ladygreymoonlight

March 29, 2020

Scottish Breakfast Teas – Sparkling Isolation with Hipster Wife!

Since we are social distancing, and sparkling in isolation, Hipster Wife and I thought we’d join forces again to drink tea together long distance and bring a little humor and maybe education to you all. The only challenge we face is if we have the same teas in our respective homes. Fortunately for you, we do. For today’s blog my words are in red, hers are in purple, and anything I have quoted from Adagio’s website is in black.

Books I own. They were my Nana’s, but she downsized and I snagged these.

So it’s day 10 of the time of the plague, and my wonderful Viking Wife has asked me to appear on her lovely blog again. I am overjoyed because parenting an eight-year-old human who has to be out of school and in the house is aging me. Swiftly.

I have been waiting for the Brigadoon blend of Scottish Breakfast from Adagio for over two years.

As a massive fan of breakfast tea, chiefly Scottish, I just knew that I had to get my paws on this blend.

Everyone knows that I am a giant fan of Adagio’s blend for Earl Grey Moonlight, so I was curious to see what they were going to do with the Brigadoon.

Breakfast teas are a staple in my house because I usually switch to decaf tea at lunchtime. Caffeine makes my bones hum, so I try to limit it. So I need as much caffeine as I can.

VW here – I have traveled with her while consuming Dunkin Donuts iced coffees. I can totally confirm her humming bones. A bit disturbing as she was the one driving.

Many teas can and will say they are breakfast tea. I am not positive if there is a rule. I do know I’ve had Marcus Samuelsson’s breakfast blend from Ambessa. Which was produced by Harney and Sons. It is an African tea blending. Which of them are used, it does not say. Just labeled as black tea. It doesn’t come to my knowledge in loose leaf, so I wasn’t overly impressed. I enjoyed the Ambessa Earl of Harlem over the Safari Breakfast.

Traditionally a breakfast tea is blended of three black teas. Really the three standard breakfast teas – English, Irish, and Scottish are made up the same, combined with more or less than the others, but what it comes down to is WATER. Yes, the water you use with each tea will change the taste. I find English Breakfast to be on the weak side. It’s more like a lazy Saturday brunch to me. Irish is better in the let’s get moving. But Scottish is like a dude showing up in a kilt offering you some Irn-Bru and a fucking adventure. Okay, not so impressive, but still, it has the best taste in my opinion of the others.

Would you rather take this 32 flavoured soda from serious man or Sean in a kilt? https://foodanddrink.scotsman.com/drink/16-facts-about-irn-bru/ https://beerandwhiskeybros.com/2010/08/23/pikes-kilt-lifter-whats-under-there/

I may or may not have tried different types of water when brewing the breakfast teas, and I will say that well water with high mineral content does do best with Scottish, which is why they were blended in the first place.

My review of Brigadoon is that I am sad that I didn’t order as much as Viking Wife. I only ordered a tin and an additional bag. As I am writing this I am drinking a cup and I am already planning my purchase in four years.

When I posted this on IG Adagio replied that I now have more Brigadoon than they do!

If you enjoy breakfast teas, especially Scottish, I can’t recommend this one enough. Adagio has crafted a great blend and added just a hint of floral that gives this cup a delightful scent. I can’t really say that I taste it that much, but the black tea is strong, and it’s everything I want it to be.

It gets 5 happy tap dancing unicorns and they’re all drinking Irn-Bru. Or cups of this tea. However you want to picture it.

We’re doing tap dancing national animals of Scotland? Alrighty.

J82YNY monument flag heraldry scotland unicorn edinburgh historical monument culture
https://www.discoverbritainmag.com/the-unicorn/

When Hipster Wife introduced me to Adagio, she went ON AND ON about this tea we couldn’t get for two years. A tea she’d never tried. And until 2020, she kept on about “one day we’ll be able to get it!”

I was a fucking broken record over this tea.

Picture it: Massachusetts 2020. It’s Leap Day. Which means nothing special to me. Other than the fact that I’ve set two calendar reminders to order this tea, and to remind Hipster Wife to do the same. I fell asleep watching Star Wars on my couch (because I could). I woke sometime after 1am, grabbed my phone, turned off my TV, and sleepily made my way down the hall of my tiny house to my bed.

The movement of my phone made the screen light up. I saw a message from HW time stamped just after midnight saying she had ordered her Brigadoon. PANIC SET IN. 1:30 am brain forgot we had set a calendar reminder MONTHS ago. So sleepy me went on line (not through the app, I actually hate the app) and ordered the tin. Because collectible reusable tin! And in a moment of not awake panic… ordered 6 bags. That’s $69 worth of a tea I’d never had before.

FFS I’d better like it.

(I was legit worried since we don’t usually agree on tea and you had disliked the English Breakfast blend so much.)

