By Golly, Ollie!

💾 a blog about books, tea, & geekery

Tag: black tea

Posts about black tea, a very oxidized and processed type of tea. This is my favorite kind of tea <3

Teas to Sip While Reading Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne by David Gaider
I am obsessed with the Dragon Age video game series. Like, replay-the-video-games-every-year obsessed. Like, check-for-Dreadwolf-updates-every-other-month-even-though-I-know-there-are-no-new-updates obsessed. Like, would-buy-all-the-Dragon-Age-collectibles-if-I-did’t-have-to-be-responsible-with-money obsessed.

Dragon Age is a fantasy role-playing video game series that takes place on the continent of Thedas. The video games focus on the events that take place during the 100 years of the Dragon Age:
- from the story of the Grey Wardens, who defeated the horde of twisted Dark Spawn during the Fifth Blight
- to the growing unrest between the mages of the Free Marches city-state and their militant handlers, the Templars
- to the re-creation of the Inquisition, an independent political and military organization trying to restore order to Thedas following an explosion at the Divine Conclave that resulted in the death of the leader of the Orleasian Chantry (their church, if you will) and a tear in the veil that allows demons to escape from the Fade (a magical realm) into the world (phew!). And, they must do this while navigating a world torn apart by the Mage-Templar War and an Orlesian Civil War.
Beyond the current video games, there are books, comics, flash games, tabletop RPGs, web series, a movie, and a Netflix animation. The world is immersive. And, rumor has it, there is to be a full reveal of Dreadwolf in 2024. (But, who knows. I feel like Bioware has been teasing us about DA4 since 2018).

I’ve never anticipated the release of a game this much, so I had the brilliant idea to read and play through as many of the 34 Dragon Age installments I can get my hands on in chronological order for my “canon playthrough”. (Okay, as I admit this to the world, my plan sounds more bonkers than brilliant, but I think other passionate fans of the series would understand.)

The Book

And so it begins with Dragon Age: the Stolen Throne by David Gaider. The events in this novel take place 30 years before the 1st video game, Dragon Age: Origins. In fact, it takes place before the actual “Dragon” Age. The novel opens with the country of Ferelden under occupation by the neighboring Orlesian Empire. The Rebel Queen of Ferelden, who has been fighting against Orlais, is murdered by traitorous, Fereldan nobles, but her son, Prince Maric survives.

Fleeing from his mother’s assassins, Prince Maric runs into a band of outlaws led by Loghain (who Dragon Age fans will recognize as the antagonist from Dragon Age: Origins). The two reluctantly team up, reunite with the Rebel Army, and fight to expel the usurper Orlesian King of Ferelden. Of course, no Dragon Age story would be complete without the threat of villainous mages, a foreboding visit from the Witch of the Wilds, morally ambiguous Chantry leaders, and passionate romances between companions in between brutal battles for the future of Ferelden.

I give it a solid…TWO STARS.

The Stolen Throne was both too short for the story Gaider wanted to tell and too long for the story that was delivered. The author stuffed several years of story into 400 pages, so naturally, some elements of good storytelling were sacrificed. Gaider spared readers several years of redundant battles by summarizing a year of war into a few paragraphs. But, this also meant that crucial character development and relationship building were glossed over, and arguably, the characters, the interpersonal drama, and the dialogue between them is what makes the Dragon Age series so special.

In the end, I would only recommend this book to folks who really embrace the fandom. I’m not sure there is enough here to keep even a casual player enticed. And forget it if you’ve never played a game before. So much of the world-building was lacking, so without prior knowledge of the world of Thedas, the Stolen Throne reads a bit like a generic sword and shield fantasy novel.

The Teas

Your Favorite Shou Pu’erh

The Fereldans are a puzzle. As a people, they are one bad day away from reverting to barbarism. They repelled invasions from Tevinter during the height of the Imperium with nothing but dogs and their own obstinate disposition. They are the coarse, wilful, dirty, disorganized people who somehow gave rise to our prophet, ushered in an era of enlightenment, and toppled the greatest empire in our history.
– Empress Celine I of Orlais, in a letter to her newly appointed ambassador to Denerim

The Dragon Age continent of Thedas is an amalgamation of cultures and civilizations in Eurasia spanning from the Early Middle Ages to the Early Modern Period. Ferelden, the setting for the Stolen Throne, seems to resemble the period following the Anglo-Saxon conquest of England– not quite “barbaric” but not yet as opulent as Orlais or Tevinter. Not opulent at all, actually. It’s rural and dirty and always on the verge of battle against darkspawn or neighboring Orlais, and really I just imagine most people smell of wet mabari (a breed of war dog revered by Fereldans).

