High Time For Low ~ Recipe Book

With my friend, Maxine Shear, I co-owned and operated Earl Grey Manor Tea Salon in Historic Old Sacramento for three years. I served thousands of people, some of whom were connoisseurs of tea and tea cuisine, travelers from all continents.

Many of our customers were those who had visited some of the most famous tearooms in the world. Most were people who were experiencing afternoon tea for the first time. It was a pleasure to share this time-honored tradition with all of them.

I now enjoy sharing this love of tea with you in a web-based site, www.tearoomchronicles.com, a site created by my life partner, Kevin French. Together we are traveling the world of tea through the history, culture, and business of this amazing beverage and the cuisine of tea. We will have many articles and books about tea, the business of tea and tea recipes available to you as we travel through this fascinating industry.

We welcome you to the tranquil world of Low Tea, a step back to a more leisurely era of refined manners and polite conversation. Henry James said “There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony of afternoon tea.” So few hours are spent peacefully these days. It’s important to make time to relax and enjoy the company of friends and family, and there is no better way to do so than to prepare and partake of afternoon tea.

There was a time when genteel ladies gathered in the parlor to delight in a cup of tea paired with delicate savories and sweets as they shared feminine conversation. These days, afternoon tea is not limited to the aristocratic ladies of leisure. Women and men of all ages and all walks of life are discovering the pleasures of afternoon tea. It’s suitable for all occasions and can be for many people or just one good friend with which you wish to share some special time.

We live in a throw-away world of paper cups and on-the-run fast food. Spend an hour or two with friends sipping a second flush Darjeeling from a delicate China cup and enjoy a delicious scone or a savory tidbit. You will be amazed at the calming and rejuvenating effect it will have. Reap the benefits of the theanine in tea, that which creates a calming of our demeaner while increasing our awareness and alertness.

If you think that planning a tea party is no small task, High Time for Low Tea is the afternoon tea cookbook for you. Your gathering doesn’t have to be overwhelming or over-fussy. Afternoon tea can be as simple as a delicious scone and a good cup of tea, or as elegant and elaborate as that which may have been enjoyed by Anne, the 7th Duchess of Bedford. Here you will find easy recipes that will delight you and your guests. You’ll find a bit of history, as well as some tidbits about how to set a proper tea table and how to brew a perfect cup of tea. But don’t stop here.

***************************************************************** If you'd like a copy of our e-cookbook, "High Time for Low Tea", for $9.95, please let us know by clicking "contact us" on our menu bar. We will respond to you and tell you how you can acquire this fun and informational cookbook to make your afternoon tea parties a great success. In our e-mail response we will give you instructions on downloading and payment. *****************************************************************