Thank you for joining my blog. I would love to share some tea with you.

We share tea and talk tea at assisted living homes, private homes and community centers. We play Teago Bingo with prizes for winners. We are also doing mystery tea events.

If you would like more info on our tea tasting events, mystery teas or want to receive a free sample of tea please email tea4Jesus@gmail.com or call 763-370-2980. Love to hear from you!

Spend time being refreshed by God's Word with a cup of tea. Relax in a comfy chair that gets some afternoon sun. Reflect on the goodness of life.

Real joy comes not from ease or riches or
from the praise of men, but from doing something worthwhile. Wilfred T. Grenfell

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. Ps 100:4

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Blessings to you and your family. Have
a TEA- rrrific day.

Email me for a free sample of tea!

tea4Jesus@gmail.com

Trinitea4eternitea.yolasite.com

Traveling TEA With Jesus



Monday, February 28, 2011

Top Ten Teas for Afternoon Tea

Top Ten Teas for Afternoon Tea

By Lindsey Goodwin, About.com Guide

Whether you call it high tea, low tea or afternoon tea, afternoon tea is an occasion to socialize and relax in style with friends. Selecting a great tea for afternoon tea is just one of the many aspects of the occasion, but it's often largely overlooked by people putting on or attending afternoon teas. This list of top ten afternoon teas includes old and new favorites that are well suited to pairing with afternoon tea fare.

Earl Grey Tea

Earl Grey is the world's most famous flavored black tea. It gets its citrusy flavor from the essential oil of bergamot (an orange-like fruit). The natural sweetness of Earl Grey lends itself to pairing with many afternoon tea sweets, like scones, Madeline cakes and lavender cookies.

Oolong Tea

Assam Black Tea

Assam black tea is grown in the mountainous region of Assam, India. It is known for its robust, malty and sometimes tannic (astringent) flavor.
Many people enjoy their Assam tea with a little milk and sugar. With milk and sugar, Assam teas are ideal for afternoon tea sweets. Without them, Assams can stand up to flavorful savory foods, like finger sandwiches, quiche and cheddar herb scones.

Ceylon Black Tea / Sri Lankan Black Tea

Ceylon teas include white, green, oolong and black varieties, but Ceylon black teas are the most popular choice for afternoon tea. Famous black teas from Sri Lanka (formerly known as "Ceylon") include:
•Orange Pekoe, which does not taste like oranges, and is actually a tea grade made in India and Sri Lanka

•Nuwara Eliya, which is floral and light

•Uva, which is sweet, woodsy and good with milk

•Dimbulla, which varies widely

They're all great with a range of afternoon tea foods.

Darjeeling Black Tea

Darjeelings are teas from Darjeeling, India. Darjeeling black teas are a classic pairing for afternoon tea foods.

You might have a choice between spring-plucked Darjeeling First Flush and summer-plucked Darjeeling Second Flush. Darjeeling First Flush is more floral and green in flavor, while Darjeeling Second Flush has a distinctive fruity flavor. Both work well with savory afternoon tea foods, and Second Flush is also great with chocolate, fruity desserts and pastries.

Chamomile "Tea"

Chamomile is an herbal infusion with a floral, apple-like flavor. Many people select it for afternoon tea because it is naturally caffeine-free. It also pairs wonderfully with afternoon tea sweets, especially scones and fruity confections.

Mint "Tea"

Like chamomile, spearmint and peppermint are caffeine-free herbal infusions. Peppermint is more common in the U.S., but spearmint also has a loyal following thanks to its its sweeter, mellower flavor. Some herbal infusions combine mint with other herbs.
When considering whether or not to pair a mint infusion with your afternoon tea fare, ask yourself, "Would I ever use mint as an ingredient in this dish?" You'll likely find that both types of mint "tea" are great with a range of finger sandwiches, fruity sweets and chocolaty sweets.

Smoked Black Teas: Russian Caravan / Lapsang Souchong

Lapsang Souchong and Russian Caravan are both popular smoked black teas. They have a strong, smoky flavor that's ideally paired with equally strong foods. I particularly recommend them with heavy sweets, smoked salmon finger sandwiches and flavorful quiches.
Specialty smoked black teas include Tarry Souchong, Smoked Earl Grey and Smoked Tanzanian Black Tea. These can be paired in a similar manner to Lapsang Souchong and Russian Caravan.

Rose Congou Tea

Rose Congou is a black tea blended with rose petals. The rose petals make it an inherently romantic, Victorian style of drink, so it's a great fit for afternoon tea. Try sweet, perfumey Rose Congou with scones, creamy sweets and savory-sweet finger sandwiches.

