A Cup of Tea

A Cup of Tea and an Update

4 Comments

I was asked by one of my regular readers what was going on as he had noticed that my writing has become a little less regular lately. And the answer I gave him and I give you is that 2018 has been a hard year so far. I have been spending time grieving the death of a loved one and caring for a loved one who is ill. It has been hard. I have wanted to write and have not been able to find the words. I am hoping that I can begin to write more regularly. At some point, I may write more about all that has happened this year, but not yet as I am still living through it and processing it.

This week I enjoyed a cup of tea in this mug my sister gave me for my birthday. Holding a cup of tea in my hands is like a hug across the miles from my sister. As the weekend approaches, find a little time to be thankful for someone who brings joy to your life. Have a cup of tea, take a deep breath, and know you are loved.

Plantation Mint Tea

Leave a Comment

Plantation Mint Tea

Join me in visiting a hospice patient. She is sitting on her sofa holding a cup of tea. She shared that she was anxious and worried. I encouraged her to hold her tea with both hands and move the cup up closer to her face. I encouraged her to smell the tea and let it calm her. I encouraged her to drink her tea and let it warm her from the inside. She shared that this tea, Plantation Mint, was her favorite.

Today I am drinking this tea in her memory. I’m enjoying the minty smell and flavor. I’m giving thanks for the life of a religious and faithful woman who now is with God and is no longer anxious or worried. I’m enjoying the warmth and calm this tea brings. May you find warmth and calm this day too!

Stash Double Bergamot Earl Grey Black Tea

Leave a Comment
I have been enjoying the huge stash of this tea that came in a box too large to go in my tea cabinet. Each morning this tea helps me face another day! My biggest complaint about this tea is that it is difficult to compost. The string is attached to the tea bag with a staple, and the tag is attached to the string with a staple. As staples do not go well in compost or a worm bin, I am throwing away parts of the packaging that could normally be composted if not for the staples. This is a tasty cup of Earl Grey just don’t steep it more than the recommended 3-5 minutes.

Cinnamon-Orange Market Spice Tea

Leave a Comment

My souvenir from a recent trip to Seattle’s Pike Place Market was this tea. It is delicious. Just the right amount of cinnamon and orange blending together. I let this black tea steep for about 3 minutes, and it was not bitter. When I lift the cup up to take a sip, the sweet scent of cinnamon made me smile. I will enjoy this tea, and the memories of a great trip!

Pure Leaf Black Tea with Vanilla

2 Comments

Each day my morning starts with a cup of black tea. Recently, I was running low on black tea, so I went to the store hoping to find some Lady Grey. When my favorite morning tea was not available, I began searching for an alternative. Pure Leaf Black Tea with Vanilla caught my eye. On the back it is described as, “Long-leaf Assam black tea perfectly balanced with the delicate flavor of vanilla.” When I saw it was also Rainforest Alliance Certified, I thought it was worth a try.

The first thing you’ll notice about this tea is the strong scent of vanilla. Don’t worry. Although the vanilla smells like it will be overwhelming, it is subtle and a perfect compliment. The black tea shines through making this tea a great start to my morning. I do recommend not over steeping as the black tea tastes bitter when steeped too long. I recommend about 3 minutes.

I hope you’ll give Pure Leaf Black Tea with Vanilla a try. What teas are you drinking and enjoying?

Last Cup of Winter Spice

2 Comments
Last Cup of Winter Spice
A cold, rainy day and one more Winter Spice teabag seemed like the perfect combination. It was! As you might remember I love drinking Winter Spice on a cold winter’s day. When I hold a cup of this tea in my hands and inhale the scent of warm, winter spices, I am no longer bothered by the cold outside. Even though it is Spring, I’m enjoying one last cup of Winter Spice and hoping for warmer temperatures soon so I can switch to my Spring and Summer teas.

JeannieBird Blend

Leave a Comment

When a friend visits and brings you a new tea, all seems right with the world. This new tea is described as “an aromatic breakfast blend of Assam, Darjeeling, and Oolong teas”. It is a smooth drinking tea. I’ve enjoyed it twice this week as my to go tea on my drive to work. It was so delicious and inspired me to work hard. This tea is blended in my friend’s hometown of Westminster, Maryland at JeanieBird Baking Company. I made a cup for my friend too and she enjoyed it. So this tea gets two thumbs up.

 

 

Drinking Tea in Fresno

Leave a Comment
Although I usually drink my tea without adding anything to it, I branched out of my comfort zone and tried a new thing recently. While visiting family in Fresno, California, I decided to try tea the way it is done there with (lots of) milk and sugar. Wow! Both times I tried it, my tea was a very light tan and it was difficult to taste the flavor of the tea. The second time at a new place I even asked for my tea lightly sweetened and while it was less sweet it was still too sweetened to taste the tea.
Here is what I was hoping to try-
I cannot tell you how the lavender complimented the creamy earl grey because I couldn’t taste any of it. This may be a good way for someone who doesn’t like tea to start drinking tea. For me, I’m going back to enjoying the flavor of my teas.

Green Gunpowder Tea

Leave a Comment
Green Gunpowder Tea
 
My husband has been enjoying this new to him tea recently. While his favorite remains Gyokuro, he reports this is a tasty second place. He ordered Green Gunpowder Tea from our favorite tea shop, McNulty’s. He describes this tea as more full-bodied than Gyokuro. He warns you not to steep this one too long or it will become bitter. He recommends a maximum of one minute. The price of this tea is significantly less expensive than his number one choice which makes this tea a great entry level loose green tea. 
McNulty’s website shares this information about this tea, “As its name suggests, Gunpowder is a tea that is rolled up into tiny pellets resembling gunpowder, and unfurls as it is steeped. The tightly rolled tea leaves keep very well, and produces a light green-yellow liquid and has a slightly smoky undertone due to it being pan-fired over wood.” 
All of you green tea lovers should give this one a try and let us know what you think. 

Searching for Sabbath

Leave a Comment

Just as I was steeping a cup of tea and preparing to sit down for a time of reading and writing my phone rang. The caller did not give me the news I wanted to hear. Instead I heard bad news that instantly annoyed me. The news I heard was not bad health news and my loved ones are all fine. It was nothing like that. It was not the news I wanted to hear, and I was annoyed. I needed my cup of tea and quiet time more than ever.

And the cup of tea, Earl Grey Creme, is not warming my soul as it normally does. I’m having trouble concentrating on my reading. My intention of writing about taking time for Sabbath took a slight change as I now had to reorient my thinking. How can I shut out the distractions of daily life so I can be fully present in Sabbath time? While each person has a different method for clearing out thoughts that distract, here is what works for me.

I write down what is distracting me. The physical work of writing it down allows me to transfer it from my brain where it is swirling around onto a piece of paper where I can pick it up later if needed or leave it there on that piece of paper.

I change my surroundings. I move outside if the weather is cooperating or move to where I have a view of the outside. I find a place to sit that is comfortable and not where I felt so distracted.

I remind myself that grace abounds. If now is not the time for quiet prayer and reflection, how else might I be present to God’s presence? Is now a good time to take a walk and envelop myself in God’s creation? Is now a good time to tackle a project that is long overdue? Is now a good time to write a letter to someone who is on my mind?

Whatever direction your Sabbath takes, I hope you’ll remember that grace abounds and you are loved more than you know.