tea review

Review: Bella Luna Blue from Adagio Teas (Beautiful, Blissful, and Blue!)

March 30, 2018 by Joi Leave a Comment

Bella Luna Blue Tea from Adagio Teas

I have a beautiful and fascinating tea from Adagio Teas to review today – Bella Luna Blue Tea – and I’m, admittedly, pretty excited about it. I was sent a bag of the tea to brew and review (understandably my favorite perk of having a tea blog!) a while back and I’ve been waiting for today to do just that.

Why wait?

Bella Luna Blue Tea is extra special and rare – it is actually available only on days of the blue moon, so it will be available in 12 hours from the time I’m posting this – 10:50 CT. Click here to see when it is available in your time zone.

(Review Continued Below….)

Beautiful Bella Luna Blue Tea is Best Iced

This tea is, as you can see, exceptionally beautiful and I’m delighted to say that it tastes EVEN more beautiful than it looks. While it’s wonderful hot, it really, really shines as an iced tea. It is so good that I know you’ll want to stock up for summer. I plan to!

Bella Luna Blue Tea from Adagio Teas

Although I do, personally, prefer it iced, it is delicious hot, too. Since it contains no caffeine, it makes a perfect evening “after dinner” tea.

From Adagio Teas:

Experience the elusive mystery that is the phenomenon known as our Bella Luna Blue. Available only when there is a second full moon in a calendar month, our rare Bella Luna Blue blends the zesty freshness of lemongrass and the flavor of blueberries with the exotic Butterfly Pea Flower, which when brewed, turns this mystifying herbal tea indigo! For an even more exciting treat, add a few drops of lemon juice to the mix and watch as the real magic unfolds right before your eyes! Read More…

I was initially afraid that this tea would simply taste like blueberries (understandably, given the gorgeous color!) but I was very pleasantly surprised to find that it has a deliciousness all its own. The blend of lemongrass, blueberries, and Butterfly Pea Flower create something as magical as a blue moon, itself.

IngenuiTEA from Adagio (How did I live without this?!)

This tea is beyond special and I hope you’ll head over to Adagio Teas right away – this will become one of your favorite teas…. it’ll certainly be one of the most beautiful! Remember, this tea is only available on days of the blue moon.

Special teas deserve special treatment, after all.

Adagio Teas: Fandom Signature Blends

April 30, 2017 by Emily Dill Leave a Comment

Adagio has done it again, people. They’ve kind of broken the mold here, because their new fandom collection of teas is unlike anything else I’ve seen in the tea world before.

The Adagio Teas: Fandom Signature Blends is incredibly cool and creative. It features unique tea blends created by superfans based on different themes from TV, movies, anime, video games, etc. You’re sure to find one of your favorite nerdy topics here – Star Wars, Star Trek, Suicide Squad, Sherlock, and lots more. I tried four different samples, and not a single one disappointed me.

This Harry Potter fanatic just HAD to try a HP-themed tea, and it was every bit as delicious as I had hoped. The BeerButter Tea blend from Robert Pirlot was fantastic and probably had the best aroma of the four teas I tried. It’s a black tea with natural caramel flavor, natural creme flavor, and natural vanilla flavor. The caramel and vanilla flavors were very strong and it came together for one of the best black loose leaf teas I’ve ever had. A percentage of purchases of this tea also goes to charity, so it’s a win for everyone.

Due to my husband’s Delorean obsession, I had to get this one to try with him. This Delorean Tea blend from Mike Violette is highly flavorful; check out all of the delicious ingredients: black tea, green tea, cocoa nibs, natural chocolate mint flavor, natural creme flavor, orange peels, blue cornflowers, peppermint leaves, natural vanilla flavor, natural bergamot flavor. It blended to form a delicious tea that was accented with candy canes (yum?).

The Marty Tea was the other tea I tried from a Back to the Future collection (also from Mike Violette). (I couldn’t resist that adorable packaging.) This is a high-caffeine black tea with orange, vanilla, and creme flavors. It’s almost like a hot caffeinated cremesicle in tea-form, and I wasn’t complaining. The tea is accented with sprinkles, which was downright adorable.

