Valentines or Galentines? ​ ​ What is Galentine’s? Galentine’s is the day when we celebrate the close friends in our life, who add so much. It is officially celebrated on February 13th, however I think it can be celebrated anytime during the month of February. I must admit that I would be lost without my friends. They inspire me, lift my spirits when I am down and always make me smile.  Our friends are the family we choose for ourselves. ​ ​ Wanting to host a Galentine’s or Valentine’s Tea? It can seem overwhelming when wanting to entertain friends. Not sure how to go about it? My top tips: 1.     Decide on how many people you wish to invite. Even numbers are best. You can invite just one person if you want. 2.     Pick a date, plan on a two hour time frame. 3.     Decide on food and tea. I like to serve 2 types of tea at the minimum, a black tea and a tea with minimal or no caffeine. I like to use teas that speak to the mood of Valentine’s Day. Chocolate and rose flavors work well. My tea suggestions for Galentines or Valentines are: ​Rose’s Cherry Cloche – A green tea with cherry and rose flavors. This tea has been featured numerous times in Tea Time Magazine. The rose essence lifts the mood. Green tea helps increase the metabolism, brain function and may reduce blood sugar levels. Plus, it the taste is delicious. ​ ​ ​Chocolate Mint is our newest tea and only one with chocolate. We all know that chocolate increases good feelings and mint helps with digestion, mood and energy levels. Plus, this chocolate treat is calorie free! Coco’s Minty Percher ​ ​ When it comes to the food, please don’t feel you don’t have to make everything.  People often drive themselves crazy trying to do it all . You can buy scones and sweets at a local bakery. I made the plant based scones at the top from my special recipe that I came up with in 2020. The ingredients include pecans, white chocolate and strawberries. I used a heart shaped cookie cutter to make a few scones in the shape of a heart. ​ If you would like the recipe, let me know and l will send to you. The plate is Spode Camellia, a family piece. ​   ​ Here is another cute idea…strawberry tea sandwiches. Only 3 ingredients and so pretty! These are from My Casual Party Hope these ideas inspire you. Valentines is always a fun time to celebrate as a party in February lifts the spirits. This January has been especially gray in Kentucky, so I will do whatever I can to lift the mood here. Lots of love, Polly Unsubscribe | Update your profile | 115 Kelly Avenue, Georgetown , KY 40324

Looking to host a Downton Abbey themed tea?

While seeming overwhelming, it need not be difficult.  Here are a few tips for hosting a Downton themed tea or really any tea for that matter.

As the Hostess, you will need to:

*Select a date that works best for your guests.  I prefer weekend afternoons as that seems to work best. As the Dowager Countess says, “What is a weekend?”

*Decide whether or not you will provide everything or ask guests to bring items.  My tea group has potluck teas and that is rather nice.  It takes the burden off the host as there is much involved in hosting a tea and it lets the guests take a part in the tea.

*Provide the tea.  I suggest a full bodied black tea such as Earl Grey, English Breakfast or Assam.

*Decorate – this is the fun part!

*Provide the serving ware, dishes, cutlery, napkins and of course, a pretty table cloth. I really like to use blue dishes as the food seems to photograph well.

*As hostess, you will make the decision as to whether or not you want to have a three tiered server or have guests serve themselves (like the Crawley’s did in their library).  If you have many food items, it can be easier to make it pot luck.  If you have 4 or fewer guests, I would suggest a three tiered server in the middle of the table.

Decorating the table

I like to use tea themed centerpieces.  In the past, I have taken a teapot or tea cup to a local florist and had them create the arrangement.  As the Dowager Countess said to Isobel Crawley said in one episode, “These things are best left to the professionals.”

One of the big lessons that I have learned as a hostess is that you can’t do everything.  Concentrate on what you do well and contract out the rest.

This last tea pot is very old.  It is one of my favorites.  Probably Staffordshire.

CURIOUS WHAT FOODS TO SERVE?

I highly recommend going to the source and using recipes from the Downton Abbey Afternoon Tea Cookbook.  It can be daunting figuring out what to serve.  The cookbook is very nice, beautifully illustrated and gives a bit of history as well.

If your guests are pitching in, perhaps give them a recipe to try.