I thought we’d like a bit of eye candy. https://ireckonthat.wordpress.com/tag/rob-roy-review/

I was a bit nervous about this blend. Nothing to do with the continued quality I’ve experienced with Adagio’s loose leaf teas. But because of two tins of bagged English Breakfast tea I received from a non tea drinking friend for Christmas. I was thoroughly unimpressed with these English Breakfast teas. I’m really and Earl Grey girl (Lady 😉 )

Brigadoon: From Adagio’s site

Like the fictional Scottish town of Brigadoon, this special Leap Year tea only appears once every few years. Luckily, it’s every four years instead of a hundred!

Celebrate Leap Day with this Scottish Breakfast Blend of Assam and Keemun teas. We’ve added a touch of Silver Needle and blue cornflowers to evoke the blue and white of the Scottish flag that Brigadoon would fly.

Leap Day is needed to correct the fact that the Gregorian calendar year is about 6 hours shorter than a solar calendar year. The extra day is an opportunity to do something out of the ordinary, something that doesn’t come along too often.

Ingredients & Lore

Blended With Assam Melody Tea, Keemun Concerto Tea, Silver Needle Tea & Blue Cornflowers

Brigadoon tells the story of a mysterious Scottish village that appears for only one day every hundred years, though, to the villagers, the passing of each century seems no longer than one night. The enchantment is viewed by them as a blessing rather than a curse, for it saved the village from destruction. According to their covenant with God, no one from Brigadoon may ever leave, or the enchantment will be broken and the site and all its inhabitants will disappear into the mist forever. Two American tourists, lost in the Scottish Highlands, stumble upon the village just as a wedding is about to be celebrated, and their arrival has serious implications for the village’s inhabitants.

Adagio does not often let me down. And guess what? They have blended the first breakfast tea I like. The $69 I spent on this tea is so worth it.

Let’s look at the blend similarities – they both have Assam Melody and Keemun Concerto. Silver needle is a white tea with honeysuckle floral and sweet notes. Cornflowers (Bachelor Buttons) add a slight spiciness. It is these two ingredients that make this cup so smooth. The bold black teas are tempered beautifully by the white tea and delicate blue petals.

See how pretty the silver needles and blue cornflowers make the Brigadoon?

I am enjoying this one so much, that I am sure to run out before 2024 😦

Same. I wonder if they have a blackmarket tea Facebook group we could get in on.

I give Adagio’s Brigadoon 5 out of 5 tap dancing unicorns. And a solid snogging session with a hottie in a kilt.

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/scotland-forever-alba-gu-brath-symbols-of-scotland-over-flag-of-scotland-serge-averbukh.htm

Scottish Breakfast: From the Adagio website

I have a small bag of Scottish Breakfast from Adagio. I selected it as a free sample in one of my massive tea orders. So today, I break it open for the first time.

“Whether needed to wash down a full Scottish breakfast or to warm your bones after a walk on the misty moors, our Scottish Breakfast tea will do the trick. Richly blended with Assam, Keemun, Yunnan, and Sri Lankan full-leaf teas, you’ll get a deep cup with malty notes, red fruitiness, hints of smoke and a touch of Yunnan pepperiness. Straight up or with a splash of cream, Scottish Breakfast is also a fine companion for your overdue Robbie Burns indulgence: “O, my Luve is like a red, red rose, That’s newly sprung in June. O, my Luve is like the melody, That’s sweetly played in tune.”

Ingredients & Lore

Blended With Assam Melody Tea, Keemun Concerto Tea, Yunnan Jig Tea & Ceylon Sonata Tea

It may be about this time when you start asking yourself, “English, Irish, Scottish breakfast teas… what’s the difference?” While all “breakfasts” are blends of black tea (usually Keemun, Ceylon and Assam) they are intended to be a strong, rich cup to accompany even the heartiest of morning meals. However, Scottish Breakfast teas tend to be the heartiest of the bunch, possibly due to Scotland’s soft water, which leads some people to believe the teas were blended specifically to combat this issue. Or, perhaps Scotts simply demand a stronger tea. Either way, it is important to note that at no time has there been a standard formula for any of these coveted caffeine-packed day starters.

Well then. Today is my personal day 16 of social distancing. It’s raining. A wet late March morning, grey and damp. The usual buzz of traffic from the street has slowed to mostly business vehicles and the random civilian car or SUV. Perfect day to imagine I’m where I should be (seriously, had to cancel my trip to Glasgow this week) and have some Scottish Breakfast tea.

This is definitely a strong cuppa. I take my tea black and unsweetened. I’m getting the smokiness, but not the red fruitiness. It’s strong and bold. My mouth feels a bit dry after drinking it. And a bit like I’ve been kissing a smoker, or inhaled too deeply around a campfire. Overall this tea is nice, but not something I’d run back to.

I’m standing upon a misty hill, rain pattering against the hood of my mac. In a rush of cultural, family pride I packed my clan tartan scarf. I did fear it would mark me clearly as a tourist and American, but in this damp chill I am grateful for the scratchy wool. My skinny jeans are damp. I’ve already traded in my sturdy L.L. Bean all-weather mocs for a pair of locally procured wellies. I have a pair back home, but they are bright yellow with chickens all over, and the soles are covered in chicken poo.

