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Thyme Wisper Herb Shop & Tea Room

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Why Peppermint in Tea Room Bathroom Soap?

Almost ready to open! Tea Room opens next Sunday (March 27, 2011) and the Herb Shop opens the following Tuesday (March 29, 2011). Whew!

I have had several people take advantage of "the facilities" in the Thyme Wisper Herb Shop & Tea Room, as I prepare the shop for opening for business. I find it very interesting that EVERY male who has used my shop's bathroom has commented on the bathroom soap. They would come out smelling their hands and then commenting on how nice the soap feels and smells. None recognize the smell and so they ask what it is. So what is it they are smelling? Peppermint.

Read more...

Afternoon Tea

Prior to the introduction of tea into Britain, the English had two main meals, breakfast and dinner. Breakfast was ale, bread, and beef. During the middle of the eighteenth century, dinner for the upper and middle classes shifted from noontime to a long, massive meal at the end of the day.

According to legend, one of Queen Victoria's (1819-1901) ladies-in-waiting, Anna Maria Stanhope (1783-1857), known as the Duchess of Bedford, created the afternoon teatime. Because the noon meal had become skimpier, by four o'clock in the afternoon the Duchess suffered from "a sinking feeling".

At first the Duchess had her servants sneak her a pot of tea and a few bread stuffs. Adopting the European tea service format, she invited friends to join her for an additional afternoon meal at five o'clock in her rooms at Belvoir Castle. The menu centered around small cakes, bread and butter sandwiches, assorted sweets, and, of course, tea. This summer practice proved so popular, the Duchess continued it when she returned to London, sending cards to her friends asking them to join her for "tea and a walking the fields." The practice of inviting friends to come for tea in the afternoon was quickly picked up by other social hostesses.

The primary distinction between differing tea meals is the time of day, food served and the location of the meal,

Therefore, afternoon tea (also referred to as Low tea) is a light meal typically eaten between 3:00 pm and 5:00 p.m. Traditionally the tea and food are served on a lounge (or low) table, which is where it gets its name.

A formal afternoon tea is, nowadays, usually taken as a treat in a hotel, café or tea shop. In everyday life, many British take a much simpler refreshment consisting of tea and biscuits at teatime.

High tea is served later, typically between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm and consisted of a full, dinner meal for the common people. Tea was still served, but there would also be meats, fish or eggs, cheese, bread and butter, and cake. High tea was eaten at a regular high table, hence the term "high" tea.

In recent years, high tea has become a term for an elaborate afternoon tea, though this is an American usage that is not recognized in Britain (and frowned upon by etiquette advisors).

Serving vegan and gluten-free items with tea between 11 AM and 2 PM, the Thyme Wisper Tea Room will be deviating from the typical mid-afternoon hours of a British afternoon tea. The menu will offer a choice of teas to be served with a delicacy (Simple Tea) or with a light meal served on a three tier curate stand (Afternoon Tea).

Lavender Lemonade

Having a booth at the Blooming Arts Festival in Linden (space graciously provided by the Commodore Hotel) and a speaking engagement at the Perry County High School for the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and the Future Career & Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) gave me opportunities to share what will be my signature chilled beverage in my Tea Room (opening in Spring 2011). Many people who tried the Lavender Lemonade wanted to have the recipe. As promised, here it is:

Lavender Lemonade

Yields a little over one quart

4 cups of water
4 fresh organic lemons, squeezed and seeds strained out (but leave in some of the pulp)
1 tbsp dried lavender buds
1/8 cup raw blue agave nectar

Pour one cup of boiling water over lavender buds.
Cover and steep for 10 minutes.
Combine remaining 3 cups of water with lemon juice.
Mix with steeped lavender water.
Add agave nectar and stir.
Chill before serving.

Some people said they thought the drink was not sweet enough. I believe this is mainly because they are used to (or should I say, are addicted to) the sharper sweet taste of table sugar. Agave nectar has a smooth sweet taste which allows the flavor of lavender and lemon to dominate. However, the size and juiciness of the lemons can make a difference in the tartness of the drink, as well as the fact that being organic makes them taste more "lemony". So the amount of agave nectar may need to be adjusted to taste.

You may be wondering why I chose this particular drink as my signature beverage for my Tea Room. Besides the fact that the fragrance of lavender is one of my favorite, lavender is an herb with many wonderful attributes. Lavender essential oil can be inhaled, added to bath water or applied to the skin to provide support for migraines, dizziness, and digestive disorders. Trials in 1980 showed that lavender is effective as a antibacterial and antimicrobial against dental decay. Research in 1976 showed that it purifies and deodorize the air, killing many microbes within 3 hours after exposure to the oil. As an antiseptic and disinfectant and with the ability to heal wounds, lavender essential oil is part of my first aid kit. Applying undiluted lavender oil to a burn and then following with cold water to remove the sting will assist in healing.

With the sedative action of lavender, a mild infusion (tea) of the lavender buds promotes natural sleep. Adding its antispasmodic action, drinking the tea supports insomnia, poor digestion, migraines, and irritability. And with its floral fragrance and gentle taste, I think you can understand why many an evening I am sipping a cup of lavender tea.

But now for the lemon in lavender lemonade... Of course lemon is full of vitamin C, but did you know that there are compounds in lemons called limonoids that have been shown to help fight cancers of the mouth, skin, lung, breast, stomach and colon? Scientists from the US Agricultural Research Service (ARS) are now investigating the potential cholesterol-lowering effects of limonin. Another study indicates that lemons may provide humans with protection against inflammatory polyarthritis, a form of rheumatoid arthritis involving two or more joints. Lemon is also an antiseptic that can be used on insect bites and stings. It can even be used straight on warts. You probably already knew that it is great for cleaning.

So now I think you can understand why Lavender Lemonade will be the signature chilled beverage for my Tea Room. However, for you unfortunate individuals who are allergic to lavender (such as my eldest daughter), there will always be another choice for a chilled drink in my Tea Room. And of course there will be many choices for hot teas.

My Herb Shop and Tea Room is under construction with plans to open Spring 2011. So in the meantime, try out the recipe. It is quite refreshing on a hot summer's day.