Gunpowder Green Tea

Green teas aren't nearly as popular as black teas during afternoon tea. However, Gunpowder Green Tea has a bold flavor that can stand up to select afternoon tea foods, like savory pastries, ham or chicken tea sandwiches, and dishes with mint. Be sure to brew Gunpowder Green with cooler water and a shorter brew time than you'd use for black teas.

Lavender Teas / Tisanes

Brewed on its own or as part of a tea blend, lavender is a common "tea" for afternoon tea. Popular lavender blends include Lavender Earl Grey and herbal melanges with ingredients like lavender, chamomile and mint. The sweet, perfumey flavor of a lavender infusion or lavender tea blend is ideal with uncomplicated afternoon tea foods, like scones and Devon cream or simple petits fours.

Tea and Juice Recipes

Splash some fruit juice into decaffeinated tea makes tasty treats for kids and adults!
A healthier alternative to hot cocoa and hot apple cider, try these recipes either green or black with 100% juice.
Both green and black tea provide powerful, immune system-boosting antioxidants, which can be especially helpful to kids fighting colds. And by adding 100% juice, they’ll get the vitamins and nutrients they need with a taste they’ll love.

Green Apple Tea

1 tsp. of Tealightful Treasures Green Tea
4 oz. of boiling water
4 oz. 100% apple juice

Place the loose tea in a basket or infuser and add boiling water and allow tea to steep for 3 minutes.  Pour into an 8 oz. cup and add juice.Makes one 8 oz. serving.

Black & Blue Pom Pom Tea

1 tsp. Tealightful Treasures loose black tea
4 oz. of boiling water
2 oz. Blueberry juice
2 oz. Pomegranate juice
Please the loose tea in an infuser or basket, add boiling water and allow tea to steep for 3 minutes.  Add juices. Makes one 8 oz. serving.

Enjoy tea with your kiddos and reap all the great health benefits!

Matt Maher - Christ is Risen

God bless your day with the Lord today. Enjoy your tea!

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Cut back on caffeine

For one day, trade your caffeinated morning jolt for an energizing walk or a mug of green tea, which has less caffeine than coffee and is rich in immunity-boosting antioxidants.  Steep and repeat during your four o'clock slump!

What a blessing today!

I did not know a couple of weeks ago that I would be attending a conference in Hudson, Wisconsin to hear Susie Larson speak.  God put this before while in Houston, Texas and I am so blessed to have been there today to hear Susie speak. 
Some things she shared today were:
7 things for Living a Prmoised Life
1. Sold out devotion
2. Vision for your life
3. Belief for His promises and don't let go
4. Expectant Faith
5. Thankful Heart
6. Good Memory
7. Intimacy with God

Remember God knows your address!
God is good
His promises are true
He will make a way for me

When we allow God to get into those deep places of our lives and bring freedom there.... Fruit happens, life happens, power happens, church happens.

Say over and over You love me Lord!!!

What was also exciting is that I learned Susie Larson enjoys tea!!  Got to love women who enjoy tea!

Blessings and enjoy that cup of tea!

Traditional Irish Blessing

As I am planning for my upcoming St. Pat's Day teas God brought before me this video. Enjoy as you sip your cup of tea. Blessings from Traveling Tea with Jesus.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Strangers

"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it.":  Hebrews 13:2

Enjoy His word today with a cup or two of tea!

Thursday, February 24, 2011

March Teas

 I will be having St. Pat Day teas in March.  We will be having 1 of 2 green teas.  One is  Orchid Berry Tealightful Treasures tea which is Green Sencha, China Orchid White Tea, freeze dried strawberry, black currants, raspberry and sour cherry pieces.  Sugar can be added to bring out the wonderful fruit flavors of this tea.  The other we may have is Walnut Green which is Green Sencha, China Orchid white tea scented with Orchid extract.  Freeze dried strawberry, black currants, raspberry and sour cherry pieces.  Also good with sugar or honey which again brings out the wonderful fruit flavors.

We will also be servingTealightful Treasure's Irish Breakfast black tea which is great with a bit of milk.

Steeped Irish Breakfast makes a great marinade beef or pork!

