Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Heather Tea at the "bonnie, bonnie banks o' loch lomond"

Yesterday was a snow day, which was a perfect day for tea and baking (which will turn up later this week).  So much for spring almost being here because it is March!

Today I'm reviewing a tea I found on sale at Homegoods, the Edinburgh Tea & Coffee Company's Heather tea.  Their website says that "our range of Scottish teas bring a Scottish twist to teatime with teas such as whisky, heather and thistle." Too bad Homegoods didn't have the whisky tea! 
 
The tea is a blend of black teas from Africa and Assam with heather flowers.  As the tin says, "flowering across the slopes of the Highland mountains of Scotland."  You can see the little purple heather flowers in the tea.

 
I couldn't really detect anything floral in the taste of the tea or even in its scent, but it was a really nice strong black tea.  It was perfect with a touch of cream and sugar.
 
Now what better thing to serve with Heather tea from Edinburgh than Royal Edinburgh shortbread (also acquired in that same trip to Homegoods)?
 
 
And since my tea time had already gone a wee bit Scottish, I had to serve the tea in my Shelley Loch Lomond tea cup and saucer.  Here is the cup in the recently fallen snow right outside my back door:
 

 
I was playing with trying to take pictures with the snow in the background and it didn't work, so finally I just put the cup and saucer on the snow, and voilà!  With the shadows and sun falling across the snow, this picture actually turned out better then any of the different backgrounds I tried to put the set on in the house.

 

This Loch Lomond set is my favorite of my Shelley tea trios.  It was also a HUGE bargain at a flea market--I got the trio for $15.00!  My set has the green handle (as you can see), with a gold border and is in the dainty shape.  I enjoy collecting teacups in different styles and I love how the cup also feels dainty.  The detail in the set also caught my attention; on the inside of the cup is the rock with flowers (maybe heather to match the tea?) that is also in the bottom left of the plate and missing from the saucer.

And I'll leave you with the song I'm sure inspired the set's soft purple hills viewed from across Loch Lomond:



By yon bonnie banks an' by yon bonnie braes
Whaur the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond
Whaur me an' my true love will ne'er meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomon'.

Chorus:
O ye'll tak' the high road, and Ah'll tak' the low
And Ah'll be in Scotlan' afore ye
Fir me an' my true love will ne'er meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomon'.
'Twas there that we perted in yon shady glen
On the steep, steep sides o' Ben Lomon'
Whaur in (soft) purple hue, the hielan hills we view
An' the moon comin' oot in the gloamin'.
Chorus
The wee birdies sing an' the wild flouers spring
An' in sunshine the waters are sleeping
But the broken heart it kens, nae second spring again
Tho' the waeful may cease frae their grieving.
Chorus
I shared this post at Rose Chintz Cottages' Tea Time Tuesday  http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com/ and
Tuesday Cuppa Tea http://www.antiquesandteacups.info/

8 comments:

  1. I LOVE your Shelley! The colors are so rich and vibrant! My daughter just came back from Edinburgh, Scotland and brought me that very brand and "flavor" of tea...small world...it was delicious but as you said, lacking a "floral" taste or smell. Guess we'll just HAVE TO go back to Home goods for more Scottish shortbread in order to really 'enjoy' the rest of the tin, lol...Great Blog-keep up the great photos!

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    1. What a nice gift from your daughter! I just went to Edinburgh last year and I LOVED it. Like we need an excuse like shortbread to go to Homegoods :) That place is so addicting! Thank you so much for your nice comment!

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  2. That's such a hard to find pattern. Well done! Shelley is my favorite! Thanks for linking to Tuesday Cuppa Tea!
    Ruth

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    1. Thanks so much for your comment! This Shelley pattern was actually one of the first sets I got, I didn't even realize at the time that it was a hard to find pattern, I just liked it. I really enjoyed your post about tea at Fortnum & Mason.

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  3. Hi Carrie,
    It's nice to 'meet' you! I see you haven't been in Blogland very long so welcome and welcome also to my Tea Time Tuesday party! I love your Shelley trio set and I know they are hard to come by. What a wonderful find! Your choice of tea sounds interesting and I love shortbread! The tea looks pretty with the little bits of heather in it. Thanks so much for joining me for tea and have a lovely day.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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    1. Thank you so much for your comment! Your Tea Time Tuesday is a great idea! I might have been a lurker previously, but I have enjoyed your blog, especially your beautiful pictures! The lavender turtle was an adorable addition to your Tea Time Tuesday post :).

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  4. it's a sad song actually, attributed to the failed Jacobite rebellion in 1745. the singer is taking the "low road" meaning death and he'll be in scotland before the other one who lives. the singer is sadly describing his beloved country which he'll never see again. it's a lovely haunting song, isn't it?

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    1. When I was in Scotland last year I heard Loch Lomond sang in a lovely brogue. The singer explained some of the theories behind the song before he started singing. It really was a beautiful and poignant moment.

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Thank you so much for your comment! I hope you have a wonderful day :)