25 June 2011

tea tasting

There are so many good reasons to pop into Petersham: the chicly distressed displays,

the fabulous flowers,

and of course the cakes and croissants! But on Tuesday, Sarah and I went for the tea, specifically an oolong tea tasting with Jennifer Wood, founder of the Canton Tea Co:

Oolongs are my favorite teas, and having sampled the Canton Tea Co's Anxi Rou Gui with Bee a few months ago, I was keen to try more of their offerings.

Oolongs (semi-oxidized teas) range tremendously in flavor from fresh and light to rich and dark. My top teas at the tasting were the Tie Guan Yin (Iron Buddha), Mi Lan Dan Cong (Honey Orchid, a 2010 Great Taste Gold Award winner), and Xing Ren Dan Cong (picked from a single 200-year-old bush).

It just figures my favorite would be a 'Connoisseur's' tea and the most expensive of the bunch! But luckily the Anxi Rou Gui and Tie Guan Yin are a lot less pricey. So now perhaps teatime at home will be nearly as exciting as teatime at Petersham!

12 comments:

  1. That sounds like so much fun! You've got excellent taste, so it figures your favorite would be the most expensive one. :)

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  2. Isn't Jennifer woods inspiring, I did the tea tasting a few months ago at Ham House, and immediately ordered one of those lovely glass teapots! It's such a treat to have a beautiful cup of tea in the afternoon, without all the Petersham Nurseries' tempting cakes!

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  3. well you are a connoisseur of many things, why not tea as well?

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  4. I picked up the leaflet for this and then forgot about it, what a shame - but I think my palate has probably been ruined by PG Tips!

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  5. yummy...

    I'm drinking a lot of jasmine tea and gree tea at the moment.

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  6. I too love Oolong tea. Tea tasting is a fabulous way to while away an hour or too. You have good taste ;-)

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  7. What unerring good taste you have Kristina ;) Sounds like a lovely time with Sarah! Hope to see you very soon if you can manage a weekend get-together in July as will be helping M when I can until back is fixed I think. xx

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  8. Of course you have the classiest (most expensive) taste, o elegant one! Sounded like a very fun day out...

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  9. No matter how often I try to brush up on the world of tea and try new blends, my packages of exotic loose-leaf tea end up at the back of my cupboard. Such a shame. But, at least my teabags do see the inside of a pot and not thrust into any old mug!

    Looks like another wonderful day out at Petersham, lucky you!

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  10. Jennifer Wood looks like she is about to cast a spell on the class. She would not look out of place if she were in a Harry Potter film!

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  11. Sounds like a great day. I am back at Petersham this Saturday for the main restaurant, cannot wait, the menu looks amazing.

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  12. Oh a tea workshop. Sounds and probably tasted heavenly.

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