Brewed Awakenings, Lavender Lemon Drop

"Consider taking a break"....It's like my car knew I needed some tea!!

I was heading up to Beulah Beach in Vermilion and I decided to stop in to Brewed Awakenings.  They have quickly become one of my favorite tea cafes.  I have NEVER had a bad tea here...and I stop here 3-4 times a year.

https://www.brewedawakeningvermilion.com/

This was a great tea!!  The flavors mixed really well.  It lemon was so refreshing and I loved the zing of the lavender. There were also subtle green tea notes.  It was one of the best teas I have had here- which says a lot because they are all really good!

Beulah Beach in Vermilion, my happy place!!

When I go places I always look for heart stones.  I hit the jackpot for heart stones and sea glass.

 

Moroccan Mint Tea- Passport to Tea 2023

I cancelled this August class and combined it with the September class since I only had 3 sign up. 

 

We are making 4 different Moroccan Teas....

1. Ohio Tea- Moroccan Mint

https://www.ohioteaco.com/

2. Tealyra - Moroccan Mint

https://www.tealyra.com/loose-tea/

3. Agafay Tea- Moroccan Mint

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092437467187

4. Temple of Heaven- Special Gunpowder

https://www.amazon.com/Temple-Heaven-China-Special-Gunpowder/dp/B000CBOR60

Gun powder tea is called gun powder because the leaves are rolled to resemble gun powder, it’s a little Smokey. 

4Cups of Moroccan Mint

3 T gunpowder green tea (My friend who lived in Morocco recommended Temple of Heaven) 

4 C water

Fresh Mint

5 T Sugar 

First boil the water in a container.

Rinse the tea pot with the water

If the tea pot holds 4 cups, then put 3 T of gunpowder tea into the tea pot- just enough to cover the leaves

Let it sit for 1 minute, don't stir or shake- after 1 minute pour into a cup.  This is called the "Spirit" or "Soul"( it is the essence of the tea, the core flavor of the tea) - it has a deep rich, golden, caramel color. (we will keep this tea)

(Can you see the difference between the first tea and the second??? The one on the right is the cloudy, murky one that we through out.  The one on the left is the "spirit/soul")

Now add more water to the cover the tea leaves in the tea pot, this time to you swish the pot around to rinse the leaves- about 20-30 seconds, then pour out the water- it will be dirty, greenish, cloudy, and murky.  This rinse removes the bitterness. Throw this out and keep the Spirit/soul tea.

Fill the tea pot up again, but leaving room at the top for mint leaves and spirit/soul .  Then add sugar- 4-5T to tea pot.  Now put on the stove on medium heat and bring to a boil. This allows the sugar to caramelize and give the Moroccan tea its special flavor.  Should take about 5 minutes.  Pour the tea in the cup, then back into the tea pot- they do this 2 or 3 times.  

                                              

Then put fresh mint leaves in the bottom of the tea cup.   

When serving you Pouring from a high up- and only pour the one time into the cup.  They drink it very hot and very sweet.

( I purchased this cute Moroccan tea pot in Orrville for $10.  I was super excited to use it at the party)

                         

                                          (I practiced tea for my mom and sisters)

Moroccan Mint tea is a traditional North African drink that’s consumed day and night in many parts of Morocco and beyond.  It is considered the national beverage of Morocco and a favorite pastime.  If you are a guest in someone’s house you will be immediately offered a glass of it.  Even a family without electricity, furniture, or an adequate roof will likely own a silver tray and pot for serving tea.  Steeped in ritual and ceremony, it is always served to a guest when in a home or shop- it is usually prepared in front of guests, and it is impolite to refuse.

It is commonly used to get over colds, a sore throat, sinus congestion, and stomach ulcers. soothe many complaints, such as an upset stomach, ease congestion or soothe aggressive heartburn in a completely natural way It also served after the meal to cleanse the palette. But, more than that Moroccan mint tea is a symbol of love, friendship, respect, and hospitality. 

                       

(Testing the mint tea on my family)

Moroccan mint tea and Algerian mint tea, is a North African preparation of gunpowder green tea with spearmint leaves and sugar. The Moroccan Mint Tea or Thé Marocain (also Thé Maroc) differs from the regular mint tea found in the West in that the mint leaves are steeped alongside green tea. This is no ordinary green tea but specifically a type of green tea called gunpowder tea. 

In Morocco, traditional mint tea is served in small decorative Moroccan glass cups. Quality is more important than quantity, and it’s very rare to be served more than two cups during the same gathering. Moroccans drink their tea very slowly until it is no longer hot, then the host pours a little more to warm their cup. If you are hosting 4+ people, get a 32oz teapot. Otherwise, a 16oz teapot will be more than enough 

Tea is served high above the cup,  the main reason is for the tea to have a layer of froth at the top. If the froth is not sufficient, the host might prepare the tea afresh. But many believe that pouring tea from a height ensures that tea gets re-aerated and gains the oxygen that it lost during boiling of the water.

