Here at Dormouse HQ we have been busy getting ready for the festive season.
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Here's some tips from 1941 about how to make the 'perfect' cuppa.

Some slightly distasteful methods for producing tea for the masses are demonstrated but it was wartime, of course and tea had to be produced by the bucketload. Stand by for some top tips for cleaning that hard-to-reach tap in your tea urn and remember, "a dirty tap means dirty tea!".

Tomorrow is International Talk Like A Pirate Day. Have you ever wondered what you would take with you if you were shipwrecked by maurading pirates and ended up a desert island?



A book, maybe some photographs, a penknife perhaps, but how about afternoon tea?  Well you wouldn't want to starve to death would you?

As Marie Antoinette once said “Let them eat cake!” Well actually, to be more accurate, what was said was "Qu'ils mangent de la brioche.” (Let them eat brioche) and reputedly it was Marie Therese the wife of Louis XIV who said it. There’s no disputing however that the French love a good tea party!

We do like a nice cuppa in the morning. For many of us tea is our drink of choice, at breakfast or elevenses, us Brits love a good old brew. 

The team at Dormouse had a real treat the other day.  We were invited to review the afternoon tea at The Lowry Hotel in Manchester.

We were really excited when we discovered North Yorkshire company Steensberg's. Not only because they have just brought out a beautiful new range of single estate teas but because of their impressive ethical emphasis on selling only organic and fairtrade goods.

When a selection of their stylish black tea caddies arrived at our door we couldn't wait to try them. Steenbergs source single-estate teas from China, Japan and Sri Lanka to ensure the best flavour. They then personally blend the leaves with other ingredients to create delicious taste combinations. As you know there is nothing we like better than a nice cup of tea.

First up was Organic Earl Grey Tea with Cornflowers. This was a gorgeous blend of earl grey tea with the prettiest blue cornflower petals mixed in. The tea was full of clear bold citrussy flavours from the bergamot oil. It was very fresh tasting and clean. It smelt divine and would be just the ticket for a special afternoon tea.

We also tried Green Earl Grey Tea this was something we hadn't experienced before but we really felt it worked well. The cleansing green tea expectedly balanced with the bold bergamot. It was light and fresh and would be the ideal drink after dinner.

Next came Yunnan tea we have sampled this before and never been really keen on its tobacco-ey smokiness but this was actually really nice. It was smooth,strong and delicious. Its underlying sweetness would go well with a nice slice of Madeira cake or some sticky Baklava. Yum!

Next was a spicy one Organic Red Chai. A blend of redbush tea with the addition of cardamom pods, cloves , ginger , pepper, cinnamon and lemongrass leaves all organic of course. We made a tea latte with this and served it sweet and chilled it was delicious and different and although red bush is not normally our tea of choice we are pretty sure we will be having this again.

Also last but no means least was a small tin of their Organic Matcha Tea which has number of impressive health properties due to the relatively high levels of antioxidants, minerals, vitamins and nutrients it contains. We hold our hands up and say Matcha tea is a taste which we haven't yet acquired, but that is our personal taste the dinky little caddy would make a lovely special present for a green tea lovers.

On the whole we really enjoyed Steenberg teas and we would definately make a beeline for their products in the future. Their wonderful website which includes organic baking ingredients, herbs, groceries even pet food can be viewed at http://www.steenbergs.co.uk.

Photo credit: clarita from morguefile.com


There's nothing like a nice pot of the tea by the fireside during the winter months to warm and reassure.  It is just right for a chilly day, ideally with a nice tea cake or crumpet.  But what happens when summer comes?  It has been so hot recently, surely too warm for our normal cuppa, iced tea maybe!  

However did you know that a hot drink such as tea is actually just what you need to refresh you in the hot weather? The science behind it is simple,in hot weather  tea refreshes you by raising the body temperature momentarily causing perspiration, which in turn cools the skin.  Tea also hydrates you, surprisingly as well as plain water does.

So when the sun has got his hat on - don't just say hip hooray reach for the kettle too.