Author Archives: Ideen Barimani

Grateful For This Gift

Tea 5 Comments

WMTeaHappySetUp

WMTeaPotPrePrep

I was fortunate to receive another great birthday present from friends last week.  And I have been waiting to put this to use. I am ecstatic.  I’m in love with this thing.

The Red Cast Iron Teapot Set from World Market is a joy to have and to use!

It makes me feel good that my friends appreciate my love for tea, and many share that same love for it as well.   And in that same vein, it’s a vote of support and confidence for my blog as well.

Included in the opening picture is the teapot, strainer (inside the pot), trivet, two cups, and a sample of their own Green Jasmine Tea.

This thing is a beauty and I am going to make good use of it.  So this will now be another staple of the blog.   And I’m elated.

I think it’s human nature that whenever you receive something new, as in a gift or anything, that you want to learn and read all about it right away. I’ve been guilty of that many times.  And I end up becoming frustrated and forcing the issue.  In this instance, I want to learn about this organically and naturally. Hopefully just like their teas are.

WMGreenJasmine

The tea was a very simple, yet very good one. I’ve had others with more flavor and potency to it.  But that isn’t to say this tea is a pushover.  It was so easy drink and a great introduction to using my awesome new tea setup!

In my usual exciting fashion, there will be a lot of photos.  The creation process is always so fun.  I find it just as enjoyable as the final process of sipping the cup itself.

The tea leaves themselves smelled great and looked beautiful when I grabbed a spoonful. Again, this wasn’t any fancy or avante-garde tea.  It was a great as a sample pack. I kept it simple and didn’t add anything to it.

So here is the inspirational brewing process in pictures :

WMCastIronPotSoloWMTeaPotOpenedTeaWMTeaPotSpoonfullWMTeaPreWaterWMTeaWaterWMTeaPotClosedWMTeaInCups

I’ve been into dry fruits lately.  And I delighted in my mini cups with some dried mango slices.

WMTeaPotWithMangoSlicesWMTeaPotMoreMango

I made an interesting discovery.  The cups may have an insulation that cools down the water rather quickly.  So if you find your water too hot, wait a few minutes.  I literally was away from it for less than five, and it tasted lukewarm.  Which is just fine.  I found it quite hilarious. I know that wasn’t the intention, but it made me laugh.  Oh the little things…

More to come with this gem of a present.

Best,

Ideen

Blueberry Black Birthday Tea!

Maryland, Tea, Virginia 4 Comments

Tovolo

Well I just can’t help myself with the alliteration, can I?

I celebrated a birthday recently, and some dear friends got me some wonderful tea based gifts!  It made me so happy!

I’ve yet to visit the Spice & Tea Exchange.  It always seems to allude me.  I’m at nearby locations, either before it opens or past dark, including Alexandria, Annapolis, and Williamsburg.  It just hasn’t been meant to be.

So the store has come to me via my awesome friends!   Namely, the Ocean City, MD location, which has just opened recently!   Contact information pictured below.

Spice&Tea

The blog needed some spicing up (no pun intended) and some new tea implements, instruments, and gadgets will be making their way onto here!

So what’s that cool thing pictured at the top?  It’s a tea infuser from Tovolo!  This was also part of the gift package!  How beautiful is that!

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And what about the tea that was used?  The Blueberry Black Tea really made my day.  It gave me chills.  And I don’t meant the tea was cold.  It literally gave me goose bumps.  This stuff was magnificent.  I’m getting a happy feeling just writing about it here.   I got a great picture of the leaves up close, as can be seen pictured above!  This was placed in the ball of the infuser before I closed it up  to be steeped.

TovoloTuesdaysTovoloOpened

What you see pictured above and below is the joyful process of using my new favorite item!  It definitely prevents a mess and dripping, as other infusers might do!   I’m in love with this thing and I’m in love with the tea!

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After steeping for just a few minutes, the color really shines and radiates!

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It smells like a wonderful blueberry pie.   While I had no pie to complement the tea.  There were some delicious walnuts that I enjoyed with my cup!

TeaWithWalnuts

Going forward, many more loose teas will be featured from this wonderful store and with my cool new toy!

I love going through the Spice & Tea Exchange’s website. There’s much to discover and learn.   I see they’ve been around for just 10 years.  But they really have some fun teas and related items available. I can’t wait to visit myself.

This is how we get the Summer going in style.  I feel great about what’s to come.

Thanks so much.

