Uncategorized – Tea and biscuits

June 10, 2021

Brodies Single Garden Darjeeling

From the clearance rack at Cargo Largo in Independence, MO to my kitchen in rural MA.

I was doing a vaxxed and masked visit with my father recently, and he was telling me how he had been sharing my blog with my brother and sister-in-law. He looked at me with concern as he said “you haven’t updated your blog since December.”

So I’m going to make and drink tea for dad. Cos I love him. Dad, this is for you.

The first tea I’m exploring is from Brodies Fine Teas. I came across this bag of Single Garden Darjeeling and a Scottish Breakfast at the Cargo Largo in Missouri. Darjeeling was my gateway into the world of tea beyond the bagged Lipton I grew up with. It has a distinct flavour that some compare to grape. It does not leave as much of the dry mouth feel as other black teas. Let’s learn about Darjeeling.

It is the Camelia sinensis plant, an evergreen shrub or small tree, if you are drinking black tea it is from India, China, Japan, and all over Asia. Darjeeling is grown in the wet, cool region at the foothills of the Himalayas. Our friends at Wikipedia tell us that Darjeeling is the top two leaves and the bud, picked between March and November. These 6 months give us four flushes. First flush is suitable for white teas. Second flush (my favourite) apparently has to be attacked by leafhoppers and moths to get that muscatel aroma.

I’m not sure what these bugs are doing on the leaves. are they eating them? Mating on them? But whatever nonsense these bugs are up to, the tea plant then produces something called terpene to repel them.

I need to sit with the knowledge that bug orgies and natural insect repellent makes my tea taste nice. I need a minute.

Photo from http://www.sciencedirect.com . These pretty leafhoppers make Darjeeling taste nice. Fitting that sparkly bugs make it delightful to me.

There are two other flushes, but honestly after learning about bug sex on the flush I like, we’re moving on.

I made two versions to enjoy today. Version 1 is a lovely hot cuppa in one of my favourite Royal Albert cups. One teaspoon of loose tea in a ball infuser, water at boiling in my electric kettle and steeped for 4 minutes on a timer.

I’m not a photographer but I’m having fun with the reflection in my French Press.

Because we live in the Endemic Era (I feel the Pandemic Era ended sometime this past spring once vaccines began rolling out in earnest) I get to work from home full time. I enjoyed this cup at my desk.

Persephone enjoyed the aroma coming off my cup.

The flavour of Brodies Single Garden Darjeeling is bright, slightly fruity, and does not leave a dry mouth feel. I keep drinking it to chase that not-quite-there muscatel taste. I made a big mug to chase this cup down.

Despite what my daughter and goddaughter tell people about me, I’m an American. As such I enjoy my tea iced on a hot day. I steeped 3 heaping teaspoons in a basket strainer in 16 ounces of boiled water for 4 minutes, then put it into the fridge for a few hours. I added a few ice cubes and poured it into a nerdy glass.

Yoda helpfully points out the nerdy glass.

I found the pleasant muscatel flavour that I chased in the hot cups was tampered down by the cold. It tasted more like a regular black iced tea. Still enjoyable, but not the same flavour profile as the hot cuppa.

I sat the glass here while I pondered the need to mow today.

BTW – I’m recommending this tea. It’s really good.

I had never intentionally bought or consumed tea from Brodies. Let’s explore who they are…

The History tab on their About page has a nice infographic following the history of the company. The company was started in 1867 by ‘enterprising Scottish tea merchants’ (this is the sort of colonial nonsense that got both myself and Princess Diana great-grandmothers from India). The company was acquired by the Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group in 2007. You can purchase coffees, teas, chocolates and gifts from their website https://www.brodies1867.co.uk/tea. But you can’t get these specific bags of loose leaf from the site. Amazon sells them. Brodies has their own page on Amazon where they sell bagged and loose tea as well as Scottish fruit cakes. The Darjeeling is listed at $13.89.

Dad, I hope you enjoyed this. Perhaps we need a poolside tea party at your house.

Sometime in the 70’s… My sister is standing on a chair next to us, so… 1977? I present an allegedly 4 year old Lady Grey Moonlight and her corn eating dad.

