I wasn’t intending to write about this one yet since I tried it for the first time this morning during a rush to get the kids ready for swimming lessons, but I had to change my mind because of the comments coming from the breakfast table after I poured the water over the mixture.
Picture the mixture (there’s a photo at the top of the page of the black tea leaves, white coconut strips, chocolate chips). In the packet it has a v. strong scent of “lime,” a really acrid smell that borders on chlorine, with some not sweet chocolate underneath and some sweetness that may be the coconut in the corner. It’s on the kitchen counter having just had water poured over it.
Now picture the scene. Two boys, ages 4 and almost 6, eating microwave French toast from Trader Joe’s and drinking orange juice, and the boyfriend about to sit down with them while I am puttering making my own breakfast.
Boyfriend: “What’s that smell?”
Me: “Tea.”
Boyfriend walks over to cup and sniffs. “Caramel?”
Me: “No. Lime, chocolate and coconut.”
Boyfriend: “Ahhhh. It’s the coconut.” He starts to sing: “Put the lime in the coconut and drink it all up, put the lime in the coconut and call me in the morning. Wasn’t that Harry Nilsson, the same guy who did The Point?” He sits down.
Boyfriend: “God, that smells awful.”
6 Year old: “I can smell it from here. I don’t like it.”
Me: “Really? I don’t think it’s so bad.”
4 Year old (Mama’s boy, bless him): “I don’t think it’s so bad either.”
Boyfriend: “Who thinks it smells bad, raise your hand.” Raises hand. 6 year old raises hand.
I take a sip. It’s identifiably lime, coconut, and chocolate, but mostly the acrid lime that tastes a lot like it smells and is throwing the mixture off kilter. I put some milk in it and try again. Slightly better, still way too heavy on the lime. I look at the packet. Chocolate Coconut Lime. I am wondering why it isn’t called Lime Chocolate Coconut?
Me: “It doesn’t taste that good.”
4 year old: “Can I taste it?”
Me: “No.”
4 year old: “Is it tea?”
Me: Pause. Is it tea? Answer. “Yes.”
Sort of.
