tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90418885199724698962024-03-13T15:09:31.865-07:00Paradise In My TeacupExploring the World of Tea, one Cup at a time.Kamyriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00856184455026650598noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041888519972469896.post-21403412352523696182015-02-22T16:56:00.000-08:002015-02-22T16:57:49.999-08:00Mountain Organic Indonesian green tea from Tea at Sea<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>“I say let the world go to hell, but I should always have my tea.” </i></div>
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- Fvodor Dostoyevsky, Notes from Underground</div>
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The time has come to open another sample package and try a tea I've never had before. Today I broke into the free sampler from <a href="http://www.tea-at-sea.com/#!store/cwvn" target="_blank">Tea at Sea</a>, a Mountain Organic Indonesian green tea.</div>
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The sample came to me in the beautiful packaging with a tiny sail boat included. Now, that's something different. I adore Tea at Sea presentation. It's creative and very pretty.</div>
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The dry tea had delicate vegetal scent and the leaves themselves were rolled up in balls similar to oolong tea. <br />
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I placed an entire sample package into my teapot and rinsed with 85°C water and then I let it sit for about a minute to let the leaves unfurl a little and release some of the flavour. I then steeped in 8 ounces of 85°C water for about a minute. <br />
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The resulting liquid had delicate yellow colour with a little tinge of green. The aroma surprised me a bit because the tea smelled more like oolong, with the hint of flowery notes, than the green tea. The vegetal notes which I enjoy in the scent of the green tea were absent here which was a bit of a disappointment. I love my green tea with strong grassy smell but I do realize that not every green tea comes with it nor that it should. Some people love green tea but dislike the spinachy scent and this tea would be perfect for them. In addition, I'm sure every oolong lover would love this tea as well.</div>
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Taste wise the tea was great. The vegetal notes which were absent in the aroma made an appearance as a flavour. The tea was smooth and buttery with spinachy and seeweed like notes. In addition it left a tingle in the back of my throat with the ever so slight astringency which I really enjoy. </div>
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All in all, it was my pleasure to spend a Sunday with this yummy tea. Upon reflection I can't help but think that this was a rare cross between typical green and oolong tea. Some happy middle perhaps. </div>
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Thank you Tea at Sea. </div>
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Kamyriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00856184455026650598noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041888519972469896.post-62776513643166520662015-02-15T14:56:00.003-08:002015-02-15T14:56:57.564-08:00Sunday Afternoon with Golden Turtle from Mandala Tea<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"A cup of tea is a cup of peace."</i></div>
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~Soshitsu Sen XV, quoted by Kenneth S. Cohen</div>
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A cup of peace it is indeed.</div>
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Outside is cold today. Very, very cold. Brutally cold actually. Sitting here with a hot cup of tea is peace, comfort and pure delight.</div>
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Today I'm having Golden Turtle oolong tea from Mandala Tea. It comes from a sample sent to me a while ago and I thought it's time to try it out.</div>
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The tea leaves are rolled into beautiful dark green balls and smell lovely of vegetables and flowers.</div>
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My sample was 7 grams in weight and I used it all up and steeped it in 8 ounces of 85°C water for 1.5 minutes. The resulting liquid was of beautiful golden colour and had magnificent flowery aroma, just like a good oolong should.</div>
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The taste didn't disappoint either. The tea was smooth and full of body with flowery and vegetal notes. I could feel ever so slight astringency at the back of my tongue, just enough to let me know that I am in fact drinking a tea. I absolutely love that sensation.</div>
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All in all, this was a great oolong tea. Definitely something to enjoy over and over.</div>
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Kamyriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00856184455026650598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041888519972469896.post-77887303708110278842015-02-08T13:10:00.002-08:002015-02-08T13:10:45.719-08:002012 Wild Monk Sheng Pu'erh from Mandala Tea<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves — slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future. </i></div>
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~Thich Nat Hahn</div>
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Sheng Pu'erh tea is definitely one of my favourites. Whether young or aged, sheng is a tea with a lot of character and staying power.<br />
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Remember the tea I wrote about last week? It was <a href="http://paradiseinmyteacup.blogspot.ca/2015/02/sunday-with-2005-fengqing-zhuan-cha-raw.html" target="_blank">2005 Fengqing Zhuan Cha</a>. It lasted me for 3 days and many, many wonderful steeps. I'll be ordering a brick of that probably today or tomorrow.<br />
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Today I'm drinking another sheng, this time a younger one. It's 2012 Wild Monk Sheng Pu'erh from Mandala Tea. I purchased couple of cakes last year with a hope to age at least one of them. So far I'm almost done with one of the cakes and hopefully I can master enough restraint to leave the other cake to age in peace. Sheng pu'erh tea is like a good wine. The older it gets the better the taste.<br />
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The dry leaf has a delicate aroma, a little vegetal and smoky. To steep a cup, I carefully broke off couple of pieces from the cake, trying to keep the leaves as much in tact as possible. <br />
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Before I steeped this tea for drinking, I rinsed the leaves with 90-95°C water and let them sit for one minute which causes the tea to wake up and release more flavour. Following that I steeped the tea for 10 seconds for my first 8 oz cup, one of many to come. This tea has a lot of staying power and I get multiple steeps over couple of days or so, slightly increasing the steeping time with every cup.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4th steep of 2012 Wild Monk Sheng Pu'erh</td></tr>
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The taste is delicious. It's earthy, smoky and sweet with a touch of fruitiness. I can't say enough about smokiness of this tea, I just love it so much. Currently I'm on the fourth steep which I allowed to sit for about a minute. There is absolutely no bitterness to be found which can be an issue with younger shengs but I also think that Wild Monk seems to have less attitude than other young shengs that I've tried. <br />
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A cup of delicious goodness well worth the purchase.<br />