December 19, 2020December 16, 2020

19 December F&M Gin & Tonic Tea

Enjoy a G&T without the consequences. We’ve combined green tea with real juniper berries and handpicked botanicals including coriander, fennel and lemon balm to create our refreshing Gin & Tonic Tea topped off with fresh lime and cucumber. All that’s missing is the gin itself.

Every silky tea bag is specially packed in an envelope to be enjoyed anywhere at anytime.

For something cool and refreshing this summer, try this tea iced. Simply brew your tea for 3-4 minutes in a jug or teapot. Once it’s double the usual strength, strain and pour over a jug of ice. Add more ice if required and decorate with fruit pieces. All that’s left is to get sipping!

Green Tea (54%), Liquorice Root, Juniper Berries (11%), Gin Flavouring (5%), Sweet Blackberry Leaves, Coriander Seed, Lime Peel (3%), Tonic Flavouring (2%), Angelica Root, Bergamot Flavouring

https://www.fortnumandmason.com/gin-tonic-tea-15-silky-tea-bags

Because gin isn’t something I keep on hand, enjoy my photo of amaretto in my etched glass 221B Baker Street carafe and Sherlock glasses. My other bff and brother of my heart is a skilled etcher. He turned a very boring (and stupidly expensive) set of Tiffany crystal tumblers into a set Sherlock silhouette collector items. And he made me this awesome carafe to coordinate.

It looks like they only offer this one in silky tea bags.

The bag smells like juniper and licorice. While steeping it has a slight citrus scent (hello lime peel and bergamot flavouring).

It tastes like lime and juniper. The licorice is subtle and adds sweetness. Overall this cup is mellow and slightly sweet. Absolutely full of flavour. As the cup goes on the lime comes through strong.

I don’t think I’ve ever had gin. I know I’ve not had a gin and tonic. As I can’t drink bubbles, it won’t be something I’ll ever have.

December 18, 2020December 16, 2020

18 December F&M Chai

Fortnum’s Chai Loose Tea is made following an ancient recipe where black tea is infused with Indian herbs and spices to produce a warm, soothing drink that will satisfy and please. Enjoy this luxurious blend with a dash of milk for an experience truly exquisite.

https://www.fortnumandmason.com/chai-tea-250g-loose-leaf-caddy

Tea, Cinnamon, Cloves, Ginger, Cumin, Coriander, Star Anise, Fennel

Hmmm… the spices here aren’t strong. “Tea”. No kidding. “Black tea”. Again, no kidding. WHERE DID YOU GET THE LEAVES FROM?? THIS IS IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

Steeped the smell of the spices is still not strong. There is an almost turmeric scent. That might be the cumin. It smells like a curry blend and not the usual spice mix I am used to in a chai.

What spices are in a curry powder? Generally turmeric, chili powder, coriander, cumin, ginger, pepper.

This is different, it is neither bad nor good based on my previous experiences with chai.

I might prefer this for it’s total lack of cardamom.

Half way through this cup there is almost a honey taste that comes through. This is so nice I don’t want to add dairy.

5 out of 5 Indian Goddesses for this gem!

December 6, 2020November 25, 2020

Adagio Day 6 White Pear

Blended With White Tea, Apple Pieces & Natural Pear Flavor

The pear (Pyrus communis L.) originated in China and Asia Minor before it traveled far and wide to become the world’s fifth most widely-produced fruit. Its sensuous shape is a frequent representation of the female form in the art world and symbol of divine sustenance, abundance, and longevity. We think its floral elegance is a sweet addition to the delicacy of Fujian white tea, making it ideal for dessert or as a light-bodied aperitif. Definitely a tea for meditation or just gazing out the window. Add a bite of dark chocolate candy or a scone dotted with raspberry jam: nirvana.

Premium white tea from the Fujian region of China. Infused with the taste of ripe pears. Warm and sugary aroma, like a freshly baked pear, with a pear skin crisp finish. Wonderfully smooth and rounded, perfect hot or iced.

White Tea | Low caffeine | Steep at 180° for 3 minutes.

this is one of those photo occasions where you think “It’s a good thing I am always fully dressed when I take photos”

1. First impressions?

Meh. I’ve had this before. I’m not a huge fan of it. The flavouring doesn’t overpower the delicate white tea. Smells a bit like baby food pears.

2. Do you think this is a good choice for an Advent Calendar? Why yes, or why no?

Partridge in a Pear Tree. Obviously it belongs here.