I ordered this tea because my husband is a huge fan of the video game Bioshock, plus I’m a big fan of creepy things, and nothing is much spookier than a Little Sister (just look at her!). The Little Sister Tea from Tara K is a decaf Earl Grey, but it also has strawberry, orange, raspberry, and vanilla flavors. The loose leaf tea is accented with sprinkles and rose petals, and it all comes together to make a fantastic-smelling strong tea. I loved it.

I have nothing but wonderful things to say about each of the Fandom Teas I tried or about the collection as a whole. I can’t wait to try another round of fan teas from Adagio!

The Republic of Tea: Organic SuperHerb Teas For Women

March 23, 2017 by Joi Leave a Comment

Organic Raspberry Leaf SuperHerb Tea for Women

The Republic of Tea is one of the most trusted names in the world of tea and has been on my radar for many years. I remember the first one of their teas I tried – a green tea that caught my eye in a Joe Mugg’s shop. I initially fell in love with their beautiful canisters (I am ALL about packaging, if you haven’t noticed by now), then when I began buying their teas, I fell even further in love because they’re extraordinary.

The Republic of Tea has just released a new line of organic SuperHerb Teas for women this month. THese organic teas are unique blends of powerful herbs with complementing fruits and spices that have a wide range of health benefits for women through all phases of life.

I spend a great deal (make that GREAT DEAL) of time reading about healing foods, drinks, and herbs for two of my other blogs, Self Help Daily and Out of Bounds. If we’re being honest, however, most of the reading and research I do is out of love for my family (husband, three daughters, and three sons-I-never had). I want them to all be as healthy as possible. So I know all too well that we have more control of our health and physical well-being than most people realize.

Every single time we decide what we’re going to put into our bodies, we are exercising this control!

Not only does each bite and each sip carry us either closer to or further away from optimum health, but what we put into our bodies can actually help with common ailments and/or health concerns such as…

anxiety
weight
bloating
joint pain
hot flashes
inflammation
etc..

The Republic of Tea has 4 exciting new tea blends that can help us women in various stages of life. Keep reading to see which one (or 2, 3, or 4!) sound the most intriguing to you.

The 4 new organic tea blends just released from The Republic of Tea:

1. Fenugreek for Nursing Moms

Fenugreek is nature’s most popular herb for supporting healthy breast milk production. A smooth blend with a hint of organic cinnamon, this caffeine-free tea offers a soothing and delicious moment of relaxation.

2. Sage for Calm & Hot Flashes

Sage is an ancient herb known to help keep the body cool and calm, even in the midst of menopausal hormone surges. A refreshing blend with tropical pineapple notes, this caffeine-free tea is especially revitalizing cooled and served over ice.

3. Raspberry Leaf for Women’s Health

Red raspberry leaf has a wide range of health benefits for women, and can help at virtually every stage of life – fertility, pregnancy, nursing and menopause. This tea is reminiscent of a fruity parfait with a juicy blend of rosehips, vanilla and berry notes.

4. Nettle for Inflammation, Kidney Function & More

Our Nettle tea is for both men and women. Nettle leaves can help reduce inflammation and support kidneys. Organic nettle leaves with a touch of peppermint and vanilla makes this tea a joy to sip.

I was offered a sample of a tea of my choice in exchange for telling my tea blog readers about the wonderful new teas. Since I am a Raspberry tea fanatic (drinking it all day, everyday qualifies as fanatical, does it not?), I chose the Raspberry Leaf tea. I also loved that it covered “any stage,” since that’s pretty much where I live.

From The Republic of Tea’s Website: Red Raspberry Leaf is perhaps the most popular herb among midwives and herbalists. From fertility to pregnancy to nursing to even menopause,* this herb can help women at virtually every stage of life.* It has been long revered for its ability to help tone uterine muscles and balance menstrual cycles.* With a hint of vanilla and berry notes, this tea is reminiscent of a fruity parfait. See more.

Organic Raspberry Leaf SuperHerb Tea Review

When brewing tea for one of my tea reviews, I always try it, first, hot and then iced. I made a large mug of the Raspberry Leaf to enjoy with my afternoon reading. Tea and an Agatha Christie mystery were made for one another, you know.

