We go from last weeks broken teapot to a plethora of teapots that need drinking from. Well it's a dirty job but someone has got to do it so it may as well be me. After writing this post a-place-with-all-the-elements.html about Elements Tea and Coffee House I was invited to go on a tea tasting evening which Elements were hosting.
I had never been to a proper tea tasting session before and to be honest I didn't know what to expect. I thought I may have to seem professional and swill tea round, make slurpy noises and nod in all the right places but no it was so relaxed and very informative. I learnt so much about tea, yes more than I ever thought I knew. This session contained a bit of geography and history, it was like school but better because we drank tea. We were hosted by a lovely chap from Elements who really knew his stuff about tea and we were able to sample a large range of teas from white tea, green tea, black tea to the lovely tasty Rooibos which I think had to be my favourite. It was quite cleverly organised so that we started with the white teas which are not so strong and as we worked down the teapots, the tea got a little stronger. As I've mentioned we learnt where all these teas originated from, how they became to be popular and we also learnt the important bit......how to brew them or steep them. All of the teas were presented in a shot glass which I thought was quite amusing at first but it made sense, we were tasting not on a marathon mug drinking sesh. Although I am now thinking that may be a great idea, to be sponsored to drink tea for charity? Only me then......ok. We were given some bread as well to cleanse the pallet enabling us to get a real taste for all the different flavours. I was able to get some gluten free bread so very impressed there. We used the chart pictured above to describe the flavours we were tasting. It is very interesting how everyone's taste buds are slightly different and how some people interpret the taste of different teas. That's how we all discovered that we were drawn to different types of tea.......tea is very like people or should I say people are like tea. Life is one great big teapot. Overall I can really recommend this event if you are thinking of going. They do have another one scheduled for Sunday 27th January 3pm - 4.30pm. For £15 per person. You can enjoy a light buffet and taste a diverse range of teas including white, green, oolong, and black tea. Tickets are available on Eventbrite here www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/elements-tea-tasting-workshop-tickets-53767759817?aff=ebdshpsearchautocomplete .....or you can get them from Elements too. So what are you waiting for? Get yourself booked in. The staff are so friendly and really spend time enabling you to get the most out of this experience. If you love tea this is a must and even if you don't please still think about going as you may learn something you didn't know or you may fall in love with a tea you hadn't even thought of loving. I'm making it sound like dating now eh? Go and meet your brew match........oh and let me know which tea was your favourite and which one you decided to take home. Thank you to the staff at Elements for providing a great evening for us. I hope all their events are successful as I'm sure they will be. Thank you so much for reading today. I will return tomorrow for What to Buy Wednesday but for now......... Take care.
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What's this I hear you cry? I can hear Tragedy by the Bee Gees being played (I remember it the first time around, sorry Steps). It's a terrible sight, a broken teapot. Not sure about the teapot but I'm broken too, this was my Mother's Day pressie from a couple of years ago.
I used this pot a lot, it would just hold two mugs of brew and I just loved looking at the message 'I love you Mum' on the side......it reminded me that my Boys from the Brew really cared about me. Am I making you cry yet? Is this just the saddest blog post yet in tea world? The thing is it's not too bad as it didn't have a brew in it when. it broke, now that would have been tragic. It fell through my hands when unloading the dishwasher and boom, it didn't bounce but have you noticed that it has kind of broken in a heart shape. In teapot death it was still trying to tell me it loved me. Oh enough of this woe now, the good news is I have found another one exactly the same on the inter web so I can replace it and brew another day. Wow that sounds like a spoof James Bond movie.........oh the original was Die Another Day wasn't it? I think Brew Another Day sounds a lot better.......what's ya name? Bond......Brooke Bond, I like by tea.....one sugar stirred not shaken. So for every tragedy there is a solution somewhere. To be honest i's not that I'm short of teapots but this had real sentimental value and there was real love in that pot. I love the thought of spreading love through the power of tea.....tea love, nice. Ok so I'm happy now knowing I can replace the broken pot, I just need to be careful with them from now on. Not sure I've seen a teapot that bounces, that would be good fun.....errrrrr maybe not. I'm signing off another Teapot Tuesday but please do come back tomorrow for What to Buy Wednesday......take care for now and also, take care of your teapots. I know what you're thinking, my brew's gone all mouldy. No I hadn't waited that long, the service was better than that. It's a Matcha Latte which is delicious even with a bit of vanilla syrup added... ooooh yummeeee.
