By Helen Christa


Holiday tea parties are becoming quite a popular trend among tea lovers. Cups of tea and intimate conversation followed by fresh scones and sweet treats are time-honored afternoon tea traditions perfect for any holiday celebration.

Planning a Mother’s Day Tea is a lovely way to treat your mom, grandmother, or mother-in-law to a memorable afternoon. Bring out your fine linens and floral English tea ware to make this an elegant gathering.

An Easter Tea Party can be fun for children and adults alike. Choose a whimsical bunny theme and use splashes of pastel colors in pink, blue, and green. Many online retailers now carry children’s tea sets and accessories.

St. Patrick’s Day calls for a green-themed tea party complete with shamrock-themed tea ware, and of course, green tea.

Treat a co-worker, secretary, or administrative assistant to a special afternoon during Administrative Professionals Week. Surprise them with English scones, petite sandwiches, and hot tea served in floral cups and saucers.

With so many Christmas china patterns available, a Christmas Tea is a special event to plan with closest friends and family. With your home already decorated for the holidays, add fine linens, tea party food, and cinnamon tea for an unforgettable holiday party.

Celebrate the entrance of spring with a Spring Fling Tea Party. This tea party calls for vases full of colorful spring blooms, floral linens, and floral teacups and saucers. Flowers should adorn the table and the menu. Candied roses can be used to garnish tea cakes and a few drops of red food coloring can be added to tint sugar to pink for a special effect. Floating flowers and candles in a wide glass bowl make a stunning centerpiece on a coffee table or serving tables. Plan your spring tea as an annual gathering to create a new tradition everyone will love.

Plan a tea party to celebrate the special holidays and events in your life. With a lovely presentation, careful menu planning, and special people, your guests will not soon forget about your holiday afternoon teas.

If you are looking for information about tea party themes, go to http://www.theteapartyclub.com for more articles about tea parties. Tea Party Themes

By Shelia Gordon


If you are in charge of planning a baby shower and you have come up with the idea of making it a tea party baby shower then you will have to do a few extra things then you would with a regular baby shower. To start with you are going to have to have all of the invitations printed up tea party style and you can have that done at your local print shop.

Make sure that you specify that it is a tea party baby shower on them, so your guests will know. Then of course you are then going to have to pay a visit to your local baker to decide on what all you are going to be serving at your tea party baby shower in the way of small cakes and pastries.

One idea is to make your own small tea party sandwiches by using a cookie cuter to cut out bread in shapes that go along with your motif or theme of the baby shower. Of course, to have a tea party baby shower you are also going to need all of the serviceware including table clothes and all of that can be had from your local rental outlet.

You will find if you call around that most rental yards that rent tools and equipment also rent out party necessities as well. You are going to have to give away some party favors as well at your event and small boxes of exotic teas are an excellent idea for a tea party baby shower.

Also, one other good idea is to keep some good coffee available for anyone that prefers coffee over tea at your event. Remember that for the mother to be, you should have decaf available in both coffee and tea for your event as well.

Written by Shelia Gordon. Find the latest information on Tea Party Baby Shower Invitation

By Gail Leino


Even though a tea party should be sit down, it should also have some entertaining tea party games to keep the guests awake.

Tea Words:

Before the tea party games start, make up a list of unusual words from the dictionary. You can make each of the words you choose relatable to the theme of tea party if you like. Then create index cards with each word chosen placed on a separate card. Below that word you will place multiple choice options for the definition of said word. You could create an index card for the words, White Tea, with the following: A) A Chinese Tea created for foreigners, B) a tea made from leaves that are specially prepared to preserve the most antioxidants, C) a tea that has hallucenagenic properties. In the case of this word the correct definition would be, B.

Ask each person a word definition in turn and have them guess an answer. However is right at the tea party games gets a point. Keep a tally and the person with the most points is the winner.

Tea Mime:

These silly Tea party games are great to get a laugh out of your guests and it works best at tea parties where everyone knows each other. Write down the names of all the guests on pieces of paper and during the Tea party games have everyone draw a name from a hat. If a person draws their own name at the tea party games he or she must put it back.

Then tell the group that each player will mime the dominate emotion of the person whose name they’ve drawn at the party. If Aunt Joy is really happy then someone would act really happy and the other players at the tea party games would have to guess who the player is imitating.

Fun, fun, is all you‘ll have with these two tea party games for your guests. You never know when you’ll need them so keep the games handy for other impromptu events.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino takes a common sense approach to planning and organizing events, celebrations and holiday parties with unique ideas for tea party supplies and fun free educational party games. She explains proper etiquette and living a healthy life while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Shop has lots of party ideas with hundreds of free holiday printable games and free birthday party activities. Over 100 adorable Party Themes to fit your birthday celebration, holiday event, or "just because" parties is at the Party Theme Shop. Party themes include cartoon characters, sports, movie, TV shows, luau, western, holidays, and unique crazy fun theme ideas.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gail_Leino

By Michelle Bery


Nothing retains the luster of childhood more than a tea party. In the social infancy of our youth we set our tables, put out the perfect set of dishes – commonly small and plastic at that innocent time in our life – and invited all our friends; who if not imaginary were stuffed and furry. We took tea in the realm of fantasy where princes and princesses danced the night away at royal balls and fairies appointed the room with their magic dust.

Today’s tea party – while not so grandiose – still offers its own gift of whimsy. The adult version of this elegant ritual includes real china, fragrant tea, delicious sandwiches and pastries, and company of the human kind. Depending on the culture, the tea party takes many forms – a social ceremony, a reverent custom, a romantic offering, or a daily gathering.

Whatever its purpose, the tea party can be as extravagant or simple, formal or casual as you desire. In any case, tea party guests should always be made to feel special. A carefully chosen tablecloth, beautiful linens, or an heirloom teapot will go a long way towards making your tea party special.

