Perfectly Preserved launches fancy new custom blend teas

By Betty Zyvatkauskas
The County’s tastiest fundraisers for the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital are welcoming their newest product: custom blended loose leaf teas – and fancy ones at that.

Tea sommelier, and pastry chef, Laura Bryan. – Betty Zyvatkauskas photo

Already well-known around the County for their quality jams and pickles sold in support of the hospital, the Perfectly Preserved group is starting the 2024 market season at the Picton Farmers’ Market Sunday, May 12 with two teas created by their very own certified tea sommelier and pastry chef, Laura Bryan.

Through her teaching career at George Brown College, Bryan has launched many budding pastry chefs into the sweet world of cookies and cakes. It’s also where she started on her journey to becoming a tea sommelier.

“After having my first taste of loose leaf tea, Rebel’s Blend, a black tea with a hint of smoke, I was hooked! I was teaching in the culinary program at George Brown College and saw they were offering a new course, Introduction to Tea. I jumped at the chance to learn more. My love of tea just grew and I studied for two years,” said Bryan.

Her studies culminated in 2009 with “an examination from The Tea Association of Canada including a service component and a blind tasting.”

“When I finished my Tea Sommelier program, my graduating class wanted to keep on with our mutual enjoyment of tea so we formed The Tea Guild of Canada. I was its founding co-chair.”

Perfectly Preserved is lucky enough to have her expertise, so when a collection of fine vintage tea cups came its way, this fundraising branch of the PECM Hospital Auxiliary was able to put her knowledge to good use.

She has created two blends specially for Perfectly Preserved: Chai and Amour.

“Chai bursts with flavour of warm aromatic spices. I find it tastes like being wrapped in a warm blanket,” said Bryan. “Amour is inspired from my trips to France where they love floral flavours like bergamot and rose. It’s a very elegant tea.”

Shoppers at Picton’s May 12 Farmer’s Market can be the first to try these blends packaged with a fine china cup and Laura’s own shortbread cookies.

“Come and give your mom a lovely China tea cup; they make you slow down and enjoy the tea you’re drinking. Every cup holds a one-pot sample of each tea and a package of shortbread cookies for her to enjoy with that cuppa.”

A cup, tea and cookie package costs $15 and also makes a great gift for a teacher, friend or hostess. For just $5 add on a small jar of your favourite jam. Those unable to attend Sunday, but would like to order the tea, please email dorothy.speirs@utoronto.ca

Every sale supports Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital.