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Guayusa from Harney & Sons
70

So I slept in late, and when I awoke, my order from Harney was on the doorstep. My day was off to a great start, was very excited to get my goodies, I ordered lots of trial sizes, and a tin of guayusa. Given that guayusa is supposed to be well endowed with caffeine, I gave it the honor of first brew. I used 2 tsp in my 1 liter polish pottery teapot. It made a nice color, about the color of strong mint. It has a vegetable scent… kinda grassy, or maybe yard waste— depending on your mood first thing in the morning.

After drinking my cup, and noticing my energy picking up, my words comming a bit faster, I’d conclude it makes a fine first brew. Yes, this stuff has potential. The leaf is tiny, shredded like confetti. It does tend to scatter on the countertop. This tisane also has flavor— and I like it better than chamomile, which I’ve never seen the attraction, but the husband likes chamomile…I associate it with sickness, upset stomach, recovering from the flu, or for people who can’t have caffeine, something you use to make do or otherwise go without…. but I digress… this is guayusa, not lame old chamomile. I am not at all sorry to have bought 4 ounces, it will definitly get used. Taking a liking to it, and Wide Awake Now!

Though, I must tell you, this is my second order from Harney, and it’s great fun to anticipate getting a parcel, and track it’s movements across the country until the day it finally arrives, like being a kid again, counting down the days to my birthday. So I have to admit, I’m a little disappointed. In the first order they threw in a few teabags to sample. But today, all they gave me was one lousy teabag. One. Chamomile. Why did it have to be chamomile? because they can’t sell enough, they have piles of it laying around or something? Underwhelmed. Anticlimactic even. Pooey on your lousy chamomile. Husband can have it, next time he feels sick.

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WARNING: OPINIONATED

I take my tea plain, no sugar, no milk. I don’t think I should have to wheedle nudge or cadjole the flavor to reconcile it to the name on the label. If it’s good, it should stand up by itself.

Excellent Video on how to prepare matcha http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NRB93In-rE

Favourites—Chinese tea. European blends. Black, puerh, oolong, spiced and Guayusa. Kusmi, Butiki
Meh to Ick—White tea, Indian tea then green is pretty far down on my list.
Dislikes—Rooibos. Matcha. Anything with hibiscus. Lipton. Celestial Seasonings. Bigelow. Red Rose. Red Leaf Tea.


I just love my camelia. Even if I hate a certain kind of tea, I still find it’s provenance interesting. The cultural aspects are every bit as fascinating as the flavor aspects, or maybe more so. Empires have been built and bankrupted over the humble tea leaf.


Becomming cynical about tea companies that are too hyped. Certain tea companies that use candy in their blend, certain tea companies that give away free tea for reviews posted all over the internet with links back to their store. Once someone has posted that kind of review, I tend to discredit their objectivity. I’m no longer interested in reading their reviews. sorry.


FYI—female—married— to a coffee drinker (but he is willing to try my exotic teas, bless him)

Location

oregon, but forget what you’re thinking, this is the dry side

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