There’s a hint of a thunderstorm in the forecast and a few droplets fell as I watered my mint on the patio (just like it rains when you wash your car it rains when you’ve just watered your plants).
During the Evening News a bleeping and ticker-tape message crossed the bottom of the TV screen announcing…“Residents of Cheyanne County, make your way to a substantial structure due to threat of Heavy Thunderstorms”…
OK, the surrounding Counties are getting the storms so I’m probably in line too.
I made a big pot of Manistee Moonrise Tea…knowing that it was smoky (when I was reading the ingredients of several Whispering Pines Tea’s I noticed that several were on the smoky side) and would be kind of nice on a dark and stormy night.
The dry leaf smelled like a black tea with some smoke and a lot of added earthy things…mint, lemongrass and elderberries… all looking like it would be a welcome choice for a hiker, steeped outdoors over a campfire.
I took a sip from my mug and the tea was lighter and less smoky than I expected (which is better for those who prefer lightly smoked tea’s).
I could taste a little spearmint but not the lemongrass.
My favorite way to drink a smoky tea is sweet, so I added my sweetening and think the flavor was much better this way.
The sweet tea wasn’t rough, harsh or astringent.
There’s something very different about this blend. It’s not just a smoke, black tea and that’s that flat tea.
Those other ingredients in the blend…mint, elderberry and lemongrass bring something that aren’t distinctly separate flavors but they combine tasting very outdoorsy and wild.
It reminds me of something weird…chewing mint gum and drinking black tea while sitting around a campfire.
(Not as disgusting as it sounds…think like a kid)
I’ll drink this tea primarily on cool Wintry days to set a mood, and share cups with the grandsons who will love it! OH! I have some Maple Granulated Sugar, that would be good with this tea too!
