Tag Archives: White Tea

I’m Late To The Party

Tea 11 Comments

HoopTeaWithCake

Where do I begin?  How had I not heard of Hoop Tea until this past Saturday.

HoopTea

I was supposed to go on a brewery bike tour with friends over the weekend, but the universe had other plans for me.  I enjoy the bike riding, the company that’s involved, but beer on the other hand is not my forte.  How tea and beer merge is something I’d never prepare for.

This blog is all things tea.  And that means anything tea.  So when I found out after the fact that friends of mine tasted some malt tea (and bought some to go) at Peabody Heights Brewery, I was floored.  I was excited but also dismayed at myself that I missed this opportunity.

I’ve been on previous bikes and brew tours with this same group and the tasting room is available several days a week, so my opportunity would be coming.   Thankfully it came even sooner, July 4th to be exact.

HoopTeaReady2

Fortunately, at the holiday party I attended, (hosted by the same folks who host the bike tour), the White Mango tea was in plain view for sampling and sharing.  And  this was something else.  It was so easy to drink.  With a 4.0% alcohol content it was deceptively light.  A few quick glasses of this could really do some damage.  So I limited myself to two. And I drank them very slowly.

HoopTeaCup

Upon research, the sweetness comes from the organic cane sugar, maybe more so than the mango.  But nevertheless this was incredible.  To be fair, I have nothing to compare it too so I would love to try some more flavors in the future.  And my intent is to do so and soon.

We’ve got plenty of summer left.  This is the quintessential seasonal beverage.  The fact that it’s local and even more specifically from Ocean City, MD adds to the charm.

Even before I knew more about this tea (can I still call it tea), I had the sense that there was a powerful spirit behind this operation.  To say that would be an understatement. Their story is an inspiring one.  One that I hope to be able to tell in a similar fashion, in whatever facet of life I tackle.  I won’t spoil it, but click here to read more.

I’m on the bandwagon.  This company is growing and I sense an inspired thought is going to grow exponentially and in short time.   How can it not?  Why did I not think of something like this?  There’s an unlimited amount ideas out there that are there for the taking.   This is one of the most amazing things to be a part of.  And to be in our backyard makes it all the more special.

From what I understand, Peabody Heights is the only distributor in Baltimore City proper. They’re looking to expand into more parts of downtown.  I don’t see that being a problem. I’d be happy to help and this link gives you an option to request Hoop Tea in your area.  For our pals in Maryland, you can check to see if there’s a distributor near you at the same link.

HoopTeaWithMeal

I wish I could have written a recap from Peabody itself.  That just means this is only the beginning.  This was only going to be the beginning anyways.  This is worthy of revisiting regularly.  In the mean time I’ll leave you with photos from the aforementioned party with a hearty meal and then with dessert.  I never got to try the dessert actually.  But gosh darnit doesn’t that look pretty?  Here’s more from this shindig.

HoopTeaWithCake

Finally, here is a way to contact them.

Happy Holidays,

Ideen

Enjoying the View

New Orleans, Tea 3 Comments

I visited New Orleans recently and of course I’m going to seek out places to drink tea.  Now if you’re reading this, and you live in this beautiful city, or have visited, you may think there’s some obvious choices.   Well I’m not always about the obvious.

P&GDoor

After a gorgeous day of sightseeing and wandering, I come upon a charming coffee shop, Pulp & Grind.    How I ended up in the Warehouse District, I don’t know.  But that’s the fun of visiting a city with little to no planning.  I discovered a gem of a spot.

Of course I was in the mood for tea.  There’s never a bad time for a cup.  And it was a bit humid out, so a little refresher was in order.

Since I’d never been there before, I took a little more time perusing their menu items on the big board.  I’ve had Wheatgrass shots before and getting one here was the perfect way to rejuvenate me and get my day doing again.  I wish I had taken a picture.

In researching their shop, I see they’ve only been open a few months.   They had some fruit and pastries on display, but I didn’t have the biggest appetite.

I was in New Orleans and all I’ve been doing is eating some amazing dishes.  So all I could take was a piece of small chocolate at the register with my cup.

PulpDailyDose

So I got the White Jasmine.  I’m going to believe it’s either a tea that is sent to them or from some magical place.  Well I’d really like to believe the latter.   The city itself is magical and full of a unique energy I have never felt before.

PulpTeaUpClose

The tea was just fine.  It wasn’t anything special or blew me away.  But for where I was, I didn’t care.  I sat and enjoyed my snack and hot cup, and enjoyed the view outside.  I wasn’t in the touristy part, near Bourbon or Frenchmen Street.  That would take place before and after this tea break.     But aside from these few photos, I just sat and admired the scenery for at least a good 30 minutes.

PulpOutsideViewOutside

The tea soothed me, the view outside soothed me, and  being in a vibrant and amazing city soothed me.

