LunaGrown Holidays 2012

LunaGrown Holiday 2012

LunaGrown Holiday Gift Packages 2012

Holidays come and go. Here are some ghosts from the past. Our packaging was done in-house. All photographs were taken by Linda Lou Bartle, and Spirits were provided by Warwick Winery.

The holiday season is upon us and what a wonderful time to remember our past and to be grateful for all that may unfold in our future. Remembering the difficult times that we made it through, and the good times we celebrated. The new friends, the old friends, and the seemingly small gestures that others offered made such a huge difference in our lives.

LunaGrown has no way to thank every person who has touched us, but know that part of you goes into every jar in a way.  For every question you have asked, every challenge you have presented us with, and of course, every compliment you have bestowed has made LunaGrown ever diligent. We are committed to bringing you the finest quality, homemade jam possible. For this we thank you.  We look forward to being a part of your life this coming year and for many thereafter.

We hope you have an enjoyable Holiday Season. We wish all living creatures on this planet the same peace and serenity we strive to find in ourselves.  Remember no matter where you are in this great world or who you are, your existence is a miracle!

Our Tiffany Gift Box Contains Nine 1.5 oz jars in the following flavors: Apple Cranberry, Blackberry, Blueberry, Peach, Pear, Plum, Raspberry, Strawberry, and Triple berry Jams

Our Polar Bear Gift Box Contains Four 4 oz jars in the following flavors: Apple Cranberry, Blackberry, Raspberry, and Triple berry Jams

Our Signature Series Gift Box Contains Four 4 oz jars in the following flavors: Cinnamon Raisin,  Otoño Cosecha, Rica Barreja, and Tropical Marmalade

We also offer Rica Barreja Gift Box Containing One 12 oz jar of our best-selling signature jam

Tea with LunaGrown strawberry jam

Jam & Tea, A Love Affair

Originally Tea was considered a medicine, only affordable to the wealthy and affluent. This was one of the reasons it went out of style during the French and American Revolutions. Somehow the love affair between the relaxing hot beverage, jam, and those that honor the traditions continues. Tea was originally introduced to the English by China in the late 1600s and was traditionally served with sugar and milk. It is said that the drink “replaced the Gin in England”.

In Britain tea is usually black, served with milk (never cream; the cream of a “cream tea” is clotted cream served on scones, usually with strawberry jam, a tradition originating from Devon and Cornwall). Strong tea served with milk and occasionally one or two (or more in some cases) teaspoons of sugar, usually in a mug, is commonly referred to as builder’s brew. Much of the time in the United Kingdom, tea drinking is not the delicate, refined cultural expression that some might imagine: a cup (or commonly a mug) is something drunk often, with some people drinking six or more cups of tea a day. Employers generally allow breaks for this.

The American Tradition of Tea Parties

The American tradition brings to mind women of the past sitting with small teacups some butter cookies or flour biscuits and a plate of jam. Of course, depending on the area of the country you are from the tradition changes a bit with your choice of cream, milk, or a wedge of lemon.

The enjoyment of Jam with one’s beverage is not sole to America, in fact, more than likely a customary tradition brought here as families came to the ‘New World’.

The Russian Tea Party

For hours after the dinner dishes have been cleared away, Russian families will sit and drink tea as if it came from an endless samovar. Your first few times in their home may carry more of a ‘guest’ feeling and perhaps the vodka will show up more frequently.

But once you’ve been accepted as a welcome guest/new family member, it’s time for the vodka to take on less importance and the tea will come out much more often. Russians like to have jam with their beverage.  A small dessert spoonful of jam is placed on the tongue and then the tea is sipped slowly, washing the jam down with the hot brew.  Very tasty! For more on Russian Tea see: Russian Report

A forgotten history

Strawberry and Apple Jams have a forgotten history when it comes to tea not only in America but worldwide. These Jams were commonly used (as well as honey) during post-WWI as a sweetener, as sugar was costly and often rationed.  A teaspoon of jam would be added to the hot beverage.

Adding a teaspoon of Jam to your tea certainly sounds more appealing than the artificially flavored ones available on the market these days.

Worldwide we find different teas with different jam pairings each with their own customs. A small spoonful of jam on the tongue before sipping your tea, a spoonful of jam stirred into a fresh cup of hot tea, or just jam and tea served with scones, this love affair has woven itself into the fiber of our daily lives as we find new ways to enjoy it!

Christopher Wilson
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