“Twenty members and new guests met for our event for Mother’s Day at the Purple Cane Tea Art Center, for a tea presentation and lunch. This was a new venue forour Association. Looking around the room at least ten different countries were represented!Mrs Sook Yee Wong from Purple Cane talked us through the making and serving of two completely different types of tea, which was done by two very skilful and elegant colleagues. She explained the various cups dishes and utensils used as well as the boiling temperatures for the water, which depended on the type of tea being prepared. she told us how the type of bubbles cats eyes or fish eyes indicated the temperature!It was emphasised that the tea leaf could be damaged if the water was too hot and the taste affected if not the correct temperature. Standing time was also crucial.

Although this was a more modern tea tea making procedure, it was still calm and slow and elegant. It was stressed how important it was how the teapot dishes cups and bowls were held and offered and how the person making the tea should sit.

It made you realise that by doing everything so quickly and taking short cuts in our food preparation and consumption detracts from our full appreciation of what we eat and drink.

IWAKL President Natalia made a short introduction to welcome everyone and told us a little about the history of the Mothers Day started in the USA by Anna Jarvis, although depending on the country and the culture and religion the day and the celebration could vary.

We were very nicely served a selection of vegetarian dishes all cooked with a tea:
Sauteed egg plants with tea; Braise Beancurd and golden Pumpkin in tea sauce; Sauteed vegetarian prawn with lychee black tea, etc.
As each dish was tasted, we all quickly agreed that the food was delicious and a welcome opportunity to appreciate vegetarian food.
Many of us have decided to return to try out more of the menu and browse around the amazing selection of teas and teaware. Disappointingly for some, a few furniture items and bowls proved to be ‘display only’

We were seated in small tables of 4 so we could easily chat to new and old friends and soon there was quite a buzz from our corner of the restaurant.

There was a short tea quiz with prizes of small boxes of tea, for the most difficult questions correctly answered. We have posted the quiz below for anyone else to try. ”

Which tea is referred to as the Champagne Tea?
What is Teh Tarik?
Which is the odd one out:

Why is Emperor Shen Nun famous?
Which has more caffeine – Tea or Coffee?
What is tasseography?
What is the name of the famous Tea Party in 1773 in America?
In the story Alice in Wonderland Alice was a guest at whose tea party?
What does a “storm in a tea cup” mean?
What is the botanical name for tea:

What did Thomas Sullivan from New York accidentally invent in 1908?
What tea is known as Popcorn Tea in Japan?

List the top 5 tea producing countries?
What is a Samovar?
A Buddhist monk is said to have introduced tea to which country?
Which country is famous for Butter Tea?
Which British Prime Minister has a tea named after him/her?
A “Tea Clipper” was a fast sailing ship used in the tea trade. The Cutty Shark in London is a famous example. When she left Shanghai on her first trip to London she carried 1450 tons of tea. She left Shanghai on 25 June – when did she reach London?

Why was a tea brick a prized possession?
Which country consumes most tea (per capita)?