eteaket features in the current edition of Time – we’re chuffed to bits and still picking ourselves up off the floor! Here’s what they had to say:

“A newcomer to the tearoom scene, Eteaket, eteaket.co.uk, is a hit with the Edinburgh cognoscenti. Most of the 40-plus leaf teas are sourced from smaller estates around the world, which the company says secures a fairer price for plantation workers and is kinder to the environment. However, “it’s not all kaftans and flower power,” says owner Erica Moore. Hot pink and turquoise seating and brightly colored fondant fancies served on vintage cake stands inject the necessary note of playfulness.”

I was lucky enough to join a group at eteaket on Tuesday evening for an introduction to Tasseomancy (otherwise known as tea leaf reading).

To get the most of out of the experience, I went in with an open mind. As our teacher Lauren explained, it is best to be non-judgemental in order to develop the intuition of expressing messages from the leaves.

Lauren began by telling us a little about her background and the development of her wonderful intuitive skills. I felt very nervous at first but the loving energy and down to earth nature of our teacher couldn’t have helped more to break the ice.

We learned a little about the history of tasseomancy and its development from Eastern philosophy. Lauren then explained the techniques for tea leaf reading using specific areas to map past, present and future and how to interpret symbols. I thought it would be very hard but unexpected images just popped into my mind. It’s a great way to get outside your comfort zone, meet new people and develop your own innate ability to be in touch with your intuition.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t wait for the next class. I especially liked the explanation of the Chinese way of looking at tea leaf divination as all the four elements are present: FIRE – heat from the tea; EARTH – the leaves and vessel; AIR – steam and vapour; and WATER – the tea being drunk. Apparently a tiny piece of the soul escapes into the tea, which allows us to read the leaves. I’m convinced. (Mhaire Sinclair)

If you’d like details of the next tea leaf reading class, please just send an email to hello@eteaket.co.uk

How many of us have already broken our New Year’s resolutions? I for one still haven’t set foot inside the gym – not even for a cheeky Jacuzzi – despite the fact I’m paying a small fortune for the privilege.

I’ve decided to be more realistic this year. Turning my addiction to tea to my advantage, I have resolved to achieve the following 4 simple goals:

1. Lose a little weight

Although I firmly believe in the power of cake to help me get my PMA (positive mental attitude!), it is possible to overindulge sometimes. That’s where tea comes in. You see, tea without milk has no calories. Using semi-skimmed milk adds around 13 calories per cup, but you also benefit from valuable minerals and calcium.

As if that’s not enough, a Swiss study on green tea found that the caffeine interacts with the flavonoids and appears to speed up calorie burning, including fat calorie burning (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Nov 1999). Click here for more info on the health benefits of tea.

I also swear by drinking some sweet flavoured tea when you’re tempted by an extra slab of cake – my particular favourites are Rooibos Crème Caramel and Chocolate Abyss. Or try some Pu-Erh, favoured by celebrities like Victoria Beckham for its alleged slimming properties.

2. De-stress

After a hectic year setting up eteaket, I really need to learn how to relax a little. By making myself take at least 20 mins out a day to just sit with a pot of tea and no distractions (especially no mobile, internet, newspapers or TV), I have found it easier to stay relaxed and maintain perspective. Try it yourself – you’ll be amazed how much more productive you are.

My favourite teas to relax with at the moment are Yellow Gold Oolong and the aptly named Chillaxin’ Chamomile.

3. Spend more time with family and friends

Tea is a very sociable drink and the whole ceremony of tea leaves, tea pot and china cups really helps people connect. Don’t forget, eteaket’s Afternoon Tea is available 7 days a week and is only £9.85 per person. For that, you get a sandwich of your choice, a freshly baked scone with clotted cream & preserve and a selection of mini patisserie served on a vintage cake stand plus a pot of tea.

It you’re ‘too busy’ to make it into eteaket, we now do Afternoon Tea parties for any occasion, be it a private party, wedding or corporate event. We also hire our vintage china and cakestands. Further details will be on the website shortly – in the meantime, please contact us for further information.

4. Help the environment

Last, but not least, in my list of achievable targets for 2010 is to help the environment. Did you know that tea has a significantly smaller carbon footprint than beer, Coca Cola, or milk.* Also, by choosing leaf tea over tea bags, your carbon foot print is about 9/10ths less than if you used tea bags. It’s a no-brainer really considering brewing loose leaf tea gives the leaves room to steep properly resulting in fuller flavour.

I’m also going to start re-using my tea leaves by adding them to my plant pots and watching my plants thrive. If you’re interested in other ways to re-use tea, click here.

So, by continuing my perfectly healthy addiction to tea, I’m confident I can realistically help control my weight, relax and de-stress, spend more quality time with family and friends and do a little to help the environment. That’s not bad for a humble leaf!

* See recent research by tea expert Nigel Melican reported at http://samovarlife.com/teas-carbon-footprint/

Liven up your January and do something out of the ordinary.

Learn to read your tea leaves with Mystic Lauren on Tue 26 Jan 6.30-9.30pm at eteaket Tea Boutique, 41 Frederick St.

Lauren really is the real deal (she has visited eteaket before so we can vouch for her!) She will teach a small group how to read our own tea leaves. Of course, there will be lots of tea and scones.

It costs £14.99 per person. Please email hello@eteaket.co.uk or call 0131 226 2982 to book. Spaces are limited and are filling up fast.

To celebrate our first birthday, eteaket have teamed up with STV to offer you the chance to win Afternoon Tea for Four at our Tea Boutique & Cafe on Frederick St in Edinburgh.

Click here for details.