Best,

Ideen

Two Leaves, Two Teas – Part 2

Tea 1 Comment

I hope you all had a tremendous holiday weekend. As in Part 1, I had the joy of sampling some new teas from Two Leaves and a Bud.

So I raved about the Peppermint and Chamomile, which was deserved praise.   How were the latter two in comparison? And away we go.

TwoLeavesPart2

First up is the Organic Earl Grey.  As I’ve stated before, this was one of the first types of tea I was introduced to, by my dad, many years ago.   The smell and the taste always brings good memories of when I was a kid.   How does this one stack up?   Well the smell has a little more potency than other similar Earl’s that I’m used to.  But that’s a good thing.

TwoLeavesEarlGreyTwoLeavesEarlGreyCup

The Bergamot that is used to flavor this tea, really resonates.  And like I stated last week, the color really showed through in rapid fire fashion. After just a few seconds of steeping, the tea was ready. Of the many fine Early Grey teas I’ve had before, this is up near the top.  And once again, I think you could get multiple cups, without it losing it’s flavor.   And with a moderate level of caffeine, it was just the right amount to keep me awake and get my day going.  What a great tea this was.

TwoLeavesAssamTwoLeavesAssamCup

And finally, we have the Organic Assam Tea.   This is their take on Black or English Breakfast Tea.  But per their description, it’s more than just that.   In further reading, I see this is the CEO’s labor of love and the tea that’s had the most work and time spent on.  I can see why. Many teas I’ve had in the morning, similar to this, are purposeful but really don’t stand out. This has a lot of character to it. A lot of soul was put into this.  And the flavor, for me, has just a tiny hint of bitterness, which I would love in more teas.  It’s not a taste I’m used to. But believe me, I could get used to it.

Now I have to go back and try my other similar teas, to see if they’re missing something.   And the color is a little lighter than the Earl Grey, but again, has the right amount of caffeine, as to not get too jittery. And again, the steeping took no time at all.

TwoLeavesWithTreats

I had both cups at night with a slice of apple pie and some shortbread cookies!

With this past weekend being a holiday, the mugs reflect places where folks may have visited.

This might be the last I talk about Two Leaves for a while.  I wish it wasn’t.   But I hope I’ve given them the deserved praise. They have so many kinds I want to try now.  And I will.  If I need to order online or track it down at a local shop, I will do so.

In the meantime, I will enjoy my samples and look forward to an amazing Summer of wonderful tea drinking.

Thanks so much.

Best,

Ideen

Two Leaves, Two Teas – Part 1

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This weeks post is the perfect example of how the ideas find us.   I was fortunate to work one of the company tents at the 140th Preakness this past weekend.

TwoLeaves

I was helping with tables and food set up when all of a sudden, I see this beautiful display of teas in a lovely case.  It had such a nice assortment of flavors and colors.  I just had to take a few for myself, to try at home.   Until this past weekend, I’ve never heard of Two Leaves And A Bud.  Where have they been all my life?  And no I didn’t pilfer the entire case!

Since it’s Two Leaves, this discussion will be broken up into two parts.   This week I’ll discuss the two decaffeinated selections. And next week I’ll do the caffeine.  Sounds fun right?

TwoLeavesPeppermintTwoLeavesPeppermintCup

First up is the Organic Peppermint Tea.  Just look at the bag pictured above and you can tell this is something special.  This has some power to it.   When I steeped it in my cup, the color just kept getting stronger in seconds.  I could actually see the hot water change into this amazing, dark and rich shade in moments.

I had this in the evening time and I felt emotions I hadn’t felt in tea drinking before.   I imagine you could get nearly a half-dozen cups out of this.  With just one ingredient, you know you’re getting the real deal here.  This is the perfect tea to put you at ease and instill peace. I had this before a perfect nights sleep.  And this is exactly what this flavor did for me. Incredible.

TwoLeavesChamomileTwoLeavesChamomileCup

And then there’s the Organic Chamomile.   Again, the tint of the color rapidly grew in my cup.  I haven’t seen such a rapid transfer from leaves in the bag to hot water.  It’s really a thrill to watch.   This is a tad sweeter than other Chamomile’s I’ve had, but I’m not complaining.  This is a wondrous pick as well.

This is the perfect soothing and mellowing out tea.  And how beautiful is the bag?  Those are some incredible looking leaves.  As in the peppermint, I think you get a lot of mileage in reusing the same bag.  Magnificent.