The tea was amazing – one of the things I’ve always found lovely about The Republic of Tea is the fact that they are subtle. You never get any overwhelming “in your face” flavors or notes. The star of each show is the tea, itself, which is exactly as it should be.

After all, if we were after fruit juice, wouldn’t we buy it?!

The perfect cup of tea is one in which you take a sip and know you’re drinking a great cup of tea. Then, you have the lovely extra flavor or flavors in the background. This is exactly (and consistently) how it is with The Republic of Tea and this tea is no exception.

I finished the cup of tea in the time it took me to read two chapters. There was excellence in each and every sip.

When it came time (at supper) to try it iced, I have to admit, I thought, “It probably won’t be as great as the hot version was…” Not only was I wrong, I was ridiculously wrong… the iced version of this tea is even more delicious and memorable than the hot. You’re able to taste the different (beautiful) flavors in the tea when it’s iced (or even room temp). Unlike traditional tea bags, when making iced tea with The Republic of Tea, you don’t need to use nearly as many bags per pitcher. My favorite way to go about it, however is to simply brew the amount I’ll be using per glass.

I can’t recommend this Raspberry Leaf tea enough – it’s a perfect 10 hot and a perfect 10-1/2 iced!

Find more information (and order your own teas) by visiting The Republic of Tea SuperHerb Teas for Women today.

The Republic of Tea Raspberry Leaf

Adagio Teas: Berries Teas Sampler (Raving Review)

November 8, 2016 by Joi Leave a Comment

Berries Teas Gift Sampler from Adagio Teas

Berries Tea Gift Sampler from Adagio TeasUndoubtedly you’re still doing your Christmas shopping (possibly you’re even just beginning!) – so this particular tea review may be just in the knick of time. The beautiful and delicious Berries Tea Gift Sampler from Adagio Teas is an absolutely perfect gift idea for the tea lovers in your life.

I am a bonafide fanatic when it comes to strawberries and raspberries – seriously, if I had a dime for every strawberry sundae or raspberry smoothie I’ve enjoyed this year, alone, I’d be able to buy my husband a fishing boat! The gal is obsessed with these berries… obsessed.

So, when I first opened the box , I knew right away I’d be trying one of these varieties of tea. Since I’d (of course) had some raspberry tea earlier in the day, I opted for the strawberry.

Strawberry Tea from Adagio Teas

From Adagios Teas:

Crazy for berries? Tart and sweet, this sampler can keep summer in your cup year-round. Each sample makes about 10 cups of tea. This set includes:

blackberry – Ceylon black tea infused with sweetly tart berries. Floral-fruity and bakey aroma, like fresh berry scones.

blueberry – Ceylon black tea with fresh blueberry flavor. Highly aromatic, slightly sweet, rounded texture. Perfect hot or iced!

raspberry – Crisp black tea with playful raspberry flavor. Candy-like aroma, jammy flavor, tangy dry finish, not too ‘cheeky.’

strawberry – Fresh strawberry flavor and bright Ceylon black tea. Fresh sweet-floral and berry flavor, smooth and sugary texture.

Strawberry Tea from Adagio Teas

As soon as I opened the packet of Strawberry, the unmistakable aroma made me unmistakably giddy. Loose leaf teas and tea bags usually (to me, anyway) taste the same, but loose leaf tea does give you the extra benefit of making your nose as happy as your taste buds.

When reviewing tea, I always try it hot and iced – to see if it’s good one way or both ways. The strawberry tea was delicious both ways but I liked it even better over ice. It makes a beautiful glass of iced tea – extra points if you cut up one or two real strawberriesy and add them to the cup.

Raspberry Tea from Adagio Teas

The second tea I tried… oh, come on, you can guess!… was the raspberry tea and it was, quite possibly, EVEN more delicious than the strawberry tea. I’ve tried the rasberry tea both iced and hot and cannot decide which I prefer. It makes an excellent cup of hot tea and it makes an excellent glass of iced tea.

My favorite way of enjoying this delicious tea just happens to be how I’m having it at the time. That’s one of the beautiful things about tea. Most drinks are better either iced or hot, but most teas are wonderful either way. That’s certainly the case with the raspbery tea.

Perfection when iced. Perfection when hot.

