Monthly Archives: February 2016

Pomegranate Power

Tea 3 Comments

PomegranateWithOatmeal2

As I promised, I’m continuing and piggybacking on last weeks inspirational Twinings post.

I love Pomegranate and in part because my culture has always embraced this amazing fruit.  I was born in the states and my family is from Iran.  So there’s that connotation. It’s sentimental, it’s family, and it’s love.  I always equivocate it to a holiday, the upcoming Spring season, or in our case, Persian New Year.   Specialty teas for our celebration will be elaborated upon next month.

This wasn’t a life changing cup but this was another strong tea.   I need to remind myself not to have such high expectations unless it’s really called for.   I liked it but I think I wanted some more pomegranate flavor.  But what this might mean is this is a lot more natural than other ‘natural’ teas claim to be.   This is the genuine tea that we stumble upon from time-to-time when you’re not looking.  And seeing is believing or something.

Luckily I was visiting somewhere that had some remarkable Twinings teas.

Happy and healthy was the order of the day.   I paired my cup with some steel cut oat meal with raisins.   I think I just wanted an excuse to write steel cut oat meal in a blog one time. I don’t know why but that term seems funny to me.

PomegranateWithOatmeal

My stomach was settled and I felt good the rest of the day.  It was a welcome alternative to the not-so-healthy meals I’ve had in the mornings.  It’s just a matter of getting used to and being good to my stomach.  Our bodies deserve the best treatment.   I believe that’s one of the biggest reasons tea was created.  It’s good to be good to ourselves.

As I expound on this, I think I like this tea more than I realized.  It’s endeared itself to me.

It feels great.  It feels real.  I feel rejuvenated.

For more on where you can purchase this tea, you can go here, there, or maybe you’ve heard of this place.

Spring is coming! Yes!

All The Best,

Ideen

An Oldie and A Newbie

Tea 12 Comments

TwiningsSteeping

I have been championing Twinings Teas for as long as I’ve been drinking the beverage of champions.

TwiningsCollection

A blessing came into my life last week while staying at a hotel.   In the concierge area, they have a lovely spread of fruits and breakfast items.  But most important of all, they had an amazing spread of Twinings.   The display gave me goose bumps.  I’m not joking.

Several cups were enjoyed over my stay, however, I will go one at a time for the sake of brevity.  It’s good to give as much focus on one and save the others for another time.

The Honeybush, Mandarin, and Orange was my first brew and it was a rocker. The ingredients and brewing time can be seen within both tabs and are user-friendly for your enjoyment.  This tea was for my enjoyment.  I loved it and it keeps the tradition of how great these teas have always been and continue to be. It’s just a wonderful cup that helps alleviate any stresses in the world.   That’s tea for you.

TwiningsBag

One of the reasons I picked this is because it reminds me or Spring and warmer months ahead.  Even the packaging would tell me as such.  It’s beautiful.  And beauty is only a few more weeks away.

Funny how the ingredients list honeybush, natural mandarin, natural orange, and then other natural flavors. Honey, mandarin, and orange, now that’s a trifecta I can get down with.  This isn’t that mandarin orange soda you had when you were a kid and didn’t realize the detriments soft drinks had.  This is natural.  And speaking of which, do you wonder what those natural flavors in this tea are?

When you look at your cell phone or cable bill, they’ll always list other fees at the end of your statement.  We question that but move on don’t we?  I tend to believe seeking of natural flavors has a much more positive connotation.  Interesting analogy I know.  Maybe the mystery and intrigue is what we want.   Either way it’s a winner.

TwiningsWithApple1

To keep it healthy, I enjoyed it with an apple.  This is my random take on a fruit salad but it worked.

TwiningsWithApple2

Well enough of the meta and more tea.  This is great and I want more.  And you can have more too.  It’s so easy to order online and locate at your nearby grocery store or shoppe.

Here are the links in the United States to purchase locally and online.

For my pals in the United Kingdom, here you go.

And for the rest of the world, this is an accessible link!

I think I will do another gem from Twinings next week.  For my original post on this legendary company, you can go here.

