The Love of Tea Mag ed 3 by theloveofteamag

no.

Puts on

THE RITZ then takes you

Down east to Nova Scotia

Editorial Note

The act of having afternoon tea is one that nourishes the soul and revives the spirit. Acknowledging that you are important enough to take time. The Ritz-Carlton has held a special place, my first as a traveller to Montreal on a murder mystery- the game is afoot-as Sherlock Holmes would say.

Canada’s east coast is abundant with history especially Nova Scotia, known in the early days as New Scotland. We have the story of tea on its shores with an entrenched pride in its own distinct culture and culinary traditions. We discover its hidden treasures. Hats off to Dilmah Tea and MJF Foundation and the elephant conservatory.

Time with my tea friend, Andrea. I hope you take time for tea. Carol Mark, Publisher www.theloveofte a.ca

Table of Contents Ritz Carlton afternoon tea

Food and Tea down east in Nova Scotia

The Stately Blamodin Inn

Welcome to the Market (down east style)

Welcome to Summer House Antiques

Just Us

Brilliant Fall Colours

Lobster

Wool-on-the-corner

Crafts

Delicious Health in Nova Scotia

Friends and Recipes

Tangled Garden

Sterling silver artistry

Dilmah Tea&Elephants

from Tea to Opium

(September & October 2016)

SALMON ON RYE Gravlax, light rye, celery root slaw HAM & CHEESE Aged cheddar, ham, parsley butter CUCUMBER & DILL English cucumbers, dill, cream cheese, pain de mie DEVILLED EGG SALAD Grain mustard mayo, toasted brioche bun Quiche Florentine Chocolate caramel ganache tarts Earl grey tea shortbread Passion fruit crème brulee Raspberry vanilla cheese cake Battenberg Freshly Baked Raisin Scones Devonshire cream Preserves

Greeting us at our table is an invitation to engage in the gaiety of the 1920s, along with a flute of Prosecco “The Great Gatsby is the legendary tale of a tragic love story by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Written and set in the nineteen twenties, the love affair between millionaire Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby is known to throw lavish parties with no expense spared in order to impress Daisy, his former love interest. These parties are of Prohibition era, when the champagne flowed freely. We invite you to live like Jay and Daisy at the DEQ Terrace and Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton, Toronto.” I am a tea purist, meaning I like the authenticity of tea without any added scents- there was a large selection by Sloane teas. We focused on the green tea as well as Darjeling 2nd flush, which paired with the savoury as well as sweets. It had a clean finish on the palate. The Ritz Carlton prides itself on its famous themed teas.

Toronto, Canada

The Stately Blamidon Inn In Wolfville Nova Scotia

Photo courtesy the Blomidon Inn, wolfville, Nova Scotia

n April 1, 1881 , Rufus Burgess purchased for $1,400, the lot on which the Blomidon Inn now stands. In the 1871 census, Burgess was listed as a merchant who owned 80 shares in ships. He soon learned to maximize his profits by building his own ships and operating them until they could be sold. The sales usually occurred in a foreign port such as London, England or perhaps in Scandinavia. Rufus built four tall ships between 1874 and 1880. In his mansion, he used teak and mahogany for wainscots, mantels, and staircases. There were marble fireplaces and gold gilt mirrors. A local German artist was invited

topaint a ceiling mural of a ship wreck. The house was just as grand on the out side with the Mansard Roof (the same roof style found on Seminary Hall – the oldest building on Acadia University’s campus), the sun dial, and the splendid rose gardens on the East side of the house. During his tenure at Perth Place, Rufus would build an additional nineteen tall ships, The Canada , being the most spectacular. On July 7, 1892 The Morning Herald in Halifax announced that 5000 “delighted” spectators had witnessed the launching at Kingsport of the CANADA , “the largest Vessel Ever Built in the Dominion ( Canada )”. Cox was the master builder and Burgess was the proud owner.—Text courtesy http://www.blomidon.ns.ca/

From the Inn’s Dining Room

Welcome to the Market (down east style)

David Whitney David is the unofficial mayor of the Annapolis Royale Market or as he puts it, the official lost and found depot. David has been a fixture with his Welcome sign and treasure trove for 30 +years from the long weekend in May to the Thanksgiving weekend. His visitor list is wide and far with Americans, Europeans, Asians and Brits. The little shop by the sea is a magnet for visitors to reconnect, where in a day I contacted with an auctioneer from Toronto. Spending time chatting with David and finding new treasures is like finding lost treasures of the past.

