aisling of tea

I’m finishing up my day with this one, since it tends to calm my tummy and headaches, both of which I have at the moment. I’m just not hungry today, which is weird and tells me I’m sick. I’ve made two full meals for myself today and couldn’t finish either. Blegh. This tea is still delicious and tasty, but I’m just not in the mood to finish my teas today, I guess.

Blegh. I think I oversteeped this, as I didn’t keep a close eye on the time (it’s a rooibos!). It just didn’t mesh well for me. Honestly, the aftertaste was exactly what I wanted the tea to be – smooth, creamy and delicious. But the tea itself….meh. I’ll have to give this another try.

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Today was a day of meh teas. When I picture my teas from today, in my mind I just see a sea of light greens and yellow colors. Not my favorites, but I don’t hate them. They’re just…meh. I started off my day with this, hoping it would inspire me to get off my butt and do something (it didn’t). It developed this weird orange film that stuck to the sides of my mug and moved weirdly as I tilted my mug…it was odd. I ended up just chugging this to empty the mug so I could put it in the dishawasher.

So…meh. It’s okay, but not a restock for me.

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I love a good fruity black, and that’s what this is. I’m enjoying my cup and will likely reach for it over and over until our little sample is gone.

But once that sample is gone, I dunno. It’s tasty, but it’s also kind of..artifical. I had some hot and I’m drinking it cold now and while it’s good, I’m not entirely sure it’s worth a restock. The fakeness is starting to get to me.

AMAZING.

Oh God this tea is good. It’s juicy and pink and DRAGONY.

Rawr

No, seriously, this tea is wonderful. You can taste the berries and it’s tart without being too tart and mmmmmmm no hibiscus!

Mmm. I got a cup of this iced today and immediately went back for a bag to take home. The hibiscus is present, but it didn’t take over. And it was so juicy! I look forward to enjoying the hell out of this raspberry delight this coming summer.

After an ahem busy morning as well as a Costco run and a long streetcar ride into the city, I was dragging along. We got to Tealish and I sleepily placed my order before slumping into a chair. That order was “Do you have Matcha? Beauty. I need a cup sweetened to hell and back. No seriously, at least two teaspoons.” She laughed and did as I asked, happily handing over my “matcha and sugar rush”. Once it finally cooled, I chugged it down. It wasn’t bad! But frankly, I wasn’t drinking it for the taste, and the promised rush was delivered. I woke up and ended up being conscious enough for an awesome afternoon out!

At 9:30 this morning we got a call letting us know that my father in law would soon be picking us up for a Costco run. Quickly we got dressed and I put on the kettle, because what is any morning without a good cup of tea? My throat was sore and scratchy, so I brewed up a thermos of this to take with me on my day. Nom nom nom. The cinnamon and spice worked together to burn away my soreness and kept me warm and purring all day. This was definitely a good start to our busy day out.

I’ve been aching for some of this since Jessie first mentioned having some available for swap, but I treasure it and don’t want to waste it, so unless I have the time to do at least three steeps (western style), I don’t touch it. After a really rough day at work yesterday, I rewarded myself with a cup last night, and then I resteeped the leaves twice this morning, one cup to enjoy while waking up and then another for my travel mug on the way to work.

There are few things I enjoy as much as this oolong. I keep trying others, trying to convince myself that they’re just as good, but this is the one that makes me go “mmmm, I love tea”. Jessie, I owe you an incredible debt for this one. I have a full tin of this beauty thanks to her awesomeness and I’m not entirely sure I can ever repay her XD.

This creamy goodness is easily one of my #1 teas.

edit Also, apparently my Steepster-versary was ten days ago, so happy belated Steepsterversary to me!

So on a DavidsTea run today to pick up some of the new tins, I asked for a cup of something lemony to cut through the mucus from the bronchitis my mother in law so generously shared with me. I had a cut of Bravissimo going, but while that was tasty and soothing indeed, it was kind of adding to the problem. When I got there, I asked for something lemony, and I was offered this and three lemon green. I went for this, as I kinda needed a caffeine boost too. It was a really, really shitty morning. Almost a “walk out on my job and tell them to stuff it” morning.

Anyway. I let it steep too long (boo) and I had honey instead of my usual sugar. Still, it was soothing and helped restore my voice, so yay for that. Still, I don’t think it’s one I’d reach for again.

Oh man…I made a cuppa this in my thermos to start off my morning yesterday and oh man. So good! It tastes like candy nom nom nom. It’s sweet and juicy and just plain lovely. Good call, Indigobloom and Jessie, good call. I can’t remember the specifics, as it was NUTBARS at work yesterday, but yeah, it was a good, good tea. I do remember practically chugging it and then being heartbroken when it was gone.

