Tea Cocktails

I'm not a big drinker, it's not that I don't like alcohol I just don't find it that interesting or good most of the time. Beer tastes too yeasty and I don't like the harsh burn of most spirits. I do however like Gin and I love tea (see my version of the wonderous Hot Toddy for proof), so I have been happily surprised by the number of pubs that have started serving Tea Cocktails (hot or cold) yet few have actually managed to make something intriguing and tasty.

The first one I had was a Royal G and Tea (Gin and Earl Grey Tea with a dash of lemon and sugar) at The Colonel Fawcett in Camden Town. It sticks in the mind because it was the first Tea Cocktail I had come across outside of my own kitchen, but sadly the tea was not good quality nor properly steeped and honestly the idea was pretty standard fare.

Others trials have regretfully been unmemorable due mostly to lack of imagination. Most seem to think that regular tea with alcohol and sugar added will somehow magically make for an interesting tipple. At best it's soothing. At worst it is a bitter concoction reminiscent of hokey medicinal elixirs.

Then in swoops the Mad Hatter's Tea a wonderful blend of tea, Gin and pink peppercorn syrup. The mix was excellent with no flavour drowned out by the other. I thought the syrup might have more bite but it was sweet and zingy complimenting the Portobello Road Gin well. The tea was good quality and well prepared making the whole a delight to sip.

Mad Hatter's Tea

And the china tea cup was the cherry on top!
I will definitely be going back to the Elk in the Woods and try their other Tea Cocktails and trying to come up with more ideas of my own.

Bridal Shower ParTea!

I had really wanted to high Afternoon Tea with my girlfriends and family and when ideas for my bridal shower were being bandied about I thought that it would be a lot of fun to go out dressed up in hats, gloves, pearls and floral print dresses for Afternoon Tea at one of the hotels here that offer it. However, my plans were disappointed by numerous unfavourable reviews for these venues.

Not to be without a tea party (and the lovely sight of my friends and family decked out, as my sister put it, "for the races.") I figured it could easily be held in my garden, or at worst apartment. It being summer and quite hot I thought iced tea would be better and bought a lovely Takeya Iced Tea maker and began to plan the food and decorations.

The food was easy... crust-less cucumber sandwiches and salmon cream cheese sandwiches for the traditionalists, cheddar and chutney sandwiches for the adventurous, and ham and cheese for the picky. Sweets comprised of cupcakes provided by my mother and sister, gingerbread men (so everyone could have a sweet man for a bit), and Victoria Sponge made by me (with the help of Felicity Cloake's wonderful recipe - here) and decorated by my talented sister.

For drinks we made pitchers of Pimm's and lemonade and numerous different iced teas (from the giant selection in my cupboard and my mother packing half her suitcase with Whittard's teas) - the only ones I remember drinking, for my cup kept get misplaced in the merriment and I had had quite a bit of Pimm's, were the David's Tea Lime Gelato, a mate I picked up in Burlington, and the Whittard's Afternoon Tea.

Decorations were harder. I had inherited a floral and a lace tablecloth, some bunting, plastic flowers and enough tea cups for everyone, but I didn't enough to serve the nibbles on so traipsed out to Ikea thinking I would at least find some cheap and brightly coloured plates. What I found was even better!

BÄRBAR Tray from Ikea

Isn't it adorable! I also found a table runner with tea cups printed on it and couldn't resist.

I did get a few coloured serving plates too, but the Barbar tray and Glanta table-runner made my day.

GLÄNTA table-runner from Ikea

The bridal shower was a great success (though rained in) and fulfilled me desire for an afternoon tea with my girlfriends and family...of course I don't think traditionally one would play pass the parcel or wear stick on 'taches, but who knows!