2012Media Placements ~ The Abbi Agency, Inc.

Davidson's Tea Table of Contents

12/16/2012 Reno Gazette Journal Corporate Giving

12/16/2012 Reno Gazette JournalPositively Northern Nevada: Cornerstone Awards Honor

Philanthropists12/12/2012 Life Ever Since A Few Of My Favorite Things12/12/2012 Bluebonnets & Brownies Giveaway: Stocking Stuffers For The Ultimate Foodie12/11/2012 WANE Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide12/11/2012 Wavy Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide12/11/2012 WDTN Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide12/11/2012 Wish TV Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide12/11/2012 WWLP Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide12/11/2012 WPRI Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide12/11/2012 WTHITV 10 Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide12/11/2012 WIVB Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide12/11/2012 KXAN Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide12/11/2012 KRQE Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide12/11/2012 Fox 10 Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide12/11/2012 Fox 11 Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide12/11/2012 Living Dayton Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide12/11/2012 News From Where You Live Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide12/11/2012 Fox 11 Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide12/11/2012 News 8 Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide12/11/2012 LIN Media Artisan Foods Holiday Gift Guide12/9/2012 Reno Gazette Journal Teddy Bear Tea Raises Funds For Cancer Foundation12/9/2012 Reno Gazette Journal Teddy Bear Tea Raises Funds For Cancer Foundation12/3/2012 KOLO 8 Children's Cancer Foundation Set For Sunday12/3/2012 Elevated Existence 2012 Editor's Picks12/1/2012 Elevated Existence 2012 Editor's Picks

11/25/2012 Reno Gazette JournalTea, Teddy Bears Help Children With Cancer In Northern

Nevada11/25/2012 Reno Gazette Journal (My Week) Teddy Bear Tea Party

11/24/2012 Reno Gazette JournalTea, Teddy Bears Help Children With Cancer In Northern

Nevada11/20/2012 Mrs. Webers Neighborhood My Budget-Friendly Gift Picks For 201311/18/2012 Reno Gazette Journal Gift Guide11/17/2012 The Reno-Sparks Mom Mark Your Calendars For A Bear Tea Party

11/13/2012 Moms Everyday A+ Gifts Your Child's Teacher Will Love This Holiday Season

11/12/2012 Northern Nevada Business Weekly Branded Products, Private-Label Work Boost Davidson's

11/1/2012 Nevada Magazine Give The Gift Of Nevada10/1/2012 Dayspa Gifts For Well-Being9/12/2012 Reno Gazette Journal Steep Sell7/9/2012 The Spiffy Cookie Tea Time With Donsuemor

6/12/2012 organic spa living 4 Ways to Jumpstart Your Morning Routine 5/30/2012 Grumpy Sleepy and Bashful Tea Time5/30/2012 Life Ever Since Tea and Time With My Twitter Twin 5/28/2012 Kitchen Meets Girl Vanilla Bean Ice Cream {for a special tea party}5/28/2012 BocaFiau A rainy afternoon tea party5/21/2012 The Little Waves Sunshine and Cookies and Friendship5/15/2012 Mrs. Weber's Neighborhood Tea Party5/12/2012 The Reno-Sparks Mom Mother's Day Tea Party5/12/2012 Adriana's Best Recipes Tea Party5/11/2012 Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts Tea Time with Donsuemor

Davidson's Tea Table of Contents

Date Publication Title

5/5/2012 DoughMesstic Time for Tea

5/5/2012 Patricia's PattiCakes Tea Party with Donsuemor and Davidson's!

5/4/2012 CupCake Rehab Tea for Two, or More. Let's Have a Tea Party!

5/4/2012 bran appetit! Tea for Two, or More. Let's Have a Tea Party!

5/2/2012 SweetBites Sunday Afternoon Tea Party

5/2/2012 Flour Me With Love Tea Time with Donsuemor & Davidson's

5/1/2012 Delectable Desserts Donsuemor Treats & Davidson's Organic Teas

5/1/2012 Fire Up The Oven Donsuemor Treats & Davidson's Organic Teas

4/22/2012 My Time As Mom "Two Pinkies Up" Tea Party

I love emceeing events because I get to meet people who have done incredible things in our community. Last month, I emceed the Cornerstone Awards Luncheon put on by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. These folks are serious about fundraising, and, this year, they recognized corporations, individuals, organizations and foundations that have made a real difference through their philanthropic efforts.

