I associate Earl Grey tea with the Autumn and Winter months. With mornings when I wake up before the sun, where there is a cold nip in the air, and the clouds hang heavy in the sky. We have had plenty of Earl Grey mornings lately even though it’s only the beginning of September and still technically summer. Is it just me, or does it seem like Autumn is rolling in early this year? You won’t find any complaints about that here; I live for Autumn! Plus, it just means I get to break out my Earl Grey a little earlier. The first Earl Grey of the season was Earl Grey Supreme from Harney & Sons.
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Back to Hogwarts with THE BOY WHO…tea from Adagio Teas
It’s September 1st, which means the Hogwarts Express departed without fail from Platform Nine and Three Quarters today. I can’t help but reflect on how this magical story has been in my life for TWENTY years, now. I never could have suspected the impact this series would have on me the day I pulled this book* randomly from one of the shelves at Walden Books. I held it in my hands, staring at the artwork almost debating whether to spend my allowance money on it or not. A mother passed by me, and seeing the book in my hands, told me the book I held was an incredible story. That was enough to convince me to bring it home with me, so thank you Random Mother who convinced me to buy Harry Potter back in 1999.
*This book actually being Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. My experience with book series back then was the Boxcar Children, Fear Street novels, and the Time Warp Trio. I had no idea there were series that were meant to be read in order!
Today couldn’t be a more perfect Back-to-Hogwarts day here in Michigan either; 67 degrees, overcast, and occasionally drizzly. The perfect day to cozy up and enjoy the Harry Potter marathon on television while sipping THE BOY WHO…tea from Adagio Teas. THE BOY WHO… tea is one of the fandom teas blended by Cara McGee. It is a blend of Black Tea, Ginger, Cloves, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Natural Pumpkin Spice Flavor, Natural Caramel Flavor, Marigold Flowers & Natural Cinnamon Flavor.
I can easily see black tea leaves, ginger pieces, cinnamon pieces, and cloves. I don’t see cardamom as I expected despite it being high on the ingredient list. The dry tea smells warm and inviting and most prominently of clove and cardamom.
I brewed this tea a little differently this time. Typically, I would steep the tea leaves in hot water and then add milk and sugar, but this time I steeped the tea leaves directly in milk. I put two teaspoons of tea into one cup of milk in a saucepan, brought it to a boil, and then steeped for about 3-4 minutes. I added sugar to taste.
I find that this tea isn’t as spicy as one would expect considering the ingredient list, and I’ve steeped it both in water and in milk. That being said, I still find this blend enjoyable and appropriate for Autumn. The black tea and the pumpkin flavor were the most prominent flavors, followed by cardamom and ginger. I much prefer steeping this tea in milk (as opposed to steeping in water and then adding milk). It adds a creaminess and mouthfeel that cannot be achieved if this tea were to be steeped in water. It has me reconsidering how I steep any of my spiced chais.
Already tried THE BOY WHO…tea? Check out these other tasTEA recommendations:
If you love Harry Potter, what is your favorite book from the series? For me, it’s hard to choose. It’s a toss-up between books 1, 3, and 5! It’s possible I love those three equally, albeit for different reasons.
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![Dragon Fruit Dream from Adagio Teas [Cold Brew]](https://bygollyollie.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/img_6614-e1565734273734.jpg?w=800)
Dragon Fruit Dream from Adagio Teas [Cold Brew]
I said I wanted to sip more iced tea this summer, but it is mid-August, summer is on its way out, and I haven’t sipped any more iced tea than usual. That’s why I’ve dubbed August as my unofficial iced tea month! I’m trying to indulge in all of the iced teas I meant to sip on all summer long, like Piña Colada from Adagio Teas and Moscow Mule from DavidsTea (the fact that those are both inspired by boozy cocktails is just coincidence).
The first tea I wanted to share with you though is Dragon Fruit Dream from Adagio Teas. It’s everything I wanted in an iced tea this summer!
Dragon Fruit Dream is a blend of apple pieces, rose hips, hibiscus, lemon verbena, orange, dragon fruit flavor, dragon fruit, pineapple pieces, strawberries, marigold flowers, and rose petals.