3. Tell me how you really feel. Or any random thing that needs to be said.

Pear juice is often used as a natural sweetener. Adagio seems to use dried apple as a natural sweetener. You can dry pears. Why would you make the decision to use ‘natural pear flavor’ instead of actual pear? I’m really baffled here. Keep the apple bits in, that’s fine. But dry up some pear and throw that in. Has anyone at Adagio eaten dried pears? Very tasty! They could still add their flavoring, but do us a favor and use the actual fruit that is in the name of the blend.

I’d like to give this 3 out of 5 Partridges in a Pear Tree.

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.

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 11, 2019December 8, 2019

Day 11 Pineapple Sage Herbal Tea

“Get grounded and centered with a smile.”

Pineapple bits, sage, apple pieces, rosehips, lemongrass, orange peel, calendula, rose petals, cornflowers, pineapple essence.

This autumn seasonal tea is available September 1st – December 31st. Sage has become such a popular tea ingredient – it certainly adds a bold, complex flavor and nourishing health benefits – but the pairing of fruit makes for a palate pleaser. Our autumn seasonal favorite combo is highlighted in our pineapple sage herbal tea. The pineapple gives you that invigorating beachy tropical feeling, while the sage is that autumnal warm blanket. The combo is the best of both seasons!

You know what makes me suspicious? Sage being used for anything other than a turkey or a chicken. I’m not a fan. I don’t burn white sage because I’m not Native American. And culinary sage isn’t a favourite of mine. Not sure how much smiling I’m going to be doing with this. But let’s give it a whirl.

I only use sage in my Thanksgiving turkey stuffing. That’s it. I like fresh pineapple only. Much to my husbands’ chagrin, I hate pineapple cooked or hot in way, shape, or form.

VW: do we divorce our friendship over pineapple on pizza??

When I dumped this packet into my cup, I was already forming opinions on how much this was going to taste like some weird pineapple turkey thing.

Inside of the bag, the tea has a light pineapple scent which I found pleasant.

Once the hot water was added, the sage came alive, and I found myself drawn in. I guess I would that this was like going into a bookstore and seeing a cover for a book that you would NEVER buy in a million years, but something about it, maybe it’s pretty, or the blurb is impressive, so you buy it. Then you go home, and you read it in one sitting, and you find yourself impressed, changed maybe by the whole experience.

This was that tea for me.

I was sad that I needed the whole bag to brew. I wanted to keep drinking it. It was comforting in a way that I didn’t expect.

The savory sage toned down the sweetness of the pineapple, and the orange came in to add a little bit of acid that is needed.

I think I would drink this daily. Especially late in the day when I needed a little something to help me relax.

I am sure that VW is going to be surprised, and based on our track record she’ll hate this. But I think it is really a surprising tea, like or hate. It’s different, its vibrant and is filled with flavors that all work together in an extraordinary way that makes this at least to me a great cuppa.

I’m drinking this cup after HW. I’m eyeing is suspiciously. It smells like sage and pineapple. Aptly named.
I’m so reluctant to drink this, I’m wasting time on line. Hold up. What type of sage is PD using here? There is a pineapple sage. Which makes this blend not too far to the side of WTF. But PD does not tell us what type of sage they use.

did they use pineapple sage? it doesn’t say! I get frustrated with companies that don’t get specific on ingredients.

In an effort to not drink this, we’re going to look at some of the other ingredients. Followers of this blog know I use rosehips, lemongrass, calendula and rose petals in my own blends.

Rose hips develop on wild roses as the flowers drop off. These fruits (related to strawberries!) are one of the most concentrated sources of vitamin C. Need to fight scurvy? Don’t have oranges? Rose hip tea will save you. My dad’s family has some land in Maine along the coast near Portland. There are wild rose bushes that cling to the banking, hanging over the rocks and water. My cousin and I used to eat them raw, and we tried to make jam of them. We were like… 8. Maybe. And didn’t make jam so much as we made a mess. I use rose hips in all sorts of herbal blends for pleasure and for colds.

