I recently took a look back into the coco love archives and found our original inspiration boards for coco love teas. We found inspiration everywhere, including in the pastry case. The macaron was trending (and still is!) and we loved the fun, colorful displays popping up everywhere. We envisioned our packaging sitting on someone's shelf or at the table awaiting guests and knew it had to be as exciting as these adorable sweets!
basic
PSL. Pumpkin spice latte. Uggs. Sweatpants. Great, now that I've set the mood, let's talk about this pumpkin spice latte that I made at home. Sorry this is not a recipe post, but walk with me. The day I made these was a day I was bribing my husband to do something and the best way to do that is with food. He's a simple man (read: easy to impress) so I didn't have to try this hard but I have these awesome mugs and it was November so I went there. Here's what I remember about making them: it was easy, I used brewed coffee (no messing about with espresso), I got what I wanted :)
happy national iced tea month!
image: Courtney Apple Photography
Friends, it's National Iced Tea Month and today, June 10th, is National Iced Tea Day! In celebration, we're announcing the winner of our instagram contest, sharing great iced tea recipes and ideas on the blog, and we are launching our tea shop online!
Until now, we've only sold our cookie and tea pairings through our online shop but we've listened to your requests and the tea shop is here! Our three teas, all delicious iced or hot, can now be purchased on their own. Buy one or send one to a friend today :)
Finally, we're leaving you with a delicious recipe to get your weekend started. Our Olivia iced tea will satisfy your sweet tooth and cool you on a warm summer day.
Olivia Iced Tea:
Bring 4 cups of water to a boil and add 1 tbsp plus 1 tsp Olivia Caramel Black Tea. Remove from heat and steep for 5 minutes. Let cool and enjoy over ice or add chilled water for an ice-free iced tea. This iced tea is also delicious if sweetened to your taste and shaken with some fresh herbs like mint or rosemary. Enjoy!
mother's day gift ideas
Lily Mother's Day Gift includes: coco love Pairings Lily Golden Oolong Tea & Fennel Tea Cookies, Carolyn Suzuki Goods Card, Now Designs Dish, Hand in Hand White Tea and Coral Bar Soaps and Sea Salt and Lavender Lip Balm.
With a little over a week remaining to shop for all the amazing women in your life, our team put together three Mother's Day gift sets to help and inspire you. All products are available at Occasionette (they now have an online shop, too!). This year we will be adding many special women to our list; some are mothers, some are not, but they all contribute to making us better people and deserve to be celebrated. Cheers!!
Emma Mother's Day Gift includes: coco love Pairings Emma Genmaicha Green Tea & Rosemary Tea Cookies, efrancespaper.com Card, Paddywax Amber & Smoke Soy Candle, and Girls Can Tell Succulent Tea Towel.
Olivia Mother's Day Gift includes: coco love Pairings Olivia Caramel Black Tea & Earl Grey Tea Cookies, Gingerly Press Card, Leslie Francesca Designs Earrings, Cast Metal Bulldog, and Faux Lavender in a Bag. Decorative paper also available at Occasionette.
community
A detail shot of our table at the URBN Market
com·mu·ni·ty / kəˈmyo͞onədē/
1.
a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
Friends, I cannot tell you how blessed we feel to be part of our community. Whether it be the URBN community, where we met and learned so many valuable lessons for life and business, our small business community, or the amazing friends and colleagues we surround ourselves with, we have the best community in the world. Thank you for being part of it!
xo,
L & J
a little inspiration
Inspiration is everywhere. When researching for our own packaging, we needed look no further than our collection of vintage handkerchiefs. The beautiful florals, ranging from realistic to illustrative, were a perfect source for endless musings on color, pattern, and style.
Where do you find inspiration?
pass the peas, please
There are so many varieties of hummus and it's healthy but it's just not my jam. Until I tried sweet pea hummus and was forever a convert. Technically, hummus is only made of chickpeas and other ingredients so this is more of a sweet pea dip. Whatever you call it, it's delicious.
