Tag Archives: Lemongrass

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HarneyGreenTeaCoconutDisplayWithDog

With all the writing that I do, it’s hard to not sound repetitive.  I’ve only recently started looking back at stories from the last year, and I’m proud that many of them have a different slant on teas, similar teas, and just life in general.  While I do see similarities, every story is different, and every story feels significant and feels real.

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Harney & Sons continues to be one of the standard bearers for tea, and it’s highly sought after by many of my friends and peers, that it’s the one tea they prefer, and some they only sip exclusively.

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They’re doing something right.  That’s an understatement by the way.  All their teas are available for purchase here, and here is my Harney history lesson.

Speaking of exclusive, I first had the sense that Harney & Sons teas had this stigma of being unapproachable and only available to the elite and high society types.   My presumptions were false.  However, over 10 years ago I worked in a typical corporate environment where their teas were served at parties, luncheons, and other events, where I thought this tea was out of my league.

Don’t ever thing something is out of your league.

But I would grab the leftover bags, and of course the free food when everyone left, (hey free food is free food), and when I would have their teas, I thought I had struck gold.  It’s gold alright.

HarneyGreenTeaCoconut

And free tea is free tea, but this is worth paying a little extra for.  While most teas are $2-$4, to only have to pay $6 for the Green Tea Coconut tin 20 pack of sachet’s, is a bargain.  That is more than welcoming, more than inviting, and feels like home.

This tea takes us back to February, where the weather was different, and the teas are all going to be hot.  They’re still going to be hot, here and there, as the weather gets nicer.

Everything about this is great.  I was on a mini vacation, and while I was isolated, I really wasn’t. I had the company of some amazing dogs, beautiful nature, and a selection of teas where you throw in that kid in a candy store analogy.  Just a little healthier of course.

HarneyGreenTeaCoconutSachet

Green tea, coconut, vanilla, ginger, and lemongrass is a memorable melange, where my words are not going to be enough.  When I opened up the tin, the immediate sensation and feeling of all the goodness hit me.  I knew the steeping and brewing process was going to be just as special.

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Perhaps it’s because I was away from home, yet I was in a home where I felt comfortable and at ease, that this might be more romantic then if this were somewhere else.  A tea like this deserves all the romanticizing in the world, yet doesn’t need me or anyone else to do so.  This is a masterpiece.

I’m glad I had this, where I did.  The three dogs I shared this time with (no I didn’t give them any tea), made this all the more memorable and my heart feels so big right now.  The pups did it, this tea did it, and something just made my spirit so big.

HarneyGreenTeaCoconutDisplay

This was 3 months ago and I remember it like it was well, I don’t know.   It’s beautiful.

I’m glad I decided to write this today.  It’s Be Kind To Animals Week, and I’m so happy and grateful that some caricatures of animals are on display with this incredible tea.

Where do we go from here?  I almost want time to stand still or I would love to go back to this story.  I’m glad I have this written out, and I have this memory that will last with me forever.

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This is a tea for now, and for….

Blessings to you..

Ideen

Sweet Lemon

Tea 11 Comments

BigelowILoveLemonDuck

Bigelow Tea really came through in a big way when they didn’t have to.

Two weeks ago I gave a negative review of their Lemon Lift Black Tea and they responded immediately to my post.

A fruitful and spirited discussion with Kathy, the Consumer Service Supervisor, ensued.   I was grateful that my post was read and responded to in kind.   The conversation was fantastic.  And they promised to send me a couple of teas and I just knew I had to review one of them.

Lemon Lift was sent to me, maybe for another review.  I will get to that again. But they went above and beyond to send me the I Love Lemon.  This is going to be the dichotomy of two weeks ago.  It’s a complete reversal of fortunes if you will.

The benefits of lemon are unlimited.  And this tea is an all encompassing melange of all that and then some.  I’ve had some minor health issues recently and tea has always been my vice, in this situation, or previously.  It could be the change in season, my sometimes questionable eating habits, or a lack of rest.  But a comforting tea, herbal or caffeinated, at least has been a temporary relief.

How about the clearness in my cup.  No residue or foam to be found.  This is intriguing per my previous post.

I Love Lemon is more than just a temporary relief.  It won me over instantly.   I’ll be honest here.  I’ve had this tea on more than one occasion.  Sadly I think it’s just been a cup in my repertoire like any other.  The more tea you have.  The more you might forget about some of the brands that hit a nerve.  Maybe I’ve just taken some of these for granted.

BigelowILoveLemonAerial

Lemongrass and other lemon-like flavors merge together harmoniously.  And that lingering finish is permeating.  It’s on my tongue now and doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon.   I don’t want it to.

The tannin level for me is high.  Just as the feeling may persist after a glass of wine, it resonates here.  This is fantastic.