Lemongrass is commonly used in Vietnamese and Thai dishes. In tea, it has a light lemony flavour and blends well with fruits and citrus peels and ginger. It can be soothing to the tummy. I love using it in blends, and tend to keep a 16 ounce bag around, as I am a tisane mix-master. What do our friends at webMD have to say? Nice things. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-719/lemongrass

Oh… I had a sip… ugh…

Calendula! (If I keep typing I won’t pick up the mug and do that again). I love calendula, or pot marigold. I also keep lots of this on hand for blending. I put a bit in my period pain blend -it is good for menstrual cramps. It adds a bright shot of yellow to pale blends. It is helpful for reflux and inflamed bowels. Taking care of both ends at once! Now, this is not the marigolds you buy to plant around your tomatoes to keep bugs away. Don’t consume those.

Why is my mouth dry?

Rose petals.

Did I tell you the story of lunch with my Nana in June? If I did, Imma tell you again because if I keep typing I won’t take another sip and keep questioning my sanity.

Readers will recall that I made a bunch of varieties of shortbread in June for my dad and stepdad for father’s day. A week later was Nana’s birthday. I was at lunch with Nana, my mum and my stepdad. I was telling my stepdad about some new shortbread I had just made with crushed rose petals in the dough as well as in the pink coloured glaze.

Nana nodded and said they sounded delicious, and bemoaned her inability to try them due to her diabetes. Stepdad agreed, and offered to sample them. My mum stared at us all in horror and declared loudly “You can’t eat rose petals!” To which the three of us replied “Yes you can.”

*sigh* The tea… I don’t like it. It tastes like sage. Which I am not a fan of in any form. This tea would be perfect if they left out the sage.

Why is my mouth dry? *bravely takes another sip* Something in this tea is making my mouth dry. As I’m intimately familiar with almost all other ingredients, I’m going to go with _ sage. Evil, evil sage.

I’m giving this 1 pineapple out of 5.

November 30, 2019November 27, 2019

Tea Advent Calendar – counting the days with tea

This introduction was written by my BFF, also known as my Hipster Wife. I, Viking Wife/Lady Grey have commented in places. We live on opposite ends of the East Coast of the US, so all hail the shared Google docs folder! In this post my comments are in red.

“Sister Mary chose that moment to come in with the tea. Satanist or not, she’d also found a plate and arranged some iced biscuits on it.”

― Neil Gaiman, Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch

(This is the Cupcake *Hipster* Wife, Aka The Unicorn. I’m writing because I gave an impassioned speech via Facebook messenger. Also, Viking Wife is at work.)

Why did I start the introduction to the 2019 Christmas Tea Advent Calendar with a Neil Gaiman quote involving biscuits and Satanists?

Because I wanted to invoke the journey.

Not that we are in love with Martin Freeman. Not that I’m obsessed with The Hobbit. Nope. Not that at all. (Denial is not just a river in Egypt)

Last year on my blog, we did the Adagio Tea Advent Calendar. While both Viking Wife (Lady Grey to you folks) and I love Adagio and find that their loose leaf tea is exactly what the doctor ordered, we found their advent calendar…

Lame. Well, maybe lame is too strong a word. Lacking is better.

(No, lame is a good word)

Adagio specializes in loose leaf tea, and as a tea snob to the tenth degree, I (we) were sorely disappointed by the tea bags. The packaging itself was cute. The whole thing felt flat.

(Sorely, like we fell off our roller skates into a patch of raspberry canes)

I wanted a narrative. I wanted to experience tea and the adventure of finding new ones. I went into the whole endeavor with an explorer mindset.

Take me somewhere! Give me new tea experiences that I can buy more and enjoy return visits.

The tea adventure that I wanted- that I planned to share with fellow tea lovers was more like a trip to the Adagio warehouse where all the unpopular tea was.

If you read the blog last year, you will know that I found it very green. Way, way too green.

(Hipster Wife doesn’t like green tea)

There was no rhyme or reason to their picks. Their few Christmas teas were filled with artificial flavors. It was like the gingerbread tea had maybe seen a gingerbread house on it’s way to the packaging plant.

(It waved at the gingerbread house, in a desperate attempt to catch some of its flavour)

Adagio has their calendar available this year, and it’s basically the same as last year. It wasn’t horrible; it would make an excellent gift for someone who is a tea novice. Someone who doesn’t mind bags, and who loves green tea. I think overall, I would give it 6/10.

I would recommend it, but I’d probably be awkward and stumble about it for like 15 minutes, and you’d probably just nod, give me a look and leave as fast as you could. You’d probably pass on it.