P&G

I will add the staff and locals inside were very nice, all smiled, and said hello.  It’s not something I’m used to.  I’m usually very friendly but it’s not always reciprocated.   A friendly response make everything look, taste, smell, and feel better.

And I felt so good.

All The Best,

Ideen

Honest Tea Is The…

Tea 1 Comment

HonestChilling

Did you get the play on words?   I wasn’t aware of the double meaning until today.  And it’s always been in plain sight. I’ve been drinking Honest Tea, here and there for a number of years. A fun fact is that it’s based not far away from where I grew up, in Bethesda, MD.

As the weather shifts to hotter and more humid, the posts will also shift to cooler options, which will include bottled and iced teas.   Without hesitation I wanted to write about this Maryland based company as my first foray away from the stove, hot water, pots, kettles, and all the fun instruments I’ve been using recently.

It was a sunny day, very hot and hazy, and aside from drinking lots of ice cold water, I had a yearning for some naturally flavored goodness.   So I got the inspiration to write about a cold tea when I made it to my grocers aisle.

I missed National Iced Tea Day last week, so I’m making up for it as much as I can today.

As you can see, the amount of bottles is endless.  So I grabbed a couple in hopes they would turn out great.  I chilled them in the refrigerator after purchase, so I could fully appreciate their hopefully refreshing tastes.

So how’d it go?  Well fun is one way of looking at it!

HonestPeachTrioHonestPeachBack

First up is the Peach Oo-La-Long Tea.  The name is entertaining and really resonates with me.  It’ll be on my mind for a while.  That’s a great way to sell you brand.   The tea itself for me was solid.   Oolong is not a tea I’ve had often nor have I ever been a major fan.  This will take some growing.  My taste and experience for it has been seldom.  After drinking this that could change.  It wasn’t my favorite chilled tea but we all have our particular tastes.

The peach puree and agave flavors are dynamite.  I really like agave.  And it’s an interesting alternative to honey, which I love almost more than anything on his planet.  So I was happy to try something different.

HonestMangoDuoHonestMangoBack

Next is the Mango White.   This I could drink endless bottles of.  The flavors come alive here.  I adore white tea and I adore mango.   And throw in the agave syrup once again and we have a winner.  Perfection.  Having this chilled on a hot Summers day is a visual I’d like to repeat.  What a joy this is.

HonestQuotesHonestQuotes (2)

And the profound quotes, proverbs and messages under every lid is a wonderful touch.

There’s a lot going on with this company.  And their website is loaded with information.  It’s a lot to take in but I included links where I could.  More on their products can be found here.

My favorite parts of all revolve around helping the community and there’s plenty to read about.  I love this stuff!  It makes me want to do more.

Being Fair Trade Certified and USDA Organic is always something I look for in a product and if the intent is good then I feel good about what I’m supporting.  It’s my symbolic gesture of saying thank you and it’s me saying I’d like to do my part as well in helping others.

I know I only glossed over Honest Tea’s items, but I could go on.  Instead, I will revisit them later this Summer and hopefully talk more of their amazing teas, flavors, and messages of good.

Thanks so much.

Best,

Ideen

100% Pure Fun

antioxidant, caffeine, decaf, Google, green tea, Tea, Vitamin C, white tea 1 Comment

amazingCov

With the infinite amount of teas out there, it can be overwhelming to figure out which one to talk about each time.   But, for now, I will continue with the basics.  And that usually means good.

For every 100 teas I have tried, 99 have been good-to-great. So I am sure to stumble upon a weaker one here and there.  But this will not be the week.   I am talking about the repackaged and reinvigorating Celestial Seasonings.

How beautiful is the packaging?  I am sold on this alone.  If you did a Google search on just the images, you would be blown away and amazed by the artistry.  Now how about the tea itself?

This morning I had the Decaf Green Tea, and it’s pure, it’s simple, it’s divine.  The ingredients are green tea, white tea, and Vitamin C for antioxidants.  That’s it!  How great is that?!  On a cold day, like today, it’s soothing and it’s keeping me very mellow.  A no thrills tea that leaves a lasting impression.

There’s a few heartwarming messages on the package as well.  This one has a great quote from the man, along with some cool notes from the Blendmaster.

proverb

Another added charm, is the wrapping, where the bags are waiting to be seeped.  Pretty nice touch.

soothingwellness

I wish I could talk about their teas all day.  I’ve had quite a few and they’ve all been enjoyable.  More reviews of their flavors in forthcoming posts.

I am using my traditional green mug when having a greenish tea.  How great does that look?

Inspiration

And finally, here is some more inspiration:

perseverance

I could go on about their tea and presentation all day. The bottom line is, the tea must taste good, or none of this matters. But this is a pleasant, heartwarming, and endearing cup.  I can’t say enough about how good it is.   There is no bells and whistles. It’s just a wonderful thing to sip on, at any time, especially if you’re not looking for caffeine, and want to relax.

Enjoy!

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