Annie Hanson (right) of Annie's Tea Wagon, a traveling tea party service based in Carmel, shows the proper way to pour from a teapot. It was filled with lemonade for Helen Mansfield's sixth birthday celebration on Nov. 17/07
Carmel woman's home party service carries on tradition of culture.
By Tania E. Lopez
photo by James Yee/ The Star
Annie Hanson's passions for tea has found its niche in Central Indiana.
The Carmel resident and Canadian native is owner of Annie's Tea Wagon, a full-service tea party business, or what she calls a traveling tea room. "That's about the closest definition you can get about my tea service," she said. Her business is sustained by word of mouth and her Web site, www.anniesteawagon.com.Hanson supplies linens, China and food to customers looking to add a little English culture to their parties. "I supply the place, tables, chairs, guests and that's it," said Hanson. "It's a stress-free party for them."
Earlier this month, Hanson hosted a tea party, including pink lemonade, for Lisa Sirkin's 6-year-old daughter in Fishers. The next morning, Sirkin posed a message on Hanson's Web site. "Annie hosted a tea party for my daughter's sixth birthday and all eight girls had a wonderful time. She kept them engaged and giggling the whole time, which let me actually enjoy the party,too," Sirkin said in her Web posting. "The room setup was amazing," she added. "Annie thinks of all the details right down to the chair covers."
Hanson said she began her business in California four years prior to relocating to Carmel with her husband Ken in 2005. She said her love of tea parties began at an early age. "My father's mother used to visit us and she would make (tea) so we would drink a little tea and she read us our future (in the tea leaves). It was fun lining up waiting for our turn to have our future read," said Hanson. She does not remember exactly what her grandmother predicted in her future, but Hanson said the experience helped develop her love for the tea ritual. Though she is not in the business of reading tea leaves only Hanson does provide etiquette lessons to local Girl Scout troops. "I think it brings people a little down to earth and slows them down a little bit," said Hanson. "For some reason when you put a cup of tea in front of a person it slows them down." In the two years since she began her business in Hamilton County, Hanson said, she's done over more than 50 parties. "Word of mouth is my biggest seller, and then I do a lot of fairs," said Hanson. "I get to meet people face to face." Hanson said her traveling tea wagon is her sport utility vehicle. She charges mileage to venues located more than 20 miles away from Hamilton County. She said this is the busiest time of year for her business. "I'm booked and that's because of the holidays." said Hanson. Annie's Tea Wagon charges $12.50 per adult and $9.50 per child. The best part of her service? "Cleanup," said Hanson. "That is very important."
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Could secrets hidden in mystical tea leaves have foretold Ann Hanson's future? Unlikely, but her English grandmother's fortune-telling fun over family tea made an impact on the Carmel resident. So much so that today, Ann's part-time business, Annie's Tea Wagon, is designed to teach the art of taking tea, preparation, etiquette and, of course, tea-leaf reading. The fortunetelling is just for fun. She ensures her "readings" are taken with a grain of salt, or a leaf of tea. But she takes other aspects of tea quite seriously. "Tea has always been part of my life" Ann insists. "Whenever anyone visited, the kettle was the first thing on. Tea was part of every occasion, in sad times and happy times, and it still is." Educating people about tea is a calling:"Many people garb a cup of coffee on their way to work," Ann says. "Have you ever heard of anyone grabbing a cup of tea? I want my guests to enjoy tea, along with the rituals associated with it.
Sharing tea should be an experience.
Dress for the occasion -
Choose the best water -
Offer a variety -
Throw in leaves -
Time & temp. -
Teaspoon on saucer -
Forget Matching -
Keep learning -
The secrets are in the tea leaves?
Drink and drain
Place a small spoonful of loose leaf tea in a cup and add boiling water. Once you've finished most of your tea (without swallowing any of the tea leaves, of course) tip the cup over onto the saucer to drain any remaining liquid. Rotate the cup clockwise on the saucer three times. Turn the cup back over and hand it to the fortuneteller. May of the leaves will stick to the sides of the cup.
Quadrants
The fortuneteller will place the cup in front of her with the handle directly across and away from her. She reads the leaves by dividing the cup into invisible quadrants. Imagine a clock with 12 at the top, 3 on the right, 6 on the bottom and 9 on the left. The to right quadrant equals three days; bottom right-three weeks; bottom left - three months and top left - three years.
Interpretation
To the fortuneteller, the shape and position of the leaves means different things. So, for example, if the reader sees a square-shaped leaf with a little dangle sitting on the top right quadrant, she might tell her guest to expect a surprise within the next three days. A leaf that resembles an airplane in the bottom left quadrant might represent a trip three months from now.
Story by Meredith Cummings
Photos by Perry Reichandter