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Cheers!Kamyriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00856184455026650598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041888519972469896.post-20965314364050766932015-02-01T12:04:00.001-08:002015-02-01T12:31:48.880-08:00Sunday with 2005 Fengqing Zhuan Cha Raw Pu'erh from Teavivre<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>“I say let the world go to hell, but I should always have my tea.” </i></div>
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- Fvodor Dostoyevsky, Notes from Underground</div>
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Today I've decided to try the sample that I've had in my collection for a while. I only have one packet and have been waiting for a special occasion that never came. Today, while the winter storm circles my neck of the woods and snow slowly descends, is the perfect time to curl up on the couch with a good book and a cup of delicious tea.</div>
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I've had raw pu'erh before but I've never tasted aged raw pu'erh. I like both young sheng and a good shu, but what will aged sheng taste like?</div>
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I opened the package and took a whiff of aroma. It was great. Very aromatic, a little vegetal and woodsy at the same time. The leaf was part loose, part in moderate chunks and of dark green/brown colour.</div>
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I steeped the entire sample package (10g) at 95°C in 8 ounces of water for 30 seconds. The result was amazing. The tea turned out golden brown in colour with aroma that made me think of wet forest after a good summer soaking. </div>
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The taste knocked my socks off. It was delicious. I would say this tea was right smack in the middle between a good shu and a young sheng. Sweet, woodsy notes were intertwined with a hint of flowers and mushrooms to give this tea an incredible depth and made me want more. There was a slight astringency at the back of my tongue, just enough to add to the complexity of the tea but not too much to make it bitter.</div>
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I'm currently on my second steep (50 sec) and it's just as good as the first if not better. I could probably get away with shorter steep of 40 sec or so and there is still a lot of life left in the leaves for more steeps in the near future. </div>
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I just checked on Teavivre website and this tea is still available. I'm seriously considering purchasing a brick. It's good, really good and I want more of this golden goodness.</div>
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Kamyriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00856184455026650598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041888519972469896.post-2288028751636932622015-01-25T14:33:00.002-08:002015-01-25T14:33:24.404-08:00Pine Needle TeaHello everyone, I hope this beautiful Sunday finds you in great health and spirit.<br />
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Today I want to talk about a different kind of tea. Well, not regular tea exactly but herbal tea, tisane.<br />
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Few days ago while watching one of the videos on YouTube I was surprised to find out that some people use pine needles to make tea. I was intrigued by that from the start and decided to try it myself. I have some beautiful pine trees in my backyard and so it was very easy to get my hands on couple of twigs.<br />
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I actually made this tea for the first time last night and waited till this morning to see if I won't have any unpleasant side effects. Upon waking up in the morning I went out and gathered few more twigs to make another cup. As you can see I'm still here writing my blog post and I've never felt better.<br />
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Pine needle tea has some great benefits apparently. Pine needles are extremely rich in vitamin C more so than orange juice, vitamin A as well as various minerals. It is said to be a great decongestant and helps treat colds and coughs. European settlers when they first arrived in North America, were introduced to pine needle tea by Native Americans who were drinking this wonderful tea for generations. There is a wealth of information on the web concerning pine needle tea and I'm really surprised that I haven't heard about it until now. This makes me wonder what else is out there for our free taking. :)<br />
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Back to steeping a mug of fresh pine needle tea. <br />
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I grabbed couple of twigs and removed the needles from stems. It wasn't easy to do it by hand so I used scissors and simply cut them out.<br />
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I poured a boiling water over and steeped the needles for 7-10 minutes. When all the needles sink to the bottom, the tea should be ready.<br />
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The ready tea was aromatic and quite tasty. The liquid was almost clear in colour but the taste was there. I've read someone's suggestion on the web to add couple of drops of lemon to accentuate the taste and I did just that. I have to say it was delicious. <br />
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Some people said to experiment with different pines because they all have different taste. I will definitely do that. It will give me a chance to familiarize myself with different types of pines and learn to recognize them all. <b> I have to say at this time also, that you have to exercise some caution.</b> First, while all pines are wintergreens, not all wintergreens are pines. Second, There are some pines and other wintergreens out three from what I know that are toxic and should not be consumed. Ponderosa Pine, Lodgepole Pine, common Juniper, Monterey Cypress, common Yew, and Norfolk Pine are all off the table. Just like with everything you pick in the wild, you have to do your homework and make sure you pick the plant that is edible.<br />
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Apparently the best pine needles to use are the young growth in the spring. I always marvel in the spring when I see the brand new needles popping out. They are so soft and beautiful and this year instead of just admiring from the distance, I'll be able to try some of them out in my tea. Yum!<br />
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<br />Kamyriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00856184455026650598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041888519972469896.post-16764768089357632242015-01-11T11:01:00.000-08:002015-01-11T11:01:39.041-08:00Sunday Afternoon with Sun Dried Jingshan GreenHappy Sunday everyone! I hope it finds you in great health and spirit.<br />
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This morning I decided to break open the sample package of Sun Dried Jingshan Green from Verdant Tea. I've had it in the past and remember how great this green tea was. Once again I wasn't disappointed.<br />
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The dry tea leaves are gorgerous. Small, delicate and beautifully curved. The aroma of the dry leaves is flowery and vegetal.<br />
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For my first steep I placed about 3.5 grams in 79°C water for about 1 minute. The tea turned out light cool green colour with a wonderful vegetal aroma and a smooth sweet complex taste. Although it was not astringent, there was a hint of it in the back of my tongue, something that I'm always happy to experience. This tea has a lot of body and it's one of my favourite green teas after Dragonwell. It is somehow very different from Dragonwell and I'm not sure what makes it so, but it is all in a good way.<br />
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Currently I'm on my second steep and it is just as delicious as the first. It took a bit longer to get the desired effect, about 3 minutes to be exact but that's expected since I did not use a lot of tea leaves. The tea lost most of its vegetal aroma but held up the complex taste and the ever so slight astringency which once again tickled the back of my tongue.<br />
