Somehow, 2021 has been a more challenging year than 2020. I feel guilty for saying that for obvious reasons, but 2021 has left me feeling languished and stretched too thin (“like butter scraped over too much bread” as Bilbo Baggins might say). However, amid Oliver’s recent recess from school, I finally found relief. Granted, I cried mercy two days into the workweek and finally gave myself permission to take time off instead of trying to work with a toddler at home. But, now here I am, finding peace in a cup ofPhoenix Oolong from DAVIDsTEA.
The dark brown and charcoal strips of oolong offer a weak scent upon opening the bag. I think of sweet grass on a humid day, but it took a lot of effort to find those notes. After tumbling around in a warm gaiwan however, the tea leaves come alive. They are bold and fragrant fruit and floral, like lychee and plums.
A quick 10-second steep produces a liquor that reminds me of honey, and the wet leaves smell like unripe plums or fresh wildflower petals that have been crushed. The tea offers floral aromas layered with honey or malt, and it makes me think of syrupy, tinned lychee. I also notice a dry bitterness that reminds me of grapefruit or its rind.
A second quick infusion of unknown seconds (because I am still toddler-wrangling, after all) sheds its brown hues in favor of rich yellow. The honey flavor has already dissipated, and this time the tea offers floral aromas with the sourness of plum skins on the finish.
A third and fourth infusion of 22-seconds and 27-seconds respectively (which I know because Oliver and I practiced counting together) produces softer florals yet and something that tastes both smoky and like a handful of dimes. The last few infusions after that become one note– more soft florals, but pleasant all the same.
Dan Congs, like the Phoenix Oolong from DAVIDsTEA, hold a special place in my heart. It’s a kind of tea I discovered in the early days of the pandemic, and I spent many weekends getting to know it back then. Perhaps it seems weird to want to be transported back to April 2020, but amid all of the media coverage, the late night scrambles to process payrolls because we didn’t know what a lockdown would mean, and the refreshing of the State of Michigan COVID site at 3PM each day to see the COVID case and death count climb…I found moments of peace too.
Like when cabin fever drove me to rearrange the furniture in my house, which created so much more space in the living room for Oliver to sprawl out and color. Or when we had to get creative about outdoor play spaces because the community playgrounds were taped off; so, we spent afternoons and weekends on abandoned football fields and baseball diamonds blowing bubbles, kicking a ball around, or having a picnic lunch. Or when I had the time, or perhaps more accurate, the mental bandwidth to create. I’m proud of the blog posts and youtube videos I put out into the world last year, and I miss it. I miss this…
Somehow, finding balance between mother, employee, and self came easier back then, but I finally felt that balance again today in a cup of Phoenix Oolong.
Ever since I read My Best Friend’s Exorcism a few years back, Grady Hendrix has topped a very short list of Authors Whose Books I Instantly Buy Hardcover Copies of Upon Their Release, While Simultaneously Reading Their Backlist Books. The list of authors is shorter than the title… So, when the Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires was released, I told multiple people I wanted it for Christmas. It was the only thing I asked for, last year. Thankfully at least one person listened to me, and the book didn’t disappoint!
In 280 words or less…
1990’s suburban housewives escape boredom in Charleston, South Carolina through a book club that reads true crime novels. Real excitement enters their lives when James Harris moves in, and the children in their town start to go missing. The Southern Book Club thinks they’re hunting a serial killer, but they soon discover their predator is something supernatural instead.
The Review
The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires is a disturbing twist on vampire lore, but monsters are not the only horror in this novel. This novel is also about a mother who loses her sense of self as she submits to domesticity and later descends into madness after her husband gaslights her. Patricia’s true crime book club becomes her only refuge, but it’s only a matter of time before monsters– both the kind that is supernatural and the kind that is found in the home– infiltrate that too. From this reader’s perspective, it was the psychological trauma Patricia endured, not the literal monster, that was most terrifying. Vampires are pretend (aren’t they?), but emotional and mental abuse is very, very real. And in the Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires, it felt real. I felt Patricia’s isolation as one-by-one her children and family and friends were stolen from her. I felt Patricia’s powerlessness when she tried to reveal James Harris’s true nature but was instead silenced by her own husband. What makes this story worthwhile though is the strong women and their friendship that is found at the center of the story. Even when external forces threaten these women and drive them apart, they still rally behind each other and fiercely protect each other when they need it the most.
This novel isn’t without its flaws though. Most notably, Hendrix attempts to illustrate the effects of systemic racism in the Charleston community but doesn’t seem to go beyond the surface of the issue. In many ways, the interactions between the Black women and the White women seem like a tool to wake up the White women to the racial injustices in their community. Also, when Black children start to go missing, Patricia (a white, upper-middle-class woman) tries to save them, and she comes across as a “White Savior“. Especially because it was really Mrs. Greene, a Black woman, who did most of the work to take down the monster.