Recipients of the Cornerstone Award included Phil and Jennifer Satre, who were honored for their significant contributions, including a recent $5 million gift to the University of Nevada School of Medicine, the College of Education and Wolf Pack athletics. Honored with the Outstanding Philanthropist Award, they’ve also given hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships and supported numerous causes.

The Outstanding Corporation Award was given to the Walmart Distribution Center, located on USA Parkway east of Sparks. General manager Ron McLemore accepted the award, which recognized the center’s charitable giving and employee volunteer efforts.

The Walmart Distribution Center has donated enough food during the past two years to the Food Bank of Northern Nevada to provide 3.5 million meals. Their trucks pick up food in California and bring it over

the hill to the Food Bank at no charge. The center recently gave the Food Bank a $50,000 grant, and employees volunteer their time packing food for distribution. That’s just scratching the surface.

Edna Benna accepted the award for Outstanding Foundation on behalf of the Edna B. and Bruno Benna Foundation, which has an established track record of giving in our community. The late Bruno Benna shared a passion with his wife for the arts and education, and the duo have enjoyed a lifetime of community service. In 1996, they established a foundation to provide a vehicle for their support.

Shari Netzel received the Outstanding Fundraising Professional Award for her work as a fundraising executive. Shari has raised money for the Boys & Girls Club at Lake Tahoe, Sierra Nevada Girl Scouts and UNR’s College of Health and Human Sciences. For the past six years, she’s been the director of major gifts for Renown Health Foundation, primarily raising funds for Renown’s Children’s Hospital and the Children’s Miracle Network.

AFP also recognized several volunteers with the Spirit of Giving Awards: Phil Bushard, Food Bank of Northern Nevada; Lisa Carano, KNPB Channel 5; Dave Carbon, Washoe County School District; Susie Jensen, SPCA of Northern Nevada; Jodi Kriens, Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum; Karren Smith, Northern Nevada International Center; Stacey Spain, Sierra Arts Foundation; and Elise Weatherly, Eldorado Hotel Casino.

NV Energy’s Karen Ross gave the keynote address, and the afternoon was a big success. For a bunch of fundraising folks, no one asked anyone for a dime — at least officially. A big round of applause to everyone who gives generously of his or her time or pocketbook.

TEDDY BEAR TEA RAISES MONEY FOR CHILDREN FIGHTING CANCER

Davidson’s Organics tea company is a wonderful local tea distributor hidden away on Glendale Avenue near East McCarran. I stop there often to shop for tea. They have wonderful English Breakfast Tea and zillions of other teas from herbal to caffeinated. I also send care packages of Davidson’s Children’s Tea every so often to Washington, D.C., where some military friends moved after they served in Fallon. They still love everything Nevada, especially Davidson’s tea.

On Dec. 2, as everyone was preparing for the flood that never came, Davidson’s kicked off the season of giving by hosting a Teddy Bear Tea Party, raising $447 for the Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation.

Guests gathered at Gymboree on South McCarran for tea, sandwiches, cookies and cupcakes. The little ones got to play in the Gymboree playroom before sitting down like ladies and gentlemen to pour and partake of the herbal tea. They brought their favorite teddy bears, too.

Gymboree donated the space, Davidson’s donated the tea and Gourmelt provided the sandwiches. Cupcakes were courtesy of Mix Cupcakes, cookies from the Wet Hen Café and flowers from the Flower Bucket completed the elegant surroundings. Everyone had a jolly good time and got to hold their pinky out with pride.

Jennifer Burton is a weekend anchor for Channel 2 News in Reno. Her column appears Sundays in Northern Nevada. Read her blog daily at RGJ.com.

Today I thought I’d share

with you some things I love. Not just because it’s my birthday, but because it’s Christmas and

sometimes we all need a little inspiration when it comes to gifts. Or perhaps some inspiration

next time you need to give a gift for a birthday or anniversary.

