Holy Ghost Tent Revival Meets Lady Baker's Tea

I was going to start this blog post an hour ago but it was brought to my attention via a Facebook message from my son, Stephen, that his band, Holy Ghost Tent Revival was on live stream on Echo Sessions out of Asheville, North Carolina! I love watching the band and consider myself a groupie at a distance! So, when I am not a tea lady, I confess, I'm a rock/Indie/bluesy groupie. This band is amazing, if I do say so myself. They are musicians extraordinaire. You can click here to listen to recordings of their songs.

But what does this have to do with tea?

Stephen likes tea! He's been an avid supporter of my business as I am of his music. He's 31 now, but when he graduated from high school he thought it would be cool if I hosted a tea party for his friends as his graduation party. Needless to say, it was a blast and quite hilarious. They were good sports and took it very seriously for the most part!

Recently he asked me to send some Cinnfully Cinnamon so that he could share it with a band mate. This was a big hit (no pun intended)! So as I listen to his live program I will continue with the planned blog.

What I want to share is a recipe that's never failed to please my palate. It's a muffin that really tastes more like a brownie (looks healthy, tastes sinfully decadent). I've been making it for several years now (but I just renamed it) and I'd love you to try it and let me know what you think!

Holy Ghost Tent Revival Chocolate Cha Cha Chai Muffins                                350 oven

In a saucepan, heat 3/4 cup milk and add 1 tbsp. of Lady Baker's Cha Cha Chai. Let simmer while putting together other ingredients.

Sift 2 cups flour, 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder, 1/2 tsp. baking soda, 2 tsp. allspice, 1/4 tsp. salt. Mix in 1 cup white sugar and 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/3 cup cocoa.

In a medium saucepan, combine 1/2 cup chocolate chipits with 2 tbsp. butter. Stir over low heat till melted. Add strained tea milk, 1/4 cup sour cream, 1 beaten egg, 1/4 cup vegetable oil and 1 tsp. vanilla.

Add this liquid mixture all at once to the flour mixture and add another 1/2 cup chocolate chipits and stir till well blended.

I put paper cups into the muffin pan and spoon in 1/3 cup of mixture into each. You have enough for 12 muffins and maybe more. Bake for much longer than expected - about 25 minutes. They fall a bit and crackle on the top and since they are so moist they are like a spicy brownie. They are really brownies masquerading as muffins (the best kind, in my opinion), and I promise they will rock your world!

I will share more recipes that use tea as an ingredient this fall and winter so you have something to indulge in while you curl up with a good book and a cup of tea this winter. I hope you will give them a try.

Labour Day weekend is here. It marks the beginning of a new season, a new pace, a new schedule AND the PEI Fall Flavours festival! To celebrate Fall Flavours we have a special 10% off discount on four of our most popular fall teas: Dapple Apple, Organic Blooming Blueberry, Pumpkin Spice and Scottish Caramel Puerh. The specials are available at the Charlottetown Farmers' Market and in our Online Store September 1-30 2016.

We know many of you are just visiting the Island this month, so we have another little something that we are launching today: Lady Baker's Fall Flavours' Sampler. It is a little package featuring enough tea for two cups of each of our four Fall Flavours specials. You can purchase these at our booth at the Charlottetown Farmers' Market and at Kettle Black on lower Queen Street. These make great presents, but they are also a great way to enjoy your favourite teas while you travel!  

Wishing you all a beautiful tea-filled September! Be sure to let us know if you enjoy any of our fall teas! We love receiving feedback! For a full list of the places that serve and sell our teas click here.