ROSE DARJEELING TEA
I think it’s fair to say that all rose lovers enjoy rose inspired gifts. Recently, I’ve been the recipient of rose gifts so fabulous I must pass them on to you. And I’m happy to write that each product is linked to a commercial website.
I’ve become addicted to the beautiful Rose Darjeeling tea shown above. Joanie Helgeson served it with rose ice cream at a recent luncheon, and sent me home with the tea packet. Today, I opened a fresh bag that arrived by mail order. The fragrance of tea and roses rushed from the bag, and as I poured hot water over tealeaves and rose petals, additional rose scents steamed into the air. The rose petals infuse a lovely perfume taste that balances perfectly with the robust Darjeeling flavor. I drink mine with 1% milk that once in a while has a dash of half-and-half.
ROSE-MINT LIP BALM
It looks big here, but its lipstick-size.
I’m not a fan of flavored lip balm––roses and cherries––no thank you. I was always content with plain old Chap Stick in the black tube, until my friend Mary gave me a tube of Rose-Mint ayurvedic lip balm . Once I tried it, I wanted my lips glossed with roses and mint 24-7. Its subtle scent and cool creaminess has a natural botanical feel. Mary found it in a little shop in Oregon––I’m glad it’s available online.
ROSE WATER
Agua de Rosas comes in a 125-ml. bottle.
Mary brought me back this lovely rose water from a visit to San Miguel de Allende, in Mexico. On the bottle it says. “Relaxing and refreshing as cologne, facial treatment, or room freshener.” I like to keep it in the fridge during the summer. On hot days, there’s nothing like a cool spray of rose water. The small company that makes it has a fascinating website. Check it out.
VASES
The celadon vase in the rear is actually an artist’s brush holder.
When it comes to roses, there’s no such thing as having too many vases. Priced at $1 each, there’s opportunity to try new shapes, use them as party favors, or at place settings, and give as gifts. The two shown here came from Daiso, the phenomenal Japanese dollar store. There are nine Daiso stores in the US. Online shopping won’t work here; you really have to be in store to find what you want. If there’s a store in your area, I highly recommend the Daiso shopping experience. They have 90,000 product lines!
MY CALENDAR
This is the calendar back, see the cover in the right column above.
If you and your rose friends enjoy a daily rose photo, order my 2009 Rose Calendar
. I’d dreamed of creating a calendar for many years. When my book R is for Rose came out, a company in Maine asked if they could create calendars from pictures in the book. The 2009 calendar is their second production. This year, there’s a bonus page devoted to rose arranging info.
ROSE ICE CREAM
The best way to eat roses!
Rose-flavored, you say? I felt a little unsure about tasting the bright candy pink ice cream Joanie served. However, the strong perfumey rose flavor turned out to be so yummy I asked for seconds.
I planned on not having a picture for the ice cream, but the day I was working on this, my husband said he’d be going into the city and told me that he wouldn't mind stopping by Bombay Ice Creamery. Thanks Leroy! Yes, sorry out-of-towners, this is a San Francisco treat.