These are just a few of the things I’m loving right now.

1. MadeOn Skin Care Products. I wrote about these last year and the wonderful results I had in

healing Donut’s sensitive skin. I still love these products and what I especially love is that

they’re made with natural ingredients–no preservatives, no parabens, no phthalates. They feel so

clean and pure and I can’t recommend their lotions enough. (Affiliate links)

2. Donsuemor Madeleines. I was introduced to these over the summer and again recently. Seriously,

these are fantastic. I hoard them. I hide them from my own family because they are that good. Please

go out and buy me yourself a box. You will not be sorry.

3. Le Creuset Dutch Oven. I know these are super pricey, but they

are so worth it. I’m not a great cook but everything I’ve made in

this has turned out fantastic, from soups to stews, roasts and Indian

food. He even has a name because he’s that

important. Pierre. Pierre is one of the loves of my life. You need a

Pierre. (Affiliate link.)

4. Tea. Tea is the ultimate comfort drink for me (though wine

runs a close second). Tea has always represented friends, family

and comfort for me. I tried Davidson’s Teas this year and I was

hooked! Especially on the Vanilla Creme Spice. First thing I do

in the morning is make myself a giant cup of tea to get me ready

for the day.

5. Yarn. I know. But I love to knit and create with

yarn. I took up knitting a few years ago. I’d always

wanted to learn, ever since I was very little and watched

my grandmother knit. I love creating things for family and

for Donut. So there you have it. If you’re ever looking for

a gift for me your friends, here are a few ideas to get you

started. Really, I could go on and on about the other

things that I love, but I’ll just stop here. Happy Holiday

shopping!

Disclosure: I was provided with samples of the tea and cookies, but I have purchased the other

items on my own. However, I would only recommend products that I truly love and enjoy.

If you’re anything like me, you’re in full-on

holiday scramble mode. I don’t know how I

ended up here. Every year, I intend to start

purchasing Christmas gifts in August. Up until

about 2007, that’s what I did. By December, I

was sitting back cool, calm and collected while

everyone else rushed around.

But somehow, in the last few years, life has

gotten more and more intense, and I am now one

of the many rushing around. I don’t exactly love

it, I have to tell you!

One thing I’ve always struggled with, no matter

when I start buying gifts, is stocking stuffers.

With that in mind, I’ve put together my favorites

in a Stocking Stuffer gift guide for the Ultimate Foodie in your life.

Small enough to easily fit into a stocking, but big enough to elicit a “Wow!”, each product

is selected with your favorite foodie in mind.

From Bonne Maman preserves to beautifully crafted salt and pepper mills from Peugeot, there

are some great ideas to spark your gift-giving genius.

And lucky lucky y’all, I’m giving them ALL away to ONE lucky Bluebonnets & Brownies

reader!

Let me tell you a little about each product:

Bonne Maman Preserves are crafted in France. Golden Plum Mirabelle preserves are their

newest offering, and a delicious one at that. Last month I created a savory recipe using Golden

Plum Mirabelle; Golden Plum, Port, and Mushroom Pork Chops, but this succulent jam is just as

at-home on a toasted English muffin. The signature gingham lid is one that any foodie knows,

and would be thrilled to receive.

Peugeot, more well-known as a car company, has actually been making pepper and coffee mills

for much longer; since the 1800s. They’re regarded as the best in the business when it comes to

pepper mills. The incredible construction of each part means they’re considered nearly

unbreakable. Each peppercorn is broken in half by the mechanisms before it is ground down,

resulting in more even grinding and pepper flakes (or in this set’s case, salt too) that are just the

right size. The Vendome set in chocolate is classic and refined, with a deep chocolate wood

accented by solid construction acrylic. I was in love at first grind.

King Arthur Flour is mentioned often on Bluebonnets & Brownies. Their commitment to flour

consistency and quality is parallel to none other, in my opinion. The same can be said for the

tools and pans they sell. The Pizza Tool Kit comes with a cheese grater, pizza cutter, and cheese

knife in a handy storage pouch. I love that they’re stored together, and keep easily in one spot

thanks to the pouch. They’re all BPA free, and I find that the cheese grater fits perfectly in my

hand.

