Tea Briefings at the Tea Embassy

Carol’s Tea Blog

Tea Tumbler - BUY NOW

I really like the new Aladdin Travel Mug with a drop-down infuser basket. There are so many things I like about this mug, it’s hard for me to begin. When I first saw it at another store, I was immediately attracted to the friendly green top (also comes in a teal blue) and grabbed it off the shelf to play with it to see if it really worked. The lever on the side of the top drops the infuser basket into the liquid. Just pull the lever back when you’ve finished infusing your tea without ever opening the screw top, and you’re ready to drink.

I’m impressed with the infuser, the finest screen I’ve seen in a travel infuser, even works with Rooibos. The double layered mug is made of BPA-free copolyester plastic and keeps the tea hot for about an hour, then warms down. I’m enjoying steeping tea, then drinking it as iced tea as the day gets hotter. Then resteeping it with fresh water. There is a flip top you open to drink. We tested it and it does not leak at all. I even dropped it at my home and was impressed that I hadn’t created a big mess.

Can you believe it’s even dishwasher safe and microwavable and only costs
$17.99.

If you like to play with things with your hands, you’ll love flipping the
infuser up and down, even when you’re not drinking tea! BUY NOW

Most people don’t expect a woman to be blogging about “Men and Tea.” But, the first people to have influenced me the most about tea have been men, including my husband, three sons, step father (who lived to be 100) and my father-in-law. Tea never seemed like a girly thing to me. Just a civilized, special time. During the last 40 years, as I experienced hundreds of “afternoon teas,” in fancy hotels, museums, tea rooms, cafes all over the world, there were always men involved. If they weren’t enjoying the tea with us, they were serving or preparing the tea for us.

Fifty percent of our customers at the Tea Embassy are men. In fact, they usually purchase the most expensive teas. I think more and more men are coming out of the woodwork, openly enjoying their travel mugs of tea or even their teacups.

So during the celebration of Father’s Day, let me suggest that tea is a great gift for fathers. How about a travette teapot, some Tea Embassy tea and the Story of Tea or Tea Lovers Treasury. You could add a gift certificate for Afternoon Tea at the Driskill Hotel as they begin serving again every Friday or take your dad to the Steeping Room at the Domain.  —Carol

Afternoon Tea in Denver

I’m always telling people as they choose a tea and learn how to steep it, that there’s not a “tea policeman” out there who is going to arrest them or scold them for choosing a particular tea or steeping it the way they like it. In America we have freedom to make choices, including what tea we drink and how we prepare it. That is such a relief.

At the Tea Embassy, we give advice to help people steep tea and get the most out of a particular blend. We especially encourage people to experiment, making new discoveries about what they like and how much flavor they can experience from a tea leaf. Don’t be intimidated by others who “might not drink flavored teas,” “drink only organic,” “no milk and sugar,” “only green tea,” etc. Some people purchase different teas and mix them all together. When you get down to it, when you’re in your own home, you’re going to prepare the tea exactly how you like it, (not necessarily like your parents, roommate or spouse) but whatever gives you comfort, good health, peace of mind, and enjoyment. 

Everything about tea is right, not wrong. No Gestapo needed. You might say tea represents freedom. Think about that with your next cup.

Carol’s Tea Blog-
Mother’s Day is a special day each spring when we honor our mothers. In England, that day is in March and is called Mothering Day. I think being a mother and raising three boys is the most important thing I’ve ever done on this earth. Those memories include sweet and humorous times as well as very difficult times. Mothering my children has been one of the most influencing factors to shape my character.

Both my mother and mother-in-law died recently, so those memories come to mind also. For me Mother’s Day is about memories, respect, and, of course, love.

So what can you give your mother for Mother’s Day? For sure the most important thing is the thought behind the gift. Here are some suggestions:

1. Spend the afternoon with her.
2. Take her to an event she would like–wine or tea tasting.
3. Bring her to the Tea Embassy and let her buy anything in the store!
4. Mow her lawn or weed her garden.
5. Cook her favorite meal from scratch or take her to dinner or brunch or afternoon tea.

Some of my favorite gifts are antique teacups, jewelry, teapots. Teacups and jewelry are memories. I can remember who gave me each of my antique teacups as well as my jewelry. Mother’s Day is the time to give things you don’t really need like tabletop books, a teaset, chocolate. Instead of flowers, how about flowering teas by Teaposy with the Day Dream glass teapot. Mothers love sentiment. Tea is the perfect gift for a mother. One of my favorite herbals is Mother’s Bouquet. Tea Treasures and More Cookbook is a delightful gift for someone who likes to cook or wants to learn about tea.

Tea Embassy is the perfect place to find a Mother’s Day gift. Enjoy a taste of tea while you relax and shop.

White is the New Black: Sterling Silver Needles White Tea
Carol’s Tea Blog
I’m one of those people who has been drinking tea for more than 40 years, predominately black tea and has had trouble getting into green tea. The latest research on tea has shown that green tea is especially good for us, mainly because it’s not oxidized like black tea, so I’ve been trying to get green tea into my daily schedule. I have to admit, it has been difficult, so I was very excited when white tea came forward, and the latest research reported it to be the most healthy of all types of camellia sinensis. The silver needle buds are the newest part of the leaf and have the most nutrients because of the lack of processing. When you first begin drinking it as a black tea drinker, it seems like nothing. The flavor is very subtle but sweet instead of bitter. I have grown to love it. When I’m home in the afternoon and prepare a cup of tea I usually reach for the silver needles white tea from China. My favorite white tea at the Tea Embassy is our Sterling Silver Needles Yin Zhen. Multiple steepings of the same leaves are fun, pushing the leaves to discover more and more flavor. This afternoon I made my Sterling Silver White in my traveling Travette and enjoyed it with some delicious gingerbread cookies.

Carol’s Teapot Blog

Favorite Traveling Teapot: Travette Teapot - $33.00


One of my favorite teaware products at the Tea Embassy could be easily overlooked, unless the pretty pastel spring colors caught your eye on this very practical ordinary design. We call it the Travette. It’s a 21 oz (3 cup) vacuum teapot/mug with an infuser.

I use it often at home, mainly because it keeps my tea hot for two hours, and I can carry it around from room to room. It’s perfect for an office. Using a normal mug or teacup can be very frustating. When I’m working I take a sip of tea, then have to leave my desk or am distracted. When I return for another sip of tea, I’m so disappointed because my tea is COLD! When I use the Travette next to a small teacup, I pour what I can drink right a way, saving the rest for my next sip. After steeping your tea, you can also turn the Travette into a mug you can drink from with an extra top (sold separately).

When traveling we throw the Travette in our suitcase without any worry of breakage along with our Bodum Mini Ibis electric kettle. While packing I always hesitate about taking my tea gear with me, but after I arrive, I’m always so glad. It’s worth the extra effort.

The Tea Embassy has all colors in the Travette available, not only the spring pearl white, pink, blue, but also the bright raspberry red and stainless ($33.00). This is a great gift for Easter, Mother’s Day, Birthday, or just to treat yourself because it’s so practical along with a Tea Embassy tea.

PS One trick in making tea in a stainless vessel is pretreating the mug with very hot water, sloshing it around then pouring it out before you prepare your tea. The same goes with cold tea, sloshing ice cubes around insures your iced tea will stay cold longer.