My Vintage Tea Party
Ramblings and Reviews From a Lover of Tea and All Things Vintage
My Freddies of Pinewood clamdiggers, that is. For my second outfit post, I am wearing them and my saddle shoes again-- but this time I have paired them with one of my new sweater sets that I picked up on vacation. I wore this outfit to go bowling with my boyfriend! (Of course it was as hot as one would expect it to be in July in the South, but I just had to include the cardigan in the shot). Sweater sets, or "twin sets" as they are also called, were very popular in the 1950s. I love them because they can be dressed up or down, turning a casual outfit with jeans into something more cute and feminine. A classic ponytail with a scarf, kitschy pin, and retro purse are other accents that add to the 50s vibe. I think it is also rather obvious that my saddle shoes are my favorites for the casual 50s look. I have to wear pretty thick orthotics in my shoes due to a condition of my ankles and feet, which can be a huge downer when it comes time to go shoe shopping. Most styles of shoes designed for prescription orthotics are just.....not pretty and it's difficult to find regular shoes that both have a vintage or "cutesy" feel and accommodate my orthotics-- and shoes can really make or break an outfit! I can't just throw on a pair of classic flats and be done with it like I see a lot of vintage- loving ladies do; I would be in excruciating pain within an hour. I absolutely adore ballet flats, but it crushes my soul to say that I have yet to find any that will work for me. So, whenever I stumble upon a retro-esque find like my saddle shoes, I take them and run! There's a lot that I could have done accessories wise with this outfit-- pearls would have gone wonderfully with the pearl bracelet, and of course earrings would have been a nice touch. However, I have to admit that I am far lazier than I should be with putting on earrings. Part of it has to do with how allergic I tend to be to a lot of metals. I am also not a make-up fan. That is one thing that really separates me from most of the other vintage ladies-- I don't go out in full make-up unless it is a special occasion and I rarely wear lip color. It's just a personal preference I've always had to go fresh faced with a dash of pressed powder and I know it takes away from the vintage look, but it's hard to change a life-long practice (or lack thereof?). It sure was hard to keep my eyes open for this picture. It was bright outside!
Well, there we have it! I could add more I'm sure, but I want to avoid too-long-posts with extraneous details so I will conclude with an outfit breakdown: Sweater set: Dillard's Pants: Freddies of Pinewood Purse: Tatyana Boutique Bracelet (which is hard to see): My Flat in London (a brand owned by Brighton) Pin: Walmart!
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I must admit, I am a sucker for "themed" blends. Part of it is the decorative packaging, but I also just love trying new and creative tea blends.
Today's review will be of Twinings's black tea blend commemorating Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday. I am a huge fan of the Queen-- her style in the 1950s was positively iconic, and she has always shown unrivaled elegance and class (and a wonderful sense of humor). First, I will begin by saying that the tin the tea comes in is absolutely beautiful. Featured all around the tin are small depictions of some of the Queen's favorite things such as horses, a fancy hat, a deer, and so forth. I am disappointed that the artwork is printed on a paper sticker that is wrapped around the tin rather than directly on the tin itself because it seems easier to damage, but we can't have everything I suppose. The tea itself is loose leaf and, according to the writing on the side of the tin, is a blend of black teas from Assam (India), Kenya, and Sri Lanka. I am very pleased with the flavor as I love a good, strong cup of black tea. Many times, commemorative blends will contain some other sorts of flavorings such as flowers or fruits, but this is just a straight black tea blend. If you are like me and let it steep in the cup for the maximum amount of time, you will have a deep, rich flavor-- which I believe is mostly due to the Assam, as it is known for being quite strong. If you prefer milk in your tea, I'm sure it would be delicious in this blend; however, I like it best without so I can't tell you for sure. I give this tea blend high marks, both for presentation and taste and it is certainly a blend I would keep around! As I mentioned in my review of afternoon tea at the Taj in Boston, I had the opportunity to visit a second tea room while vacationing there. Abigail's Tea Room is located in the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum and is a very casual dining experience. My mother and I saved this for our last full day in Boston, and it was actually one of the things I was looking forward to the most. I love history museums, and I love interactive history museums even more. For those of you who are not familiar with the Boston Tea Party museum, it's a small museum that allows you to board a replica ship and throw pretend tea chests into Boston harbor. It really is an experience-- all of the employees are dressed in 18th century garb and stay in character, allowing tourists to get in touch with their inner rebellious colonist and participate in the famous events of December 16, 1773. However, I will move on to the tea room since this is not a review of the museum itself. I do try to stay on topic. Abigail's Tea Room (named for John Adams's wife, Abigail) was charming in every sense of the word. The inside looks very much like a cozy 1700s tavern with wooden tables and chairs and waitresses in their period accurate dresses. Each table is set with an old-fashioned board game (actually, the "boards" are fabric but you get what I mean) to encourage guests to socialize and stay and enjoy the atmosphere. Do not go expecting a fancy afternoon tea experience with dainty finger sandwiches and bone china; do expect to enjoy a full meal, drink your tea from a mug, and politely stuff your face with a tasty dessert. I opted for a chicken salad croissant and the tea tasting, or as it is sometimes called, the "bottomless" tea mug which allows you to drink as much tea as possibly can. For those who want to take a mug home with them, you can also purchase a "bottomless" mug that comes with a souvenir mug featuring the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum logo. The tea selection was very impressive, and I loved that the waitresses were knowledgeable about each kind. Nothing is more frustrating than going to a tea room and asking questions about their teas, only to be met with a series of "ummm....I don't know"s from staff. I believe there were five teas when I visited, all set up at the back of the dining room in large brass urns accompanied by a brief write-up of each kind. All of the teas they featured were blends thrown over into Boston Harbor on the night of the Tea Party. The benefit of getting the "bottomless" mug is being able to taste each blend and decide which you wanted to take home, as they sold all of them and many, many more in their gift shop. My favorite ended up being the Congou (apparently pronounced kung-fu), the highest quality black tea of the selection. It is similar to an English Breakfast blend with none of the smoky flavor of Bohea, which I bought to take home, or Souchong. The only tea that I did not try was Souchong because I knew already that it do not care for it at all. Unfortunately, they did not have a small pouch of the Congou-- only a large tin, so I did not end up purchasing it as I just don't have room in my tea cabinet for many more tins. The other teas available for tasting were Young Hyson and Singlo green teas. Of the two, I preferred the Young Hyson and bought a small packet which I will review soon. I can honestly say that I was not disappointed with any part of Abigail's Tea room, aside from a brief run-in with a less-than-enthusiastic employee...but that's beside the point. If any of you ever find yourself in Boston, I highly recommend both the museum and the tea room. Even if you aren't a lover of history like I am, I believe it is still an enjoyable and delicious experience worth having. Bonus picture of me after I rebelliously threw "tea" into the harbor. Onward to Abigail's!