I think it’s been well documented on B&B how much we like tea in this household. Having an

Englishman in-house lends toward that tendency. We’ve found a deep love for Davidson’s

Organic Tea. We like all the flavors, but the Holiday teas are simply perfect for this time of

year. Full of wintery spices like clove and cinnamon, they’re exactly what you want when it’s

snowing outside. That they’re organic is icing on the proverbial teacake!

Last, but certainly not least, Donsuemor Madeleines. Classier than a box of chocolates in my

opinion, they pair perfectly with the tea. The sampler box provides a little taste of every delight

Donsuemor has to offer (my favorite are the chocolate dipped!), and come on, who doesn’t love

a light, spongy cookie with their tea?

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Davidson's Holiday Tea

Wrap up the perfect gift for the tea lover in your life. From loose tea to flavored, Davidson's love

for curating teas has evolved throughout their 36 years in business.

Responsibly sourced, be guilt-free when giving this soothing gift to the ones you love.

Credit: Twinkle VanWinkle

2012 Editor's Inspirational Gift Picks Giveaway

Every December, Elevated Existence editors picks some of their favorite inspirational gift ideas – including all-natural products, jewelry, apparel, home goods and more! Last year, we gave away some of our picks to a few lucky winners, and this year we are doing it again!

Below is a list of the products we are giving away! (For the full list of picks, see the December 2012 Issue with Gregg Braden.)

To enter, send an e-mail to editor@elevatedexistence.com with the subject line “Gift Picks” and in the body of the e-mail list the products you are interested in by December 31, 2012.

Click on the links below to see each product!

BB Becker “Right Direction” Sterling Silver Pendant www.bbbecker.com

Blee Inara Love Bracelet www.bleeinara.com

Chocoveda Chakra Box Chocolates www.chocoveda.com

Conscious Box 3-Month Subscription www.consciousbox.com

CrystalxPain Pacs www.smartenergetics.com

Davidson’s Organics Tea Sampler www.davidsonstea.com

Good JuJu Prosperity Bracelet www.mialena.com

H2EO Cool Mist Ultrasonic Diffuser www.plantextractsinc.com

Isabella Grace Jewelry “Love Lets You Soar” Necklace www.isabellegracejewelry.com

Klean Spa Scrub Club www.kleanspa.com

Metropolis Floral Soap Gift Set www.metropolissoap.com

Mudpot Natural Mud Mask www.blackrockmud.com

Om Herb Pillow & Herb Satchel www.omherbpillows.com

Panier des Sens Organic Olive Oil for Body & Hair www.panierdessens.us

Priti NYC Nude Nail Polish Kit www.pritinyc.com

SIGG Sun Salutation Water Bottle www.mysigg.com

Yesteryear Soap: Vanilla Honey Soap & Cutting Board www.yesteryearsoap.net

Gift GuideElevated Existence editors selected some of their favorite gift ideas

to spread spirituality, love and inspiration to others

Priti NYC Nude KitThis nude kit of nail polish from Priti NYC offers four universaland classic colors of cruelty-free, vegan and non-toxic polish.They are also made without toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DHB)

and formaldehyde. www.pritinyc.com; $39.99.

Organic Olive Oil for Body & HairLooking to moisturize your body and hair? Try this dry,organic, olive oil from Panier des Sens en Provence’snatural skin care line. Ideal for both hair and skin, the

company does not test products on animals.www.panierdessens.us; $30.

Klean Spa Scrub ClubFor three, six or 12 months, you can give someone thegift of a new, 5-ounce sugar body polish from Klean Spavia the “Scrub Club.” These polishes use unrefined canesugar and a blend of moisturizing oils such as coconut,

macadamia nut, sweet almond and shea.www.kleanspa.com; $65-$190.

www.elevatedexistence.com December 2012 Elevated Existence 15

Silver LariatAmethyst NecklaceFrom Conscious Jewelry, this 17-inchchain made from sterling silver over brassfeatures an amethyst stone between 1 and1.5 inches in length. Amethyst is a verymeditative and calming stone, also knownto increase intuition.www.consciousjewelry.com; $71.

