At last! Something for the tea drinkers of the world! Bonus: Debretts offers advice on tea drinking

Tea drinkers delight! Finally there is someone who is actually taking the tea imbibers - that's what we are or at least I am - seriously! What makes this story so interesting is that the initiator is none other than Starbucks.

After opening up its first non-coffee outlet three months ago, a fresh juice place in Bellevue Square, Washington, Starbucks will open its tea shop under the Tazo brand, in October. As a committed tea drinker, have to admit I'm not familiar with Tazo but then my tastes in tea are very basic. You know - tea bags of orange pekoe, green (lovvve green tea) and lemon tea, plus an occasional Earl Grey now and then... English Breakfast... Somewhat like James Bond with his martini preference, mine is a little touch of milk - never cream for tea - to lighten the liquid, a sprinkle of sugar, followed by lifting the cup to the lips and experiencing the hot liquid slowly making its way down the throat... Simple but delightful pleasures of life.

In as far as the correct way to serve tea, once again Debretts, "the" guide to everything socially correct, has a guide to cover this subject.

- when serving tea for a group, a pot is preferable and loose leaf tea is most flavorful, Debretts advises. A second pot of hot water should be handy to dilute over-brewed tea (been there - done that). The rule is if a waiter places a teapot on a table without pouring, the person nearest the pot should pour. Or...some type of agreement among everyone at the table is also okay in my opinion. Something to the effect: "let Felicia pour - she's good at tea pouring."

- the handle of the tea cup should be held between your thumb and forefinger. The pinky/little finger is not required to be held in the air. That's a relief. Never could figure out why one would want to hold a pinky finger in the air, anyway. Perhaps because it doesn't fit into a teacup handle or for balance - go know. But I digress. Once again.

- biscuits (or cookies) should not be dunked in tea unless it's a very (Debretts word) informal setting and slurpring noises are a definite no-no. There's nothing worse than seeing a biscuit or cookie or any food item that has been dunked in hot liquid, slowly disentegrate and fall into the cup, or even worse, fall on to a piece of clothing.

To return to Starbucks tea openings... Tea drinkers of the world and we are many, will have more than 80 varieties of loose-leaf tea  and  tea lattes, iced tea in addition to packaged chocolates, infused sugars and honeys will be sold by the ounce and available to customers. This will allow tea imbibers (love that word) to blend their own mixes with the help of a "tea partner", an employee of the store. Cold tea for me is what happens when a cup is left on the table too long but there are people who enjoy theirs iced.

So I'm thinking here and at least in my mind, tea should be consumed in cozy tea shops. There is also no information as to how their new offering will be served. Tea in paper cups as is the case in many cafes/outlets who shall remain nameless, is abhorrent ("such a strong word, Eleanor!") in my eyes. Tea should be served in china drinking vessels, only. Somehow paper seems to difuse the flavor of tea. Am I right, tea drinkers of the world? Wooden stir sticks are acceptable but real teaspoons are better. Again, IMHO.

So what can Starbucks offer in addition to its new tea option?

I'm thinking here (again) - wait for it - tea leaf readers!

Before scoffing at my suggestion, think about it. You have your loose tea and once the liquid is consumed - the tea leaves remain at the bottom. Having employees available who can read tea leaves seems like a natural progression and think of the publicity value!

Meanwhile, here's an interesting opinion piece focusing on whether tea will overtake coffee in popularity.
http://blog.worldoffineteas.com/2012/06/will-tea-ever-be-as-big-as-coffee-in-us.html


Then again, you can't tell fortunes with coffee.

Royal visit angst

Seems that Will and Kate, those royal love birds, will be visiting our neck of the woods so to speak, shortly. Once again another opportunity presents itself to be among royalty although still from afar, and give them the royal wave. You know - hand in the air, sort-of semi-circular movement but not all the way around. Queen Elizabeth has got it down pat but then she's had all those years to practice.

Then there's the decision as to whether or not a hat is in order, at all. I mean, what if one were to meet the royal couple one-on-one, then a hat would be in order one assumes. Accompanying this subject is the issue of whether one should wear a casual or formal hat, but for sure definitely not a baseball cap. Another dilemma, at least for me, would be whether or not to wear gloves and if so, should they be wrist or elbow length? Just doesn't seem logical to wear long-ish gloves up to the elbow with - say - pants, jeans or capris. In any case, these decisions call for yet another visit to Debretts for further consultation on royal manners for "what-ifs."

According to Debretts in their Royalty section, there is no accepted code of behaviour for encounters with royalty, "but adhering to the traditional forms of address will prevent anxiety."

Presumably, this includes no gum chewing if one is within viewing sight of the royal couple, and neither would cracking gum be acceptable. Another subject worthy of further thought is the wearing of panty hose. Would Kate notice if one's legs were bare and is it even appropriate to bear one's legs in front of royalty at all? So many questions with so few answers to these dilemmas!

To get back to Debretts, when being introduced to a member of the Royal Family men should bow and women curtsey. This subject was broached in an earlier blog entitled, "Meeting the Queen: what should one do?" if anyone reading this wants to know how to conduct oneself. A handshake is also acceptable. A bow should be made by bending from the neck or shoulders (not the waist) while briefly lowering your eyes. Lowering my eyes? What would happen - say - if one inadvertantly forgot to do this? How much of an faux pas would staring directly ahead be?

I can see the headlines now: "Royal goof - Ms blah-blah was seen not to lower her (or his) eyes while being introduced to Will and Kate." Could this be interpreted as being too brazen? So many things to remember.

Debretts also advises that should one happen upon a 'royal' during their time off, allow them the freedom to go about their business as an ordinary person. 'Assume that to royalty, being left alone is far from a slur; it is a luxury.'

Should one meet up with the royal couple while they take five at Second Cup or Starbucks, for example, one should not ask Kate or William to pass the sugar as a means of striking up a conversation. Neither should one keep any empty sugar packages that they may use, their coffee(or tea) cups for souvenirs.

Perhaps all this worry is in vain anyway, since they will be spending a mere few hours in our area. Thinking it all over, perhaps I'll just stick to practicing my royal wave and hope that they wave back. I mean, it's the least they could do.