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I only have enough in the sample for one more fresh steep which I find a little sad especially that I checked the Verdant Tea website and this is out of stock temporarily. Hopefully they'll get some more soon and I'll be able to restock.<br />
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It's sunny but cold outside and I'm having a pyjama day. Together with the buzzing fireplace and the hot tea in my hand, there is nothing else I would rather be. Except maybe in the little hut in the woods... but still with the hot tea and the buzzing fireplace for company... and my cat.<br />
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Cheers my friends.<br />
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<br />Kamyriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00856184455026650598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041888519972469896.post-24770905505128101092015-01-05T12:16:00.002-08:002015-01-05T12:16:26.311-08:00Polka Dot Love<div style="text-align: center;">
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<i>Immortals, hear, said Jove, and cease to jar! Tea must succeed to Wine as Peace to War. Nor by the grape let man be set at odds, but share in Tea, the nectar of the Gods. </i></div>
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- Peter Antine Motteaux, A Poem Upon Tea</div>
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Yesterday on the way from grocery shopping I decided to stop by one of my favourite second hand shop for a little browsing. What I saw there made my heart jump for joy just a little bit. A polka dotted teapot! Those that know me are aware that I'm a big polka dot enthusiast and I've wanted polka dot teapot for a while now. I don't have a big collection of teapots and I like to keep it that way but a polka dotted teapot is a must for me. And just like that, for five whole bucks, it is mine... all mine.<br />
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The teapot goes lovely with black bubble teacups I already have in my collection. I could even pretend they were made for each other, right? Unless of course someone would look on the bottom of both, in which case my little secret would be out. :P<br />
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<br />Kamyriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00856184455026650598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041888519972469896.post-20676380724134012972015-01-03T20:05:00.000-08:002015-01-03T20:05:14.495-08:00Of Zombies and Chrysanthemum Pue'rHappy New Year everyone!<br />
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This is the first post in 2015. I'm quietly enjoying Chrysanthemum Pue'r while watching the World War Z. I'm not sure which one I'm enjoying more, the movie or the tea, but since this is the tea blog I suppose I'll talk about the tea. Secretly I'm itching to talk about zombies too though. :P<br />
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I got Chrysanthemum Pue'r from <a href="http://verdanttea.com/teas/chrysanthemum-shu-puer/" target="_blank">Verdant Tea</a> few months ago. It was a complete shot in the dark, as I never tried it before. I am a pu'er lover and I was intrigued by the fact that this blend included chrysanthemum flowers. For some unknown reason, I'm drawn to flowers in the tea and since I've never had tea with chrysanthemum flowers before this one was a must try.<br />
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The dry tea presents itself beautifully. It's got gorgeous white chrysanthemum flowers, large juniper berries, coriander and spices.<br />
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I steeped two full teaspoons in boiling water for 1 minute and I should be able to get another two solid steeps out of that later. The result was red dark brown liquid with flowery and spicy aroma. The tea is smooth, very fragrant and crisp, with with sweet and earthy tones. It's got phenomenal depth. It's a perfect companion on a cold, wintery night with fireplace buzzing and zombies running amok. I like it today just as much as when I bought it for the first time.<br />
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I checked the Verdant Tea website and currently this tea is out of stock. I have only a little bit left so I hope they'll be restocking this little wonder soon. If you want to try it out, I highly recommend it.</div>
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Ingredients: Master Han’s 2004 Loose Leaf Shu Pu’er, Burdock, Juniper Berries, Coriander, Holy Basil, Chrysanthemum<div>
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Kamyriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00856184455026650598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041888519972469896.post-12655104351066381382014-12-31T18:46:00.001-08:002014-12-31T18:47:47.007-08:00Of New Arrivals and Old YearHello everyone and happy New Year's Eve!!<br />
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Canada Post decided to be kind and surprise me with a tea delivery on this last day of the year.<br />
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Couple of weeks ago I ordered a bulk supply of my beloved Dragonwell green tea and Keemum black tea from Teavivre, both of them organic. Today my purchase arrived. In addition I got two free samples: The Golden Monkey and Flavoured Milk Oolong. I've had all of them before except for Flavoured Milk Oolong which I'm very excited to try out. So far I've had milk oolong from David's Tea and Mandala Tea, and I liked them both very much. I wonder where Teavivre will score in comparison.<br />
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Now I'm sitting here sipping on a lovely Keemum black tea with a little maple syrup and milk. The full name on the Teavivre site is Organic Superfine Keemum Fragrant Black Tea. The steeped tea is just like they profess fragrant and may I add delicious. I'm glad I stocked up.<br />
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While I'm writing my blog post my kids are curled up on the couch watching the finale of Avatar. The fireplace is buzzing and the cat is grooming in the nearby chair. In two short hours the countdown will begin.<br />
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Happy New Year everyone! See you all in 2015! :)<br />
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<br />Kamyriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00856184455026650598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041888519972469896.post-18863427121737145012014-12-28T11:38:00.001-08:002014-12-28T11:38:48.130-08:00Sunday Reflections over Jasmine TeaIsn't it amazing, how much we work, prepare, shop and await the holidays and then they come and go in a blink of an eye? I've had such a wonderful time with my family that I feel a little sad that Yule and the Christmas have already passed. Most of my children have left and by the time the New Year hits in couple of days, my son who is still here with us, will be leaving as well.<br />
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These are the times when I remind myself to stay in the moment. To enjoy the present and not think of the past or the future. We don't do enough of that. We let our thoughts wonder and torture us and we forget about the present moment which in itself most of the time is nearly perfect.<br />
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As I'm sitting here with my kids, writing this blog post while they are watching the Avatar show, I sip on the Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearls tea I got a while ago. It is by Nourish Tea and I got it at our health food store. I completely forgot about it and it was just sitting at the back of my tea cupboard getting older by the minute. I have about 2 or 3 servings left. I wasn't sure if it didn't get a little to stale to drink but I steeped a cup and the tea is just lovely.<br />