Contact me at tea4Jesus@gmail.com or 763-370-2980 to schedule a tea event.  We have tea, devotion and Tea Bingo along with prizes!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Black Teas

Black Teas are cultivated mainly in China and India.  They undergo a fermentation process that distinguishes them from other teas in flavor and color.  Balck teas may be enjoyed with milk, sugar or lemon.
Common black teas-
Assam: from Northeast India, a rich, full-bodied tea that is reddish in color.
Ceylon: From Sri Lanka, sometimes referred to as Orange Pekoe, a fragrant fine quality tea, golden in color.
Darjeeling: from the foothills of the Himalayas, it is considered the finest tea in the world.  Some described it as "flowery."  It is light in color.  It should brew only 4 minutes
Keemun: from China, and considered one of the best Chinese black teas.  It has a distinct flowery aroma, an orchard taste, and a dark amber color.  It should brew only 4 minutes.

Almond Iced Tea

Yes, after doing some teas in Texas thinking about summer with all this snow in Minnesota right now.  This is a good one for a hot summer day.
Great thirst quencher.
From Treasuring the Gift of Tea time by Julie Laree Peterson
2 cups water
6 tsp Tealightful Treasures English Breakfast tea
1/2 cup sugar
1 can (12 oz) frozen lemonage, prepared
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon almond extract
2 liters ginger ale.

Boil water, pour over tea and steep for 5 minutes.  Add sugar to tea and stir until dissolved.  Pour into serving container, add the remaining ingredients and serve over ice. 

Enjoy!

Tangerine Tea Recipe

7-8 tsp. Orange Pekoe tea leaves
8 cups boiling water
2 tangerines, washed, dried, and cut intoe 1/4- 1/2 " slices
Whole cloves

After first warming the teapot with hot water, empty it, and dry it off. Add the tea leaves to the pot.  Pour the boiling water over the leaves and steep for 5 minutes.  Use a tea cozy, if possible, to retain heat.  Cut the tangerine slices in half, stick a few cloves in the rind of tangerine rinds and place one slice in each teacup before pouring strained tea into cup. 

Enjoy your cup of tea with others and be in His word!

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Tea Parties

I have enjoyed my time doing teas in Des Moines, Iowa and Texas.  I am blessed and grateful to have had a tea with some friends in Georgetown, Texas.  I met some wonderful new friends that I shared Tealightful Treasures Tea with and they enjoyed the tea enough to order some for their future teas. 
I also did another tea that I have done in the past at an assisted living in Waco, Texas.  It was great to see some of the familiar faces and some new. 
I thank God each day for the opportunity to share tea with others. 
We have been blessed also to spend some time with our oldest who is attending Rice in Houston.  Our second son has been visiting some colleges in Texas  including Rice.
I will be getting ready for a couple of teas middle of March in Milaca, Mn. It will be a St. Pat's Tea.
It should be fun!
I am already getting some calls for Mother Day Teas so if you are wanting a tea in the next two months or so please email or call me.  Tea4Jesus@gmail.com  or 763-370-2980 
I will be posting shortly some ideas for April and May teas.  I will be looking to possibly travel to Texas again middle of May.
God bless your time in His word and enjoy your cup or two of tea.  Try Tealightful Treasures tea sometime.  They do have some nice teas.
www.tealightfultreasures.net/tea

Thursday, February 10, 2011

White Tea

Black tea has been fully fermented during processing, and green has not been fermented at all. Oolong teas are somewhere in the middle. So what is 'white tea'?


Well, just like those other teas, white tea come from the Camellia sinensis plant. But the leaves are picked and harvested before the leaves open fully, when the buds are still covered by fine white hair. Hence the name. White tea is scarcer than the other traditional teas, and quite a bit more expensive.

White tea is similar to green tea, in that it's undergone very little processing and no fermentation. But there is a noticeable difference in taste. Most green teas have a distinctive 'grassy' taste to them, but white tea does not. The flavor is described as light, and sweet. You should steep white tea in water that is below the boiling point.
If you are drinking tea for your health, you may want to consider white teas. There is also considerably less caffeine in white tea than the other varieties (15mg per serving, compared to 40mg for black tea, and 20mg for green). Some studies have also shown that white tea contains more active cancer-fighting antioxidants than green tea.

As with all teas, there are many varieties of white tea, with poetic names such as: white peony, golden moon, silver needle and white cloud. White teas are produced mostly in China and Japan, but the Darjeeling region of India also produces some fine white teas.

Enjoy!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

From the MInneapolis Examiner

White and green teas tend have a much lighter brew.

If you are looking to provide more flavor or a stronger brew, simply steep with more tea leaves, do not add more time.

If not flavorful, or too light of a brew, try blending with another type of tea such as: a black tea, a herbal or rooibos tea, or an oolong tea.

The rooibos tea provides a great taste when blended with plain green tea.

