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I am in the middle of an intense bout of writer’s block. It’s bad. Probably why I am slacking on the tea reviews. But I needed something with a gentle kick in the pants of energy so I figured Killer’s Vanilla would work. It was the perfect jolt of energy with a calming vanilla, minty and lavender accent. I also love the sort of roasty background that the guayusa adds on the finish. I did, however, finish the last of the ounce that I had when I made this iced. So very refreshing especially with spicy food.

I’m in the middle of my yearly Anne of Green Gables—and Emily and Pat and Kilmeny and Jane —reread. It’s my favorite series of books and I have had a reread every year since 95. I figured this time around I would accompany my reading with a brew or twelve of my favorite tea. Today it’s Special Dark’s turn and there is something special about drinking it while reading my favorite book. It just tasted better when reading about Anne’s adventures.

I made a terrible discovery today. All of my emails from one account were going to Spam and not getting forwarded to my main email.So I have to sort through months of emails. So, if you’re one of those people out there who has emailed me and never heard back, that’s why.

I think this may be my favorite flavored tea. Creamy chocolate, slight nuttiness, orange. Nothing overpowering but so good. The best part of this blend is the base. It’s one of the most chocolaty black teas I have ever tried. I almost feel bad that I just drank the last of this because I will miss it…I sense a Butiki order in my very near future.

Lighter teas and I still have a very tentative accord. I like them…sometimes but there are a few that I just love so much. This is one of them. It’s creamy, nutty, buttery and caramelly. And perfect. The final steeps were a bit iffy this time around though. I was hit in the face with floral notes that came out of nowhere and it wasn’t terrible but it made me miss the earlier steeps. I need to get more of this because this was my last bit and I am sad. I also have to order from Mandala again because I haven’t ordered tea in a long time.

Currently drinking the last bit of my Phatty Cake. It was beautiful and now it is gone and I shall miss it. I added a bit of honey. I have been doing that all the time with just about everything. Honey makes everything better. But it seems especially true for pu’er. It brings out the flavor in the tea with some magic. Honey transformed this normally sort of smoky tea into something a bit nutty. Almost almondlike. So weird. But good.

It is almost 6am here in good old New York and I am unable to sleep. The thoughts just keep coming. It’s one of those nights. But what I am doing is sipping Special Dark. I save it for occasions that are particularly stressful because it is a happy place for me. I bought fancypants honey so I decided to add a touch to the first steep and it definitely brought out the creamy notes in the tea. But for me, it adds a little too much sweet even with the little bit I added. This is one of those teas that really doesn’t need any adornments. It’s perfect the way it is.

P.S. I have fallen off the coffee wagon. I was gifted a Keurig for Christmas and it was bad. But good. I can love them both, right?
P.P.S-I blame my hockey team.

I spent my day in the best way possible…watching hockey on my laptop—Gamecenter is a beautiful thing-I can watch my team play hockey and not break my soul, watching F1 on my TV—my favorite driver wins and he does it quite often, reading a book and sipping tea. I think that’s my own personal version of heaven.

There are just some teas that make you feel joy and happiness. This one is one of mine. It is the most perfect black tea I have ever tried. This is going to sound loopy but it tastes almost like a really good pie crust. It’s sorta buttery but with a nice vanilla and cream flavor. Actually, strike that, it tastes like a custard. A really good custard. Eh, either way it works because it’s perfect. It’s also the smoothest black tea I’ve ever tried.

Thanks to Stacy for sending a sample of this one.

I have missed Steepster so so much. I’ve been drinking tea but writing reviews has been a trial. I’m encountering a great deal of writer’s block—in reviewing books and tea, researching, even writing the odd email. But I think I am back. I think.

Awabancha was a weird experience. And in not a bad way at all. Weird as in it took me a couple of sips to understand. At first the faint taste of pickle-slight vinegarish saltiness— was kicking me right in the face. Definitely strange when you’re drinking tea. But I kept sipping and it kept growing on me. Sure, there is a slight pickle-ish bite but there is also a slight nuttiness on the finish. It’s definitely different and unique—it’s a step up in weird from pu’er. Perhaps not something I’ll reach for a lot but I will have the odd craving for this one. I can tell.

Thank you to Stacy for sending me this (and other) lovely teas.

P.S. Why isn’t this showing up on my Dashboard?