Still, I thought the Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires was a good book, and I never missed an opportunity to read some of the more gruesome passages to my husband just to watch him squirm… and he loves horror movies! This is a moderately paced, gory, and suspenseful novel but ends with satisfying vindication. If you like your horror fiction with a hint of true crime and Southern hospitality, you won’t want to miss this book.
The Teas
Cold Brew Black Tea with Peach and Apricot from Lipton
Sweetened iced tea steeped from tea bags found among grocery store aisles is inescapable in the south. (I actually think the consensus is Luzianne > Lipton, but I’m working with what I have.) Add to that some peach flavor (because South Carolina actually harvests more peaches than the Peach State, Georgia), and you have the perfect nod to the book’s setting. Plus, I have memories of my own mother sipping instant Lipton iced tea (the horror!) during the 90s, and Lipton’s Cold Brew Black Tea is as instant as I’m willing to go.
Actually, if I’m honest, I didn’t enjoy the Lipton Cold Brew, but I can still imagine main character, Patricia, sun brewing this tea all the same.
Picard Blend Black Tea from Plum Deluxe
The Picard Blend Black Tea from Plum Deluxe is a pecan-flavored Earl Grey, and it captures the spirit of the book club perfectly. It’s an Earl Grey, so it’s perfect for suburban stay-at-home moms hellbent on keeping up appearances. The pecan-flavor is a (delicious) twist and represents the unexpected true crime book club that Patricia and her friends keep hidden from their husbands.
The Caramel Shortbread from DAVIDsTEA offers a tart, fruity flavor that fades to a buttery sweetness, which reminds me of the crispy edge of a cookie. The finish is a mild nuttiness and the twang of something zesty that I associate with shortbread. I imagine this conservative cookie is the sweet treat Patricia and her friends would bake and serve during book club meetings.
This hibiscus-heavy blend is too tart for my personal tastes, but the red color and the blood orange flavor make the Blood Orange Reflection from Plum Deluxe the perfect blend for the blood-sucking fiend in this novel. I know the title alludes to a vampire, but the villain is more like a bug that needs to be exterminated.
If you’re a fan of horror fiction, let me know about your favorites in the comments. And, if you’ve read the Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires, let me know what you thought of it!
I always seem to start these posts by writing something along the lines of, “I can’t believe [insert month here] is already over. How did another one slip through my fingers?” But alas…here I am…wondering how another month flew by. This is absolutely a reflection of how present I am each day. I’m always looking forward– forward to better weather, forward to when we can feel safe in public again, forward to when my tea budget resets again… Perhaps April should be an exercise in intention and being present. Until then, let’s take a look back at some of my March Favorites.
The Tea Thoughts Countdown to Spring box focuses on the casual practice of bowl brewing tea
The 2020 Countdown to Spring box was Japan-themed, so we sipped through Bancha, Kukicha, Matcha, and even sakura blossoms! This year, the Countdown to Spring box centers around bowl brewing tea. Day One was an adorable bunny and sakura printed bowl– a chawanmushi, actually– and the following days were teas that we could experiment bowl brewing with.
I cannot recommend the Tea Thoughts boxes enough. If you haven’t experienced one, I recommend signing up for the Tea Thoughts newsletter, so you can be among the first to be alerted of their arrival in the shop. These boxes sell out quickly, and I believe her Countdown to Spring box was sold out within 24 hours.
Speaking of Springtime, I feel as though it has arrived early this year! It’s not uncommon for Michigan to see snowfall in April. I supposed snow could still “grace” us with its presence, but I’m holding out that the clear skies, sunshine days, and 60-degree weather is here to stay.
I mentioned recently that one of my unofficial New Years Resolutions was to enjoy a cup of tea outdoors at least once a day, but frigid February temperatures kept me indoors all month long. The weather has been so nice recently that I’ve finally been able to enjoy a cup of tea on the back porch again. Lately, I’ve been enjoying oolong teas and green teas while listening to morning birdsong.
Tea Mail from Masters Teas
The first of the 2021 harvests are arriving at Masters Teas, and a few were sent my way to sample. Last year, I was lucky to try the 2020 Rohini First Flush Darjeeling, and this year I get to try the 2021 Rohini First Flush Oolong and the Rohini Gold Wire, which is an Autumnal Darjeeling. I also received some 2020 harvests to sample such as Qimen Caixia, Jun Shan Yin Zhen, Ma Liu Mi, Shi Feng Long Jing, and another tea from the Rohini Estate– a first flush white tea! I’ve never tried a white tea from India before, so I’m pretty excited about that.
