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Post by Brie
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Local NYC Artisanal Fragrant and Edible Delights
Soap and Paper Factory/ Harney and Sons Teas/ Sweetniks
When my middle daughter turned thirteen she decided that she wanted to celebrate with a NYC shopping extravaganza. Much to my horror she chose Black Friday as the day to do it.
After spending literally all day waiting on long cashier lines and dodging Japanese and German picture taking tourists on the streets of Manhattan we arrived at Grand Central Station in the evening completely depleted. Having a few minutes to spare before our Metro North train arrived I spotted in an alcove a multitude of booths set up by local artisanal artists selling their products.
Soap and Paper Factory Shea Butter Bois de Santal Hand Cream
Photo Stolen soapandpaperfactoryThose who know me well can attest to the fact that I am a strong supporter and advocate of purchasing from local and artisanal companies. So it was no surprise that I high-tailed it over to one of the booths, the Soap and Paper Factory Company which calls Congers, New York its home. What my eyes witnessed were a large assortment of all natural solid perfumes, shea butter hand creams, natural soaps and soy candles- a deluge of olfactory delights hand poured in recyclable, eye popping packaging. I immediately purchased Bois de Santal shea butter hand cream, a bourbon vanilla and sandalwood amalgamation. The shea butter makes this cream uber-luxurious and the decadently sweet scent lasts for hours and hours. (Ed: At this time they are currently out of stock of Bois de Santal but there are plenty of others)
Harney and Sons Vanilla Comoro Tea
Photo Stolen Harney&Sons
I discovered Harney and Son Teas at a small local farmers market in upstate New York. It is one of my absolute favorite tea companies and produces high quality loose teas, tisanes and tea bags beautifully packaged in tetraheaval silken sachet pouches. A relatively short scenic drive through bucolic landscape brings me to their factory and store in Millerton, New York. Vanilla Comoro, a decaffeinated black tea nuanced with boozy vanilla notes is the perfect accompaniment to Bois de Santal.
Sweetniks Candy Bacon Spiced Pecan Nougat
Photo Stolen SweetniksFinally, my introduction to Sweetniks was through http://www.coolcookstyle.com. This local artisanal candy company based in New York City conjures up a perfume lover’s wildest fragrant candy desires. My absolutely favorite offers from Sweetniks are the Candied Bacon Spiced Pecan Nougats. These spicy bourbon scented nougats with bacon and pecans are what I nibble on whilst drinking my Vanilla Comoro Tea with the scent of Bois de Santal Shea butter hand cream wafting from my delicate little fingers…. utterly delightful!
Do please go and visit these artisanal stores websites, each name is its own jump.
Soap And Paper Factory (Please write to the Contact Us email for Outside US Shipping)
Sweetniks (USA Only unless you contact them)
See you next month,
Brie x
(Ed: Brie wrote this post ahead. She may not answer your comments but please leave some in case she drops in. I, Portia, will answer though)
I received the Soap and Paper Tuberose cream as gift. A lovely tuberose that really works on my hands. Is there a tea would compliment a tuberose scent?
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Hey Azar,
Harney & Sons has a terrific collection if you go check their site. Personally, Twinings has just released Australian Afternoon Tea and it is strong enough to hold its own against tuberose any day. I have just started drinking it black.
Portia x
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This tea is a Limited Edition ,so if you enjoy it sweet ,P,get a few back ups whilst still on the shelf.
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Thanks Azar,
I have a sample set from them and a tin of the Mutan White. MMMMMMM
Portia xx
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Love the idea of the sweetniks
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Sounds super delicious doesn’t it?
Portia xx
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Oh, how much I love those Harney & Sons teas. I need to buy a life-long supply of Hot Cinnamon Spice one day
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He He he, I just bought the 5 mini pack Lucasai and will be making my way through them in the near future.
Portia x
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I have a tea problem, not unlike my perfume problem. I am running out of places to store these things. Yet I buy more. Those nougats sound wonderful. They would not last the day in my house.
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Poodle,
we are collection twins. I have soap, body wash and moisturiser boards too.
Portia x
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If you say that you have too many cookbooks then we are really collection twins.
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I do have a small collection after so many were culled when moving to this house. About 40-60 now but before there were SHELVES of them. All the books got a cull, if I hadn’t read it in 5 years then gone. I have had to rebuy some.
Portia x
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Do you need any help with “storing” those teas? 😉
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Ha ha ha! I will send you a sample pack of stuff i have Undina. Most of it is pretty pedestrian but YUMMY.
Portia xx
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Perhaps. 😉
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I ADORE the smell of this cream. It is unbelievable.
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Aha!! A fan. I have ordered some stuff from the site. Can’t wait for it to arrive GinzaInTheRain.
Portia xx
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Seriously, I can’t imagine you could possibly be disappointed. It has the richness and red, bois de roseness of Feminite Du Bois, but with a rich, sandalwoody vanilla base. And the sillage!
Love that you love Shalimar like I do by the way.
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One day we need to get together and have a Shalimar Lovers Festival.
Portia x
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I do think so. Pillow fights filled with Shalimar talc. Blowing bubbles with the bain moussant, while the participants get legless on the finest champagne, while smothering those very legs with tons of the body creme.
Then the main course: the parfum…
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Thanks for the Sweetniks shout-out! Niki and me appreciate it! Because of those nougats, my apartment smells perpetually of bacon . . . not the worst thing in the world 🙂
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NO WAY! The BEST thing in the world. When I’m up early on a Sunday and I want company I cook bacon. By the time the first lot is cooked the whole house family is sitting at the kitchen bench. If they were dogs there’d be saliva.
Portia xx
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I’m coming over to Portia’s for Sunday brunch 🙂
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