Matcha is a Japanese green tea and when mixed with steamed milk and a bit of sweetness it makes the perfect latte. Matcha is meant to have so many health benefits, it's high in a catechin called epigallocatechin gallate EGCG which is believed to have cancer fighting effects on the body. It tastes lovely as well, something between a milkshake and custard, probably not a great description but go and try one. In fact go to this lovely place called Elements and try all sorts of tea and coffee. There are other drinks available and lots of tasty food. They cater for the gluten freer's and vegan ones amongst us which is great and there are events you can join in on as well. There is a Tea Tasting evening coming up and they have opportunities for you to purchase vouchers for afternoon tea and even a vegan afternoon tea too. If you need a space to hold a workshop or meeting there is a space available to hire so this place just has everything. Free Wifi, changing facilities for the little ones and a friendly atmosphere. I loved it here, it was busy on a Saturday which is good......always think it's a good sign if it's busy. I first became aware of Elements when I attended the tea festival in Derby recently and they ran the teashop there. They haven't been open for long but from what I can see it's a successful little place so far. The staff are so friendly and I think I will be returning very soon. If you would like some more information on Elements Tea and Coffee House they have a website here: www.elementsderby.co.uk or if you fancy a visit then they can be found at 6 Royal Buildings, Victoria Street, Derby. DE1 1ES. I tend to follow them on Instagram, they put up some lovely photos and a lot of info including links to their events. So go and have a brew and let me know what you think. I'm sure you will enjoy it. Thank you for reading today, I will be back tomorrow for What to Buy Wednesday but for now, take care. This morning I had my brew after going for my regular smear test. It was that time to bear all to a friendly nurse and brush that cervix. Now listen girls.....listen to Sue from the Brew when she tells you that it is so important to keep up to date with those smear tests.
I know it's not the best experience in life and most of us dread it but it is a few minutes every three years which could save your life. Yes it's a little uncomfortable but not that bad that it needs to be ignored. The examination seems to have changed quite considerably even since the last time I had one. The metal speculum has now been replaced by a nice comfy plastic one. How long did it take them to work that one out. A woman must have finally piped up and said 'listen that metal job is like a blooming torture device and pretty uncomfortable so get into the medical utensil design studio and make it streamlined'. Also the nasty scary stick they used before has been replaced by a nice little brush which just glides across the cervix like Torvill and Dean on that ice rink. Am I making it appealing yet? No honestly they used to scrape your cervix and end up with half of it on the end of a big wooden stick and it would make your tummy cramp. The nurse would look proud as if she had harvested good crops and we would lie there thinking 'are there any cells with that cervix you've scraped away'. I did have a negative experience last time which involved me having to return and then having to have a doctor perform the test which seemed a lot of trouble to go to so I was very anxious today. I can honestly say though that I didn't need to be, it was so quick and easy. The nurse put me at ease and it was all over in about five minutes. So if you have had a bad experience and are scared to go back again please tell your GP or nurse and they will help you. Please don't be frightened, I was this time and now I've had a positive experience again I'm not worried when I have to go again. Hopefully all will be ok and I won't need to go back for another three years. I feel glad that I've been and my mind is at ease now that someone will be checking to me to see if everything is alright. If you don't go though your cells could be running riot so I can't stress enough how important it is to go. I want us all to be here having brew for years to come so if anything doesn't feel right or something isn't good with any health worries then go and see someone. Go for the smears, the mammograms and boys go for the prostate examination. Do those home observations, so check your boobies, men check your testicles. It's a few minutes out of your life to save your life so be aware. That's you all told, I can go and finish my brew now. Thank you for reading, do come back tomorrow for What to Buy Wednesday but for now..... Take care of yourselves.
