By Golly, Ollie!

  • Five March Favorites
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    Five March Favorites

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    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

    Tea Thoughts Countdown to Spring Box

    I’ve raved aplenty about Tea Thoughts over on my YouTube channel and my Instagram feed, but I’ve not yet dedicated any space on my blog to Nazanin’s wonderful creations. Nazanin is one of my favorite tea-adjacent creators…nay! She is one of my favorite creators, in general! She designs tea-related stationery and apparel, and she also crafts tea accessories like coasters, teacups, and tea pets. And while I wear my gaiwan t-shirt or sweatshirt literally every week (depending on the weather), it’s her curated tea boxes that have stolen my heart.

    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.

    Sipping Yin Rising from Wuji Tea Co. accompanied by my Totoro tea pet

    Springtime Weather

    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).

    P.S. The 2020 Moon Waffles from White2tea was the first steep.

    Jon and Ollie enjoying snack time at the park!

    Oliver, of course!

    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.

  • Blooming Tea on an Almost-Spring Day

    Blooming Tea on an Almost-Spring Day

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    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?

    Disclosure: This tea was provided for free in exchange for a review. Thoughts are ever my own.

  • Sampling Sweet Treats from Dessert by Deb

    Sampling Sweet Treats from Dessert by Deb

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    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:

  • Word of Intent: Joy
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    Word of Intent: Joy

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    The last memory I have of 2020 is Oliver kicking me in the back as he tried to keep himself from falling asleep. I don’t know who dozed off first– him or me– but when I woke up, it was 2:30 AM in 2021. I missed the opportunity to say “so long, sucker!” to 2020 and usher in the New Year with a strange sense of optimism.

    Normally, I have a long list of resolutions that I post this time of year, and ultimately all are abandoned by the end of January, so this year I decided to forego that and instead adopt a word of intent. I tried to do this last year, but ironically, the word I chose for 2020 was “explore”.

    In 2021, I am embracing the word “Joy”. Something I wish I would have done more in 2020, especially as the year dragged on and the negative echo chamber of the internet got louder. Moments of joy were always there. I just didn’t slow down and really appreciate them.

    We are only a few weeks into 2021, but joy has filled my days in so many ways. Like, having actual time off from work, so I didn’t have to juggle that work-at-home-mom life again while Oliver was on Christmas vacation. Like adopting a new habit of drinking at least one cup of tea outdoors each day to enjoy a peaceful moment in the fresh air. Like finally having someone to sip tea with because as it turns out, my husband has a taste for sheng pu’erh.

    On this day, I was going to take a moment to decompress with a cup of sencha because green teas embody those weightless, warm and sunshine days that I miss right now. But, I found joy in a cup of the Forest blend from Tea Spectral instead.

    Not even trying to imply Ollie painted “mom”. I painted; he dumped glitter everywhere.

    Forest is a blend of black tea, orange peel, cinnamon, sage, juniper berries, and natural and artificial flavor. The scent of juicy orange dominates the dry leaf, and it steeps up to a burnt orange or amber color.

    The first infusion was sipped while Oliver and I worked on arts and crafts. The tea was tart and juicy orange against subtle earthy sage and cinnamon. Each sip was vibrant and matched the energy of a toddler armed with a paintbrush and a tube of gold glitter. The second infusion was softer. One where all the flavors were present, including refreshing pine from the juniper berries. It accompanied me as I cleaned up art supplies while Oliver settled quietly in the living room, filling me with false hope that he was getting ready to take a nap.

    I find myself reaching for this blend on snow-quiet afternoons when the warmth and coziness of my home threatens to lull me into a nap. It also pairs nicely with fantasy novels with richly crafted worlds, like the Lord of the Rings.

    Did you set any resolutions or words of intent for yourself this year? Tell me about them in the comments!

    Thirsty? Why not try the Forest blend from Tea Spectral?

    Already tried the Forest Blend from Tea Spectral? Check out some of these tasTEA recommendations:

  • Five November Favorites

    Five November Favorites

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    Did November actually happen? I’m not entirely convinced it did. But, that sort of happens at the end of the year, doesn’t it? February drags on for 100 weeks, but October, November, and December slip by as we scramble to welcome the holidays. I actually struggled to come up with this month’s list of five favorites. That’s not to say November was a crummy month; I just can’t seem to recall much happening! After digging around in my memories, I came up with these Five November Favorites.

    Finally Breaking the Cycle of Sickness

    This is Oliver’s first year out in the world. We have been relatively isolated up until now, so as a result, Oliver’s immune system is getting a crash course in viruses. He’s been stuck at home at least one day a week since mid-September, but he finally went back to school for a FULL week at the end of November (just in time for the Thanksgiving Holiday, haha). Hopefully, he’s back to school full-time going forward though. Aside from giving me time to focus on work, he really seems to flourish in the environment. His teachers describe him as sociable, and they always talk about how much everyone in the class loves him.

    Oliver’s Artwork

    Another perk of Oliver attending JR Preschool is all of the art projects he gets to work on and bring home. The latest additions to our fridge include these jive turkeys! I’ve been thinking of getting a scrapbook so I can collect his artwork in a safe space.

    Thanksgiving

    I like to joke that my favorite hobby is feasting, which is why I love Thanksgiving so much. This holiday looked very different though. Normally, we drive down to Ohio to have dinner with my family; this year, we stayed home, and I cooked Thanksgiving dinner for the first time. It was a small feast, but I think I managed to include all of our favorite side dishes. Alongside turkey, we enjoyed green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, and stuffing. Oliver wouldn’t touch a morsel of it. Instead, he ate Cheerios, a handful of cashews, and two spoonfuls of peanut butter.

    The surprise Christmas card and sample of Issaku sencha from Japanese Green Tea Co.

    I’ve been craving Sencha lately (which is a feeling that’s deserving of its own post), so I was delighted to discover an unexpected Christmas card sent from Japanese Green Tea Co.! I’ve never received a Christmas card from a tea company before, so receiving this brought me joy and made me feel extra special. Included in the Christmas card was a sample of the Issaku Sencha, which is the highest grade of Sencha produced by the Arahatean Tea Farm.

    Infusion one of the Issaku Sencha was thick and offered aromas of steamed, buttered veggies and luscious umami, and infusion two offered bright notes of sweet, springtime grass. This one took the chill out of a cold November morning.

    Geeksteep Podcast

    If you’re new to my blog or YouTube channel, let me tell you now that I am a capital-G-Geek. So when Geeksteep, a podcast pairing tea with fandoms, launched earlier this year, I knew I was going to be obsessed. I love Kelly and Marika’s passion for Geekdom as well as their critiques and social commentary on the films and comics they explore. I also just really, really want to be their BFFs. Make sure you’re following their Instagram, blog, and Twitter. And of course, subscribe to their podcast on Apple Podcasts (or Google Podcasts or Spotify).

    Honorable mentions:

    Transitioning Oliver to his big boy bed | Nestle’s Edible Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough | The first, real snow of the season | the Harmutty Estate Assam from Chado Tea | Dian Hong, always.

About the Blogger

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.