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This tea is very temperamental and it's easy for it to go bitter but today it is perfect. I used two teaspoons of dry leaves and steeped it at 82°C for one minute. The dry leaves are rolled into beautiful balls and half the fun is brewing this tea and watching the pearls unfold.<br />
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The ready tea is fragrant with jasmine flowers and smooth as well as delicate in flavour. I've heard that the fragrance is too much for some people but for me it always was and still is just right. This reminds me that I definitely have to try other jasmine teas on the market as this is the only one I've ever tried.<br />
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<br />Kamyriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00856184455026650598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041888519972469896.post-13438776587253732272014-12-25T11:58:00.001-08:002014-12-25T11:58:35.418-08:00Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!<div style="text-align: center;">
"On Christmas Day,</div>
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At half past three,</div>
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Make your self a cup of tea,</div>
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I’ll think of you,</div>
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You think of me,</div>
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Underneath the Christmas tree"</div>
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As I enjoy this Christmas day with my family and drink some wonderful green tea, I want to take the opportunity to extend to you and your family the holiday blessings of love, peace and happiness.</div>
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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!</div>
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<br />Kamyriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00856184455026650598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041888519972469896.post-73829221069866804132014-12-23T15:56:00.000-08:002014-12-23T15:56:01.453-08:00Relaxing minute with Dragonwell tea and a holiday cookieI don't have to tell you what's going on at my house right now because the same thing is probably happening at yours. I am cooking, baking, chopping, slicing and cleaning all in preparation for tomorrow's Christmas Eve. Being from Poland, we always celebrate with family dinner on December 24.<br />
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Since I've been running around for six hours straight now, I decided to take a little break with a relaxing tea and thumbprint cookies I baked couple of days ago. I need a little sweetness right now.<br />
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My tea of choice is Dragonwell from Teavivre. I've tried three different Dragonwells and this one is definitely the best. The full name straight from Teavivre website is Organic Superfine Dragon Well Long Jing Green Tea. <br />
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This tea is delicious, smooth, delicate and creamy. The dry leaves are mostly light green and have wonderful fresh, vegetal smell.<br />
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When steeping, I add a little more leaf, about tablespoon and a half and I steep it only for one minute at 79°C. I get about 3 wonderful steeps out of that.<br />
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The ready tea is pale green in colour and has a typical grassy, vegetal aroma. The taste is smooth, buttery and creamy without any hint of bitterness. Mind blowing goodness. Yum!<br />
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The cookies that I made come from a recipe I picked up off of internet and tweaked it a bit. The recipe called for butter only but I added half butter and half coconut oil. I also included some vanilla. The family approved with mouthfuls of cookies and happy nods.<br />
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Thumbprint Cookie Recipe:<br />
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2 cups of all purpose flour<br />
1/2 cup of white sugar<br />
1 tsp of vanilla<br />
1/2 cup of unsalted butter<br />
1/2 cup of coconut oil<br />
Your favourite jam<br />
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Melt butter and coconut oil and mix it with sugar and vanilla. Add the flour and fold it in until the dough sticks well. Make round balls around an inch in diameter and flatten them with your hand. Make a dent in the middle with your finger. Place you creations on the cookie sheet. Fill the dent with your favourite jam. For this batch I used black current jam with great results. <br />
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Bake at 375°C for 15 minutes. When cooled you can sprinkle it with icing sugar. Enjoy.<br />
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<br />Kamyriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00856184455026650598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041888519972469896.post-88246932613353636682014-12-20T14:07:00.000-08:002014-12-20T14:07:31.074-08:00Birthday afternoon with tea and family<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>There are two great days in a person's life - the day we are born and the day we discover why."</i></div>
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William Barclay</div>
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Today is my birthday and most of my children dropped by to spend it with me. We decided to go to the Brown Dog, the local cafe for some wonderful Ruben sandwiches and delicious drinks. Brown Dog's is also a place where my youngest daughter's art is being displayed. She is such a young budding artist. Her drawing is pictured on the very left side in the photograph below.<br />
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Once we took a million pictures of Angel's art, we ordered our food and drinks. All of us ordered Ruben sandwiches which were made of a toasted bread with Montreal smoked meat, cheese, some sauerkraut, mustard and a pickle on the side. They don't look like much in the picture but they were seriously delicious!<br />
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As to the drinks, of course I had to have a tea. Last time I was there I tried their Matcha Latte and I loved it so much that I had to have it again today.<br />
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My expectations did not disappoint me today; the tea was delicious. It had a lovely matcha taste and it was creamy and satisfying. My next loose tea purchase must involve matcha. I have to try and recreate this piece of heaven at home.<br />
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We stayed there for a long time, catching up. It's not often these days that we all get together. All of my children except for one, are now adults and lead their own busy lives. It was great to have them here with me for my birthday.<br />
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Now we're all getting ready to go to the movies. We are seeing the newest Hobbit, one of my all time favourite movies. I can't wait!<br />
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Cheers!<br />
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<br />Kamyriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00856184455026650598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041888519972469896.post-90319725704313247842014-12-18T20:46:00.000-08:002014-12-18T20:47:57.061-08:00Brazillionaire by David's TeaI've wanted to try this tea for quite some time but for some reason or another I never ordered it until now. The list of ingredients sounds heavenly and the name implies the tea should taste like a million bucks. You take Brazil nuts and a million bucks and you call it a Brazillionaire.<br />
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When I first open the package the aroma is positively intoxicating. It's sweet and nutty and full of coconut. I know there are Brazil nuts in here but I also smell hazelnut. So far so good.<br />