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Provide more flavor to your tea - Minneapolis tea
Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/tea-in-minneapolis/provide-more-flavor-to-your-tea?CID=examiner_alerts_article#ixzz1DRUN9NIL

Monday, February 7, 2011

Chinese Tea Eggs

12 eggs
1 1/2 tablespoons black tea leaves
1 pint water
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 Star anise
Pierce each egg at the blunt end with a pin to prevent the shell cracking when boiled.  Put them into a pan, cover with water,bring to the boil and cook for 10-12 minutes.  Lift the eggs out and put them under cold running water for a few minutes.  When cold crack the egg shells gently, by tapping them or rolling them on a table : the shells should be cracked all over but should not come loose.  Put the eggs back in the pan with all the other ingredients.  If there is not enough water to cover them, add a little more.  Bring slowly to the boil, then cover and simmer for an hour.  Let the eggs cool in the liquid- you may keep them in it for 24 hours to intensify the flavor.  Just before serving remove the shells: the eggs will have an attractive appearance of aged porcelain.

Exotic Teas

The Chinese have produced scented teas for centures using their abundant flowers, fruits and oils.  They are best drunk without milk but can be sweetened with honey or sugar.  The spiced teas make warming winter drinks, flower teas are light and refreshing, and the fruit teas make excellent iced tea.
Earl Grey is the most famous scented tea in the West.  The original recipe was given to the second Earl Grey in 1830 by a Chinese mandarin.  It is a blend of fine black teas flavored with the oil of the bergamot orange. 

Thursday, February 3, 2011

February Teas

Try some Tealightful Treasures Raspberry Tea and put 2-3 raspberries in with the tea.  It is yummy!
Also, could do the same with Strawberry Tea and put in with the tea a couple of strawberry slices..
I am excited to be traveling a week from Friday first to Des Moines, Iowa for a tea and then down to Texas for a home tea tasting at a good friend's and then to Waco for tea at an assisted living. 
We are going to be trying some chocolate with a green tea and a strawberry or raspberry tea with a couple of slices of strawberries or raspberries.  Might try Ginger Peach tea.
Please pray as we make the travel by car to have good weather and safety there and back.  I look forward to the teas and visiting with friends.  We are also going to be visiting some colleges for our second son. 
Have a blessed Thursday!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

February is National Heart Month

Remember tea is good for the heart.

Tea thoughts

How can I decaffeinate my tea?

The method sometimes referred to as "second potting," is an effective way to remove approximately 80% of the caffeine from any caffeinated tea. Steep your tea leaves in boiling water for a quick 30 seconds, in which time the majority of the caffeine will have been extracted from the tea leaves and gone into the water. Discard this water and steep the same tea leaves again with fresh boiling water for the recommended time. Enjoy your tea without having sacrificed any of the flavor or health benefits!

I recently learned that holding your teacup with your pinkie out is poor etiquette. What is the reason behind holding out the pinkie finger?

The answer is "handles" on teacups. Originally, teacups did not have any handles (and in many countries still do not). In order to hold the cup balanced properly, one needed to extend the pinkies. However, in the mid 1750's the English put handles on the teacups to prevent ladies'dainty fingers from burning. The proper way to hold a teacup nowadays is to slip the index finger through the handle with the thumb resting on top and then curve the remaining fingers underneath the handle.

Why are some china pieces marked "Occupied Japan?"

If you own one of these pieces - that's a good thing! Collectors vie for such marked items. Pieces imported from Japan to the US following the end of WWII between 1945 and 1952 were required to have markings showing that they were produced during the US Occupied Japan period. The preferred markings would say "Made in Occupied Japan" or "Occupied Japan" on each piece.

Does drinking tea boost the immune system?

It definitely does! We could all use some increased immunity during this flu season! Tea contains L-theanine, which helps support the immune system. (Please keep in mind that I am talking about real tea - black, green, or oolong - not herbal teas.) As with all other good habits, it is important to be consistent - you should drink at least 3-5 cups of tea a day to reap the full benefits. Along with boosting your immune system, you will also get the added benefits of antioxidants when drinking tea.


What do you think about electric kettles vs. the traditional stovetop kettles?

Personally, I just love the sound of the whistling teakettle, and it sits so pretty on the stovetop! However, I also have an electric pot by Zojirushi, which is much more technologically advanced. These electric pots have settings for different temperatures (for preparing a variety of teas), contain filters, and keep the water at the perfect temperature at all times. If you drink tea all day long or have to prepare tea for a large group or drink many different types of tea, I would suggest the electric pot. You can also use the readily available hot water for preparing other foods such as oatmeal, etc. Keep in mind that they are much more expensive than the traditional kettle - and still do not whistle!