MY TOP TIP

Serve the scones first if you are able to.   Room temperature scones are okay, but warm scones are heavenly!  I was taught that the tea sandwiches come first, but if the food is served in that order, the scones will be cold.  Make sure to have plenty of clotted cream and jam on hand.  Note that scones can be frozen and then thawed.  I have found that extremely helpful when hosting an afternoon tea.

SCONE ETIQUETTE

Before I become a certified etiquette instructor in the Art of Afternoon Tea, I had no idea that there was such a thing as scone etiquette!  Decorum states that the scone should be broken in half, not cut or sawed in half.  Scones are all made different and some will just not break in half, especially the triangle shaped ones.    I know I don’t have to say this, but avoid making a scone burger.  The scone is supposed to be eaten slowly.

Scones are really fun to make as there are endless combinations.  My personal favorite is my lemon lavender scones, which are also plant based.

Shown here are strawberry, white chocolate and pecan scones that I made once for Valentine’s Day.

PHOTOS

In my opinion, it is important to take photos of the tea table and each other before you are seated. Before you post any photos on social media, make sure that everyone is fine with their photo being shared.  Please do not post any unflattering photos.   After that, you may put your phone away and enjoy the conversation.

CONVERSATION

The most important aspect of afternoon tea is relaxing and catching up with friends.  If you can, avoid politics, gossip or any other topic that can be upsetting.  I like to pick a topic and then go around the table.  Some suitable tea time topics are:

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

What is your new favorite book?

What is your favorite movie?

If you could have tea with anyone living or deceased, who would you pick?

I find I learn things about my guests that I would have never learned before.

Of course, tea with the Dowager Countess often involved her trying to find out information or influence others in her family.  I love this photo of her looking wistfully at Downton.

WHEN IN NEED OF HELP, FIND YOUR OWN CARSON

The only down side of hosting a tea is the constant filling of the tea cups as the tea cups are small.  When I hosted my first teas, I was constantly up and down, making sure my guests tea cups were full.

One option is to have the tea pot at the table and pour directly.  If you are having more than 4 guests, as the hostess you will be getting up and down often.  A solution is to employ your own Carson.  Another option is to ask a family member for help in serving.

As I had no one in my family to help, I hired my own Carson.  It was a relatively small expense and one well worth it.  Calling on the expertise of a man who used to work in a high end tea room was invaluable to the enjoyment of the afternoon for me.  Not only did he brew the tea, but he poured the tea and then cleaned up the entire kitchen!

In my next post, I will address what to wear to a Downton themed tea.  As the series spans 1912 to 1926, this includes both the Edwardian and Flapper periods.  I lean towards Edwardian as I think that style looks best on me, but there are plenty of options.

The Sacred Heart Fundraiser Tea

I recently had the immense honor of being the keynote speaker at the 17th Annual Sacred Heart Fundraiser Tea, also known as the Patty Blanton tea.

The event, held in Appling, Georgia, was the quintessential experience of Southern hospitality. It was an utterly enchanting afternoon.

Word of the Sacred Heart Fundraiser Tea has grown and flourished over the years, gaining legendary status as the premier annual tea event in the region.

 

With only 80 coveted tickets available, it sells out within days of going on sale.

 

Sacred Heart keeps a wait list and, as usual, this year’s wait list was long with ladies hoping to get the good news that a ticket had become available for them.

 

I was well aware of this illustrious event having read about it in Tea Time Magazine, long before I had developed my own tea line or had even become a certified Afternoon Tea Etiquette trainer.

 

Being invited to speak at this tea event, which is such a cherished tradition, was a dream come true.

From the horsehead and horseshoe shaped tea sandwiches to the mini-Kentucky Derby pies, it was apparent at every turn just how much Patty had poured her dedication into every detail of this spectacular day.

Every year, Patty and her friends personally prepare all the food, offering a unique and delicious afternoon tea menu.

 

Thoughtful detailing extended to the table settings, where each table of four was set with its own special China pattern, adding yet another touch of southern elegance.

Every year guests are gifted with personalized hand painted gift bags. This year the bags contained Patty’s homemade jam, her signature goat’s milk soap, a hand-painted (by Patty) vase, and a hand-painted print of the menu. I was so honored to have Patty include a tin of my Cherry Rose Green Tea in the fabulous gift bags this year.

