Holiday Treat w/Cider and....

You have all heard me rave, often, about the loose leaf teas from Tea Queens, and I am known to get very excited about Seasonal Teas!  Lately I have been enjoying "Holiday Treat", which is a blend of selected black tea, apple pieces, cinnamon bits, coriander, flavoring, cardamom pods, orange slices, pink peppercorns, and cloves... and I absolutely love it. I will be stocking up on this blend! 

Yesterday my son was home from school, so we tucked in and enjoyed a hot cup or two of this tasty tea while watching the snow quietly fall outside the window, cats curled up beside the woodstove as the Maine Winter officially began. 

Today, following a romp through the woods with the cats and a few attempts of sliding down hills on old wooden sleds, I steeped a special cup in hot apple cider* from North Star Orchards in Madison just for me, added a jigger of Organic Bourbon Whiskey from Split Rock Distilling Company in Newcastle, and a tea spoon of maple syrup from my own trees here in Freedom.

Holiday Treat Tea?  Indeed, I hereby mark today the holiday called  "Day After Snow Day in Maine"

*Tea can be hot or cold steeped in apple cider, cranberry juice, wine, grain alcohols... the choices can be endless! Ask me for suggestions

Have Tea, Will Travel

Getting ready to share some of my favorite autumnal Tea Queen flavors... equipped with my very own rose crown, designed and cross stitched by MJ at EmJSee/Wee Willow! Excited to be doing some tea tastings, tea classes, and generally sharing tea! (it's my favorite thing to do)

Kitty Cup

How cute would it be to see this little kitty reveled at the bottom of your cup as you drink your tea?  Or a bunny, or frog. octopus??  There are many choices at Creature Cups! 








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Garden Club Federation of Maine Conference

So proud to be returning to the Garden Club Federation of Maine's Fall Conference at the Augusta Civic Center again this year! [October 29th]

It is an honor to be a part of this occasion, and a personal member of the Bloomfield Garden Club. 

The Garden Club Federation of Maine mission is "to protect and conserve the natural resources of the planet earth and promote education so we may become caretakers of our air, water, forests, land and wildlife".

Visit them at: http://mainegardenclubs.org

Autumn Tea

September in Maine: Cooler weather, warm tea, richer flavors... it's my favorite time of year for tea!

Spiced tea is good in any season (think chai!) but let's face it, when the cooler winds blow, the leaves start to fall, frost on the pumpkin, we wrap ourselves in our favorite sweaters and settle down with cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and allspice in our cups. These spices are comforting.

Have comfort.   

- Dawnella Sutton, Tea Queen

Audrey II Tea

Strange and interesting indeed! This tea was specially blended in honor of Little Shop of Horrors at Lakewood Theater, the Sugar Tree Cafe presents "Audrey II Tea"! A little flowery, a little bitter, and definitely green... contains hibiscus flowers, rosehips, lemongrass, orange peel, spearmint leaf, rose petals, and stevia leaf.

The very entertaining musical, "Little Shop of Horrors" will be performed on  June 21st - 23rd at 8pm, 24th at 4pm, 27th at 2pm &7pm, 28th - 30th at 8pm.   For tickets and more information, call 474-7176 or visit http://www.lakewoodtheater.org

Audrey II Tea will be available for purchase at Bigelow Brewing Company's Cheese, Brews, and Bread event on Sunday, June 24th, from noon-4 pm. Show your Lakewood Theater ticket from either Incorruptible or Little Shop of Horrors, and receive 20% off all teas purchased at the booth that day!

Monk's Blend Tea

I simply could not wait to share this tea... in honor of Lakewood Theater's second production of the year, Incorruptible, it's Monk's Blend!

This is a traditional richly flavored black tea, with calendula & sunflower petals, vanilla, and pomegranate. It is wonderful hot or cold, and either way can be accented by a splash of brandy. (the monks would approve)

Incorruptible, a farce by Micheal Hollinger, opens on June 7th, and runs through June 16th (with three matinees).  You can purchase tickets to see Incorruptible or any of the other productions this season at Lakewood Theater by calling  474-7176  or you may place your order online through the following link  http://www.lakewoodtheater.org/theater/Tickets 

Berry Sangria Tea for Lakewood Theater

The Sugar Tree is blending some teas for the Lakewood Theater's 2018 Season! Women in Jeopardy* opens May 24th, with  Berry Sangria!

Elderberries, raisins, hibiscus, and orange peel make this sweet and sassy too!

