Tea Pigs (Week 1) - Chai

Today I decided to review a brand of tea i bought recently. Tea Pigs, is a company that aims to get 'real tea' into British fine bone china.

I Decided i would first try their Chai. Chai is one of my favourites (in a twinings version, so lets see what difference the Real tea will make. It is made from Assam tea leaves.

I bought 15 Templates from Waitrose at £4. Yes 27p per tea bag is not cheap, but is it worth it?

I chose to use my lovely new vintage tea cup for drinking

Look at the Tea inside the Temple (What tea pigs call their tea bags). There are large pieces of spice, and real leaves.

Tea Pigs suggest 1 Temple per person, and infused for at least 3 mins. Who am i to argue with the experts, so on went the timer, and i sat back to watch the leaves unfurl.

Not long left!

This is what the temple looks like after having been infused. Look at how much the leaves have swollen, in comparison to when they were dry (the tea has been at work).

The final suggestion from Tea Pigs HQ was to add a little milk (skinny for me), and possibly even some sugar and honey.

I started with just the milk.

Add the milk, and you're ready to go.

voilà! 

A Beautiful Brew

And now for the verdict:

I am totally in love with the delicious spices (not too strong, but not too weak). 

I did try a little honey (not sugar) in my second cup, and i can see why it was suggested it really is delicious. I would go overboard with it, perhaps just a spoonful, you don't want it to end up being overly sweet.

So, was it worth 26p per cup (plus the cost of milk and extras) YES IT WAS!
I was so surprised, having been a little sceptical of the fact that Tea Pigs would be so much better than normal tea, but it really is.
Sorry Twinings, i think i may have been converted.


My only criticism of the tea is that it has left me wanting more!

Head to Tea Pigs for a browse of their delicious looking teas

( I hope to be reviewing one each week until we make it through the bunch)

The Best of June

Here I'm putting together my 'best of June' for you, the top 10 things i have stumbled across in June that are worth a look out for!


1. Banana Republic Milly Collection

This dress is my favourite from the collection

Inspired by summer in the Hamptons, its the perfect addition to your summer wardrobe (especially if you got green envy eyes whilst watching all those Gossip Girl episodes).


2. Oak and Rope Company

Oak pieces all Designed, made & handcarved in their Kent workshop.

I have ordered this set of 5 coat hangers that invisibly float on the wall.

And this egg holder, I'm going to order for my mummy's birthday, when shell have chickens again (sadly she lost  all 6 to a Mr Fox a few months ago).

3. The Pandora Spring/Summer 2013 collection

I really like this simple little ring


4. Canon EOS M

This little camera packs all the power and finesse of a full size Canon into a small little portable camera that will fit into a cute little saddle bag. 

I tried one out in my local London Camera Exchange a few days ago, and can now safely say - I'm saving again! Hopefully it wont have to be for too long because its only £399.99 with an 18mm - 55mm lens.


5. Billingham & Co.

I WANT this camera bag!

The Hadley Camera Bag. It's perfect for any Size camera, even for a couple of smaller ones, or one camera and some acessories.


6. Yellow is in!!!!

Yay

I love yellow, and am so glad people are now wearing it more!!

Yellow Oasis Top

Yellow Russell & Bromley Willow Tote

Those are just my two favourites, but there is so much yellow out there!!


7. Sop and Glory 'Amazing Every Day Facial Moisture Lotion'

Lovely moisturising cream that is also SPF 25! BONUS!

its my new favourite, and at only £12 its a great purchase.



8. Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay

Although its expensive, its worth it. The Blackberry & bay scent is my favourite! I would buy the whole collection if i could!

9. My New Ruby Woo

The beautiful Mac lipstick i blogged about a few days ago. I'm in love, and have been creating excuses to dress up so that i can wear it. :)

10. Tea Pigs

This fabulous little company needs little introduction, all i need to say is that its fantastic! 

