The Republic of Tea

I tried this book tonight at book club. When our host pulled out some different teas, I was very excited. I had seen this tea before, but had not tried it. First of all, I put the tea bag in the water to steep and even though I left it in there for quite some time, the water color barely changed. The flavor of this tea matched that of the color of its water, very mild. I guess I just expect more of a deep flavor when a tea is supposed to resemble hot apple cider.

I steeped this tea longer than recommend, actually lost track of time while being engrossed in the Olympics :-)
The tea had cooled some and when I took a sip, it had a vanilla flavor at first then the slight caramel flavor came through. I reheated it and added some sweetener to see if any other flavors would come through, it was still more vanilla than anything else. At least to my taste buds, it was.

So the last time I had this tea, I suspected that it would taste much better as an iced tea. I’m pleased to report that I was right! I dropped two tea bags into my water bottle, filled it up, and left it chilling in the fridge for a few hours. The resulting tea is this bright pink-red juice, basically. It starts off with a tart note from the hibiscus and then leaves with a more subtle raspberry flavor. Again, I’m not getting “rose” out of this tea, but it was a nice, tangy, refreshing iced tea. My only complaint so far other than the rose thing is that there seemed to be something a bit missing. Maybe next time, I’ll try three teabags or adding a simple syrup to give it a bit more substance.

I’ve heard about these Downton Abbey teas before and was always curious about them. So today when I was waiting for a bus, I quickly perused a small market nearby and bought this on impulse. I started watching the new season of Downton Abbey last week, so I found this an appropriate tea to sip on while watching another episode. Plus, it’s herbal, so I didn’t have to worry about my caffeine intake after dinner.

Anyway, on to the tea itself. As soon as the bag and water came into contact, it turned a deep red/purple. I can definitely taste the tartness from the hibiscus and the raspberry flavor. I’m not getting so much of a rose flavor, which was a bit disappointing since this is called “Rose Tea,” but if I put that fact aside, it’s not so bad. I am gonna wait to rate this until I try it iced, because I think it will be really nice as an iced tea. Or even a tea soda maybe!

The first flavor you taste is sweet pineapple, then it goes into a hint of guava. It is very pleasant until you get the aftertaste of something bitter. I am not rating this tea because I could have oversteeped it. I will try this tea with different steeping times and temperatures

First venture into loose leaf tea. The second canister wasn’t as good as the first. I don’t think I’ll be buying this again.

Backlogged from Thursday. I’m done with this tin o tea!
Its bittersweet. I quite like this, and this particular tin was a gift from my sweetheart, but I am excited to be sipping down teas.
Onwards! Sipdown!

Goodness! I’ve been very busy, so much so that there has been hardly any time to drink tea, much less write about it. I really hope things are settling down.
This was my ultra quick cup this morning. As always, a dependable and easy cup of tea to make. Its nothing that inspires poems, but its a treat on a busy Monday morning.

Whee! Off I go on another Thursday full of every single possible thing I could ever have to do. Sheesh.
This is the perfect tea for those days. This is good, easy to brew, and easy to drink.

Backlogged from this morning.
I swear, if one more person calls me today about various things, I’m going to just start an advice column to put it all in one place.
Its been that kinda day.

Ugh. Thursday morning, the time for me to get up extra early and bump into things around the house, trying to get ready.
Bleh.
I can see the bottom of the tin! Wow, am I really moving through this so quickly?

This is one of those mornings where nothing seems to be going especially well. I was out of milk, the skirt I wanted to wear has a hole in it, and every shade of lipstick seemed like the wrong one.
Sigh.
At least there is tea! One of my early mornings, which never helps in the aargh, so a failsafe is needed.
Bingo. The most drunk tea in my cupboard for a reason, its lightning fast, easy to prepare, and good without being fussy. Thank goodness for falesafe teas on days when everything else goes wrong.

Backlogged from first thing this morning.
This is my default “I’m in a hurry,” tea. Its quick, and nearly foolproof, but still an engaging combination of flavors, which make it a good wake me up. Then its off to work.

I usually have more time on Wednesdays to drink tea, but not today! In a rush, so a quick cup. This is my go to quick cup. Its impossible to screw up, basic, strong, and the flavors are delightful.
Onwards!

Tea of the morning.
I don’t go in for Black Friday sales in a traditional way. What I like is the thrift store black Friday sales (half off thrift store clothes) , and then some craft fair shopping.
And, of course, the tea sales. I have a few orders coming in, I must admit. Heh!
Quick and easy tea this morning, as I headed out on my way.

Today has been a frantic scramble from one thing to the next. Gah. Up extra early, work a bit tricky, running around my significant other, who is without a car at the moment.
This was the tea of the morning, which seems so long ago.
This is the “quick! I NEED TEA!” tea, as I have yet to be able to screw it up. A useful skill.

I did not sleep well last night. And its my early morning, with a long day of work ahead of me.
Blargh.
So the typical Thursday morning quick and easy tea is called for. I do this one a lot on a Thursday morning. That’s because its pretty well foolproof.

Oh its going to be a long day of work. That’s ok, I can manage, but still, it is annoying.
One of my morning mindless teas, to get me going, and then off I go.

What is this? Overcast? Slightly damp? Could there be rain today?! I hope so.
Theres nothing explicitly “summer” about this tea, but somehow I feel like its a warmer weather tea, rather than a cooler one.
I’m making a list of the autumn teas I’m going to order. I cant wait. Its time for pumpkin tea!

Dear weather,
Its September. I should be taking out my sweaters, and looking at my tights, and generally getting cozy.
Its going to be 102 today. Come on, really? Please? Please? I’d like to wear at least one sweater before October.
Plus, the cold makes drinking teas all that much better. I don’t feel ready for the autumn teas yet!
Please?
-Me.

Testing, testing. Checking to see if this thing is on!
Its been a very wild and long day, and I am exsausted. I had this this morning, which was lovely, and I could do with another cup now.
Is steepster working properly yet?