Tea Spoon

February 14, 2010

Happy Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year

Filed under: Index, Infusions, Tea Reviews — Tags: Africa, chai, cinnamon, clove, ginger, hibiscus, lavender, lemon grass, licorice, Okakura Kakuzo, orange peel, organic, rooibos, Samovar, San Francisco, Valentine's Day — Rooibos @ 6:33 am

A thing of beauty is a joy forever.

John Keats

This is a special weekend – it is the birthday of Teaspoon – and Valentine’s Day too, the birthday of Okakura Kakuzo, author of The Book of Tea, and this year, it is Chinese New Year. In celebration, we are adding remarks for a few favorites.

Here are just a few of my personal highlights that we have exchanged with each other – but really, they are all favorites to me ; ) Thank you Elina!

Croco Rooibos
Punainen Bambu
Spicy Rooibos
Lucid Dream
Sweet Rose Tulsi

Pictured here is Wei Chi Cha from Samovar Tea Lounge – which is one of the few teas I am able to refill that Elina has sent me, as it is available in the U.S. from San Francisco. In a word, it is mercurial, with a super boost of energy that has a calm underlying feeling to it. The ingredients are organic orange peel, organic, fair trade hibiscus, organic lemongrass, organic licorice root, organic clove, organic lavender and organic stevia (sweetleaf) from the U.S. Steeping times depend on how deep you like the flavors, and the same with the water temperature. I prefer this one steeped for 4 minutes and to drink at room temperature. I have refilled my order and recommend other blends by Samovar, including Nocturnal Bliss which is really beautiful when swirled with a spoonful of cherries at the bottom of the cup and Ocean of Wisdom, a chai rooibos tea, “custom blended for His Holiness The Dalai Lama.” The ingredients are Rooibos and Honey Bush from South Africa blended with Ginger, Clove, Cinnamon, and Licorice from United States. It is very smooth and mindful:

“When you contemplate the big, full sunrise, the more mindful and concentrated you are, the more the beauty of the sunrise is revealed to you. Suppose you are offered a cup of tea, very fragrant, very good tea. If your mind is distracted, you cannot really enjoy the tea. You have to be mindful of the tea, you have to be concentrated on it, so the tea can reveal its fragrance and wonder to you. That is why mindfulness and concentration are such sources of happiness. That’s why a good practitioner knows how to create a moment of joy, a feeling of happiness, at any time of the day.”

Thich Nhat Hanh

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February 7, 2010

Stabili-tea (Ayurvedic) – SereneTeaz

Filed under: Index, Tea Reviews — Rooibos @ 4:34 pm

If you like Ayurvedic teas, this is one of the best ones I have tasted! Quite similar actually to the Vata tea that is also one of my definite all time favorites. This tea does not have quite as much coriander in it as the Vata tea and, does not have anise seeds, and has rose petals in it instead of mallow petals. So the taste is slightly different, but very similar in style, with strong licorice taste making it sweet and tasty.

The tea is also beautiful to watch when you open the package, with the whole cardamom pods in it, and other ingredients in such large chunks as well that they are easy to recognize. Sometimes I have had problems with this kind of teas with some heavier parts sinking in the bottom. In that case, the package really needs to be stirred before making the tea so that you get an even distribution of everything in your tea. Does not seem to be a problem with this tea, though, which is great because all this extra stirring causes some extra work for tea cooking (and sometimes, as a mother of three, I tend to be rather busy : ).

The brewing time is not that long, even if the ingredients are in large chunks, according to the package eight + minutes. It does get tastier and tastier though the longer you brew it and I could easily give this one half an hour of brewing time and drink it warm but not hot. I think the flavour comes out even more nicely when the tea is not too hot. I drink this tea without milk, but it could go nicely with milk too. Sweeteners are definitely not needed, this one is naturally sweet and lovely : ) Thank you for sending this one to me Janine!!

Ingredients: cardamom, licorice, coriander, fennel, ginger roots, rose petals.
My rating: * * * * * (easily!)

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December 30, 2009

Punainen Bambu (Red Bamboo) – The Ounce

Filed under: Index, Tea Reviews — Tags: bamboo leaves, bella, carrot, ginger, infusion, licorice, The Ounce, tumeric — Rooibos @ 9:55 pm

Punainen Bambu is a beautiful infusion of unusual flavours Elina sent for the holidays. This blend has the most amazing taste that is like almonds, but comes from a mix of dried bamboo leaves, carrot pieces, bella flowers (which resemble prairie wildflowers) with notes of tumeric, ginger and licorice. It is exotic, calming and inspiring. I have never tasted anything quite like it before and hope The Ounce continues to carry it and make others like it.