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The package states to use 1.5 teaspoons per cup but I think it should be a little more generous than that. The raisins and big coconut flakes take up a lot of space and I have to make sure I get enough of the black tea in there too.<br />
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I take two generous teaspoons and steep it at boiling water for 5 minutes. As the tea is brewing, the aroma continues to flirt with my senses, awakening memories of hot pastries and warm homemade pudding. I'm not sure where this is going but I'm liking it already.<br />
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Oh yes. This tea does not disappoint. It tastes as good as it smells. I try it first without any additions and it's everything it supposed to be. It's smooth, a little sweet and nutty with a nice taste of coconut and a hint of caramel. There is no astringency at all.<br />
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I could just leave it at that but I can't. I want to go further. I have a feeling there is even bigger potential here. I add some hot milk and few drops of maple syrup and all of a sudden I'm catapulted into heaven. All the flavours are now intensified and the tea turns into a delicious desert. I can sit here and sip on it all night long. One of these nights I will turn it into a latte.<br />
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Overall, this is another fine blend from David's Tea and I'm glad it's in my cabinet. I will definitely be restocking it once my supply goes down.<br />
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Ingredients: Black Tea, Brazil nuts, golden raisins, coconut chips, natural and artificial flavouring<br />
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Steeping temperature: Boiling<br />
Steeping time: 5 minutes<br />
Steeped amount: 2 generous teaspoons<br />
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<br />Kamyriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00856184455026650598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041888519972469896.post-35130609714676848412014-12-17T17:59:00.002-08:002014-12-17T17:59:33.256-08:00Of New Arrivals and Happiness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"You can't buy happiness but you can buy tea and that's kind of the same thing."</div>
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Yesterday almost felt like Christmas. It always feels like that when the new tea order arrives. It's really very difficult to comprehend but there are few things and far in between that could arrive by mail that will make me as happy as when I find a tea in my mailbox.</div>
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Why is it? What does tea represent that make me feel this way? </div>
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Is it comfort, that homey feeling when you sit with a hot cup of tea in front of the roaring fire on a cold winter morning? </div>
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Or maybe it's when you're curled up on the couch in your pyjamas with a good book and a biscuit on a dark wintery afternoon while the snow storm rages outside.</div>
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Whatever it is when the tea order arrives it evokes all those feelings and more.</div>
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That's exactly how I felt yesterday when my David's Tea order arrived. Inside was Coconut Oolong (goodness gracious I thought I will never see it again), black tea blend Brazillionaire and and green tea Dragonwell. In addition there were three free samples that David's Tea always includes with every order. This time I got herbal Midsummer Night's Dream, herbal Forever Nuts and Rooibos de Provence. <br />
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Over the next few days I'll be busy trying out these new teas. My taste buds can't wait!<br />
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Cheers</div>
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<br />Kamyriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00856184455026650598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041888519972469896.post-68420382996422074192014-12-16T10:01:00.000-08:002014-12-16T10:02:55.463-08:00Earl Grey With Milk Hits The Spot<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"There is no need to have any special attitude while drinking except one of thankfulness. The nature of the tea itself is that of no-mind."</i></div>
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- Pojong Sunim</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitibkQzhei3vpLDRAL8H8GiS8PDbNFMcDZ4d2Dh3kvVNHw9pcolEcGASPUzwZHQBnC19FvH0Uz86SCub_yTbhn_tEvswjqH7EO2ukSwRKAElVqbRy3vkxOr01E6iW_42R-5ROqz9afxWjZ/s1600/photo+(14).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitibkQzhei3vpLDRAL8H8GiS8PDbNFMcDZ4d2Dh3kvVNHw9pcolEcGASPUzwZHQBnC19FvH0Uz86SCub_yTbhn_tEvswjqH7EO2ukSwRKAElVqbRy3vkxOr01E6iW_42R-5ROqz9afxWjZ/s1600/photo+(14).JPG" height="200" width="196" /></a>On the cold and foggy afternoon like today, Earl Grey with milk really hits the spot. It does. The fog seems to permeate through the bricks of our country house, down my skin and deep into my bones. <br />
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There is chill in the air that only a cup of hot tea can conquer.<br />
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My Earl Grey with milk is smooth, fragrant and delicious. It soothes my soul and delights my taste buds. I supplemented it with a just few drops of pure maple syrup for added health benefits and sweetness. And a plate of my homemade cookies. My world needs a little sweetness today.<br />
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There should be an order from David's Tea arriving in my mailbox this afternoon. I can hardly contain myself while I wait. It has couple of items I am dying to try and of course there are free samples too. I love David's Tea free samples. They are like a present every time.<br />
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What am I going to get today?<br />
<br />Kamyriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00856184455026650598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041888519972469896.post-16380550876103864112014-12-14T13:13:00.001-08:002014-12-14T13:14:50.851-08:00Sunday Afternoon with Master Han's 2013 Sheng Pu'erThis tea has a character, that for sure. I think all young shengs do. It will treat you well if you prepare it right, but it will bite your tongue if you don't pay attention to what you're doing.<br />
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The very first time I tried a young sheng I steeped it for one full minute. <br />
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That was a wrong move.<br />
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When I took a sip I was stunned at the bitterness. I went all the way back to the drawing board and figured out what I did wrong. Young sheng loves short steeps. Yes.<br />
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Last year I acted on an impulse and got a whole brick of fresh young 2013 Master Han's Sheng from Verdant Tea. I was a little scared at first because I knew first hand how temperamental young sheng can be. It cost me a pretty penny and arrived in a tightly packed square brick with aroma to die for. I prepared a special spot for it in the bookcase in my bedroom, away from all the household smells. If all goes well I should be able to age it successfully. That is of course if I don't drink it all too fast.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2013 Master Han's Sheng Pu'er brick</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-gaqJU4Xg_fITgvO1MetaO1CwU3bu1L1wjfQxjYU38eqlPv8ZZfAKC_uTSZek-MSVq77hpLDTHIRmvWUZJ59o3h6C3UNvuvSLvX3lg7LkrxQTEJ_GfjbvrosH2289juhz-snshNLNPWF/s1600/2013+Master+Han's%2BSheng%2BPu'er%2B2%2Bwatermark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-gaqJU4Xg_fITgvO1MetaO1CwU3bu1L1wjfQxjYU38eqlPv8ZZfAKC_uTSZek-MSVq77hpLDTHIRmvWUZJ59o3h6C3UNvuvSLvX3lg7LkrxQTEJ_GfjbvrosH2289juhz-snshNLNPWF/s1600/2013+Master+Han's%2BSheng%2BPu'er%2B2%2Bwatermark.jpg" height="272" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2013 Master Han's Sheng Pu'er leaves</td></tr>
