Plantation Mint

The first tea from my Bigelow sampler that I tried (other than the Early Grey, which I will spare you a review of) was the Plantation Mint. Aside from that truly unfortunate name choice, its faultless. Plantation Mint has shot up into the ranks of my favorite teas. The flavor has that pleasant edge that real mint has. No sip is boring. It's definitely best as a hot tea, but the flavor is cool. It manages to not be overbearing, and to actually be- not smooth, the flavor is too sharp to call it smooth. I think the right term would be gentle. It is a soothing tea, good for either sipping or gulping, which is rarely true. Most teas are far more enjoyable taken slowly as it cools a bit or quickly while its hot. That does not apply to Plantation Mint. A well brewed cup of Plantation Mint can sit on the bed side table for a couple of hours and then be returned to, still delicious even though it has grown cold.
As an aside, the sweet cat hovering over my mug is Miriam. She has been living in my room while we try to integrate all our cats. Normally I wouldn't let her near my tea, but since this one is milkless, she won't try to drink it.

Tea Sampler the First

Recently, my mother bought me a thoughtful and much appreciated gift. She came home with two variety pack boxes of tea, each box of a different sort. It was exciting to receive, like being given the magical item one needs to venture forth on some long fated quest, only it would be far less useful in vanquishing vicious foes than an unbreakable sword. Dragons, on the other hand, it might soothe (if one could convince them to drink it). At the very least, it would be the perfect reward at the end of the journey. But I digress.
Above is the Bigelow pack of six assorted teas. I like Bigelow's tea. As a matter of fact, I more than like Bigelow's tea. I adore it. I associate it with a comforting warmth pooling in the belly- with favorite mugs and satisfaction.
Little known fact: Bigelow owns the only American tea farm.
I am looking forward to sampling all of them, although I have so far only tried one.
Soon to come: my adventures with Plantation Mint.

New Teapot!

I received this lovely, glass teapot as a gift from my step-mother this vacation! It's so beautiful, I can't get over it. I adore the little white flower that can be seen when looking from above. The best part about it? It's an infusing teapot! You can see the metal screening that keeps the tea in in all three pictures above, I believe.
This teapot is responsible for me not yet using the infuser I bought just a few days before I received this.
Watching the tea leaves dance in the rapidly coloring water is mesmerizing. I've never had a glass teapot (or even used one, I think) and I cannot stop staring into this one. I had to take a video of it (which I will post later), I was so awed.

A Trip Out For a Tea Baller

I headed over to Homeport (which is now on my list of the most amazing stores) to pick up a tea infuser. Homeport is a wonderland of tea ware. So many adorable pots, useful infusers, and creative accessories! It's like heaven.
The tea infuser I picked out is this fairly large tea baller on a chain. I can't wait to use it!

Spring Cherry

Wednesday night, the 24th

Here's the Spring Cherry black tea my mother got me with the Cinnamon Cardamom tea. If I'm going to be drinking more loose tea then I'll definitely need to go pick up a tea baller.
This Spring Cherry tea is very yummy. The taste is strong but gentle. My favorite thing about it may actually be the delicious aroma it gives off. Perfect for a relaxing evening curled up on the couch.

Oo-La-Long

I was really in need of some good tea yesterday, and I was really in the mood for some Chinese tea. I've been on a real English tea kick as of late, and honestly, English teas are probably my favorite, but sometimes you just need that particular brand of bold flavor and refreshing zing of Chinese tea. I neither had the time nor the money to stop at my local tea house, but I was in luck. My father offered to get me a snack when I visited him at work so I got to pick me up some Honest Tea. I really love Honest Tea. Some brands of bottled tea are really not quality, and I mean "why are my teeth tingly and squeeky and why is my tongue half numb?" not quality. Peach Oo-La-Long strikes a good balance in the sweetness department, and has a cute background story to boot!

I reealized I didn't know enough about how Oolong is made, so I had a little research time.



"・Manual production method supported by tradition and craftsmanship (China)
The production of delicious oolong tea requires time-honored tradition and outstanding craftsmanship. Tea leaves are picked on the morning of a clear day. They should be picked in units consisting of one bud and three leaves and exposed to the sun. This is the first stage. The second stage is to dry them indoors to promote fermentation. The most crucial part in the production of oolong tea is when to stop fermentation. As oolong tea is fermented to some extent, it is called semi-fermented tea. Experience is required to identify the best time to stop the fermentation, which is when the leaves are 30% red and 70% green. After this, they are rubbed repeatedly to generate good flavor, aroma, and texture. Then they are dried using charcoal. At
the final stage, a tea master grades the quality according to the flavor and characteristics of each batch. China's Fujian Chaye Jin Chukou Gongsi (Tea Import and Export Corporation and Fujian Tea Association) exports oolong tea to Japan.


・Flow of Production Stages
(China)
- Tea leaves are picked by hand in units of one bud and three
leaves
- First fermentation

- 30% red and 70% green
- Careful decision on when to stop fermentation
- Generation of the qualities unique to oolong tea
- Charcoal drying
- Grading by a tea master
- Export to Japan"

This is my tea from yesterday morning. Chamomile and more cream than I can come up with any real excuse for. A friend once told me that when I make tea with cream "it tastes like butter!"

I don't really deny it. When it's early morning, and I don't want to be out in the big, scary world, and my anxiety and OCD is just laying in wait to pounce on my mind, sometimes I want tea that tastes a little bit like butter.

I know Chamomile should traditionally not have milk or cream in it, but one thing I will never understand is people who don't like any English teas with milk or cream. The tea itself is good alone, of course, but the milk or cream is part of the natural English tea experience (unless it has something like citrus in it or is an herbal tea like Chamomile). It's one thing to criticize if someone insists on adding milk to chrysanthemum tea or Chamomile, but gawking at milk in Earl Grey : madness!