While many use tea bags to brew their tea, loose tea can augment taste and presentation. The addition of strainers or loose tea balls can really make just having tea into a tea party.

Be sure to offer small tea spoons, sugar, milk, honey, and lemon. Additionally, some tea sandwiches or small pastries will really bring your tea party to the next level.

A tea party can be an opportunity to stop for a moment and revisit the simple things in life. That which brought us such joy as children can most certainly be recaptured amidst a beautiful table with delightful delicacies.

But no matter what the offerings – or the occasion – a tea party can be a wonderful way to gather with friends and share a unique experience; no matter what your age.

For easy to understand, in depth information about tea visit our ezGuide 2 tea.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michelle_Bery

By Andrew Regan


As the capital of Massachusetts and the largest city in New England, Boston has long been regarded as one of the USA's premier cultural and historical cities. And whether or not you're a history buff, every tourist that visits Boston is made aware of its colonial history and its involvement in the American Revolutionary War. But why not make this historical aspect the focus of your city break in Boston? By exploring the city's main revolutionary sights, you'll definitely be able to get a more authentic feel for America's legacy of independence.

Start your journey at Boston Harbor, the site of the Boston Tea Party. The Boston Tea Party saw the American colonists destroy many crates of tea bricks on ships owned by the British East India Company in Boston Harbor, on December 16th 1773. The incident is widely held up by historians as a main trigger of the American Revolution; but one of its more immediate effects was in bringing about the Boston Port Act, which shut down the port until the East India Company was compensated for its loss.

Today, Boston Harbor has been transformed from a bustling commercial port to a leading ferry and leisure area of the city. You'll also be able to visit the Boston Tea Party Museum, located on the Fort Point Channel, which houses a full-scale replica of one of the ships involved in the event. Additionally, Boston Harbor is surrounded by a number of islands, many of which are part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area.

Once you've visited Boston Harbour, take a trip down the Freedom Trail. Marked by a red brick path that runs through downtown Boston, the Freedom Trail takes visitors to sixteen significant historical sites in the city. These include some of Boston's best-known monuments to the American Revolutionary War such as the Bunker Hill Monument, which was erected to commemorate the Battle of Bunker Hill, one of the Revolution's most famous battles.

Paul Revere House is also part of Boston's Freedom Trail, and is the colonial home of the legendary Paul Revere. Revere is famous for his "midnight ride", in which he played the role of a messenger in the battles of Lexington and Concord before serving as an officer during the Revolutionary War, and his home is one of Boston's most visited monuments to the heroes of the American Revolution.

The compact nature of Boston city centre means that you'll be able to find many places to stay in downtown Boston that are just a stone's throw away from its main sights. For instance, locate a hotel in Boston that's in the heart of its historic district and you'll be able to see all of Boston's revolutionary heritage monuments in one weekend - so you won't even have to take a long vacation in order to pay homage to the city that played a crucial role in laying down the foundations of the modern United States.

Andrew Regan is a freelance online journalist

By Vivek Kuriyal

A place where almost everyone surprises you by calling you with your name even you come across them after days. A city which is famous for a historic incident! “Boston Tea Party” if you can recall from your history book. A destination which offers a lot in terms of modern and old heritages, Boston invites tourists from every corner of the world. The highly acclaimed television serial “Cheers” shot in the Bull & Finch Pub also brought fame to this place.

Boston Tea Party ended up giving rise to the first Continental Congress. You also come to know how the murder of five British colonists geared up the American Revolution if you explore the history of this city. Many world renowned literary legends came from Boston and its surrounding areas. Some of the names you can easily recognize: Herman Mellville, Herman Mellville and Ralph Waldo Emerson. One unique fact about the city is that it has a considerably large number of youngsters who grace the city’s bars every night. Boston Hotels welcome their guest with great hospitality.

Known as the “Bean town at the harbor” Boston is the favorite place of people who want to please their taste buds with fish and beans. For most of the tourists Boston largely resembles London. And this is not false when it comes to history and grace of the city. More than 60,000 inhabitants occupy the land of Boston which is eccentric, modern, fashionable and highly cosmopolitan. You find all sorts of modern amenities like shopping arcades, cinemas, theatres and a thrilling nightlife. Just cross the river and you come across the Harvard University at Cambridge. The capital of the state of Massachusetts, Boston comprises of several tourist spots such as capitol building with its famous gold dome.

http://stayresusa.com/hotels-in-boston.html

by Lisa Halvorsen

Although Boston's famous Freedom Trail has been a popular "Beantown" attraction since 1958, this past April a new type of tour debuted to inform visitors about the trail's many historic sites. The Freedom Trail Foundation has developed an Antenna Audio Tour that combines state-of-the-art technology with colorful commentary. Massachusetts personalities describe each of the 16 stops--Old North Church, Paul Revere's house, and the Old State House, among others--along the 2.5- mile trail, as well as spin intriguing tales about people, places, and events in Boston, including the 1950 Brinks Robbery and the Great Molasses Flood.

As an alternative to the walking tour, groups of 20 or more can book the Theater-on-Wheels, a brand-new mini coach tour of movie and TV sites that shows film clips and provides narrative on featured sites in the greater Boston area. Tours range from three hours to a full day. Groups can customize their tour by arranging for lunch, dinner, or drinks at a movie hot spot or by adding on the Fenway Tour, a behind-the scenes look at the Red Sox' home field with commentary on Field of Dreams, Fever Pitch, and other movies and TV shows filmed at the baseball stadium.

Boston By Boat recently began offering weekend ferry service from the Charlestown Shipyard, home of the USS Constitution (free tours Tuesday through Sunday), to South Boston's Seaport District with stops at key points along the waterfront including Lewis Point (Old North Church) and Christopher Columbus Park (Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, and New England Aquarium). For $10 your group can hop on and off all day. (One-way trips are $6.) Your ticket also is good for discounts on food and other purchases at designated restaurants, shops, and attractions.