TwoLeavesCupcake

I enjoyed both of my cups with a delicious cupcake!

When reading more about this organization, I’m elated and a bit sad at the same time.  I’m happy that I’ve found a new tea brand to support but sad it look me this long.

I’ve not seen them in any stores or tea shoppes near me.  But that means I’ll need to be aggressive in tracking them down. In the 10 years they’ve been existence, they look like they’re really putting their stamp on the tea drinking market.

Part 2 next week!

Best,

Ideen

Pineapple Pals

coffee, Tea Leave a comment

LiptonTea

I had no idea what I was going to write about this week.  And while canvassing the town for a tea to purchase, I caught up with an old friend.  I caught up with familiar face.  I believe it’s someone one we all know well.

I was going to write about Lipton eventually.  It was inevitable.  And I’m glad I chose this time and the heart of the Spring season for my first.

Lipton is one of the first teas I ever had.  I think it’s safe to say that applies to a lot of us.  At one time, many restaurants or convenient stores, only carried the old school black teas from them. If you wanted coffee, there were more options.  But if you wanted tea, it was usually that one or nothing at all.

It’s a different time and more folks are drinking tea than ever before.  And the flavors and creativity are off the charts.  So when I took a drive to find some cool teas, I discovered the Pineapple Chamomile.  And it’s very good.   And Lipton, along with any other companies, have really kept up with the times.

I had no expectations going in. And I am pleasantly surprised. For a warm weather tea, this is perfect.

I’m updating this post, for the morning after.  I had some of the best sleep I’ve had in some time. And I have more energy today than usual.  This tea has something special going for it.

Chamomile is a flavor that took a while for me to enjoy.  Now it’s a tea I actively look for when I’m at my nearby market or tea shoppe.   I’m happy this is my first review of said herb.

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The pineapple and chamomile flavors are both detected immediately.  And the aromas are fantastic.  Some of the other ingredients seem like great complements, but I may have only gotten a smidgen of those.  That doesn’t take away from the fun of this tea.  I think serving this cold during these happy months is ideal.

LiptonBag

And how cool is the pyramid-shaped tea bag?  More tea companies are amping up their creativity, not only with their flavors, but with their presentation.

LiptonHot

LiptonCookie

I found a Hard Rock cafe mug that matches the beautiful color of the tea.   The golden pineapple color really is a charmer. I’m enjoying mine with some mini oatmeal cookies.

As I write this I’m liking this tea more and more. Lipton really brought something refreshing here.  And in checking out their wide array of flavors, I will be reviewing a new one very soon.  Yum!

Thanks so much.

Best,

Ideen

The All Mightea

Maryland, Tea 2 Comments

MightyLeaf1

I have seen the Mighty Leaf tea boxes in stores all over town.  And I’ve always been drawn to their packaged presentation.  But, I never thought to buy a box.  Well now is as good of a time as ever.

MightyLeaf2

Today is Cinco De Mayo.  And that’s an excuse to celebrate.  Many of us will be eating big Mexican meals and indulging ourselves.  I wanted to buy a tea that would help settle the tummy and aid in digestion.

MightyLeafMagic

So I went with the Ginger Twist.   In all honesty, I wasn’t dazzled or blown away.   You don’t need a lot of ginger to help keep you regular.  And I am aware that it’s one ingredient among many others.

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 MightyLeafPouch
 MightyLeafBag

However, the packaging and presentation is mesmerizing. They call their pouches artisanal, and I would agree.    The contents look incredible.   The silk pouches are visually stunning.

And the Annapolis, MD mug has made it’s debut to the blog!

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 MightyLeafCup

MightyLeafBrewing

I just didn’t get a lot of power from the tea itself.  It looks beautiful.  And I’ve provided plenty of pictures to prove that fact.   Visually, everything about this is fantastic.    But there’s something missing with the flavor.

It’s very minty and I could taste the licorice.   And aside from the lemongrass, I couldn’t taste much of anything else.  There’s a vast array of tropical fruits that I was hoping to taste, but to no avail.    After my first few sips, I wasn’t in love with it.  But it got better as it progressed.

It’s not a bad tea at all.  I think I was just expecting a lot more.    I think a lot of people will enjoy it immensely.  I’ll say it was ok.   And by no means will this dissuade me from trying out their products again.   As you can see, they have so much to offer and there’ll be plenty of time to try this company’s wide array of teas again.   And I’m looking forward to it.

