Happy New Year!! How was the first week of 2017 for you? It turned out to be super busy for me–lots of cleaning, organizing and reevaluating in an attempt to start fresh.
One of my resolutions this year is to get up earlier. I tend to be a night owl and can always use an extra push in the AM.
Lucky for me, I received a beautiful Swan Vintage Teasmade for Christmas and am simply in love with it. If you dread mornings like I do, this clever machine might be just what you need to jumpstart the year!
Designed in the UK, Swan Vintage Teasmade is basically a tea maker and alarm clock all wrapped up into one compact appliance. This machine is the modern version of a Goblin Teasmade, which reached its peak of popularity during the 1960’s and 70’s.
I love that the clock has retained it’s retro style, and the white color gives it a clean and bright look. An added bonus is the sound of water bubbling up to a rolling boil…a fairly pleasant way of letting you know that it’s time to get up!
Since the water reaches a full boil before being dispensed, the product is most ideal for brewing black tea. I did figure out a trick for green tea, which is that I only fill the water chamber up by 2/3rds. The last 1/3 amount stays in the teapot so that the added boiling water results in a water temperature close to 170 degrees F.
The machine can brew tea at a specific time or even at a moments notice by selecting the “now” button option. I prefer to place the tea leaves in the teapot the night before, but if you are exacting about brew times, you can also add the tea leaves after the water is dispensed.
The top lid doubles up as a serving tray that can be easily moved if you prefer to enjoy your tea at another location. It’s also important to note that the machine only works with the teapot that’s included–it has specific dimensions that allow the machine work properly. 
After playing around with this machine for a few weeks now, I’m thoroughly convinced that whoever invented it is a genius. With the help of my new bedside pal and many steaming hot cups of tea, I’m determined to make 2017 count and never oversleep again!
Special thanks to Swan UK for providing this Vintage Teasmade for review. For tea lovers in the US or Canada, please visit Amazon for tea makers with the appropriate wiring.
Umi (Ocean) & Smile Sugars courtesy of Chambre de Sucre.
Prêt-à-Portea: High-Fashion Cakes & Cookies by Mourad Khiat courtesy of Laurence King Publishing.
World Atlas of Tea by Krisi Smith courtesy of Firefly Books.
The Tea Book by Linda Gaylard, The Harney & Sons Guide to Tea, Modern Tea, Tea & Cake London, Wedgwood Wild Strawberry Weekend Morning Tea & Bingley’s Teas Limited (Jane Austen Tea Series) are all my own.
