TEA WITH A TWIST

Hello!

Now this post does exactly what it says on the tin and is about tea - shocker!

 I'm a massive tea fanatic and love to try tea from all over the world. Two years ago I spent a few weeks in Vietnam and picked up rose tea, Vietnamese tea and artichoke tea (an acquired taste!) and loved the variety. I drink a lot of fruit teas in the uk and am always on the hunt for new flavours on trips abroad.

For Christmas my wonderful dad bought me a gorgeous glass tea pot with some mango marigold flowering tea from www.exoticteapot.co.uk who offer a fabulous selection of tea's and tea-wear (completely made that word up trying to sound like a tea connoisseur!).

I tried a flowering tea once before on a birthday trip to a local Chinese restaurant and have been taken with it ever since. 

The flavour is very delicate and I absolutely love watching the flower bloom in the tea. 

Que a stream of photos of the flower blooming...

"Each blossom is hand crafted by artisan tea masters in Fujian Province, China". www.exoticteapot.co.uk

If you love tea I would definitely give this a try whether it's for a relaxing evening on your own or after a dinner party with friends it's a great finish to any evening!

Until my next exciting tea adventure ......

Xx

A DAY IN LONDON: OXFORD STREET THRILLS

As a very late birthday present I was treated to cream tea at Cafe Liberty (http://www.liberty.co.uk/BarsandRestaurants/article/fcp-content) for a late birthday present. We turned up at midday, completely in awe of the Liberty building (I am ashamed to say I have never stepped foot in this beautiful monument) only to be told that afternoon tea isn’t served until after 3pm as the scones are made fresh on site. Well if that wasn’t an invite to hit the sales while we waited for the scones to cook then I don’t know what is!

Walking back down towards Oxford Circus we hit Topshop first - actually only to try their frozen yogurt (this particular friend and I are OBSESSED with frozen yogurt). Next we walked towards the huge Primark only to be stopped dead in our tracks as soon as we saw the sale sign in Zara. Zara is one of my most favourite shops but I don’t often allow myself in there for the fear of buying the entire store. However I do allow myself the treat of their sales, their discounts are incredible even from day one of the sale and to be honest I just couldn’t resist! 

So here is what I bought - two gorgeous pairs of high waisted shorts one slightly shorter than I would usually dare go but with the imminence of my holiday to America I thought I’d be brave and take the plunge, and for £15 I justified I’d be silly not too, right?! I also bought a navy blue jersey maxi dress with a key hole front, beading detail around the spaghetti straps and a tie waist. Usually all of these aspects on a dress along with the high neckline would be a massive no no to me but I was drawn in by the uniqueness of this dress, and once trying it on at home I did not regret my last minute addition to my basket! (Please excuse my messy bedroom in the background of this pic!)

Note: Here is the maxi dress in white online http://www.zara.com/uk/en/trf/dresses/strappy-long-dress-with-beading-c436593p1199000.html

Returning to Liberty’s for cream tea was definitely worth the wait. The home made scones were perfection, we got two each with clotted cream and the real star of the ensemble the homemade strawberry jam. I chose Mango Madness tea which is a black tea with dried mango pieces and Rhiannon chose one of the classics - Earl Grey; I love all types of tea and love trying new flavours so was very happy with my fruity explosion. I would definitely recommend cream tea at Cafe Liberty, the cafe itself was gorgeous, a quaint little room on the second floor decorated with gorgeous little pieces available to buy instore and each table had a different set of salt and pepper shakers (my favourite being the tea pot set, naturally). So here are a few photos of our wonderful experience there, a real birthday treat!