The time is getting closer......no not for unwrapping presents and listening for Noddy Holder shouting 'It's Christmas' but to decide which advent calendar you are having this year.
Advent is the season observed by many within the Christian faith as the time waiting and to prepare for the celebration of the Nativity. It is a Latin term which means 'coming'. Advent this year runs from 2nd December to the 24th December. If you've had a calendar though, especially one with chocolates in it you know you usually get one for every day in December, and a big one on the 25th if you get the right one. There are advent calendars with tea in them. Yes a teabag for every day.....how perfect. In fact the more you look for advent calendars, you can now get them with wine and spirits in too, I have even seen a cheese one. The tea ones are great and include a nice selection of tea. Just to pluck a couple at random..... The English Teashop have one with their organic teas which include flavours such as: Christmas cake: (organic black tea, with orange, apple, peach, cinnamon, ginger and vanilla). Candy Cane: (organic peppermint tea, green tea with orange, cinnamon, roasted chicory and vanilla). Christmas Night: (organic black tea with cinnamon, cocoa, cloves, liquorice and vanilla). Pukka Tea have a herbal calendar on offer with many of their popular tea bags for you to enjoy such as Lemon, Ginger and Manuka Honey, Three Cinnamon and Mint Refresh. I will pop a link (affiliated) for both of these calendars at the end of this post for Amazon but if you search advent calendars you will find the exact one you want. If you are not a big fan of the selections involved in any of the advent calendars try making your own. You can buy fabric calendars which can be used year after year and fill them with whatever you like. Maybe you have your own favourite teabags or mix it with coffee too so you get a change. basically anything goes with a homemade calendar. We have had many advent calendars over the years, originally you could only get the chocolate ones but it's a bit more exciting now to have a change, especially for people who are not a big fan of chocolate. I know, weirdly there are people who do not like chocolate at all, very very strange. But whatever you go for.......enjoy! Thank you for reading today, I will be back tomorrow for What to Buy Wednesday but for now you take care and here are you're links.......get ordering. I have mentioned this place before, quite a while ago now but I just thought it needed another little review again as on a recent visit the staff were so lovely.
The food here is really nice and I think I may have said before that I thought it was a bit expensive but I may retract that statement because for the amount of food you get on your plate I think it's great value. We had some lovely homemade soup, in fact Mum from the Brew and I have been at their soup twice in one week. The first time we were actually doing some research (well that's what I'm calling it) as we were planning to bring my niece, she is on a vegan diet so we just enquired what was available. Well it is a bit limited but when we did take her the other day she was able to have the potato and broccoli soup but there wasn't any bread available. If you have been to The Clock Tower Restaurant within Derby Garden Centre in Little Eaton you will know they have a massive array of cakes, a good choice of gluten free but not a great selection for those who are vegan so it really was a bit limited. Niece from the Brew found some roasty potatoes which she could eat and the world was ok but the thing was I think the staff were clicking on after having to check a few items with the kitchen staff and they may have just been feeling a bit sorry for my niece. A lovely lady brought over some vegan cheese which they had for her to pop on her potatoes. I thought that was really sweet and you could tell they were keen on making some sort of effort. I was able to get gluten free bread with my soup so I faired a little better but it is tricky with different dietary requirements. I love a try'er me and some places wouldn't go to that extent to keep someone happy. I know it was only a bit of cheese but to us it was a nice gesture. It was a lovely day with us girls together and after being really sensible with my diet and being really clever sticking to my Slimming World syns I thought I would just blow the whole thing and have some cake, well it was just sitting there all alone on a plate. A lovely gluten free Victoria sponge cake with my name on it so I asked the lady if I could have a slice. Well this slice was blooming massive, we even joked about it needing to be cut but no this last huge slice that was left was one serving. My goodness, this slice of cake was something you would see if someone was entering a world record attempt at cake eating. I got back to the table and pleaded with Mum from the Brew to help me eat this cake, we did our best but it beat us both. Serves me right for my eyes being bigger than my belly