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I am reviewing a travel mug similar to this — it’s the Thermos Nissan 16 Ounce Stainless Steel Backpack Bottle: http://www.amazon.com/Thermos-Nissan-16-Ounce-Stainless-Steel-Backpack/dp/B000K604P0 so close I hated to create another entry in the database.

It is AMAZING! I made tea for class tonight, and it was piping hot – I mean burn my lip hot! – even after a few hours and walking through the cold to the train. I actually had to leave the lid off so it could cool enough to drink.

I also love the stainless steel bottle – the tea tastes like tea and not plastic-y or thermos-y — you know what I mean :) It did not leak one bit despite getting bounced around in my tote bag on my walk.

My only regret is that I didn’t get one of these years ago. I’ve purchased quite a few travel mugs and disliked them all. Finally – I’m in love with one. Having a glorious 16 ounces (more like 14 — don’t fill it all of the way up — you won’t be able to close the lid properly) of hot Harney and Sons Vanilla Black tea to sip during a three hour class made me so happy!

I have a funny story about these!

My husband told me the other day that he didn’t have any Red Dragon Pearls left in his work stash, and that he could use some. So, yesterday I put a little container of them in his lunch bag, marked “Red Dragon Pearl Tea” clearly on a label on the lid of the container.

He said that he opened the container in the middle of eating his lunch whilst working and not really paying attention, and thought they were chocolates (!) and popped five in his mouth!

(scream)

Let’s just say he quickly realized they were not actually chocolate.

He spit them out — I asked if he then brewed them but he threw them away! What a waste of Red Dragon Pearls :(

This continues to be one of my faves — not a week goes by where I don’t have it at least once. Chocolate notes, yeah, but NOT CHOCOLATE!

Many thanks to Teavivre for this tea!

Roasty AND eye closingly and sighingly sweet? Yes! It would seem that these two things would not go together, but I’m here to tell you that they go together wonderfully in this tea. Moderately, pleasantly green and floral, too. I enjoyed steeping this one the entire day yesterday. I sometimes notice dramatically different flavors depending on what steep I’m on, but for me, this one retained the sweet, roasty characteristics on each steep. I should mention I brewed it Western style. So, so enjoyable.

I was completely out of a classic Earl Grey, and we know we cannot have that! My husband was doing an Amazon order and asked me if I wanted to throw something in the cart. After a little hasty searching I chose this. I was a little nervous, despite liking another tea from this company, because I didn’t do my usual hemming, hawing, and fretting over what tea to get!

I shouldn’t have worried — this is lovely! A good, medium bergamot and I really like the tea base! It’s slightly smoky — very very very light — I would say verging on smoky. Really nice compliment to the bergamot, especially for winter.

I’m drinking a second steep right now, and it’s delicious — less bergamot-y but still a bit smoky and of a very enjoyable strength!

I just drank the last of the leaves I had of this tea. Sad.

Delicious! So caramel-y sweet and rich despite it not being a bold tea. One of those teas which is pleasant to drink all day — it resteeps so beautifully. Here it is 4:30pm and I’m still resteeping from 9am! It’s that good!

All gone.

This one really grew on me once I accepted that the coco referred to coconut and not chocolate! Very creamy and spicy and satisfying. I paired it with the last of the little Santa chocolates filled with chocolate mousse that a coworker gave to my husband, so I did get my chocolate with this tea after all. I feel a sense of closure :)

Even though I really enjoyed this, not a repurchase now that I’ve been blending my own chai. I will consider putting a little toasted coconut in my brew basket with my chai blend sometimes! Spicy and coconut = yum in my book.

A lovely late afternoon tea when restoration is needed after errands! Paired with cookies, even better (http://bakerstreet.tv/2012/09/hazelnut-and-white-chocolate-chip-cookies/ — they’re divine!).

I really like the slightly fruity and “different” note the Darjeeling brings to this blend. The Assam is fortifying, but the Darjeeling adds the sparkle! Whilst light, completely compatible with a little milk and sugar. Classic with a twist.

Never in my tea journey did I think I’d become such a Darjeeling fan! I’m actively searching out more blends that contain Darjeeling for when my cupboard is truly under control (I’m at 63 teas! I’m getting there :) I think I will be at a good place in 2014 if I continue to add very few teas like I did in 2013).

Many thanks to Tea Sipper’s Traveling Tea Box for this gem!

Another tisane that I rely on when sick. I make a two cup pot which I pour into a giant mug with honey, drink, repeat. It keeps me hydrated and warm, plus tames my cough. The flavor comes across as sweet and good even though my taste buds are off.

I’m not feeling well today and my husband offered to make some tea. After zealously opening a loose tea container and spilling the contents all over the counter, he decided a bagged offering might be safest. He showed me the bowl of teabags, and this is the one I picked.

I know I’m a weirdo who likes lots of teas nobody else likes… so I am not surprised that I really like this one! It’s chai spicy then savory herb-y then sweet herb-y. Even somehow minty. Very flavorful and unique. Some may say strange, but I like strange! I’m finding it really soothing on my sore throat, too.

In fact, I like it enough to throw some in my next RoT order. Thanks TeaSipper’s Traveling Tea Box! Another completely enjoyable tea from the Steepsterites!

So. I finally blended my own chai. I included pink peppercorns, crystallized ginger, whole cloves, whole cardamom (which I crack open with a mortar and pestle right before brewing), broken up cinnamon sticks, and rooibos (this is our nighttime treat). I scoop in a perfect teaspoon and a half per 8 oz of water, and serve it with vanilla infused honey and a splash of milk.

Wow! Maybe because the spices are glorious ones from Penzeys, or maybe because I used just enough to make things flavorful but not ultra spicy or bitey, but — I’m in love! My husband is in love, too! He requests it every night, and I have to cajole him to try another tisane at least one night a week!

I want to try it with black tea and I also have 2 packets of flavored rooibos and one of honeybush I want to give the chai treatment to. I hope that will allow us to have chai throughout the winter without purchasing more tea!