Strawberry Tea from Adagio Teas

While I am the biggest fan of strawberries and raspberries in the world, make no mistake about it, I love blackberries and blueberries too, so I looked forward to trying each of these teas as well. They were also uncommonly delicious. In fact, they were as good as the strawberry when served iced and possibly even better than the strawberry when served hot.

Blackberry Tea from Adagio Teas

The blackberry tea (like the raspberry) was delicious iced and hot. It’d be tough to say which way was better, but if my arm were twisted, I’d probably say hot – simply because it made an extraordinary cup of hot tea.

The blueberry tea actually surprised me. I had no idea it’d be as delicious as it was both hot and iced. I’ve never tried blueberry tea and didn’t know what to expect. I’m used to fraternizing with blueberries over cereal or oatmeal, but now that we’ve met for tea, I’ll be a regular blueberry tea drinker.

Adagio Blueberry Tea, Iced

I got kind of cute one day and actually combined the leaves for a “Berry Mix” tea. Results? Insanely good! I’ve only tried my “Berry Mix” hot, but I’d imagine it’d also make a beautiful glass of iced tea.

I see myself easily (easily) ordering more of each one of these four Berries teas from Adagio. They’re simply delcious.

The Tea Gift Sampler would make an excellent gift idea for any tea lover in you life – just be sure to grab one for yourself while you’re at it. Each sampler is less than $10, so it’d be nuts NOT to pamper yourself while you’re at it.

I have more Adagio tea reviews coming this week including a Christmas tea review (tomorrow) that I’m expecially anxious to share with you.

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Kent & Sussex Tea Review: Spring Tea (A China Black Tea with Berries and Peppermint Leaves)

July 28, 2016 by Joi Leave a Comment

Spring Tea from Kent & Sussex - Iced and Hot

Remember the last cup of tea that just left you speechless? That’s exactly the experience I had with Spring Tea from Kent & Sussex Tea & Coffee Company. Needless to say, don’t let the name fool you – this “Spring Tea” is uncommonly delicious year-round and will leave you speechless whether you’re enjoying it in early June or late December.

I normally can say whether I prefer a tea iced or hot but this one is absolutely impossible to choose. Just when I think the winner is iced, I try it hot and think, “Well…” It’s simply beautiful either way.

Loose Leaf Spring Tea from Kent & Sussex

As soon as I cut the bag open, I was hit by the beautiful scent of berries and mint. The aroma was Heavenly and let me know, straight away, that this was going to be some exceptional tea.

The tea was even better than the aroma advertised. You can taste the raspberries (one of my two favorite berries – tying with the infamous strawberry) and the delicate mint flavor as well. With each sip, you get a new berry flavor and it’s just out of this world wonderful.

Spring Tea Brewed in my Beloved Hario Tea Pot

From the Spring Tea Bag: This China Black Tea is scented with the warm notes of Raspberries – Blackcurrants and Elderberries – blended with Juniper Berries – Nettle and Heather Leaves – Blackberries and Peppermint leaves. A fresh tasting flavored Spring Time Black Tea.

Brewing Time: Using boiling water, brew for 3-5 minutes.

A lot of people stick with tea bags instead of loose tea because they think it’s difficult, complicated, or time-consuming to brew loose-leaf tea. Nothing could be further from the truth. My favorite way to brew loose leaf tea is with my Hario Tea Pot.

It’s Simple – while bringing the water to a boil (or a specified temperature for non-black teas), you put some of the loose leaf tea into the basket that fits into the Hario Tea Pot. When the water is ready, pour it over the leaves (and into the pot) and allow it to brew for the specified amount of time (generally just a few minutes). Simple!

A lot of loose leaf tea can even be re-brewed. I dare anyone to try that with a bag of tea!

About The Kent & Sussex Tea & Coffee Company

The Kent Tea and Trading Company and The Sussex Tea Company were founded in 1982 when the Smith Family returned to England after two generations of Tea Planting in North East India. Their extensive range of award winning teas and coffees are packed at their factory in the village of Pluckley, in the Garden of England.

Read more about this beautiful and unspeakably delicious Spring Tea by clicking the link. This is, undoubtedly, one of my favorite teas of all time. Ironically, another tea that has become one of my all time favorites is coming up in a tea review I’ll post tomorrow morning and it is also from Kent & Sussex Tea & Coffee Company.

