The Steeping Chronicles

I'm Erica. I'm a tea sommelier here in San Antonio, a mom of five, and this all started at my own kitchen table in a season when a hot cup was about the only thing I could manage. Then my kids started sitting down with me. We talked. This is where I put the things people actually ask me: how to host a tea party without losing a whole week to it, what to send when you don't know what to say, and why your green tea tastes like regret. Pick the part you came for.

Hibiscus and Rose Garden pink tea boxes with a ruby cup and a pale floral cup on a wooden table
Know Your Tea

Pink Teas for October: Hibiscus and Rose Garden, Brewed Right

Two teas on my shelf belong on October's pink table: tart, ruby hibiscus and soft Rose Garden. How I brew each one, and what to add to the cup.

Know Your Tea

Pink Teas for October: Hibiscus and Rose Garden, Brewed Right

Two teas on my shelf belong on October's pink table: tart, ruby hibiscus and soft Rose Garden. How I brew each one, and what to add to the cup.

Christmas stocking on a mantel beside a teacup, small kraft gift boxes, and tea sachets
Tea Gifts

Tea Lover Stocking Stuffers Under $25

With 5 kids, I fill 5 stockings every December, so I know this list by heart. Every tea gift here is under $25, sorted by price and by who it suits.

Tea Gifts

Tea Lover Stocking Stuffers Under $25

With 5 kids, I fill 5 stockings every December, so I know this list by heart. Every tea gift here is under $25, sorted by price and by who it suits.

October tea subscription box moment with a warm cup, sugar cubes and reflection cards
Pour Into Yourself

Inside the October Tea Subscription Box

What lands in every October box, how the 3 teas get chosen, the October 26 virtual tea party, and The Tea Blossom opening on the 10th. Order by the 12th.

Pour Into Yourself

Inside the October Tea Subscription Box

What lands in every October box, how the 3 teas get chosen, the October 26 virtual tea party, and The Tea Blossom opening on the 10th. Order by the 12th.

Thanksgiving table after dinner with a teapot, pumpkin pie and mismatched vintage teacups
Pour Into Yourself

Thanksgiving Tea: How to Make the Holiday Table Talk

The pie is gone and nobody knows what to say. Here are 20 questions that work on a multi-generation table, and the tea party game I use to get them into the room.

Pour Into Yourself

Thanksgiving Tea: How to Make the Holiday Table Talk

The pie is gone and nobody knows what to say. Here are 20 questions that work on a multi-generation table, and the tea party game I use to get them into the room.

Ruby red tea in a vintage teacup on a kitchen table with an October card, dried leaves and a pink ribbon
Pour Into Yourself

Something Is Brewing in October: Your Fall Tea Subscription Box Preview

October's teas stay a surprise until the 1st. Here is what the month honors, what is inside every box, and how to be in it by the 12th.

Pour Into Yourself

Something Is Brewing in October: Your Fall Tea Subscription Box Preview

October's teas stay a surprise until the 1st. Here is what the month honors, what is inside every box, and how to be in it by the 12th.

Loose leaf tea sachets beside a teacup and saucer ready to brew
Know Your Tea

Loose Leaf Tea Without the Mess: Why I Pack Everything in Sachets

Somebody handed you loose leaf tea and you have no strainer, no thermometer, and no idea. Here is how I pack it, how to brew it, and the first 3 blends I would hand you.

Know Your Tea

Loose Leaf Tea Without the Mess: Why I Pack Everything in Sachets

Somebody handed you loose leaf tea and you have no strainer, no thermometer, and no idea. Here is how I pack it, how to brew it, and the first 3 blends I would hand you.

Questions I get asked

Who writes The Steeping Chronicles?

I do. Every word. I'm Erica Powers, the tea sommelier who packs the boxes and sets the tables. The blog shares its name with my newsletter and it has the same 2 sides: the sweet side, and the real side where the honest stories live.

What kind of tea party do you write about?

The kind you can actually pull off on a Saturday. Bridal and baby showers, birthdays, church and senior groups, office gatherings, Galentine's, watch parties, and a table set for one on a Tuesday. I write for the woman hosting it, not for a magazine shoot.

Do I need china and a teapot to host a tea party?

No. You need hot water, something to steep in, and a table people can sit at. My own collection started as mismatched cups I picked up one at a time. If you want the vintage look without buying 40 of them, I rent china around San Antonio and my team washes every piece afterward.

Where do I start if I have never brewed loose leaf tea?

Start in Know Your Tea. Water that is too hot and leaves left in too long are what turn a good cup bitter, and both are easy to fix. Then pick 1 blend and brew it 3 times before you decide how you feel about it.

Send Someone a Tea Party

I started packing these boxes so I could send my kitchen table to people I could not get to in person. Every one holds loose leaf tea and something to do while it steeps, because the part that matters is the hour you sit down for. Pick the one that sounds like the person you are sending it to.

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