Monthly Archives: August 2014

To get into the Great British Bake Off mood for this evening and because I was inspired by bread week last week I thought I would share with you the recipe Rob and I tried for the first time this weekend.  It is from the Great British Bake Off book and given that bread is not something I have ever tried before it turned out rather fine! I have to say though that Rob did most of the hard work and I am enjoying eating it!

We didn’t have apricots or hazelnuts in the flat so we changed ours to raisins and pecans and it still seemed to work well.

Wholemeal Honeyed Hazelnut and Apricot Loaf

Ingredients:

• 500g stoneground wholemeal flour
• 7g dried yeast
• 5g salt
• 100g ready to eat dried apricots, chopped
• 70g hazelnuts, toasted and halved
• 300ml milk, lukewarm
• 1 tbsp honey

Method:

1. Mix the flour with the yeast, apricots, hazelnuts and 5 grams of salt in a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the centre.

1. Pour the milk and honey into the well, then gradually work the flour into the milk to make a soft but not sticky dough. If the dough is dry and difficult to work, add a little extra milk, if the dough feels sticky and won’t hold its shape, work in a little more flour.

1. Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knead thoroughly for 10 minutes until it feels very elastic (the dough can also be mixed and kneaded in a large food mixer – use the dough hook, and low speed, knead for 5 minutes only).

1. Return the dough to the bowl, cover tightly or slip the bowl into a large plastic bag.

1. Leave in a warm spot until doubled in size – about an hour.

1. Punch down the dough to deflate then divide into 3 equal portions. Roll each portion into a sausage shape about 40cm long. Plait the 3 strands together, tuck the ends under neatly then transfer the plait to a lightly greased baking tray. Slip the tray into a large plastic bag and leave to rise until almost doubled in size, about 40 to 60 minutes – do not let the loaf get too big as it will lose definition. Meanwhile heat the oven to 200C/fan180C/ gas 6.

1. Bake the loaf for about 30 minutes, until an even golden brown, and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped underneath. Cool on a wire rack. Store in a cool bread bin. Best eaten within 4 days or toasted.

I have to say is particularly delicious toasted with some butter and a mug of black tea!

(As you can see I have eaten half the loaf already!)

Melissa, August 2014

It is definitely wedding season and having been to two stunning ones in the last few weeks. I am certainly in the wedding frame of mind but I do not have as many as some of my friends this year one of whom has 11 in 2014!

When it comes to wedding favours I have received many things from chocolates to homemade jams and chutney all of which are delicious but one thing that does make a fabulous and different favour is tea! Tea is also essential at a wedding for after the dinner and for those inevitable sore heads the next morning!

Our tins look striking on any table and the stylish packaging means they will blend in well with any colour scheme. Line them up so people can choose the tea they fancy or use our individually wrapped tea bags as favours. We are flexible and can help you with whatever you need for guests to get their tea fix over the wedding days. All you have to do is email me melissa@luponde.co.uk and let me know what you’d like.

(Image courtesy of Andy Tyler Photography)

Tea and tea sets also make a fantastic wedding present. It is what every newlywed couple needs in their home. Choose a gift box of tea, our tea subscription or opt for something from our beautiful Dunoon fine bone china range and brighten up their kitchen tables.

If you are off to some weddings this bank holiday weekend enjoy them I know I am definitely looking forward to my next wedding in Belfast!

(Image courtesy of Google Images)

Melissa, August 2014

Here at Luponde we don’t just want to provide you with great tasting tea we also want to make sure you have all the tools you need to make yourself a fantastic brew.

For loose leaf lovers we have practical and fun infusers, pincers, tea balls and tea filter papers for your mugs and teapots, making your tea experience hassle free.

 

For tea bag lovers you can avoid tea stains on your surfaces by purchasing one of our ceramic tea bag holder dishes and they come in a variety of colours to blend in to your kitchen or office!

Our glass teapot range is extremely popular and they look stunning on any kitchen table. Watch your leaves infuse and the different colours they turn. You can also take the infuser out so they are also perfect for flowering teas and tea bags. An added bonus is that they are all dishwasher safe! We also have a glass teacup and saucer and milk jug and sugar bowl in the collection.

Next time you are picking up your favourite Luponde tea don’t forget to browse our teaware to see if there is something you need for your tea making experience!

Melissa, August 2014

To celebrate Afternoon Tea Week I thought I would let you know about one of my favourite afternoon tea experiences.

Last year part of my Hen Do involved an afternoon tea at The Sanderson Hotel called ‘The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party’ and it really was an afternoon to remember.

When you take your seat you get a menu hidden inside a book and everyone got a different riddle to crack on their napkin. There was a wide selection of teas to choose from or obviously cocktails for those that wanted them and if you were inclined to add sugar to your tea it came in a music box with a dancing ballerina on top which played ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ which really took us back to our childhoods!

The food was outstanding and there were a range of traditional sandwiches, cakes, scones and sweet treats all with a little eccentric twist. The marshmallow mushrooms and melting mango cheesecake were particular favourites! There was also a potion bottle with a little straw to drink from. To top it off all of the scrumptious food and tea were served on crockery with kings and queens, animals and clocks on which really added to the atmosphere.

The service was great and they catered for all our dietary needs (including no gluten, no dairy etc) and we left feeling full, nostalgic and like we really had been down the rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland. It is a definite must do in London!

http://www.afternoontea.co.uk/uk/london/oxford-street/sanderson-hotel/

Melissa, August 2014

I've researched the top 10 quotes to bring you the best expressed sentiments on tea. From ancient Chinese proverbs to C.S. Lewis, there's something here for every type of tea enthusiast. I also thought you'd appreciate some imagery, so I merged the phrases with tea related photographs. Scroll down here for the result; some surprisingly good remarks about our favourite national pastime.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So there you have it.  A combined effort of public polling, internet combing, and a few historical references have brought you the very best commentary on tea.  We hope you've enjoyed reading them as much as we've enjoyed finding them.  So now it's down to you. What is your favourite all-time tea quote?

Making perfect tea falls between a moral obligation and a survival skill in the UK.  Water temperature and brew time are specific to tea types, so here's what you need to know...

Who knew that the giant courgettes my parents in-law gave Rob and I from their blooming allotment would make such a delicious tea time treat. After discussing savoury dishes for which to use the veg Rob stumbled across a BBC Good Food recipe for a loaf cake. Cue a Sunday evening spent chopping, whisking and baking. The result was a moist, delicious cake. Try it with our aromatic earl grey tea.

Ingredients:

• Butter for the tin
• 2 large eggs
• 125ml vegetable oil
• 85g soft brown sugar
• 350g courgettes, coarsely grated
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 300g plain flour
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• 1/2tsp bicarbonate of soda
• ½ tsp baking powder
• 85g walnuts, roughly chopped
• 140g sultanas

 

Method:

Fresh camomile has a beautiful scent, is highly aromatic and has a slightly oily taste and we replicate that by hand picking the whole camomile flowers and initially sun drying them, so they are just how nature intended.

Camomile is caffeine free and has lots of health benefits. If you are stressed it will help calm you and if you struggle sleeping it can also help you drift off to sleep. It can help treat digestive problems, as well as soothe allergic reactions and menstrual cramps. It is a fabulous drink!

As it is our Tea of the Month for August you can win some by emailing your details to tea@luponde.co.uk

I think camomile is our prettiest tea by far and therefore I thought I would share with you a series of pictures from the Luponde estate and the final product so you can see for yourself its beauty!

Camomile available in tea bags

Camomile available in loose leaf

Melissa, August 2014