WHATS YOUR SWAP?
Fairtrade Fortnight is 22nd Feb – 7Th March.

For this year's Fairtrade Fortnight Suki Tae are joining Fairtrade by asking the nation to join us in The Big Swap. For two whole weeks we'll be asking you to swap your usual stuff for Fairtrade stuff. Your usual bananas for Fairtrade bananas, your usual cotton socks for Fairtrade cotton socks, and your usual cuppa for a Fairtrade cuppa. This means that every time you go shopping, you can use your wallet to make a stand.

. . . Your usual bananas for Fairtrade bananas, your usual cotton socks for Fairtrade cotton socks, and your usual cuppa for a Fairtrade cuppa. (Congratulations if you have already made the swap) This means that every time you go shopping, you can use your wallet to make a stand. Visit the Fairtrade website, your home of all things swap, a hub for all your swapping needs. It tells you how to get involved, what you can swap and most importantly, how to register them. Because we need lots of swaps made. One million and one in fact. Every swap will be proof that the people of the UK want producers in the developing world to get a fairer deal.

*Buy Fairtrade Organic Green Tea *

*Buy Fairtrade Darjeeling*

*Buy Fairtrade Organic Earl Grey*

*Buy Fairtrade Breakfast Tea**Buy Fairtrade Belfast Brew*

*FAIRTRADE WEBSITE*

SUKI TEA click here to see.

Flowering Tea and teapot sold separately. blossoming hand tied tea with a flower looks amazing and tastes delicious.

I have just returned from a very romantic weekend away with Samantha to Prague.

We had set to visit lots of tea houses as it was almost 5 years ago that Samantha and i along with Annie and a few others were there and that's what we did, well Annie and I did.

The romance bit was getting engaged, almost everyone knows now so I'm okay to put this down officially but that's not the point of this story.

As I had mentioned we had set to visit lots a tea houses but didn't manage as many as i would have liked, we did have other things on our minds.

This place was just down from our hotel, Hotel Neruda, great stay! which was right underneath the castle. (Great views of the city)

Samantha wearing one of our new Sharon Hay Teacup necklace.
Our room in Hotel Neruda. . . . . and a flying cup of tea.
It was that cold in Praha that I had icicles from my chin.
Prague Original Tea house.
They had a fantastic range of tea, it would have been as inspiration to see 5 years ago when we we're researching tea houses in Prague.

Ode to Banksy. 2009. Oscar Woolley

My image of Banksy drinking tea.

Banksy was recently quoted in the Bristol Evening post why he chose the Britol Museum to show his latest work he replied "I could have taken the show to a lot of places, but they do a very nice cup of tea in the museum." The museum sells SUKI TEA.

Earthy Goodness. www.earthy.co.uk

http://www.earthy.co.uk/

I was in Edinburgh for a couple of days the other week and managed to get chatting to Pete Jackson of Earthy. Situated on Ratcliff Terrace just off Minto St (aka, north street/Nicholson st/clerk st). It's a haven of goodness. MAP

Pete showed utter enthusiasm for what him and his business partners Chris, Dirk, and Patricia do, which is source great food from passionate produceers, growers and makers. An environment has been created which food lovers will. . .well, just love. I was with another self confessed food lover, we both had a bite to eat in the cafe area which we both agreed was well above standard. I have been to a few places now that have tried to achieve what Pete and Co have fully accomplished. Can you tell that I liked it! A must visit, and yes. . .they sell all Suki Teas Fairtrade range. Apparently Fairtrade Organic Earl Grey Blue Flower is the most popular choice there.

Belfast Festival embraces tea as theme.

Belfast 'Festival of Fools' entertained everyone last weekend with a some of the worlds best street performers. In between concert going and life drawing (of sorts...see www.drsketchybelfast.co.uk) I managed to get a few photo's of the entertainers.






This image was taken in a maze in front of Belfast City Hall. I have to admit, puts a new meaning on leaf tea eh.






This chap was one part of Banjo Circus. The world's smallest banjo circus. A great show combining acrobatics, lasso, juggling and of course banjo's. For his final act . . . if you can't make out what that guy has on his head it's a teacup. On the end of his stick was a teapot. He managed to fill his teapot with water (Suki Tea may have been a little too hot), pour a cup of mock tea and proceed to balance it on his head. Sounds daft. . . it was, but fantastically funny and actually very impressive.