Davidson’sOrganics TeaSamplerGive the tea lover in your lifethe ultimate gift with this fullleaf wooden tea samplercase from Davidson’sOrganics. With 144 teasachets and eight varieties,including Fresh Mint Medley,Lavender Earl Grey andRooibos Masala Chai, the teais packed in a natural pinecase from sustainablyplanted forests, and linedwith velvet.www.davidsonstea.com; $85.

Mudpot NaturalMud Mask

Taken from an area of the BlackRock Desert, known as the GreatBoiling Springs, this mineral richillite clay contains more than 50

naturally occurring trace elementsbeneficial for the skin, including

calcium, phosphorus, iron,magnesium, potassium and zinc. It’s

100-percent natural, organic andfree of chemicals, dyes, fillers,preservatives and scents, and

draws toxins and impurities fromthe skin, tones it and revitalizes thecomplexion, while tightening pores.

www.blackrockmud.com; $59.

Gift Guide

Metropolis Floral Soap Gift SetOffering all natural and vegan soaps, bath soaks and lip creams,Metropolis Soap Co. offers this floral gift set featuring four soapsmade from natural butters and essential oils in scents: aloe,chamomile and lavender; rosewood and oatmeal; mint lavenderand citrus; and lavender and tangerine. It also includes a minisoak in rose, jasmine and ylang ylang; and a lavender and mintlip cream. www.metropolissoap.com; $29.99.

18 Elevated Existence December 2012 www.elevatedex istence.com

On Dec. 2, a tea party, that classic pleasure of youth, will help children facing a childhood of challenges.

That’s when Davidson’s Organics, a local supplier and retailer of organic teas from around the world, will hold its Children’s Teddy Bear Tea Party at Gymboree Play & Music center on South McCarran Boulevard. The party — for children ages 2 to 12, adult chaperones, furry stuffed companions — benefits the Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation.

The foundation financially assists families whose children have cancer, connects families with treatment resources, increases public awareness of childhood cancers and promotes research to find cures. During the past decade, the foundation has donated approximately $1.6 million, according to executive director Debbie Strickland.

“Events like this tea party are very important,” Strickland said. “We could not do what we do for our families” — more than 300 helped in 10 years — “without our community partners. The number of families who need us goes up every year.”

Party spread

Promilla Mohan, who owns Davidson’s Organics with her husband, Kunall D. Patel, came up with the idea for the tea party benefit.

“Over the years, Davidson’s has supported other small charities,” Mohan said. “We wanted to give back by making an impact on the youngest members of our community, and children love tea parties.”

The party, which costs $5 per person, begins with playtime and with arts and crafts like paper teapots that the children can decorate and edible teacups formed from ice cream cones, a shortbread cookie and an edible gummy handle. Some of the children and families helped by the foundation are coming to the party as special guests.

After play and crafts, the kids, adults and teddy bears will sit down to a tea table set with glass teapots, recyclable teacups, children’s teas donated by Davidson’s, sandwiches donated by GourMelt Grilled Cheese Truck and cupcakes from Mix Cupcake Co. Seatings are at noon, 1:15 p.m. and 3 p.m.

11/13/2012

A + Gifts Your Child’s Teacher Will Love This Holiday Season

‘Tis the season! Teachers are decking the school halls and their classroom walls for the holidays. At the same time, parents are beginning to ponder gifts for the teachers that give to their kids all year long. So what do you get a teacher when apples and coffee mugs just won’t do? Here’s a list (and we’ve checked it twice) of thoughtful, affordable gifts your child’s teacher will love!

1. Donsuemor Madeleines. With five flavors to choose from, this elegant cookie-cake is the perfect way to say thank you. Individually wrapped, these madeleines are a convenient yet lovely playground snack for the busy teacher on the go. A box of 26 is $15.00.

2. Davidson’s Tea. Whether it is their holiday blend or healthful Tulsi, Davidson’s tea will keep your child’s favorite teacher warm while they enjoy their favorite book during the break. A box of eight tea bags starts at $2.95.

