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Isn’t it a wonderful thing when a kind friend who knows you’re knotted up like a bad macrame project sends a surprise to untangle you? One of those thoughtful gifts arrived today, and this herbal blend was in the box.

It’s beautiful—looks just like something the herb granny would’ve gathered in her basket just last week. Big mint leaves, fresh chamomile. And while the flavor profile is typical of a mint-and-cami tisane, the provenance of each ingredient is fair proof that they were selected thoughtfully and deliberately for medicinal purposes.

Until I read the tea description, I had never heard of Mexican Toronjil Rojo, but I’m catching a very mild anise hint with it, as advertised. We’ll test the relaxation efficacy at bedtime (when the brain turns on the moment my left ear hits the pillow), but there’s tulsi in this little leaf garden, which is one herb that actually works on me.

Thank you, friend! <3

Somebody left this on the pay it forward shelf at work, and I’m a magpie: see something shiny, pick it up. (And I never have enough good decaf options.) First test cup wasn’t bad, extremely light and grassy. Decent option for days I’ve overdone the hard stuff.

Elder care is not for sissies. We have been unsuccessfully researching care and living options for mom-in-law and I feel like a moth who has beaten its little head senseless on light bulb after light bulb without getting anywhere.

So this evening I folded my scorched wings and overheated brain, picked out a playlist of hymns that made my heart happy, crocheted to the beat, and washed it all down with a double bagger—this nice spearmint/peppermint blend, plus a tulsi chaser. Other reviews mention a cooling effect. I concur. Leaves your taste buds a little tingly.

Enough winter. I am done.

To chase off the glooms, I’m snoodled up in jammies watching An American in Paris and dreaming of sunbeams and dandelions and warm breezes and dancing with Gene Kelly (he may be way before your time and mine, but have mercy, he had the moves).

And in keeping with the “springtime in Paris” motif, I made a cup of this strawberry-scented white tea to hang my face in. You can catch whiffs of gentle strawberry flavor in the cup, too. Aromatherapy for the taste buds.

A lot going on this week, leaving my arms and neck in perma-clench and my brain burning rubber like a 16-year-old in a vacant parking lot. So I’m trying to kill the engine and undo the knots with something gentle. This is hitting the spot. There’s never enough chocolate to suit me, but what’s in this blend balances nicely with the mint and lavender. Favorite bathrobe, fuzzy socks, Enya playing softly. For the moment, we’re OK.

We bookended Christmas Day with what is also becoming a goofy tradition…walking the aisles of Food 4 Less (because it’s open, because we’re restless, and because it was miserably, soppy damp outside) to grab one item we can’t find at our normal grocery venue.

And…surely this does not happen to you when you’re browsing at the store…we ended up with something other than yogurt—this decaf Lemon Lift. That’s a happy discovery—LL is my second favorite off-the-shelf non-seasonal Bigelow (nothing will dethrone Constant Comment).

As to its resemblance to the original, it’s close. The underlying tea, especially decaffeinated, is just a carrier for the lemon and spice, but that’s what I grab this one for, not the base.

Rocking chair, tree lights, near-silence…a pleasant wrap-up for a decent day.

This was part of my fancy pants Christmas treat: a Marks & Spencer Christmas bundle with chocolate, tea, and shortbread in a Marks & Spencer reusable shopping bag (It’s weird, but that was almost my favorite part…one can never have too many tote bags).

I fished and twiddled online a bit, but M&S appears to be a little closehanded as to the type of tea in these bags, but my first thought as I sipped was, smo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-th! Not very philosophical, but apt: not a bit acidic, not heavily malty—as “medium” as you can get, but in the most refined and elegant way!

Well, Merry Christmas all, whether you’re pulling out all the celebrational stops or passing the day quietly—ours is leaning toward introspective and broody, and that’s OK. More time to rest, read, rock, and sip. (We did, however, hit the local Waffle House for breakfast this morning—it was busy, with all the wait staff in full blinky-light Rudolph regalia.)

The lovely and gracious ashmanra slipped a couple bags of this lovely tea into an envelope for me, and it was yesterday’s afternoon treat. I don’t see any notes about what kind of black tea is used for the base, but it’s beautifully balanced and smooth. Just enough rose for you to know it’s there; very elegant and understated. I steeped the cup in a plain old mug, but I’m sure a fancy teacup would’ve doubled the pleasure.

Found it in town—jingle my bells and mistle my toes! As Teeccino is a little pricey, I don’t usually break it out except for special occasions or sub-zero weather. Since it’s just chillish and damp, I’m calling “being able to find this without having to order it” a special occasion.

Never had it? The same coffee-like chicory base Teeccino has perfected, with enough cacao to make it taste like a bar of unsweet baking chocolate. With milk.