(But legit, go try Adagio’s Earl Grey Moonlight, it’s lovely.)

Legit. I mean, I took my blog name from this tea. The Earl Grey Moonlight is my go-to tea nearly every day. Sometimes I switch it up with their Earl Grey Bella Luna. My stepmom said she didn’t like it. I asked her how it felt to be wrong.

This year we have decided to buy (No PR here. But omg someone please give us PR tea!! *Smiles pretty*) and review the Plum Deluxe Advent Calendar.

I have tried Plum Deluxe before. I received some from VW for my birthday, and I am in love with their Earl Grey Gratitude tea. It’s pretty great. Intense flavors that I need for a decent Earl Grey with the added surprise of dried strawberries. At first, I was like… wha? But then I was like WHERE WERE YOU MY WHOLE LIFE?! GET IN MY CUP!

I keep meaning to write a love letter…erm… blog post about Plum Deluxe’s Earl Grey Gratitude blend. It’s divine.

Plum Deluxe is loose leaf (inner snob pinky finger relaxes), and you can decide if you want just the tea or their fabric advent wall hanging calendar. Honestly, the wall hanger looks homemade, and I like that about it. The price was out of my range this year. I’m not saying its too expensive, I’m just saying I’m here to review tea, and that’s what I got. Tea.

VW got her tea last night… So I gargoyled my mailbox, scared my mailman, and finally got mine today. I guess my walking dead PJs and zombie t-shirt didn’t scream stable. Maybe it was the pacing? Impatient foot tapping. I don’t know.

It would have been epic if you had called him Santa as you rushed to snatch the package from his hands.

(Yes but I’m not the one with a Santa fetish, my love.)

{OMG I’m totally going to find a way to put my Santa fetish into this blog}

Once I tore open my little mail slot it hit me. Immediately the scent of tea was strong. I didn’t even open the plastic shipping envelope, and I was getting a tea contact high. Once I got into it, I was delighted by the little purple envelopes that had each day numbered on them.

Plus, I got more Earl Grey tea and a free sample!

I put them all in order and then I started to open each one. I checked out the tea and then put each little pouch back.

There is no way I was going blind. We found out last year that not all of the Adagio calendars were in the same order, so to prevent wonky reviews, we’ll be opening them to compare.

I was surrounded by the scent of the teas because they are a loose-leaf. They’re handpacked into little resealable pouches. I am thinking I can get two cups from each baggy.

The price is already worth it. (Just the tea is 30 dollars. Adagio’s is 29. Multiple cups and loose leaf already has the win.

There is a lot of tea that made me go, wow. I won’t spoil any of it here, but I will stress that this calendar, while not totally keyed to Christmas or even winter is a journey. There is a clear narrative. It wants you to try new things, it’s going to draw you in and let you see that tea can be breakfast, or lunch, or a sweet treat. It can comfort you, energize you, restore your soul.

Maybe that is actually what the Adagio Calendar was lacking… Soul.

I haven’t tried a single Plum Deluxe tea from this calendar, and already I am excited. I can’t wait. There is only one tea that made me flinch. But who knows, maybe I’ll love it?

Or set it on fire.

Oh thank sweet baby Santa Claus, there was no Lapsang either!

I look forward to writing with my BFF on another review. I think this year will be absolutely entertaining and I can’t wait to take you all with us.

Sweet Baby Santa Claus would not like Lapsang. He’d weep, thinking he singed his behind on someone’s fire. We can’t have Sweet Baby Santa crying!

Thoughts to ponder… Would sweet baby Santa Claus have a baby beard? Hummm?

Nick Frost as Santa in Doctor Who… my level of nerd girl porn right here.

August 5, 2019July 20, 2019

Summer Lovin’ Tisane

Gorgeous ingredients in a glass bowl waiting to be blended.

I love playing with my collection of loose herbs and blending different tisanes for both pleasure and medicine. This blend celebrates summer and love and healing all at once.

