Plum Tea Crazy

by Laura Childs

  Winter White Tea

  When the earth is iced in soothing white, let your tea table reflect this as well. Start with a crisp linen tablecloth and small crystal vases filled with white tea roses. White candles and pure white china are also an elegant addition. Serve cream scones with Devonshire cream, salmon and roasted red pepper tea sandwiches, and mushroom tartlets. For dessert, spice cookies dusted with powdered sugar or white chocolate cake. You’ll want to serve a white tea such as a white peony tea, a silver needle tea, or even a Formosan oolong with a slight peach flavor.

  Fairy Tea

  Let your imagination soar with a magical Fairy Tea theme, always a delight for children as well as adults. Decorate your table with a strip of bright green moss and scatter it with leaves, acorns, and silk butterflies that you source from a craft store. For a floral centerpiece, use snapdragons, daylilies, or other fanciful flowers. Hang white twinkle lights overhead and use as many pink and green dishes as you can round up. Begin your tea with cream scones, strawberry jam, and Devonshire cream. Ham and cheese quiche makes a delicious main course, and red velvet cupcakes are a perfect dessert. If you’re inviting children to your Fairy Tea, be sure to serve strawberry juice in teacups and PB and J tea sandwiches. If you have a supply of gossamer wings for your real-life fairies, so much the better. And remember, fairies were a particular favorite of the Victorians!

  When the first baby laughed for the first time, its laugh broke into a thousand pieces, and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies.

  —JAMES M. BARRIE

  TEA RESOURCES

  TEA MAGAZINES AND PUBLICATIONS

  TeaTime—A luscious magazine profiling tea and tea lore. Filled with glossy photos and wonderful recipes. (teatimemagazine.com)

  Southern Lady—From the publishers of TeaTime, with a focus on people and places in the South as well as wonderful teatime recipes. (southernladymagazine.com)

  The Tea House Times—Go to theteahousetimes.com for subscription information and dozens of links to tea shops, purveyors of tea, gift shops, and tea events. Visit the Laura Childs guest blog!

  Victoria—Articles and pictorials on homes, home design, gardens, and tea. (victoriamag.com)

  Texas Tea & Travel—Highlighting Texas and other Southern tea rooms, tea events, and fun travel. (teaintexas.com)

  Fresh Cup Magazine—For tea and coffee professionals. (freshcup.com)

  Tea & Coffee—Trade journal for the tea and coffee industry. (teaand coffee.net)

  Bruce Richardson—This author has written several definitive books on tea. (elmwoodinn.com /tea-books)

  Jane Pettigrew—This author has written thirteen books on the varied aspects of tea and its history and culture. (janepettigrew.com /books)

  A Tea Reader—by Katrina Avila Munichiello, an anthology of tea stories and reflections.

  AMERICAN TEA PLANTATIONS

  Charleston Tea Plantation—The oldest and largest tea plantation in the United States. Order their fine black tea or schedule a visit at bigelowtea.com.

  Table Rock Tea Company—This Pickens, South Carolina, plantation is growing premium whole-leaf tea. Target production date is 2018. (tablerocktea.com)

  Fairhope Tea Plantation—Tea plantation in Fairhope, Alabama.

  The Great Mississippi Tea Company—Up-and-coming Mississippi tea farm about ready to go into production. (greatmsteacompany.com)

  Sakuma Brothers Farm—This tea garden just outside Burlington, Washington, has been growing white and green tea for almost twenty years. (sakumamarket.com)

  Big Island Tea—Organic artisan tea from Hawaii. (bigislandtea.com)

  Mauna Kea Tea—Organic green and oolong tea from Hawaii’s Big Island. (maunakeatea.com)

  Onomea Tea—Nine-acre tea estate near Hilo, Hawaii. (onotea.com)

  TEA WEBSITES AND INTERESTING BLOGS

  Teamap.com—Directory of hundreds of tea shops in the United States and Canada.

  Afternoontea.co.uk—Guide to tea rooms in the UK.

  Cookingwithideas.typepad.com—Recipes and book reviews for the Bibliochef.

  Seedrack.com—Order Camellia sinensis seeds and grow your own tea!

