Jaime

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Happy New Year! Here’s to good things happening in 2011.

I’m starting off 2011 with my favorite breakfast blend. I’ve managed to get a fair amount of this in my stash (thanks to LiberTEAS and Meghann!), but I know that all too soon it will be gone. It’s easily a tea I could drink every day and never get tired of. Smooth, gentle, slightly astringent and just the right amount of vanilla. Perfect for gently waking me up and welcoming in the new year.

So, I’m on my second pot of this, and I’m really not sure what to think. I taste spice, cinnamon mainly, but there’s a hint of cardamom as well. I also taste plum, and there’s just a hint of the hibiscus in the background. I think the fruit flavors would come out more with a longer steep, and I’m tempted to try a 10 minute steep on this, but at 5 minutes the spices are quite strong enough, thank you, and I really don’t want to find out how much stronger they could be. So I’ll hold off on giving a rating for now.

On side note, I think my sickness is coming back. Joy of joys, my nose has been running so much it’s ready for a half marathon.

So I’ve actually been drinking this tea a lot over the break…so much so that this is my last pot. I will say that it has improved for me, but not to the point where I’ll be getting more of it. And it’s not been terribly exciting to drink, but does deliver a good caffeine-get-me-awake feeling.

LiberTEAS sent me a couple of different rooibos blends from this company a while back. I’m just now getting around to having it.

I’m not sure how I feel about the smell of this. I smell apple pie spice, and rooibos. Taste-wise, it’s definitely not a rooibos that I’d recommend. There’s just something that doesn’tsekt well with the other spices. I brewed it for my standard 10 minute steep, it potentially would be better at a lower steep, but can’t say that I’d actually want to try it again.

Extended family Christmas fail: my uncle gave my mom (his sister) a tea-for-one set, and gave me a bathrobe. My mom doesn’t drink hot tea. I already have 4 bathrobes (2 of which were presents from said uncle).

So, anyway, Mom and I split the tea (for her to make and have iced), and she’s keeping the tea-for-one pot/cup to display. The tea itself is…well, not as delightful as I would like for a lemon tea to be. The black tea itself isn’t bad, but the lemon flavoring is a bit reminiscent of lemon scented dish soap. Now saying that, it’s more enjoyable than you’d think. Not something that I’d ever pick up again, but I’ll be able to drink it and finish off my half. It’s kind of comforting in a way I can’t describe. I’ll probably drink it when I’m simply thirsty or don’t want to have something that I’ll have to pay attention to.

Have had two steeps of the last leaves of this from the 12 teas sampler. Have enjoyed the second steep (5 min) much more for some reason. Seems much creamier and richer this time around. A very delicious blend!

I’ve actually had a number of pots of this whilst being here at my parents’s place (snow has thawed slightly and I’ll get to go back home tomorrow). I think I’ve finally got this working right. I took the bags out of the cellophane bag, and then left the lid off the container overnight. That strange, musty taste is now gone for the most part, and I can enjoy it much better now. It’s definitely not my favorite Earl, but at least I’ve figured out a way to brew it!

Finishing off this sampler…it’s an absolutely grand mix of hibiscus, rooibos, and peach. I’ll definitely be getting a big tin of this come summer…it’ll be fantastic iced!!

This is one of the Numi teas that I picked up at my conference earlier this month. I had several cups of this during it, and really enjoyed it.

It’s very nicely spiced; I can taste the cinnamon and the cloves primarily, and the orange is absolutely delicious. Not much of a white tea taste, but I don’t mind that in this blend. This is a blend that is very forgiving on time/temp, as I had no control over either at the conference and it still turned out delicious. This is a blend that I would definitely invest in…and will keep drinking at conferences.

(I’m logging this from the notes I made this morning…)

Merry Christmas!! As per usual on Christmas morning, the kids are awake before the parents (in this case, me and our 10-year old chocolate lab). Trouble loves Christmas, and immediately went to the stockings to find out what Santa brought him. Then he started sniffing through the presents under the tree. He’s the cutesy.

I, of course, immediately started up a pot of tea. I opened the last tea of Christmas sampler, and was so excited. Excellent choice, Frank. I love gingerbread-flavored things, and it’s chai!