These people know their teas! See Kent & Sussex Teas for more information.

Spring Tea

Vanilla Rose Ceylon Tea from Flying Bird Botanicals (Review)

June 1, 2016 by Joi Leave a Comment

Beautiful Vanilla Rose Ceylon TeaI’ve received several Eat. Feed. Love Taste Club Boxes to review on my food blog, Get Cooking. The monthly subscription box is the stuff dreams are made of for cooks and foodies. One of the gourmet food items in May’s box was the beautiful Vanilla Rose Ceylon Tea pictured here.

This beautiful (looking and tasting) tea is from Flying Bird Botanicals and I’ve made it my mission to try every tea they offer.

From Eat. Feed. Love.:

The folks at Flying Bird Botanicals are very passionate about plants, the notions of healing and for a good old-fashioned cup of calming tea. They work with farms close to their home in the Pacific Northwest and are dedicated to making artisan teas that serve both flavor and healthful nourishment. They have built solid and meaningful relationships with the organic farmers in their region, which is a large part running their solid artisan company. They have personalized their teas by labeling their lovely airtight recycled tins with hand drawn illustrations. Flying Bird stays true to the beauty of tea in both the way it looks the way it tastes and the wonderfully calming way that it makes us feel.

{Review Continued Below}

Vanilla Beans and Rose Petals Provide the Knock-Out FlavorI love the beautiful little tin the tea bags come in. I’ve positioned it front and center on my tea shelf – with the gorgeous hand-drawn rose in plain view for the world to see.

Even the handcrafted tea bags are beautiful! The’re made with vanilla beans, rose petals and fine Ceylon Tea and, as you’d imagine, they smell like perfect Heaven. With a steep time of four minutes,covered, in water temperature between 185 and 205°F, you get a delicious and comforting cup of tea each and every time.

{Review Continued Below}

The Tea is as Delicious as the Tin is BeautifulVanilla Rose Ceylon tea is as delicious as it gets. It makes a beautiful, relaxing, and in-all-ways perfect cup of tea. The entire experience could best be described as “perfectly lovely.”

The vanilla bean flavor balances out the rose flavor and creates something that has to be tasted to be believed. Drinking this beautiful tea invites a wonderful calmness into your day or night. For a brief period of time, it’s as though you’re sipping tea in a beautiful garden without a worry in the world. For this reason, I enjoy this tea in the evening. It sets the stage for relaxation and comfort.

This tin would be perfect to pair with a beautiful cup or mug for a tea lover’s gift.

{Find Where to Buy Vanilla Rose Ceylon Tea Below}

I all about your attitude, Flying Bird Botanicals!See Vanilla Rose Ceylon Tea on Eat. Feed. Love and try it for yourself. You’re going to love everything about the experience.

Raving Tea Review: Lipton’s Berry Hibiscus

March 2, 2016 by Joi

I read something once that made me howl with laughter – someone intimated that “all” tea bloggers were snobby and high-brow.

Puh-lease. I’d have an impossible time being either high-brow OR snobby in any area of my life and if I were to start – I’m pretty sure I’d start with make-up and work my way up to tea.

Bottom line: I am not a tea snob nor will I ever be. I don’t maintain that “whole leaf tea” is the only tea – far from it. I drink as much store-bought tea from tea bags as I do whole leaf tea.

That’s right. There, I said it.

Companies like Lipton, Luzianne, Tazo, and Celestial Seasonings are household names in my kitchen and each one makes my life as a “Crazy Tea Chick” more delicious and enjoyable.

When any of them come out with a new tea, I throw it in my cart with speed Flash would envy. Recently, Lipton came out with several new beauties and the one you see pictured here was the first one I tried. They had me at Hibiscus.

One of my favorite drinks at Starbucks is the Very Berry Hibiscus. Can you say obsessed? When I saw the words “Berry” and “Hibiscus” on this box, my first thought was, “Very Berry Hibiscus meets tea?! Sign me the heck up.”

I knew it’d be amazing, but I had no idea just how amazing it’d be.

The color of the tea is as gorgeous as the flavor is delicious. The day that I bought this tea was an impossibly cold day, so I came right home and made a hot cup of Berry Hibiscus tea. As I’ve admitted numerous times on the tea blog, I have a big problem with sugar.

