipped cream! Just a teaspoon of crushed tea leaves turned powder will be enough for a cup of whipped cream.  Plus the tiny black specks are beautiful against the white cream; the cream is a bit too bright in the picture above, but believe me they are there. You cannot go wrong with this type of tea, it's actually good for moderate, unadventurous tea drinkers who are looking for something simple in flavor. Plus the name takes you into a fantasy world of 17th Century princesses drinking afternoon tea!

Blooming Art part 1: A Series Of Fashionable Teas

It's quite simple if you think about it, that tea is this gorgeous, perfume like, colorful substance that you add to water and miraculously it has a way to heal, entertain, warm, and form relationships. In my home growing up we always had pouches of tea and nothing more. It was then how I viewed tea as a white pouch that turned brown once saturated where I figured the in-complexity of it. It was when my dad and I bought my mom loose tea leaves in this 2 oz tin can for her birthday one year, that I first started liking the idea of tea even more. There are cultures that swear by it too, like England and their clocked in routine tea time. The stores I visited while spending time with a friend in London all made sure their teas were prominent above all other specialty food items sold around. Even India, China, and Japan find a greater importance for this dainty sipping drink, that does wonders for our bodies and mind. 

Besides the healing properties and mental wellness it provides there is something more physical to tea. There are teas mixed with dried flower petals or citrus rind, grassy textures, and herbs and then there are those that sprout like flowers and create the idea of an underwater garden. Harney & Sons,  Seven Sons Congratulating tea is this pinkish red flower, surrounded with jasmine petals. The tea grows in the Fujian Province, China nearest Taiwan which is one of the largest regions in China to produce tea .  It's a beautiful combination of dainty meets feminine meets chic with touches of the color pink and jasmine. Jessica Haryanto and I spent some time thinking about how we could portray tea in a modest yet fashionable way. Jessica has spent some time in the fashion world and helped me collaborate on how to make this blooming art tea the perfect look for mid- summer. While we feel that pink is floral, feminine, fragrant, and loving, it allows us to create a tea scene that fits all these characteristics in any setting.

Tasting Notes

While this tea is especially delicate, the raw tea sphere- before it flourishes in water- smells of Fig Neutons.  Steep the tea ball in hot water off heat and wait for its reveal in only a few minutes; the water should turn a pale yellow.  With the addition of sugar or honey it's mild jasmine flavor is just as good either room temperature or hot. Some opinions my say it's not a hearty tea you drink with milk, especially because you don't want to hide its beautiful bloom.  Seven Sons Congratulating Tea  is refreshing and fashionable for any evening or morning sip in July.

Hot and Slushy Berry Tea Granita

Spring has turned into summer incredibly fast,  and I am way ahead of the season by preparing this icy granita made from Harney and Sons Berry Young Tea.  As I head up to the Hudson Valley every other weekend, I notice the vast change in quietness and the peace of the countryside and how much more motivated I am to get creative. I use all and anything lying around, like the plaster and sample paints that my brother had leftover from renovating his room. While in NYC- at this moment in my life- there is only so much room an apartment can offer. I have started to bring my props down in batches, but always love knowing that I have enough items back at home to work with when I'm there.  And when I am really motivated I create surfaces like the one above. A subtle blue textured wave with the bright pinkish- red contrast is just right. The surface adds a little something different but it also doesn't take away the essence of what the photo is really about. 

It's quite simple to make so instead of turning brewed hot tea into a cold drink, just blend it with some sugar and berries and pop it in the freezer for a quick treat. Granitas are delicious when your sweet tooth is weak and you are quenching for something fruity. Granitas melt fairly quickly, but they taste just as delicious if you consume the rest through a straw- I know it seems odd but trust me on this. I think this treat also leaves you feeling less guilty because it doesn't contain the fat from dairy as you would get in Ice cream. Maybe I'm contradicting myself here, but  I would recommend having ice cream after lunch (work it off) and save granitas for your end of meal, sweet snack. 

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TEA NOTES

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RECIPE

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The vibrant fuchsia tea is certainly flavored by a mix of unexpected ingredients. Rose petals, goji berries, kiwi, bits of apple, and pieces of orange peel take action in flavor and what's so beautiful about this tea are the dainty ingredients that make it quietly complex. The loose leaves tell a story about the tea before drinking it and what you will taste is up to your senses. Perhaps it's easier to taste these various  ingredients when observing the tea leaves as you sip, picking through each dried piece (this is for very observant tea drinkers). Try drinking this tea hot and then drinking it cold and see how the entire profile changes. The strawberry is subtle when warm and immediately you think of Mama's berry cobbler. But, when chilled the berries are crispy and ripe just as you would eat them at the strawberry patch. 

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1 Cup water

2 T Berry Young loose tea leaves

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup blueberries

1/2 cup strawberries

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METHOD

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1. Steep the tea in hot water until a bright fuchsia color develops. Let cool.

