82
drank Shanti by Simpson & Vail
4170 tasting notes

I thought I would try this herbal blend with my last order.  S&V has quite a few Yoga blends which is a fun name, because I would never do yoga, especially publicly (I shudder to think at how this appeals to anyone — but to each their own!)  I don’t think this is the Yoga that S&V means anyway.  The nine Yoga blends focus on certain Chakras. ‘Shanti’ means ‘peace’.  In my mind, “peace” means this blend should be calming and peaceful and reduce anxiety.  It seems I need it now more than ever, especially for anxiety, especially for these times.   A large mix of ingredients here (copied from the description): Birch Bark, Rosehips, Organic Cinnamon Bark, Orange Peel, Organic Cacao Nibs, Eleuthero Root, Damiana Leaf, Pau d’arco, Organic Spearmint Leaf, Cloves, Sarsaparilla, Organic Ginger & Organic Peppermint.     It seems like a bunch of earthy ingredients, but the flavor is fairly pleasant.  Mostly I’m tasting the sarsaparilla, with hints of mint, cloves and cinnamon.  A fifteen minute second steep results in a depth flavor similar to the first steep, surprisingly none stronger.  It seems like a thoughtful mix of ingredients.  Did the tea bring me peace?  I’m not sure if anything can.  I try.  Maybe if I mix all nine of the Chakra blends together and drink them at the same time? I’ll drink this blend anyway — maybe it helps some.  Wishing everyone health and happiness. 
Steep #1  // 1 1/2 teaspoons for full mug // 17 minutes after boiling  // 2 minute steep
Steep #2  // just boiled // 15 minute steep

derk

It sounds earthy, warming, slightly stimulating and a bit astringent in the body. Grounding, not necessarily peaceful. May I interest you in a homemade blend? Health and happiness to you as well, tea-sipper.

White Antlers

I scoffed at doing yoga for the better part of my life. When I finally tried it, I spent the first 30 minutes of the class annoyed with intense inner chatter going on like a brass band. Then that chatter stopped and it was all I could do to just breathe and hold a pose. As someone with severe ADD/dyslexia (don’t ask me to tell left from right!), it was wonderful to be able to be mentally present and in the moment for a good part of the class. So-not pushing you to try yoga at all, just putting in my 2 cents.

ashmanra

My husband and I started with Healing Yoga for Aches and Pains from Amazon. It was free with prime and another by the same couple called Yoga for Common Conditions could be rented. We eventually learned the harder versions of each pose as well as some additional ones and now we go through streaks of doing it regularly. I need to get back to it. Yoga with a pot of tea on a warmer , sipped between sets while soothing music plays, is so peaceful and really helps me.

White Antlers – no ADHD here that I know of, but I have controlled mirror dysgraphia! I started out writing everything in a mirror image but learned to do it the normal way. I am a lefty and it happens to us more due to random lateralization. I can get really confused if I write backward “for fun” much.

White Antlers

ashmanra-That is so interesting! And what a unique talent! I was born a lefty but in that era, kids were leaned on very hard to use their right hands. We were told back then by parents and teachers that ‘life is very hard for left handed people.’ WHAT?!

No one ever addressed learning disabilities like dyslexia then, either. I was humiliated often by my teachers for not being able to do math (dyscalculia) and for my poor fine (writing) and gross motor skills. My handwriting is dreadful to the point where sometimes I can’t even read it after I’ve taken down a note or phone number. When I was in my 50s, I sought pharmaceutical treatment for the ADD but can’t tolerate stimulants like Ritalin and the off label stuff was completely useless. Yoga really does calm my mind and allow me to focus-at least while I’m doing it. Right now, it’s way too hot but I am looking forward to getting back into my practice come cooler weather.

ashmanra

White Antlers – I was very fortunate. There was no kindergarten here when I was growing up, except for private school which we couldn’t afford. My first grade teacher was fresh out of college and ready to tackle her class with modern methods. I was allowed to continue using my left hand. She told my mother to watch me write and gently remind me to go in the other direction. Since I did both without preference, it just became natural.

Now my cursive backward looks like a child learning cursive because I never really practiced it, but my manuscript writing backward is fine.

I am divided hand-wise. My fine motor skills are all left, and my major motor skills are right. I bowl and bat right handed – not that I ever bowl or bat – I play guitar right handed. I paint a wall right handed but paint a picture lefthanded.

I am sorry you did not have a good school experience.That is so disheartening for a child when it should be utterly magical!

Look how awesome you turned out!

tea-sipper

WHOA, I’m loving this conversation. Learning all about mirror dysgraphia and math dyslexia, which cripe, I probably have math dyslexia. :X

White Antlers and Ashmanra – Thank you for your experience with yoga. I figured some around these parts probably practiced yoga. I do like hearing about previous expectations and opinions being flipped around anyway, Antlers. :D

DERK – This blend isn’t astringent at all, even with a 15 minute steep! Thank you for the well wishes and the offer of the homemade blend! I would love to try it, but I feel like the package you sent me is still very recent! Maybe we will remember the blend for a later package?

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derk

It sounds earthy, warming, slightly stimulating and a bit astringent in the body. Grounding, not necessarily peaceful. May I interest you in a homemade blend? Health and happiness to you as well, tea-sipper.