Sadly taken in my back yard and not in Scotland.

I run my tongue over my teeth. I make a little saliva and swallow. The smokiness of the Scottish Breakfast tea hangs in my mouth like the memory of an old lover with a smoking habit. Or when I was a wee lass toddling about in pastel dresses and chewing on my Da’s pipes.

Actual Scottish Highlands https://www.wanderlust.co.uk/content/scotland-best-hikes/

My reverie is disturbed by my daughter shouting at me “MA! Are we done with these photos? I wanna go inside. Quarantine is making you nuts.”

When your adult child wants to show the world you are sad about your cancelled birthday trip.

I give Adagio’s Scottish Breakfast 3 out of 5 tap dancing unicorns.

I have had several bags of Adagio’s Scottish breakfast, and I usually take it with ½ and ½. I drink all black tea with some sort of cream in it.

Unlike my Viking Wife, I am not taken to the pastoral greatness with my cuppa. But for me, especially during this time of plague, my morning quiet with a cup of tea has been a much-needed break from all of this.

I also give the regular Scottish breakfast 5 shots of my favorite Scotch. Which I have actually tried, and it was pretty decent. Scotch and tea are actually kinda tasty, or perhaps I have just slipped into alcoholism during the quarantine. Oh well… No regrets!

My clan’s coat of arms, and my selfie before Emma and I took pictures outside. Sparkling Isolation means no make up, even for blog selfies. Also, I never filter. https://www.macfarlane.org/

March 24, 2020

Earl Grey Bella Luna

Another day in Sparkling Isolation. Another cup of tea with coconut. Come join me on the sun drenched beach of Nassau (yes, I’m still watching Black Sails. Captain Flint is getting me through these difficult times).

Let’s see what our friends at Adagio have to say about this gem.

Ingredients & Lore https://www.adagio.com/black/earl_grey_bella_luna.html

Blended With Black Tea, Coconut, Blue Cornflowers, Natural Coconut Flavor, Natural Bergamot Flavor & Natural Creme Flavor

Humanity has always had a complex relationship with our closest celestial body. We’ve projected our dreams upon it, walked on its surface, composed countless inspired works, and created calendars based on its consistent phases. Its gravitational pull governs the swell of tides, and, some might say, human behaviors. Mid-month, the moon waxes full, and for a night, the sky is its brightest. We crafted Earl Grey Bella Luna as a nod of appreciation to the power of the full moon – a timeless glow of ancient tradition, reliable pattern, and brightest mystery.

Celtic Goddess Arianrhod showing us the moon cycles on her drum. Once a month comes around faster than you think. Be patient. And sign up to get notified when this tea is available.

Adagio has special teas that only come out on the full moon (this one), the blue moon (Bella Luna Blue), and Leap Day (Brigadoon). While this can be frustrating to some, it’s sort of brilliant. It also lead to me ordering 12 bags of Bella Luna Blue last year, and 6 of Brigadoon this year… but we will discuss those later with a special guest blogger!

Don’t get angry that you can’t just go on and order this. Sign up for the notification. Pay attention to their social media. And order it when it’s available. You can actually see my customer review on the page.

Real coconut. Gorgeous cornflower petals.

Have a seat on this rattan chair on my balcony. Let us watch the sunrise over the Atlantic ocean. Carlo, shirtless devil, has made us pot of tea to go with our breakfast. You look at me and say “Coconut? You’ve got positively native, Lady Grey.” And you chuckle as you carefully lift your cup to your mouth.

Thank you, Carlo. That will be all for now.

You taste the rich black tea, the smooth quality of the coconut and the creme flavor. You are about to comment that this is in no way an Earl Grey. But as you are about to speak, the bergamot and the spice of the cornflowers strikes your pallet.

I can see your surprise and pleasure. I sip from my cup. Sly, knowing grin upon my lips. You are a fan, and will sign up for email notifications at Adagio’s website so you, too, can order this tea.

Working from home means using all the fancy tea cups! My Hipster Wife crocheted the coaster.

March 23, 2020

Gluten Free Zucchini Crust Pizza

Why, yes, it is the best pizza cutter ever. Thank you for noticing.

In these days of Sparkling Isolation, I’m tweaking recipes that I have made before but found lacking. In my home my daughter is gluten free, and my basic eating plan verges on keto (and has since weight loss surgery 13 years ago). Yes, I bake a LOT of shortbread. But I don’t eat much of it. I mostly give it away or bring it to work for people to enjoy.

Cauliflower crust bothers me. I have had difficultly with cruciferous vegetables for the past 13 years. When I was looking on line for a gluten free, keto pizza I discovered zucchini crust.

My least favorite phrase in every posted recipe I found “Great way to use up all that extra zucchini”. WTF is wrong with people? There is no such thing as extra zucchini. It’s versatile. You can freeze it. You can dry it. You can eat it raw. I could eat sauteed zucchini and onions every night for a week and not be tired of it. If you, gentle reader, have ‘extra’ zucchini, send it here.