2. Add all ingredients to a blender, including the tea leaves and blend until smooth.

3. Strain the liquid and pour into a metal pan. Place in the freezer for about 45 minutes to an hour. 

4. Scrape with a fork and put the mixture back in the freezer for another hour. It should be completely frozen and slushy after two hours. 

***The bigger and shallower the pan is, the bigger the granita chunks will be. For smooth scraping, pour into a smaller, deeper container. You will get nice scraped-up fluffs of granita this way.

Japanese Green Tea Horchata Anyone?

Just as we round off Cinco de Mayo weekend, we may still be thinking about horchatas, concha, and beef tacos. I have been thinking about horchatas and the fact that I never found them appealing until now. What could you do with tea other than sip it hot under a blanket or drink it with ice on a warm sunny day? Horchata is generally known as a Spanish and Mexican milky cold drink blended with raw rice. The rice sits in the liquid for hours so that the fine starch particles can soak up the water and create a viscous beverage. My version is Japanese due in part to the sushi rice I used as well as the tea, Genmaicha which is made from the leaves of Bancha tea, brown rice, and popped rice kernels. I thought, well, if I'm going to spin this classic around I better use a tea that makes sense like one with rice in it.

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TEA NOTES

via GIPHY

Genmaicha is classified as a Japanese green bancha tea that has been picked a few weeks after the first tea harvest. The first harvesting of the tea's plant would be considered the sencha tea leaves. The Gemaicha has course bancha tea leaves and toasted grains of rice with a few popped kernels per handful. Wafting the dry leaves will immediately get you envisioning yourself snacking on buttered popcorn with the initial aroma of a toasted butter. While the tea steeps, you will notice the aroma loosening up a but due to the dilution from water, but it still holds strong in flavor. When sipping Genmaicha you taste toasted rice as if you were parching some in hot oil for risotto, however there is a grassiness that comes forward too. The longer you steep the more intense the flavor and color will be, so while steeping at the appropriate temperature of 190 degrees for maximum 3 minutes, you should see a light minty green color appear. This is a great detoxing tea when you're feeling a cleanse or  after eating stuffed Castella pancakes or super sweet Custard Fish.

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     MAKE IT 

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2 Cup Water

2 T Genmaicha Tea leaves

1/2 Cup+ 2 T  Sushi Rice 

3/4 Cup Coconut Milk

2- 3 T Honey

1. Bring water to 190 degrees and add the loose Genmaicha tea leaves. Let steep for 1-3 minutes.  Let tea cool down before adding rice. 

2. When tea has cooled, add raw sushi rice and blend in blender until course. Let sit for 2 - 3 hours and strain liquid through sieve leaving rice bits behind. 

 3. While liquid is sitting, fry 2 tablespoons of sushi rice in hot oil until they pop into mini kernals. Transfer to paper towel to soak up any leftover oil. Set aside.

 4. After a few hours, blend honey and coconut milk into tea liquid until smooth and frothy.

5. Add ice cube and kernels to the Genmaicha Horchata and drink through a straw in a sassy tall glass.

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MAKE AHEAD

Make Genmaicha tea ice cubes instead of using regular cubes that will dilute the drink. Make tea as you would above and pour hot into prepared ice trays. You can purchase cube shaped rubber ice trays at any home goods store.

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Tea Time with Harney & Sons

I am thrilled to announce that The Garnished Palate is now sponsored by Harney & Sons Master Tea Blenders, which means I am on a monthly mission to deliver stories on all things Tea. I have spent days mulling over the idea of what I can do for my first Tea Time post. The most appropriate one for the month of April- when we are not so subtly enduring April showers- was to drink Harney & Sons Organic Rooibos Tea. This bright herbal tea suits the soon coming Springtime feeling of craving warm weather, chirping birds, and radiating sunlight. And, having been home for only a week from Italy, I am already missing the idea of Italian pastries, which was the last thing I set my eyes on before crossing borders. Powdered sugar coated sfogliatella, my favorite of the aforementioned treats,  with lots of crunch and crumbs pairs perfectly with hot, floral rooibos tea and is a great afternoon snack to welcome the changing of seasons.

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TEA NOTES: 

 Rooibos is truly considered an herbal tea (flowers, spices, herbs) as opposed to a typical tea steeped with tea leaves (more on that later). The dark red color comes from oxidizing the South African Shrub for hours so that its beautiful color tone sets. There are other versions of Rooibos sold in their greener state before oxidation occurs, which create a different drinking experience. This one is not so much floral as it has more deep-rooted, grassy tones and the flavor is assertive. And when drinking pay attention to vanilla notes as they will come forward. I will mention that if you are a serious tea drinker and pay attention to all aspects of tea as a sommelier would with wine, you should take part in really observing color, taste, and aroma.  Wider rimmed white teacups will suit best for color identification and release of aromas. Slurping tea like you would wine -through your teeth and buzzing around the palate- is the proper way to taste tea. There are so many amazing hidden properties about tea that you can discover just by sipping.

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MAKE IT:

Boil 8 oz water and steep 1 tea bag for 4 minutes or 1.5 tsp loose leaf tea  for 6 minutes. 

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