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I’m Back! Hi my Friends!

I’ve been very, very sick the past few days with a violent allergic reaction to a handful of dried peas.
This was something like being seasick and having the flu and a migraine all at the same time.
Today is the first time I’ve been able to eat anything or drink tea.
Hooray for Tea!
Very carefully, I chose a tea that was not flavored with anything that would make me turn green since I’m still a little queezy.
A good malty tea with warm chocolate and caramel tone would go down well and Puer would be good for my stomach also.
I’ve had the past version of the Breakfast Blend as a sample, but not the Imperial Breakfast Summer Blend. I had ordered the tasting set of Alchemy Blends which arrived today (great timing).

This afternoon, I prepared a 24oz pot of tea. I was so ready, you have no idea how much I had missed tea for 2 days. I chose Western Style brewing so that I could continue with multiple steepings for soothing my stomach throughout the afternoon and to rehydrate myself.

Steep time 1min. Color of liquor light golden honey brown.

The tea was malty and naturally cocoa cinnamon with good body. The richness was what I wanted…a real tea hug. I can’t explain it better than that. I love this tea flavor. Malty, caramelly, cocoa rich tea makes me do a bad, bad thing.
I have an addiction!
When I run into a very good malty tea, I go to my secret stash of ginger cookies and take a few…
and slowly break off pieces of cookie and eat it crumb by sweet spicy crumb while drinking the malty cocoa, creamy tea.
I can’t explain the sensual goodness…the delight in this combination…of unsweetened tea…that blends in the mouth with the sweet of the ginger cookie somehow enhancing the flavor of the tea. Oh My Goodness! Absolutely sensational!

So, yes…ok…I went for it and had the cookies and tea and I came alive again! (Here I should insert organ music like in the Phantom of the Opera…She’s Alive!)…The tea was…Delicious!

I’ve conversed with a few people lately about what Puer would be good for evey day use and this is one tea that I recommend because the Puer is mixed with other tea’s as a blend. This is such a delicious tea, a perfect way to begin the day and a wonderful tea to have as an afternoon stress reducer.

I’m back! (Not in the horror movie sense of the phrase) ; )

second review…

My first review on this Puerh was just after I joined Steepster 5 months ago. Seems like ages in tea months! I’ve been a ‘tea person’ such a short time. I scored this tea pretty high and this was probabaly one of my first unflavored puerh’s.
What do I think of this Puerh now?
I did a quick rinse of the leaves…(know to do that now) then steeped 3 minutes.
Today I’m pretty sick with nausea from what has turned into an allergic reaction to some food (don’t know what) so tea is something that’s good for the stomach! I picked this puerh to help me feel better.
The flavor was mild and bready without bitterness. I was surprised at how dark the brew was after just 3 minutes and thought that it wasn’t bad for a morning cup with cream and sugar as a coffee subsitute. I added a little sweetening only and thought it was a good wheat bread tasting puerh with a little mushroom flavor. Not really complex but friendly.

Doorbell….granddaughter bringing 7-up for my tummy…mixing well with some ginger tea in the frig!

Second tasting…thanks to Fong Mong Tea!

I have a new iPad…woo hoo! Bound to happen that I’d come home to Apple. My first computer was a Mac. I lived in Cupertino (Home of Apple) and worked off and on in Apple offices (not uncommon in Silicon Valley). After 4.5 years with a HP Laptop I’ve seen the light.
Yes, I have to pay for it over time…but it had to be done soon. My computer was whimpering, letting me know that a fatal crash was imminent.
My tea drinking is more like work today. I hate that!!!
In the middle of transfering ‘stuff’ from the HP to an external hard drive (for my iPad), setting up all the things I need on the iPad, erasing my personal ‘Stuff’ from my Kindle Fire to give to my granddaughter :) my tea review is going to sound aweful!

Sorry Fong Mong Tea!

Why didn’t I choose a crappy tea on a mentally challenging day? After all, my abilities are slow…really slow!
On stressful or busy days, everyone needs good tea!
Crappy tea fails to make you feel better.
Bad tea never stops you cold in your tracks and reminds you to take a second and reflect…
“Uh huh…I can do this task…I am drinking a very floral tea with a cool mint undertone that is wonderful. This is a tea I remember liking before…sweet and fruity.”
This is what I did.
I drank a really good tea on a stressful day! I drank several small steepings and smiled at the sweet floral flavor.

Then I went on with some clarity to finish more of my iPad setup.
I’m a step closer to a blog.

Thank you hannaspring for this tea Sample!