The recipe I found:

The first time I made this, I followed the recipe. Meh. The crust was bland. It was moist and fell apart. Also, it stuck to my cookie sheet. And I am not one to skimp on cooking spray.

Note: have you tried to squeeze shredded zucchini? Both times I made this all I ended up with was zucchini coated fingers. No moisture came out. This is why I added breadcrumbs below.

This past week, in Sparkling Isolation, I was able to get 4 zucchini. Knowing we’d be stuck inside, and it’s nice to have leftovers to not cook or prep a meal every day, I made the following, which made 2 medium cookie sheet sized pizzas:

4 shredded zucchini, 6 eggs, 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar? mozzarella? I can’t recall), 1 cup Parmesan cheese, 1 cup Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose Flour, 1 cup 4C Gluten Free breadcrumbs… and the “I threw it in because it felt right and I didn’t measure it” brigade: olive oil, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, ground white pepper.

I baked two of these at 450 for 15 minutes. They came out golden brown. I topped with canned tomatoes and a bit of pasta sauce. I neglected to get fresh tomatoes at the store, it’s not like we’re comfortable just running out every day to the market right now. You make due with what you have on hand. And it was fine. The fire roasted garlic tomatoes I keep in my pantry have no added sugar. And I used very little pasta sauce.

OMG I’m so glad we still have some leftovers so I can eat them when this is posted.

Cheese… well, I didn’t buy the zucchini with this in mind. So I didn’t get mozzarella or a pizza cheese blend. What did I have? Cheddar.

I ripped up some mozzarella sticks and threw on pepperoni. We aren’t fussed about the type. While turkey is fine, and I used some, this is a mix of regular and turkey pepperoni. These are interesting times we live in. It’s mayhem in my kitchen!

I joke. It’s not mayhem. But you know me. Most recipes are vague guidelines. This is to encourage people to be creative.

Pizza on the ‘fancy’ china and Demons and Wizards on the turntable. This is how I sparkle in isolation.

The crust was sturdier than the first time. But still not like a normal pizza where you can pick it up. This is a fork meal. Perhaps a longer baking time for the crust on it’s own. If I can safely get more zucchini during these trying times, I will make another!

Be well, and be safe.

March 20, 2020

White Tropics Tea – A Vacation for the Mind

“Get swept away to paradise with this wonderful White Tropics blend of naturally sweet white tea from China and the flavor of coconuts and pineapple. Rounded mouthfeel, delightfully simple sweet finish. Soothing from start to finish. Even on a dreary, cold day you can be transported to a sunny beach by enjoying this unique White Tropics blend hot or iced. Don’t forget your sunblock!”https://www.adagio.com/white/white_tropics.html

Seeing as none of us are going anywhere exciting any time soon, I thought I’d take a trip through my tea cabinets and drink all the tea. Where did we go today? To the tropics. I was watching season 1 of Black Sails this week. Imagine we’re on that white sandy Nassau beach, fabulous billowing linen shirts, dirk in your belt, sword at my side. The sun is hot, but the ocean breeze is salty and cool on our sunburned skin.

I’ve not gotten this far in the series. I LOVE Max’s dress!

I mean, I’d be sunburned. I’m paper white and glow in the dark. One of the artists I model for said “I’ve been dying to paint your blue English skin” if that gives you any idea of my ridiculous level of paleness. You can see my veins like a map of rivers.

Anyway… there we are in our colonial era/pirate clothes. I, of course, ask if you’d like a cuppa. You want rum. I mean, we’re pirates. But we’re civilized. It’s tea time. So you acquiesce to my suggestion. We are served tea on a tray carried in by my perennially shirtless servant. He’s likely from not as far north in Europe as I am because his olive skin has tanned beautifully.

Look, this is my vacation. And Carlo *likes* being shirtless. We’re in the Caribbean.

We inhale the scent of the hot tea as we lift our delicate cups. Not too hot. This is a white tea. It’s incredible delicate. Since we’re colonials and do not have a kettle that stops at 180 degrees, my clever (and well paid, he could totally buy shirts if he wants) servant Carlo had taken the cast iron kettle off the boil and let it sit for about 15 to 20 minutes before making the tea.

The flavour is delicate and fruity. The white tea from China is refreshing. The rose petals add a touch of perfume that reminds us of back home in England. Yet the pineapple and coconut remind us of the beautiful flavours here on this island.

Tea pot hand made by my friend Evan at SquirrelForge. Teacup and saucer purchased from my friends Diane and Pat at their shop Tintagel’s Gate.

Interesting note – when I made the giant 22 ounce mug below, I had not planned on making a white tea. I had brought the kettle to a boil. I poured the water, realized what I had done, and immediately topped it off with cold tap water so I didn’t ruin it. I have to say that mug had a far more powerful scent and flavour of pineapple and coconut than the properly made cup. I’m not suggesting we all throw caution to the wind and pour boiling water over white tea. I’ve not gone that crazy during this COVID19 isolation. I’m simply stating my experience. Plus, check out the mug I painted…

Yes, that’s John Watson in the lap of Sherlock Holmes. I found the fan art on line and painted it onto this mug for myself.