MightyLeafCommunity

I did want to post a link about their community involvement. I always love reading about that.

In the meantime, enjoy your celebrations and enjoy the beautiful weather.

Take good care.

Best,

Ideen

From Baltimore to Annapolis

coffee, Maryland, Tea Leave a comment

BaltimoreCofee&TeaCompany

There is so much good about where we live and so much more to explore.  Sometimes we find ourselves in places, either because of planning, or, because of happenstance.   And just maybe, the serendipitous happens.

I have a plethora of tea related things I want to talk about, but I have called an audible.   And I’m happy with my decision.

I always love driving toAnnapolis.   It’s a place I don’t visit enough.  And because of that, places, foods, and things all seem fresh to me.

And I keep discovering new things!   I knew there was a Baltimore Coffee & Tea Co. location in the area.  But I wasn’t sure precisely where.   And without looking, it just appears to me in all its beauty. Life is good like that sometimes.   And I wasn’t even trying to find it.

I walked in and had no idea what tea I wanted. I just asked the friendly face at the counter, what were the teas to choose from, and she asked me to turn around.   And what a beautiful display to choose from.  She just handed me my cup of hot water and I was left to go on an adventure and discover.

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As you can see, there was a copious amount to choose from.   I wanted to stay local, so I saw the Eastern Shore Tea Co. stash, mixed in with everything else.  Maybe I pulled a rabbit out of a hat, because I landed on the Celebration Tea.  How fitting.  There is much to celebrate being in the great state of Maryland.  And there is much to be proud of being a part of the Baltimore and Annapolis areas.

CelebrationTea

What really stands out is the powerful fruits. The trifecta of Passionfruit, Mango, and Starfruit really pack an amazing punch.  It’s a melange of what celebration is all about.   Throw in the Hibiscus and Roses, and everything about this screams joy, peace, love, happiness, and everything that’s right with the world.  This can be served chill for outdoor parties and complement various snacks and meals.   I enjoyed it boiling, but can’t wait to try it cold when the weather really shines through.

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If you would like to read a previous recap from this amazing company, click here.

I could have stayed at this shoppe for a while. Not only do they have tea, but plenty of coffee, and some charming gifts. These pictures are only just the beginning.  If I could try all these teas, I would.  And in time, I will.

The staff was incredibly friendly and that set the tone for the great energy inside the store.  What else can you ask for?

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FunThings

The sun may not have been shining today but its only April.  We’re going to be blessed with many beautiful days.  I’m excited for the Summer, but one day at a time.  I will enjoy Spring, I will enjoy Maryland, and I will enjoy Baltimore.

All the Best.

Love,

Ideen

Source Energy

Tea Leave a comment

Runa

Earth Day is tomorrow.  And I searched far and wide (5 minutes up the road at Wegmans) for a tea that would fit the mold of this special day.  I had so many to choose from, but I settled on Runa, which is a tea I hadn’t heard of until today.   I am so happy I did.  A cup of this made my day.  It felt so good that I had two.  Now I feel I can type a novel.  But I’ll keep this blog to its standard amount of words.

First off, when I was canvasing the tea aisles for a package that would catch my eye, this one did it.   I was looking for words and graphics that represent what this day is all about.   It took me a few minutes, but the answer was in front of me the whole time.  I saw a beautiful image of an orange.  And I saw the term “clean energy’.  And this led me to the Ginger Citrus Guayusa.  This seemed just right.

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This box is incredible. I’m mesmerized.   I took photos all over the place.  I have posted them for your viewing pleasure!

Now about the tea.  It tastes good and it tastes easy. What I mean by that is it went down a lot smoother than many I’ve sipped over the years.   It didn’t feel as rigid on my tongue or in my throat.  When looking this fact up I read that there are no tannins in Guayusa.   Now what is Guayusa? I hadn’t heard of it until today.   In one of the aforementioned photos you can read a quick synopsis.

I wish I had heard about this sooner or I’d be drinking it immediately.  Now it’s a part of my life.  And I am grateful doing this blog has led me to this tea and to the Guayusa leaf.

I switched up the mugs today and went with an outdoorsy theme, with a charming Ocean City, MD image.

RunaComplete

The natural caffeine and antioxidants have certainly brightened my day.  And I am certain they would do the same for you. It’s so powerful that the usual taste of ginger is harder to detect than in other teas.  But you know it’s there.  And the orange peel is a perfect complement to this tea.  As you can see the color really shines.  And the bag looks spectacular.

