High Tea in Australia

Madame Flavour

Lea — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:47:54 +0000

So I am browsing the tea shelves in the supermarket the other day when I spotted a brand that was either new, at least to my supermarket, or I had simply not noticed.
Madame Flavour.
With cute little boxes, Madame offered the only Chai tea in the whole section, so I was in, as a little bit of Chai was just what I felt like.
And when I got it home (and got everything up to the house, and unpacked and everything tidied up…) I really felt exactly like a cup of tea!
So opened I the pack and what a delightful surprise!
There is a note inside from Madame herself, explaining how she has travelled the world to pick the tea and the tea is in little silk bags, not boring old paper.
And the tea itself is very, very good. I heartily recommend spoiling yourself with some Madame Flavour tea.
Now, it is a little more expensive, but I’m sure we agree that a good cup of tea is worth spending on!

If your supermarket doesn’t stock Madame Flavour, not to worry – the website is one of the good ones where you can order online – for example, here are Madame Flavour infuser pods. Pricing is similar to the supermarket.

Lady Grey from Twinings

Lea — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 01:18:54 +0000

OK, I am going to be radical here and review a mainstream brand – anathema, I know! But it seems appropriate for balance, so today I am going to talk about my favourite tea, Lady Grey.

Earl Grey is probably The most famous tea. Phrases such as ‘Earl Grey. Hot’ spring readily to mind for most SF geeks, made famouse by Captain Picard of Star Trek
Earl Grey is black tea, flavoured with Bergamot, which is an obscure type of citrus fruit and it is the peel that is dried and included in the tea. Early Grey was the personal tea of Charles Grey the 2nd Earl Grey, who was Prime Minister of England for and thats probably why his tea is so well known.

However, they must have been a big tea drinking family, because his wife, Mary Elizabeth Grey, also had her own personal favourite which became well known (although not AS well known as her husband’s…) as well.
Lady Grey tea is a fruitier version of Earl Grey; where Early Grey has only bergamot to flavour it, Lady Grey Tea has bergamot, lemon peel and orange peel. I prefer Lady Grey over Earl Grey; it has more flavour and generally seems more refreshing. I really don’t know what the fuss is about Earl Grey; its ok, but Lady Grey gives something that seems actually calming.

I drink breakfast tea in the morning, and then in the afternoon I will often enjoy one or more cups of Lady Grey tea; its my favourite among off-the-shelf teas – if you haven’t tried it you should!

Monk’s Temple from Seattle Teacup

Lea — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 00:32:05 +0000

So, for something to write abaout, as I haven’t been out to any wonderful high tea establishments recently (sob) I thought I’d review some tea flavours. This is my second entry.

A while ago a friend of mine sent me some tea from her favourite tea shop in Seattle, Seattle Teacup.
There was a selection in the box, but by far my favourite is “Monk’s Temple” – a very subtle tea that is just divine. I make it by the potful and I am down to my last little bit of tea, which is a problem as I am unsure if the shop normally ships down under (apparently there was some problem with Australian customs and the Earl Grey included in the box) but I will have to arrange something as I Need More Monk’s Temple!!!

The website describes it as “Wonderfully subtle autumnal fruits with an almost pipe smoke-like aroma. Black tea, hazelnuts, and raisins.” and, yes, I can taste the hazelnuts and raisins – not sure I agree with the smoke like aroma, but perhaps we define it differently.
Anyway, if you can get your hands on some of this, do it! Yummo!

French Breakfast from Nine Owls Tea

Lea — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 07:25:05 +0000

My daughter picked up some tea from Nine Owls Tea – a set of about 9 samplers. Today we tried the French Breakfast flavour and mmmmm… very yum!

I haven’t had French Breakfast in a very long time, so it was a very refreshing change from my normal Irish Breakfast. I haven’t had this flavour in a long time, but the strong cornflower flavour took me straight back to previous events where I have enjoyed it. Such memories

(Sorry for not writing here recently – I’ll try to update more often!)

Best Cup of Tea Ever!

Lea — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 01:10:22 +0000

Last week I spent a day in the waiting room while Ford mended my car – I came prepared with a book, my lunch, a mug and a handful of tea bags, as I knew it would take them a while to do the work, but to my surprise I got something on top of a mended car – I had the Best cup of tea I have ever had.
It wasn’t what I expected, and there was no sign up letting me know it would happen, but nonetheless, thats what I got.
The Ford waiting room is nicely laid out with large TV, vending machine (Salt and Vinegar chips! ooh, my guilty secret – don’t tell anyone!), nice mugs, meaning my attempt to avoid nasty plastic cups was not needed, and a coffee machine.
Coffee.
Oh dear, I thought.
But there were some Bushells tea bags (Noooooooooo!) on the bench, so I knew the machine must be able to make tea somehow.
Looking at the buttons, one of them appeared to put out just water, so I put my mug under it and pressed the button. I then witnessed the slowest cup of tea ever made. OK, so allowing a cup of tea to draw normally takes a while, but you aren’t watching the water come out. Sloooooooowwwwwly…
Eventually it was done and I added a little milk (no sugar for me – I like my teeth!) and set myself down and had a sip, only to taste…. the best cup of tea bag tea I have ever had. Amazing!
And it wasn’t a one off! All 4 cups (*cough* What? I was there for 6 hours!) I had were all divine!