And so, for my first tea, I suggest your favorite shou pu’erh. For the uninitiated, shou pu’erh is a fermented tea that, to me, is akin to licking a wet forest floor in the middle of Autumn, but in a good way. (Usually. I had a shou that tasted like how the animal pens at the county farm smelled, and that ended up down the drain. But, honestly, that sounds perfect for Ferelden, too). I sipped Pu-erh #1 from Friday Afternoon Tea, which is an undaunting introduction to pu’erh. It offers aromas of earth, wet wood, and dry leaves. (It appears this tea is no longer available, but check out more aged teas from Friday Afternoon here.)

Soldier’s Blend from Friday Afternoon Tea

Loghain glanced uncomfortably at the knights who had been assigned to his command, once again wondering just how he had allowed himself to end up here. Thirty mounted men in heavy plate armor, each with more combat experience in the last year than he had in his life, and he was supposed to lead them?
the Stolen Throne by David Gaider

Picked simply for its name, the Soldier’s Blend from Friday Afternoon Tea is a blend of black tea, chicory root, cacao nib, and natural vanilla flavor. It’s reminiscent of a dark chocolate bar with a pop of tangy acid. I prefer to sip this one sweetened to draw out the creamy vanilla notes and to tame the dark chocolate flavor (I’m a milk chocolate girlie).

Shield Maiden from Friday Afternoon Tea

The knight sheathed his sword. Reaching up to his helmet, he pulled it off, and Loghain realized the man’s voice had sounded strange because it wasn’t a man at all. Masses of thick brown curls were plastered against the woman’s sweaty pale skin, yet Loghain found it didn’t mar her striking appearance. She had high cheekbones and a strong chin that a sculptor would have ached for, yet carried herself with a confidence that told him the armor was no affectation. She was as much a soldier as the men she led, and while it was not unheard of in Ferelden for a woman to be skilled in the art of war, it was uncommon enough to be surprising.
the Stolen Throne by David Gaider

Rowan is easily my favorite character. She is betrothed to Prince Maric and will someday be Queen of Ferelden. But, in the meantime, she charges headfirst into battle alongside her army to win back the throne stolen by Orlais. Her story is part honor, duty, and total badassery, but it is also part unrequited love, which wrecks me every single time. She should have been the main character.

Rowan kind of reminds me of Eowyn from the Lord of the Rings, so to honor Rowan, I’ve selected Shield Maiden from Friday Afternoon Tea, which is a blend of elderflower, pink peppercorn, roasted dandelion root, ginkgo biloba, cacao nib, and shavegrass. This golden-like-the-sun brew has a thick, luscious mouthfeel and it offers aromas of dried grass and dried wildflowers. There is also a soft heat from the pink peppercorns.

Your Favorite Rose-Infused Blend

Delicate to the nose, comfort to the tongue, and, strangely, a half-remembered whisper to the ears. It is described as—and inspires—a wistful spirit. A vintner’s opus.
Dragon Age codex entry on the tasting notes for Vint-9 Rowan’s Rose

No Dragon Age story is complete without romance. (Except for Dragon Age 2. My headcanon Hawke only has eyes for Varric, who is not one of the game’s love interests :( and yes I am still bitter about this.) In The Stolen Throne, we get a double-whammy of unrequited love. ~*~spoilers!~*~ Loghain pines for Rowan who pines for Maric who has been promised to Rowan but pines for Katriel. sigh.

For the final tea, I suggest your favorite rose-infused blend. To sweep me off my feet, I sipped the Orlesian Gray from Lady Gray Kitchen. It’s a citrusy Earl Grey blended with rose, lavender, and rosemary. As an added bonus, this particular blend was inspired by the kingdom of Orlais from the Dragon Age series!
March 29, 2024
Teas to Sip While Reading Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade

I used to be adamant about my distaste for Romance novels. I knew them as the Harlequin Romance novels my mom used to devour alongside Junior Mints on a quiet Sunday afternoon or the bodice rippers one of my friends used to have her nose buried in during high school lunches. I thought they were an inferior literary genre– simple, formulaic, and full of smut, which I did not want to read; in hindsight, I think that perspective was deeply rooted in internalized misogyny. Then a few years back, I read the Flat Share by Beth O’Leary, and my appreciation for Romance literature started to blossom. I’m still learning my preferences when it comes to the genre, so my experience is hit and miss, and unfortunately, my most recent venture into the genre with Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade was a big miss.