  RTbookreviews.com—Wonderful romance and mystery book review site.

  Adelightsomelife.com—Tea, gardening, and cottage crafts.

  Jennybakes.com—Fabulous recipes from a real make-it-from-scratch baker.

  Cozyupwithkathy.blogspot.com—Cozy mystery reviews.

  Southernwritersmagazine.com—Inspiration, writing advice, and author interviews of Southern writers.

  Thedailytea.com—Formerly Tea Magazine, this online publication is filled with tea news, recipes, inspiration, and tea travel.

  Allteapots.com—Teapots from around the world.

  Fireflyspirits.com—South Carolina purveyors of sweet tea vodka, raspberry tea vodka, peach tea vodka, and more. Just visiting this website is a trip in itself!

  Teasquared.blogspot.com—Fun, well-written blog about tea, tea shops, and tea musings.

  Blog.bernideens.com—Bernideen’s teatime blog about tea, baking, decorating, and gardening.

  Possibili-teas.net—Tea consultants with a terrific monthly newsletter.

  Relevanttealeaf.blogspot.com—All about tea.

  Stephcupoftea.blogspot.com—Blog on tea, food, and inspiration.

  Teawithfriends.blogspot.com—Lovely blog on tea, friendship, and tea accoutrements.

  Bellaonline.com/site/tea—Features and forums on tea.

  Napkinfoldingguide.com—Photo illustrations of twenty-seven different (and sometimes elaborate) napkin folds.

  Worldteaexpo.com—This premier business-to-business trade show features more than three hundred tea suppliers, vendors, and tea innovators.

  Fatcatscones.com—Frozen, ready-to-bake scones.

  Kingarthurflour.com—One of the best flours for baking. This is what many professional pastry chefs use.

  Teagw.com—Visit this website and click on Products to find dreamy tea pillows filled with jasmine, rose, lavender, and green tea.

  Californiateahouse.com—Order Machu’s Blend, a special herbal tea for dogs that promotes healthy skin, lowers stress, and aids digestion.

  Vintageteaworks.com—This company offers six unique wine-flavored tea blends that celebrate wine and respect the tea.

  Downtonabbeycooks.com—A Downton Abbey blog with news and recipes. You can also order their book Abbey Cooks.

  Auntannie.com—Crafting site that will teach you how to make your own petal envelopes, pillow boxes, gift bags, etc.

  Victorianhousescones.com—Scone, biscuit, and cookie mixes for both retail and wholesale orders. Plus baking and scone making tips.

  Englishteastore.com—Buy a jar of English Double Devon Cream here as well as British foods and candies.

  Stickyfingersbakeries.com—Scone mixes and English curds.

  Teasipperssociety.com—Join this international tea community of tea sippers, growers, and educators. A terrific newsletter!

  Teabox.com—Wonderful international webzine about all aspects of tea.

  Serendipitea.com—They sell an organic tea named Plum Crazy. Also check out their recipe for Plum Crazy Punch.

  PURVEYORS OF FINE TEA

  Adagio.com

  Harney.com

  Stashtea.com

  Serendipitea.com

  Bingleysteas.com

  Marktwendell.com

  Globalteamart.com

  Republicoftea.com

  Teazaanti.com

  Bigelowtea.com

  Celestialseasonings.com

  Goldenmoontea.com

  Uptontea.com

  Svtea.com (Simpson & Vail)

  Gracetea.com

  VISITING CHARLESTON

  Charleston.com—Travel and hotel guid
e.

  Charlestoncvb.com—The official Charleston convention and visitor bureau.

  Charlestontour.wordpress.com—Private tours of homes and gardens, some including lunch or tea.

  Charlestonplace.com—Charleston Place Hotel serves an excellent afternoon tea, Thursday through Saturday, 1 to 3 PM.

  Culinarytoursofcharleston.com—Sample specialties from Charleston’s local eateries, markets, and bakeries.

  Poogansporch.com—This restored Victorian house serves traditional low-country cuisine. Be sure to ask about Poogan!

  Preservationsociety.org—Hosts Charleston’s annual Fall Candlelight Tour.

  Palmettocarriage.com—Horse-drawn carriage rides.