I give this blend unlimited stars, and it makes me think that the best teas are being made in Finland. Thank you Elina for sharing something special!

Happy New Year!

Ingredients: Turmeric, ginger, carrot, bamboo leaves, licorice and bella

My Rating * * * * * * * *

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December 7, 2009

Tea Gschwendner: Chili-Chocolate Black Tea

Filed under: Index, Tea Reviews — Tags: Aztecs, black tea, chili, chocolate, Tea Gschwendner — elina @ 5:55 pm

I’m not such a big drinker of black teas but this is definitely one of my all time favorites. The tea has a deep dark flavor, especially when overbrewed for a minute or two (the brewing time says 2minutes in the bag) and the tea used generously. The chili taste is strong, especially when using the bottom part of the tea package; the chili pieces seem to fall down in the tea mixture. I feel very refreshed after drinking this one, even more so than with regular black tea. Either it is the chili, the tea variety has a lot of caffeine, it is the caffeine from chocolate, or I just brew it very dark. I don’t know but anyhow it is yummy and makes me feel good : )

The tea label writing is about Aztecs and how chocolate used to be more as a drink than a food in their culture. I have had a few other drinks with chili, including the Chili flavored Rooibos, but this is my favorite one. Thanks Janine for introducing this to me! My rating * * * * *

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November 14, 2009

Sunflower Thé Au Jasmin – Fuijan Tea Import & Export Co., Ltd.

Filed under: Index, Tea Reviews — Tags: Australia, China, Fuijan Tea Import & Export Co., green tea, jasmine, San Francisco, Sunflower Jasmine Tea, tea art, Trà Lài, Vietnam — Rooibos @ 6:34 am

I recently rediscovered this authentic jasmine tea imported from The People’s Republic of China by Fuijan Tea Co. that caught my eye in a Korean Grocery Store while looking for other items. I have seen this tin before – it also is called Sunflower on the lid which is a favorite flower of mine, and being jasmine, which is a longtime favorite flower mixed with tea leaves, I brought it home.

This blend is quite nice and I have continued to drink it over the past few months since I found it. This is a green jasmine; there are also white jasmine teas and the superior jasmine pearls that are lovely too. The Sunflower Jasmine Tea can easily be ordered online via Amazon and other sources. It was described by some reviewers as “the best ever,” or “not bitter and smooth.” I agree, and the balance between the green leaves and the jasmine flowers is just right. The scent is heavenly if you are a jasmine fan and the value for the price is worth noting.

The translated directions describe the product as “Jasmine Tea is a specialty among China Teas. It is prepared from green tea of chosen quality and scented with the fragrance of Jasmine producing a unique drink which has won the favour of many tea lovers.” The directions advise 2-4 heaps per pot, steeped covered for five minutes. I prefer less of a green taste and more of a jasmine taste, so my suggested steeping time is for 2-3 minutes. I like to drink this tea hot or warm, though it tastes fine when chilled too. The tin is really stunning, and I enjoy keeping it out. I also read that this tea pleasantly reminds people of Chinatown in San Francisco. I agree, which additionally makes it special.

There is another jasmine tea I discovered at the same grocer during my first visit there, produced under the name of Trà Lài, distributed by Ho’s Trading Inc., in New York City, imported by Winho Trading Co. in Villawood, Australia, but is actually a product of Vietnam. Notice the difference in leaves – this blend has courser, longer leaves and is even greener in taste with a jasmine fragrance. This tea tastes fine when hot or warm, but even better cold or on ice. I like to steep these leaves in a Bodum Café Press for 1.30 minutes exactly and then chill until chilled and drink for an ultra light caffeine boost. For me, this is a small pleasure that is simply divine to get going in the morning, while on long trips in the car, or even while working or before a workout.

My rating: **** with continued purchase

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November 9, 2009

Chai Red – Yumchaa

Filed under: Index, Tea Reviews — Tags: aniseed, black pepper, cardamom seeds, chai, cinnamon, clove, ginger pieces, London, rooibos, Yumchaa loose leaf tea shop — Rooibos @ 1:37 am

Chai Red is an exceptional chai rooibos blend Elina shared with me from her trip to the Yumchaa shop in London. It has a sweet, full-bodied, fruity taste that is unlike any of the other chai blends we have tried.