In 280 words or less…

Spoiler Alert centers around the fictional fandom of Gods of the Gates, a live-action fantasy TV series that created legions of fans worldwide but started going downhill once the writers and TV producers ran out of source material…not unlike the Game of Thrones series based on George R. R. Martin books. Our main character, April, is a Gods of the Gates superfan, who writes smutty fan fiction about her favorite on-screen couple– Aeneus and Lavinea. Marcus Castor-Rupp, the actor that portrays Aeneus on-screen, secretly writes fan fiction too, and in fact, is April’s longtime online pal and beta reader. The two are unknowingly united after April posts a photograph of herself in Lavinea cosplay on Twitter, and folks criticize her for her weight in true internet fashion. When Marcus sees the post, he decides to invite April to dinner.

By the end of dinner, Marcus has made the connection that April is one of his closest online friends, but April is none the wiser. Geekery, drama, and steamy bedroom scenes ensue.

The Review

I picked up Spoiler Alert for its unabashed love for fan fiction and nerdy pop culture. I, too, loved fan fiction in my youth. I used to devour Sailor Moon fics as a pre-teen, and I used to write awful Lord of the Rings fan fiction when I entered high school. (It was bad, folks. So, so bad.) I also admire cosplay culture and spending the day at comic book conventions. But, beyond this really cool element, the story made me cringe. First, the premise seemed unbelievable. I mean, I understand there is an element of fantasy in romance novels, but it was hard to suspend disbelief for this one– an actor that secretly reads and writes fan fiction for a fandom in which he acts (about the character he plays!) is kind of weird and creepy.

Also, the characters were the worst. It’s hard to enjoy a romance when I’m just rooting for the couple to break up.

The way the author introduced April made it seem like she was going to be a confident, plus-size bombshell working in a STEM field– heck yeah! But, in reality, this was not the fat-positive story I thought it was supposed to be. One particular scene that stands out to me and represents about 90% of the conflict in this novel, occurs early in the relationship. In the scene, April and Marcus are discussing the hotel breakfast options. April asks Marcus, who adheres to a strict diet for his career, what’s good for breakfast. Marcus tells her that he usually just has a bowl of oatmeal with fruit. April took that personally and as criticism toward her body, so she gives Marcus the cold shoulder and cuts him out of her life. April exhibits this kind of behavior several times throughout the story– she projects her insecurities onto Marcus, makes assumptions about what he means even though he’s never ambiguous, and then gives him the cold shoulder. I found her behavior to be toxic at best, and I was screaming internally, “Use your damn listening ears, April!”.

Marcus is only slightly more bearable. He’s kind and sensitive and nurturing and a bunch of other character traits that fall under the list of “THE PERFECT MAN^TM“. Somehow, all of that kind of makes him boring? Like, don’t get me wrong– I’d totally marry him, but I don’t want to read books about him if that makes sense. He does harbor a deep, dark secret though– he’s dyslexic? Oh, also he’s April’s longtime internet pal, but instead of telling her the truth, he not only hides it from her during their relationship but his online persona essentially ghosts her as well. (I mean, this is actually really bad. Maybe I wouldn’t marry him.)

I will say, if you love #smutsmutsmut, you will appreciate the steamier scenes in this book. Dade leaves nothing up to the imagination; this stuff seemed explicit. I do not like #smutsmutsmut, however, because I am a prude, so listening to the audiobook version of Spoiler Alert, and having Isabelle Ruther narrate the sex scenes to me as I washed the dishes was mortifying. It made me so, so uncomfortable.

The Tea

Writer’s Fuel by Friday Tea

The name of this blend may be a little on the nose, but I couldn’t resist pairing the Writer’s Blend with a novel about writing fan fiction. The Writer’s Blend is subtle pine smoked black tea that reminds me of many chilly evenings spent writing by the fireside.

