Muse

What a day. I have had what I am now referring to as “Sore Throat Apocalypse 2014”. Three weeks of a nonstop sore throat and general yuckiness! And it just won’t go away!

Anyway, that means that every afternoon I have been napping at 1:30 or so until 2, and then wake up groggy and in need of something to ease me back to the world of the living.

This Muse Blend I bought from a little tea shop in Woodstock, NY (Yes, THAT Woodstock). I love that place. I could spend every penny I have there in an hour or so on all the pretty teaware and teas.

So, the Tea. Dry, the peppermint is nearly all I get, as tends to be the case when peppermint is in a blend. I was fortunate to have tried a sample of this at the store, as I am not a fan of heavy-handed mint, and the smell alone would have put me off.

Steeped, the scent of peppermint moves to the back of the line and lemon comes shining through.

Sipped, everything works together as a whole. Lemon first – the warmth of lemon balm -followed by botanicals in the middle – the rose and lavender shine here, and I love that combination – followed by peppermint, and finishing with lemon grass left on the palate, and a slight tingle from the spearmint. It’s a beautifully balanced tea, one that I appreciate, given how many teas I have had that strive for this type of balance but end up with either heavy mint or a strong pine-sol type effect from botanicals and lemon together.

In terms of herbal application, I also enjoy the balance here: lemon balm and lavender to calm the nerves, but peppermint and lemongrass to wake up the senses. I think especially useful after a rough night of sleep, or after a too-short nap.