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When I want to enjoy it, I prepare it with 7 grams of leaf per 6 ounces of 95°C water. I rinse the leaves first and let them sit for one minute. My first steep is only for 5 seconds, followed by subsequent steeps of 10 seconds each. I like to have 3-4 steeps overall.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL68qdt2L3yvKVfLrMxqIHgK0d5UxjbTX0G9hJk4ErG8U2IraKI5qVT-Bdl2ZvGql5169pqkyzwUqvfn5I0fS8kXSDE7cmmCoqutQK5HxQ-xoFOddCTe49NInkEcbV5PVPfAMYvC-AB-xu/s1600/2013+Master+Han's%2BSheng%2BPu'er%2B3%2Bwatermark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL68qdt2L3yvKVfLrMxqIHgK0d5UxjbTX0G9hJk4ErG8U2IraKI5qVT-Bdl2ZvGql5169pqkyzwUqvfn5I0fS8kXSDE7cmmCoqutQK5HxQ-xoFOddCTe49NInkEcbV5PVPfAMYvC-AB-xu/s1600/2013+Master+Han's%2BSheng%2BPu'er%2B3%2Bwatermark.jpg" height="220" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prepared cup of 2013 Master Han's Sheng Pu'er </td></tr>
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The prepared tea is fragrant and a little fruity with a hint of orchids and wood. Because the steeps are so short there is not even a hint of bitterness. It's exquisite. There is something else. When I first steep it I swear I can smell bacon. Yes. Bacon. If I learned anything from various kinds of teas that I've tried, it is that they can surprise you in more ways than one.<br />
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Cheers!<br />
<br />Kamyriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00856184455026650598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041888519972469896.post-63261446261044912772014-12-12T16:03:00.002-08:002014-12-12T16:08:33.014-08:00Dark Roast 10 Year Aged TieguanyinMy love affair with roasted oolong tea began a year ago when I tried Dark Roast 10 year aged tieguanyin from Verdant Tea for the first time. I enjoyed oolong tea before that but roasted oolong is definitely a tea in its own category. The strong floral notes of regular oolong take a back seat to the bold, full bodied flavour of the roasted kind. It is a very different tea indeed.<br />
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This roasted oolong I like to prepare by a gong fu method in part because I'm never satisfied with just one or two steeps. I like to have it over and over again.<br />
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I use boiling water and 7 grams per 6 ounces of tea leaves.<br />
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I steep it many times starting with very short steeps of 3, 6 and 10 seconds each. At this point the liquid is light brown and the taste is roasty, fruity with a hint of floral notes. Afterwards I continue increasing the steep times until I get bored or there is little flavour left. At the 30 second mark the tea is dark brown with rich, roasty, full body flavour and a hint of caramel.<br />
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Currently my stash is at dangerously low level. Fortunately, after checking Verdant Tea website I was able to confirm that this incredible tea is in stock. Let me tell you how much my heart jumped for joy when I saw it listed. I will have to re-order soon. Dark Roast 10 year aged Tieguanyin has become a staple in my tea cupboard.<br />
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<br />Kamyriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00856184455026650598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041888519972469896.post-18479562118535959022014-12-10T09:17:00.000-08:002014-12-10T09:17:20.681-08:00Salted Caramel/Pure Chai LatteI confirmed last night that I don't need a glorified milk frother to make some delicious latte. My good old hand held mixer is getting the job done just fine with its whisking attachment. The tea fanatic in me still says it would be nice to have a dedicated milk frother which can probably do even better job but the practical me says I should go without it.<br />
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Who will win?<br />
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I'm not sure yet. Meantime last night I decided to mix up my tea flavours for some fun. I blended David's Tea Pure Chai with Salted Caramel and steeped it at higher concentration that I usually would. I added some maple syrup to the brew when it was done.<br />
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In a separate cup I heated up some whole milk until it foamed up and then whisked it until it formed a thick froth on the top. I then poured the frothy milk into my steeped tea.<br />
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It was delicious. It was paradise. It made my taste buds dance hula with joy.<br />
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<br />Kamyriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00856184455026650598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041888519972469896.post-2842485878770206062014-01-23T17:25:00.001-08:002014-01-23T17:25:08.332-08:00New acquisitions and back from hiatus<div>
Although I never stopped drinking tea I did stop posting about it in my tea blog and that's simply terrible.<br />
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Lately I've been missing it quite a bit and decided it was time for resurrection.</div>
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I'll start with some new teaware acquisitions that happened couple of weeks ago. Visiting local antique and thrift shops is one of my favourite things to do. You simply never know what you'll find there.</div>
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When I saw this Skye McGhie teapot I was instantly in love. I couldn't explain it because I'm not so much into florals but I guess there are florals that do appeal to me. This teapot is small, maybe 14-16 oz and sits on top of a matching teacup. I just love how the entire teapot is covered in design and color.<br />
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Most of all, I almost squealed with joy when I noticed the little dots on the handles. I'm a polka dot fanatic, love everything with polka dots on it and finding these dots on the teapot that I already liked so much was added bonus. This teapot has now become my favourite one.<br />
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I don't really have a good creamer, only one that's pretty big. I was really happy when I saw these little cuties. The creamer stands only 2 inches (5 cm) in height. My own little personal creamer.<br />
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I love this Teaopia brand teapot and a cup for one, its red and yellow colours and the overall design. It's even equipped with a little metal mesh strainer, as well as built in strainer in the spout. I was very sad to find out when I got home though that the built in strainer is certainly missing some holes because the flow is way to slow and it results in beyond messy pour. There are only 3 small holes but certainly enough space for a fourth one. Is this a faulty teapot? Maybe... Certainly a first teapot that I got that can't pour tea. For now it will decorate my dining room hatch and I can still use the teacup. <br />
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Kamyriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00856184455026650598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041888519972469896.post-77134637668333933252013-02-24T20:31:00.000-08:002013-02-24T20:31:11.387-08:00Ceylon Star by DAVIDsTEAI got this tea as a sample in my latest DAVIDsTEA order. Last night I felt adventurous and decided to give it a try.<br />
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When I opened the package the tea smelled like... dream. Yes, that's the first thing that popped into my head. I even wrote it down in my little tea journal. And yes, I do have a tea journal. I jot notes down whenever I drink new tea because my head usually goes 100 miles per second and things get forgotten easily.<br />