Direwolf from Friday Tea

Rumor has it, Spoiler Alert is actually a self-insert fan fiction inspired by the Game of Thrones (or rather about a certain actor who stars in Game of Thrones?) Many Goodreads readers seemed to take issue with this, but I’m not particularly bothered by it. However, I cannot unsee the connection to Game of Thrones, which is why I’m pairing Direwolf with this book. It’s a blend that features juniper and sage and shou Puerh, and it tastes like hiking through a rainy pine forest.

June 11, 2022
Teas to Sip While Reading The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

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.

This blend doubles as a tribute to the setting of the book. The only blend that could best it is the Porch Sippin’ Pecan Black tea from Plum Deluxe.

Caramel Shortbread from DAVIDsTEA

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.

Alternatives include: Chocolate Chip Cookie from DAVIDsTEA or Buttery Shortbread Herbal from Plum Deluxe.

Blood Orange Reflection from Plum Deluxe

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.

Alternatives include: Blood Orange Tea from Adagio Teas

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!

May 3, 2021
Blooming Tea on an Almost-Spring Day
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.
March 10, 2021
Sampling Sweet Treats from Dessert by Deb
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:
January 27, 2021
Word of Intent: Joy
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:
January 24, 2021
This is Not a Glamorous Post About Tea or Motherhood
I may have romanticized my gongfucha sessions– written about how it’s a meditative practice that lets me decompress while exploring tea more intimately. And some days, my gongfucha sessions are exactly that. But, most days it is just a tea brewing method no different than brewing tea western-style with a cup infuser. Most days, it just keeps my hands busy and my mind focused on work when I would rather be lounging on the couch, playing video games. Some days, it is a fleeting refuge between my toddler’s tantrums. On days like that, I like to steep familiar teas, like the Yunnan Golden Buds (Dian Hong) from California Tea House, which was most recently sipped while hiding beside the refrigerator and out of my toddler’s line of vision. (Surely I’m not the only mother that does this? On second thought…don’t answer that).

The Yunnan Golden Buds appears to be fuller, uniform wiry leaves with a fairly even ratio of dark brown leaves to downy, golden buds. The dry tea smells malty, and after being tossed in a warm gaiwan, sweet molasses and cocoa scents surface. After an initial 10 second steep, the tea produces a rich, brown liquor that offers malt and cocoa aromas. There is a mild, drying sensation on my tongue, but no bitterness.

Around the corner, I hear Oliver throw the TV remote over the baby gate, and after it clatters across the kitchen floor, he emits a guttural sound and shouts, “MOTE! MIIIIIIIIIIIIINE!” We have entered the “MINE” phase of toddlerhood, and no amount of parenting books and blogs could really prepare me for it. I immediately prepare a second infusion as Oliver yanks at the baby gate, threatening to tear it down.

Infusion two moves away from malt and instead offers sweet potato aromas alongside savory cocoa, but my sip is interrupted by the sound of the bathroom door opening and the sink faucet turning on. I nearly tear down the baby gate myself trying to get to Oliver, who is standing on the toilet and splashing in sink water. This used to be a fun activity for us, but during a brief moment of having my back turned, Oliver clogged the sink with an entire roll of toilet paper. In 2020– the year of toilet paper shortages nationwide! I’m still recovering from that trauma, but dragging a soggy Oliver out of the bathroom isn’t any better. As we start to cross the threshold into the hallway, Oliver lets his body go limp and screams a thousand screams (approximately).

Infusion three through six are a blur of sips stolen from beside the fridge in between attempts to build a Lego tower and consoling an inconsolable toddler. The Yunnan Golden Buds isn’t an overly complex tea, but delicious all the same. It is forgiving during distracted moments and delivers a consistent cup of cocoa, malt, and sweet potato. It’s the flavor profile I found myself reaching for the most when I needed comfort this year– when the world began shutting down, when the months blurred together into some appointment of time never experienced before, when all I wanted were sunny days but was delivered rain instead, and now during moments of toddler-infused chaos.

This story does have a happy ending, but not before getting slapped across the face by a flailing two-year-old and shedding tears myself. I stood there, embracing Oliver and swaying with him, which was as much a coping method for myself as it was to soothe him. Within five minutes, he had succumbed to sleep, the very thing he had been fighting. I shuffled him to the bed and tried to return to my cup of tea, but I found my arm trapped beneath his tiny body. So, there I laid for the next hour and a half, lest I risk waking a sleeping bear.

Luckily, I have just enough of the Golden Yunnan Bud for another gongfucha session, but I think this time I will sip it in a moment of peace and not just to find a moment of peace.

