May 2023 Newsletter

Hello all and I hope everything is well! Happy Mother's Day to all you moms and pet moms :)

Just a reminder that the shop will be closed this Sunday 5/14 for Mother's Day, so be sure to stop by the shop before then for any gifts, teas, or macarons that you need.

Summer teas are now available and two new additions to our extensive menu have just arrived! See below in the New at the Shop section for details :)

Afternoon Tea is a wonderful tradition and many think that it is an older ritual than it actually is. Is this month's newsletter we explore the history and this tradition of this quintessentially British cultural event.

So the family emergency communication that went out last week was about me. I was in the hospital last Wednesday and I have some issues that need to be investigated. Thankfully I do not have the pain and mobility limitations that I had last week, but I am still not able to function at the level I am used to - which is driving me nuts! ;) I have a community to support, a business to run and bills to pay, but I have to be able to find the balance to manage these obligations along with ensuring that I listen to my body and not put it in a position that will set me back further. Normal business hours will be resuming, including bar service, this week; however, it is important to note that I will also need to pull back when I need to. As I'm sure all of you get about as many emails a day as I do, I am not planning on emailing out any additional days that I need to close the shop so as not to bombard your inboxes. Here is the manner in which changes to shop hours will be communicated:

• Any one-off shop closures will be posted on the facebook page Infuse Tea Bar by The Pleasures of Tea, the hours in google will be updated, and a sign will be put on our front door. I am truly honored that so many of you drive so far to visit my shop and I am trying to keep business interruptions and inconvenience to you at a minimum, but please make a quick check to make sure I am not closed before you take the drive.
• Further out dates that the shop will need to be closed will be listed in the monthly newsletters.
• The only additional email that may be sent out is if I need to suddenly close the shop for an extended period of time.

Pre-orders in the online shop at www.pleasuresoftea.com during this time are very much appreciated to help smooth out the workflow, maintain the full range of services that I offer, and reduce your wait time due to the slower pace in which I am able to work. Another benefit of pre-ordering is that it is a great way for me to know that you're coming. If something does come up, I will be able to notify you directly of any changes to shop hours. I apologize for any disruption that may arise due to the current situation and I deeply appreciate your understanding and continued support of my small business.

Gong Fu Tea Service is being discontinued this week and will most likely resume next week. Please see below for all the details and the spring menu that is now available. Feel free to make an appointment for this seated service and I look forward to preparing tea for you during this relaxing and culturally enriching experience.

I am keeping the tasting workshops scheduled for now, but may need to cancel them if necessary. The details are provided below and I encourage you to sign up for any of the workshops that you would like to attend. I will not be finalizing registration with payment until I know the workshop will definitely be taking place. Feel free to join us for an interactive, fun, and educational evening filled with tea! :)

As a reminder, I apologize to those of you who have arrived at 11:00AM when the shop opens and you have had to wait. If you arrive on a day when the shop is supposed to be open, but it is just past 11:00AM, the blinds and door are still closed and there is no "family emergency" sign on the door, please wait if you can, as I will be there within 5 or 10 minutes. I am sorry in advance for the inconvenience.

I again appreciate your continued support of my small business and I wish you much health and great tasting cups of tea in 2023!

-- Kristine, FDN-P

Blended up a fresh batch of Rooibos Chocolate Toffee Herbal Tisane and it is now back in stock! :)

Shop Schedule

Please note the following days that the shop will be closed:

Mother's Day Sunday 5/14

Monday 6/5 through Wednesday 6/21

Sunday 7/30

Be sure to check your stash and stock up before the extended June break.

As a reminder, current hours, along with future schedule changes and policies, can always be found on our shop website infuseteabarny.com.

Gong Fu Tea Service

The spring menu for Gong Fu Tea Service will be available when we re-open this Thursday! This Chinese method of tea preparation means "done well" and it requires time and focus, delivering a more aromatic and flavorful infusion than those prepared using the more familiar western method

of tea preparation. I am happy to be able to offer this cultural aspect of tea and guide you further through your own tea journey.

This is an appointment only, seated service and, at the moment, is limited to four appointments at a time. Each session lasts approximately 1-1/2 hours (allow 2 hours in case it runs long) and costs $30 paid upon booking. It includes multiple infusions of the tea that you select from the Gong Fu Tea menu and there are 4-7 infusions, depending on the tea selected and as time allows. It also includes a Gong Fu lesson, if you like, so that you may incorporate this method into your own tea ritual at home.