March 19, 2020March 18, 2020

Shortbread with Powdered Monk Fruit

In order to keep shortbread’s status as The World’s Most Powerful Cookie, I keep experimenting.

The Most Powerful Cookie in the World – diabetic safe

I have friends and family who are diabetic. My English grandmother can’t eat my shortbread because of her diabetes. That’s a crime, friends. How do we fix this crime against English Nanas? Powdered Monk Fruit.

Nana introduced me to monk fruit sweetener in the summer of 2019. But it was not until February of 2020 that I tried it for myself. I did some research on diabetic baking, looked at reviews, and settled on Lakanto Sugar Free Powered Monk Fruit Sweetener with Erythritol.

Before we move forward, we have to learn things.

Erythritol has no effect on glucose or insulin levels, making it safe for diabetics. It is a sugar alcohol, and has been used since 1990 as a man-made sweetener. It can be found naturally in some foods, and in wine, beer and cheese when they ferment.

Monk fruit comes from an unattractive melon native to southern China. The sweetener is made from extract from the dried fruit. It is said to be 150-250 times sweeter than table sugar (not my experience, nor that of my taste testers). It has no calories or carbs, and does not raise blood glucose levels.

I ordered a bag from Amazon, because no shop near me carries this product.

I hand painted my canisters. My whole life is filled with art.

I made a batch of plain shortbread – white flour, butter, powdered monkfruit, vanilla extract. I was prepared for a terrible aftertaste like with other non sugar sweeteners. I was prepared for my intestines to writhe like serpents trying to escape my abdomen like when I accidentally have a bit of Splenda. What I was not expecting was a soft shortbread cookie full of flavour, not as sweet as my usual recipe, and no aftertaste. (Also, no writhing serpent-intestines).

basic recipe reminder: 1.75 cups flour, 2/3 cups sugar, 1 cup butter, 1 tsp vanilla extract

I made them for a diabetic friend with a wicked sweet tooth. He enjoyed them, and appreciated them. Fab.

But my diabetic family holds another dietary issue – gluten free. Not just any family member – an 11 year old boy with anxiety who is older brother to a 9 year old boy who is like the Purple Pieman of Porcupine Peak. I blame modern youth cooking competition shows.

I bet this jerk wouldn’t bake gluten free or diabetic safe.

My gluten free 23 year old daughter helped introduce her little cousin to tasty gluten free food. My mother (who swears gluten free is really difficult – it isn’t) has finally started to ask questions about how to modify her baking and cooking so two of her grandkids don’t get sick. But my 9 year old nephew gets indignant that his gluten free, diabetic older brother won’t eat any of his cakes and cookies.

I used Bob’s Red Mill All Purpose Gluten Free Flour, Lakanto Sugar free Powdered Monk Fruit Sweetener, butter, vanilla extract.

If you are also dairy free, try this with coconut oil!

With normal cookies I bake them 12-15 minutes. When you look at both regular and gf flour cookies I made, they browned differently. I kept my eye on them and took them out at the 10 minute mark.

Owen picked out the cookie cutter. I made the dough at my house, and we baked at my mom’s. He decided they had to be anatomically correct (note the udders). We rolled them in corn meal because I forgot my bag of gf flour for rolling.

These came out SUPER soft. Delicate and falling apart. I had to let them cool completely before I could handle them.

These came out a little dry and crumbly. My stepdad and I discussed tweaking the recipe. Once the world is safe again, I am going to try increasing the butter by 1/4 cup and adding corn starch or arrowroot powder.

See how fragile? Destruction of the Death Star in Shortbread 2020 by Lady Grey Moonlight 😉

March 18, 2020

Wendigo Bigfoot Black Tea

When I started this blog, my goal was to buy as many brands and varieties of Earl Grey that I could find. In that pursuit, I found Wendigo and their Black Shuck Earl Grey. With my order I received a sample of their Bigfoot Black Tea. Since I’m working from home full time for now (COVID19 social distancing which I’m calling my “Sparkling Isolation”) I thought I’d go through all my tea. And by that I clearly mean over caffeinate myself.

I love the Wendigo packaging. The black canisters speak to my Gen X goth soul. In fact, I’m wearing a Depeche Mode hoodie as I type this.

But you aren’t here for my Kylo Ren tee shirt and DM concert swag. You’ve been lured here to read about my cup of tea.

I know you keep looking at the duct tape on the edge of my desk.

With my order of Black Shuck I got this 3 teaspoon sample of Bigfoot. I measured it today when I made my cup. I measured with proper baking teaspoons because my OCD demands it.

