Nature's Guru Unsweetened Vanilla Chai

I was at my sisters for lunch and she offered me this unsweetened vanilla chai.

They are running a sale right now (12/18/2023) some of the unsweetened tea is normally $23.99 and is on sale for $6.99- that is for 10 packets of the chai mix.

They have a variety of flavors of chai and tea.

https://www.naturesguru.com/

I loved it!!  I love Chai and to have an unsweetened instant chai is a rare find.

This black chai is really tasty and has great vanilla flavor.  It is not overly sweet and it is not spicy, it is a nice blend.  I am a fan!!  I love that there is no sugar in this!  There is also milk powder in it so it has a nice creamy flavor as well.

Joy and Java Market- Honey Bean Coffee, A Rose Pottery, and Eve's Pharmacy Tea

I was so excited to win a $50 gift card for the Joy and Java Market.

Joy and Java Market's are always a fun time.  I have been to several events and they always have wonderful hand made, unique items.

https://www.facebook.com/events/orrville-ohio/joy-and-java-makers-market/482187673062844/

I had a tea party in the morning, but I made it over to Smithville to the Greenhouse where the event was being held.  It was great.  There were vendors set up all over the greenhouse.

But first, I had to snag some tea.  I got the Mistletoe Matcha- which was great!!  I really enjoyed it.  The prices were some of the best I have seen too!  I loved the flavors with the toasted marshmallow and matcha.

The workers were great too and super friendly.  I am sad that they are all the way in Ravena.

Honey Bean Coffee

https://www.honeybeancoffeellc.com/

A Rose Pottery

https://www.etsy.com/shop/ARosePottery

I used my $50 gift card at A Rose Pottery for some Christmas gifts.

I have one of Abby's mugs and I love it.  I got an ornament for myself and then two mugs to give as Christmas gifts.  They are beautiful.  Abby does a great job and she's so friendly and sweet.

Eve's Pharmacy Tea

https://www.facebook.com/evespharmacy

I was excited to find some herbal tea too.   Other people must have been happy as well, because she apologized that she was low on items.  I didn't mind, I found two that sounded really fun to try.

She makes all the herbal blends herself.  She sources out the ingredients.

I first tried the Hope Tea.

I have never had a tea with pine needles that I am aware of.  I said I felt like Bear Grylls.  It was a nice light tea nothing over powering, it blended well together.

 This is an herbal tea, so you can have your water temp at over 200 degrees.  You also can steep for 5-6 minutes.  I left the bag in for almost 10 minutes...I was trying to get a stronger pine taste.  I did like that it was not super strong.  It was a nice.

Getting a fun collection of tea items for free...

I had a friend contact me about having some tea items.  She said that she had her mom's items, her aunt's items and even her grandma's items- was I interested?

Well, come on, you know I am!!!

She had several boxes of tea items set aside for me to look through.

I had a lot of fun looking at the tea pots and tea ware.

I tried to remember to only take pieces that I would really use.  Not just take things that were cute and would only sit around.

I try to go for bigger tea pots that will hold more tea for parties...she had some really nice ones!

I came home with 3 big tea pots, one unique orange tea pot that looked fun and reminded me of lusterware .  Then one green one that was just fun that I may pot a plant in.  And then one dainty one with 3D roses that I just thought was sweet.

I got 2 tiny teapots for my Christmas Tea Tree.  Then the square cup my friend said her uncle brought back from Japan- I liked the story behind that one.

I also selected some bowls from Holland that would be great Matcha bowls.  Some little demi cups and saucers that are great for taste testing.

I believe that my 3 bowls are Delftware pottery from Holland.

Delftware has a yellow coloring under the glaze, where porcelain is white all the way through.

Delftware started around 1600 and still being made today.  The most sought after is from the 1600's to 1740's.

Maker: P. Regout & Co. (Dutch, established Maastricht, 1836) ; Date: ca. 1887–1900

I also got a little tea bag holder, that I want to put sugars in.

Then the pinkish or antique red cup is earthenware/stoneware from the 1800's.  I love it.

Not sure the name of this stoneware.  I have google the picture and I just have not found the exact match.

I believe this is a Johnson Brother's Blue Willow Tea pot made in England - possibly around 1800's.

(but no markings)

I love having all these pieces...some day when I have my tea shop I will be all set with the dishes!

Candy Cane Matcha... Matcha Love and Chamberlain Coffee Matcha

Making delicious candy cane matcha lattes!!

I made the first few with Matcha Love matcha- which is good, but it is also sweetened, and I prefer my matcha to be unsweetened.

I also tried it iced and hot.  I much prefer the hot matcha- but play around.

I made the matcha, added Almond Milk (which I warmed up) and added a candy cane in the mug and it added the most wonderful peppermint flavor! 

I then added whip cream and sprinkled Andes Baking Chips on top.

I found Matcha Love at Everything Surplus.  I purchased it for $2.50.  I see on line you can get it on Amazon for around $15.00 for 8 ounces.

https://www.amazon.com/stores/matchaLOVE/matchaLOVE/page/556C25F9-DC0F-4322-8684-CBE9E0DDAAF1

These were a big hit at work!!!

My friend made scones to go with the lattes.  They were delicious!

What a fun 10am treat!

I "needed" to use up the whipped topping and Almond Milk before the weekend, so I tried a new matcha that I purchased at Everything Surplus in Wooster.

I was excited to try this matcha.  I looked up Chamberlain Coffee Matcha and found that it is about $23 for an ounce of matcha...I am thrilled I got it for $1.  It is a nice ceremonial grade matcha.

https://chamberlaincoffee.com/products/matcha-green-tea-powder

I took a small amount of matcha (1t for 8oz of milk) and whisked it with hot water.  You don't want your water to be over 190 degrees. 

It is not a lot of matcha, but then I added it to a warm mug of Almond Milk.  The matcha is really flavorful and strong, even though it does not look like much, but when you add it to the Almond Milk it blends so well.

Matcha is really healthy for you.  Matcha is the ground tea leaf.  You are getting ALL the benefits of the tea leaf because you are ingesting it.  It is full of antioxidants and packed with vitamins- primarily Vitamin C. It boosts brain health with its amino acids.  It is also good for your heart.  It has a lot of caffeine but doesn't make you jittery.

I put whip cream on it, cinnamon and a peppermint candy.

Get creative with your tea!!

You don't have to spend $4 or $5 at a cafe...make it yourself.