Afternoon Tea

DESIGNER’S SUKI TEA PARTY

New Irish Designers on the Cat Walk

A Fashion Show-Tea Party exhibiting new, cutting-edge talent from the world of Irish Fashion Design is taking place in the Westbury Hotel, Dublin on May 20th at 7.30pm all proceeds donated to Crumlin’s Childrens Hospital.


Featuring the work of graduates from all of Ireland’s fashion schools, the tea party is a chance to see a cross-section of work, the emerging trends and styles from young designers already making their mark in Ireland’s boutique and fashion industry. All handmade and 100% Irish, fashion-lovers will enjoy original designs, couture, organic and bespoke garments. Between them, they are finalists from Student Fashion Competitions, boutique managers and suppliers, fashion buyers,Stylists and independent designers, whose work is already available in some of Dublin’s coolest Fashion outlets.


Sponsored by Suki Tea, the fashion tea party guests will experience complimentary Suki teas, and scrumptious tea cakes, in an elegant yet quirky tea party environment.
TV3’s Expose will be covering the event. Provincial and national media will also be present. Kip Carroll, well known and celebrated photographer, will also be covering the show.

Britney does tea.

Not the usual tea news but Britney Spears advertising tea is a must for the news. From Pepsi to tea. If we could afford someone to advertise SUKI TEA I think I would choose Bjork. Mainly because I love her quirky look. Who do you think fits the job? email me and let me know. oscar@suki-tea.com

GG Tea is apparently from Japan, though there seems to be a distinct lack of actual information regarding the product. But if it's good enough for Britney Spears, who plugged it in a commercial some time back, then it's good enough for me.Aint pop culture wunnerful. From teaguyspeaks.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Belfast-Flash-Mob/706520403
Join Flashmob for the next event.

This Saturday Samantha and I joined some friends, along with a whole crowd of people I only know through Facebook to Belfasts first FLASHMOB freeze. We congregated at the city hall at 1pm to be briefed and 25 mins later stood frozen for exactly one minute in the centre of Victoria Square. There we're approximately 30 people who showed up but we hope that next time there will be a lot more. Join the group if you want to know where the next one is.
Brilliant fun!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwMj3PJDxuo

Update on what I've been up to. . .

This is one of my sketches from Friday nights brilliant night out. B movie themed scantilly clad women (and men) posing for a very interesting drawing class. The night ended with a DJ. managerie, Belfast. (see website www.suki-tea.com for full story coming soon)

http://www.drsketchybelfast.co.uk/page2.htm

Next Dr Sketchy's Anti Art School 3rd May.

Times Online Suki Tea review.

The Times Online flagged up our excellent tea in a new article on really Good Food in Belfast. Follow the link to read more: TIMES ONLINE

www.goodfoodni.com peoples choice award. Enter your vote (for SUKI TEA) for a chance to win a hamper.

We need your voted today. I think voting will close early next week. VOTE NOW

Vote for Fairtrade Belfast Brew and be in with a chance of winning a beautiful hamper, bursting with tasty local treats!

The winner (hopefully SUKI TEA) will be announced at the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association Award ceremony on 13th March 2009.We hope that you'll support us and get voting for Belfast Brew. Just follow the link to VOTE NOW and click on Belfast Brew. It may take a minute but every vote counts! VOTE NOW

www.primagusto.co.uk

As Fairtrade Fortnight was half way through I took a day to promote awareness in Prima Gusto, Harry's road in Northern Ireland. Prima Gusto recently welcomed Jonny Stevenson to the team. Jonny was the 2008 Masterchef Runner-up and has just been appointed the Head Chefs position! Working together with owner Richard Nelson, Prima Gusto is going from strength to strength and their Fairtrade tea offering SUKI TEA's Belfast Brew is served in teh SUKI TEAPOT and after spending a day there I can safely say that it cartainly is popular.

THE PRIMA GUSTO TEAM

________________________________________________________________
Richard Nelson and Oscar (me)

Enjoying afternoon tea in the Merchant Hotel in Belfast. I had lapsang souchong to compliment the tasty treats. Samantha and indulged on afternoon tea which was surprisingly filling and sitting in the stunning Great Hall we we're in our element. I would definitely recommend it as a treat.
SUKI TEA LAPSANG
Ingredients: 100% smoked Assam leaf tea.
Appearance: Cinder black twisted leaf
Look once infused: Deep amber infusion
Smell once infused: Rich and serenely smokey with cocoa overtones.
Taste: Soft and hugely subtle. Smoked cedar wood, liquorish and cocoa.

