Happy New Year! Let us raise a cuppa as we usher in another year, 2012! Looking back at the year just ended, it started out slowly but certainly did end with a bang. It is safe to say that the ground we lost by moving in 2010 has been officially regained ~ and then some ~ for which we are very grateful. We owe so much to our loyal customers who have followed us to the new location as well as the many new ones who have become regulars in the past year. Thank you!

There is something about the beginning of a new year that causes us to want to organize and the online shop is no exception for us. It is now in shape for the Winter months ahead. Did you know that January is National Hot Tea Month? It’s a great time to organize your tea cupboard and stock up on your favorites! We have a “Winter Favorites” section full of yummy flavors that will carry you through the bitterly cold months. Check out our “Winter Sale” section as well for some great bargains!

Even though the holidays are behind us and the goodies are all gone (or in the freezer in my case) there are times when one must have Scones. Our “Scone Section” is full of delicious flavors, including two new Gluten Free Scone flavors. Check out our fabulous fruit curds and Tea Honey as well.

We anticipate that 2012 will be our greatest year yet! May each of you be granted good health, enough provision for each new day, the joy of family, and many reasons and occasions for Tea Time blessings!

When I was younger I couldn’t wait for the holiday season to arrive and, as Fall approached, I wished it would come even faster. Now that I am older I have been wishing that time would slow down! There just aren’t enough hours in the day. We have experienced a significant increase in business lately, which is a blessing, but I could use an increase in hours to go along with it!

So, prepared or not, the holiday season is upon us and we are working day (and night) to take good care of our customers. We have some delectable New Arrivals in the shop that you simply must try! Christmas Bakery Specialty Rooibos is a visual feast for the eyes with the fanciful gingerbread men sprinkled amongst the chocolate, almond and ginger bits. The taste is even better! Our Christmas Plum Pudding Specialty Black is rich and delicious, like dessert in a cup, especially with a splash of milk. Pecan Tart Specialty Black is another blend that can satisfy your desire for a rich, decadent dessert, but without all the calories. Full of pecans, walnuts and white chocolate, this is sure to satisfy your need for a sweet treat.

Recently we were chosen to be the Purveyor of Teas at The Historic Rosemont Manor, Circa 1811, in Berryville, Virginia. After consulting with the Rosemont’s Innkeeper, Andrew Sheetz, two flavor profiles were selected and then I went to work creating these custom blends, exclusively for this elegant venue. The Byrd Blend Specialty Black and The Rosemont Blend Specialty Green were introduced in November to rave reviews and brisk sales! We intend to keep them fully stocked in the shop. An additional seasonal blend offered in November, Honey Spice Rooibos, in the signature Rosemont packaging, will be in the shop while supplies last. For December, the seasonal blend will be Christmas Memories Specialty Rooibos, packaged in the distinctive Rosemont tins, and will also be available while supplies last.

We have so much for which to be thankful this year; God’s provision of enough strength for each day, good health, wonderful family, a growing, prosperous business, and the best customers who come through “our doors,” even if we don’t get to see many of you face-to-face.This Christmas Season, may you be granted time to enjoy the small things, faith to reach for big things, opportunities to gather with those you love, and a new sense, or perhaps a renewed sense, of Hope that was born in a manger on that special morn, over 2000 years ago. We at Tea For All Reasons wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

The first day of Autumn, my favorite season, has finally arrived along with cooler temperatures, pumpkins, chrysanthemums, and the beginnings of changes in leaf color.  This year there are predictions that our leaf colors will be more spectacular than normal owing to an abundance of rain the last couple of months. Autumn also heralds the beginning of the Apple Harvest here in the Shenandoah Valley. One of the biggest and most popular orchards is just down the road from us so we have such an abundance; some varieties I had never even heard of.

On a sadder note, the end of Summer means my summer of reading has come to an end.  Rarely do I get the opportunity to sit down to enjoy a good book.  In the last couple of years I managed to finish less than a handful.  So, I decided to set a goal of reading one book a week for thirteen weeks.  With each passing week I was able to meet my goal, some weeks even surpassing it.  Now that summer is officially over, I can claim with great satisfaction that a grand total of fifteen books have been completed!  Not only that, I managed to read the entire Old Testament as well.  Now that the busy tea season has begun in earnest, I must turn a blind eye to the stack of books that await another season of leisure.