I cold steeped my Dragon Fruit Dream– 5 tsp. to about 12-16 oz of water for about 4 hours. It could certainly steep longer though; I left a second batch steeping for about three days, but I didn’t notice a major difference in flavor. I mentioned in my video that it steeps up to the color of a white wine, but I would like to amend that statement since I don’t think I had much hibiscus present in my scoops of tea. My second batch yielded a liquor that was more blush-like.
I don’t actually know what dragon fruit tastes like. I have tried it before, but it may not have been ripe. I’ve read it’s supposed to be a mild kiwi flavor, but mine was tasteless. That being said, Dragon Fruit Dream from Adagio Teas was bursting with flavor! The predominate flavor was sweet candied pineapple, and it’s tartness was enhanced by the addition of the hibiscus and orange. In many of the iced teas I’ve tried this summer, the hibiscus overpowered all the ingredients, but it was actually nicely balanced in this tea. Finally, there were some light floral finishing notes. I should also add, this tea doesn’t need additional sugar; it’s already (perfectly) sweet because of the fruit pieces.
Dragon Fruit Dream is the iced tea I wish I would have tasted at the beginning of summer. It’s tropical-fruity, sweet, and oh-so-refreshing. It’s a perfect drink to share with friends at a Barbecue or pool party.
If you like Dragon Fruit Dream, check out these tasTEA recommendations:
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Jasmine Pearls from Adagio Teas
I have searched for a tea tasting journal for the past few years, but I never found exactly what I was looking for; so, I have been writing in whatever journal I had sitting around. Notes are scattered throughout four different journals, which are now tucked under odd places, like the couch, in Oliver’s toy basket, under the bed– anywhere Oliver manages to fling them, really. Finally, I decided on a new home–a trusty, 98 cent Composition notebook, that I now keep well out of Oliver’s reach!
Last weekend, I sipped Jasmine Pearls from Adagio Teas. I don’t know what made me grab this particular tea. It’s not one I typically drink, and it was only in my collection because it came in my Christmas advent calendar. I have avoided it because Oliver’s pediatrician mentioned jasmine teas (and mint teas) could have negative impacts on a nursing mother’s milk supply, but now that Oliver is eating solids foods as well now, I have become less restrictive.
Aside from that, jasmine just isn’t a flavor I appreciate. I like some floral flavors, like rose, but I think jasmine can make tea taste like perfume or quite bitter. Still, I sipped on.
The tea was dark green leaves, scented with jasmine, and they were wound tightly into little balls reminiscent of a pearl. They came in a tea bag, though the Jasmine Phoenix Dragon Pearls seem comparable if you want a loose leaf variety. I decided to cut open the tea bag, so I could brew the pearls loose, and what a smart decision that was because these pearls unfurled into full, big tea leaves that could be steeped multiple times.
The initial steep had the most prominent jasmine flavor followed by a slight sweetness from the green tea. The following steeps lost the sweetness from green tea, but the jasmine seemed to mellow. Overall, I thought this tea had a nice, balanced flavor– never perfume-like and never bitter. I steeped this three times, but I think I could have steeped this a fourth and possibly even a fifth, which surprised me considering this started in a teabag!
Where do you record your tea tasting notes? Do you keep a pen and paper journal, or do you record everything digitally?
Looking for teas with floral notes? Check out these tasTEA recommendations:
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Celebrating 31 with Birthday Tea!
I’m starting my 31st birthday off with a cup of Birthday Tea from Adagio Teas. This super special blend of black tea, caramel flavoring, sugar sprinkles, vanilla flavoring, and Creme flavoring is a treat I look forward to every year. It’s not available for sale on the Adagio Teas website; they simply slide a sample pack into your shipment if you order during your birth month (and you already have an account with them).
I love this tea sweetened because it tastes like just a like sweet birthday treat. The caramel, vanilla, and cream flavors compliment the black tea nicely.
As for turning 31…well, it’s strange being IN my 30s, but I’m excited to find out what this year has in store for me. I want to make friendship, family, community, and my health a priority this year. Becoming part of the community where I live and finding friends is terrifying to me, and I don’t really know where to begin. But, I’m already off to a good start for health and family. I have a doctors appointment today (who schedules doctor appointments on their birthday?), and Jon, Oliver, and I are going to the fair tonight!
Going to the fair is one of my birthday traditions (as well as drinking Birthday Tea). Do you have any birthday traditions?
Looking for a dessert tea? Try these:
By Golly, Ollie! 