Teacup Candles

I love candles. I love scented candles, non-scented candles, white ones, coloured ones, and ones in interesting packages. So when I came across these super cute teacup candles featured on Wedding Chicks I just HAD to share!

There is even a step by step guide on how to make your own, DIY style. Fun! 

Ever wonder how Jasmine Pearl Tea is made?  

Jasmine Pearl Green Tea (or Buddha's Tears) consists of young green tea leaves that are rolled into little balls and scented with jasmine flowers or petals. This tea was available as early as the Song Dynasty (960-1279) but was reserved for Royalty and member of the Imperial Court. Today, it is the most famous scented tea in China. 

The tea leaves are harvested in early spring but not used until later summer because Jasmine flowers do not bloom until late summer. The tea is then blended with the flowers and let to rest overnight to allow the flower buds to open. This allows the jasmine fragrance to absorb into the leaves, giving them a subtle jasmine smell. 

This process can be done up to 7 times to intensify the fragrance. Check out this interesting video that shows the time consuming, tedious rolling process:

When brewed in hot water, the leaves of the ball unroll to reveal a flowery scent and light orange, full-bodied brew. A very pretty tea indeed!

Summer in Australia

Oh when I look back now

                                     That summer seemed to last forever

And if I had the choice

 Ya - I'd always wanna be there

Those were the best days of my life

Bryan Adams' song Summer of '69 always gets me thinking of long, warm days! 

The past two months have been hot here, hotter than the last two summers. Instead of the usual bout of chilly days that come with Melbourne's temperamental weather, we have had mostly sunshine and clear blue skies. 

Most of the time I am usually rushing through my day- busy, distracted and thinking about other people and things. But these last few months I've been trying to slow down and appreciate what is around me and the beauty of this season.

As I have been on uni holidays for the past 2 months, I thought that I would use my time to post some pictures of the things that represent eternal summer to me- gorgeous sunsets and beaches, endless sunshine and delicious food. Yum. 

I hope you that you enjoy this photo collage, be it cold or hot, sunny or rainy where you 

are.

Sunset at the beach

Reading in the sun

Parasailing in Bali

Summer is also a time for shopping and presents, because EVERYONE likes presents! I like to think I am a bit of a shopaholic so here are a few of my favourite purchases/gifts so far....

Jelly Beans shoes (I want a pair in every colour!)

Iris scented candle- smells devine

Happy Monday, everyone. Hope your week is filled with good things.

Fruitalicious and Strawberry Fields!

This weekend I paid a visit to my favourite store T2, and I was lucky enough to score some goodies while I was ohhh-ing and ahh-ing my time away in this mecca.  Given that my other two posts have talked about black teas, I thought that it would be a good time to diversify into fruit blends. Fruit lovers you're in for a treat!

The first of my favourite fruit tea blends is aptly called Fruitalicious. This tea is a tantalising mix of apples, papaya, kiwi fruit, blueberries, cranberries, goji berries and dragon fruit- soo fruitalicious! It smells very sweet and has a hint of citrus, perhaps from the kiwi fruit. In terms of taste, there is an explosion of fruit on the tongue, with the blueberries and cranberries being the main elements that I can taste. Despite this, the fruit all work harmoniously together to leave a beautiful sweet taste on your tongue.

Fruitalicious tea in my
new Moroccan glass

To brew this tea I used about 2 teaspoons of tea per 200 ml of water and let it brew for about 5 minutes. Despite letting it soak for so long, I found it interesting that this tea remained a very light orange colour instead of darkening like some other teas that I have tried before. That aside, the thing I really like about this tea is that it can be served hot or cold and it is also caffeine free.  It can therefore be enjoyed in any season and at anytime of the day or night. Not that I am sensitive to caffeine or anything.

Moving onto my second favourite fruit tea: Strawberries & Cream, an absolute desert delight. This tea is a mix of strawberry, rosehips with apple, hibiscus petals and whole white yoghurt pieces. Like Fruitalicious, Strawberries & Cream smells devine- it is best described like sweet, freshly picked strawberries that prevail in not only smell, but also in taste. This tea literally tastes like berries, but the strawberry pieces are the key players in this tea. They work with the other ingredients to leave a sweet, velvety taste in your mouth that seems to linger long after you have swallowed. The finish is very crisp and fresh. Simply yummy.

Loose strawberry tea

The thing that I really like about this tea is that unlike Fruitalicious, it has a beautiful deep red colour. This blood red is very pretty to look at in your cup or glass. The second thing that caught my attention is the yoghurt pieces that are mixed in the blend. I never thought yoghurt and tea would make a good combination, but they are actually a match made in heaven. Definitely leaves me dreaming of endless strawberry fields! 

Whats your favourite fruit tea? These warm summer days call out for them.

Tea for One!

I just love this little Tea for One set my boyfriend gave me a few months ago as random gift. For those of you wondering, it consists of a little tea pot that sits on top of a cup and saucer. Perfect for sipping tea in the sunshine! 

You can buy these sets throughout department stores in Australia or online. Alternatively, Forever New currently has a really cute Japanese one for about $20.
One this note, and because I know my lovely boy will eventually read this blog, I think that it is a good time to add a sneaky glass that I have been coveting from one of my favourite brands T2.

Wishlist: Casablanca tea glass

How nice would it be to be transported to Morroco in a tea glass? 

Xx