Thirsty? Why not try Yunnan Golden Buds (Dian Hong) from California Tea House!

Do you have a favorite tea to sip when you’re searching for a moment of peace? If not, what do you like to do to decompress? Let me know in the comments!

Already tried the Yunnan Golden Buds from California Tea House? Check out of some of these tasTEA recommendations:
Disclosure: the Yunnan Golden Buds was provided to me free for PR purposes. My thoughts and opinion of this tea are ever my own.
November 29, 2020
Finding Elegance in a Cup of Assam
Assam tea is a staple in my stash. No specific vendor, no specific estate— just something labeled “Assam” that produces a consistent, stick-to-your-ribs malty tea, which I dress up with milk and sugar. It’s never been anything special, but it always offers a certain kind of comfort— especially on cold winter mornings. Enter the Harmutty Estate Assam STGFOP (which is just a fancy way of saying “the good stuff”) from Chado Tea. It has challenged every experience I’ve had with Assam tea.

The Harmutty Estate Assam appears to be small, uniform leaves, that are fine, curly, and charcoal-brown colored. I also noticed plenty of downy, golden buds scattered throughout the bag. The dry tea smells sweet and malty— just what I would expect from an Assam— and, after tossing the leaves in a warm vessel, I notice the smell of raisins, too.

But, this is where my experience deviates from all of the Assam teas I have tasted. On a whim I decided not to add milk and sugar like usual. (Really, I should be waiting to dress up tea until after tasting them plain anyway, but old habits and whatnot.) Instead of a malty and fairly astringent cup of tea demanding to be tamed with milk, the Harmutty Estate Assam was smooth and malty with aromas of dates and raisins. It was rich and full-bodied, and while it could certainly stand up to milk and sugar, I was perfectly content to sip without any additions to the cup.

I re-steeped the leaves a second time, and I found the tea still flavorful. It was malty, for sure, but any fruit aromas dissipated into something floral (but fleeting).

I always considered Assam tea to be the “meat and potatoes” of the tea world— hearty but nothing fancy, yet always suitable for delivering warmth and caffeine in the morning. But, the Harmutty Estate Assam is something more. Its sweet, fruity aromas made it feel elegant, like something I might serve at Afternoon Tea.

For all of the Assam junkies out there— which Assam teas are your favorite? Let me know in the comments!

Already tried the Harmutty Assam from Chado Tea Room? Why not check out these tasTEA recommendations:
Disclosure: the Harmutty Estate Assam was provided to me free for PR purposes. My thoughts and opinion of this tea are ever my own.
November 21, 2020
Five Earl Grey Teas to Keep You Cozy

When I first started my tea journey a decade ago, I was most excited about tasting Earl Grey. I thought this simple blend of black tea and bergamot oil was the kind of thing tea connoisseurs and true tea heads sipped. I was ecstatic when I found a box of Twinings at a World Market! I thought I had found loot, though I would soon discover Twinings lined the tea aisle in every grocery store. My initial perception of Earl Grey is laughable now, but I will always have a soft spot in my heart and room in my tea cabinet for this blend. I find a special sort of comfort in the tea, especially as the temperatures start to drop, so here are five Earl Grey blends I’m keeping cozy with this Autumn.

Lavender Earl Grey from Seafoam Lavender

Lavender Earl Grey from Soafoam Lavender is a blend of black tea, lavender buds, and bergamot oil and extract

I love a lavender-scented Earl Grey. (Especially when they are sent from the very best, far away tea friends– thanks Jann!) This soothing, floral blend always makes me feel a little more proper when I sip it, and I like to pretend I’m sitting in a little English garden instead of my cluttered kitchen in Michigan. This blend from Seafoam Lavender is especially nice because, while flowers can be a tricky and over-powering ingredient to work with, Seafoam Lavender found a perfect balance, and neither the bergamot nor the lavender compete with each other. This is a blend I like to sip on the greyest of days to remind me Spring will come again.

Vanilla Creme Earl Grey

Vanilla Creme Earl Grey from California Tea House is a blend of Assam, Ceylon, Nilgiri tea, bergamot oil, vanilla bean, and cornflower petals.

A vanilla flavored Earl Grey, like a lavender Earl Grey, frequents my stash. The warmth of the vanilla is a perfect contrast to the bright and citrusy bergamot. Most Vanilla Earl Greys that come into my collection are blended with vanilla flavoring, but this blend from California Tea House has actual vanilla beans in it. This one is perfect to warm up with after coming out of the cold, and is it just me? Or does this one taste slightly boozy but in the best way, too?