  Charlestonharbortours.com—Boat tours and harbor cruises.

  Ghostwalk.net—Stroll into Charleston’s haunted history. Ask them about the “original” Theodosia!

  Charlestontours.net—Ghost tours plus tours of plantations and historic homes.

  Follybeach.com—Official guide to Folly Beach activities, hotels, rentals, restaurants, and events.

  KEEP READING FOR A PREVIEW OF LAURA CHILDS’S NEXT SCRAPBOOKING MYSTERY . . .

  Glitter Bomb

  AVAILABLE SOON FROM BERKLEY PRIME CRIME!

  “Lookit!” Ava cried. “There’s your butthead of an ex-husband riding up there on the King Neptune float.”

  Carmela Bertrand stood on tiptoes and turned ice chip-blue eyes toward the enormous, glittering Mardi Gras float that was steamrolling toward them. Sure enough, there he was, grinning from ear to ear as he and two dozen krewe members tossed strands of golden beads into the hands of a screaming, frenzied crowd.

  “Shamus,” Carmela said, his name dripping from her lips like honeyed poison. Any follow-up comment was completely drowned out as fifty brass horns blared a collective note and lithe dancers twirling flaming candelabras high-stepped their way down Royal Street. It was Tuesday night, a full week before Fat Tuesday, and most of New Orleans was already caught in the manic grip of Mardi Gras. The city was cranked up, ready to rock, and Carmela Bertrand and her BFF Ava Gruiex were smack dab in the center of the maelstrom. Dressed for action in tight jeans, tighter T-shirts, and multiple strands of colored beads looped around their necks, they clutched geaux cups frothing with Abita beer.

  “Wouldn’t you know it, Shamus is riding the very first float in the Pluvius Parade,” Carmela shouted to Ava above the raucous noise of the crowd. She tipped her head and pushed back loose strands of her shaggy blond bob as she took in the spectacle. A dozen marching bands had already tromped past them, along with clanking knights on horseback, a clown contingent, and a flotilla of exotic convertibles that carried smiling, waving, Pluvius krewe royalty wearing gaudy, bedazzled crowns and capes of white faux fur. Enough white faux fur to decorate a Santa’s village for decades to come.

  “Gotta grab some of those gold beads,” Ava said as she grabbed Carmela’s arm and pulled her closer to the curb, closer to the action. “Throw me somethin’ mister,” she shouted out. Ava was tall and stacked, with a saturnine face and masses of dark curly hair. Men either loved Ava or were frightened to death by her. She was vivacious bordering on brash and oozed raw sex appeal.

  Carmela would’ve scoffed at the notion that she was sexy, too. But her appeal was in her quiet, contained, almost mischievous persona. She was smart as a whip, driven to be a successful businesswoman (though her scrapbook shop was small and humble by most standards), and she could hold her own with men. Carmela wasn’t adverse to tossing back a bourbon and branch while hashing out politics and smoking an occasional cigar.

  “What’s the parade theme this year?” Ava asked.

  “Spirits of the Sea,” Carmela said. “The theme’s always supposed to be a deep dark secret until they start rolling, but you know Shamus . . . can’t keep a secret.”

  Shamus, Carmela’s ex, was an indolent Southern boy who, when he wasn’t out drinking or chasing younger women, worked at his family’s Crescent City Bank. Work being a very loose and haphazard description for what Shamus actually accomplished.

  “Spirits,” Ava said. “I guess that explains why King Neptune is hoisting that ginormous jug of wine.”

  The float was built to represent an ancient sea going galleon complete with billowing sails, three decks piled one on top of another, and a carved, barely decent mermaid figure on the prow. Pluvius krewe members hung off every railing and crossbeam, tossing beads and waving at the crowd. Fifty-one weeks of the year, these men were business moguls and staid society leaders. Their walk-in closets probably held a pair of Berluti shoes to match every one of their Zegna, Burberry, and Armani suits. Tonight, however, they were all robed in white satin and wore white, expressionless masks.

  On the very top deck of the float, a rotund King Neptune figure was firmly ensconced on his golden throne. His gigantic motorized head lolled back and forth, his mouth gaped open, and his eyes fluttered and blazed yellow. Every few seconds, a surge of golden glitter pumped out of his trident and shot high into the dark night sky.