Royal Albert-Blossom Time Uniquely, reflective of the celebration of Annapolis Valley with its apple blossoms, 1950’s. Commissioned by a the local Palmater Family who were local china importers. Tea set at David’s store.

Welcome to summer house Antiques

Eric LeBlanc is from New Brunswick who settled from British Columbia to make his home in the valley. His sense of humour, warmth & making one welcome is contagious. his mission is to find statement pieces for your cottage- summerhouse. Eric is Proud of his hard to find jadite green collection. on HWY 101

Brillant Fall Colours

Intimate small restaurants, which are the main meeting places to catch up on the latest news like the lawrence town diner offer basics such as Giant scallop s on a bu n are a treat for anyone even locals, as well as outsiders. you can taste the freshness of the sea.

lobsters

that are freshly caught at parkers cove cooked to order are so big they cover the entire plate. Reminders that the islanders depended on fishing are still part of the landscape.

JusT Us Coffee

Not just coffee but also the best fair trade tea on the east coast. Jeff, the owner applies the same r

Markets are an integral part of the ccommunity. they provide a meeting place as part of early settlements and are just as im portant today.-

WOOLS ON THE CORNER Bridgetown, Nova scotia

a gem of a find that Welcomes you with it painted hot pink front Facade.

Caroline Perriman hails from a creative lineage, as her mom was the costume designer at stratford working on such productions as gats.

Wools, felting, cushions are wonderful additions to add to your home. Being creative and having a cup a tea provides a mediative break to relieve stress. Einstein once said creativity is more im portant than science.

Handicrafts like spinning & weaving can be seen,touched and talked about. handcrafts are on display like pesonal trophies whether as sim ple as a beautiful loaf of bread to be appreciated immediately or as a heirloom basket to be passed on to the next generation.

T A n pp p le a da d oes he y re al l d o c to r l p ke e p th e y away? ??

he Annapolis valley is world famous for one thing: apples. the Annapolis Valley boasts 55 more days of sun than other areas of Nova Scotia. Perfect for growing this lucious fruit. An excellent low-calorie snack food, apples have no fat, cholesterol or sodium and are full of the natural sugars that provide quick energy.

“

Whole foods, particularly fruits and vegetables, contain several nutrients that work together to provide health-promoting properties that supplements just can’t equal. Byers, Tim E. Nutrition and Cancer:Ten lessons from the 20th century. Nutrition, Volume 16, Numbers 7/8, 2000.

Just a Few Apple Attractions of the Annapolis Valley, Nova Soctia PRESCOTT HOUSE MUSEUM, designated an historic site by The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, It is also a Nova Scotia Provincial Historic Site. It is the former home of Charles Prescott who influenced apple production for years to come. The Classical-style house is now the Prescott House Museum. It was built in 1812-14. After Prescott’s death, the house deteriorated to the point where it was eventually abandoned. But, in the 1930s the house was acquired and restored to its former grandeur by one of Charles Prescott’s great-granddaughters, Mary Allison Prescott. She even managed to acquire some of the furniture originally owned by Charles Prescott. THE ANNAPOLIS VALLEY APPLE BLOSSOM FESTIVAL Over the years, it has grown to gain national and international recognition. The Festival includes a large children’s parade, the Queen’s Ball, a formal tea, the grand street parade, a major outdoor concert and a spectacular fireworks display. Young or old, don’t miss it! APPLE LANE FARM is a family run professional apple farm growing ninety-five acres of apples for the fresh market, pies and juice. THE BLAIR HOUSE MUSEUM, located on the Kentville Agricultural Centre grounds, offers both an interesting and educational look at the history of the apple industry in Nova Scotia, as well as the modern research being performed at the Kentville Agricultural Centre. And there are many, many pick your own apple orchards, orchards where you can buy apples fresh off the tree by the bushel.

Nova Scotia Friends making Chocolate in the kitchen.