After two tea related posts in a row, I figured it was time to do an outfit post featuring a couple of my vintage-inspired items. Aside from the clothes I wear to work, I try to incorporate at least a little bit of mid-century charm into my outfits. I work at my local library checking in and shelving books in a back room, and there is quite a lot of dust and sharp edges lurking around every corner and mystery...stuff...on the surfaces of books and DVDs. In short, it can be dirty and not the best environment to wear some of my cuter things. I did wear some of my nicer outfits when I first started, but one day I snagged one of my favorite sweaters on the corner of a metal bin and from then on I decided I was going to be more selective about what I wore; at least until I acquired a much sought after library assistant position (where most of my time would be spent at a desk). The weekends are when I feel like I can wear my vintage inspired leisure wear without fear of ruining it. Recently, I discovered the brand Freddies of Pinewood, which is based in England and specializing in 1940s and 1950s style jeans and tops. I just don't feel like myself when I'm in regular pants, and modern jeans are simply not an option for me; I would feel like a slob. I am so glad I came across Freddies and took the plunge and ordered some. They are unbelievably flattering, have that true vintage look, and are fantastic quality! I love that they allow me to add some vintage flare to my leisure time outfits without sacrificing comfort. I currently have three pairs and I plan to buy more. Pants: Freddies of Pinewood clamdiggers Top: Talbots. Basic, solid color cotton shirts are invaluable and versatile Shoes: The children's department....I have small feet Belt: Dollz and Dames in New Orleans Purse: Ordered from Disney Store Japan Headband: Urban Outfitters I have such a soft spot for anything cute. While a lot of my wardrobe is vintage inspired, I also have plenty of items featuring Disney characters, cats, teddy bears, etc. etc. I suppose I like to mix vintage with "kawaii" sometimes. Don't ever feel like you have to limit yourself-- you might love vintage but still love cute. If you like it, wear it!
Today's tea review will be of a black, Bohea (pronounced boo-hee) tea by Oliver Pluff and Company. This particular blend was made especially for the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum, which is where I bought it along with a couple of other blends that I will be reviewing in the near future.
Although I would be willing to bet that few of you have ever heard of Bohea before, it was quite a popular black tea blend among the British and the American colonists during the 17th and 18th centuries when tea was becoming the next big "thing." I know that most people probably think that England has been taking tea since the dawn of time, but it actually did not make it to the west until the 1600s. But I digress. On the night of the Boston Tea Party, chests of Bohea, Congou black tea, Souchong black tea, Singlo green tea, and Hyson green tea were hoisted over the sides of British ships and dumped into Boston Harbor. All of these teas came from China, as we did not have Indian teas until the 19th century. To give you an idea of just how popular Bohea was, of the 340 chests in total, 240 were filled with Bohea. Being the history nerd that I am, I wanted to "taste history" (for lack of a better phrase) and see for myself if this favorite of fine ladies and gentlemen of the 1700s was worthy of a permanent place in my tea cabinet. The short answer is: yes, I would buy this blend and keep it around. If I had to describe its flavor in one word, it would be "smoky." It is rather odd that I like Bohea as much as I do, because as a general rule, I don't like smoky teas. I once tried a Lapsang Souchong and immediately poured it down the drain after the first sip. It tasted almost like barbecue sauce. However, the smokiness of the Bohea blend is more subdued and pleasant. Aside from that, I wouldn't say it is a particularly strong blend-- which I tend to prefer to lighter bodied teas; but I think the unique flavor makes up for what it lacks in body. In closing, I would recommend this blend to someone who is looking for something "different" from a run-of-the mill black tea. I don't believe someone with little to no experience with tasting different varieties of teas would like it very much, if my dad's reaction is any indication. He likes strong, sweet black tea (we are Southern, after all) and he recoiled at the smoky scent of Bohea. But if you are like me and love to be adventurous when it comes to tea, by all means give it a try! |
About Me
Greetings, readers! My name is Jordie, and I am a tea obsessed, history loving young lady who just happened to be born about 60 years too late. Archives
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