The Boston Tea Party Ship and Museum, which was severely damaged by fire in 2001, is scheduled to reopen in summer 2006 after an extensive $13 million renovation. The new interpretive center will have twice the exhibit space with many new displays, living history programs, and videos about the Boston Tea Party. The showpiece of the renovated museum will be the Robinson Half Chest, named after the 15-year-old patriot who retrieved it from the water. It was acquired in January from a private collector and is one of only two known surviving tea chests from the Boston Tea Party.

Get more information at Leisuregrouptravel.com and Grouptravedirectory.com

by Rosanne O'Malley


The History of Tea: Ten Major Facts

For thousands of years, in many different countries, people have been drinking tea. This drink and the manner in which it is prepared has been the focus of rituals, the basis for social conventions and even the catalyst for a revolution. Today, tea is the second most popular beverage in the world after water. How tea became so important to the world's various societies is a fascinating but lengthy story. In brief, however, the history of tea can be condensed to ten major facts.

1. According to myth, the use of tea by humans started over 5,000 years ago in China. One day, the Emperor Shen Nung, a renowned scientist and herbalist, was traveling to a distant realm when he and his courtiers stopped to rest. As his servants were boiling their drinking water, leaves from a nearby bush fell into the pot. The emperor, his curiosity piqued by the resulting brown brew, tasted it and found it to be very refreshing.

2. Prior to 1000 BC, tea was used in China for medicinal purposes. Around the time of the Tang Dynasty, people began to drink tea for pleasure.

3. In 800 AD, Lu Yu wrote the Ch'a Ching, the first definitive book concerning the growth and processing of tea leaves and the best manner in which to prepare them for drinking.

4. Tea was brought to Japan by a Buddhist monk and was originally used in religious ceremonies. It became the drink of the royal class when Emperor Saga encouraged the cultivation of the tea plant.

5. The Japanese Tea Ceremony developed over several centuries under the influence of Zen Buddhist monks. By the sixteenth century, the "Way of the Tea" as it is known today was established.

6. The first European to personally taste tea was the Portuguese Jesuit missionary, Father Jasper de Cruz in 1560.

7. Tea use spread throughout Europe, initially among the French, the Dutch and the Russian. Charles II's queen consort, the Portuguese Princess Catherine de Branganca, introduced the drink to England around 1650.

8. Peter Stuyvesant and the Dutch settler's of New Amsterdam colony introduced tea to America also around 1650. The English who later took over what came to be New York found the Dutch settlers there at the time drank more tea than all of England.

9. As every American school aged child know, the actions that took place during Boston Tea Party in 1773 were a major catalyst of the American Revolution. Revolutionaries dumped shiploads of tea into Boston Harbor in protest over England's taxing policies.

10. Anna, the Duchess of Bedford was credited with having developed the afternoon tea sometime during the early nineteenth century. Having experienced a "sinking feeling" in late afternoon, the duchess ordered her servants at Belvoir Castle to serve an additional meal around 5:00 p.m., to which she invited her friends. The custom became so popular that she continued holding afternoon teas on her return to London. Soon, other social hostesses adopted the practice.

by Lee Dobbins


In history class, we learned a great deal about the history of America. The Boston Tea Party was one major turning point that defined America as we know it today. We are strong, defiant, capable, and know what is fair and just. The British were looking for some way to recover some of the money they had lost during the war between the French and Indians some ten years earlier. In the years just prior to the Boston Tea Party, the crown had created numerous attempts to gain back control of the governments.

It started with the 1765 Stamp Act, the 1767 Townsend Acts, the 1770 Boston Massacre, and culminated with the 1773 Tea Tax. Because colonists took a stand and refused to pay any taxes, the Parliament was forced to retract all taxes and so they did, except one. You guessed it they left the Tea Tax. This was nothing more than a mere demonstration of the rights and ability Parliament felt they had to impose taxes.

It was in May of the year 1773, Parliament decided to implement a tricky little plan. An Indian Company that was struggling was given the full task of American tea importation. They then placed a reduction on the tea tax. This mean that all Americans, who absolutely loved their tea, would pay a much cheaper price for the tea. The problem for colonists; however, was the fact that while it may be cheaper, they would still be giving into Parliament and recognizing their taxes.

Parliament, who had assumed that the Americans would pay the taxes instead of giving up their tea, was in for a big surprise. A Boston Tea Party surprise. The Colonists were ready to fight, or more appropriately boycott the tea. In both New York and Philadelphia, the ships carrying the tea were not allowed to dock. However, in Charleston, they allowed the ships to dock and remove the tea; however, the tea was placed in storage for three years. The patriots sold this tea, three years later, in efforts of financing the American Revolution.

On a winter day in December of 1773, three ships arrived in Bostons ports. They attempted peaceful denial of the cargo on the dock ships, simply refusing to pay the taxes. However, when a refusal to leave met their refusal to pay, anger flared. Later in that same evening, two hundred Indian disguised men, marched to the ships. The Boston Tea Party ensued and subsequently dumped three hundred and forty two tea crates into the Boston Harbor.

The Boston Tea Party and subsequent events were ultimately responsible for the eventual American Revolution.

by Fruzsina Csery


Tea consumption became part of the way of life and culture in America, too. Though North America has only one tea plantation, about 20 miles west of Charleston in South Carolina. In England it is much more fashionable than coffee.

All tea comes from the same plant - Camellia sinensis - an evergreen, tropical plant that originally grows in China and India.

Like wine, variations in tastes and characteristics are depend on the type of soil, cultivar selection, altitude, and climate conditions where the plants are grown. Different types processing also affect the taste, as does the addition of essential oils or fragnant herbal additives. Camellia sinensis likes a deep, light, acidic and well-drained soil.

There are many supposed references to tea in the centuries before Christ, even Confucius allegedly referred to tea in one of his books.