INA'S APPLE PIE

The famous Gravenstein Apple resides in Nova Scotia. First planted in 19th century and common by 1859. Charles Ramage Prescott grew the firstGravenstein apples and is considered the founder of the apple industry in Nova Scotia. The apple is grown in home orchards rather than as a commercial apple. Its inclusion in the Ark of Taste gives its heritage a nod as it is an international catalogue of endangered heritage foods. Founded in 1996 lists 800 products from over 50 countries. The other area in North America growing Gravenstein apples was in Sonoma, California until a shift to producing wine. Its wonderful fine flesh and unique taste gives it the thumbs up as a first choice for apple pies. Ina’s secret is simply to use Gravenstein apples, as nothing else would do. Pies are made during season with all hands on deck, then frozen to be enjoyed year round.

CAROL'S APPLE FLAN RECIPE

6 medium apples, peeled , cored, sliced 1 tsp cinnamon 2 tsp granulated sugar 2 tbsp all purpose flour 1 c apple sauce 1 tbsp demerara sugar

Spoon applesauce to cover bottom of flan. Mix apple slices with cinnamon, granulated sugar, flour Place slices starting at edge in circular pattern. Sprinkle demerara sugar on top. Bake 375 degrees F pre-heated oven 15 mins, then 350 degreees for 30 mins. Cool, push out of flan pan. Serve with cream if desired. Pairs with green or black teas, as apple sweetens and tones down the astringency of tea. Pastry 1 C unsalted butter 1/2 C sugar 1 egg 1 1/2 C all purpose flour Cream sugar and butter, add egg and mix till combined. Sift flour, until just incorporated. Refridgerate 15 mins. Roll out on flour board to fit 8-9 inch diameter flan pan. Dock with fork on surface of dough. Place in fridge 10 mins. prior to arranging topping to bake. Serves 6-8.

Herbs and beautiful things Grand Pré, Nova Scotia

A love for the land and its bountry created the perfect canvas for owner and visionary Beverly McClare . Using traditional hand process, fesh herbs and seasonal fruit creative jewels are created six jars at a time. The entrance is magical, as if you stepped into a magical kingdom with extraordinary aromas. A world unto itself. The pairing of the jellies on a simple toast or cracker served with a cup of tea will send your senses into a delirium. Why not go on a magical voyage with your tea?

T e a n’ H o n e y

Ross Morrow: Artistry and Whimsy in Sterling Silver

ike most artists, Ross believes, the inspiration for his work changes. Currently, he says, “My inspiration comes from two different sources. One is technical. I like to explore challenging aspects of the silversmithing craft. This allows me to make things in a way and style that nobody else is doing. For example, raising the stirrup cups from a single sheet of silver into their final form and chasing the decoration using pitch.

“I

I’ve always referred to my work as interactive sculpture. Most sculpture is designed to be looked at. My work is utilitarian; the sculptural quality allows them to be admired on their own merits as well as providing a use. I also like whimsical things, play on words, hence ‘Moustard Pot’ and ‘Catsup’ the mustard and ketchup pots I designed incorporating a mouse and cat, respectively. My current body of work is partly inspired by the animals we see around our house here in Nova Scotia; the Bald Eagle, Great Horned Owl and bees. We currently have two hives that we are raising on our property in the hopes of one day cultivating a thriving bee colony for honeycomb production.

“I

was classically trained in Ireland by master silversmith, Brian Clarke over a period of six years. I was fortunate enough to start silversmithing when it was still possible to study with international silversmiths such as Michael Good and Heikki Seppa.

“F

or the first ten years of my life I rarely went anywhere without a teddy bear so I would have to say that’s probably my favourite object I had as a child. In terms of metal objects, I was always intrigued by a copper kettle that hung on a metal stand in my parents’ basement. Years later, as I began to appreciate metal design, I discovered that this piece was designed by a famous 19th Century designer, Christopher Dresser. The kettle is now in my living room!”

Ross lives and creates in, you guessed it, Nova Scotia morrart@bellaliant.net

Tea Dynasty Helps Neighbours:

A Tea Dynasty helps its neighbours: Human and Non-Human human and non-human by MJF Charitable foundation

liminating the human-elephant conflict by creating awareness is a conservation initiative that is close to the heart of Dilmah Conservation (DC). Conflicts between man and beast is a dominant setback faced by many conservation efforts, which is why Dilmah Conservation has worked with the Department of Wildlife Conservation to support the work of the Elephant Transit Home (ETH) and the ETC Information Centre located near the Udawalawe National Park in south eastern Sri Lanka. The Park is an important habitat for Sri Lankan elephants thanks to its open grassy lands and owing to the Udawalawe reservoir.