  “What’s old King Neptune made out of?” Ava asked Carmela. “You’re the crafty one, the resident scrapbook lady. Does it look like papier-mâché?”

  “I think Jekyl repurposed an old King Arthur figure from three years ago,” Carmela said. “Reworked the face, added the trident, and draped that necklace of fish and shells around him.” Jekyl Hardy was a well-known float builder and one of Carmela’s dearest friends.

  “Whatever he did it’s impressive,” Ava said as the float rolled ever closer to them. “It even looks as if Neptune’s tipping that big jug forward to offer us a nice splash of vino.” She suddenly pinched Carmela’s arm. “Wait, is something wrong? It almost looks like the float is tipping over.”

  Carmela blinked as the enormous float slowly listed to one side and an obnoxious screeching sound, like steel wheels grinding against hot coals, pierced the air. Krewe members grasped for handholds on their now-unsteady perch as the float began to shimmy and shake.

  Had the float blown a tire? Or worse? Carmela decided it had to be worse because the float was suddenly pogoing up and down, jouncing and bouncing its krewe like mad. Then the entire float began to shiver and shudder from stem to stern. Its tall mast with billowing sails trembled violently.

  “Dear Lord,” Ava said as people all around them began to cry out in alarm.

  A mounted police officer tried to make his way toward the malfunctioning float, his horse’s hooves clattering harshly against pavement. But the horse, sensing imminent danger, snorted and reared up in protest, wildly pawing the air. The officer leaned forward, tugging the reins, trying to get his horse under control as the float continued to sway side to side, each motion more drastic and violent than the last.

  “That float’s about to crash and burn,” Carmela yelled as the crowd began to back away. She glanced at the front of the float where Shamus and a few other krewe members were hanging on for dear life. And no wonder, the float seemed to have lost all control over its direction. It was headed directly into a throng of onlookers, rolling like some deadly Trojan Horse as it listed badly, a ruptured ocean liner about to sink.

  “Get back, get back!” Ava yelped. And the frightened crowd did jump back. Sort of.

  But not all the way. Because watching the big float pitch and shiver was strangely and dangerously hypnotic, like watching a train wreck. And how often did you see a big-assed Mardi Gras float completely out of control? Well . . . never.

  But the show had just begun.

  Just as the prow of the Neptune float hit the curb and bounced hard, a deep and ominous rumbling sounded from deep within, as if some horrible monster was about to make an appearance.

  “That thing’s going to blow,” Carmela shouted as she tried desperately to pull a hypnotized Ava out of harm’s way.

  The sound built in terrifying waves, rolling across the c
rowd, almost taking people’s breath away as it rattled shop windows and neon bar signs with all the ferocity of an F-6 tornado. When the explosion finally came it was enormous, a deafening blast that was enough to call out the dead.

  Carmela literally felt her jaw drop as she stared at the very top of the float. King Neptune’s head was spinning violently like a child’s top. Then, with a whomp that resonated deep within the pit of her stomach, Neptune’s head blew off and a shimmering fountain of glitter spewed forth into the velvety dark night sky. It flew up, up, up, until the sky was ablaze with what looked like a million points of light. When the glitter had reached its ultimate trajectory, it began to sift downwards, landing softly on the heads of the crowd.

  The float let loose a final gut-wrenching belch and shiver, so violent it catapulted krewe members off their perches. Some somersaulted down harmlessly to lower decks, but a few were tossed off the float only to land—splat—on the pavement!

  “Somebody call 911!” Carmela cried out. She knew men were injured and in desperate need of help.

  “We just called,” a man behind her yelled. “Ambulance is on its way.”

  “Is Shamus . . . ?” Carmela’s eyes searched the float for him. Had he been shaken off, too? She felt her stomach wobble as she gazed at the men lying in the street. Oh dear Lord, are they hurt badly? Please don’t let anyone be dead, she prayed.

  But wait. Men were slowly picking themselves up. They were groaning, but they were alive. Thank goodness.

  Then a pile of white satin stirred and Carmela recognized Shamus. Without thinking, she rushed over and threw her arms around him.