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Back to the tea... What does a dream smell like exactly? Well, it it is a good dream then it smells like vanilla, chocolate and the yummiest dessert you can think of. That's what I smelled when I opened the package. Things were looking up and I was very happy. The aroma went hand in hand with the looks of the tea itself. Nice big black leaves with chunks of white chocolate and a big piece of star anise. Gorgeous!<br />
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I steeped the tea in boiling water for 5 minutes. The aroma of the steeping tea continued to lure me; sweet and delicious with slight hint of cinnamon even though there was no cinnamon listed in the ingredients. At one point I would swear I got a whiff of vanilla pudding. Yummy!<br />
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The steeped tea was dark orange in color and was smooth, mild tasting with no astringency. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Gone was the cinnamon and vanilla pudding and now the front seat belonged to cocoa and anise. <br />
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Overall it was a very pleasing tea. For me it was a shame that it came with artificial flavoring because I tend to steer away from all things artificial when consumption is concerned. Nevertheless, for someone that doesn't mind that, it's a delicious tea to try out.<br />
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Ingredients: Ceylon black tea, star anise, cocoa, white chocolate, natural and artificial flavoring. Contains coconut, dairy and soy.<br />
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Steeping temperature: Boiling<br />
Steeping time: 5 minutes<br />
Steeped in: porcelain teapot<br />
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Cheers!!<br />
<br />Kamyriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00856184455026650598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041888519972469896.post-52320267152157015852013-02-14T19:51:00.000-08:002013-02-14T19:51:19.551-08:00Happy Valentines Day!!!I hope everyone has enjoyed their day. Some people love this day, some people hate it. I think that no matter whether you're single, married or in relationship of sorts, there is a little love for everyone on Valentines Day. I for one, found love in the most unusual of places this morning. I walked into my local thrift shop and there on the shelf sat this adorable and the most original of teapots I had a chance to get my hands on. It was a love at first sight, I grabbed it and there was no letting go.<br />
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Now is evening and I'm sitting here, sipping on my Darjeeling with lavender and a splash of milk. My lovely teapot is sitting over a candle warmer. I've had my share of food and chocolate for today and now this tea is all I really need and want. It's really that simple...<br />
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Love and blessings to all!!!<br />
<br />Kamyriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00856184455026650598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041888519972469896.post-27098860702155013942013-02-12T21:53:00.000-08:002013-02-12T22:01:21.009-08:00Of Personal Notes and 2004 Willow Grove ShuToday I received a much anticipated delivery from Verdant Tea. About two weeks ago I've ordered my very first pu'erh tea. Never had it before, never tasted it, I couldn't wait to try it out. I've read so many different reviews of various pu'erhs, the good and the bad and the more I read the more I wanted to get in the club. You know, the club of people who know what pu'erh is all about.<br />
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For those of you who don't know what pu'erh tea is, there is an awesome <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pu-erh_tea" target="_blank">Wikipedia article</a> on pu'erh tea with all the details one can handle.<br />
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Verdant Tea's selection was not the largest at the moment. I don't know all the ins and outs of the pu'erh tea but apparently they are waiting for the new stock to come in. Never the less, I've ordered Tea Trail 2004: Willow Grove Shu 50g, and a sample of Mt. Banzgang Farmer's Cooperative '03 Sheng. I also received a complimentary sample of Flowering Green Jasmine tea. I have never brewed flowers before and I just can't wait to do it. Thank you Verdant Team!<br />
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The box was neatly packaged and included a personal note from the staff. I thought that was such a nice touch! :)<br />
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I waited until after dinner to open the shu and steep a pot of it. I didn't want to be rushed. I wanted to savor and enjoy the moment.<br />
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The aroma of the tea was very delicate, mild, a bit musky and sweet. The leaves were clumped in chunks and very dark in appearance. Definitely did not look like any other tea that I've seen.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgteb9Z-mU7pgkeUI0JnOEgcXyQBdpvCaB3-AlnnRDr0KUHDO6ibSQDJ5FpzOeM1EW_GLbTxFybOUf2VrYnnmTB7YmR8E3MKd8OLX8WM1SwKlNR1P1hUMy3F4525Ndi8soaL0blr6YZEsCv/s1600/Willow+Grove+2004+2+SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgteb9Z-mU7pgkeUI0JnOEgcXyQBdpvCaB3-AlnnRDr0KUHDO6ibSQDJ5FpzOeM1EW_GLbTxFybOUf2VrYnnmTB7YmR8E3MKd8OLX8WM1SwKlNR1P1hUMy3F4525Ndi8soaL0blr6YZEsCv/s400/Willow+Grove+2004+2+SMALL.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I wanted to make sure I steep this one correctly so I followed the Western brewing instructions from Verdant Tea website. I rinsed the leaves first at 208F and then steeped the tea at 205F for 3 minutes. I steeped in the glass teapot because I don't have a dedicated yixing teapot yet.<br />
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While brewing, this pu'erh was almost trying to tell a story.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNX4Uy0HTMc-f9OXHFNV5ygkBb02vCUaJbmfG_et_B9gKgom0HCT8SGs9UJhnTrDnkMjEASX4fGgxydXGppGsxXHKnLMckbj40lLqbLOyHmvUnXbDEwZWxpq8_PZj4x__k0fTYcosRKSE6/s1600/Willow+Grove+2004+steeping+SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNX4Uy0HTMc-f9OXHFNV5ygkBb02vCUaJbmfG_et_B9gKgom0HCT8SGs9UJhnTrDnkMjEASX4fGgxydXGppGsxXHKnLMckbj40lLqbLOyHmvUnXbDEwZWxpq8_PZj4x__k0fTYcosRKSE6/s400/Willow+Grove+2004+steeping+SMALL.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
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The aroma of the steeped tea was very woody. Actually, the moment I smelled this pu'erh and took a sip, I was thrown back in memory lane to the mushroom picking trips I used to take with my grandpa when I was little. Every time I took a sip I had this flashback. All of a sudden I was seeing myself in the deep forest, picking mushrooms and being surrounded by pine trees. That was quite a time travel! :D<br />
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Back to the tea. The liquid color was gorgeous deep reddish brown and it was crystal clear. The taste was full bodied, mild, delicate and pleasant. I could smell and taste the woods and the pine and there was this ever slight astringency that started developing towards the end of every sip but which disappeared before the sip was over. I can say with confidence that I very much enjoyed this delicious and special tea.<br />
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You might think, this is it but this shu wasn't done with me yet. As I was sitting and sipping my tea, all of a sudden I was hit by a head rush. I heard about this before but totally forgot and it took me by a surprise. It was not bothersome but I definitely felt different. This is some tea!<br />
