GIFT OF THE DAY: Fine Teas From Steven Smith Teamaker

[1] A calming herbal blend. [2] The selection of black, green, herbal and white teas will please everyone. [3] Lord Bergamot, the company’s version of Earl Gre;, powerfully blended (all photos courtesy Steven Smith Teamaker).   Steven Smith of Portland, Oregon was* tea royalty in the U.S., first as co-founder of Stash, then as founder…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Pour-Over Coffee At Home

[1] The 1941 Chemex design, represented at the Museum of Modern Art and other museums (this photo is from the Brooklyn Museum Of Art). It’s $49.99 at Bed, Bath & Beyond. [2] A freshly-dripped carafe of coffee (photo courtesy ZeteDesign.Wordpress.com). [3] The latest Chemex design, which adds a handle for easier pouring, was actually one…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Make Cold Brew Coffee With A French Press

The average American drinks 2.1 cups of coffee a day. Collectively, Americans drink 4,630 cups of coffee each second. And September 29th is National Coffee Day. Cold brew coffee, which has been around quite a while (we’ve had a Toddy cold brew system for 20+ years), has finally hit the mainstream. Coffee drinkers find it…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Tea Party Ideas, Part 2

[1] Tea can be classically staged, like this one from Tea Time Magazine, or [2] modern service, like this at the Langham Palace | New York. Instead of classic British tea sandwiches on crustless bread, you can substitute tartines—French open-face sandwiches—or Italian crostini. Here’s a close-up from Honestly Yum.   Yesterday we tendered the idea…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Plan An Afternoon Tea Party, Part 1

[1] You don’t need a tiered stand, but you can find inexpensive ones. This one is less than $20 (photo © Chef Buddy | Amazon). [2] Anna Maria Russell, Duchess of Bedford, inadvertently invented the custom of afternoon tea in 1840 (photo © Woburn Abbey).   THE HISTORY OF AFTERNOON TEA In the U.K., afternoon…
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