Light of Day Organics

Almond Oolong comes from a Michigan based company, and my preferred selection at the dearly passed Grand River Coffee. The tea base was unique to me, being close to a Wu Yi rock but peachier. Turns out it was a Shui Xian, and I apparently love them.

This was by far one of my favorites, having the distinct, natural notes of the almond. It was oddly flowered up by the clover and added a weird dimension to the Shui Xian, which is a darker oolong but a light cup. I re-steeped it ten times when I had it in 16 ounces, being about a tablespoon when drinking it. This also made a great latte that wasn’t too dark nor too light; it was nuanced yet so simple.

Drinking one cup now brings disappointment and nostalgia. I wish Grand River Coffee didn’t close. Many graduates came there flooding the shop with computers and intellectual conversation. It was my refuge from the snow and for my studies. Now, I have but a memento in my cup. Fortunately, I know where they wholesaled, and I can continue the memory.

My only complaint are the smaller leaves. The bigger ones where taken with the whole clovers laving scrap left over, and a second cup entirely different from the others I’ve had.

I had this in a restaurant the other day, if you like cinnamon you’ll like this tea. It’s not overwhelmingly spicy, it’s a smooth cinnamon. Lightly sweet so it doesn’t need much added to it.

A very pleasant, well-blended vanilla tea (though I confess, I can’t really taste the Chrysanthemum). The Assam base means there’s a bit of astringency to this if drunk plain. I thought it was fine with just a bit of honey, but G found it a little too harsh, so added some milk.

I find that good vanilla teas have a very different character with milk than without. Without, they’re fruity and complex, making me think of the tropics vanilla comes from. With, they become sweet, creamy, and dessert-y (even with no extra sugar).

I think this was the tea that convinced me Earl Grey’s could be tasty; it was certainly the first creamy one I had. It also made a tea convert of G. Having it with a bit of honey today as well as milk – which is totally cheating – but hey, I’m sick. And it is delicious. Also, as always for LoD, 100% organic.

Sweet, creamy vanilla and a mild black tea make a base for the tang of bergamot (and a dash of lavender). I already wish I’d bought more.

2.15 g to 8oz water, 2nd steep at 5:00 also good

This is the cinnamon tea that begat all cinnamon teas for me. With just cinnamon, cloves, apple and orange pieces and rooibos as ingredients, the taste is simple and clean but delightfully spicy. If you like Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice, or Celestial Seasonings’ Cinnamon Apple Spice, you should really try this. It’s easily sweet enough to drink plain, and caffeine-free, so makes me a nice bedtime tea.

At around $6/oz, it’s a more than I’d usually pay, and sadly not for everyday drinking (for me), but considering it’s
*fair trade
*locally blended by hand (local to my hometown in Michigan, that is ;)
*100% organic (and I’ve spoken with the owner and know just how careful she is about organic sourcing)
it’s money I’m happy to spend when I can.

I usually steep 1tsp/8oz water twice, the first steep 4-5 minutes, the second around 10.

Stovetop chai day! Also catching-up-on-backlogged-tea day :) but this one is current. And delicious, and warm; it’s 12˚F out here with a windchill of zero – sweet and spicy tea is definitely called for!

Treating myself to a stovetop chai this evening. It’s been hard to find time to log teas lately, but I am still drinking them! I love all the spices in this one (the picture is quite accurate, there are huge chunks of cinnamon and maple sugar).

I have a job! (happy dance) Or at least, I will, as soon as the background checks are finished. Since this is news worth celebrating, I decided to make the last bit of my Honu Chai on the stovetop.

It tastes like victory.

This is my favorite chai, largely because it has a variety of spices (and there are big chunks of them, as in the picture) but no pepper! The ginger is also on the mild side – cinnamon, cardamom, and clove are the strongest spice flavors. I also love the bit of sweetness from the maple sugar. I think it’s the maple that gives this a really sweet fragrance in addition to the spice, too. The black tea isn’t a strong flavor, but it gives a backbone to the spices, so that the overall impression is of a strongly flavored tea (much more so than spices alone – I’ve tried). I would drink this all the time if it wouldn’t destroy my budget.

I’ve never managed to oversteep this (and I steep it like regular black tea, 1tsp/8oz, 3-5 minutes), but I might not notice because I always add milk. Seriously though, so much love!

This tea is named perfectly. I love brewing a cup on Sunday mornings, and enjoying the Bourbon vanilla infused tea. The Chrysanthemum is a nice touch to the taste, and is supposed to have detox qualities. It brings a nice laid back tone to my Sundays.

This is the company that turned me on to creamy earl greys. They did a cupping in my town, and she served the tea iced. I was a convert right away. I have tried many since then, but there is something special about her blend. The flavour of vanilla is subtle, and the bergamont is just right.

I am not a big fan of Earl Grey until I tried the Light Of Day version called Creamy Earl Grey. It is absolutely incredible and has forced me to watch all the old James Bond movies!