Actually, let’s not get it twisted – I have a big problem WITHOUT sugar. Yes, I drink sweet tea and, yes, I claim the right to do so due to my Southern heritage. However, as often as possible, I like to enjoy my tea unsweetened, due to the fact sugar comes to the party covered in calories. So when I find a tea that’s filled with so much great flavor and hits me between the eyes with so much flavor that EVEN I don’t need to sweeten it, it is a momentous occasion.

Lipton’s Berry Hibiscus passed the test with beautiful flying pink colors. I never even considered reaching for the sugar bowl.

The real test came, however, a few days later when I decided to try it iced. Another test.. another pass. Seriously, this tea is simply outstanding. It’s refreshing, flavorful, and 100 percent delicious.

Without a single grain of sugar!

When doing tea reviews, I love to be able to say whether I prefer the tea iced or hot, but in this case I can’t possibly say. It all depends on my mood, time of day, and whether I’ve caught a chill or not.

Bottom line, this is an outstanding tea and I know you’ll love it as much as I do. Look for it in your favorite grocery or department store.

Review: Firepot Nomadic Teas Rooibos Chai Tea Concentrate

December 11, 2015 by Joi Leave a Comment

Firepot Nomadic Teas Rooibos Chai Tea Latte

Firepot Nomadic Teas Delicious Rooibos Chai Tea Latte

It’s not easy for a Crazy Tea Chick to admit that there’s actually a tea she isn’t perfectly crazy about. And yet… well… Rooibos tea and I don’t have a very good history. Throughout my tea-obsessed years, I’ve tried Rooibos tea – each time ordering myself to fall in love with it.

Alas, not a single spark ever flew. Heck, I never had one even begin to kindle.

Me… the Crazy Tea Chick who loves black, green, and white tea like they’re members of the family. Me.. the one who orders a tea-based drink each and every time she’s in Starbucks. Me.. the nut with not one, not two, not three, but FOUR shelves devoted to tea in her kitchen.

It has always bugged me that there is actually a tea I’d have to warm up to in order to even reach “lukewarm.”

On the other hand, I am (without a single doubt) the biggest Chai Tea Latte lover in the world. Obsessed doesn’t cut it and fanatical doesn’t even come close.

So, here was a dilemma recently presented to me: Rooibos Chai Tea Concentrate from Firepot Nomadic Teas! When I picked the bottle of concentrate up, I kind of felt like I had one little devil on one shoulder and one little angel on the other. While I’m sure Rooibos never did anything to earn such an association, it is what it is.

I’ve been so blown away by every Firepot Nomadic Tea I’ve tried that I held my breath – not wanting one to break the streak, yet fearing that if one WERE to break the streak, he’d answer to the name Rooibos.

Firepot Rooibos Chai Tea Concentrate

Naturally, I used my Breville Milk Café Milk Frother to make my Rooibos Chai Tea Latte. Simply pour in equal parts of the concentrate and milk (skim, lactose free, whole milk… your choice) and push the button.

While it worked its magic, I tried to tame the doubts but my brain just kept trying to process the unlikeliest of pairings. In fact, the Eagles classic “Hotel California” started playing in my head, “This could be Heaven or this could be Hell…”

Finally. The moment of truth.

My first thought was literally, “You have no right to be this delicious.” And, yes, as a matter of fact, I do talk to inanimate objects. All the time.

They don’t judge, counter, or rebuff.

From Firepot Nomadic Teas:

Inspired by an ancient recipe from Northern India, our masala chai (meaning spiced tea) has won the hearts and captured the tastebuds of Firepot devotees for almost two decades. Our exotic and aromatic spices are hand-blended and freshly ground for a uniquely vivid and balanced taste. Firepot Rooibos Chai is brewed with South Africa’s mineral and nutrient-rich herb, making our popular chai recipe caffeine-free. {Continue Reading…}

The Firepot Rooibos Chai Tea is just ridiculously delicious. While I do, personally, think the Firepot Masala Chai Tea (click for my review of this beauty) is EVEN better, I am wild about the Rooibos Chai Tea. There is a uniqueness to it that floats my boat and I totally recommend it to anyone who loves lattes – whether or not you’re into Rooibos or not.