3. OOTS The Lunch Box. Whether in the break room or on lunch duty, teachers need to eat, too! These eco-friendly classic totes brighten up even the most rushed lunch hour. Standard lunch box is $25.00.

4. Reusable thermal travel mug. Whether they are disguised as disposable, or have “World’s Greatest Teacher” printed on them; travel mugs are necessary for every teacher’s morning commute. COPCO price $5.99.

5. Starbucks Via Coffee. Because sometimes you need coffee…instantly. Starbucks Via instant coffee line is a great quick fix with all the flavors teachers crave. Pack of six is $6.95.

6. Classroom item. There is always something-- a cool rug, a map, or a few new books for the classroom library--teachers want for their classroom. Get great ideas for a good price at reallygoodstuff.com.

11/13/2012

7. Picture frames. Teachers do have loved ones and personal lives outside of the classroom. Buy a picture frame so they can display that special someone on their desk. Have your children decorate it for an extra special touch. Pinterest has some creative ideas like this one.

8. Chocolate. Need we say more?

9. Nalgene water bottle. Teaching is tough work. Help your favorite teacher stay hydrated and environmentally conscious. Standard wide mouth bottles start at $9.00

10. Yankee Candles. These candles vary in size and price and smell delicious! We suggest buying the apple scent… just for fun! Small jar candles start at $10.99.

Branded Products, Private-Label Work Boost Davidson’s

John Seelmeyer, 11/12/2012

Davidson’s Organics came through the recession just fine, thank you, as its health-conscious and relatively affluent clientele had both the money and the health-consciousness to buy its organic tea.

“Our customers are educated people who enjoy quality tea and understand the differences between organic tea and conventional tea,” says Kunall Patel, who directs the company’s operation.

Now as the Sparks-based company looks for accelerating growth in a recovering economy, it expects private-label and custom development of tea blends will provide a further boost to the production of the products it sells under its own name.

Founded in 1976, Davidson’s was purchased five years ago by an Indian family, three generations in the tea-growing business, who were looking for vertical integration.

That transaction provided Davidson’s with a strong marketing hook — its owners knew darned well that the company’s tea is organic, because they grow much of themselves — that served it well through the economic downturn, says Patel.

But even with solid sales, the company had unused capacity to put to work. Enter the private-label and custom-manufacturing business, which today accounts for somewhere between 30 percent and 40 percent of its business.

Customers range from companies who are willing to pay top dollar for their own special blend of tea in specialized packaging for use as corporate gifts to companies that buy an existing blend in white-label packaging that allows them to co-brand their product with the tea company.

Davidson’s combines its knowledge of the tea business, its deep catalog of recipes that combine tea, herbs and flavorings, the skills of its staff of 15 and the available capacity on its specialized equipment as key selling points for custom orders, says Patel.

It even flies some big customers to its tea-growing operations in India, giving them a close first-hand look at its business.

While the company has competitors, especially among manufacturers who work as co-packers for big retailers, Patel says his company’s expertise in tea makes a big difference.

“They’re not tea companies,” he says of the co-packers. “They’re machine companies.”

Davidson’s, meanwhile, continues to build its own branded consumer business, selling through channels that range from grocers to restaurants to gift shops across the country.

It sells direct to consumers, too, through a recently upgraded Web site, a traditional phone and catalog operation and a retail store at its East Glendale Avenue facility. (The store, once open only during the holiday season, now is open year round.)

The combination of business-to-business sales, custom manufacturing and consumer-direct business, Patel says, provides Davidson’s with an enviable diversity that allows it to spread risk across numerous markets.

It’s looking to further diversify by increasing its focus on medicinal and herbal teas. While only a small part of the tea business worldwide, medicinal and herbal products are by far the fast-growing segment of the business, Patel says.

This summer, for instance, it rolled out a line of six herbal teas based on tulsi , a type of basil plant that grows in India. Tulsi isn’t commercially grown anywhere in the world, but Davidson’s provides seeds to small farmers who grow the crop organically at the company’s tea gardens.