The menu is crafted and rotated seasonally and curated from the larger origin tea offering available in the shop. The spring menu is as follows:

• Ruby 18 Formosa White Tea - Nantou, Taiwan
• PT Harendong Green Farm Green Tea - Java, Indonesia
• Lan Gui Ren (Ginseng & Licorice) Wulong Tea - Fujian, China
• Chamraj Estate Frost Wulong Tea - Nilgiri, China
• Huo Shan Black Tea - Anhui, China
• Lao Shan Black Tea - Shandong, China
• 2016 Loose Leaf Dark Tea - Hunan, China

Gong Fu Tea appointments are available:

Thursdays & Fridays - 11:30 through 3:00

Sundays - 11:30 through 2:00

Please note that there are no appointments on Saturdays.

If you would like to make an appointment for this unique experience, please email kristine@infuseteabarny.com or reply to this email and put "Gong Fu" as the subject. I look forward to preparing tea for you! :)

Tea Tastings Workshop Schedule

Journey with us on select Saturday evenings for an exploration of tea. Whether it is a fun and unique tasting of a flight of teas or a "foodie" excursion where we pair a few of our favorite things, you will be experiencing a unique, informative, relaxing and interactive adventure - no passport required!

Here are a few of the upcoming workshops:

Wulong Teas - May 27th

White Teas - June 10th

Pu-er Teas - July 8th

Dark Teas - July 22nd

   The rest of the workshop schedule through July, descriptions and policies, are posted in the 2023 workshops tab at infuseteabarny.com. More tastings may be scheduled, so stay tuned!

Workshops begin promptly at 7:00 PM and go to 8:30ish. Feel free to stay on after the workshop to enjoy the highly recommended second infusions of each tea that will be prepared. Cost is $30 per person. Pre-paid registration is required and seating is limited. For questions or to register, please email kristine@infuseteabarny.com or stop by the shop. I look forward to seeing you in class! :)

Pre-order Reminder

As a reminder, pre-orders of loose leaf teas are encouraged in order to streamline the preparation of your custom orders and reduce your wait time, especially if the shop is busy when you arrive. Orders also continue to be shipped nationwide and all (pre)orders can be placed in our online shop pleasuresoftea.com.

• Please place orders at least 24-hours ahead of desired pick up time, if possible, to ensure that it will be seen in the portal and there is enough time to pull it together in time for your arrival.
• Indicating the approximate date and time of pick up in the Comments section in the Cart helps ensure that your order will be ready for you upon arrival. Pick-ups can only be done during shop hours.
• If you plan to browse at the shop or grab a cup of tea, then please do not pay online - select the Pay at pick-up option. You will receive an emailed notification once your order is ready for pick-up.
• DO NOT send orders to my email or leave on voicemail - they will be lost and most likely will not be seen until weeks after you are looking for them.

Thank you for your continued cooperation in helping to serve you in the most efficient and expeditious manner possible! :)

The Tradition of Afternoon Tea

Tea has a reputation of being a “feminine” beverage. When many people think of tea they think of black tea served in fine china teapots and teacups, silverware, fresh flowers, lace or floral-patterned tablecloths. But how did this image arise? After all, tea has been consumed by both men and women in Asia for millennia without any feminine connotation.

It all began with the British tradition of Afternoon Tea. There’s an elegance, sophistication, and culture associated with the ritual of tea. These attributes are at the core of the British Afternoon Tea tradition, along with overtly feminine décor and accoutrements. In the 1840’s, Anna Maria Stanhope, Duchess of Bedford, began the tradition of Afternoon Tea that we are familiar with today. At that time in Britain, there was a long period of time between a very small lunch and a dinner that would usually take place after 8:00 PM. The Duchess decided to drink tea and nibble some small savory snacks around 5:00 in the afternoon to help alleviate the “sinking feeling” that she would get at that time of day. She began inviting friends for her afternoon tea and it quickly became a social event that included a menu of tea, small cakes, sandwiches of bread and butter, and sweets. Other women of the aristocracy began to copy this tradition and Queen Victoria introduced Afternoon Tea receptions at Buckingham Palace in 1865.