1 part chamomile

1/2 part rose hips

1/2 part hibiscus

1/4 part hawthorn berries

1/4 part rose petals

1/4-1/2 part dried strawberries (optional)

Chamomile has been used medicinally since ancient times. It is used for hay fever, menstrual pain, insomnia, GI upset, just to name a few drinkable uses. Topically it can be used as a soothing wash for a sunburn. People with hay fever and pollen allergies are warned against consuming chamomile. I have terrible hay fever. I am allergic to anything with pollen. I drink chamomile quite regularly. I’m not suggesting you disregard this warning. I’m just saying that I’ve never had an adverse reaction, and neither has anyone else I know with allergies that drinks chamomile. Even the NIH (National Institute of Health) has researched chamomile. Chamomile has a bright, slightly honeyed flavour. It makes a great base for many herbal teas.

I made up my own recipe for an herbal summer tisane – one that invokes love, healing of the heart, inspires the heart, and is delicious hot or iced.

Rose hips were a favourite thing of mine as a child. My dad’s family has property at the end of a dead end street in Portland Harbor in Maine. Clinging to the rocky banking are rose bushes. The hips were something I fantasized about turning into jams and teas when I was small.

Rose hips develop on wild roses as the flowers drop off. The rose hip is the fruit of the rose, and are a source of vitamin C. They are tart and fruity.

Rose hips were used during WWII by the British government to stave off scurvy when citrus fruits were difficult to obtain.

Hibiscus is a sweet and tart delight, brewing up a pretty pinkish red, and tastes a bit like cranberries. It can decrease body temperature, treat heart disease, lowers blood pressure, and can help soothe a sore throat. Like rose hips, hibiscus contains vitamin C. Everyone seems to carry a hibiscus tea now, so I won’t include a link to purchase any.

Hawthorn berries have been used for medicine for a long time. The leaves, berries, and flowers can all be used. It is used to treat conditions of the heart and blood, high blood pressure, indigestion, and can help reduce anxiety. It is also used to support the heart emotionally.

Rose petals are delicate and full of the same flavour as their scent. If you’ve never had rose in a tea blend, or Turkish Delight, the flavour may take you by surprise. Rose petals are good to ease menstrual pain, it’s vitamins A and C help boost the immune system (and fight off scurvy. I may have been binging Poldark this week), and roses are a flower of the heart. Associated in myth with Aphrodite, Greek Goddess of Love, as well as Isis (Auset) Egyptian Goddess and Queen.

My mother was HORRIFIED to learn that I use rose petals in tea and baking. She had never heard of eating roses before. No, she’s not seen Like Water for Chocolate. No, I’m not sure I’m related to her.

Strawberries are delicious, and not a berry. They are a member of the rose family. They are high in vitamin C. What more needs to be said? Strawberry shortcake, strawberry rhubarb pie, strawberry ice cream… it’s all good. I love my dehydrator. It took me a while to figure it out for strawberries. I wash them in a vinegar and water solution. Rinse. slice thinly and toss with lemon or lime juice. Then I lay them in the dehydrator on the highest temperature. I turn each piece after about 6 hours, and check them again in 2 hours. I like them totally dried out and crisp to use in teas.

Totally loving Poldark. The good doctor came to Nampara and treated the miners for scurvy. Then he gets captured by the French and develops it himself. Much sexier with the beard, Dr. Enys. If only he had thought to make the miners drink rose hip and rose petal teas! Then Caroline wouldn’t have had to buy so many oranges.

Back to my recipe. When I say “parts” I mean anything from a tablespoon to a cup. Say I want to blend a big batch of it to have on hand or to gift. I would use a cup of chamomile, 1/2 and 1/4 cups of all other ingredients as listed.

If I don’t have any blended, I will use a tablespoon of chamomile with heaping teaspoons (1/2, 1/4) of other ingredients.

As you know by now, I don’t take my teas sweet. This would be delightful with honey. It’s good hot. It’s really good cold. I don’t put ice in my cold drinks. But if you do, make sure you use twice the herbs in your cup or pitcher so the ice does not water down the flavours.

working on a baby quilt, enjoying some cold Summer Lovin’ Tea

July 29, 2019July 20, 2019

Harney & Sons Tower of London Blend

I was randomly gifted 4 tins of Harney & Sons teas by a stranger. I squealed like fan girl when I was handed the purple tin with silvery blue scroll work and the pink lettering “Tower of London Blend”.

Random gifts can sometimes be the best gifts.