Is it because Bigelow sent me a package that I’m fawning over this?  That’s a possibility. But good tea is good tea.  It’s one of the better ones I’ve had and reminds me why they’re such a great company.    My respect for them has grown exponentially.

Since their is a bitter taste to the tea, a more fruity and sweet treat is meant to join my cup.  So how about a raspberry danish?   This was the polarity and contrast I was looking for.  Maybe I wasn’t looking for it.  But it’s a winner.

BigelowLetter

The positive energy that exuded from the letter and complimentary teas speaks volumes. I’m grateful for the opportunity.  I’m also grateful that they thought this much of me to send me a care package.    The letter I received is too good to share.  It’s one of those things I rather keep to myself and within the universe.

Bigelow Tea, until we chat again, thank you.

Love,

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.

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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.

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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
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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

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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

With Ease

Tea Leave a comment

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

My Maryland

Baltimore, Canton, chocolate, coffee, fun, spices, Tea 4 Comments

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I’ve been meaning to write about Baltimore Coffee And Tea Company for a very long time.  I am grateful to have the opportunity now.   If you’ve ever been there, you know it’s a happy place, with a welcoming aura, and a great energy.

In a future post, I will talk about the Timonium location and all the fun that takes place there.   They have four stores,  but I will start with where’s closest.

What you see at the top of this post, is the Maryland Tea Sampler via the Eastern Shore Tea Company, and how awesome is that packaging?  I wish I could write about all of them, but as seeing I’ve only had one thus far.  One (or two) at a time folks.

Here’s the back, with the basic ingredients listed, and other fun information :

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What I sampled as the Canton Spice, and on a cold evening such as last night, it was the perfect remedy.   And everything about the wrapping is beautiful :

cantonspice

Even though Spring is around the corner, it’s nice to enjoy a tea that warms me up in another way.   And with the combination of cinnamon, ginger, clove, lemon added to the black tea, it represents everything that is good in the world.   I would recommend this to anyone.  Based on the flavors, it can be drank at all times of the year.  I enjoyed it with a few dark chocolates.

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If you look closely, you can see the steam rising above.  Wonderful stuff.

Now there is one last ingredient I wanted to list separately.  I had never heard of Star Anise, until I looked at this package. I have included some links, to help you and I.  This will be an ongoing learning process, which is a good thing.

I could dedicate an entire blog to the store itself, and there will be many posts coming about their many choices, as they have an incredible selection.

I have always been a supporter of local establishments and what better representative can you have then Baltimore Coffee & Tea.

When you combine the joy of tea drinking to the joys of supporting local shoppes, it’s a win-win for everyone.   To be continued. And soon.

Thanks so much.

Best,

Ideen

The Good Earth – Literally

Good Earth, inspiration, roses, Tea 2 Comments

GoodEarth

Another brand of tea I don’t have nearly enough of is, Good Earth.    I discovered this gem nearly ten years ago and I have been happily sipping ever since.  I have so many in my stash, they date back to the old packaging, pictured above. Major faux pas.  The Organic White Tea Sweet Citrus has been rebranded, along with many of their teas.  Some have been discontinued and new ones have been created…

…And here is the new look.  Awesome right?

I will be taking a trip to my friendly, neighborhood store to check out the slick labels and new flavors.   But in the meanwhile, a recap of this lavish cup is in order.

There’s so many ingredients that I won’t list them all.   White Tea, Lemongrass, and Chamomile are the three off the top. I couldn’t detect the latter.  And had no idea it was in there.  And even after a cup, I still can’t trace it.  The Lemongrass, for me, was easy to taste.   Rose Petals and Rose Hips are included, but I suspect in smaller amounts.   With a melange of flavors, the Jasmine Tea that is included, was not found on my radar.   Nevertheless, this is a comforting cup.  It’s the right amount of sweet that isn’t overpowering.  And that is what drinking your favorite cup of tea is all about.  It’s all about your taste buds and preferences.    It’s your cup of tea, pun intended?

There’s a lot to like about the packaging too.   A breathtaking drawing of a butterfly is on the front.   On the back, there is a Caffeine Meter, which compares the milligrams of caffeine, per cup, against other teas and coffee.  Fun!

And the tea tag itself, has inspiring quotes applied to each bag.   Per it’s In The Know section, you can enter a quote to be selected, and other great perks by joining their FanFare club.  I just signed up, while I write this review.

As you can see, this is a tea that is evolving.  From it’s tea, packaging, and tags, there is much to like.   I just need to keep up with all this myself.   There is so much to talk about, that I only scratched the surface.  And a review of one of their newer teas will be coming soon.   In the meantime, I will be enjoying this inspirational beverage :

GoodEarthBrewed

Take good care.

Best,

Ideen