The tradition of Afternoon Tea continues to this day and usually takes place in mid-afternoon. It is a formal and social affair held in a beautiful and elegant setting that includes a selection of teas, along with a combination of sweet and savory foods such as tea sandwiches, scones, fresh fruit, small cakes, pastries, fruit curds, double devon cream or clotted cream, and other dainty and creative foods. While this experience is popular year-round, it is even more popular at this time of year as a way to celebrate Mother's Day.

Afternoon Tea is also sometimes referred to as High Tea, but this is a misuse of the term. The terms “High Tea” and “Low Tea” refer to the height of the table that was used during a particular meal in the 19th century. Low Tea was a formal affair where the food was served on low tables that were next to armchairs and sofas. It took place in the afternoon and included tea and a combination of sweet and savory foods. High Tea was the evening meal around 5:30 or 6:00 of workers who had come home after a long, hard day’s work. The family sat together at a kitchen or dining room table, drank tea, and ate a combination of hearty fare such as meat, soup, and sweets. Low Tea was also referred to as “Meat Tea” because meat was served.

You can enjoy the experience out or you can create your own. What's nice is that you can customize your own afternoon tea celebration in any way that you want! Cheers :)

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As a Certified Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN) Practitioner, I help clients get to the root of their health and wellness issues and reclaim the vitality that they very much deserve. I offer fully customized, programs that are unique to each client and that incorporate holistic protocols addressing body, mind, spirit and senses. This is an extension of my work in tea and herbalism for the past fifteen years, but I will now be able to help those of you who need it at a much deeper and personalized level than I can offer in the shop. In addition to the new tools in my toolbox, I will continue to draw from my experience in using tea for health, along with my herbalism training, during the development of the comprehensive protocols that will be specific to the bio-individualized needs of each client. I will educate and empower you to make the choices that are best for YOUR health so that you can be your own health advocate moving forward. I look forward to showing you what I can do to help you achieve your wellness goals and enjoy continued vitality well into the future!

To learn more, please visit https://vitalityholisticwellness.net. If you are ready to make the investment in your wellness, then I would be happy to discuss the potential opportunity with you. You may book a complimentary discovery call directly through the website so I can learn about your issues and you can learn more about how I work and how my approach is different from the conventional medicine and/or alternative approaches that you have already experienced. I also have an email address specific for Vitality Holistic Wellness business and I ask that all inquiries regarding these services be directed to kristine@vitalityholisticwellness.net.

The website also shares My Why - the reasons why I am so passionate about this approach to health and wellness. This is a very personal experience for me and I share my 32-year journey toward finding health and wellness and dealing with autoimmunity and a compromised immune system, among many other issues that you or someone you know may be experiencing. I hear from so many of you about your own chronic wellness issues and I share my story as a way to connect and open the door and show that there is hope…even after 32 years! If you would like to read my health story, please click here. It is long, so make sure you have a big mug of tea :)

I also email out a newsletter with health and wellness tips that do not fit within the scope of this newsletter. If you are interested in receiving the Vitality Newsletter, then feel free to sign up while you're at the website!

New at the Shop

Two brand new teas have arrived! The first is a new black tea from the Hunan Province of China called Zhu Ye Qi, which was introduced in our Black Teas Workshop with much acclaim. Another caffeine-free tisane was also added to our already extensive menu - Vanilla Mint Tisane. Both are available in the shop and should be live in the online shop within a week.

And our summer teas have arrived and are now available! Returning favorites include: Minted Coconut Lime Green Tea, Cherry Pineapple Herbal Tisane, Coconut Lime Herbal Tisane, Coconut Fruit Punch Fruit Tisane, Kiwi Peach Fruit Tisane, and Watermelon Fruit Tisane. All are available in the shop and online shop.

Infuse Tea Bar & The Pleasures of Tea

106 Main Street

West Sayville, NY 11796

www.infuseteabarny.com - shop

www.pleasuresoftea.com - online shop

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500+ Loose Leaf Teas, Herbal Tisanes & Functional/Medicinal Herbs

Certified - Tea Professional, Tea Sommelier & Tea Health Expert

Student of the Art & Science of Herbalism

Certified Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner & Certified Terrain Advocate - Vitality Holistic Wellness