“I don’t take coffee, I take tea my dear”

When we heard about the Tweed Run we just had to get involved! It’s a brilliant idea. So not only are we linking up with them to create their very own Tweed Afternoon tea – a delicious blend of Darjeeling, oolong and a touch of assam – but Kate will be cycling the route too!

We’ll be setting off from Central London at midday, on a 12 mile route passing the Tate Britain, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace (no word yet on if ma’am will be joining us), Saville Row, stopping off in the park for a spot of tea courtesy of Lahloo Tea in Kensington Gardens, St Paul’s and ending with a bit of a knees-up with Hendricks Gin in the City of London (near Bishopsgate).

Proper attire is expected. Tweed suits, plus fours, bow ties, cycling capes, and jaunty flat caps are all encouraged! Sounds like fun!

We think this is perfect to celebrate our involvement!

Elemental – Cup Of Brown Joy from Moog on Vimeo.

A very special Chocolate Afternoon Tea

Chocolate Afternoon Tea

It’s been an exciting week or so at Lahloo Tea. To top it all off we are excited to be teaming up with Harvey Nichol’s Second Floor Restaurant to bring  an indulgent Easter treat to Bristol’s afternoon tea offering throughout April.

Rather than just chocolate eggs this Easter, why not celebrate with a bespoke Chocolate Afternoon Tea full of Head Chef, Louise McCrimmon‘s chocolate delights. What better way than to enjoy her beautiful treats than with your choice of sensational and delicious tea from Lahloo Tea.

Louise and Kate have chosen a selection of their favourite afternoon teas as well as teas that work really well with chocolate. Choose from a pot of classic but deliciously comforting Lahloo Breakfast all-day-every-day tea, zingy and revitalising Lahloo Earl Grey, the true champagne of the tea world Darjeeling Second Flush, the sumptuous Amber oolong or sensationally light and fragrant Dragon Pearls.

From just £15 per person, it’s certainly a little luxury not to be missed.

For more information or to make a reservation call 0117 9168898 or email Reception.bristol@harveynichols.com

Come and meet Kate, Lahloo Tea's founder

PS We will also be holding a tea tasting at Harvey Nichol’s Food Market in Bristol on Saturday 17th April 2010 between 11am and 5pm. So if you’d like to find out more about Lahloo Tea from Kate Gover, our founder, or you’d simply like to try our fabulous tea, then pop by. It’d be lovely to see you.

Tea and a good soak in the bath!

Hello it’s Kate here! I’ve just got back from a busy day driving here there and everywhere in the Cotswolds. I’m not complaining as it really is the most beautiful place to drive through! I felt really lucky and thought how lovely to escape the buzz and noise of the city as I pulled into the drive of the first gorgeous ‘contemporary-chic’ hotel I was meeting with (I will be back here soon to tell you about the hotel). The birds were chirping, there were little purple and yellow crocus nestled in clusters at the feet of the tree trunks and there were tiny little lambs baaing and bleating and wobbling around the surrounding fields. Bliss!

It seemed like a really long day of driving, talking, meeting new people, tasting tea, looking at numbers while at the same time trying to find spots of reception in such an unspoilt place to reply to urgent emails and phone calls and of course keep up with the world of twitter! So, it was lovely to arrive back, unload the car and land in a familiar place. All I fancied was a long soak in an indulgent bath, a  pot of soothing tea and a flick through my latest glossy magazine.

Kate's dream bath!

At the village shop I treated myself to a Green & Spring Indulging Bath Oil and candle -  comforting rose, sensual jasmine, restorative elderflower and restful clover – so that’s exactly what I did! And how good it was – even though I didn’t have a bath quite like my dream bath!

Green & Spring Indulging Home Candle

To top of my indulgent evening I made a pot of uplifting Rosey white tea to sip while I chilled out,  listed to the sounds of Paper Aeroplanes, flicked through RED magazine and soothed away the stresses of the day. I can’t recommend it enough. But, what would your favourite product, tea and music to wind down to?

Lahloo Tea in the Welsh mountains at The Hardwick

With lambing season well and truly upon us, we thought we would tell you about a pub that does the most amazing food just over the bridge in Wales. It’s the passion and vision of the legendary Stephen Terry.