Let’s see what the tea says for itself:

Hey I’m Bigfoot! I am a pure black tea whose leaves are naturally sweet. I am a shy yet powerful beast, with a musk full of fruits, nuts, and trees. What you imagine when someone says “black tea” is a pale imitation of my beastly quality.
Want to get personal with me? I am an Imperial Grade Golden Monkey from a tea workshop in Fuan county in the Fujiang province of China. I get my name from my leaves, which look like long brown curly monkey hair and are so powerful that you can repeatedly steep them up to 6 times for pot after pot of aromatic bold tea to share with family and friends. Or just keep me all to yourself.
Don’t bother tasting any other Sasquatch. You have found Bigfoot!
https://wendigotea.com/products/bigfoot-tea

I steeped for 3 minutes, per the suggested brewing instructions. I normally steep for 4.

As I sat here sipping I found myself so happy. This is a smooth, almost sweet, on the verge of fruity black tea. There is no dry mouth feel. It wasn’t acidic. Yet it has a luxurious full black tea flavour.

This is what every cup of plain black tea I’ve ever had wanted to be.

Imagine your sad little bag of Lipton tea, sighing, and saying “When I grow up, I want to taste like Bigfoot”. I mean, I imagined it. Could it be the Sparkling Isolation getting to me? Could it be the increased amount of tea I’m consuming?

If my cabinets weren’t over flowing with tea, I’d place an order for this right now. But if you are a normal person and have space in your life and tea cabinet, you should order this. You will not be sorry.

February 16, 2020

Chocolate and Roses – Shortbread in February

It does not take much to inspire me to bake. At the end of January a coworker and I were talking about National Hot Cocoa Day (31 January).

“Tomorrow is National Hot Cocoa Day.”

“I should make chocolate shortbread.”

“I’ll get cocoa and send out an invite.”

No real discussion. Just the plan. She got cocoa, whipped cream, and marshmallows. I brought a massive tray of shortbread.

The first batch was a brand new one for me. I made these with regular flour as most people in my office are not gluten free.

1 3/4 cups white flour, 2/3 cup confectioners sugar, 1 cup butter, splash vanilla, 1/3 cup cocoa powder (I used Hershey’s Special Dark) and an additional 1/2 cup butter. Oven at 375F, baked for 12 minutes.

The result was a dark chocolate, not overly sweet, crisp and flaky cookie.

Next batch was Chocolate Chai. Standard recipe plus a tablespoon of loose leaf Adagio Chocolate Chai smashed up in my mortar and pestle.

Tiny flecks of chai, spices, and chocolate. mmmmmm…..

The final batch for National Hot Cocoa Day was a plain shortbread. At this point my butter was really at room temp so the cookies baked up crisp and buttery. I melted some milk and semi-sweet chocolate chips to ‘frost’ some of the plain cookies.

Being that National Hot Cocoa Day was so close to February and Valentines Day, I used the heart shaped cookie cutter for the last batch.

We can’t have Happy Patron Saint of Epilepsy and Hallmark Greetings Day without pink heart cookies.

I made a batch of regular shortbread, and added unsweetened dried strawberries, crushed rose petals, and strawberry extract. I iced them with a simple icing (confectioners sugar, water, red gel food colouring) and sprinkled more crushed rose petals on top. You can get edible rose petals/buds on Amazon or your favourite bulk herb retailer.

Some people think the roses taste like grass. Some people (my 18 year old niece) weep with uncontrolled joy when I place these in front of them. And some people said they could taste the passion and love I infused into them (and tried to guess which men I was thinking about when making these cookies).

December 24, 2019

Day 24 Candy Cane Herbal Tea

A tasty and invigorating treat.

Green rooibos, peppermint, safflower, peppermint essence, love, gratitude. No Caffeine. Steep 1 tsp in boiling water 3-5 min

No candy canes were harmed in the making of this tea.

HW:

I like rooibos and peppermint.

I do not like this tea.

This tea gave me a sad.

Why do I sound like I should be in a Dr. Seuss book?

No Viking Wife, I will not drink this tea in the sea!

VW: Odin and Njord want the rest of this poem. (For the muggles in the audience, Odin is a God of poetry and Njord is a God of the ocean.)

I will not drink this in the sea

I will not drink this for my tea

I will not drink this tisane today

It is not tea, so go away

The peppermint was off for me. The rooibos didn’t seem to want to mix with it. The whole candy cane thing was not hitting the mark. I think I am super sensitive to peppermint extract, and maybe the peppermint “essence” triggered that. (Long story involving a lot of booze and a dare to drink a bottle of peppermint extract.)

Even with sugar, it didn’t have that sweet candy cane flavor that I love, and it was a dud for me.

Is there more candy cane flavour in this cotton ball and construction paper craft?

While it blows mistletoe that I am ending the Plum Deluxe Advent Calendar on a tea that I could’ve skipped, it doesn’t at all reflect the whole thing. Honestly, I enjoyed most of it.

Where I think some other advent’s failed is there was no clear story. This calendar had one, and it mostly flowed seamlessly from each day to the next.

I will probably get this next year. It seems that PD changes it up each year, and I love that. Take me on another adventure Plum Deluxe. This one was a happy, warm Christmas time filled with happy old memories and some new ones. Some of these were pleasant surprises, like I enjoyed green tea…

Of course, doing this with my Viking Wife was a huge bonus, and I enjoyed guessing who would like what and how much the other would hate it. The surprise I think is we matched more than I thought we would. I love her so much, and doing this with her is becoming a bit of a Christmas tradition, I think, and I am happy that it is.