White Antlers

I scoffed at doing yoga for the better part of my life. When I finally tried it, I spent the first 30 minutes of the class annoyed with intense inner chatter going on like a brass band. Then that chatter stopped and it was all I could do to just breathe and hold a pose. As someone with severe ADD/dyslexia (don’t ask me to tell left from right!), it was wonderful to be able to be mentally present and in the moment for a good part of the class. So-not pushing you to try yoga at all, just putting in my 2 cents.

ashmanra

My husband and I started with Healing Yoga for Aches and Pains from Amazon. It was free with prime and another by the same couple called Yoga for Common Conditions could be rented. We eventually learned the harder versions of each pose as well as some additional ones and now we go through streaks of doing it regularly. I need to get back to it. Yoga with a pot of tea on a warmer , sipped between sets while soothing music plays, is so peaceful and really helps me.

White Antlers – no ADHD here that I know of, but I have controlled mirror dysgraphia! I started out writing everything in a mirror image but learned to do it the normal way. I am a lefty and it happens to us more due to random lateralization. I can get really confused if I write backward “for fun” much.

White Antlers

ashmanra-That is so interesting! And what a unique talent! I was born a lefty but in that era, kids were leaned on very hard to use their right hands. We were told back then by parents and teachers that ‘life is very hard for left handed people.’ WHAT?!

No one ever addressed learning disabilities like dyslexia then, either. I was humiliated often by my teachers for not being able to do math (dyscalculia) and for my poor fine (writing) and gross motor skills. My handwriting is dreadful to the point where sometimes I can’t even read it after I’ve taken down a note or phone number. When I was in my 50s, I sought pharmaceutical treatment for the ADD but can’t tolerate stimulants like Ritalin and the off label stuff was completely useless. Yoga really does calm my mind and allow me to focus-at least while I’m doing it. Right now, it’s way too hot but I am looking forward to getting back into my practice come cooler weather.

ashmanra

White Antlers – I was very fortunate. There was no kindergarten here when I was growing up, except for private school which we couldn’t afford. My first grade teacher was fresh out of college and ready to tackle her class with modern methods. I was allowed to continue using my left hand. She told my mother to watch me write and gently remind me to go in the other direction. Since I did both without preference, it just became natural.

Now my cursive backward looks like a child learning cursive because I never really practiced it, but my manuscript writing backward is fine.

I am divided hand-wise. My fine motor skills are all left, and my major motor skills are right. I bowl and bat right handed – not that I ever bowl or bat – I play guitar right handed. I paint a wall right handed but paint a picture lefthanded.

I am sorry you did not have a good school experience.That is so disheartening for a child when it should be utterly magical!

Look how awesome you turned out!

tea-sipper

WHOA, I’m loving this conversation. Learning all about mirror dysgraphia and math dyslexia, which cripe, I probably have math dyslexia. :X

White Antlers and Ashmanra – Thank you for your experience with yoga. I figured some around these parts probably practiced yoga. I do like hearing about previous expectations and opinions being flipped around anyway, Antlers. :D

DERK – This blend isn’t astringent at all, even with a 15 minute steep! Thank you for the well wishes and the offer of the homemade blend! I would love to try it, but I feel like the package you sent me is still very recent! Maybe we will remember the blend for a later package?

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Bio

Hi! I love tea and trying new ones – it adds a bit of variety to my day! Books, music, TV & movies are my thing… and tea, of course.

Some of my favorite tea shops (still operating):
birdandblendtea.com
teavivre.com
52teas.com
svtea.com
whisperingpinestea.com
justea.com
harney.com
Dammann Freres
fusionteas.com
Javateaco.com
Lupicia
Octaviatea.com
Davidstea
eco-cha.com
what-cha.com
singleoriginteas.com
teasenz.com
tealyra.com
Mandala
verdanttea.com

Favorite tea shops (RIP):
butikiteas.com
steapshoppe.com
steepcityteas.com
aquartertotea.com
dellaterrateas.com
zentealife.com
angrytearoom.com
theteamerchant.net
joysteaspoon.com
tealiciousllc.com
Rivertea
Specialteas

My icon photo is Richard Mayhew from the graphic novel ‘Neverwhere’ by Neil Gaiman, Mike Carey & Glenn Fabry.

Most of the teas listed in my cupboard are actually sample sizes. I don’t really have 2,000 ounces of tea around here! Many of my teas have only one teaspoon left… maybe two. But I like keeping them in my cupboard list for reference to what I could be sipping. Usually, I write tasting notes once for each tea. I’m still drinking them, just not writing tasting notes each time!

I’m always in search of: Hattialli, Qu Hao black, Jin Jun Mei, teas using marshmallow root.

My dislikes: hibiscus, ginger (unless in chai), turmeric, bee pollen, charcoal type flavors

My ratings:
95-100 – Super awesome deliciousness favorites – cupboard essential
80-95 – Also pretty delicious
65-80 – Pretty good
50-65 – Okay
1-50 – Probably won’t want to sip it again

I’m planning on being a Steepsterer as long as there IS a Steepster, so if you’re not hearing from me, that means something happened to my health… if you know what I mean. (Or as evidenced by the great computer hiatus of 2019, something happened to my computer… I have a dumb phone so can’t access internet on that. As of 12/20/21 my wifi might start getting unreliable.)

Happy sipping!

Location

USA

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