And they are segment where Davidson’s can make good use of its source of organic tea. That’s a particularly big deal in tea, Patel says. Unlike other farm products — lettuce, for instance — pesticides can’t be washed from tea leaves. Washing, after all, isn’t much different from steeping tea leaves.

July 9, 2012

Tea Time with Donsuemor

For me, tea usually occurs only when I am sick. But when Nicole from Donsuemor sent me some of their madeleines to try out with Davidson’s tea

I had to make an exception. There is absolutely no requirement for sickness when madeleines are involved! Especially when my friend Kristin brought over her super awesome tea set.

For the occasion, I also made little peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, using a variety of peanut butters and jellies (thanks to my jelly-making dad). There was dark chocolate peanut butter with strawberry jelly, cinnamon-raisin peanut butter with apple jelly, and white chocolate peanut butter with blueberry jelly! I even brought out some of my family’s Allergy-Bee-Gone honey (Winter Park Honey is family-owned and run by my Aunt and Uncle).

We started off with the Tulsi Hibiscus Flower tea accompanied by a Lemon Zest madeleine. I was nervous it would taste like soap because it did indeed smell like flowers. But it wasn’t bad, in fact I kind of liked it without any honey added at all.

Next we tried the Vanilla Cream Spice tea with a Traditional madeleine, which was a perfect match. The tea smelled like a snickerdoodle, but we still needed to add some honey – it’s a dessert tea after all! I even tried it with some milk mixed in and was pleasantly surprised. First time I’ve ever added milk to tea and might try it again, at least for this one in particular.

Tea time ended with the Bing Cherry with Almond tea and a

Chocolate madeleine. The chocolate was such a great companion to the cherry and almond flavors. We did not need to add a single drop of honey to this tea (probably because it’s already in there), and it was our favorite of the three. It made me want to invest in a tea pot like the one Kristin brought over (the one pictured int he background of all these pictures).

And then we just ate the Chocolate Dipped madeleines with whatever tea we had left because how can you possible go wrong with a chocolate covered madeleine?

Check out Donsuemor’s website to order some madeleines to enjoy for yourself. And make sure to follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

What’s a good way to entertain a house full of crazy kids?

Put on a tea party. Duh.

First, get a group of kids and at least one other adult (seriously, you need more than one adult).

Then, set up your tea party table including Davidson’s Tea and Donsuemor Madeleine Cookies.

Let each person pick out what kind of Davidson’s Tea they want. The choices at my tea party were: Bing

Cherry with Almond (and honey), Hibiscus Flower, and Vanilla Cream Spice. (All are organic and decaf).

After the tea is poured, then it’s time to decide what Donsuemor madeleine cookies to eat. Our choices

were: Traditional, Lemon Zest, Dipped Traditional, and Dipped Chocolate.

That’s about all of the tea party that can be controlled because once the kids get their cups of tea and

their madeleine cookies there’s no stopping them.

My nephew was so impressed with the Donsuemor madeleine cookies that he tried to eat all of them.

Unfortunately for him, we limited his intake to 3 and he was kind enough to share with his mom.

The girls loved the Bing Cherry tea and they couldn’t pick a favorite of the madeleine cookies (which

means they enjoyed all of them).

My sister and I both loved the Vanilla Cream Spice tea. The combination of all the flavors in the tea

worked together perfectly and we didn’t have to add any cream or sugar. Our favorite cookies were the lemon zest madeleines which happen to be the ones that I tried last year when I made Chocolate Dipped

Lemon Madeleine Cookies.

I also enjoyed the Hibiscus tea but I prefer it iced instead of hot. Not sure why, but the flavors of the

hibiscus are better to me over ice.

Overall, the whole tea party was given two pinkies up by everyone in attendance.

The only other thing you need for your tea party is a photographer. But make sure you save them a cup of a tea and a madeleine cookie (or two). (This wasn’t our photographer but he was busy playing during

the tea party so we saved him a cup).

I may or may not have needed one (or two) of these pomegranate margaritas after our tea party. Once

you see the pictures, you will want one too. Note, I was provided the Davidson’s Tea and the Donsuemor madeleine cookies through my friends at

The Abbi Agency but I did not receive compensation. All opinions, pictures, and half of the crazy kids are my own.