Until this tin, I had never had the pleasure of this cup of tea. Hipster Wife, of course, has spoken at length about it. She is already a fan of some of the Harney & Sons products and often sends them as gifts.

The actual Tower of London is well known as a prison and place of execution. But that was not the original intention or use for the Tower. It was built as a fortress and palace. It housed weapons and the Royal Mint. It also contained a “menagerie of royal beasts”. The Tower was used as a prison for those who posed a threat to national security. It was used a prison on and off over 800 years. The last person to be executed there was in 1941.

Aerial view of the Tower of London with Tower Bridge in the background. High Level Photography, copyright Historic Royal Palaces/High Level Photography Limited

Historic Royal Palaces asked Harney & Sons to create a unique collection of English tea blends. HRPE is an independent charity that looks after the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, the Banqueting House, Kensington Palace, Kew Palace, and Hillsborough Castle.

Check out the full line of Historic Royal Palaces teas.

Before my first cup I had to learn about this blend. The tin describes its contents as “Chinese black teas, stirred with pieces of dried stone fruit, then finished with oil of bergamot and honey flavour. This blend is reminiscent of Elizabethan preserves, flavourful and tempting.”

As Elizabeth I father famously imprisoned and executed three of his wives at the Tower, and Elizabeth herself had been a prisoner there at the order of her sister, Mary, this sort of makes sense. “Was your mum executed here? Were you held prisoner here? Do you like jam? Have this tea blend!” It’s a bit awkward.

During the Elizabethan era, sugar was being imported to England and Europe and was very expensive. Eating excessive sugar (and not cleaning your teeth!) led to blackened teeth, a sign of a person’s wealth. Honey, while widely available in England, became the sweetener for the lower classes. Preserves were surly served with crumpets and scones, and part of a well dressed table. Want to look super wealthy? Black teeth. Eat that extra jam.

I found a recipe for Paste of Plumbs. I enjoy experimenting in the kitchen, but I’m sadly lacking in enough jam making skills to even attempt this: To make Paste of Plumbs
Take your Plumbs, and put them into a Pot, cover them close, and set them into a Pot of seething Water, and so let them be till they be tender, then pour forth their Liquor, and strain the Pulp through a Canvas strainer, then take to half a Pound of the Pulp of Plumbs half a Pound of the Pulp of Pippins, beat them together, and take their weight in fine Sugar, with as much Water as will wet it, and boil it to a Candy height; then put in your Pulp, and boil them together till it will come from the bottom of the Posnet, then dust your Plates with searced Sugar, and so keep them in a Stove to dry.

I bring up this Paste of Plumbs ‘recipe’ because when I opened the tin of tea, my senses were assaulted most happily with the strong scents of plums and honey. No where on the tin, nor on the website are plums mentioned. Just ‘stone fruits’. The ingredients say: black tea, natural dried stone fruit flavours, bergamot oil and honey flavour.

If you’ve read my previous tea posts, you know I’m suspicious of “flavours” (and ‘flavors’, I’m not particular on the spelling). Then the website says “We stir Chinese black teas with pieces of dried stone fruit, then finish the blend with oil of bergamot and honey flavor.” I briefly rejoice over potential bits of actual fruit! Then I despair over honey flavour. I dove into their Learn About Tea section and found this at the bottom of the FAQ…

How is your tea flavoured? Harney & Sons Fine Teas do offer a wide variety of teas: some have no flavors added, some use natural flavors, and a few are a blend of natural and artificial flavors. Since there is no evidence that these blended flavors pose a risk, we have no problem using them. We do understand that some people like to avoid them, so that is why we offer a wide teas only containing natural flavors (or unflavored teas).

This is the part where I have to balance my desire for natural and organic ingredients and flavours, and a very tasty cup of tea. This is what we call A Dilemma.

Sipping this cup is like breathing in a batch of homemade jam. It smells and tastes sweet. The bergamot offers its zest to the sweetness of the stone fruits. If it did not have honey flavour, it would benefit from a spoon just dipped in honey and gently stirred into the cup.

Will I purchase this when my gift tin is empty? I only have 4 silken sachets remaining out of the 30. I’ve clearly been enjoying it. I may not purchase it again. I found a tea shop just over the MA/NH border that sells a blend they call “Afternoon Revival” that tastes suspiciously like Tower of London Blend. I will be further exploring that new purchase in the coming days.