Health- Ade Booch Pop, Ginger Fizz and Pom-Berry

https://health-ade.com/collections/health-ade-pop

I found this bottled kombucha on sale.  So, I was excited to try it.  I have to say I really enjoyed it.

This kombucha has prebiotics.  From the website, "What are prebiotics?

Prebiotics are like food for the native bacteria that live in your gut—bacteria need to eat too! Prebiotics are found in many fruits and vegetables—especially those that are high in fiber and starch. Pop has two different kinds of prebiotics: proanthocyanidins (PACs) found in cranberries and plant fiber from agave.  Prebiotics are living bacteria that are known to improve gut health. When consumed, they contribute to a diverse microbiome which helps the rest of your body stay balanced."

The flavors are fruity and tasty.  I love the kombucha zing that comes with this pop.

I really enjoy ginger in kombucha.  I tend to add ginger to almost every kombucha I make.  There is something warming about ginger to me.  I would say that the Ginger Fizz was my favorite of the two pops.  But, there were both good.

I like that there are no fake flavors, colors, or sweeteners—just real fruit, real sugar, and a touch of monkfruit.  I can't stand stevia in my tea.   The flavors are really good too.  This pop is getting a 4 instead of a 5 is because of the cost, it seemed pricey for 12 oz. 

Adagio Teas Iced Teas, Berry Blast

https://www.adagio.com/iced/

I am a super fan of iced teas.  I love trying new ones every chance I get.  I did the quick prep- boiled hot water and steeped for 5 minutes, then added cold water and ice.

 I was able to get the notes of berries and a tartness from hibiscus, which I love.

From the website, "Premium herbal tea in cold-brew pouches. Simply place overnight in a pitcher of water. Awake to find a tea rich in flavor and aroma. For quicker preparation, steep in hot water for five minutes and add ice. It contains an herbal mixture of black currants, cranberries, raspberries, elderberries, bilberries, hibiscus flowers, and rosehip. Naturally caffeine-free, perfect any time of day."

I liked this tea.  The berries were really there.  I was not able to tell you which berries where in the tea, but I am okay with not knowing.  I do wish that the flavor was a bit stronger, but it was still good.  The 6 bags make 6 quarts for $8.  So, the reason they are getting only 4 tea cups is the price.  I would like more tea bags or pay less.  One quart is 4 cups- that is not a lot of tea.

 

Rico, Milk bubble Tea

 

https://www.worldmarket.com/product/rico+bubble+milk+tea+drink.do

I was at World Market the other day and they had these Milk Bubble Tea cans  for $1.99.  I thought I would give it a try.

The bubble were the tapioca balls. Which are okay.  Not something I love, but very typical for bubble tea from Taiwan.

This can was 140 calories.  It was your basic milk tea.  If you like milk tea you would probably really like this tea.

I gave it three tea cups - it was okay, but the sugar was way too much!!  It was what you expect it to be, milk tea.  If you are looking to try milk tea to see what it taste like you could try this and get the idea of what it taste like.  I have had milk tea in the Singapore airport  and also in the Hong Kong airport both were similar to this tea.

Homemade Tea globes

At Christmas I saw these hot coco bombs everywhere.  I then thought it would be fun to make them with chai.  Then I started to see tea globes being posted.  I thought, hmmm, I could make those.

This globe was filled with hot coco and marshmallows. 

I went on line and watched a video on how to make tea globes.  I then got Isomalt Crystals from Amazon.  The Isomalt also came with gloves.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DBF2TDM/ref=dp_iou_view_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I also purchased a set of silicone molds for chocolate and sugar.  The set of three was $10.95.  I think they were a good deal.  

https://www.amazon.com/BAKER-DEPOT-Decoration-Chocolate-Semicircle/dp/B073WTLQWW/ref=sr_1_7?crid=S9Z4WLYKECBK&dchild=1&keywords=globe+molds+for+chocolate&qid=1612654154&sprefix=globe+molds+for+ch%2Cgrocery%2C188&sr=8-7

I watched the video and was told to melt the isomalt. I learned not to stir the crystals. I believe that gives it bubbles.  I moved the pan around helping the isomalt to melt.

I then took a spoon and scooped the liquid into the mold.  You have to work quickly because it cools so fast.  It also makes lots of strings.  It is kind of messy.  The video made it look so easy.

Once in the mold add the food coloring.

It was a disaster.  But, the nice thing about it being sugar is that if it doesn't wok out you can put it back in the skillet and try again.

These were tough to get into the molds too.  I kept getting holes where I missed putting the sugar...and it cools so very fast. I kept getting the sugar strings and there thin and messy.

I tried to make it an put a tea bag inside.

I have to say that it looks great, but it was super fragile.

The other difficult things was lining the two side together.  They said to warm up the one side, but with the gloves the sides were hard to pick up.

You can see they just do not match.  I tried rolling the sides in the pan to melt and it just crumbled. The way I thought I could get around that was to put a ribbon around the middle to hide the seems.

I tried taking the gloves off, but then I burnt my fingers.  

I watched the video about 15 times and I just could not get the technique down.

This was the best one.  I tried to make about 6 and only 1 came out somewhat decent.  It is not as easy as it looks.

Again, the nice thing when one broke you would just reheat it and start over.

I am not sure what I was thinking...if the big globes to fit together, why did I think I could get the small globes to fit.  And If I had gaps on the side in the big ones, did I not think I would have gaps with the small ones???

What a disaster!!

I thought I would make these globes and put chai in them.  So, when you put them in hot water/milk the sugar would dissolve and you would get the chai.  I thought I would fill one side with chai and then put the other side of the globe on.

I could get one side to work and think I would have it and then I could not get them to fit.  Or I would get it to fit and then were too thin and I would bust it.

You can see here the gap.  After about 2 hours I called it a night.  All ended up doing was make a big mess with chai on this experiment. 

Nope- not happening.  Maybe if I have a friend over I will try it again.  Maybe two heads are better than one.  If you have made these and have more tips, please let me know.