ilmah is family owned tea company founded by Merrill J. Fernando that produces ethical Single Origin tea, packed fresh at source. Enjoyed in more than 100 countries worldwide Dilmah brought integrity back to Ceylon Tea and offered it to the world in its pure form. Dilmah is unique; a brand that is founded on a passionate commitment to quality and authenticity in tea, it is also a part of a philosophy that goes beyond commerce in seeing business as a matter of human service. Named after his sons Dilhan and Malik, Merrill J. Fernando has devoted his life to his brand, Dilmah, to its success and to the commitment of giving back to humanity and to the environment.

he Elephant Transit Home which cares for injured elephants helps rehabilitate the elephants and release them back into the wild. Visitors cannot get too close but will be able to see the baby elephants at feeding time which is a wonderful experience. Dilmah Conservation established a solar array at the

ETH to provide much needed hot water for the preparation of milk for nearly 30 resident baby elephants that need eight feeds of milk, totaling more than 640 litres every day.

ea originated in China, as legend has it, 5,000 years ago with Chinese emperor Shen Nung claiming the health benefits of tea in 2737 BC. However it was Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) that made tea famous in the 19th and 20th Centuries. Scotsman James Taylor is attributed to planting the first tea estate in Sri Lanka. It was in 1867 that Taylor planted 20 acres of tea on the Loolecondera estate (of which he was superintendent). It was here he perfected the technique of fine plucking – `two leaves and a bud.’

hese are just a few of the many initiatives by Dilmah Conservation which has pioneered a comprehensive commitment to minimising Dilmah’s impact on the planet by fostering respect for the environment and ensuring its protection by encouraging a harmonious coexistence of man and nature. Since its inception in 2007, Dilmah Conservation has engaged in promoting sustainable environmental and social development initiatives geared towards four focal areas of sustainability, biodiversity, heritage and communications.

ankada is an initiative by the Merrill J. Fernando Charitable Foundation. It provides economic independence to a group of marginalized villagers living on the periphery of the Udawalawe National Park. They draw inspiration, from the park for their original pottery crafts which helps support conservation in the long term. They were trained by master potter Ajith Perera to create pottery of international fame with celebrity chef Jamie Oliver promoting Mankada craft items as part of his ‘Jme Collection’ in 2012. Where these villagers were once poaches Mankada has inspired them to work towards conservation. Only the very best will do!

eylon tea became the front-runner of the industry and was much loved for its unmatched quality and variety. The alchemy of land, sun and rain in the Paradise Island of Ceylon, as it was known then, presented the ideal climatic conditions for cultivation of tea. Ceylon added a new dimension to tea by producing variations in taste, quality, character and appearance, largely based on terroir of the region. Ceylon tea with its distinct taste and character became every consumer’s favourite cuppa.

great way to experience this land of tea is through Dilmah’s Resplendent Ceylon which is creating a trail of small luxury resorts across Sri Lanka, offering the traveller a range of authentic cultural experiences while contributing towards local communities and the environment through the MJF Foundation and Dilmah Conservation. It provides the perfect escape to the magical heart of Ceylon Tea. Two of the bungalows Tea Trails & Cape Weligama are the only Relais & Chateaux resorts in Sri Lanka.

Merrill J. Fernando, The founder of Dilmah tea started his company because he saw the wealth of Sri Lanka being taken to other countries. Now he provides work and income for his own people.

Founder and two sons of the Dilmah Tea Dynasty

ea is a beverage known for its calming, relaxing and healing qualities and is considered as Nature’s gift to mankind. As Dilmah grows as an ethical tea brand, so does the positive impact it has on humanitarian and environmental efforts.

Another young elephant gets his daily milk

http://www.mjffou ndation.org/

rom tea, to opium smuggling, to modern corporate success

The Earl George Macartney, Britain’s first ennoy to China, who failed to negotiate any trade agreement with the Chinese Emperor