although I feel my belly was screaming, what have you done to me? In fact my whole body went into a massive sugar rush, I've never seen myself get around Morrison's afterwards so quick. It was lovely cake I have to say but blimey I kind of wanted them to have some for the rest of the restaurant not for me to eat everyone's share. I haven't eaten since (well cake anyway), I may never be able to again. That may be a good thing. You do get a huge pot of tea, I think ours was for two but I needed something to wash this cake down. What made me laugh was that I tried to devour a cake the size of a small planet but still put low calorie sweeteners in my tea, I think the damage had been done love. It is a lovely place to eat and very popular, it does get busy but there are plenty of tables available. The place is clean and tidy and the staff are very friendly and as we put them to the test, they will find out any information you need about their food. The Clock Tower Restaurant as I have mentioned can be found inside Derby Garden Centre on Alfreton Road, Little Eaton, Derby. DE21 5DB. They have a website here at: www.bluediamond.gg/garden-centre/derby-garden-centre So go and have some food and a walk around the shop there, it's all Christmassy now so a lot of gifts available and cards too. There is plenty of parking so just a great all round place to go. They have many garden bits obviously being a garden centre but tucked away at the rear of the place is a farm shop called Brown & Green and they have some lovely produce there. Have fun and tell me if you have had a good experience while visiting here, did you attempt the record at eating cake or be really sensible and resist? Not me eh? I don't think 'NO' is in my vocabulary. Well you all take care and I'm going to see if I am not banned from Slimming World yet. Join me again tomorrow for What to Buy Wednesday (no it won't be cake). Bye for now. I picked up a little sample of turmeric tea at the tea festival the other week mainly because I was curious. I've always put it in a curry but never in my tea so I did wonder whether this was going to work.
Turmeric comes from the ginger family and has many health benefits, It is a great anti inflammatory and boosts the immune system so it is a good ingredient to include in ones cuppa. I went for it and had a brew.....now I had a sample of pure turmeric root pieces so I wasn't too hopeful on it tasting too good. The smell put me off at first, it wasn't bad it was my brain still saying that this stuff belongs in your food love. Once I got past the smell it tasted alright, better than I thought but for me I still think it missed something. What to do eh with a brew that needs a bit of zing? Drop a slice of lemon in and the world is ok. That was it, it just need a bit of another taste. Now you may like it on it's on, the taste of any brew is a personal thing, some need it sweeter and some don't, everyone has different tastes. I have seen some turmeric tea with other flavours such as orange and I also believe that honey works well too. I'm a bit fussy when it comes to chamomile tea too as I need to add flavour to that otherwise it just tastes like soap to me. Funny eh? Do give the old turmeric a go as it does seem to be quite popular and added to quite a few things other than food now. Let me know what you think if you have tried it? For now though thank you so much for reading today, please join me again tomorrow for What to Buy Wednesday..... Bye for now and happy brewing!!! I was slumming it at a Hilton Hotel at the beginning of this month, I know terrible eh? Well I was attending a marvellous charity night to raise money for the Me & Dee Charity, a local charity in Derby who provide holidays to those who are facing life threatening or life shortening conditions and also for military members with serious psychological and physical injuries. It was a very successful evening and lovely to be part of it. If you would like to know more about the charity please take a look at www.meanddee.co.uk
After a shortish nights sleep and a hearty breakfast I was still ready for another brew, and then I wonder why I'm on the toilet a lot. I just can't resist it when someone says 'shall we go and get a drink?' Well yes of course, in this situation 'no' just doesn't enter into my vocabulary and what is Sue without her brew, just Sue I suppose. Inside the lovely Hilton Hotel at St George's Park, where in fact the England Footy Squad do their training there is a little Starbucks cafe. I didn't fancy a coffee so I thought I would try one of their Tazo Iced Tea's. Woah the array of flavours here is amazing, so many to choose from it did take me a while and I settled eventually for a bit of Wild Sweet Orange. I've mentioned before that I don't really go for fruit teas in a big way but I really found this nice and refreshing. I am a sucker for some nice modern packaging and some tantalising flavours and Tazo seem to have all these. This is the only place I have seen these tea bags but you can purchase them through