According Chinese mythology, tea was 'discovered' by a Chinese emperor, Shen Nung. Four thousand years ago, on his way to a distant region of his empire he stopped to rest. Dried leaves from a nearby tea bush fell into the water that his servants were boiling for drinking. And when he drank some, he found it very refreshing and delicious. So the first cup of tea was an accident.

The tea consumption spread throughout the Chinese culture. The first book on tea 'Ch'a Ching' was written by the Chinese author Lu Yu. The three- volume book covered tea growing, processing, drinking and history.

The book inspired Zen Buddhist priests to create the Japanese tea ceremony, the cha-no-yu. It was in the 6th century. That's why tea in Japan has always been associated with Zen Buddhism. Tea drinking influenced the whole culture, for example architecture: a separate tea-room is constructed in Japanese homes so that one enters on your knees to show humility.

It was the Portuguese traders who first imported tea to Europe, later it was transported to France, Holland, and the Baltic countries.

Tea is relatively late appeared in England in the mid 17th century, but quickly became popular. King Charles II and his Portuguese bride were tea-drinkers and they brought tea tradition to England. In the beginning, it was very expensive. The first tea is sold as a health drink in London, at Garway's Coffee House. Slowly, the price fell and tea became available to the public.

Peter Stuyvesant brought the first tea to the United States in the settlement of New Amsterdam (later renamed New York by the English). The British government put very high taxes on it. The colonists couldn't do anything about these taxes, because there were no colonists in the government in England. The Americans became very angry about this and in 1775 attacked a boat carrying a lot of tea and dumped 342 chests full of tea into the harbour at Boston, Massachusetts. That was the Boston Tea Party. In England, tea became popular first among the rich. They had parties and picnics, visited each other, and afternoon tea soon became a habit.

Two distinct forms of services evolved: 'High' and 'Low'. 'Low Tea' was served in aristocratic homes of the wealthy and featured gourmet tidbits rather than solid meals. The emphasis was on presentation and conversation. Conversely, 'High Tea' was the major meal of the middle and lower classes and consisted of mostly full dinner.

Nowadays, maybe the most popular tea is the English Breakfast Tea. It is a fine black tea, which often includes Keemun, is blended with milk or lemon (but never together).

The Irish drink their Irish Breakfast Tea, it is very strong, usually served in the morning, except for the Irish, who are known to drink it all day. It is served with lots of sugar and milk.

Earl Grey is named after a prime minister. It is a smoky tea with a hint of sweetness and is served plain.

Black Teas and Oolong Darjeeling refers to tea grown in this mountain area of India. Oolong is a mixture of green and black teas. This elegant tea is sometimes called the champagne of teas. It has got fruity taste. Darjeeling has a flavor that reminds muscatel. Mustn't be taken with milk.

Green Tea is a strong herbal tea. Its use as a healthy tea is growing in popularity. Green Tea is also part of the Japanese tea service.

And finally, 'burgundy of teas', the Chinese Keemun Tea, a mellow, wine-like tea, never used with lemon.

by Marcus Stout


The market for loose leaf tea in the United States is growing strongly as tea drinkers from all walks of life rediscover the taste, health benefits and value of loose leaf tea.

But one must ask the question: why is loose leaf tea less popular in the United States than in the rest of the world? The answer lies in the combination of the political and economic history of our country and the presence of the low quality tea bag.

The Colonies Reject Loose Leaf Tea

Although tea drinking originated in China, consumption of tea based on good taste, health benefits and the sense of well being one achieved by tea drinking spread to the western world. The American colonies embraced the habit of tea drinking after tea was introduced by Dutch traders in the 17th and 18th centuries and became one of the largest tea drinking regions in the world on a per capita basis. Colony consumption of tea dwarfed that of the parent country England.

The French and Indian War, or Seven Years War, after which the British ruled supreme in most of North America, represented the decisive turning point in British-colonial relations however. The Treaty of Paris in 1763 ratified Britain's undisputed control of the seas and shipping trade, as well as its sovereignty over much of the North American continent east of the Mississippi River (including French Canada).

But the British expected the Colonies to pay for the war (the British borrowed heavily from European Bankers to finance the war) and this fact planted the seeds of rebellion.

During the years leading up to the American Revolution, Britain, through a policy of salutary neglect, had allowed the colonies by default the right to manage their own affairs. The subsequent efforts on the part of royal officials to rectify this deficiency and collect unprecedented amounts of revenue violated what many American colonists understood as the clear precedent of more than a century of colonial-imperial relations.

New world institutions of self-government and trade, having matured in an age of salutary neglect, would resist and ultimately rebel against perceived British encroachment. Taxation policy became a central point of contention, because it tended to threaten both the prosperity and autonomy of colonial society.

Between the Seven Years War and the Revolution the British enacted a series of heavy handed taxation and other policies that attempted to raise revenue and regain control over the wayward colonies. Many of the acts focused on tea and the result was revolution. On the night of December 16, 1773 Massachusetts Patriots disguised as Indians illegally boarded the Dartmouth, a cargo ship bearing 342 chests of East India Tea valued at about £10,000. In defiance of Governor Thomas Hutchinson and British tax authority in general, the intruders dumped the entire shipment into Boston Harbor, precipitating a crisis that would lead to revolution.

The Boston Tea Party was an act of uprising in which Boston residents destroyed crates of British tea in 1773, in protest against British tea and taxation policy. Prior to the Boston Tea Party, residents of Britain's North American 13 colonies drank far more tea than coffee. In Britain, coffee was more popular. After the protests against the various taxes, British Colonists stopped drinking tea as an act of patriotism. Drinking of loose leaf tea in the United States is only now recovering.

Replaced by coffee and the convenient tea bag, consumption of loose leaf tea would remain dormant until the start of the 21st Century.

