Hello and Goodbye...

For any tea drinkers who have not yet heard:

Let's Do Tea has ceased operations as a Direct-Sales Business. That means, I no longer serve as an Independent Let's Do Tea Consultant and will not be hosting any parties or fielding orders. The Good News is, Let's Do Tea will continue to offer their fine selection of teas on www.letsdotea.com. If you, like I, have fallen in love with the product, you may simply go to their website and order all of your favorites!

As for Me:

I will continue to drink tea daily and invite people into our home to share a cup of tea and friendly conversation. I am grateful for my time with Let's Do Tea and was priveleged to meet an insane amount of lovely women and men. Fellow consultants taught me many things about tea, hospitality, leadership and running a business. Numerous customers taught me many things about tea, hospitality, friendship, and encouragement. As hard as it often is to let go of things we have loved and enjoyed, Mike and I find ourselves embracing the next stage of our life and would have gladly moved forward with Let's Do Tea but see perhaps a greater purpose in moving forward without the responsibility of running a small business. We now pour our energies into meeting with friends and family from January to June 2010 in preperation for our around the world and living abroad trip which will begin in late June or early July. Currently, our plan is to work in Laramie the month of June then catch a flight to Guatemala to meet our World Vision Sponsor Child and enjoy the sights. Then we will meet up with some dear friends in South Africa for the World Cup and hopefully some volunteer opportunities. Following South Africa, plans are less clear but get us to Bangkok, Thailand for some travel experiences and further into Asia for a year minimum of teaching. So, letting go of Let's Do Tea is, for us, a blessing and a gift as much as it was such while it was in our hands to operate.

Again, thanks to each of you for your support and encouragement! I've enjoyed knowing each of you through this business and other life avenues.

Until we meet for tea,

Melissa

Chai Cider

Adapted from Carrie Peterson's Have Your Tea and Eat it Too! Let's Do Tea Cookbook

In a large stock pot mix the following ingredients. Enjoy the drink warm with good company on a chilly winter afternoon and into the evening.

1 quart Apple Juice
2 cups Pineapple Juice
18 cups Chai Americaine Tea
- can brew 3 pots of tea with 8 tablespoons of tea, rebrewing leaves after first brew
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
3 Cinnamon Sticks

Thank You!

Thank you to all who stopped by for the Holiday Open House!

I always enjoy welcoming you into our home and sharing tea, treats and time with you!

May you each have the most wonderful holiday season with your loved ones!

Chai Rice

Ingredients:

1 cup dry Brown Rice
4 cups Chai Green Tea

Directions:

Bring tea to a boil. Rinse dry rice in cold water for 30 seconds. Add rice to boiling tea, reduce heat to medium high to maintain simmer. Simmer rice for 30 minutes. Pour rice through strainer to remove excess water, return rice to pot and cover - no heat. Let rice steam for 10 minutes. Enjoy!

Thinking about making it again? Experiment with Jasmine Green Tea or any other tea!

Afternoon Tea: A History

Also known as "low tea", afternoon teas were initiated by Anna Maria, the 7th Duchess of Bedford, on of Queen Victoria's ladies-in-waiting. During her time, it was customary to eat a large breakfast, light lunch and very late dinner. Clearly, this gave hunger a home around the 5:00 hour. One afternoon, the Queen requested tea and small cakes to be served at this time, an idea Anna Maria grasped and continued for the following days. This became a much loved domestic ceremony and the tradition continues into our modern age.

Typically served between 3:00 and 5:00, afternoon tea is always a time for elegant snacks rather than a meal. The menu often includes: scones, pastires, fruit cake and finger sandwiches.

Consider hosting your own afternoon tea, featuring Let's Do Tea scones and tea in the month of November: British Appreciation Month.

Tea Hits the Can!

I like to do that which is reminiescent of Pioneer Days. This summer/fall I've picked up on canning. As a child, I helped my parents put up home made salsa, apple butter, pickles, etc. This year, I've decided to go it alone. Laramie has an impressive amount of crab apple trees and therefore crab apples, it was my goal to use them! Substituting Bourbon Street Vanilla Tea in this recipe has made all the difference! This is truly a delightful addition to any scone, biscut or slice of toast. Enjoy!

B.S.V. Tea Simmered Crab Apple Butter

Ingredients:

A lot of Crab Apples (10-12 Cups)

4.5 cups of Bourbon Street Vanilla Rooibos Tea

7 cups sugar

1 Tbsp. Cinnamon

2 Tsp. Nutmeg

2 Tsp. Allspice

1 Tsp. Ground Cloves

Directions:

Wash crab apples. Place whole crab apple in stock pot with water, begin to simmer for about 45 minutes until apples are soft. Run soft apples and water through a seive, return to pot. Stir in sugar and spices then cook apple mixture on low heat for about 2 hours until thick. Proceed to can or freeze; eat or share.

West Coast: Here We Come!

Dear Tea Drinkers and Friends,

My husband and are a leaving Laramie, WY on Saturday, June 27th to embark on a West Coast adventure! I am so excited to see the West Coast and to share tea with new friends from Durango, CO to San Francisco, CA to Victoria, Canada to Glacier Park, MT - unfortunately, I won't be available to enjoy iced tea with those of you in this part of the country. Nor will I be able to field orders for my beloved customers during this time. However, if you need tea, and believe me there are some wonderful blends for Iced Tea that will make the summer days even more enjoyable, please order online: www.melissa-harrington.letsdotea.org. I have even placed the link on the right hand side of this blog to make finding the site that much more convienent. All customers who order this summer will recieve a special coupon to use this fall/winter upon our return to Laramie. If you wish to place a large order with a few friends just shoot me an email or comment on a blog and let me know who all pitched into the order so you may all recieve your special discount.

Thank you so much for your business and support!

Until we meet for tea,
Melissa

P.S. If you want to follow my husband and I in our adventures across the coast feel free to check out our blog: www.theharringtontimes.blogspot.com.