A Little English Book of Teas

Rosa Mashiter

ISBN 10: 0877016224 / ISBN 13: 9780877016229

Published by Chronicle Books Llc, 1989

Seller Inventory # 0877016224-4-35752844

Synopsis:

A brief history of the English tradition of afternoon tea is accompanied by recipes for tea-time sandwiches, scones, biscuits, cakes and buns

Reviews: Crumpets, brown bread ice-cream and Northumberland "Singin' Hinny" are among the morsels proposed for an English tea in this decorous midget of a book (4 5). But recipes, charmingly illustrated, are written with the British cook in mind. Before assaying them, Americans will have to find translations (and, sometimes, substitutions) for such ingredients as muscovado and caster sugars. Mashiter, who owns a restaurant in Cornwall, England, discusses tea only cursorily as a beverage, though her comparison of a typical aristocratic afternoon tea--offering dainty crustless cucumber sandwiches and rich chocolate cake--with a heartier "farmhouse" tea--serving cheese scones and wholemeal fruit cake--is informative. The most interesting recipes, though of questionable appeal to Americans, are for such distinctively British dishes as Porterhouse plum cake (a raisin, nut and fresh grapefruit concoction). Tidbits of English culinary history are included along the way: mashed strawberries and cream, said to be a specialty of the famed Eton school, was known affectionately as "Eton Mess"; "Maids of Honour" almond tartlets apparently were named by Henry VIII after the ladies of his court.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Bibliographic Details

Title: A Little English Book of Teas
Publisher: Chronicle Books Llc
Publication Date: 1989
Binding: hardcover
Illustrator: Milanda Lopez
Condition: Fair