I first made this dip when my son was six months old. I used a whole pound of frozen (thawed) sweet peas, blanched the lot, then reserved about 1/4 cup so I could blend them into a puree for him. He loved them.
For grown ups, here's how to make the dip.
1 lb (less 1/4 cup) frozen, thawed sweet peas
1/8 cup olive oil
1 garlic clove
sprinkle of coarse sea salt (I like celtic sea salt)
Cook peas in boiling salted water for 2 minutes. Drain in a colander and immediately plunge into a bowl of ice water. Once cool, pulse drained peas, olive oil, garlic clove and salt in a food processor until smooth (8-9 pulses or 'on' for about 10 seconds).
Optional but fabulous: top with chopped sun dried tomatoes
We eat this dip as a snack with blue corn chips but it would also make a lovely crostini served at tea time. Toast baguette, spread dip onto toasts, top with sun dried tomatoes. Serve with a mint tisane or green tea.
Attention Philadelphia Brides
image via: @mariyastecklairphotography
Dear Brides,
We heart you. That's why we've partnered with Philadelphia Wedding to offer you a special deal for your special day. We want your day to be unique and affordable so we're offering a discount on your bridal shower or wedding order. Full details here.
xo,
coco
getting to know...Lily
Lily is a social butterfly, but her tea might not be as familiar on the scene. So, let’s get to know Lily Golden Oolong, shall we?
Oolongs are not classified by color (green, black), rather they can range in color depending on the way the leaves are processed after harvesting. In the case of our Lily Golden Oolong tea, the leaves are a vibrant green color and the liquor (brewed tea) is a golden yellow color, hence the Golden name. The fragrance of this tea is sweet and floral, reminiscent of osmanthus. In fact, the traditional name for this tea variety is Huang Jin Gui, translating to Golden Osmanthus.
And if you couldn't already tell, Lily loves her some gold.
image via
launch party!
Since creating coco love™ in 2010, every move feels like it's been building to this moment. On Valentine's weekend, we will introduce the world to coco love™ Pairings with a launch party at Occasionette on E Passyunk Ave.
If you live in the Philadelphia area, come say hello and enjoy a sampling of our Emma Genmaicha Green Tea and Emma Rosemary Tea Cookies and other holiday surprises. E Passyunk Ave is also hosting its monthly Second Saturday with events all along the Avenue.
Event details: Occasionette *1825 E Passyunk Ave* Saturday February 13 *4-7PM*
leaving the nest
Today we launched our online shop and within hours fulfilled our first order. As I packed up this pairing to go to her new home, I reflected on all the time and love and passion we poured into every step of getting her here. Olivia, enjoy your new home, baby girl!
tea time
I think tea is one of the most romantic food experiences. One plant, depending on where it's grown, when the leaves are picked, how they are dried, rolled, toasted or roasted, yields a diverse bounty, ripe for discovery. Like a partner, tea has many moods, nuances, and flavors.
Tea encourages us to slow down and enjoy the moment. I enjoy getting to know a new blend as much as settling in with a cup I've enjoyed a hundred times before. Cheers to your little moments today and every day.
...it all began
with a cookie. I, like so many of you, have nostalgia for the chocolate chip cookie.
I first baked a batch with my Italian grandmother, Helen. I stood on a stool at the sliver of counter next to the oven. A breeze flowed through the back door of her modest, immaculate Baltimore row home. With each addition, I tasted the raw ingredient. Sugar was sweeter than I imagined; flour coated my tongue and made me giggle. We folded the ingredients together forming a sweet smelling mound of chocolate speckled dough.
Ten minutes, or an eternity to a child later, hot cookies emerged from the oven. I sniffed the air deeply, almost tasting the cookies before ever taking a bite. What went into the oven as a dream emerged as a scorched, overly sweet hockey puck. Seriously, they were a disaster.
To her credit, Grandma Helen's cooking more than made up for her baking blunders. I still smile at this memory because I know my fascination for baking started here at her hem.
I invite you to come along on coco love's adventure that started so many years ago. Here's to cookies and tea and grandmas and sharing memories together. Welcome!