Winter Earl Grey from DAVIDsTEA*

Winter Earl Grey from DAVIDsTEA is a blend of black tea, pink peppercorn, white tea, natural vanilla flavoring, natural creme flavoring, blue cornflowers, bergamot oil, and natural orange flavoring.

This seasonal blend from DAVIDsTEA is similar to the Vanilla Creme Earl Grey, but the creme factor is dialed way, way up. This blend also includes orange flavoring alongside the usual bergamot oil, which add an extra layer of soft and sweet citrus. Oh, and did I mention there are also pink peppercorns in the Winter Earl Grey? They add an interesting peppery element, which makes this blend one of the more unique Earl Greys I have tried. I find myself reaching for this one the most, right now.

*At the time of writing this post, the Winter Earl Grey is not available on the DAVIDsTEA website. I happened to snag a bag early because I am a Frequent Steeper. Keep your eye out for this one though. It’s worth tasting!

Earl Grey Bella Luna from Adagio Teas

Earl Grey Bella Luna from Adagio Teas is a blend of Black Tea, coconut, blue cornflowers, natural coconut flavoring, natural bergamot flavoring, and natural creme flavoring

This is one of those blends I forget about because it only fits in the back of my tea cupboard (out of sight, out of mind). But, anytime someone mentions it, I’m crawling on countertops and dismantling perfectly stacked tins of fandom teas to reach for it. The Bella Luna Earl Grey is a brisk but indulgent coconut creme-flavored Earl Grey, and it is only available during the full moon.

Winter White Earl Grey from Harney & Sons

Winter White Earl Grey from Harney & Sons is a blend of white tea, bergamot oil, and natural flavoring

Sometimes a girl just wants to sip her Earl Grey in the afternoon but also still wants to fall asleep at a reasonable hour and not three o’clock in the morning. For that, Harney & Sons offers an Earl Grey that is blended with white tea instead of black tea. It’s a little softer and a little sweeter, but it still hits the spot when I’m craving that pop of bergamot.

If you follow me on any of my other channels, you may be surprised to find this white tea blend on my list. I am too! But, I love the soft citrus flavor of the bergamot oil, and it pairs well with the subtle floral and sweet grass aromas of the white tea. Like the Lavender Earl Grey, the Winter White Earl Grey makes me feel a little more proper. Like, I’d like to sip it while reading Pride and Prejudice along an idyllic riverbank in the English countryside.

Are you a fan of Earl Grey too? Tell me about your favorite Earl Grey blends in the comments!

November 10, 2020
Oh My Darjeeling

I am unkempt hair and peanut butter jeans. Crayon scribbles on the walls and desk and couch. Teetering piles of work and dishes that still need to be put away. Oversteeped breakfast blends tamed with honey and milk are much better suited for me. But, once in a while, I make time to indulge in a cup of Darjeeling tea– a tea that feels so elegant I pull down the fine china from the cupboards and sip from dainty teacups instead of tea-stained novelty mugs.

I’ve sipped quite a few Darjeeling teas this year. Its fruit and floral aromas remind me of sunny Spring days, and I think we could all use a few more sunny days in our lives rights now. But, among my favorites is the 2020 Rohini First Flush from Masters Teas (free for review purposes). The leaves of the Rohini First Flush are a beautiful array of colors– dark brown, green, fuzzy silver tips, and sepia– and when gently tossed around in a warm cup, they smell rich, honey sweet and a bit like tart grapes. After the leaves have steeped, they are undoubtedly floral and almost like strawberry jam.

The first infusion is mellow. It steeps to a pale amber and offers subtle golden raisin and floral aromas, but infusion two is when this tea sings. The color of the tea deepens, and the flavor is punchier. Bold floral notes burst through on this infusion, and as the tea cools, it transforms into sparkling white grapes. The third infusion is once again mellow. Floral notes are still prominent, but it trades refreshing grapes for golden raisins once more. When I sip this tea, I am reminded of sparkling white wine and an unexpected weekend of decadence when Jon and I were upgraded to a luxurious suite at the Great Diamond Island Inn during our trip to Maine. It is a much needed vacation while still being locked away from the world amid a pandemic.

What do you like to reach for when you need a little escape?

July 27, 2020