BoxerMama

It’s much easier to bring tea bags to work than loose leaf. There’s never a lull and no one likes an over steeped leaf.
Today in the mad rush I was in I grabbed a couple bags of this and ran out the door. Around 3pm I hit a wall and decided to brew up a pick me up. Started the kettle, dropped a cube of plantation sugar in my cup, opened the fridge. . . No milk?!!!!!!!
French vanilla international delight coffee creamer… Doesn’t sound too bad with Chai.
Only problem encountered was the fact that this tea is overwhelmingly gingered. I got punched in the mouth with ginger.
In the end it tasted like ginger snaps, but I couldn’t decide if I liked it or not so I wont rate it yet.

Guayusa scares me. I had a cup of bare guayusa a few weeks ago and dumped it down the sink. BUT, after only one third of the to go cup I had a huge energy rush. So, today I woke up exhausted and rushed as it was the first time I didn’t set the alarm for my usual 6 am, but 7 instead. So I brought this to work with me. Man is it good! I put milk and cane sugar in it, that’s how I like my morning tea. It tasted almost bubble gum like!
Thanks to Will Work For Tea for this sample!

Officially a butiki fan girl. This is unlike anything ever.
The first sip confused me, not overly familiar with tamarind. It was sweet, creamy sweet. Then this taste came over me that reminded me of a hard candy that I was given at an East Indian restaurant on vacation. A sweet, slightly sour, spice.

Thanks to Will Work For Tea for this sample. This tea cements the fact that I need to order from Butiki. Fabulous tea. Creamy, fruity and sweet.

Decided, after much debate to go check out the farmer’s market today. Parking lot was UTTER MADNESS, so I went to DT instead. Purchase some new Pure Vanilla and a tin to keep my swap swag in. Tin isn’t big enough, but that’s another story.
I get home and let the dogs out, sit down, check FB and find out there was a dog show at another building on the grounds and that was why it was so busy. I would have loved to check it out. Disappointed.
Let the dogs back in, the brown devil aka Rally Rims is COVERED in mud. She needs a bath which will take a wrestle. It’s a darn good thing I have a great cup of tea in my hand or I’d go mad… Wait, the other dog just yarfed. Can it be a new day now?

This actually tastes like Pistachio Ice Cream! It’s kind of a weird sensation to be so familiar with that taste and experience it in a different way! It’s VERY good and I’ll definitely be placing an order once it’s restocked.
Thanks to Will Work For Tea for this generous sample!

I have no words. I am enjoying it greatly.

Funny I haven’t done a tasting note yet, I drink this all the time.

The manager at DT here got me hooked on the one. I never let myself run out. I love the body that pu-erh has but I’ve learned that I do not enjoy unflavoured pu-erh. I shouldn’t really say that, I’ve only tried one from DT. Way to earthy for me, taste like it was made out of a horse pen. lol
This, however, is one of my favourite teas, a staple in my cupboard. It’s smells citrusy and tastes fruity and sweet, but bitter at the same time. The after taste is smooth and licorice-y. Good any way you want it!

I was super excited to try this. I love mate teas and this is one of a few swapped from Awkward Soul.
I was seeking comfort from this tea. Tomorrow is my birthday and I’m not pleased about turning another year older. This past year has been the best one yet, but still not keen.
Why do we have to grow up anyway?
Anyway the tea…
First sip hinted that this was not one to be drunk bare. In goes a bit of raw sugar…. Nope, something still isn’t right. Little milk, but more sugar. Nope.
Sadly, this tea tastes like burnt leaves and cocoa powder. Not, awful, but it’s flavours do not jive.

Thanks to AwkwardSoul! I am thoroughly enjoying this cup of tea! I used a fair amount of leaves (2 tsp to 8 ounces of water) and put it in my steeper. They expanded quite a bit. I only let the kettle get to the point of steam coming out, but I didn’t use a thermometre. It steeped 4 minutes. This tea is sweet and almost pepperminty. With grassy goodness! I may order some!

Received this one in a swap with AwkwardSoul amoung MANY others! :)
First sip: light and chocolatey, leaves a bit of of a spicy taste in your mouth.
Very good, though I don’t know that is will find it’s way into my permanent collection.

My BFF. Easy to use, easy to clean, helps make a great cup of tea!

We heard back last night. . . No Sphynx kitty for us yet. :(
Drowning my sorrows in a cup of persian apple. Normally I’m not a huge fan of fruit teas. For some reason, I love this. It’s sweet and a little tarte. I like to drink it bare and I think it would make a great iced tea as well.