Gently spiced, slightly sweet, and perfectly gingerbread tasting. Delicious, and absolutely perfect for this white Christmas morning (2 inches so far). And also very nice with our traditional breakfast: pancakes!!

(second steep was just as good, maybe even better!)

I’ve been craving chai all day, ever since I finished off the gingerbread chai from 52teas. This one is very nice, and it’s caffeine free! I’m finishing up this sample with a big pot. It is very cinnamony, but if you like that, it’s wonderful!

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Finishing off my sample of this from LiberTEAS and wishing I was on a beach drinking something with an umbrella in it. Oy, the holidays and the drama. Going to sit and drink this pot and then go to bed.

Happy Christmas Eve!!

I’m finishing up the sample of this from my 12 days of tea box. This was a wonderful, wonderful idea, Frank. I think all of us who got one have really enjoyed it!

And on a happy note, my taste buds have returned!! Yay, more tea!

I picked this up when Frank did the reblend special. I’ve craved it nearly every morning since, but have tried to take it easy so I wouldn’t run out and have it lost to me forever.

Guess what. It’s the 10th day of Christmas tea. Which means it’s now a part of the permanent collection. Ah, yeah.

And there was much rejoicing throughout the Land of Tea-dom!

This is only my second pot of the day. My taste buds have gone off, and I’ve not been real thirsty/hungry. I hate being sick. Anyway, I thought something hot would help my throat. This isn’t my favorite herbal, so I kinda don’t mind that i can’t really taste it right now.

Backlogging this one whilst sipping today’s tea (which is amazing, you’re going to be so excited)!

I love this blend. This is a tea that screams breakfast. So very, very good.

So, Frank, does this mean that this one is permanent now? And that the one that I’m sipping now is as well?!

The last of my decaf samples from Rachel. Sad face.

It’s been forever since I’ve had a banana split, but for a rooibos blend, this came pretty close. There’s definitely banana flavored, and it’s more of a true banana than a Runts candy banana flavor. In fact, it almost even gives you the mouthfeel of a slightly under ripe banana. There’s also a bit of strawberry, and the end of the sip is a bit chocolatey as well. Overall, very nicely done, but only if you like rooibos and bananas!! Thanks so much for letting me try this, Rachel! Yummy!

Another sample from Rachel! Thank you so much.

I admit, I hadn’t looked at the ingredients in this blend until I was trying to decide between having this one, or the Thai Chai. What, this has Thai Chai in it? Heck, yeah!

I really like what the cream and vanilla do to the chai. It’s still Thai chai, but has this vanilla taste and creamy texture. Absolutely delicious and exactly what I was wanting for my last caffeinated pot of the day! Sad, though: it’s all gone now.

vanilla_bookworm sent me a couple bags of this to try out (thank you so much!!). Even with my stuffy nose (yup, I’m still sniffling), I can still clearly smell the roses. Reminds me of rosewater and my Aunt Della’s vanity…all that fancy old-fashioned jewelry and make-up containers. I haven’t thought of sitting there going through those bits and bobbles for years…if nothing else, I love this tea for that.

The taste isn’t all that different from then smell. Very rosy, and the white tea is still present, though rose is definitely the star of this show.

Finished the last cup of this sample. Not quite as bitter this time around, but it’s not improved enough for me to bump the rating up any. But it’s another sample sipped down!

One last cup of this tea from Rachel. It’s delicious, creamy, spicy, and perfectly pumpkin. Very sad that this is the last bit I’ve got…will have to invest in some more when my cupboard’s a bit smaller.

Backlog from this morning:

I’ve been fighting “the crud” for a couple of days now…and I’m afraid it’s winning. Joy, Christmas Break and being sick.

When I opened this up, I was both disappointed and excited. Disappointed that it’s not new to me (I’ve got a pouch at home), but excited because it makes a great cup that’s soothing and will hopefully get me warmed up and feeling like myself again.

Just like I remember. And now to curl up with a blanket, my teapot, and the DVR (Dexter: last 3 episodes of the season!), and hope the sinus meeds kick in soon.