I’ve already dipped into the Qimen Caixia because I was certain I had never tried this tea before. Turns out Qimen = Keemun, which I’ve only ever had in breakfast blends. I always thought this tea added a smoky element to breakfast blends, but after trying this tea on its own, I realize it’s more complex than I realized. It offers toasty and honey aromas followed by soft florals on the finish. In later infusions, I notice something that reads as lemon and pine.
Inaugural sips of 2020 Moon Waffles from White2tea in my new, new Blood Moon Light & Shadow Gaiwan from Crafted Leaf Tea
My New, New Gaiwan
I treated myself to a new gaiwan earlier this year. It was a Blood Moon Light & Shadow gaiwan from Crafted Leaf Tea. These kaolin clay gaiwan are fully handmade, and the kiln and firing process creates unique designs, so no two gaiwan look the same. It pours like a dream, and the cup doesn’t become scorching hot like my porcelain gaiwan, which means I don’t burn my fingers. Unfortunately, after about two weeks of owning this gaiwan, I dropped a watermelon on my tea tray, and it crushed the lid. (Everyone gets really curious about the logistics of this one because who drops watermelons on a gaiwan? But, the tea tray and gaiwan were sitting on my kitchen counter waiting to be dumped and rinsed).
I loved this gaiwan so much that I turned right around and bought a new one less than an hour later, and it finally arrived! I don’t love the design of the new gaiwan as much as the original. The original was a lovely purple color, and my new one is mostly grey with some faded purple along the lip of the cup. It still pours like a dream though! (Also, the cup of my old gaiwan survived, so I imagine I will pair the new lid with the old cup like the heathen I am).
I mean, of course Oliver makes this list every time. He’s my favorite Favorite!
Toddlerhood has challenged me in ways I did not expect and did not want. Early on, I learned that I have about as much patience as my two-year-old, so we’ve both been working on that these last few months. As a result, we’ve become really good at counting to ten as a way to cool down rising tempers. We also count to ten to help with waiting for me to switch gears from working to giving him a snack or playing a game with him. The downside is, I can’t give him “until the count of five” to do a task he doesn’t want to do because he just counts with me and continues to ignore my requests.
He’s becoming more and more himself though, and that’s been exciting to watch. He loves playing outside, sliding down the big kid slides, playing hide-and-seek, drawing all over my notebooks and work folders, reading the Narwhal and Jelly Bubble! book, talking to grandparents over FaceTime, singing along with music, playing Toca Blocks, and as always, trying all of my teas.
I also love hearing from his teacher that he’s a sensitive boy and that his favorite activity is going on walks around the school. She said they push all of the toddlers in strollers, but he’s the only one they let walk because he insists on it. I’m not surprised though– walking to and from school is a big part of our weekday routine. Also, when I dropped him off at school recently, one of his pals ran up to him greet him and hugged him. (Oh, my heart!)
Honorable mentions
The Earl Grey chocolate bar from Crow and Moss • My new, yellow fingernail polish• Waking up early to enjoy a cup of tea and a chapter of the Lord of the Rings before the family wakes up • Staying up past my bedtime to sneak in some time with Mass Effect Andromeda • The exciting news that the release of the Mass Effect Legendary edition is a few weeks away, and news that a Mass Effect 5 may be on the horizon, soon
I hope you had a happy March! Let me know about your March favorites in the comments.
One of my unofficial New Year’s Resolutions was to enjoy at least one cup of tea outdoors each day. So far, I’ve neglected this practice, but in my defense, I always forget how bitter cold February can be in Michigan. I’m not sure any amount of cabin fever can drive me outdoors in ten-degree weather just for a ten-minute cup of tea. But, March is here now. The sun is shining, the snow is melting, the ground is thawing, and warmer temperatures are finally luring me outdoors again. As springtime creeps in again, I find myself reaching for blooming teas, and most recently I enjoyed the Black Gold Blooming Tea from California Tea House.
Armed with a glass teapot, a kettle, a cup and saucer, and a ball of Black Gold (a blend of Monkey Paw black tea, marigold, and jasmine), I retreated outdoors to enjoy a quiet moment before the rest of the neighborhood woke up. Normally, I am distracted when preparing tea, but blooming teas command attention. After submerging the bloom in boiling water, I watched the tea steep for several minutes. Swirling among hot water and steam, black and occasionally golden-tipped tea leaves opened revealing a bouquet of marigold and jasmine.
The tea was malty but smooth with a subtle floral aroma that did quite register as jasmine. I would have been relieved by this months ago when I first placed the order because I did not care for jasmine. However, I have had several positive experiences with the ingredient since, and I’m developing a fondness for it. In defense of the tea though, I may have used more water than I usually would for a blooming tea. Still, the Black Gold was a treat enjoyed while soaking in birdsong and golden sunshine stretching across grass. It was the exact kind of mindful moment to mark the end of a busy work week and the beginning of what would turn into a much-needed, relaxing weekend.
