A new Bermuda cookbook is poised to make its debut, just in time for Christmas giving.

Entitled 'Bermuda's Tea Time Treats - for coffee lovers too,' author Mair L. D. Harris sums it up as "a nostalgic journey through the centuries, celebrating this lovely island's teatime traditions".

The 160 pages recall "a tranquil, gracious time when everything stopped at four o'clock for tea and, in some places, still does", and they make interesting reading throughout. Not only are there recipes for cakes, cookies, pastries and tea sandwiches, but also ones for hot and cold tea drinks, chutney and more. The book also contains a fascinating potted history of tea including its introduction to Bermuda, and features tea advertisements which appeared in the local newspaper in the 1930s. There are conversion charts for ingredients and temperature settings to cover metric, imperial and American equivalents.

The recipes are set out in a clear, step-by-step style which is both easy to read and follow, and many of them are accompanied by helpful hints, including which types of pans should be used for baking, so that even alumni of the "Cooking for Dummies" school cannot fail. Of comfort to older eyes, perhaps, is the comfortably sized typeface, while the colour photographs of unusual teapots and coffee pots, which dot the pages, add interest and visual appeal. Quotations from the internationally wise and famous further enhance this nicely produced book.

Mrs. Harris has divided her cookbook into eleven chapters with headings like 'Island Talents,' 'My Lords and Ladies,' 'Recipes from around the World,' 'High Tea,' and 'Especially for Kids' and 'Treats for Coffee Lovers.' Additional chapters cover 'Tea Equipage,' 'Tea Trivia,' and 'Weights and Measures.' The chapter entitled 'Best of British' reflects Bermuda's British heritage and its adoption of that country's custom of afternoon tea, while 'Especially for Kids' includes recipes which children can make.

The recipes are not the author's alone. With one exception they have been contributed by Bermuda residents, many of whom are household names, and some of whom are professional chefs. The sole overseas contributor was a South African woman whose son she happened to meet in her neighbour's garden. Each recipe has been personally tested and proved successful by Mrs. Harris.

The book was designed by Mr. Jonny Cunningham who designs all of the New Tribes Mission publications. He worked with the author almost entirely via e-mail, save for one meeting to design the front cover. It is edited by Catherine Harriott and published by Manna Publications, Sandys.

This book is Mrs. Harris' second. Previously, she organised the booklet, 'Bermuda's Favourite Drinks.' Her background is in home economics, which she taught, and also catering. Together with her husband Jack they operated catering businesses both here and in the Cayman Islands for approximately 15 years, and she is a former owner of Bermuda Cuisine. Her long experience includes serving teas at the local hotel her husband managed, for which she did her own baking, and also at special events. During vacations abroad Mrs. Harris searches for tea-related memorabilia, and samples tea in a variety of locations.

"For me, tea has been not just a drink but a life experience," she says.

As to what motivated her to embark on her latest book, which took three years to bring to fruition, the author says: "I am a Christian so I sold the rights to the drinks book and the Lord gave me the inspiration to do this one. I thought it was going to be just as easy as the first book, but it wasn't. With a cookbook you have to test every recipe and some of those I was given I couldn't make work well enough to be included."

Mrs. Harris is also planning to start a monthly Tea Club during the winter, wherein teas will be tasted and discussed at various locations.

Bermuda's Tea Time Treats' will be launched at a special thank-you tea for contributors to the book at the Fairmont Southampton Princess Hotel this weekend, following which it will be available in local stores including A.S. Cooper's, Trimingham's, The Bookmart and Washington Mall Magazines. The cost is $19.95 per copy, and book signings are to be announced. A tithe from book sales will be given to the Learning Disabilities Association of Bermuda and New Tribes Mission, UK. For further information ( Mrs. Harris at 234-0923 evenings, or e-mail teatimenorthrock.bm