I have migraine with nausea. This happens pretty frequently and I might only be sick part of the day and then the migraine will go away.
While I’m feeling sea sick…caffeine is helpful…but I don’t want to fuss with pots and tea leaves or timing when the room is spinning.
Hail the tea bag!
I can’t screw up a tea bag, miss the measurement…break the pot…or spill the leaves on the floor!
I just poured the hot water in my big mug, tossed the teabag in and went to sit down on my couch (sunglasses on and curtains closed to block the light).
I guesstimated 3 minutes, took out came the teabag and my fragrant cup of tea was ready.
The tea wasn’t too bergamoty or too creamy. Simply a pretty mid level Earl Grey with a little orangey aftertaste. I could taste the teabag paper but I’d rather in the tea than sour, bitterness or astringency.

This bagged tea isn’t too bad. Middle of the road flavor but very welcome when I don’t have the will to prepare tea without passing out!
(Maybe having some more teabags like this around is a good idea!)

I bought a new toy today!

You may have seen these new Yixing tumblers (little portible thermos) in some of the chain tea stores (for more money).
I picked mine up for $16.95 at Happy Lucky’s today with a free fill of my favorite Puer to break it in.

Here’s how it works:
The interior is Yixing clay (perfect for Puer or Oolong dedicated use). Mine will be for Puer only ;)…so to begin seasoning, some nice Shu was put inside, then boiling water and the top was screwed on.
When the timer (3 min.) went off…the stainless strainer basket was placed on top of the tumbler and I sipped my tea from the edge (like a cool looking tall chocolate glass).
The outside of the Tumbler is coated with Teflon which protects my hands from heat and helps keep the interior hot. When the tea was gone, I just added more water and drank another 8oz of tea. Very handy.

I have something to add….

This is sharp looking…very cool and sleek!

It’s easy to use!

It’s inexpensive and I love this Yixing Tumbler!!!

(I also bought a screw on top for water bottles that has a built in filter for when you cold brew tea. YES, it fits on those nice big water bottles (2liter) so you can filter and drink out of them…and it costs $6) The World is listening to the tea community!

Second tasting note.

The first tasting of this Black Tea had been memorable and I do really love this type of tea. Coming back a second time is always a good idea. As I read reviews I notice that sometimes a person goes bleh the first time and yum the second and visa versa. Just like first impressions with people, you should give second chances.
I liked this tea the first time I tasted it very much. Today is another day…so here’s my second opinion:

The tea tasted malty and full of cocoa flavor as before, but this time there was something new that I hadn’t noticed during my first review.
Licorice.
Maybe the chocolatey cocoa and mint combined to create licorice…I have no way of knowing…but there was a definate licorice flavor in the tea that was dark and raisen like. This time I did feel a peppery astringency at the front of my tongue only.
I added cream and sweetened my cup as I do when the tea is very dark and rich, full of cocoa malt. This was my morning tea after all.

I didn’t enjoy the second tasting as much as the first time, but still think this is a high quality black tea.

Thank you hannaspring for this Sample Tea!

Comfort tea is needed again today.

Colorado has really been through some tough times lately.

First the fires… 2 lives and 720 homes lost.
Now a massacre.
A college student came here last year to go to grad school. WHY did he kill?

Why?…. is one of the themes that runs through life.
“Why?” And, “It’s not fair.”

My children used to say that to me. “Mom, it’s not fair.”
“Yes, Aaron (or Anna), life is not fair and never will be fair.”

Pain, suffering and death does not respect who is inflicted.
In the same way noone complains about an unexpected, undeserved reward. We delight in the good fortunes that arise in life without feeling bad about it .

Today is very sad though. I want to take the opportunity to tell the ones I love how much I value them.

I’ve been drinking Chai for comfort. I like the ginger and the scent.
I picked up the fragrant teabag which was all lumpy with spices…and brewed 3 minutes.
The scent was so full and sweet. I could smell the orange with the cardamom, ginger,clove and cinnamon.
There was a good bite of spice without bitterness.
I added almond milk and sweetening which almost doubled the volume in my mug.
Yum nom as many Steepsters say.
I can see why a large package of these sweet Chai tea bags would be nice to have available for home or to take on the road.
I honestly do like this Chai! A warming hug type of tea.
(I’d love to give more oomph to this review…but I’m in a mood that is too quiet right now.)

Might be a good time to join with all who oppose evil in the World… and lift up the families who have lost loved ones. The people still in the hospital and critical… so many who are in shock.

(I will pray…as the vigils (watchfullness) continue….lighting a candle)

We Steepsters are people who care.

For those who died. Memory Eternal! http://youtu.be/VIxQ_B3Wpzg
(The music is Rachmaninoffs full Vespers…very beautiful…I heard it live 2 years ago.)