RunaTrios

I will be sampling more of their products for the duration.

Finally, in going through this website, the Earth Day theme is one that Runa represents the other 364 Days of the year.   They’ve only been around since 2009 and are already accomplishing amazing things.   This makes it that much more fulfilling that I discovered this great organization this week.  I could read about them all day. And I will. It’s good to know I’m supporting something that leads to a big picture of helping and healing.

This is what life is all about.   We’re all a good energy, a clean energy, we’re source energy.

Happy Earth Day.

Best,

Ideen

With Ease

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yogi

With all the stresses in our lives, sometimes you just need a tea to bring you back to a harmonious and peaceful place.   So I go with the aptly titled, Calming, from the wonderful Yogi Tea.

I’ll admit, I haven’t been my usual relaxed self and after I had a cup, I started feeling inner peace and joy. It might be a placebo or it might be the natural ingredients.

Nevertheless,  I feel good and I am much more comfortable typing this out as opposed to a little while ago.  I can feel the stress fading away.  If I drank this all the time, would I always be this content?    I’d like to think so.

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The flavors have been presented to you, and they all bring something to the table.  In reading the synopsis of this tea, I didn’t know Lemongrass and Gotu Kola (which I had not heard of until trying this tea) had such a powerful effect on our nervous system.   The Licorice really gives it a flavor.  And I’m not usually a fan of Licorice, in tea or candy form, but it works to perfection here.  And the lavender feels so good on my tongue and taste buds.

This is one of the higher tannin teas I’ve had in a while, and that comes as no surprise.  Yogi has some of the best and most popular teas in the world today.   If you’d like to see a previous tea of theirs I reviewed, click here.

LoveSerenityease

It’s more than the hot goodness that Yogi provides – it’s also the spiritual aspect displayed on each and every box.  Most of the big tea companies don’t do this (nor do they have to) and this spiritual message is what sets Yogi apart.  It just makes the tea drinking experience that much more meaningful.

Each bag has a message of love, hope, compassion, and other superlatives that are all full of goodness and positivity.   How can you not love this?  In this moment, it makes me want to better myself as a person and bring love to everyone around me.  These guys have done their job!  And a masterful one of that to boot.

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What can’t be forgotten is how amazing this tea is. How beautiful are the leaves inside?  I just had to get a close up.

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The finished product leaves an impressive color that is too beautiful for words.   The pictures and my writing won’t do it justice.   I strongly recommend this tea to anyone who wants to relax, feel good, or just drink something wonderful.  I promise you that you won’t be disappointed.

Stay awesome.

Best,

Ideen

Twinings Tuesdays

chocolate, Tea 2 Comments

EarlGrey

Drinking tea makes me happy.   Sometimes it’s my mind that needs healing.  Sometimes it’s my entire spirit.   And a hot cup will do that.  Ever since I can remember, my dad has had a big hand in educating and indoctrinating me on the joys of sipping.   And one of the first teas he introduced me to was Twinings.

For this posting I sampled the Decaffeinated Earl Grey.  And the flavors and aromas take me back to having a cup with my pop.

How could only two ingredients, decaf black tea and bergamot, taste so good?   I think I just answered my own question. Sometimes two is all you need.  It’s the simple things.   Thankfully this is decaf.  Because as of this writing, I’m three cups in and could drink this all night.   It’s the right balance of sweet, and maybe the slightest hint of bitter.

TwiningsTuesdays

As soon as I dipped in the bag, the scents were intoxicating.  And how about that beautiful color?

ExcellencePackaging

With all the brands of teas popping up, it’s easy for one of the originators to get lost in the shuffle.  Luckily, Twinings has kept up with the times, with new packaging, innovative new teas, and affordable prices.  There’s a reason they have been world renowned and respected for over 300 years.   I get goose bumps thinking about that fact.

This is only the beginning in posting about this legendary company.   They have so many flavors I want to try and as the weather breaks,  And with some of the most user friendly instructions on how to brew perfectly, it’ll encourage me to do just that.

Cadbury

In the meantime, I am enjoying myself with a return of one of my favorite mugs from Assateague Island, and with some yummy Cadbury Eggs.   This is the perfect post holiday treat!   And I find this to be the perfect way to relax and settle my stomach after overdoing with unhealthy foods this past weekend.

I hope you all had a tremendous holiday.  Here’s to a happy and healthy warm weather season!

Best,

Ideen