Enter the Tea Bag

During World War II, tea was rationed. In 1953 (after rationing in the UK ended), Tetley launched the tea bag to the UK and it was an immediate success. The convenience of the tea bag revolutionized how Britons drank their tea and the traditional tea pot gave way to making tea in a cup using a tea bag. The success of the tea bag accelerated in the United States as well and soon came to dominate the tea drinking market.

In a tea bag, tea leaves are packed into a small (usually paper) tea bag. It is easy and convenient, making tea bags popular for many people today. However, the tea used in tea bags has an industry name, called "fannings" or "dust" and is the waste product produced from the sorting of higher quality loose leaf tea.

What is Good About the Tea Bag?

About the only thing good about the tea bag is the convenience factor. In the past, many Americans were willing to sacrifice taste and quality for convenience. This trend is now changing.

It is commonly held among tea drinking experts that the tea bag provides an inferior taste and tea drinking experience. The paper used for the bag can also be tasted, which can detract from the tea's flavor. Because fannings and dust are a lower quality of the tea to begin with, the tea found in tea bags is more tolerant when it comes to brewing time and temperature. But the taste suffers in quality.

The main difference between loose teas and bagged teas is the size and quality of the leaves . Tea leaves contain chemicals and essential oils, which are the basis for the wonderful flavor of tea. When the tea leaves are broken up, those oils can evaporate, leaving a dull and tasteless tea as well as losing many of the health benefits of loose leaf tea. There is also the space factor. Tea leaves need space to swell, expand and unfurl. Good water circulation around the leaves is important, which doesn't typically happen in a tea bag.

Loose leaf tea comes in greater variety than bagged tea when one considers the multitude of blends and flavors that are loose leaf tea offerings. There is at least one or more tea blends for the palette of any individual tea drinker.

Additional reasons why bag tea is considered lower quality include:

* Dried tea loses its flavor quickly on exposure to air. Most bag teas contain leaves broken into small pieces; the great surface area to volume ratio of the leaves in tea bags exposes them to more air, and results in stale tea.

* Loose tea leaves are likely to be full formed and larger and are robust for multiple infusion of the leaves. This results in a lower cost per cup.

* Breaking up the leaves for bags disperses flavored oils and other oils that support health benefits.

* The small size of the bag does not allow leaves to diffuse and steep properly.

The Reemerge of Loose Leaf Tea

Every day more tea drinkers are realizing the benefits of loose leaf tea: high quality, fresh taste, better health and well being and greater variety offered. As a result the popularity of loose leaf has grown tremendously among discriminating tea drinkers. Loose leaf tea is now enjoyed by millions of tea drinkers throughout the United States who are looking for a beverage that offers significant health benefits combined with good tasting varieties and a low cost per cup.

Is Loose Leaf Tea Expensive?

The answer is no because high quality loose leaf tea can support multiple infusions. Many tea drinkers look at the cost per tin of loose leaf tea and conclude it is expensive. However when viewed on a cost per cup, loose leaf tea is as economical as bagged tea and you receive higher quality tea. Much of the cost for bagged tea is a result of the bagging process and the packaging of the bags.

What About Storage?

Tea in bags has a shorter shelf life than loose leaf tea because the fannings in bagged tea tend to dry out faster.

Loose leaf tea has a longer shelf-life that varies with storage conditions and type of tea. Black tea for example has a longer shelf-life than green tea but all loose leaf tea, properly stored, will maintain freshness for a long time. Tea stays freshest when stored in a dry, cool, dark place in an air-tight container. Black tea stored in a bag inside a sealed opaque canister may keep for two years.

So, join the loose leaf tea drinking revolution for good taste, health and well being. It is something that even the British Empire can not stop!

by Mikee Dunn


Tea is by far the most popular drink the world has ever known, but where does it come from and how did we as people come about using it to make what we drink today? This alone can be a very lengthy discussion, but since this more of a quick glance into where tea comes from and what it's all about, I'll do my best to keep this short! If you want to find out more information I recommend that you seek it out of course, just make sure that you get the correct and truthful information, so choose you're sources wisely.

It all began long ago, and while we don't know a specific date, evidence points to the discovery of tea at around 2737 B.C in the region where India, China & Myanmar meet. It was in the hot wet mountain jungles of this eastern Himalaya region. It first started being eaten and then drunk by local tribal groups in that area. It was not however limited to drinking or eating alone however, and was used in many medicinaly practices of the day. Today tea is still used in certain kinds of medience and has proven to be beneficial to our health.

It wasn't until 879 however that tea was brought into the western European world by Arab travelers. Tea really took off in Europe as a very popular drink around 1285, and the western world hasn't missed a drop yet. If you haven't already guessed, the British took to tea faster and with more passion then any other culture, so far as tea even set a time of day aside for "tea time"! No one really knows why the British love this drink so much, but most believe it has much to do with the fact they started the tea trade.

Tea was then spread to the United States when it was brought over during the colonial period by the British. Tea was a staple drink even in the early US and was extremely popular. A good example of early American passion for tea is the Boston Tea Party where American's protested Britain's tax on tea by dumping much of it in the ocean.

Today tea has become the world most popular drink and it doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. I personally am a huge fan of tea and know many, many others who are as well. The wonderful thing about tea is the ability to infuse just about any flavor one might want, leaving very little room for boredom among tea drinking palates. From its beginning to now, tea has a deep rooted place in out cultures and tastes, and it looks like it will only become more and more popular as time goes one....

This is only a good thing!

by Andrew Regan


New England may offer a colder climate and fewer opportunities for sunshine than the country's more vacation-friendly West Coast, but this north-eastern region remains a popular destination for tourists in the United States. Consisting of the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, New England - one of America's most historical locations - boasts a busy produce industry that counts seafood, potatoes and maple syrup among its main exports. However, if you're planning a visit to New England and only have time to visit one location, make it Boston, Massachusetts - the region's largest city by population.

