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I had set this sample from Martin aside for cooler weather—which has taken its own sweet time getting here. But a mild afternoon with enough breeze to start loosening the leaves seemed like a good occasion to break it out.

Good cherry flavored teas are rare, and we’ve found one here. The black tea base is light, the cherry isn’t medicinal, and the cloves give it the personality of a nice, freshly baked cherry crisp.

Thanks, Martin! I finished the cup while watching a couple of bumblebees the size of my big toe harvest the last of the pollen from our zinnias and sedum plants.

Bagged version, again from a grab-it-because-it-isn’t-local grocery run. The scent is deliciously malty and bready, but I used too big a tumbler and too little time on the first run, and it didn’t translate into equivalent flavor. Upped the time and downed the water on this morning’s cup—better, and much, much zippier. I was highly caffeinated until nearly lunchtime.

I’ve always held high hopes that valerian tea would help with the nighttime shut-down process, but it always tasted like I was sucking on a stick from our old elm tree. Found this iteration today on a special-occasion grocery run to Fresh Market and, as I’m looking at bedtime with a mind going like bumblebees, I’m giving it a go.

Tazo (my cat) loved the scent and would’ve helped himself to it had he not burned his nose. The lavender and oatflower (though I’ve never tried it on its own) appear to be doing a fine job of toning down the tree branch flavor. As to its effectiveness, guess we’ll know in the morning. Rest well, y’all.

New tin! I’ve always been a little curious about the name: I don’t normally associate rich, plummy fruit flavor with the execution of Anne Boleyn, but I suppose she could’ve been drinking a cuppa with her ladies in waiting when the warrant arrived…

I’m not going to fuss with an entry for this tea—Fair Almond is its name, from the Teamaze shop in Branson MO—because it’s not on the website any more; must’ve been a seasonal flash in the pan.

It’s one of those dried-fruit-and-nut concoctions that looks like granola and most of which can be eaten straight up…it’s a doppleganger for Nutty Almond Cream from Tiesta Tea. In neither case is the name very accurate. There are indeed almonds in the mix, but very mild apple is largely what you get in the cup. Especially after the incredibly long recommended steep time (20 minutes), after which it immediately needs reheating.

Not bad, but not one I care to repeat. Ashmanra, I don’t think Kermit, Piggy, or Animal would care for this, but Fozzie Bear might.

It’s been a nice bookends Saturday: a little time to begin and end the day with a cuppa in the backyard glider. Weather, delicious; day’s activities, ordinary but satisfying.

Since our weather pattern is finally shifting a little, I’ve also been shifting some tins to the front of the lineup that have been out of rotation during deep-fryer season. This one is perfect for early fall: a little raisin, a little pineapple, some white chocolate chips, carrot shreds which provide more atmosphere and color than they do flavor, and brown-sugary, cake-pixie goodness. (I made up cake pixies, but I’d sure like to meet one.)

I’ve reviewed this multiple times and, averaged out, they’re all pretty much the same: it’s a good, fancy-pants tea with a little mild cocoa and honey flavor, but not nearly strong enough for my morning wake-up needs. One expects something with a name like Black Dragon to roar and smoke and whap you with its tail. This one just whimpers and crawls back into its cave.

The current Palais des Thes product description says, This delicious black tea, also known as “surgeon’s tea” because it awakens without overstimulating, has a honeyed scent and is ideal for the morning.

Yes on the honey scent and flavor; very smooth and mild. Eyes were open and brain was engaged, unprompted, at 4:30 a.m., so it’s going to be an uphill battle on the “awakening” aspect.