March 28, 2024
Strawberry Lemonade Margarita: Ingredients (yields approx. 2 margaritas) – 2-3 Tablespoons Strawberry Lemonade Rooibos 5-8 Fresh Strawberries 1 Cup Lemonade (I used Simply Light) 1 Cup Silver Tequila Sugar & Lemon Slice for Garnish Instructions – Infuse Strawberry Lemonade Rooibos into any Silver Tequila (I used Espolòn Blanco Tequila). Let sit in the fridge for 24-48 hours or until tequila turns a dark pink/red. Strain the leaves using a fine strainer or cheese cloth. You may need to do this twice to remove all the rooibos leaves. Mash 1-2 strawberries into a cocktail shaker. Combine Strawberry Lemonade infused tequila, mashed strawberries, lemonade and ice into a cocktail shaker and shake until blended. I highly recommend using a ‘light’ or low sugar lemonade blend to avoid an overly sweet drink. Rim the margarita […]
March 27, 2024
The word coffee is derived from the Arabic word “qahwah”, meaning “that which gives strength”. The coffee tree was first discovered centuries ago in Ethiopia, although it’s use has now spread to every country in the world. Coffee is the fruit, or berry, of an evergreen bush. Each bush yields about 2,000 berries a year, enough for a pound of roasted coffee. Initially coffee was prepared as a food by tribes who would crush the cherries and mix them with animal fat to give them energy. Coffee was also used in Africa as a wine made from the fermenting coffee cherries mixed with water. By 1000AD the Arabs began mixing crushed coffee with boiling water, which would soon evolve into the beverage we are most familiar with these […]
February 23, 2022
As many of you know we lost our patriarch, Jim Harron Sr., on January 18th. Through the many hundreds of emails, posts, and cards that you sent us we know what an influence Jim had on your lives. He had an insatiable curiosity about people, places, art, food, and life experiences that allowed him to connect with so many different people. He was a truly wonderful and special man. In the 15 or so years I’ve been coming to S&V every interaction with Jim was such a pleasant experience. From his stories, to just his general demeanor, the occasions I got to interact with Jim are great memories. Just last month or so I brought a friend to S&V for the first time and we got to chat […]
November 4, 2021
Simpson & Vail’s Holiday Sampler Gift Box Our Holiday tea sampler is the top pick for the 2021 Holiday Gift Guide! This sampler offers all 10 of our holiday teas in an elegant black gift box. This box features: Candy Cane Organic Rooibos, Figgy Pudding green, Gingerbread black, Holiday Blend, Nutcracker black, Roasted Chestnut Rooibos, St. Nick’s black, Sugar Plum Fairy Rooibos, White Chocolate Peppermint, & Winter Wonderland. Unit Price: $29.95 Christmas Teatime Book: Celebrating the Holiday with Afternoon Tea If you’re thinking of hosting a special tea celebration over the holidays then this colorful 134-page hardcover book will be a wonderful asset. More than 90 delectable recipes, (from scones, to savories, to sweets) along with 10 beautiful table settings, will serve as an inspiration in planning your […]
October 8, 2021
A glimpse into the process of blending our National Park Tea Collection. Transforming Nature to Tea Through conducting extensive research on the different park flora, the environment and general appearance, the National Park Collection formed. This helped make the decision as to what flavors, herbs, teas, and fruits we would put into each blend. The goal was to create a blend that mentally transport’s the consumer to the park . Next, I will dive into details on our two new additions to the National Park collection – view information on the rest of the collection here. Blending The two new parks began the same as the others, with countless hours of research and visiting the locations. Anyone who has been to a national park in person knows the […]
May 3, 2021
I was a New Tea Drinker When I began working at Simpson & Vail I was a new tea drinker and my knowledge of tea began and ended at the instant iced sweet “tea” mix you buy from the grocery store. Do they even still make that? Needless to say my knowledge on the subject was just about none. Now, I am nowhere near an expert, but I’ve had the privilege of tasting a variety of teas from around the world and even been able to create a whole collection of tea blends (National Park Tea Collection). It still fascinates me how much there is to learn about tea and how much dedication goes into the process of loose tea! Here are a few simple tips I wish […]