Now, I am trying to figure out what made it so great.
The water wasn’t amazingly hot, because I am fairly sure I was able to drink it straight away.
It wasn’t coming out fast, because it took a long time to fill the cup.
It was falling from a modest height, but not very high.

My current experiments involve pouring from the kettle as slowly as I can, from a height, and the tea does seem perfectly nice, perhaps a little nicer than a normal teabag cup. But there is no way that I can pour as slowly as that machine did, and I think that might be the secret. If someone can suggest how I can pour hot water really slowly – I am all ears!

Where A Girl Goes, Collingwood

Lea — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 02:16:22 +0000

I was in Melbourne for a conference recently, and some of the other ladies and I (I don’t care what the boys say – we are ladies and if they deny it one more time its a stiletto right through the foot!) decided that what we needed between sessions was High Tea. Never mind the bar. We can network with a tea cup!
So a quick taxi trip and we were in Collingwood (I really don’t know Melbourne, but fortunately we had locals with us) at Where A Girl Goes.
This is a delightful venue and if you are in Melbourne I can only recommend it. I never did get the straight of if we had booked or if we just turned up, but it would be perfect for Bridal Showers or a Hens Party, so add them to your list of Perfect Places To Check!

Corner Langridge & Oxford Streets
Collingwood VIC 3066
Phone: 03 9495 6222
Website: www.whereagirlgoes.com

Franklin Villa, Highgate Hill

Lea — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 03:25:38 +0000

The children were left to enjoy their father’s boundless care the other week when I popped out with some girlfriends. We had a plan! High Tea at Franklin Villa! and a magnificent plan it was!
We had booked 4 weeks before hand to be sure we got in – its very popular! They called it morning tea, but we knew better – completely ignoring the time of day, it was obviously a High Tea!
It was some excellent girl time

Franklin Villa
35 Brighton Rd, Highgate Hill
07 3255 0889
www.franklinvilla.com

Room with Roses Brisbane

Lea — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 02:40:09 +0000

Room with Roses is one of the most adorable venues I have ever had the pleasure to attend. The decor is delightful – you really feel as if you have been wafted back to the 1800s. I had an urge to rush off and find a long dress to wear! The roses on all the table was a lovely touch.

Its located in the Brisbane Arcade, which is another point in its favour. The Brisbane Arcade is one of the more delightful structures in Brisbane. Full of stained glass and timber, you’re half way in the mood for high tea before you even spot the shopfront for Room With Roses!

The menu is a good one, with classic high tea offerings (as well as more common fare, if you are traveling with boring people!).

Thoroughly recommended!

Upper Level, Brisbane Arcade
35 Adelaide St
Brisbane QLD 4000
(07) 3229 7050
Open Monday to Saturday 9am to 4pm

The Cupcake Boutique, Aldinga

Lea — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:11:14 +0000

We spent a few years living in Adelaide until a while back, and we still go back to visit occasionally.
Its a hot, dry place, but the people are lovely and we have some special friends that we just have to catch up with occasionally.
On our last trip, a friend took me to the Cupcake Boutique in Aldinga – this is new since last time I was there, or somehow I just missed it (and – me? Fail to notice a High Tea establishment? I think not!) but it has a delightful menu.

The decor style is French Provincial, to my eye, and it is very relaxing and elegant place. It is attached to a B&B called Maison Blue, you could also stay there overnight if you were actually doing a high tea tour. (Ooh! Now there’s an idea!)
The high tea offerings were scrummy and they make a very nice pot of tea.
Recommended – make sure you drop in if you are in the area

Lot 1 Little Rd
Aldinga, SA 5173
Tel: 08 8557 7930

Joseph Alexanders, Milton

Lea — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:47:14 +0000

Not many people know this, but Joseph Alexanders, a very nice restaurant and bar down Milton way, also does a high tea.
I sometimes wonder if I should share this stuff.
Will more people knowing about my favourite haunts make them busier and cause a problem for me, or will more people going there (I’m fooling myself that anyone actually reads about my little outings, aren’t I? Its just you and me really, I know…) mean that service improves because they make more money? I’m so conflicted!
Anyway – back to Joseph’s… this is a very delic service. Not too pricey, as high tea goes and very high quality. The tea selection isn’t amazing, only good, but the food is divine.
I absolutely recommend you stop by if you are in the area and need a bite to eat!

Joseph Alexanders,
Cnr Coronation Drive & Park Road, Milton
Phone (07) 3368 1200
Web www.josephalexanders.com.au