As one of America's earliest founded cities, Boston is famous as the site of some of the most important turning points in the American Revolutionary War. From the Boston Tea Party of 1773 to the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere in 1775, Boston's rich heritage is reflected in its diversity of museums and galleries. When in Boston, make sure you visit the Harvard Museum of Natural History, the MIT Museum, the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum and the Museum of Science, among a host of other attractions.

Moreover, Boston is renowned as one of the United States' foremost centres of education and higher learning. Often referred to as "the Athens of America", the Greater Boston area is home to more than 100 colleges and universities - from the likes of Harvard University (located across the river in Cambridge), MIT and Tufts University to smaller conservatories and art schools, including the Massachusetts College of Art, the Boston Conservatory and School of the Museum of Fine Arts. As a result, it boasts a lively, youthful atmosphere that makes it irresistible to many a visitor.

Indeed, Boston's vibrant urban lifestyle and cosmopolitan culture has won the hearts of many. Among the numerous novels that have been set in or near Boston are Henry James' "The Bostonians", "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner and, most recently, Zadie Smith's "On Beauty". Moreover, Boston has been represented on screen numerous times, in popular TV shows like Cheers and Ally McBeal as well as iconic Hollywood films, including Good Will Hunting and Martin Scorcese's The Departed. So anyone planning a visit to Boston is sure to have an immediate frame of reference in mind.

If you're visiting Boston, make sure you don't miss out on its native cuisine, which generally presents itself as a fine example of the food you'd find in New England. Among the most well-known Boston dishes are New England clam chowder, lobsters, steamed or fried clams and fish and chips. Boston also offers visitors and residents a variety of first-class restaurants, including the Union Oyster House - the USA's oldest operating restaurant.

Finding a hotel in Boston during your visit is easy too, as many of Boston's hotels are located in its downtown Theatre District. From here, you'll find it's simple to locate Boston's main performance venues, its busy Chinatown or the calming Boston Public Garden, as well as a host of other central locations in the city. So you'll truly be able to appreciate New England's premier city in style!

by Andrew Regan


As the capital of Massachusetts and the largest city in New England, Boston has long been regarded as one of the USA's premier cultural and historical cities. And whether or not you're a history buff, every tourist that visits Boston is made aware of its colonial history and its involvement in the American Revolutionary War. But why not make this historical aspect the focus of your city break in Boston? By exploring the city's main revolutionary sights, you'll definitely be able to get a more authentic feel for America's legacy of independence.

Start your journey at Boston Harbor, the site of the Boston Tea Party. The Boston Tea Party saw the American colonists destroy many crates of tea bricks on ships owned by the British East India Company in Boston Harbor, on December 16th 1773. The incident is widely held up by historians as a main trigger of the American Revolution; but one of its more immediate effects was in bringing about the Boston Port Act, which shut down the port until the East India Company was compensated for its loss.

Today, Boston Harbor has been transformed from a bustling commercial port to a leading ferry and leisure area of the city. You'll also be able to visit the Boston Tea Party Museum, located on the Fort Point Channel, which houses a full-scale replica of one of the ships involved in the event. Additionally, Boston Harbor is surrounded by a number of islands, many of which are part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area.

Once you've visited Boston Harbour, take a trip down the Freedom Trail. Marked by a red brick path that runs through downtown Boston, the Freedom Trail takes visitors to sixteen significant historical sites in the city. These include some of Boston's best-known monuments to the American Revolutionary War such as the Bunker Hill Monument, which was erected to commemorate the Battle of Bunker Hill, one of the Revolution's most famous battles.

Paul Revere House is also part of Boston's Freedom Trail, and is the colonial home of the legendary Paul Revere. Revere is famous for his "midnight ride", in which he played the role of a messenger in the battles of Lexington and Concord before serving as an officer during the Revolutionary War, and his home is one of Boston's most visited monuments to the heroes of the American Revolution.

The compact nature of Boston city centre means that you'll be able to find many places to stay in downtown Boston that are just a stone's throw away from its main sights. For instance, locate a hotel in Boston that's in the heart of its historic district and you'll be able to see all of Boston's revolutionary heritage monuments in one weekend - so you won't even have to take a long vacation in order to pay homage to the city that played a crucial role in laying down the foundations of the modern United States.

by Frank Johnson


Boston has traditionally stood as the beacon of New England thought, culture and historical direction, and consequently has been the major force behind the independent progress of the United States of America. Boston's well preserved colonial architecture gracing the tree lined streets or the original oak seats of Fenway Park baseball stadium add insurmountable character to the historically indispensable city. With a nickname like "the Hub of the Universe," given by Oliver Wendell Holmes, it is impossible to justify not visiting Boston to discover the inspiring source of this pseudonym!

The Cradle of More than Liberty

Boston spearheaded the fight for freedom and independence from Britain during the Revolutionary War through both thought and action. The Old South Meeting House in the city center is where colonists gathered in 1773 before disguising themselves as Native Americans and dumping British tea into the harbor to protest taxation without representation. The Meeting House is open today for tours, concerts and historical reenactments. The site of the Boston Massacre and the Battle of Bunker Hill are also nearby. While in the city center, stop by the Paul Revere House, which is notable both for being the oldest building in Boston, built in 1680, and for being the home of the legendary patriot who warned colonists of British military action.

Further strengthening its earned title as the 'Cradle of Liberty,' Bostonians were firm supporters of abolition and the Underground Railroad. Boston has long remained on the progressive edge of education and social reform, boasting a plethora of elite universities and academies that include Harvard and MIT among their ranks. For an all around journey through time, travel to Boston and take the 2.5 mile Freedom Trail, which starts in the excellent shopping area of Boston Common and continues through the city past 16 historical sites, terminating at the USS Constitution.