Thank you Roughage for this tea Sample!

This morning I’m challanged with a raw Puerh that’s been produced for almost 50 years by the Xiaguan Tea Factory primarily for use as in Churned Yak Butter Tea.
Roughage or David Duckler (can’t remember which one) said that Yak butter is bitter which is probably why salt and sometimes hemp seeds are added to the brew. Yum…Yum…what a way to start the day!
I’m a bit short on Yak butter!

Here’s the recipe for ‘regular’ Butter Chai if you want to try it!
This recipe courtesy of Roughage!

Butter Chai
5 cups water
1 tablespoon black tea leaves
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup milk

Boil water in pan and then lower the flame. Add a heaping tablespoon of tea leaves to the water and bring the water to a boil again for several minutes.

Pour tea, salt, butter and milk into a big container that can be covered and shaken. Or use a blender. (The blending makes the flavor savory and exciting)

Serve the tea right away since po cha is best when it’s very hot.

(I’m going to try this recipe during the Olympics for my granddaughters as one of the international tastes of tea we’ll be doing).

Regular Brewing:
I went to the Yunnan Sourcing website to see how to brew this Pu-erh and there were no instructions. I’m winging this…without much experience with raw Pu-erh’s. Oh boy.

I decided to do 2 rinses.
This was big and chunky Pu-erh that looked like the muddy clods on a farmers boots after they’ve dried… with bits of grassy looking stuff packed in.

The steep was about 30 seconds (I went a couple minutes the first time and that was a mistake…oh my).
The liquor was a gorgeous gold and very pretty. It smelled smoky and mildly earthy.

The flavor was also smoky and peppery with a bit of astringency under the tongue and a little salty.

I decided to try the butter, tea, milk…salt…
WOW it was sooooo good!
WOW! WOW!

This was how the tea was meant to be…butter tea!

Thank you Roughage….! It tasted like buttered toasted bread or garlic bread without adding garlic. How could that be?

Thank you Bo from the The Tea Spot for this Sample!

My tea sipping today has run from Chai in the morning to a Tippy Assam in the afternoon then an Organic Green in the late afternoon to this Grand Finale Oolong…ta da! A lovely progression from bold to a softer and delicate bouquet.

Oolongs remind me most soft breezes and dappled light…the type that plays with Wysteria and small long stemmed Orchids in the garden, peeking through the leaves and dancing like light when it bounces off water. They are as mysterious as water nymphs.

When I smelled this Oolong dry, I was a little puzzled at the lack of any floral scent. It smelled like green tea. (I know that you can be fooled by the dry scent though!)

I followed the instructions for brewing and chose the longer steep time (4 minutes).
Then I put my nose to the basket…wanting that first glorious scent of wet leaves.
There was a roasted vegital smell, somewhat bitter…and a bit of orchid. The orchid smell was very faint.

(The liquor was pale yellow with a hint of green).

When I tasted the tea, the flavor was slightly floral and juicy, with some astringency on the tongue (which was not unpleasant). There wasn’t any bitterness.
I was a bit surprised at the flavor… which was closer to a Green Tea than an Oolong… and wasn’t complex. This was pretty much a one note tea.
As I thought about it, I believe that this is the lightest Oolong I’ve ever tasted.

I added some sugar (just to see if it would enhance the tea) and the floral taste came alive a bit more…!
There was an Oolong hiding in my cup after all but I had to sweeten the tea to find the flavor!

This is not a tea that I would choose to drink again unfortunately.

Thank you hannaspring for this Sample Tea!

I’ve been busy dusting and cleaning, moving my printer into a different area of the condo and rearranging tea things. Not stopping at that, I went to Sprouts Natural Foods and picked up a basil plant, feta and mozzerella then spring water for tea. Oh, and a salted dark chocolate bar (a necessity).
When I arrived home and put my things away, (my house was clean and chores done), I lit a fragrant candle and picked this bagged tea to relax with.
Bagged tea’s have advantages. One being, that if you’re zonked, there’s no measuring or work whatsoever other than boiling the water, placing a teabag in the cup, taking the teabag out of the cup and drinking the tea.
Because my candle was fragrant, green tea was my choice because it wouldn’t compete with the candle. There would be a mellow soft flavor which is what’s expected.
I was careful not to use boiling water for brewing. Steeped at 170F and 2.5 minutes. The liquor was medium gold and slightly astringent with a very subtle grassy scent and flavor.
The astringency increased as the tea cooled so I added sweetening to improve the cup.
(Brad’s is a company that provides various Organic products and several Organic Tea’s).

Thank’s for the Tea hannaspring!