Merry Christmas! I hope that your 2020 is filled with perfect cups of tea, and each of those cups runs over with love.

This tea got 1 candy cane from me.

I give the Calendar 5 out 5 for the story.

4.5 out of 5 for overall taste. It lost .5 when it tried to kill me with the devil root.

I was looking forward to this one. I was prepared to like this one. Silly me.

I don’t have candy canes in the house. But these Brach’s peppermint nougats are a holiday fave!

Peppermint is my number one favourite tisane of all time. It’s my go-to cup when I want a warm drink, when it’s late and I want to relax, when I have a tummy ache. It’s part of my period pain blend.

But here, in this misguided effort to make a drinkable candy cane, it’s so far in the back. I can’t smell it. I can’t taste it. It’s hiding. Under the weird coating that rooibos leaves upon my tongue, I can sense it hiding, wanting to tingle and tantalize, but overpowered by nonsense in this cup.

Look- and this isn’t addressed just to Plum Deluxe, this goes out to Adagio and any other tea company that thinks they can make a candy cane tea- STOP. Have you looked at the ingredients in a candy cane? What if, and I know I may be crazy, but what if you just blended peppermint leaves with some vanilla extract? Maybe toss in some peppermint extract for extra kick? Or some crushed candy cane? No where in the history of the candy cane do we have green rooibos or safflower.

I had a similar complaint last year when HW and I did the Adagio tea advent calendar. They have a candy cane blend that is terrible.

I will have to review the fandom blend The GovernMINT takes a holiday soon. That blend has got it down. Black tea with peppermint and candy cane. Damnit. Now I wish I had a cup of that in hand. (Never fear! I have a lovely tin of it in the cupboard.)

This tea gets 1 candy cane as well.

Overall the Tea Advent Calendar gets 5/5 for the 24 days. It stayed seasonal and topical. Nearly every blend evoked winter and holiday memories and feelings for us.

For taste, I’m going with a 4 out of 5. I have learned that rooibos is not for me. And there was far too much of it in this calendar.

I’d like to thank our readers for coming along on this journey with us. Hipster Wife and I are writers, mums, best friends, artists, and tea addicts who met years and years ago on some horror movie forums. We live far apart and don’t get to see one another very often. But the internet and shared Google docs help bridge the miles every day.

I hope your Solstice was Blessed, your Hanukkah is Happy, your Christmas is Merry, and New Year full of the things you love best. I’ll put the kettle on so it’s hot when you come back.

December 23, 2019

Day 23 Strawberry Garden Herbal Tea

A hint of summer to get you through winter.

Elderberry, hibiscus, apple pieces, black currant, blackberry/strawberry/raspberry, strawberry leaf, strawberry essence. Love, gratitude. No caffeine. Steep 1 tsp in boiling water 3-5 minutes.

HW:
Immediately I thought. Viking wife is gonnnnna love this. Probably going to blend this during the summertime and share it with her teen and tween group. It is currently snowing right now for her, so I am not sure how much she is going to enjoy the taunt of summer.

Maybe she’ll close her eyes and make-believe?

Currently, this week in Alabama, the weather is in the 70s. Because. The. South. When we got here for Christmas, it was in the 30s. The weather is here and bi-polar.

I am not a fan of fruit-based herbal blends.

It’s not tea to me.

VW: it’s not tea to anyone. It’s a tisane.

There is not a hint of Camellia sinensis in this, therefore, not tea.

But perhaps I am a bit overzealous?

This is very summertime to me, and I didn’t hate it. I won’t ever drink it again. I wish there had been more of a black currant flavor, I didn’t taste it at all. Mostly I felt like I was drinking a mixed berry punch.

Not my cuppa, but if you enjoy herbal, fruity things, you will love this. PD really used quality ingredients, and the flavor was there.

2 Berries for me, but 5 for you.

VW: Hipster Wife is correct. This is not tea. This is a tisane. Not the first we’ve had this month. I’m battling a cold, so I’m happy to be drinking elderberry. This tisane is not listed on the site, so we presume it is an advent calendar exclusive.

Thankfully it is not snowing today. Here in Massachusetts we have weather that should get into the low 50’s and melt some of this ice and snow from the storm we had on Tuesday. You know, the storm where two of my local best friends help me move, and take apart and reassemble my chicken and duck pen. The storm where four soaked and frozen humans (we had someone arrive after lunch to help) shift the majority of my furniture and belongings to my new house. Why am I called Viking Wife? Stuff like this.

But this blend makes me happy on a minor herbalist level.

While I was looking for this blend on their site, I came across a tea with St. John’s Wort. *INSERT PICARD LEVEL FACEPALM HERE* There are no warnings about consuming St. John’s Wort if you are already on mood balancing prescription medications. When my daughter was young her anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts (and a plan at age 4) led us to therapy and medications. I consulted with her therapist, doctors, and an herbalist about the efficacy of St. John’s Wort for her. We determined she needed prescription medications. My herbalist reminded me, quite often, to never give her St. John’s Wort while on this prescription, because it has been shown to cancel out the positive effect of the medication.