Up to Speed

Not only a key player in American heritage, Boston is a continually updating metropolis that helps shape the evolving modern identity of the United States. Newbury Street is Boston's ultra-chic shopping area that will bedazzle you with specialty shops, designer boutiques and private galleries. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is a stunning collection of classic works housed in a breathtaking Venetian-style palace situated about a four-story oasis-like courtyard. As Boston is the Kennedy Family hometown, the beautiful marble John F. Kennedy Museum and Library was opened here in 1979 and is considered to be one of the city's shining architectural highlights. Boston is also known for its large immigrant population. Feast on the spoils of multiculturalism and head to the North End of Boston for an authentic Italian meal, and don't forget to order the cannoli for desert!

A trip to Boston is fundamental to understanding the foundations upon which the United States of America was built. America's pastimes and ideals are firmly entrenched in the people's history of Boston and its independent and free-thinking spirit that still permeates the city's culture today. Also, when you travel to Boston, make sure to get out and explore the beautiful countryside of Massachusetts. Even nearby Boston Harbor Islands National Park has 34 islands accessible for hiking and biking.

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by Denise Walker

Boston Cruises are a fantastic way to begin or end a vacation. You know Boston, of course. The Old State House, Faneuil Hall, the Boston Tea Party, Old Ironsides. You could explore the city forever. But why not do your exploring as a prelude to some vacation time on a cruise?

Yes, a cruise. Boston has been one of America's leading ports since before we were America. Holland America sails the Maasdam out of Boston. Norwegian Cruise Lines sails the Norwegian Majesty, the Norwegian Gem and the Norwegian Dream. Royal Caribbean offers the Jewel of the Seas. Your choices for cruise lines, ships, and itineraries are varied enough that everyone should find some rest and relaxation.

The Maasdam is the one of Holland America's smaller ships, and the smallest of the ships sailing out of Boston. Placed in service in 1993, she displaces 55,000 tons and can carry approximately 1200 passengers. Being an older ship, cabins on this cruise vessel are a little larger than on the newer ships. The Maasdam sails from Boston on a circular, 7-day tour of Newport, Rhode Island; Portland, Maine; St. John, New Brunswick, Canada; Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Bar Harbor, Maine; and returning to Boston.

This is a lovely cruise to take in the fall, when the New England landscape lights up with legendary colors. Bring some warmer clothes and enjoy a drink out on the deck while you watch some gorgeous scenery go by.

Another cruise the Maasdam sails on is the 7-night Canada and New England discovery, which visits Bar Harbor, Maine; Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Sydney, Nova Scotia; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; cruises up Saguenay Fjord in Quebec; then visits Quebec City and finally docks in Montreal. If you yearn for more time aboard ship, she also has a 17-day "Voyage of the Vikings" that leaves Boston, and visits Sydney, Nova Scotia; Corner Brook, Newfoundland; Qaqortoq, Greenland; Isafjord, Akureyri, and Seydisfjiordur, Iceland; Lerwick, Scotland; Stavanger and Oslo, Norway; and finally docking in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Another smallish ship (as cruise ships go) is Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Majesty. She was built in 1992 and completely refurbished in 1999. The Norwegian Majesty has been stretched to 680 feet and now displaces almost 41,000 tons. She sails round-trip from Boston to Bermuda, and back again. In 2008 Norwegian's Dream will take over this route and the 7-day Canada and New England route will be offered.

In September and October, Royal Caribbean's Jewel of the Seas sails for 7 days on its Canada and New England cruises. This is a roundtrip cruise from Boston to Martha's Vineyard; Portland, Maine; Bar Harbor, Maine; Halifax, Nova Scotia; and Saint John, New Brunswick. There is also a shorter, 5-night cruise that eliminates St. John, New Brunswick from the cruise.

Jewel of the Seas is 962 feet long and displaces over 90,000 tons. She offers a sports court and rock climbing wall, solarium, fitness center, casino, day spa and dedicated youth facilities. There's something on board for everyone, no matter your mood.

Consider sailing Royal Caribbean from Boston to warmer climes with their 10-night Caribbean cruise. Leave the cool weather of Boston and head for Puerto Rico, St Thomas, St Maarten and Aruba. The ship docks at the end of the trip in Miami, Florida.

Boston cruises are not particularly well-known. But this best-kept secret can offer you value that few other cruisers will find.

by Scott C. Waring


BOSTON MASSACRE:

The Boston Massacre may be called the thing that started the greater event of the American independence, the Boston Tea Party. What led to this event was the general feeling of anger growing in the colonies towards the unfair tax collectors of the England. This handful of officials had taken all powers of the England upon themselves, and was collecting taxes in the name of England. These officials refused to send the money to England. Instead they kept it for themselves.

Also, there was a law called, the Stamp Act, which was famous for its bad name. The settlers had a very strong hatred towards this Act. When the colonists rose to fight, the British congress changed the Act in a letter, but kept its meaning. It made the Townshend Duties. This was a change over the earlier Stamp Act. It put tax money on all things coming into America. So, the Stamp Act had not changed.

Just when the dust seemed to have settled over the problem, the Boston Massacre happened. It changed the whole problem. It encouraged new fighting against the England, and made the way for the settlers to make an event of greater importance, the Boston Tea Party. There was some fighting against the Townshend Act, when ships carrying imported wine were taken from the ships owner. They took the ship because the owner of the ship did not want to pay taxes.

On March 5, 1770, as the people were waiting for a chance to fight, a group of boys had an argument with a single guard of at a customs house in Boston. The guards became very angry. They were led by Capt. Thomas Preston. The guards picked up their rifles and shot at the boys. In the shooting, five settlers, including a Black, were killed. Iin the trial that, the person most responsible, Capt. Preston was let go. He was defended by the brilliant lawyer, John Adams. Adams became the second president of the United States of America.

by Scott C. Waring


THE BOSTON TEA PARTY

England was pushing big taxes on the colonies without representation. The people of the colonies, who began saying 'no taxation without representation', did not like this. As a way of fighting, a sailor, John Hancock, who was the first to start to openly fight, refused to give money to tax people for his ship carrying tea and entered America. He was called a smuggler and they took his ship. This made many Americans angry. British tea sales started loosing money. This started a big loss for the East India Company, which was the only allowed company to sell anything in the American colonies.