When fall arrives, it’s almost as if a switch has been turned on and the orders start pouring in. It has always been our desire to meet the needs of you, our customers, and to listen to your comments and special requests. Each New Arrival this season is a direct result of a particular request.  With that in mind, I took the suggestion from my daughter to create a Pumpkin Spice Chai Specialty Black which is now in the shop.  Oh, my, is it good!  Try it with milk for a yummy treat on a chilly day.

From time to time we receive requests for our premium teas in teabag form. We have always prided ourselves in offering the freshest, highest quality loose tea available.  However, when we discovered these Organic Pyramid Tea Bags, we decided to offer them packaged in our 4oz. Tins.  You will find five different flavor offerings, four of which are Organic ~ another request from our customers.  A delicious fall flavor we’ve added to our New Arrivals is a Caramel Pear Specialty Black ~ a request from my husband ~ a creation inspired by a tea we had at Disney World in May. It has become one of my new favorites as well.  And, speaking of favorites, check out our ever-growing Fall Favorites section for the other seasonal teas you may be looking for.

More and more folks are looking for Gluten-free products so we decided to begin carrying Gluten-free Vanilla and Gluten-free Chocolate Chip Scone Mixes.  You’ll be delighted with the same easy instructions and delicious results.  

Plans for our Holiday Blends are in the works so check back in October for introduction of some of our Holiday Favorites.  Until then, relish the colors and tastes of Fall with a cuppa and a good book.  I will just be a little bit jealous!  

Or so the song says. It certainly is starting out that way. Summer doesn’t officially arrive until June 21 but, for me, it started a month ago. And with vacation already behind us, we are starting the summer rested, refreshed and renewed. And since my husband and I spend most of the summer inside whenever possible, if we do decide to do projects and chores, they are invariably indoors.

Speaking of vacation, in May my husband whisked me away for a memorable get-away to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. We delighted in being together for this special time and enjoyed much of what the resort had to offer, in particular, Afternoon Tea in the Garden Tea Room and a superb seven-course dinner in the Victoria and Albert Restaurant. One of our favorite places is Epcot, especially when the Internation Garden Show is featured. Despite the heat, the blooms and topiaries were spectacular. We strolled at a relaxed pace, taking in the beauty, points of interest and restaurants with great pleasure. After a week, one can get very spoiled with the service and ammenities. Once we arrived back home, my hubby asked who was going to provide “turn down” service with chocolates on the bed everynight!

Once back in the office it was time to get the summer teas listed and we have some fantastic new flavors to entice you, besides our other “Summer Favorites.” If you like the tropical flavorings, Pina Colada Black and Tropical Passion Black are delightfully refreshing as iced tea. If you prefer an unflavored Black iced tea blend, our Baja Iced Tea Blend is the perfect choice. I’ve mentioned in previous posts that peaches are my absolute favorite fruit and I just cannot get enough when they are in season. To help get me through the off season I prepare lots for the freezer. Another way is to enjoy a peach flavored tea. I am pleased to introduce one of our newest Specialty Blends, Peach Cobbler, with its luscious peach, walnut, pecan and white chocolate taste. In a word, “YUM.”

Brew some iced tea, put up your feet and take some time to rest, refresh and renew this summer!

I’m having a hard time believing it’s April but the appearance of green in the grass, pansies coming back to life and the smell of mulch are sure indicators that Spring has finally sprung here. I’ve sprung into action and am hopping like a bunny as Tea For All Reasons gears up for a major event this month. With the Royal Wedding uniting Prince William of Wales to Catherine Middleton on the 29th, we thought it would be fun to host a “reservation only” Royal Wedding Tea Tasting and, to our delight, we sold out very quickly! What fun it has been to create tablescapes with all the Royal cup and saucers I’ve been collecting for over a decade. There will be five teas from our Royal Wedding Collection offered for tasting, concluding with the Royal Wedding Blend ~ a Champagne Raspberry Rose White Tea ~ to go with wedding cake, of course!

Easter is an old-fashioned holiday for our family with religious traditions mixed in with fun for the grands. Our entire family will be with us for the weekend to celebrate Resurrection Sunday and a couple of birthdays. If you have special plans as well, be sure to stock up on our Easter Parade Specialty Rooibos with its yummy pineapple coconut flavorings.

