Tea Lovers Attend Classic Party in Hanson
April 29, 2001
By Mary Salters
ENTERPRISE CORRESPONDENT
HANSON - The mellow strains of the Celtic harp accompanied by the serene sound of the bubbling Indian Head Brook was the perfect backdrop Saturday for serving a classic English tea complete with scones, authentic Devonshire clotted cream and perfectly brewed tea.
It was tea-time at the historic Nathaniel Thomas Mill and business was brisk all day. The tables filled with patrons who came to sample a variety of teas, scones, herbed cream cheese and chicken salad sandwiches with the crust removed, and spinach tarts.
"It was a wonderful tea," said Marion Milburn of Brockton. "The scones and clotted cream reminded me of what my parents served when I was growing up on a farm in Newfoundland."
At another table sat Sandra Wilcox of Hanson and her sister, Corinne Hanley-Gerbeville. Both reminisced of their childhood. The tea stirred memories of visits to their great grandmother's house in Cohasett.
Sandra Wilcox said as children, they visited "Ma Smith" always in time for tea. And freshly cooked Irish bread was always coming out of the oven just in time.
"We'd walk into her house just when she took out the Irish bread with the caraway seeds and raisins" Wilcox said. We would sit at her kitchen table and eat that wonderful bread. Ma Smith always put five teaspoons of sugar in her cup, but never stirred it. We asked why and she said it was because she didn't like it too sweet. She lived to be 99."
Cheri Wicks of East Bridgewater said the scones were perfect, not dry or crumbly, but moist and tender. "My mother lived in England for many years, but even today, she always stops at 4 p.m. to have a "Cuppa," said Wicks.
The idea to offer a traditional English tea to the public came from Jennifer Geronaitis of Hanson, who launched an online magazine devoted to tea living, what kinds to buy and how to brew a perfect cup.
Geronaitis got the idea when she was still employed in a high-powered job and she and her husband were raising two children. She said that on one particularly harried day, she found refuge in a tea room and was served tea with scones and the little sandwiches. Shortly after that, she left her job to stay home to take care of her children full time. She became so interested in the world of tea, how and where it is grown and the best kinds and how to brew, that she decided to create her own Web page and online magazine for others who share this common interest. With a little help from her friends and her sister, Diane Croteau, it was tea-lovers' day on Saturday. Geronaitis' sister has also gotten interested in the world of tea and has started her own collection of bone china teacups
Judy McColgan owns and runs The Windsor Tea Shop in Hanover where she sells premium teas from around the world. Aficionados can even find freshly imported Devonshire cream at her shop. Emporium Naturals offered an assortment of hand-made soaps. Cathi A. Burke offered Angel Readings from Heavenly Messengers.
Fran Jutras, a Hanson seamstress, displayed an assortment of tea cozies
to draped over teapots to keep the tea warm on a chilly day. During the
course of the day, Harpist Andrea E. McCarthy played British and Irish
airs on her Celtic harp, the perfect background music for the perfect
tea.
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