At our Toronto Tea Party on Monday, we got a bag of this to split and all of us try. This is one I will definitely be purchasing more of.

Absolutely no backhint of ass.

Dear Jessie: Thank you so much for talking me into taking this tea off of your hands. You are my hero.

This is just full of roasty, toasty goodness. Mmmmm, love. And I am perking up, which is very good, as I need it today >.< But this tea is just lovely and I’m happy to have a good bit of it. It reminds me of something, but I can’t quite put my finger on what XD.

My wife snagged a cup of this from the lovely Indigobloom tonight and as soon as we got home, we brewed up a bubbe teapot full to share.

This is lovely! It’s juicy (which I consider a good thing ;) ) and the citrus cuts some of the sweetness…it’s just a nice little tea. Kind of like Pink Flamingo without the overwhelming hibiscus. I think we might need to investigate this further.

Made cup of this in my CRAZY AMAZING NEW THERMOS from Contigo (http://www.fenigo.com/ContigoAutosealTumblers.htm) before heading downtown to meet my fellow steepsterites. No seriously, y’all, that tumbler is freaking amazing. Kitchen Stuff Plus. $20. Worth every penny.

ANYWAY. Yum. I wanted to pick something the wife and I could share and this one won out easily. Delicious. We both just love this tea. It’s right up there with fairy dust. Hot or cold, this tea is love. Juicy and fruity and everything I ever wanted in a tea.

Had a cuppa this at Fran’s for our first annual Toronto Tea Party. De and I asked for cups of tea with the bag on the side and proceeded to steep our own teas from my tea wallet. This was one of my options (I haven’t stocked it with looseleaf yet, just quick bags) and it just plain looked good.

It was great! The flavors weren’t lost in the food, nor did they overwhelm the meal. The raspberry was present enough to make me happy and it didn’t have that hibiscus pop of hatred….erm, tartness. I accidentally let this one steep forever and it didn’t get bitter on me. All in all, this is one I’d reach for again.

Not feeling well today, so I asked the wife to make me a cup of this. Mmmm. It’s like a warm cup of comfort. It always makes me feel better.

So this is one adult that the green color almost scared off. But I’m admittedly touchy about such things. When I was 12-13, we had ham for Christmas. I found a vein in my piece (understandably). I was so thrown off by this that I didn’t eat meat for months…and then mom made bacon. Vegetarian fail. Anyway if something looks “off”, even if I know it’s not, I have a hard time eating it or drinking it. I’ve seen tea this color once, but it was in a long-forgotten mug and had nearly learned how to say “hello”.

ANYWAY. This sample was from the lovely Jillian, thank you so much! I have been dying to try this one and nearly bought a bag when it was rereleased. I’m kind of glad I didn’t though. I’m not a big fan of the tropical flavors, like guava or passion fruit or papaya. They just never taste that good to me, I’d rather have berries. But this tea is pretty good, I’m glad I tried it. Very juicy and full-flavored. I might use up the rest of the sample for a pitcher of iced tea.

So I would recommend this one to everyone to at least try it, but it’s not going to be an addition to my cupboard.

I am so glad we finally got a tin of mate. It saves my life on workdays! Amaretto is my new love, which is surprising since I don’t usually like amaretto liquor or almond-flavored things. But something about this blend is just enchanting. And if you find Amaretto by itself to be too sweet, the earthiness of the mate brings it down a bit. But this was just absolutely lovely and was a great moment of peace within a hectic workday. This is definitely one I will reach for again and again.

This is the tea that got one of my coworkers into DavidsTea. (Santa’s Secret won over most of the others). We bought this tin when we first got into DavidsTea and I’ve had an on again/off again love affair. These last few weeks, it has just really hit the spot for me, especially after meals. It just makes me feel better. It’s just a lovely, feel-good tea. Generally ginger and I don’t get along, but in this tea, we’re the best of buddies.

Now, excuse while I go gawk at the sheer WTFery that is this newest season of Dexter. XD

Wow, has my opinion changed on this one. I reach for it on rough days now, and since I’m dealing with overwhelming stress at work as well as some bs coming from here, this was definitely a day for this beauty.

I forgot about it while it was steeping, and it turned out no worse for the wear. Strong and minty and sweet, I am in love with this cup. I love, love, love licorice in teas, and this one definitely hits the spot. So glad we bought a tin. For me, it helps with my tummy aches and headaches and overall stress level…love.

Used the other half of the package to make some iced tea a few nights ago and cemented my opinion that while this tea is pretty good, it’s not worth the money. shrugs. It is sweet and tasty and refreshing, and I am going to enjoy what is left, but it didn’t wow me.