The founders of Jardine, Matheson&Co.--a history of corporate success

he China trade flourished despite the failure of British efforts to remove administrative restrictions imposed by the Chinese. In the 18th century, the English East India Company traded British woollens and Indian cottons for Chinese tea, porcelain, and silk. The social success of tea and tea parties in England outstripped all expectations. Conversely, the export to China of British and Indian goods began to decline and trade imbalance between Britain and China became a major problem for the British. Tea imports soon became the largest single item in Britain’s trading account. The shortage of silver to pay for the tea imports forced the British to seek other commodities to compensate for their loss and to bring in profit. They discovered opium, a highly lucrative commodity. Although never directly involved in the sale of opium, which was banned in China by Imperial edict of 1729 as an illegal drug, the East India Company was responsible for most of its production in India, mainly for its medicinal value. The actual business of selling opium was conducted through private groups and companies, largely owned and operated bywealthy British traders. Some of these companies still exist today. Though no longer involved in opium trading, many rich and respectable corpora-

tions got their start from the wealth accumulated by illegally selling opium into China. For this reason, it is impossible to separate “the China trade” of the nineteenth century from the sale of opium grown in India under British governmental controls.

o while tea became the rage in fashionable London drawing rooms, it also powered the sinister wealth accumulation of leading companies who later associated themselves with the tea rather than the opium trade. One such firm was Jardine, Matheson who have been described as follows: “ In 1839 William Jardine- a Canton-based opium trafficker- steered Britain into the first Opium War after Chinese officials confiscated his stash. The second Opium War lasted from 1858-1860. Lord Palmerston commanded both expeditions for the Brits. He was also the High Priest of Scottish Rite Freemasonry in the British Empire. Throughout the 19th century the British families of Matheson, Keswick, Swire, Dent, Inchcape, Baring and Rothschild controlled the Chinese heroin traffic. The Inchcape’s and Baring’s Peninsular & Orient Steam Navigation Company (PONC) transported the dope around the world. When a British subject named Mohandas Ghandi spoke out against the opium trade in 1921, he was jailed by India’s British rulers for “undermining the revenue”.

oday, Jardines is described by Wikipedia thus:

“Jardine Matheson Holdings (Jardines) is a conglomerate incorporated in Bermuda, with its primary listing on the London Stock Exchange. The majority of its business interests are in Asia, and its subsidiaries include Jardine Pacific, Jardine Motors, Jardine Lloyd Thompson, Hongkong Land, Jardine Strategic, Dairy Farm, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Jardine Cycle & Carriage and Astra International. Jardines was one of the original Hong Kong trading houses or Hongs that date back to Imperial China, and as of December 2010, 41 percent of the company’s profits are still earned in China.[4] The company is controlled by

the Keswick family, who are descendants of co-founder William Jardine’s older sister Jean Johnstone.

n 2013, both Jardine Matheson and Jardine Strategic were among the top 200 publicly traded companies in the world as valued by market capitalization.

“We cannot escape history” —Abraham Lincoln

istory is where we are coming from and where we are going to, which is why my articles in The Love of Tea Mag are always historical. I believe it is a good way to understand how and why we drink tea, now. I believe history can bring us closer to the essence of why mankind chose tea, thousands of years ago to be the most popular drink on the globe, after water. I also feel that knowledge of this history enriches my own enjoyment of tea. There are centuries of human activity in every cup I drink. While I am drinking my cuppa, I can look one way and see the past or, I can glance forward to the future to ask myself what kind of tomorrow is today making? To some extent the words and pictures I help select for The Love of Tea Mag, will help create how our readers will enjoy their cuppa. The former head of the C.G. Jung Institute in Zurich, Switzerland once said that the Victorians repressed sexuality, but today we repress history. It is easy to do in today’s technological, fast moving world of the internet. What does the “old” have to do with today and tomorrow? But I assure you that yesterday will always be the roots of tomorrow. Study history well and you will always be ahead of trends instead of following them.

THE LEGENDARY OPIUM CLIPER, THE SYLPH

The Sylph, “specially designed for the trade by Sir Robert Steppings, The Surveyor of the British Navy.” Built originally for Rostomjee Cowasjee, a Parsee, who was one of the greatest opium merchants of India. The ship was, “one of the fastest opium clippers of her days...to the end of her days she proved very hard to beat.”—Basil Lubbock, The Opium Clippers.

Alan McKee has been a professional writer most of his life. As a boy and young man, he helped his father, Alvin Schwartz, write Superman and Batman comics for DC in New. York Then, followed a long international career as an advertising copywriter and graphic artist. For most of his life he has used words and images to communicate. He has three historical novels for sale on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. Each demonstrates his skills as a researcher and narrator. Visit his site www.hudsonhousemysteries.com