Garage Sale Haul

Last weekend, I went to 3 church garage sales in search of tea treasures.

 

The gorgeous Royal Stafford pink teacup caught my eye as soon as I walked into the room. It was only $2!

 

 

I also purchased this pretty Aynsley teacup decorated with pink roses for $2.

 

 

I couldn't resist this charming teacup ornament which was also $2! It came with the stand, so I can display it all year!

Hamilton Potters Guild Spring Sale 2024

A few weeks ago, I went to the Hamilton Potters Guild spring sale to admire the functional artwork by over 90 potters!

 

These bright and colourful pottery were the epitome of spring!

 

 

The whimsical planters made me smile.

 

Mugs

 

I've always been a fan of Greg Voisin (top) and Alisa Greve's (bottom) beautiful mugs.

 

Teapots!

 

Mugs

 

More mugs

 

Jaclyn Ryan is another one of my favourite potters.

 

These yarn bowls are hilarious.

 

I brought home these 2 Jaclyn Ryan mugs because they matched the aesthetic of The Tortured Poets Department.

 

I also couldn't resist getting this jumbo Tea Time mug by Greg Voisin.

 

The jumbo mug is approximately twice the size of the standard mug and can hold over 1 litre of tea!

1st Annual Milton Tea Fest

At the beginning of the month, I attended the 1st Annual Tea Fest held in Milton.

 

 

There were over 30 vendors offering tea samples and other goodies.

 

 

Top: Chai Affair

Bottom: Amani Tea

 

 

Tea Samples (left to right): white tea, rooibos, chai, Korean tea

 

 

 

I also enjoyed sampling Momo Tea's different flavoured sencha green teas (left to right): sakura, ringo (apple), melon, and badu (grape).

 

 

 

More tea samples: turmeric chai and Tao Tea Leaf's ready to drink iced teas/lattes.

 

 

 

I had a nice chat with Andrea from Tea & Toasts...

 

 

 

...and Katie from Monarch Tea Co.

  

 

 

My haul from the Tea Fest

3 Momo Teas (the apple, melon, and grape blends). 

Taniya Gupta's book of poetry and the Monarch Tea Co. custom blend, "She Believed In Herself", that was inspired by the author!

Tea time with Jane Austen

Last fall, I found these adorable bone china teacups with Jane Austen quotes from HomeSense (aka HomeGoods) for only $7.99 CAD each.

 

 

The Emma teacup

 

Emma is my favourite Jane Austen novel. I love the 1996 film adaptation with Gwyneth Paltrow, Toni Collete, and Ewan McGregor.

 

 

"I always deserve the best treatment, because I never put up with any other."

 

 

The Mansfield Park teacup

 

 

"A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of."

 

I would love to add the other teacups to my collection:
Northanger Abbey
Persuasion
Pride and Prejudice
Sense and Sensibility

 

What is your favourite Jane Austen novel?

Cherry Blossoms in 2024

I've been enjoying some cherry blossoms-inspired tea this month!

 

Tea #1: Moonlit Blueberry Sakura black and rooibos tea (Dessert by Deb)

Tea #2: Cherry Blossom Matcha (DavidsTea)

Tea #3: This Cherry Blossom green tea by Murchie's is my favourite cherry blossom blend!

I was able to experience the cherry blossoms in full bloom last weekend.

 

The cherry blossom trees in 2017

 

 

 

The cherry blossom teas in 2024

 

 

 

April tea empties

 

What I will or have already restocked:
1) DavidsTea's Lemon Meringue white tea

What I may repurchase in the future:
1) Totalitea's White Chocolate Pistachio rooibos

Teas for The Tortured Poets Department

My favourite blonde songwriter released a new album, The Tortured Poets Department (TTPD), last Friday. The standard album (16 songs) were released at midnight, followed by a surprise drop of 15 more songs at 2 am! Of course, this Swiftie stayed up all nigh to listen to the 31 new songs.

TTPD's dark academia vibes inspired me to drink some literary teas to celebrate the album's release.

Literary Tea #1: Editors Blend black tea by Murchie's

 

 

Literary Tea #2: Bookish Blend black tea by Monarch Tea Co.

 

Literary #3: Library Blend by Murchie's

 

 

Literary #4: Publisher's Blend black tea

 

I purchased the standard TTPD cd and vinyl from my local record store. 

 

Me trying to process the 31 new songs:

real quick how is anyone having a single coherent thought right now in relation to tortured poets because i’m currently operating on the highest levels of mental mush known to mankind with lyrics floating around in my cerebral cortex like alphabet soup

— jessica (@enchantedjess13) April 19, 2024

Steve's Teas

A few weeks ago, I visited Steve's Teas store and tea room in Brantford, Ontario.

I had been following Steve's Teas on Instagram for a while, but this was my first time visiting their storefront and tea room!

 

 

The spacious tea room serves lunch and cream, low, and afternoon tea.

 

 

I loved how the bone china teacups and teapots were displayed.

Steve's Teas has a collection of more than 300 (!) teas.

 

This wall featured oolongs and black teas.

 

 

 This wall featured the herbal and green teas, as well as mugs.

I exercised GREAT restraint and only brought home 5 teas.

 

Steve's Teas had an impressive collection of Earl Grey blends.

Left: The Raspberry Cream Earl Grey black tea was a unique, fruity twist of the classic Cream Earl Grey.

 

Right: The Butterscotch Cream Earl Grey black tea was a smooth and creamy blend.

 

 

I also went bananas for the  Banana Pancakes black tea (left) and Banana Bread Chai black tea (right). Both blends also tasted amazing with milk!

I'm always on the lookout for watermelon teas and was thrilled to find this delicious Summer Melon black tea.

 

The staff at Steve's  Teas were so friendly and helpful. I look forward to going back to try their afternoon tea and purchasing more of their in-house tea blends!