If you do happen to love Rooibos… why are you still reading?!?! Go order a bottle right now!

As for me, I believe I’ll have a nice warm cup of it right now.

I have to admit it, Firepot’s Rooibos Chai Tea has inspired me to renew my search for a great Rooibos Tea. There may be hope for us.

It Was, Indeed, Heaven….

Firepot Indian Rose Garden Tea Review: Beautiful in Every Aspect

December 7, 2015 by Joi Leave a Comment

Firepot’s Delicous Caffeine Free Indian Rose Garden

I’ve always had a very special place in my heart for roses. My dad was an AVID rose gardener. He had not one, not two, but three big beautiful rose beds. He even coveted my mom’s perennial flower bed for number 4! Luckily for her, her garden got more shade than he deemed appropriate for his beloved roses, so she got to keep it.

Even today, whenever I see or smell a rose, I think back to growing up surrounded by my dad’s beautiful roses. He would have greatly approved of Firepot Nomadic Tea’s Indian Rose Garden.

In fact, it would have been his favorite tea.

I always have a wide assortment of tea on hand – as you’d imagine a “crazy tea chick” would. Decaf, caffeinated, herbal, concentrates, blends, loose leaf, bags, etc. Basically, if there’s a certain tea anyone in our family needs, it’s available at any given time.

Keeping caffeine free tea on hand is as smart as it is delicious. Too much caffeine after 6:00 pm interferes with your sleep, but if you’re like me, forgoing a cup (or two) of evening tea is completely out of the question.

Enter caffeine free tea to save the day.

A Beautiful, Caffeine Free Blend from Firepot Nomadic Teas

You should always keep great quality caffeine free tea on hand to enjoy in the evening. For several reasons, actually. Not only will it keep you from consuming too much caffeine, the warmth of a great cup of tea in the evening actually promotes sleep and can even lead to sweeter sleep.

The process of brewing the tea is relaxing, in and of itself. The fragrance of the tea leaves, the sound of the water washing over them… as I always say, a very large part of the beauty of tea is that it’s an experience to enjoy as much as it is a drink. Making tea is one of the most relaxing things you can do.

In fact, unless I miss my guess, it’s downright therapeutic. And when it comes to tea, I don’t miss my guesses.

The Picture of Relaxation

What Makes Firepot’s Indian Rose Garden So Special?

I’ve had some loose leaf tea blends that were too “flowery” for my taste. You know the ones – where you’re drinking a cup of tea and keep looking into your tea, convinced that someone threw a marigold into your cup.

Herbs and, for that matter, flowers, should enhance a cup of tea – not dominate it. When all’s said and done, you want to know you’re drinking tea… not tears of flowers. Firepot Nomadic Tea’s Indian Rose Garden blend is just perfect. If someone were to put on a seminar, teaching subtlety when it comes to flavoring teas, they could save themselves a lot of effort simply by serving Indian Rose Garden and saying, “Do thus-ly.”

The Indian Rose Garden blend is everything it should be and nothing it shouldn’t be. The blend is perfection and I wouldn’t change a single thing. The tea’s flavor is delicious, subtle, and unique and it’s “experience” is warm, relaxing, and inviting.

Firepot Nomadic Tea’s Indian Rose Garden

While the box says that you can get 1-2 infusions from a serving, I actually got 3 beautifully. Doesn’t’ it always seem like you’ve gotten away with something when that happens???

INGREDIENTS
Organic: Egyptian chamomile, USA spearmint, Indian rose petals and French lavender

STEEPING DIRECTIONS
Steep 3 teaspoons (2g) of Indian Rose Garden in 1 cup (8oz) of 180° F water for 4 minutes and strain. Makes 1-2 infusions. For 180° F water, boil then let cool 3-5 minutes

Click through the following link to read more about the beautiful Indian Rose Garden Botanical Blend from Firepot Nomadic Teas. As I have with every single Firepot Tea I have tried, I whole-heartedly recommend this tea.

It occurs to me that the same passion my dad had for his roses, Firepot has for their teas. And that, fellow tea lovers, is saying all that needs to be said.

