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Information to help you grow….. any age!
Beauty through the window
Queen Jo
Prince Stephen
carmenonthebeach
buttercreamduchess
CHINA FROM CHINA……..
Popular American Girls, Felicity and Elizabeth, were well-schooled young girls growing up just before the American Revolution. It is certain that the tea set used during their lessons on serving tea would be made of fine porcelain from China!
To own a “genuine” China tea set or dinnerware during Colonial times in America meant you were among the privileged wealthy. Iconic early American’s like George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson coveted their Chinese treasures. George Washington had a particular fancy for blue and white porcelain.
The Chinese invented porcelain probably during the Tang dynasty (618 – 907AD). They refined the technique of making stoneware to create a recipe that combined the right ingredients and fired these items at extremely high temperatures to create what is the hardest ceramic product call porcelain.
The Chinese manufactured the world’s finest porcelain. Examples of Chinese porcelain produced during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing dynasties (1644-1912) are considered priceless works of art.
Unlike the “secret recipe” for creating Coca-Cola – the secret of making porcelain spread to Korea in the 1100’s and Japan in the 1500’s. However, it was Chinese porcelain that began making its way to European counties. It was so rare and expensive – only the wealthiest coveted it.
As trade from the Orient became more frequent during the 1600’s, porcelain became more affordable and popular. Although – still quite expensive. Huge demand for porcelain tea cups and saucers caused European manufacturers to try to uncover the secret “recipe”.
It wasn’t until the later 1700’s that factories outside China were successful in creating quality porcelain-ware.
Nonetheless – the words “Fine China” became the phrase which meant “quality porcelain-ware”.
We are proud – at The Queen’s Treasures to offer outstanding examples of “Fine China” tea sets for adults, children and dolls (like American Girl Doll’s Felicity and Elizabeth) made by high quality factories in China – at prices you can afford. We also wish to assure our clientele that our products are independently tested by a U.S. Department of Consumer Safety certified laboratory to insure they meet CPSA and FDA standards.
Shop with confidence! http://www.thequeenstreasures.com
Hi Queen Jo,
I am also a Queen Jo who has a six year old granddaughter that is a proud owner of Elizabeth, the American Girl Doll. Of course I keep them both well dressed and provide many activities for the two of them. I look forward to hearing more from you with wonderful ideas to share with my granddaughter.
Thank you
History of the Easter Bunny:
The Easter Bunny is not a modern invention. The symbol originated from the goddess Eastre, who’s earthly symbol was a rabbit. The rabbit served as a symbol of the new life during the spring season.
The Germans brought the symbol of the Easter rabbit to America. The bunny as an Easter symbol seems to have it’s orgins in Germany, where it was first mentioned in German writings in the 1500s. The first edible easter bunnies were made in Germany during the early 1800s. The first bunnies were not made of chocolate; they were made of pastry and sugar.
Easter by itself was not widely celebrated in America until after the civil war. The arrival of the “”Oschter Haws” was considered “childhood’s greatest pleasure” next to a visit from Christ-Kindel on Christmas Eve. The children believed that if they were good the “Oschter Haws” would lay a nest of colored eggs.
Early American children built nest of leaves and sticks in their gardens for the Easter Hare to fill with colored eggs. The use of elaborate Easter baskets would come later as the tradition of the Easter Bunny spread
By the 19th century in America, the Easter Hare had become the Easter Bunny delighting children with baskets of eggs, chocolate, candy chicks, jelly beans and other gifts on Easter Morning.
From the earliest times, the egg was a symbol of rebirth in most cultures. Eggs were often wrapped in gold leaf or, if you were a peasant, colored brightly by boling them with the leaves or petals of certain flowers.
Originally, Easter eggs were painted with bright colors to represent the sunlight of spring and were used in Easter-eggrolling contests or given as gifts. After they were colored and etched with various designs the eggs were exchanged by lovers and romantic admitres, much the same as valentines.
Types of Teas:
All Tea comes from the Camellia Sinensis. The difference between the over three thousand types of tea results from vartation in the processing of the leaves after they are harvested. Tea is an evergreen shrub which grows in tropical or sub-tropical climates. In the wild, it may grow as tall as 60 feet or taller. When cultivated for harvest, the tea bush is continually pruned to about three feet. There are essentially four different methods of manufacturing tea..
Black ( or Red Tea)
These teas are fully fermented or oxidized. Darjeeling, Assam and Ceylon are included in this variety. The longer the leaves are fermented, the darker they become, this explains why black tea is darker than oolong, and oolong is darker than green tea. For black tea the steeping times really differ with preference. If you want to drink the tea on it’s own ( without milk) 3 minutes is ideal but if you want to build the strong tannic flavours you may want to leave it longer.
Oolong
Partially fermented tea. A cross between black and green. They are mainly produced in Taiwan and the Fuchien and Chianghsi provinces of China. In China Oolong is drunk from tiny cups and each sip is savoured. It is brewed in the same way as green tea but the best results are achieved by making it in small quantities with a high leaf to water ratio. The number of infusions depends on your own taste but Oolong is often re-infused over six times revealing different subtleties of flavor each time.
Green
These leaves are light green and are not fermented. The supposed benefits of Green tea include a loner life and recent studies have associated this tea with anti-carcinogens. There are two types of green tea, Steamed and Kiln-roasted. Steaming tea takes out its bitter taste. Green teas should be brewed for a shorter time- about 3 minutes for the first brew. If you are going to make iced tea or to sweeten the green tea with sugar you may want to let it steep longer to bring out the more robust tannic flavours.
White Tea
A rare tea found in China. These special leaves are not fermented, and the amber leaves stand up on end when served. White is the purest and most delicate of all teas. It needs longer brewing time than other teas. Allow the tips to steep for 4-6 minutes. For a subsequent brewing less time is needed to steep the tea because the water will have already penetrated the tips, allowing the flavour to be relaeased. It can be brewed many times without becoming bitter.