So very sad. Just went to place another verdant order and discovered that Golden Fleece is sold out. :(
My cup of Chocolate Phoenix Chai is comforting me.

mmmmmmmmmmmmm

I bought a mini-kitchen scale specifically for this tea. I was going to by those little craft ziploc bags for future swaps… but then I realized how sketchy I would look buying a scale and tiny bags. :S
I have recently come to love oolong. Out of the three teas I ordered from verdant I was most excited to try this one, but also the most nervous to mess it up.
So, I broke out the tea paraphernalia, aka scale, measured out four grams and dumped it into my steeper. I need a gaiwan.
The website said 10 seconds max as a first steep, so that’s what I did. This tea went VERY dark, VERY quick. The scent is sweet.
I keep trying to sip the tea and swish it to pin point the flavour, but it seems every degree it cools it shape shifts. It’s bold and astringent, then sweet and fruity. Very excited for the next steeps.

Oh. My. GAWD! I feel like in purchasing this tea I must’ve sold my soul to the devil. This is amazing. It’s so even, no spice stands out more than any other. They have learned to live in perfect harmony. We need to take a lesson from this tea.

Mmmmmm. . .
My dog is sleeping on my lap right now. She’s not small (60 lbs) and I’m typing on a laptop, most awkward note ever. But, she’s cute any gets away with everything. 1.5 years ago I joined the waiting list for Spynx breeder, the first breeding didn’t take. When I got home from work yesterday there was a msg telling me too call her right away. Apparently from her recent litter there is one kitten left, her intended purpose was a gift for her aunt. Her aunt is waivering and I’m next in line! Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! I’ll find out Tuesday if I get to become a sphynxmama!
Which of course means everything is exciting. I already know I love pumpkkin chai, but I especially love it today!

I may or may not have dance after my Verdant order arrived. It took two loooooong weeks to get here. Seeing as how everyone is so intense about this tea I have decided to drink it bare. This is something I don’t normally do.
I was incredibly nervous about it because of the odd steep times. I’ve never had a tea that gets steeped for one minute.
It smells like sweet potato and tastes rich. I regret making the first try a morning where I’m rushing though.

I went a little crazy at DT today. I couldn’t help it, so much yumminess! This was an impulse buy, I went knowing what I wanted, but I was purchasing some of this for a swap and once I smelled it I had to buy it.
It is the flavour equivalent of a warm blanket and a good book. Cozy, comforting bliss. Cinnamon and allspice come out the most with a tough of sweetness from the marshmallows.
The fall collection can never go away.
On another note I finally bought a new kettle, no more CaveMama.

Another in the swap from WillWorkForTea, who kind of spoiled me.
Today took a turn and I’m going into the dentist to see about my cracked tooth. So, until then I shall sit around a drink tea!
This one is pretty good. It has more of a caramel smell than taste. I had to agave it quite a bit though.

In july I cracked a tooth and it was incredibly painful. Due to the health professional shortage in my wonderful province, it still hasn’t come out of my mouth and I have 3 weeks to wait to see a dentist. Antibiotics helped, not anymore.
So, I woke up at 6am in excruciating pain and decided to clean my house before I start this busy day. House is still quiet if you ignore the dishwasher and snoring dogs that followed me downstairs.
I thought this is the perfect opportunity to enjoy some Genmaicha. I was certain I messed up my last attempt and I was right! This cup is toasty, not overly rice-y. Unfortunately I hear movement upstairs which means it’s time for me start breakfast. Someday, Genmaicha, someday.

Another tea from the swap with Will Work For Tea. I was VERY excited to try this one, the reviews are pretty well positive. Unfortunately something about this tea is not agreeing with me. I may try it with more sweetener or a heavier milk. Right now it only has a small amount of skim milk and a bit of agave.

My first Steepster swap! Thanks to Will Work for Tea for this lovely surprise! I love Pumpkin, I have been patiently awaiting the comeback of Pumpkin Chai from DT and felt this could hold me over until TOMORROW when it’s re-released. So, I busted out my pot to brew up my CaveMama tea and then I dropped my digital thermometre in the water :(. So I just went with boiling water. After I prepared it, but before I tasted it BoxerPapa showed up and tasted it. His response “Can you make me some of that, but stronger?”
It’s good thing I only need it until tomorrow…
I had read the reviews that this was a weaker tea so I tried to compensate by using 1.5 tsp in 6oz water. I steeped 4 minutes on mine. BoxerPapa got 5 min and a rounded 1.5 tsp. . . He didn’t complain so I assume it was satisfactory.
The taste to this tea is quite light, but good. The cream (I would guess vanilla?) is a bit more potent than the pumpkin and you can’t really taste the tea nor does it give you much of a jump start. But, this would be a good after dinner tea!