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I gave the tea two steeps, second time I brewed it for 3 minutes as well. To my surprise, after the second steep, the tea was darker and stronger. Still very earthy, woody and full body. I have never seen a tea getting stronger with subsequent steeps, this was the first. Unfortunately, it was getting late in the evening and I couldn't continue with steeps. Next time I will steep it earlier in the day and continue steeping until the flavor is gone. This is definitely a lot of tea... It packs a punch.<br />
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Steeping temperature: 205F<br />
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Steeping time: 3 min<br />
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Steeped in: glass teapot<br />
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Cheers!!!<br />
<br />Kamyriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00856184455026650598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041888519972469896.post-51056120029750215812013-02-10T22:41:00.000-08:002013-02-10T22:42:07.237-08:00Creme Brule by DAVIDsTEAFor the past two days I've been kept busy by the biggest winter storm to hit southeastern Ontario in the last three years. I've spent lots of time outside with my daughter, playing in the snow, hiking and taking photos. Let me tell you... There is nothing better than coming back from the cold and having a great cup of tea. For me at least. :)<br />
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I was happy to receive my latest DAVIDsTEA delivery one day early, the day before the big storm. I felt prepared. Bring it on Mother Nature! Nothing can stop me now!<br />
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My delivery included Chinese Dragonwell, Japanese Sencha and Creme Brulee. I ordered Creme Brulee tea because creme brulee is one of my favorite desserts and I just had to try it out. Sooner or later it had to happen and so I figured now was the time.<br />
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After dinner I don't delay... It's rooibos time!<br />
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I rip the package open and inhale the intoxicating aroma. I just love that first whiff... Mmmm ... This is really creme brulee!!! I wish it was in my oven! <br />
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The tea smells delicious and just like creme brulee should. The sweet aroma of caramel with notes of rum cake awakens my senses and warms my soul. It looks beautiful too. I see the yellow flowers of calendula and red safflowers. I think this is going to be good.<br />
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I steep the tea in boiling water for seven minutes in accordance with instructions. The sweet aroma spreads throughout the kitchen and invites my husband who wants to know what I'm making. "A tea", I say and he looks somewhat disappointed. He doesn't drink tea.<br />
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The steeped tea is beautiful shade of orange color, mild and very pleasant on the tongue. I'm having it with home made raisin scones and the combination couldn't be better. These two simply love each other. It's great with milk or without. Sometimes with blends like this I like to add a little milk for the creamy effect. It's very comforting.<br />
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All in all this is a very nice tea, I'm glad to say it didn't disappoint. In addition, I just love the fact that Creme Brulee is made with all natural ingredients. To me that's important component of quality and that is very important.<br />
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Ingredients (Organic): Green and Red Rooibos, safflowers, calendula marigold, natural flavoring<br />
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Steeping Temperature: 98C<br />
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Steeping Time: 7 minutes<br />
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Steeped in: Porcelain Teapot<br />
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Cheers!!!<br />
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<br />Kamyriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00856184455026650598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041888519972469896.post-43403258321240656032013-02-07T21:03:00.000-08:002013-02-07T21:03:44.559-08:00Of Big Packages and Pretty TeaOhhhhh yes!! Another week and another order arrived on my doorstep today. This package was bigger than usual as I ordered three varieties of tea and a silver tin. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQLXTXs44KLAvfQxWd6a6Dx2MhEQHnvZMiIaPHxiR9rxaQbqYXAgazTm7FD48j7iZwlcD3_YNxAwBSDK6B_7jLM76s3tV9rCwCbx1Y4DLp6p9kbEVxmIQ1H2H41kHmbp740RZL0ZsS2QJ/s1600/DAVIDsTEA+order+2+SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQLXTXs44KLAvfQxWd6a6Dx2MhEQHnvZMiIaPHxiR9rxaQbqYXAgazTm7FD48j7iZwlcD3_YNxAwBSDK6B_7jLM76s3tV9rCwCbx1Y4DLp6p9kbEVxmIQ1H2H41kHmbp740RZL0ZsS2QJ/s400/DAVIDsTEA+order+2+SMALL.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I stuck a flower in the picture to show my love :)</td></tr>
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The package included my beloved Dragonwell, Japanese Sencha and Creme Brule. I just can't wait to try Creme Brule. It's a mix of red and green rooibos with added safflowers, calendula and natural flavoring. The label claims it to be organic... Hopefully. :)<br />
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I didn't know what calendula was so I googled it. It is a variety of marigold in the daisy family Asteraceae, native to area from Macaronesia east through the <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mediterranean to Iran. It is said to be anti-inflammatory and anti-viral. The petals are edible and can be used in salads, to color cheese or as a replacement for saffron. Apparently, they can also be used in my tea. :)</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCrPzrmJi33wx06iCF7VK2meuidFsdiXb53DOmQ4pcs_g0kzx7afZDuUd_w2zz7Je9qn-YoI2JkGe-1nyCtl18Mjhmr-Dbz6lMgqG9GuGNzjx9UcoQ4ezFw63UrCXm1-33jrxo3ff58Ez/s1600/calendula.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCrPzrmJi33wx06iCF7VK2meuidFsdiXb53DOmQ4pcs_g0kzx7afZDuUd_w2zz7Je9qn-YoI2JkGe-1nyCtl18Mjhmr-Dbz6lMgqG9GuGNzjx9UcoQ4ezFw63UrCXm1-33jrxo3ff58Ez/s400/calendula.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orange Calendula</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.1875px;">I couldn't resist and opened the package of Creme Brule to sneak a peak... Beautiful aroma and very pretty looking tea. Look at all the colorful flowers in there! If I'm not mistaken, the yellow ones are from calendula (which can also be yellow) and the red ones are safflowers.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.1875px;">My package as usual, besides the ordered tea, included three complimentary samples... the mystery tea...the present within a present. Today I got:</span><br />
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<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.1875px;">Orange Pekoe (Fine black tea from Sri Lanka and Assam, India)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.1875px;">The Skinny (Oolong tea, pu'erh tea, ginger, ginseng, orange peel and natural flavoring)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.1875px;">Coco Chai Rooibos: (Rooibos, coconut, cinnamon, ginger root, cardamom, red pepper, cloves, pink peppercorns, artificial and natural flavoring)</span></li>
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All of the above I already got before which is a bummer because I love trying new teas, but if I remember correctly The Skinny was pretty good and it's all natural. Coco Chai was delish as well but I'm not crazy about the artificial flavoring.<br />
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There is another order on the way, somewhere between Minnesota and here. It's pu'erh from Verdant Tea and I can't wait to get my hands on it. Straight pu'erh tea is such a mystery to me, everything I heard about it makes me want to try it even more. Hopefully it arrives soon.<br />
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Cheers!!!<br />
<br />Kamyriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00856184455026650598noreply@blogger.com2