Thanks so much

Best,

Ideen

 

Been Too Long

Tea 5 Comments

So what does this title mean?  There are teas and brands of teas that crossed my path years ago that I want to get around to talking about.

Some of these teas are a bit more higher end than usual so it’s not always accessible. Fortunately for me, the teas don’t always need to be purchased, but can be found at hotels and places of employment.  For me both were one in the same at a moment in time.

Harney1

But that’s ancient history.  However, I’ve been way overdue in talking up Harney & Sons.

Their packages and collections are so hard to keep up with (as with many companies), that this will need multiple posts.  And this is exactly what’s going to occur.

Maybe it’s not so much that it’s arduous but it’s a lot of information. There is very valuable nuggets to any tea aficionado or newbie.  This link sheds light on what I’m referring to.

HarneyTropical

I’ve enjoyed many of their teas but for now I’ll elaborate on one I’ve enjoyed for a number of years, the Tropical Green Tea.

I purchase mine in regular bag form but as you can see, it comes in so many shapes and sizes.  That’s an understatement.    And how they recap and review may seem intimidating at first.  It’s very user friendly and explained in a relatable way that I greatly appreciate.

I love the tropical green.  It’s been challenging finding a tea from them that I don’t like or at worst even tolerate.

My cup paired wonderfully with a lemon poppy seed cake.   It was a great duo and a perfect counterbalance or sweets and a pineapple flavored green tea that’s nowhere near as tart as you might think.

The aroma is more pungent than the actual taste.  But don’t let that fool you. This is a fantastic tea and company worthy of higher prices.  I sincerely mean that. If I have to pay a few dollars more for some quality products, it’s worth the shot.

It’s going to be hard finding flaws with this group.  It won’t be my intend to do so. Yet, all I’ve found so far are positives on top of positives.

Want to know more?  Here is a link to their Fine Teas Guidebook along with contact information on the bottom of their main page.

A lot more deliciousness, warm weather, and joy to come.

 

Best,

Ideen

Lots of Fruit

Tea 2 Comments

DellaSconeAerial

It’s a new month and the weather is showing signs of life.  And I am grateful for this.   It’s not quite shorts weather but we’re getting there.  I should also appreciate everything that February has to offer.   It’s traditionally the worst month for snow but it’s also the time when we start seeing spring-like products start to show themselves.  And tea is a big part of that.

I feel it’s only right to review a tea that represents the winter well but also contains flavors right in line with the spring-time that is forthcoming.   Maybe I am getting ahead of myself.

And with the tea I’m about to discuss, maybe I was.

I take it back to one of my favorite places, Baltimore Coffee And Tea Company, which I’ve written several pieces on before.   Those links are accessible here, or maybe over here, or somewhere far far away, or maybe just right here.

This is from a recent visit to their Baltimore Area location, which is hidden but everyone knows about it.  I love the set-up and the cozy environment.  The friendly faces behind the counter also add to everything.

Della&Others

DellaWithScone

However, the Della Robia from Eastern Shore Tea was missing everything it was touting it had.  It’s a serviceable black tea but I did not find any plum, pear, orange, and apple that was supposedly in the tea.   And where was the hazelnut?  What I did  get was small samples of what might be fruit or spice, but I don’t know what those may be.

I’m a huge fan of Eastern Shore, so it makes me take a step back when I try a tea of theirs that’s lackluster.  I’m genuinely surprised by this.

My last review I echoed the same sentiments.  What’s going on here?   Otherwise I’ve been championing their products for years.

What you see in the photos is a bacon and chocolate chunk scone.  People are going to love it.  I had an arduous time finishing the pastry as it was very rich for me.  But I’m going to assume I’m in the minority.  And I hope my tea disappointed reviews from here are going to be the exception as well.

And for information on all the teas they carry, go to this link.

For folks in Maryland their store are listed here.  I’ve been to a couple of their shops and it’s always a genuinely good experience.

You can also order online.  Just click on the teas you’re interested in and go from there.

I’ll be back here soon and with all the confidence that the tea will be amazing.

 

Best,

Ideen