I highly recommend it and would get more of it if I could. The sweetness may come from the cinnamon pieces or from the aniseed. It’s truly remarkable and almost has a flowery scent in the background, though there are no flowers among the listed ingredients.

I prefer this blend warm, though it could also work well chilled.

Thank you Elina . . . who may have more comments to add, as it is another favorite of hers from Yumchaa.

My rating *****

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November 8, 2009

Celestial Seasonings: Bengal Spice, Sleepytime and Madagascar Vanilla

Filed under: Index, Tea Reviews — Tags: Africa, Bengal Spice, black pepper, Boulder, caffeine-free, cardamom, carob, Celestial Seasonings, chai, Chamomile, chicory, cinnamon, clove, Colorado, fair trade, ginger, gluten-free, hawthorn, herbal tea, India, lemon grass, Madagascar Vanilla, natural, North America, nutmeg, orange blossoms, rooibos, rosebuds, sleepytime, soothing, spearmint, sweet blackberry leaves, tea art, théhuone, tilia flowers, vanilla — Rooibos @ 3:06 am

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my : ) And all of them are featured right here, in a wondrous selection of natural, caffeine-free herbal teas by Celestial Seasonings. My freezer was once filled with boxes of Celestial Seasonings teas to keep them fresh, though I drank them rather quickly. They are convenient to have on hand and easy enough to bring to work or make pitchers of chilled tea at home. No matter which blend you choose, they are always full of flavor and inspiration at a reasonable price. The company takes great pride in being green since 1969 when they started hand-picking herbs and flowers in the forests of Boulder, Colorado, and have supported sustainable, ethical trade in 35 countries. The artwork on their packages is memorable and creates a story about each tea, including origins of additional ingredients.

Elina has tried some of the Celestial Seasonings teas also, as they are available in Finland – she may have some favorites to comment on too. The first in my selection of favorites is Bengal Spice Herbal Tea and is like a chai with more of a cinnamon taste, so there is no need for adding sweeteners. The flavor is warming and full of life – a real treat. Take notice of the picture: while the spices are ground up for tea bags, they are like the other loose tea chai blends we have reviewed, and super spicy like the Knockout tea from Théhuone, though the Bengal Spice does not lull you off to sleep unless you add a few drops of valerian to it. William Cowper is artfully quoted on the package to remind us that “Variety’s the very spice of life That gives it all its flavor.”

Sleepytime Herbal Tea is a classic that many people enjoy. It is easy to drink and the name helps create a lovely mood for bedtime. The package includes a thoughtful quote from Henry David Thoreau for inspiration: “Live in each season as it passes: breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit and resign yourself to the influences of each.”

The fragrant mix of herbs and flowers have a dreamy scent and look about them that makes Sleepytime one of the best teas to make a pot of for unwinding from a long day at work. Here are some notes from Blendmaster Charlie Baden on the package: “Sleepytime’s comforting aroma and perfectly balanced flavor are achieved by blending soothing herbal ingredients from around the world – including floral Egyptian chamomile, cool spearmint from the Pacific Northwest and lively Guatemalan lemongrass.”

Lastly is the Madagascar Vanilla Red Tea, which is an absolute delight with a creamy taste that you can even use as a facial and body tonic too because of the fresh feeling and added health benefits that African Rooibos has on your skin. The package includes the marvelous African Proverb: “The river may be wide, but it can always be crossed.”

All three of these I recommend and give ***** for the overall quality, inspiring packaging and nostalgia from different times in life in which tea is always there to carry us along to faraway places filled with beauty, hopes and dreams : )

Enjoy!!

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November 6, 2009

Fruit Infusion: Blood Orange – Harrods

Filed under: Index, Infusions — Tags: blood orange, dried apple pieces, fruit tea, Harrods, hibiscus, infusion, London, luxury tea, orange peel, red thistle, rosehip — Rooibos @ 8:13 pm

Here is a recent blend Elina sent me from her trip to London in September. I am making a new category for infusions to include it in, because they are different from drinking and steeping tea leaves and we have tried a few infusions to comment on.