Have you tried a blooming tea before? Tell me about your favorites in the comments!
Already tried the Black Gold Blooming Tea? Why not try these tasTEA recommendations?
Dessert by Deb blends have been on my wishlist since the beginning of 2020, but steep shipping costs to the US have usually deterred me from placing an order. The temptation is becoming harder to resist though, especially after Deb recently released her Winter Brunch collection featuring blends like Banana French Toast, Cereal Milk, Orange Cinnamon Rolls, and Salted Caramel Pancake. Plus, she added a few pieces of teaware to her site, including the most charming Lemon Yellow Teacup that I cannot stop looking at with heart-eyes. In the meantime, I’ve been sipping some samples so graciously sent to me from tea friend, @briannadrinkstea.
Marshmallow Crispy Square
Marshmallow Crispy Square is a blend of Green tea, popped roasted rice, coconut, toasted coconut, palm sugar
The Marshmallow Crispy Square blend appears to have broken pieces of green tea, large pieces of coconut flakes, pieces of brown rice– some of which have popped open into what looks like popcorn– and a dusting of brown sugar. The vegetal scent of the dry green tea cuts through coconut and sugar sweetness. After steeping, the tea produces a cloudy, yellow liquor that smells sweet and coconutty with this slightest hint of roasted rice.
I’m usually reluctant to sip flavored green teas, but I make exceptions for Genmaicha (a Japanese green tea with roasted rice) and coconut-flavored green teas. Dessert by Deb’s Marshmallow Crispy Square blend was a perfect marriage of both of these. The mouthfeel of the tea is thick and luscious. Coconut is in the forefront with hints of roasty toasty rice and vegetal green tea peeking through at the end of the sip. It is a perfect balance of sweet and savory that I will look forward to dipping in to all year long, although the flavor profile makes me think of Springtime when the sun is warm and golden but there is still a chill in the breeze.
Coconut Maple Custard
Coconut Maple Custard is a blend of Black tea, Vanilla, Canadian Maple, coconut, palm sugar
The Coconut Maple Custard blend appears to have small, broken pieces of black tea and small chips of coconut that have been dusted with palm sugar. There are also biscuit-colored chunks of what I think is maple or maple sugar. The blend smells sweet and like coconut, and it steeps to a burned orange color with slicks of oil on the surface from the coconut.
I enjoyed the Coconut Maple Custard, but I didn’t taste the flavor profile Dessert by Deb was trying to convey. Most maple-flavored teas do not actually taste anything like the flavor I associate with “maple”. I assume this is because I was raised on Aunt Jemima, which is artificially flavored “maple” syrup. Instead, this blend was a light black tea with a hint of coconut and sugary sweetness on the finish, but it was pleasant to drink, nevertheless.
Orange Creamsicle Mousse
Orange Creamsicle Mousse is a blend of Fair Trade Rooibos, Orange Peel, Oranges, Lemongrass, Vanilla, Coconut, Toasted Coconut
The Orange Creamsicle Mousse blend appears to be small chips of red rooibos and coconut, chunks of orange peel, and short sections of green lemongrass. The blend smells like sweet orange, woody, and slightly medicinal, and it steeps to a rich orange color.
Prior to the Orange Creamsicle Mousse from Dessert by Deb, I have had very negative experiences with any orange rooibos blends that accidentally crossed the threshold into my house. It’s a flavor combination that runs the risk of tasting like cough medicine since orange is a common flavor used in children’s medicine (at least in the U.S.), and rooibos occasionally offers medicinal aromas. But, there is something special about this blend, and I think it’s because it relies on natural ingredients instead of artificial or natural flavoring. The orange pieces and orange peel in this blend offer a soft, juicy orange flavor that compliments the woody rooibos. The addition of the lemongrass builds on the citrus element, too. The cream element, relying mostly on coconut pieces, is subtle but helps create one of the more successful orange creamsicle blends I’ve tried so far. And thankfully, my palate did not discern any medicinal aromas from the rooibos.
Overall, my initial experience with Dessert by Deb has been a treat! I think what impresses me the most is the blends captured the essence of the desserts they were inspired by without relying on massive ingredient lists and artificial flavoring. They are fun and creative and well worth exploring if you’re a fan of dessert teas (like myself!).
If you’ve tried Dessert by Deb, let me know about your favorite blends in the comments! Or, if you haven’t tried Dessert by Deb, let me know what your favorite dessert blends are.
Already tried these Dessert by Deb blends? Check out these tasTEA recommendations:
My name is Jackie, and I am a millennial / mother / Michigander / blogger / wannabe runner / accountant / local library enthusiast / gamer, kinda. This is a personal blog, which means I’m not entirely certain what you’ll find here, but it will definitely not show up on the first page of Google search results.
By Golly, Ollie! 