Other Firepot Nomadic Tea Reviews on Crazy Tea Chick:

Firepot Breakfast Black Tea Review
Fierpot Masala Chai Tea Review
Firepot Italian Earl Grey Black Tea Review
Firepot Rooibos Chai Tea Review

Must Have Tea for Christmas: Granny’s Spiced Plum from Pahadi Tea

November 20, 2015 by Joi Leave a Comment

Pahadi Tea Granny's Spiced Plum Black Tea

Granny’s Spiced Plum Black Tea: The Perfect Christmas Tea

If you’re in love with this time of year even half as much as I am, you’re beside yourself right now.

I know the feels – I’m beside myself beside myself.

Whether it’s a meal with your family, decorating the tree, or wrapping presents, everything has to be just right. As you’d imagine, a “Crazy Tea Chick” wants everything just right with the tea she serves too. After all, when you’re a “tea lover,” you have an image to maintain.

I was recently sent a few samples of Pahadi Tea to review on the tea blog. I’ve brewed one, so far, and am crazy – as in over the moon crazy – about it.

The beautiful tea you see here is Granny’s Spiced Plum Black Tea and it is simply wonderful.

Sun-Dried Plum Bits, Cloves, Cinnamon Bark….

I was hooked the minute I opened the pouch and saw the bits of plum and smelled the cinnamon and cloves – my tea fueled brain said, “This is going to be extra special,” and (naturally) it was right.

This delicious Darjeeling Spicy Plum Tea comes from an area where the finest teas in the world are grown – the district of Darjeeling in the Himalayan foothills.

If you think that sounds exotic, just wait until you taste it.

Perfect Tea for ANYTIME But Essential for Christmas!

When I first tasted Granny’s Spiced Plum Black Tea, the first thought to come to mind was, “This tea tastes like Christmas.” Second thought: “I love that this tea tastes like Christmas.” After that, there were no more thoughts, just pure enjoyment of a beautiful, delicious tea.

I knew that the review would simply HAVE to come from a “perfect tea for Christmas” standpoint simply because it is. If Christmas had a tea to symbolize the season, this would be it.

Granny’s Spiced Plum Black Tea would be ideal for…

Warming up after an afternoon Christmas shopping.
Enjoying while decorating the tree.
Relaxing beside the fireplace and/or Christmas tree.
Add a little steamed milk and you’d have a Christmas Tea Latte that any coffeehouse would envy.

While I have pretty much christened it the tea of the Christmas season, I want to hasten to add this… Granny’s Spiced Plum Tea would be more than welcome in my kitchen any time of year. I haven’t tried it iced yet, but I suspect it’d be amazing.

One of the beautiful things about tea that’s so full of flavor is that it needs no sweetener. Anytime you can “uninvite” sugar to your tea party is a grand thing.

From Pahadi Tea:

This tea comes from the area where the finest teas in the world are grown-the district of Darjeeling in the Himalayan foothills. The high-altitude, rich soil and ideal weather contribute to the unique flavor and character of this rare coveted brew relished internationally. Grown exclusively in select 87 tea plantations, Darjeeling is popularly known as the ‘Champagne of Teas’ and is the first product from India to be granted protection under geographical indication (GI) in view of its uniqueness recognized worldwide.

Most tea plants in Darjeeling are of the smaller leaf Camellia sinensis var. sinensis, rather than the larger leaf var. assamica, more commonly grown throughout the rest of India.

While classified as a black tea, Darjeeling teas are almost always less oxidized than a typical black tea. The unique flavor of Darjeeling comes from Chinese tea genetics mixing with Indian terroir—plus the intricacies of harvesting and processing. It’s lighter and less astringent than most black tea, but more layered and complex than most greens.

Packed in Tempe, AZ, USA – Read More

Steeping Directions: Steep for 5 minutes, 208°F. For stronger flavor, steep longer. (I found it to be absolutely perfect at 5 minutes.)

Granny’s Spiced Plum Black Tea Description: Sun-dried ripened plum bits, aromatic cloves and cinnamon bark – blended with finest Darjeeling black tea.

I hope you’ll go right to Pahadi’s Website and order your own Granny’s Black Spiced Plum Tea today. Trust me, you’ll want plenty for the holidays.

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