Amazon. They are really pricey, I know they are an American company and after looking on their website they don't seem to supply to countries outside the US so be prepared to pay a little more on Amazon if you do fancy a Tazo brew. I suppose I was at the Hilton so no surprise that they would have pricey tea bags. The thing is that now and again it's nice to have a treat. I did enjoy my Wild Orange Iced Tea and if I was passing again I would try another but it may be a while. I liked that most of the flavours are caffeine free which I find I prefer these days but personally not sure I can justify £6.10 upwards for 20 teabags. It might be me just being a bit stingy but they are nice don't get me wrong but not that nice. I think you can get nice flavours for half the price. I have not done a very good job of selling you those but then I don't have to, I'm only here to give my honest opinion and if you are on a budget you may do as I did and take a short intake of breath when I saw the price but if you have a few pennies spare or want to impress someone then go for it! Thank you for passing by and giving this post a read, if you enjoyed it and would like to read more then come back tomorrow for What to Buy Wednesday but for now, you all take care. I've never seen so many lovely teabags all in one room, it was like a dream come true. I visited The Roundhouse in Derby where they held the first Great British Tea Festival. and what a festival it was.
There were so many different selections of teas, ceramics, sweet treats, presentations, a tea room and even music to accompany you while you sat and enjoyed a brew. The tearoom was supplied by Elements Tea and Coffee House who are soon to open their place in the centre of Derby - watch this space. There were a few hitches with waiting a while for refreshments but apparently they had technical issues with the boiler so it couldn't be helped. Donna from Elements (pictured above with Mum and Dad from the Brew) did a fantastic job of reassuring everyone and apologies were given out so we just had to be patient. I did put my request in for gluten free cake at the new place as there wasn't any at this event so fingers crossed. We were VIP's and armed with a voucher for free tea and cake, well you have to say something eh? I did get a slice of cake to take home for the kids from the brew to have so everyone was a winner on this day. With around 32 exhibitors/vendors it was well worth a visit and of course worth tasting a lot of tea, it would be rude not to. I did buy some little sample bags to try and I also brought home a tea plant! Yes I am now growing tea thanks to the lovely Tea by Me people from the Netherlands. Now as you may have read before, sometimes I struggle with my green fingers and tend to send some plants to plant heaven but I'm keeping a close eye on this one I can assure you. Overall a great event, well organised and if you did pay for a VIP ticket you were given a bag with all those items included (main photo) so good value for money. Would I go back next year? Well yes I would and I am going to use the next year to clear some space, that means drinking loads of my tea so I can replenish stock at the next Tea Festival which will take place on Sunday 13th October 2019 so pop the date in your diaries and I may see you there. Thank you for reading today, pop back and read some more tomorrow on What to Buy Wednesday. Take care for now. I don't mean crafty as in some sort of naughty secret brewing session, I mean mixing a brew with doing something creative, involving the crafts. I've got together with some friends and we have had a couple of these sessions now which are a lot of fun.
We got together for a jewellery making session a while ago and just last week we met up for a bit of stone painting. We got all our paints together and the stones we had collected and just went mad with our creativity, painting stones to be hidden somewhere for someone to find. It's so relaxing and great therapy in case we needed any. We chat and generally put the world to rights, have a break for tea or coffee. We have some nice treats and lunches too and I may have blown the diet but hey I've had fun which is great. I can recommend this idea, it's gets people together and you get to test out other peoples skills and if you're like me get to go a bit craft crazy. I decided to create two stones for occasions which are coming up. One for Halloween and another for Remembrance Sunday but everyone had different ideas so it made it exciting to see the results. So get the kettle on, have a few friends round and choose a craft to dabble in. You could hold an event like this for charity or just for fun. It could be a chance to make presents for Christmas or making things for yourself, anything goes!! Let me know what creative sessions you have held or planning....we could share some ideas. For now though thank you for reading, take care and I will be back tomorrow for What to Buy Wednesday. Bye for now..... |
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