All the beautiful tables and heavenly tea-fare and all of the ladies in summer dresses and hats were set against the backdrop of Patty’s enchanting garden.

Patty’s garden is spectacular- adorned with fountains, a koi pond, and a breathtaking variety of maple trees and plant life. The ambiance created in this gorgeous natural setting elevated everything all the more. It was absolutely stunning!

I am pictured here with Millie Huff, Executive Director of the Sacred Heart Cultural Center.  My friends and I toured the facility.  What a beautiful building!

This historic building, once a Catholic church on the brink of ruin, was rescued by a family from Augusta and transformed into a thriving arts center for the community.

I was accompanied by my dear friends, Caroline and Ida, who are always ready for tea adventures. For all of us, this was such a fun opportunity to meet and connect with new people.

I designed Caroline’s pink and blue fascinator to go with her dress.

As I’ve long believed, tea has an extraordinary power to bring people together in the most wonderful ways, and this tea was no exception.

 

In chatting with everyone, I got a surprise when I discovered that one of the guests had attended the same high school as my husband—a great reminder of the small world we live in.

 

When I left, I took with me wonderful memories of the day and a hope to attend next year’s Sacred Heart Fundraiser Tea.

 

My deepest and most heartfelt thanks to Patty for inviting me to speak at her beyond fabulous event and for allowing me the joyful experience of this spectacular day.

 

Learn more about how you can support The Sacred Hearts Cultural Center here

Celebrating Elegance and Joy: The 3rd Annual Hat Tea at Fasig-Tipton, Lexington KY

Welcome to the recap of the highly anticipated and enchanting 3rd Annual Hat Tea, held in April at Fasig-Tipton in Lexington, KY.

I hosted this fabulous day, as always, in collaboration with Holly Hill Events and Chef Ouita Michel.

Once again, this hat tea proved to be an extraordinary celebration of fashion, culinary delights, and connection!

When the doors opened at 11:00 a.m., over 100 guests began to arrive, each greeted with a refreshing cocktail or mocktail as the rich sounds of cello and violin drifted through the air, courtesy of a very talented stringed instrument duo.

The ambiance was immediately set as attendees perused the pop-up hat shop, featuring my 2023 Spring hat line, The Rainbow Queen Collection.

For this collection, I drew inspiration from the late Queen Elizabeth II and her vibrant sense of style.

The hats displayed a kaleidoscope of colors, and I was honored and grateful to receive such a positive response to my new designs.

For this distinguished afternoon tea, and in honor of the Queen, I had specially dyed rainbow flowers made for my hat and they turned out beautifully!

In true Holly Hill Events fashion, every detail was meticulously planned and executed. The tables were dressed in striking rainbow-hued tablecloths, creating a stunning visual tapestry.

The attention to detail extended on to the plates themselves, which were adorned with flowers, handpicked from the property, adding a touch of natural beauty to the culinary artistry that Chef Ouita and her team put together.

Promptly at noon, guests were invited to take their seats and embark on a delectable journey of afternoon tea service, expertly crafted by Chef Ouita Michel and her culinary team.

Chef Ouita’s skillful presentation and culinary prowess brought forth a 5-course afternoon tea that was utterly heavenly and a truly satisfying dining experience.

Tea Sandwiches

Chicken salad gougere

Smoked salmon, cucumber & Benedictine

Kentucky silver dollar hoe cakes with mascarpone and cranberry pepper jelly

Dressed egg salad with shaved radish and caviar

Soup

Asparagus Bisque with creme fraiche, asparagus tips, chive and buttered croutons

Salad

Local spring lettuces, macerated strawberries, Capriole goat cheese, sugared pecans and sorghum vinaigrette

Scones

Mini Betty Ann Scones

Mini Cinnamon Scones

Whipped Sorghum Butter, Blackberry Jam, Apple Butter

Sweets

Chocolate Eclair

Orange & Fennel Shortbread Cookies

Pavlova with Lemon Curd & Blueberries

Hummingbird tea cake with cream cheese icing

Each of these fabulous courses were paired with teas from my Polly Singer Loose Leaf, Artisan Tea collection.

As the Sweets course was beginning, I welcomed my special guest, Suzanne Smith (@crazyblondelifeblog), a North Carolina lifestyle blogger who traveled to Lexington to join us for this very special event.