The ingredients here are dried apple pieces, hibiscus, rosehip, sweet orange peels, natural flavouring of blood orange and red thistle. It has the taste of a warm cider drink that is fruity and reminds me of the smells of the autumn season from candied apples, pumpkin pie, rustling leaves and Thanksgiving dinner.

Infusions may be good to try in baking for breads, cookies and even with meat dishes. With infusions, you can brew for a short time, or a long time, and in this case because there is hibiscus, it may be too much or too little depending on your taste. Rather than steeping tea leaves, you are essentially warming pieces of fruits and herbs with boiling hot water that gradually and gently release their flavours from the moist heat. It takes a lot of playing with to get it right for your preference. You can add sugar, honey, milk or ice cream too, depending on the kinds of fruits in the mix to complement. It’s definitely something special to try, whether from Harrod’s or another source.

The directions on the package advised to add one heaping spoon per person, plus one for the pot, and can be steeped for 4-6 minutes, or even longer if you are baking with it. If you like a stronger hibiscus taste, brew longer, which is also great for a chilled tea. If you like more of an apple taste, steep the heaps for less time and drink hot or at a warm room temperature.

Harrods is a special place to visit in London because of its famed seasonal Christmas shop and its luxury Food Hall, which initially began as a grocer in the 1800s with a known specialty for its offerings of tea. Their motto is inspiring: Omnia Omnibus Ubique — All Things for All People, Everywhere.

Enjoy!!! : ) Happy November!!! : )

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October 27, 2009

Honeybush Almond – Théhuone / www.teekauppa.fi

Filed under: Index, Tea Reviews — Tags: Almond, chocolate, Honeybush, osmanthus, overbrewing, teehuone.fi, théhuone — elina @ 9:27 pm

Here is a review for a new Finnish online tea shop teekauppa.fi. I was happy to notice that they deliver the great Théhuone teas right to your door. I like visiting the The Huone shop, however, I seem to be most of the time too busy to do that. Online ordering is a good alternative, and the teas seem to be around the same price if you order it or buy it in the shop.

The tea tastes like almond and chocolate. It also has a mild sweet taste that could be because of the Osmanthus flowers. I can’t be sure, though, since I have not tasted before teas with this ingredient. The tea is particularly good with milk, although it is good without milk as well. However, the milk brings the chocolaty taste in the foreground and gives it almost a creamy taste (even with low fat milk).

The brewing time for this tea is not that exact, which is always great for a person with bad memory like me. The tea may even benefit of overbrewing.

My general review of this tea is that it is an excellent tea and it is easy to give it five stars. I also tasted it with the kids (half milk/half tea) and they liked it a lot. My daughter even said that it she is so lucky to have such a mother like me when talking about the tea, could a tea get a better review? : ) * * * * *

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October 25, 2009

Filed under: Index, Tea Shops — Tags: Beverly Hills, Ed Hardy, Le Palais Gourmet Tea, Lemoncello, Los Angeles, Martinique, rooibos, SUV — Rooibos @ 6:48 pm

Ahh… a trip to Los Angeles, the city of movie stars and exotic tastes. This was going to be fun. I had the weekend away from everyone and planned to hit the beach. But alas – the Internet tracks you down always. Elina had just heard that there was some great tea places in LA, and I needed to go check them out. Ok – so of I was in the rented SUV, Nissan Rogue (amazing that it was called a regular car) – on with the GPS system, and off I go. It was a place called Le Palais Gourmet and I was asked to get a tea called The des Esprits Rouge. Ok – not that great with with French, but off I went. Ended up the place was in Beverly Hills, a couple of blocks from Rodeo Drive. Hmm – this will be good. After some parking and scrounging for some quarters for the meter, I walked over to the shop. It was a nice clean shop, with specials on tea pots, and beautiful cans of tea lining up the walls. They had some Martinique Green brewing which was providing great aroma in the air. After some introductions (yes – I am from Finland, yes – I am Australian, yes – we do write for a tea blogs so please let me take some photos), I sampled some of the tea. Interestingly, the tea that Elina wanted was not available, as the shop had stopped licensing the name Le Palais Gourmet and the teas accordingly. Hmmm — this was a bit strange as the labels were all over the place, but nevertheless, they sold tea, and were in a celebrity location — so something must be good. Now, back to the tea, I grabbed a Lemoncello tea, and also the one that was brewing. Job done, two bags in hand, it was now time to go to my other infatuation – Ed Hardy at the Beverly Center – but alas – that is another blog!

posted by Mark

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