A selection of wine is available at the Shanty, though I recommend Merlot to bring out the richness of the fruit, or Pino Grigio for a lighter sweetness, and either is ready for sipping within the first act... but the longer you let it steep, the deeper the taste.  If you aren't interested in doing a true Sangria, you can grab a ginger ale and a cup from The Shanty to steep in and you've got a fresh sparkling treat!  Or, a traditional hot cup will fill you with a feeling like summer sunshine! 

Taking your tea home or giving as a gift? The suggestions above work just as well, in addition to steeped and served cold as a wonderful alternative to sugary drinks; or you may wish to experiment making "tipsy tea" by infusing a glass of vodka, or gin, or other favorite spirit. Using nothing but 100% fruit and flower in this blend, you can even grind it up dry and use it to add flavor to your pancake batter, or wet after steeping you can eat the fruit straight or add it to a batch of muffins for breakfast - as I say in some of my Sugar Tree classes, "tea isn't just for hot water."

*You can purchase tickets to see 'Women in Jeopardy' or any of the other productions this season at Lakewood Theater by calling  474-7176  or you may place your order online through  http://www.lakewoodtheater.org/theater/Tickets 

Cheese, Brews & Bread

The Sugar Tree will be having a booth at this festival!

When: June 24, 2018

Where: Bigelow Brewing Company

Time: 12p.m. to 4 p.m. 

Tickets: $12 in advance, $15 at the door

Come enjoy an afternoon filled with samples from some of Maine's local cheesemakers, bread makers, and one of Skowhegan's local breweries, Bigelow Brewing Company. Demonstrations of bread making will be going on throughout the day as well as special cheese, wine, and beer pairings! Cheese, bread, and beer will all be available for purchase. This is a great opportunity to learn more about how your local cheese and bread are made. 

​

All proceeds of the event benefit projects of the Somerset County Rural Cultural Plan, the strategic cultural plan of Wesserunsett Arts Council.

Free Shipping!

Special Offer: Free Shipping on all orders in the United States... now through the end of June!  Please visit the main Tea Queens web site, and let me know what you would care to purchase. 

Bottled Up Designs

While looking around on the internet, I happened upon this beautiful jewelry. Bottled Up Designs is handmade from antique glass & bottles reclaimed from wooded habitats and farmlands in the Pennsylvania Amish Country. 











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My favorite Bloody Mary Mix, Ass over Teakettle - ATK Bloody Mary Mix - has a new website with online ordering now available!!! Find your Bloody Mary mixers, BBQ sauce, ketchup, and more. https://www.assoverteakettle.net/

Stone Soup Kit

Happy to have McKay Farms in Thorndike stock some of the Potting Shed Creations' Organic Stone Soup Kits!   Inspired by the familiar story with the simple message about sharing, this vegetable garden kit is a great way for a child to create a fun-filled garden of their very own. Quick to germinate and easy to grow, the vegetables in this kit come in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes that kids are sure to enjoy. Includes: 5 varieties of organic seed (red acre cabbage, little fingers carrot, bunching onion, roma tomato, blue lake pole bean), recycled US steel case and seed tins, garden stakes, pencil, magic stone in jute bag, 'stone soup' recipe, directions.

Baked by Melissa

Mini cupcakes and macaroons, including a selection of gluten free ones, Baked by Melissa. Perfect with tea. I promise you'll get a chance to sample some at Sugar Tree tea tastings in the future.

You can have them delivered, by mail, anywhere. You should try these baked goodies! In fact, you can save 10% on orders of $60 or more with code CUPCAKELOVER20 at Baked by Melissa


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Tea Queens

I was nearly speechless when I found Queen Mary Teas.  Mary C. Greengo has owned and operated a beautiful tea room in Seattle Washington for nearly 30 years. She understands tea, and it's meaning. And I am so proud to share these teas and products specially selected by Mary. Just like any other tea I offer, these are wonderful for tea tastings and other gatherings! I'm happy to come brew a pot or cup for you! Please visit the main site, and if you choose to order online, kindly select me as your consultant.   - Dawnrella Sutton       https://teaqueens.com

Ask to join my personal facebook group  "Tea Queen Dawnella" https://www.facebook.com/groups/831045993772913/

Audrey II (mini)

It's a plant, but not on the menu... it's actually more likely that we are all on it's list for suppertime! I'm getting in the spirit for Lakewood Theater's 2018 Season with one particular musical in mind, but plan to see all the productions again this year!
http://www.lakewoodtheater.org/theater/full-schedule

Perfect Tea

Here is a simple chart with steeping times, recommended water temps... and a few other great tips! 

Victorian gift

Simply think these old fashioned little hurdy-gurdies from Victorian Trading Company are very adorable. Perhaps to be given as small romantic tokens of love, no matter what the time of year.... but yes, Valentines Day is indeed coming....














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