Enjoy an Italian tea party on Columbus Day!

October 9, 5:38 PMSan Jose Tea ExaminerElizabeth Urbach

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Elizabeth Urbach.  Blood orange soda, marmalade, figs, and Italian cookies with tea.

San Jose and the Santa Clara Valley’s connection to the beautiful nation of Italy is an intimate and strong bond, beginning during the Gold Rush with the first Italian immigrants to California; this association was especially strong during the late 19th and early to mid-20th century, when the Santa Clara Valley was widely populated by Italians and others of Mediterranean descent. Mediterranean people were first attracted to the San Jose area for the Mediterranean climate and fertile soil, which afforded to them their version of the American dream: not vast wealth, fame and political power, but the purchase of their own land to farm, build a house on, and raise their family in health and freedom.

San Jose’s 21st century Italian community, while smaller than it once was, is still passionate in its love of food, family, culture, and community. Italian-Americans in the Santa Clara Valley don’t see Columbus Day as a celebration of the subjugation of native peoples, as many others in the San Francisco Bay Area do, because Italians have historically experienced their own share of subjugation at the hands of foriegners. For Italian-Americans, Columbus Day is a memorial to Cristofero Colombo, one of the “little people” (i.e. common Italian, not a foriegn aristocrat) who had big ideas, and who braved ridicule, danger, poverty and complete ruin to bring his idea to life. The day is also a memorial to, and celebration of, the other Italians who have done the very same thing in repudiating the easy life of crime and making a better life for themselves through hard work, faith and dedication. These are values that all cultures can share and celebrate, so what better way to do that, than with an Italian-inspired tea party on Columbus Day? 

While Italy is better known as a coffee-drinking country, tea has a long-standing, although small, presence in Italy and in the wider world; the first mention of tea in an Italian manuscript is from 1559! Herbal infusions -- especially chamomile -- have been used for many years to treat mild illnesses, but true tea has a place in the culture as well.  Bergamot, for example, is a fragrant citrus fruit used primarily for flavoring Earl Grey tea -- one of the most popular traditional blends -- and it is native to Sicily! There are famous tea rooms in Rome (Babington's) and Florence, an Italian Tea Club and even a small tea plantation in Tuscany!  The South Bay Ladies' Tea Guild enjoyed an Italian Tea in San Jose a few years ago, and here are some menu ideas from their event: 

Earl Grey tea 
Blood orange or pomegranite juice with sparkling Italian mineral water

Antipasto plate: green & black olives, pickles, salami slices, prosciutto slices, peperoncini, sweet yellow peppers, pickled baby corn, marinated artichoke hearts
Open-faced tuna salad sandwiches on ciabatta bread, with sliced fresh tomato and basil
Roast beef and roasted red pepper tea sandwiches with Parmesan cheese
Zucchini bread
Mushroom Bruschetta
Eggplant, Tomato and Mozzarella Panini

Grapes, figs, blood oranges and melon balls in rose water syrup
Dates stuffed with Mascarpone cheese or Stilton
Traditional Italian cookies: anisetti, biscotti, amaretti, cuccidati, baci, anginetti, etc. (Stella d'Oro brand makes some nice ones)
Zeppoli or other Italian pastries
Sliced Strawberries marinated in Balsamic Vinegar, Sugar, and Pepper
Jordan almonds 

As a last resort, if you don't want to put on your own Italian tea, you can visit a local Lisa's Tea Treasures tea shop and enjoy their Italian tea!

Note: this article is copyrighted to the San Jose Tea Examiner.  In order to re-post or use this article anywhere else, you must get permission in advance, quote only a portion of the article and include an active link back to this page, along with a correct title and byline.  I can be reached at southbayladiesteaguild@yahoo.com.  Thanks!