The company was started with the simple philosophy _ they're on a mission to get people drinking real tea, not the crushed dust thats shoved into the nations tea bags. I just ordered two different types of the tea, and will be reviewing one of them later on the blog, so watch this space!

Ruby Woo

This Morning i bought myself a new lippy :)

It's a M.A.C 'Ruby Woo' bright red, matte. It's the latest addition to my ever growing lipstick collection. 

I love the silky smooth feel of it. 

I took all of these pictures with my elderly Canon EOS 350D, and my simple portable photographic light box by Xenta, that i bought on Amazon (similar one here)

This has glued a smile on my face today, and now all i need is the confidence to put it on! 

Stripes

One of my big loves is stripes! I've selected a few of them to share with you.

This is an Oasis top, bought yesterday, so its still in stores.

My good old H&M stripes jumper, perfect as a layer, or spring time jumper.
Similar one here.

My lovely Crew Rugby - a gift :)

Another really old one from H&M.
Similar style here.

My Newest striped Purchase from Banana Republic. Lovely cross back maxi, and its in the sale!!!

My Crew striped maxi, with a little pocket

Do any of you have stripe obsessions? Or perhaps an obsession with a different pattern?

Chicken & Mushroom Risotto

Here's my first recipe for the blog! Im making a quick early supper before we head out for some drinks this evening:


Ingredients (all per person)

125g fresh mushrooms, quartered
1 piece skinless chicken breast (cut into 1/2 inch pieces)
300ml chicken stock
75g  arborio rice
50ml white wine
1/2 chopped onion
sprinkle grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley (optional)
oil
salt & pepper to season

First Chop the onion: (I do this in my little whiz Cuisinart machine because its super quick & easy) then fry it in your non stick pan / wok.

Then chop the rest of the ingredients: Mushrooms, chicken (& some parsley if youd like).

 

 

Then simply combine all ingredients in your pan, and add a small amount of Chicken stock.

This next bit is the most important: your risotto must NEVER get stuck, and never have too much liquid in it, add this a little at a time.

 

Add a small amount of Parmesan

And the most important ingredient; White wine (make sure its a good one).

Test every now and again to see if the rice has softened.

Once ready for consumption (rice has mostly softened but is still a little solid)season with salt and pepper, and a sprinkle of parmesan, then serve with a cold glass of white wine or Prosecco if you'd prefer - I would!

 

  

 Its a simple and quick meal that will only take about 40 mins total, amd most of that is standing and watching ( i have myself a glass of wine or prosecco during this stage).

Enjoy :)
x

Toppings Bookshop

I have lived in Bath for many years, and only just discvered this wonderful little corner of the city!

Toppings bookshop is a wonder where you browse the books before you buy even being allowed to read them, and the icing on the cake, you are offered free tea or coffee whilst you do so! (they don't however offer cake)

They have just two stores, one in Bath, and one in Ely.

Alexander McCall Smith called it "On of the finest bookshops in the world"

I took tea; earl grey, my favourite, and dug in!

I came away with many items. Travel books about Paris, and New York, the two places i want to go to more than anything, a book about King George V for my father, and some fiction  suggested by the employees for my mother.

They are most certainly the most helpful bookstore i have come across, and if you're a book worm definitely worth a visit. To be honest, its even worth a visit if you aren't a huge book fan - I'm not the biggest reader, but loved this look place.  

   

A Beautiful Mess

I think a large number of us might use these words to describe our life sometimes... A Beautiful Mess, at least i know i do.

Here arrives a lovely little app that creates little beautiful messes out of your photos. (If you're using iPhone, you must have IOS 6 to use it)

I have thoroughly enjoyed playing with it over the past week or so, and thought i would share some of my beautifully messy creations.

 

 

 

 

These are so much fun to create. Simple and quick, and whatever you do with them they look wonderful.

My Favourite blogger Rosie Londoner used this app in a few of her instagram pictures which is how i found it. Check out her lifestyle blog for some lovely posts.