Alternative Description: Pipe smoke and Guinness with marmite and liquorish.

TO INFUSE: Use freshly drawn boiled water. Infuse one tea measure per pot and leave for 2-3 minutes.

COMMENDATIONS & CERTIFICATES:
2006 Irish Expo Best New Retail

OSCARS PREDICTIONS

Not so much the Oscars movies award’s, more my personal predictions for what is up and coming in the world of tea. My definitive guide to what is going to be hot (quite literally) in 2009.

MY TOP 5 DRINKS TO LOOK OUT FOR

SUKI TEA London Fog
Not something from the backdrop of Sweeney Todd, but a drink invented to support Fairtrade Fortnight, 23rd Feb – 8th March. It’s made with a strong quarter cup of Earl Grey (preferably Suki Tea Organic Fairtrade Earl Grey Blue Flower), topped with steamed milk. Add vanilla essence or honey to sweeten. This is a ‘Tea Latte’ and is delightfully refreshing.

Theatrical Teas
The drama queen of teas. A chestnut sized bundle made of hand sewn fine white tea. Added to a large glass, small jug or glass teapot, the tea majestically unravels to produce a bouquet of tea leaves, sometimes centred with a flower. A great dinner party piece and above all the tea is very tasty. I have seen these popping up all over the UK in restaurants and I think they will be a big hit this year.

Matcha Latte
The movie star’s choice. This took a slow start last year but I can see its popularity catching on as the health benefits are huge. More on Matcha and health.

Chai Latte
Following the success of the Danny Boyle’s fantastic Slumdog Millionaire I’m positive that Chai will be even more popular in 2009. To get the proper Chai experience forget synthetic syrup’s and opt for the original loose leaf tea and spice blend. Chai is best made with pure milk and honey simmered in a saucepan. A very comforting and refreshing tea.

Loose leaf ‘tea to go’
It was about four years ago that we were approached by Coffee Yard in Holywood (that’s Holywood Co Down, not Los Angeles) and asked if we could supply tea for their opening. They were our first wholesale customer and it is amazing to think how far Suki Tea and the perception of loose leaf tea have come. More and more café’s, deli’s and restaurants are choosing to ditch the dusty teabag and rather opt for quality in the form of loose leaf tea.
Even ‘Tea to Go’, fresh tea for when you’re on the move, has been made simple by the use of the Tea Pocket. These are empty teabags which support using loose leaf tea. Tea Pockets are ideal for café’s and popular if you want to take an individual sachet to work.

LOVE IS IN THE AIR

A little something to help with Valentines day.
FOR HIM. . .(Ginseng wellness green tea, gives a bit of a lift)

*Click here to see*

Hor Her. . .('Apple Loves Mint' papaya, rose buds, apple and mint give a sweet and delicate floral aroma to this tea. Buy roses of a different kind for your loved one)

*click here for more info*

Also, don't forget the giftset still available to buy online. This includes the 'tea of the month'

I Pity The Fool That Don't Drink Tea.

Finally someone has designed a mug that has a bit of class.
My good friend Claire from Tee and Toast hand paints every single one of these.
I had designed a Suki Tea mug and T Shirt for her to print but when I saw what she had come up with I couldn't say no.


Class! We're selling these on the continental market at the City Hall, Belfast.
(finishes 20th DEC)

As art market bottoms out, a painter gives his work away for nothing.

Adam Neate wants to 'put something back' by leaving his paintings in public places for anyone to take home.
If You're in london this friday you could quite literally stumble upon a free piece of art worth anything up to £43k.
MORE INFO. . .

Belfast Continental Market. City hall.

Starts 18th Nov. Suki tea will be there again this year. This year we went to town on the tea lovers gift packs. Also available online www.Suki-tea.com from 15th Nov.

Norpel in our tasting room yesterday.

An ex Buddhist monk and fellow tea lover, Norpel is off to china in the next couple of weeks to spend about 6 months living with the tea growers and pickers in the Yunnan province. He's been kind enough to offer to make up some Pu Erh Suki tea cakes using wild picked tea. They're blocks of compressed tea. Not available until next year but I tried this years yesterday and they are a delight that's worth the wait.