Suzanne and I sat down together, engaging in a conversation that explored the joys and challenges of middle life, sharing our experiences in starting our businesses later in life, cultivating gratitude practices, and embracing a positive mindset- the idea being to inspire resonance with guests and create an atmosphere of camaraderie and personal empowerment.

As the tea service came to a close, it really felt like something special had just taken place.

My sincere gratitude to Suzanne Smith for coming to Kentucky and helping to bring something extra special to this year’s hat tea.

To Ouita, Teresa, Donna, and the entire Holly Hill Events team- thank you, thank you for your exceptional efforts in bringing this magnificent event to life.

And last, but certainly not least, my gratitude and appreciation to my guests who earmarked a spring Saturday to spend with me and then came dressed in vibrant attire and exquisite hats, contributing to the already festive atmosphere.

The culmination of passion, creativity, and collaboration made this day an extraordinary celebration of elegance, joy, and friendship.

If you missed this year’s Hat Tea, please know that I am already looking ahead to next year!

My mind is always turning as I think of new ways to make this annual Hat Tea a continued unforgettable and cherished tradition.

I hope to see you next year!

In April, I partnered with renowned Holly Hill Inn chef, Quita Michel to host my 2^nd annual Hat Tea event at Fasig-Tipton in Lexington.  We put on a Kentucky Derby hat fashion show and lovely afternoon tea.

This special event was the launching point for my Savannah Spring Hat collection as well my new artisan tea collection, featuring five hand-blended, loose leaf teas.

At the Hat Tea, guests were treated to a shopping experience where they were encouraged to have fun experimenting with all of the elegant and spirited hats in my new collection! 

With so many upcoming Spring events on the calendar, it was a great joy to help ladies find their own personal best look.

We had a tea-tasting station where guests could sample all the hand-blended teas in my new collection. As a native Kentuckian, I’m proud to have partnered with the world-famous Elmwood Inn, located right here in Kentucky, to create this delicious line of artisan teas.

We are all treated to a classic afternoon tea menu, designed, created and thoughtfully presented by Quita Michel and it did not disappoint!

 

 

Pimm’s Cups and Peach Bellini’s were available and the mixologists at Fasig-Tipton also created a wonderful mocktail with my Belle’s Butterfly Fascinator tea, lemonade and honey- delicious and so refreshing!

If you think an afternoon tea is not a substantial source of sustenance…think again!

As a certified Afternoon Tea Etiquette trainer, it was my pleasure to present a talk on Tea Etiquette for my guests.

 

I talked about tea fashion, host gifts and included a presentation with model, Katherine Barr on how to best pair a hat with an outfit that has a print, which is sometimes a challenging endeavor!

 

During Tea Service models weaved their way through the elegantly appointed dining tables, showcasing different hats to inspire ideas and fashion possibilities for everyone… 

Michaela and the entire Holly Hill Inn / Fasig-Tipton staff exceeded expectations, bringing this already elevated experience to the next level with their service and attention to detail.

It was a successful and absolutely splendid afternoon.

I want to thank everyone who joined me for this beautiful day of elegant hats and gorgeous teas and, still much needed, in-person connection.

It was a joy and I plan to continue this annual Hat Tea tradition every April!

In the meantime… wear your hats with confidence and enjoy a meaningful break from stress with a daily cup of tea in the afternoon!

Lots of love,

Polly

 

Spring is afoot and there is so much that I’m excited to talk about!

This special time of year is literally and symbolically the season of birth and new beginnings and this spring is no exception as I announce the launch of the Polly Singer Couture Tea collection.

This is a small batch line of hand-blended, loose, artisan teas, made from the finest ingredients and crafted here in Kentucky, my home and the place I love.

I am honored to have partnered with the internationally known Elmwood Inn to design this gorgeous collection. The Elmwood Inn is steeped in tea history, owned by world renowned Master Blender and Tea Master to the Boston Tea party Ships and Museum, Bruce Richardson.  I worked closely with Elmwood Inn to conceptualize, design and bring this collection to life and I couldn’t be more pleased with the results.

Teas and hats are, to me, natural partners. In fact, I’ve given five distinctive blends in this collection, whimsical, yet elegant, names inspired by the hats I love to make.