England, to help the East India Company, stopped all taxes on tea sold by the company in the colonies. By this, the British wanted to weaken the work of people like Hancock. The colonists, who feared that their trading of things would be hurt, again disliked this. They started supporting the American people to prevent any tea from the East India Company from coming into America. They had a problem in getting this in Boston, where the British governor sent some soldiers to help to send the tea.

Then on December 16, 1773, a group of 60 people got onto a ship that was carrying tea into the ship port. They destroyed all the 342 boxes, by throwing all the tea into the Boston River. The colonists, too, strangely, did not like this action. The British were angry at this protest. In seeking revenge, the British closed the shipping port of Boston. The colonists called the port, the biggest cup of tea in history!

This event was felt in all the colonies. This is said to be the most important moment of protest by the American colonists. The colonists became more and more angry about this. They soon became brave in their anger at England. This was the start of many events that soon led to America's war against England, and the then the winning of independence from England.

by Naveen Marasinghe


Boston’s Downtown area is the nexus of the city, it contains the financial and administrative heart of the city; it also encompasses the recreational areas of Boston Common and the Public Garden. Known as an older portion of the city it still has many of the old historic buildings such as Old South Meeting House and the Old State House.

Among places of historic interest in the Boston Downtown area is the birthplace of renowned American scholar, inventor and philosopher Benjamin Franklin. Located close to the Old South Meeting House it was where Franklin spent most of his childhood. The Old South Meeting House is also a special part of Boston history as it was where the idea of the famed “Boston Tea Party” was conceived. Originally built in 1729 as a church by the Puritans it later became an icon in America’s struggle for freedom.

The more modern face of Boston Downtown is portrayed in the high rose condominiums and the tall sky scrapers that house some of the largest corporations in the country. The modern Government centre sits just a short way away from the Financial District of Boston towards the North. A number of new projects are planned for this area such as the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway initiative which proposes to include a total of 27 acres of greenery and parkland into the area.

The Downtown Boston area is also quite popular with shoppers. The Faneuil Hall Marketplace is one of the most popular shopping areas in Boston. It boasts of over 100 shops and also a large number of restaurants. Having been a centre of commerce in Boston for over 250 years, Faneuil Hall is not only a historic marketplace it is also entertaining. In addition a large number of shopping malls and department stores can also be located in the Downtown area.

Being a centre of administration, commerce and entertainment in Boston there is no shortage of hotels in Boston here; among them is the Langham Hotel Boston which maintains the same standards of quality and class experienced at many Boston hotels.

by Paul Simon


Tea has had a very rich history. It has been around for more than five thousand years. During this time it has influenced various cultures, world leaders and even a couple of wars. Tea is thought to be more than a favorite beverage. It is thought to have great healing and medicinal uses.

Tea's history began nearly five thousand years ago in Ancient China. The story of tea is thought to have begun in Early China with the Emperor Shen Nung. Shen Nung was not only the Emperor of China but also a scientist. He was said to have required that all of his drinking water be boiled as a way to cleanse it before it was consumed. His obsession with hygienic precautions lead to the discovery of tea. While on a road trip to a distant realm of China he and his caravan stopped for a rest. While the water was being boiled for the caravan dried leaves from a nearby bush fell into the water causing the water to become brown in color. The emperor tried the beverage even though it had turned brown and right away fell in love with this new found beverage, thus the world obsession with tea was born.

Tea quickly spread to all aspects of the Chinese culture. By 800 A.D the first book of tea was written by Lu Yu, Ch'a Ching. The Ch'a Ching, detailed the cultivation and different uses for the tea bush. It is said to have been the beginning of the Zen Buddhist form of tea service. As tea became part of the religious culture it lead the way for the introduction of tea to other parts of the world. Tea was first introduced to Japan by the Buddhist Priest Yeisei. He saw the value that tea possessed in enhancing his religious meditation. Because of this religious influence tea was accepted by not only the imperial and royal courts but also other parts of Japanese society.

The introduction of tea in Japan lead to it becoming an art form. Tea in the Japanese culture became more than just a beverage. An art to tea service was created here. Special buildings were erected to be used to perform this elaborate and deeply religious ceremony. Years of training were required to perform this special tea service. In fact women known as Geisha's were trained to perform this art form of serving tea. It became so popular that the religious aspects became lost and society began holding tea tournaments where elaborate prizes could be won. The tea service would return to it original roots with the help of three Zen Priest beginning in the 14 century.

Tea would not be introduced to the rest of the world until 1560, although word of this delightful beverage had been carried back by caravaner's to Europe long before this time. Father Jasper de Cruz was the first European to bring first hand knowledge of this beverage to Europe. It was the Portuguese who first brought tea to the European countries. Later Holland would also begin trades with East Asia. Holland first introduced Tea to the America's. It was introduced in 1650 to the colonist of the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam (modern day New York). Tea was not introduced to England for two more years, making them the last of the major nations of the time to partake in this highly popular beverage.

England would have a huge influence over tea, resulting in several wars including the American Revolution. The infamous Boston Tea Party was the result of the taxation of tea by the English on the American Colonist. The American Colonist especially the women had favored tea as their beverage of choice. When England began putting heavy taxes on this staple the colonist began getting contraband tea from other nations to avoid the taxes. The American Revolution was begun not only over tea but the American coloniest freedom to acquire tea from where ever they wanted.

Tea today has become just as popular. Tea houses and little girl tea parties have sent the tea industry into a booming business. The consumption of tea is only second to the consumption of water. This is a profitable highly sought after product. It is still mainly grown in the Eastern part of the world. It has easily out beaten the consumption of coffee and even popular beverages such as sodas. The health benefits associated with the consumption of tea will promise to only push this delightful beverage further into the history books as a great beverage that is also great for you. join us at the Coffee Club