Tea Bar

Need new idea for your next afternoon get together? Create a tea bar.

Offer a variety of teas. I like to offer 6. I start with a simple black tea, green tea, and 4 wonderful herbal teas such as jasmine, spearmint, peach paradise, and very berry. Find a variety you are comfortable with or even create a theme. This allows guests to mix and match teas if they choose. Place each tea in an individual small bowl with a teaspoon. Keep a teapot with hot water available. I like to use the I-pots from Teaporia. These can be placed in the microwave allowing me to reheat the water if needed.I also have ice ready to go for any guest wishing to have iced tea instead hot tea. Offer a variety of condiments for tea such as simple syrup, candied lemon or orange peel, mint leaves, and cream.

Candied Lemon and Orange Peel:

2 lemons

1 large orange or 2 small oranges

2 cup simple syrup (recipe below)

Using a vegetable peeler cut the colored flesh part of the lemons and oranges from the stem end down to the navel end, forming long 3/4 to 1-inch strips. Bring a heavy small saucepan of water to a boil. Add the peels and cook for 1 minute. Drain and then rinse the peels under cold water. Repeat cooking the peels, 2 more times, in the saucepan with fresh boiling water and rinsing under cold water.

In the same pan combine the peels with 1 cup of simple syrup. Simmer over medium-low heat until the peels are soft, about 15 minutes. Using tongs, transfer the peels to parchment paper to dry slightly, about 1 hour. 

You can prepare the peels separately.

Simple Syrup:

1/2 cup water

1 cup sugar

In a saucepan combine water and sugar over medium heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes, until the sugar has dissolved. Take pan off heat and cool the syrup. Any extra cooled syrup can be saved in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Shop with Teaporia for all your necessi-Teas!

Olivia Vidal
© 2009 - 2010
Teaporia by Tea Time with Liv

Herb Tea Bath

Relax in a luxurious herbal tea bath. Create for yourself or for easy gift giving.

1oz Lavender tea from Teaporia
1oz Spearmint tea from Teaporia
1 oz Chamomile tea from Teaporia
1oz Rosebuds and petals tea from Teaporia
1oz Jasmine tea from Teaporia
1oz Japanese sencha green tea from Teaporia
½ cup ground, unflavored oatmeal (you can easily grind this up in your blender)
½ cup powdered milk

Mix all ingredients well and add up to 1/2 cup to hot bath and relax

For a herbal salt tea bath:
omit oatmeal and milk and add 4 cups epson salt, mix well with Teaporia teas.

Herbal tea bath can be added directly to water or use an infuser ball to hold ingredients.


Gift ideas:

Place up 1/2 cup into organza bag with a handmade ingredient card attached.

Recycle old dyer towels and add 1/2 cup to center, pull edges to center, tie with satin ribbon.

Place up to 1 cup of the herbal tea bath in a tulle circle, tie with ribbon, place into an old teacup glued to a saucer, add a teaspoon and wrap. Received of the gift an add the herbal tea bath as needed with the teaspoon.

Add to recycle baby food jar, wrap top with a cloth circle, and tie off with a ribbon or raffia.

Place in a large sugar shaker for a fun twist.

Place in pepper shaker (recommended to drill holes bigger)

Add to mini baby bottles decorated with pink or blue ribbon, and mini pacifier for a baby shower favor

Olivia Vidal
© 2009
Teaporia by Tea Time with Liv