The last week of April marks the beginning of the annual Apple Blossom Festival here in the Shenandoah Valley. Our new Apple Tango Herbal will put you in the mood to dance it’s so good! Spiced Caramel Apple Specialty Black, Roasted Apple Green and Apple Mangotini Rooibos continue to be some of our best sellers and will be great additions to any of your spring festivities.

Herbals are becoming more popular as folks turn to these simple, decaffeinated varieties to enjoy drinking all day long. Along with the Apple Tango, we’ve added Rose Petals and Rosehips to our offerings. You can brew them alone or combine one or both with your favorite Black or Rooibos tea to add fragrance and fruity tartness, plus an extra dose of Vitamin C.

Now I must hop, hop, hop back to the work table to package more tea for our big events! Have a blessed Easter and happy Spring!

As often happens, we received quite the tease from Mother Nature the last few days with temps in the 70’s and lovely, bright sunshine. Today is another story with the freezing rain tapping on my window and a few inches of snow expected overnight. Don’t get me wrong, I love snow! So it is not unwelcomed by me. It is said, “March comes in like a lion, and goes out like a lamb.” We shall see. In the meantime, it’s going to take some imagination on my part to conjur up the images of warm days, green grass and daffodils poking up out of the earth to think of spring and to get those creative juices flowing!

With that in mind, let’s look at what’s coming up in March. We have some truly unique blends available now and others in the works. Mardi Gras is nearly in full swing so why not add our tasty blends, Cajun King Cake Specialty Black and Sweet Bayou Specialty Rooibos to your own celebrations? The St. Patrick’s blends are also available on the website which includes old favorites, Luck o’ the Irish Specialty Black and Pot o’ Gold Specialty Rooibos. These teas and their yummy goodness will delight you all month long and are calorie free!

This coming April brings a historical event that will have millions of people all over the world glued to their televisions and computers ~ the Royal Wedding uniting Prince William of Wales and Catherine Middleton. To get into the spirit of the celebrations, we are working on “The Royal Wedding Collection” that will debut in mid-March. The collection will include “The Royal Wedding Blend,” “Catherine’s Blend” and “William’s Blend” along with some popular favorites. Stay tuned!

No matter what March brings, take some time to enjoy the comforts of home with a good book, warm fire, a cuppa and think Spring!

Many parts of the country are under snow or expecting snow at present and we here in “The Valley” are no exception.  To me snow brings a peaceful look and feel to the world outside my office windows which I love.  I can stay inside, being warmed by the fireplace nearby, with a cuppa in my hand, quite content to enjoy it from the comforts of the sheltering walls of home. 

 

Winter is one of my favorite times of year.  As I sit warmed by socks and fleece,  the hustle and bustle of the holidays behind me, it is a time when the creative juices freely flow.  With Valentine’s Day just around the corner and lots of other fun occasions ahead, I find myself going to sleep with yummy flavors and unique blends on my mind.   Plans are already “brewing” for the introduction of our very special, “Royal Wedding Collection”  which will debut in March.

 

One of most popular blends, perfect for these snowy, wintry days is, “Snowflake” Specialty Black.  With its coconut and almond flavoring and tiny candy snowflakes, you may find this to be your new favorite as well.  As Valentine’s Day arrives in no time as all, we will have our romantic selections listed very soon:  “Romance” Specialty Black is deep, dark chocolate with cherry and lovely romantic accents, “Hearts and Flowers” a new Speciaty Black that combines chocolate and roses with tiny hearts.  Old favorites, “Chocolate and Roses” Rooibos and “Sweet Hearts” Specialty Rooibos will also be returning soon.

 

As we begin 2011, we mark Tea For All Reasons’ 10th anniversary! We wish to thank  all of our customers, from near and far, for your loyalty, encouragment, inspiration and friendship.  We appreciate all you mean to us and wish you all a very happy, blessed and prosperous New Year!

The leaves are still quite colorful here in the valley, apples are overflowing the bins at the farmer’s market and the days are perfect for sweaters and light jackets. Fall is my favorite season and to be able to enjoy a prolonged version is pure delight. But, just as the trees will surely lose their leaves, so will the frigid weather arrive and don’t we all need a good supply of tea in the pantry to get us through? Our inventory of Fall Favorites and Holiday Favorites continues to grow, giving you even more choices for you, your family and friends to enjoy over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays and beyond.

