A Cup of Tea

Tea with a Friend

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This week I had the pleasure of enjoying a cup of tea with a friend. I love tea. I love good conversation and time with my friends. So tea with a friend was the perfect way to spend part of the afternoon. I enjoyed a chai tea latte with oat milk at my favorite local coffee shop, Rise Up!

I am ready for the seasons to switch over from a cold, long Winter to a long awaited Spring of blooms (and sneezes) and buds (and sneezes) and pollen (and sneezes). I am looking forward to sunshine and warmer temperatures.

Wherever you find yourself this week, I hope you will take the time to have a favorite beverage with a friend and engage in some good conversation. I think taking the time to listen and talk together is what we all need right now.

God, You created us to be in relationship with one another. So slow us down over a cup of tea. Open our ears to listen to each other. Close our mouths so we begin by listening and after we have listened open our hearts to share honestly. And then, inspire us to do this regularly. To make time for each other. To build up the relationships in our lives and to create new ones. Thank you, God, for cups of tea to inspire conversations. Amen.

A Cup of Tea and an Update

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.