Tea...and a Little Patriotism

Belton, Texas. A rather small town where the average speed limit is thirty, and people walk downtown to strut around the local square, look at treats, and grab a bite to eat. It is home to several local businesses that add a spark of charm and community to the hill country of Central Texas. And it is in this neat little town that I must report a recent tragedy. Mimi's Teapot was a place with all the 'local' you could fit into the word, run by a determined woman named Vania White who brought the comforts of teatime from her own home, and added a strong taste of American pride to the atmosphere.

It brings a hard grief to say I discovered this place after it was closed down, and the fantastic house was put up for sale. I am also sad to say I never got to meet this woman, and that she had a dead land-line when I called. However, I feel inclined to write a tribute to her tea room and the experience I will never have for the sake of closure.

I took the liberty of taking snapshots of the place simply to admire the place she created for customers to come and sit, relax on a gorgeous patio, sip delicious tea and eat amazing goodies. It brought a smile to my face to see all the old fashioned appliance sitting rusted in her yard, like a vintage ice-cream maker and water pump. 

What I truly found great about this tearoom was that it was obviously antique, but heavily kept up-to-date with a prominent paint job and a well-painted fence. The flags surrounding this home also gave a sense of modern-decor, and overall made it a very unique place to visit. 
I can just imagine the customers it attracted; if they would laugh while sitting back in their comfy patio chairs and watch the countless flags wave in the Texan, summer breeze; if it brought tearful smiles to their faces reading all the 1940s posters hanging along the fence. 

I think Mimi's Teapot accomplished two things on a daily basis. As a tea-lover, I must applaud her for bringing a nice, comforting sense of community and cozy atmosphere for anyone who walked in. And, I can honestly say job-well-done to the patriotism that shouted out to those passing by, loud and unashamed. 
Vania White took perhaps the most creative approach to the tea experience I have seen thus far, and I commend her for generating a strong and tasteful theme I could never think of. 


I speak on behalf of Belton to say we will miss her little place of tea and patriotism.

It's Summer...So Make it Iced

Not many of you know I recently moved to Texas, but I can say it has been an innovative adventure so far; especially in the area of tea and treats. The first thing that stood out to me here in the land of heat and humidity is that Iced Tea is a popular commodity. I have met so many individuals who would prefer a glass of iced tea than an iced latte from Starbucks anytime. And it got me thinking...there are SO many ways to be creative and have fun with cooling, refreshing drinks over the summer--so why stick to just one?

I am sure you all know adding a little liquor to an Arnold Palmer can be a nice topping to a long, hot day. But for those who are less aware of precisely how many froofy, fruity tea drinks are out there, here are a few ideas...


First Recipe: Double Lemon Punch
This tasty iced drink is made with Ginger Ale and Lemon Verbena Leaves. Now, what precisely IS a Lemon Verbena leaf and why is it going in this drink? Well, I found an article that describes the make up and flavor of the herb here.

 http://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/herb/lemon-verbena/


Supposedly the leaves add a tangy, zesty, citrus flavor when steeped, and they can easily be prepared. They are supposed to be dried and steeped in 2 cups of boiling water and strained before mixing into the punch. In any case, if you do not have access to Lemon Verbena leaves, you may use 2 bags of simple lemon tea to substitute. Now, the recipe is simple from here: The lemon verbena leaves (or lemon tea), 2 cups of black Assam tea and 2 squeezed lemons should be cooled before being added to 1 quart of chilled ginger ale. And a nice decoration to top it off with are ice cubes in the shape of something fun, like flowers, froggies, hearts--anything you can find a mold for at a market. (I'd love to see it done with little flower ice cubes at the bottom of each glass : )

Second Recipe: Rosy Yogurt Cooler
I am not certain how many Americans make their own rose hip tea, but I highly recommend it. If not, a box of tea bags from Wal-Mart is fine. Steep enough rose hips for 2 cups of boiling water while preparing this iced treat. You'll need 2 cups of plain, lowfat yogurt, 1 cup of strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries (or any combination of the three!) 3 tablespoons of honey and 8 unsliced strawberries, blueberries or raspberries to go on top.
Blend the sliced berries, yogurt and honey until perfectly smooth before adding the steeped rose hip tea into the mixture. Again, I will promote the fun-shaped ice cubes to go with this, or perhaps something more elegant to pour it over. Use a tall glass and put the whole berries on top to give the illusion of a fancy parfait--or perhaps a very elegant smoothie. Heck, feel free to blend the ice in with it : )

Obviously, these fruity iced "tea" drinks taste even better with a friend out on the patio. So sip and enjoy these treats from in the heat!

These Recipes come from Victoria's "The Charms of Tea" owned by Hearst Cooperation, Copyright 1991. I encourage readers to check it out.