Added to our selections of New Arrivals are Chocolate Chai Rooibos, with a spicy chocolate cinnamon taste; Honeybush Nut Crunch Specialty Rooibos, a flavor treat with nutty flavor; Maple Leaf Specialty Rooibos, for all those who love a strong maple flavor but need a decaf tea; Chai Nog Specialty Herbal, another fantastic no caffeine treat that tastes just like a fruity cider; and Vienna Winter Specialty Green, that is characterized by a very subtle chocolate, caramel and almond taste.

Take time to enjoy the days ahead. It may require being purposeful to spend time in quietness. Put the kettle on, brew a new favorite and savor the comforting warmth of a cuppa. For me it’s a good time to reflect on the things I am thankful for ~ our freedoms, family and faith, and to reflect on the many blessings of the past year. Setting aside time for those quiet moments over a cup of tea, helps to develop a thankful heart, enabling us to face the hectic December days that are fast approaching with a better attitude. As is said, “I am so glad I wasn’t born before Tea!” What a difference it makes in my life! I hope it does in yours as well!

To all of you, our customers, family and friends, may you have a very blessed Thanksgiving and a most wonderful and Merry Christmas!

Autumn is just around the corner, but I’m not done with summer yet! Not that I especially love the hot, steamy days that are characteristic of the season. Just about the only thing I like about summer is Iced Tea! I tend to spend most of my time indoors, enduring the short trips out for necessities and an occasional fun outing. Typically, it’s a time when I regroup, retreat and refresh. Not this year. After the big move from Fairfax I did regroup but, retreat and refresh, not so much. With so much to do to get settled into the new house and office space, there was no rest for the weary!

Things have been hopping in the office in preparation for our two big Open Houses, one in September, another in November. Lots of new flavor creations have been added to our growing selection of Fall Favorites so be sure to check them out. Cranny Apple Specialty Rooibos is one of our new infusions which combines two of the fall’s favorite flavorings, cranberries and apples. Roasted Apple Green celebrates Apple Harvest time here in Winchester with lots of apple bits and rich roasted apple flavor ~ one of my personal favorites. For all you Chai lovers, this new blend, Chocolate Chai Rooibos which, being decaf, can be enjoyed as a tasty treat all day, or for a delectable dessert as a Chai Latte in the evening. Lastly, it is with pleasure that I introduce our new Oranges and Spice Specialty Black which, quite simply, is to die for! Many of you have requested a good Orange Spice tea for fall and winter. This creation is loaded with citrus flavor with a hint of vanilla and cinnamon. I am very proud of this blend and I trust you will love it, too. Remember, any of these teas make wonderful gifts for teachers, hostesses, Fall birthdays, Thanksgiving and, of course, Christmas as we are happy to package them in our 4oz. decorative tin.

As we enter into what promises to be the beginning of a very busy Fall season, I hope you will join me in taking the time to enjoy the rich colors, spicy fragrances and delectable tastes of Autumn!

Oh, to be at the beach in the month of June or any vacation destination for that matter but, alas, a trip to a far away place isn’t in our immediate future. We are still recovering from our move and have boxes upon boxes waiting to be unpacked. Yes, waiting. Until the construction is completed on the remodeling projects in our new home, it is pointless to unpack with all the dust that is swarming around the house. Even the office is barely tolerable at this point. But there is such promise and I can’t wait to begin putting away all the supplies and start stocking the shelves and cupboards with lovely teas, china and accessories! My nice, clean orderly life will return some day very soon!

As promised, we have some wonderful New Arrivals for summer and great specials for the Grand Re-Opening! If you haven’t tried our Summer Vacation Black or Sundew Black teas with flavorings of peaches and mangos, they are a must! We also have our Iced Tea Samplers which are a perfect way to taste a wonderful array of summer flavors to pick out your favorites.

FREE tea is just waiting to be included in every order totaling $25 or more! Be sure to check out our June Sale items as well. Devonshire Cream is half-priced! As we get settled into our new space, we’ll have more new blends to offer as well as great summer specials coming so check back again soon!

Enjoy your summer and happy sipping!