Nobody knows exactly when this tradition of mint tea appeared in Morocco, many versions exist and historians do not all agree. Some say that it was the Phoenicians who brought tea to Morocco around the 12th century, and others that it was the first nomadic Berbers who imported it from Asia.

People first started drinking tea in Morocco because they were not allowed to drink alcohol. This is why Moroccan tea can sometimes be referred to as “Berber Whiskey” because it served as a placeholder for the alcohol they were not allowed to consume. Muslims were forbidden from consuming alcohol for religious purposes, so they looked to Moroccan tea as a logical alternative. Moroccans refer to tea is Attay. It is a sacred drink that offers a sense of welcoming and generosity to anyone passing through or visiting.

 One of the most vital aspects of the emblematic tea is the appropriate teapot.  Sometimes these tea pots have metal handles or heat resistant handles. They can have 4 legs or they can be flat bottomed.  You should always hand wash this type of tea pot. The best Moroccan teapots are made from silver brass or stainless steel. A teapot made from stainless steel or silver brass will not transfer dangerous chemicals to your tea when brewing or serving it.  For use on the stove, it needs to be feet- free.  If you are using on the stove it should not have feet and needs to be heat resistant for at least 2 minutes on the stove.

In Morocco, the teapot is called "berrad", literally "cooler", a term that presumably comes from the central role played by the teapot in the tea preparation ceremonies, where it is used to collect boiling water, to infuse tea with mint and keep it, paradoxically, warm during the ceremony. 

(My friend sent me this Moroccan Teapot she bought about 20 years ago when she was on a mission trip in Morocco)

Traditional Moroccan Teapots were made in Fez, Morocco.  A fez is a little round hat with a tassel on top. Fez is a French word that comes from the city of Fez in Morocco, where most of the hats were once made. A fez is always cylindrical and often red.  You will sometimes see a red tassel on the top of the teapots- I think it is symbolize FEZ in Morocco. 

              

Getting ready for the tea at my house.  I had a 9am and 11am class- We did both Morocco and Turkey at this class.

I posted about making Moroccan Mint tea and this company, Agafay Tea, sent me 10 boxes of tea for free!!!  I was able to pass out a box to all my guests,  It was super fun!

agafayllc@gmail.com

You can purchase their tea on eBay

I showed them how to make a traditional Moroccan tea and then I made one the more American way.

They boil the green tea for Moroccan tea, in the US we would not boil a green tea.  We noticed the difference right away.

I made one of the teas hot and cold, so they could taste the difference.  It was interesting that one class liked the hot better and one class liked the cold better.

I love my Moroccan glasses!!!  I have almost 20 now.  I got a set for my birthday from my parents.  A friend sent me one from Morocco.  And the rest are thrift store finds.  I find one or two here and another one there.  It is so fun to find them.  I get so excited.

Kidron Historical Homecoming Tea Pop Up

I headed down to Kidron for their Historical Homecoming Celebration on Saturday.  It was fun because my dad worked at Schantz Organ years ago and my mom is on the Kidron Historical Committee, so it was day to combine two things of my parents.

I thought I would try a tea pop up here...

I made my Passion Iced Tea, my Lavender Butterfly Pea Tea, a Peach Tea, and then just a plain Black Iced Tea.

My lavender Butterfly Pea Tea used local lavender, peppermint and some lemon- then I add the butterfly Pea Blossom.  The Pea Blossom is what turns the tea a beautiful purple color.  It is my biggest seller.

I got all my tea gear together...shirt, earrings, necklace, glasses, watch band and socks, lol.

The loading and unloading of the car is one of my least favorite things about pop up events...well, that and washing the tea ware after the show.  But, talking to people about tea is my favorite thing.  Sharing tea with people who already love it- or sharing it with someone who didn't think they liked tea...and then they realize that they do!  I love this.

Thankfully the gas station right by my house sells ice, so I can pick up my ice the morning of my events.  I want the iced tea to be COLD!!

I picked flowers from my garden for my table.  I think that there should always be flowers on my table.

Kidron is about 10 minutes away.  It is where my mom grew up, went to church, and school. 

The Sonnerberg Village in Kidron has become a destination place!!

They have serval fun buildings and barns on the property.  Check them out!

https://www.kidronhistoricalsociety.org/sonnenberg-village

My tea sign at the pop up...

I got my table all set up

My parents got me a tent covering, which is wonderful- it was hot!!!

We struggled at first to put the tent up, but finally figured it out.

I had some friends come and visit at my booth....

The hibiscus is one of my favorites, but it seems to scare people off- they think it will be tart.  So, I have found giving samples of the teas does help.

I sent my mom home with some flowers and tea....  We were supposed to go until 3pm.  But, it got dark and storms were coming, so I closed down around 2:15/2:30.

We shut down early because storms were coming....