Yet again, I am disappointed in PD for not having an herbalist on staff, or any sort of disclaimer to their blends with herbs.

If I lived on the West Coast, I’d be at their door applying for a job that does not yet exist at Plum Deluxe. Wait, could this be a remote position? Andy, send me some supplies I don’t currently have. I’ll help you out, bro.

Let’s examine the really lovely ingredients in today’s tisane.

Elderberry is an immune system booster. It is used for colds, flu, nerve pain (sciatica, neuralgia, and chronic fatigue), and to boost the immune system of HIV/AIDS patients. The only precaution I know of is do not eat the leaves, stems, unripe or uncooked fruit. When you buy elderberries (PD sells them!), elderberry jam, or elderberry wine, it is safe. This is one of my favourite herbs, and I always have berries, and homemade elderberry syrup on hand.

Hibiscus – if you’ve been following my blog in 2019 you know I’m a fan. It has also appeared everywhere in the last few years. Which is wonderful. The dark pink colour, the tart flavour, the health benefits… Come learn something and fall in love with me… The bit of the flower we consume is the seeds, from the pods, which are exposed after the flower has gone by. Ancient Egyptians used hibiscus to treat fever, heart disease, and as a diuretic (it makes you pee). It is also used to reduce high blood pressure. Medically and spiritually, hibiscus is good for the heart. So, if you have suffered a broken heart, drink some hibiscus.

Apple… what’s to say? Other than Andy, what variety of apple are you using in your blends? An apple a day keeps the doctor away. I’m a fan. My daughter is allergic.

Black currant is not an American thing anymore. According to Business Insider in the late 1800’s US farmers grew black currants, white currants and gooseberries. But black currant spread a fungus that killed white pine trees (you know all that cheap lumber you can get at Home Depot?). Our European friends (and international travelers) will be familiar with Ribena, a drink made from black currant. Medicinally, the fruit is good for immune boosting.

Blackberry/strawberry/raspberry -???? We can only presume they mean that these dried fruits have been added.

I mean… LOOK at this sexy colour. Delicious!

Strawberry leaf – and hang on dear readers- can help reduce arthritis pain. It has a special acid in the leaves that reduces joint inflammation. The leaves also contain vitamin C, calcium, and iron. If you have ever been iron deficient, you may have been told to eat liver, spinach, and strawberries. I opted for the spinach, strawberries and iron supplements. No one can convince me to eat liver. Thanks anyway, mother. If you have a strawberry allergy, do not consume strawberry leaves. Simple as.

This cup is divine. HW was right. I do love it. But it’s not making me long for summer. It is making me grateful that we have herbal knowledge, and the ability to dry berries and plants to make medicinal teas for the cold and flu season. It absolutely belongs in the advent calendar. And frankly should be available all year.

5/5 berries. Love this!

December 22, 2019

Day 22 Comfort Blend Back Tea

This familiar flavor is your best friend for a tranquil revitalizing cuppa.

All organic: Black tea, cinnamon chips, orange peel, ginger, clove, orange extract, love gratitude. Steep 1 tsp in boiling water. 3-5 minute. Has caffeine.

HW: I gotta say this calendar has given me joy with all the cinnamon. I LOVE IT. I actually have found a store brand of cinnamon tea (actually comes in a teabag… *clutches pearls*) and I drink that often. But I am going to check out the cinnamon tea from PD.

The pearls I strung for you? I have more, btw. I need to send them to you.

The orange in this tea is very upfront, and in previous teas, I have found that to not be the case. Both cinnamon and orange are loud and in front, but I feel the ginger gets lost in the afternote. I wish I could taste the cloves more but its not disappointing.

I finally enjoyed this with a little sugar and milk. Thankfully the orange isn’t or wasn’t enough citrus to curdle the milk. *I’ve had this happen and it still haunts me.*

Unlike yesterday this has a very Christmas feel. The tea is hot and spicy and makes you want to wrap your hands around your mug and snuggle somewhere with a good book.

5 cinnamon sticks outta 5.

VW:

I didn’t even look at the bag. I just made the cup. As the timer was ticking down the 4 minute preset I smelled cinnamon and said “WTF not again.”

But, our friends at PD like to surprise us. The cinnamon chips they use, and the quantity they put in their blends, are not overwhelming. My surgically altered tummy pouch is not assaulted. This is pleasant.

I cannot taste or smell the orange, ginger or clove.

We have no idea what sort of organic black tea they are using here. Hey kids, what’s one of Viking Wife’s biggest pet peeves? Not knowing the type of black tea she’s drinking. Good job, kids.

Where is this tea from, PD? Don’t make me clutch my pearls.

I don’t have any herbal knowledge to share. This is a nice holiday spiced black tea. I will give it 4 out of 5 cinnamon sticks (for leaving me in the dark on the type of black tea)