And without further ado, allow me to introduce my five special and distinctive artisan tea blends…

Audrey’s French Beret with notes of natural vanilla and citrus, featuring oil of bergamot, and blue
cornflower petals, this alluring tea will help you channel your inner Audrey…

Belle’s Butterfly Fascinator, an herbal, caffeine-free blend that features currants, rosehips, hibiscus, nettles, and jasmine with characteristics of anise, fennel and licorice giving it a lingering, sweet finish.

Earl Grey’s Top Hat , an exquisite blend of a classic tea, this is the one that I begin each day with. This loose tea features premium hand-picked Sri Lanka black tea leaves, blue cornflower petals, oil of bergamot and other organic natural flavors.

Jane’s Blueberry Bonnet Tea, an herbal, caffeine-free premium tea, with its fragrant, dried fruit blend of blueberries, apples, hibiscus, cornflower petals, raisins, currants, and elderberries, it is both delectable to the palate and healthful to the body!

Rose’s Cherry Cloche– this luxurious, romantic green Sencha tea from China has the aroma of an orchard in Springtime, highlighting Red Rose Petals and Natural Cherry Flavor Oils.

Throughout my life, I’ve always had a passion for tea and all of the accoutrements and associated elegance that goes along with serving it and sipping it. I have warm memories of my mother offering me a nice cup of tea at home and tea has often been a part of the many creative hours I’ve spent designing my hats. Tea is a part of my daily life. Over time I became more and more interested in luxury teas, the history of tea drinking and practices developed around tea drinking.

During the Pandemic, a mentally challenging time for everyone, a friend of mine introduced me to the concept of Mindfulness Tea, a stress relieving daily practice that involves turning off devices and pausing to enjoy a quiet, undistracted cup of tea. It was out of this Mindfulness Tea practice that I developed my, Tea with Polly online workshop series that some of you may remember.

My Tea with Polly workshops had heart-centered themes, such as Gratitude and Self-love. Taking place during the height of the Pandemic, these online gatherings were a welcome respite for ladies (and me!) to put on hats and gloves and connect over tea.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Saturday, April 16, I’ll be partnering once again with Kentucky’s historic Holly Hill Inn and award winning chef, Ouita Michel to host my second Hat Tea Party!
Guests will enjoy an elegant high tea featuring my artisan tea line as they are also treated to the unveiling of my Spring Hat Collection. This tea will be held at Fasig-Tipton in Lexington, Kentucky.

These new spring hat designs will be available for purchase with perfect timing ahead of all of our big May events such as Kentucky Oaks Day, The Kentucky Derby and Mother’s Day.

Thank you for stopping in here to read about my new artisan tea collection. It has been a joy to create these special blends and I hope you will love them as much as I do.

Lots of love,

Polly

This has been quite a year for me!  Being featured once in Tea Time Magazine, one of my all time magazines, was a dream come true.  Being included in the next issue, was the best Christmas gift that I could have been given!

Click on link below to read the article.

Tea Time Traditions

In 2019, I had written a short article and submitted it for the Tea Diaries section.  I wrote about the Ladies Historical Tea Society, of which I have been a member since 2007.  I met the group while showcasing my hats at a Kentucky Derby Hat Tea at a beautiful Southern mansion in Harrodsburg, Kentucky.

I became lifelong friends with many in the group.  Our fearless founder, Rebecca Chamberlain and I became good friends.  She has since moved to Savannah, where she lives and works as a successful illustrator/artist.  Rebecca is pictured in the coral suit in the middle.  This photo shows the day I met the ladies.

 

After Rebecca, Darleen Chamberlain, pictured on the right, became our longest serving member.  We have had so many wonderful holiday teas at Darleen’s home.

These photos are from our many Christmas teas.  As you can see, we are a pretty happy bunch.  In the first photo, we are holding the tea cups from our annual tea cup exchange.  The lovely blue and white tea cup that I am holding was shown in the Tea Time article on my business in the September/October 2021 issue.

 

 

The below photo is from our last tea, held in 2019 at Natalie’s.

This group of ladies has been such an anchor for me during the past few years.  When my parents passed, they attended the visitations/funerals.  Our teas have brought such joy to my life.