Stephen has been cooking for many years, travelling and working across the world. Now firmly settled down with his family just outside Abergavanney he has created The Hardwick. The Hardwick’s food is simple whilst offering an incredible choice that all tastes very good – I recommend  Ham, eggs and chips with a big pot of Lahloo tea after a walk on the Skirrid Fawr.

Our teas have been served at the Hardwick for about a year now, it is still one of our favourite place to eat and drink. This place should be visited by any foodies who want to explore the big outdoors too!!

So, what are your tea drinking habits?

Back in February we asked you to tell us more about your tea habits. You were all very lovely, so thank you for taking part. Your Lahloo Tea online shop voucher will be with you shortly (if you completed the survey but didn’t receive the voucher, please let us know).  We found the results really intriguing and we’ve listed a selection of them here. If you missed out on this one, see how your own tea habit compares?  Happy reading!

Which tea makes you jump for joy?

Why do you drink tea?

How you’re feeling definitely helps you to choose the tea you fancy. Tea is so good for the senses!

How do you choose which tea to drink?

Your perfect cup of tea would be…?

What’s your favourite tea cup?

We love that the quality and provenance are what make the difference when you buy tea.

What entices you to buy tea?

Where do you partake in your Lahloo tea habit?

Is your tea habit a…?

Your responses to this question are my favourites:

C.S. Lewis loves tea and a good book. What’s you perfect partner for tea?
Tea and….

a chocolate finger… or three
a cigar
a crossword
a cuddle
a girl to share it with
a great film
a purring cat.
BBC 6music
biscuits
biscuits or cakes!
bone china cup
breakfast news or newspaper & especially when reading a book
chocolate hobnobs, cake, digestives… or just tea
computer
conversation
dark (70% plus) spicy chocolate with black tea
freshly baked scones
friends when I have them, work most of the time
good company!
home made lemon cake
homemade lemon curd on hot buttered toast!
honey
hot bath
Leonard Cohen
my cat (she knows how to walk around the cup)
my husband, homemade vegan cupcake (matcha ones!)
peace and quiet
solitude or good company!
Tatester
toast!
tunes
Twitter
warmth

Gorgeous vintage tea cup flower displays

images: Martha Stewart

Looking for inspiration to brighten up our new workspace with some spring flowers, I came across this gorgeous egg cup flower display. It’s gorgeous and so simple. As we run a tea company I thought it would be lovely to use some of my vintage tea cups instead of using just egg cups, a bit like the image below:

image: Polly Wreford (via Sarah Kaye)

But using spring flowers – daffodils, bluebells, crocus – like this:

image: Polly Wreford (via Sarah Kaye)

It struck me how lovely it would look in the centre of the kitchen table for a special Mothers’ Day afternoon tea or an Easter brunch. Often the simplest gifts are the most special. I’m sure if my Mum lived closer she’d love it! But as she doesn’t I’m treating her to afternoon tea at Liberty of London instead to say thank you for everything.

Have fun creating your tea cup flower arrangements. Don’t foget to save some cups to drink tea from too!

Lahloo Tea at The Pony and Trap – recently recognised by the Michelin Guide

If you live in or near Bristol you will have heard of a fantastic pub restaurant nearby called The Pony and Trap. Perching on a hilltop just outside Chew Magna, it’s in a gorgeous 200-year-old building and run by an enthusiastic young team. It’s perfectly placed for lunch after a stroll around the beautiful Chew Valley Lake.

Led by chef and owner Josh Eggleton, this is a real family affair, with Mum, Dad brother and sister all involved. Together they are committed to sourcing the freshest ingredients as locally as possible, with the majority of meats, vegetables and fruits all produced within just a few miles. Now, there are two other really good reasons to take a trip out:

• they are now serving Lahloo Tea to complement their delicious, freshly prepared menu and
• they’ve been awarded a Bib Gourmand by the people awarding Michelin stars. The standards and ethos set by Josh and his team have at long last been recognised! The Bib Gourmand status is awarded to restaurants offering “good food at moderate prices”, they are one of only 131 in GB and Ireland.

Well done, The Pony and Trap…