Southern Soul

Making a Southern Soul Tea.  I learned this tea from the Algebra House up in Cleveland.  

https://algebrateahouse.com/Menu.html

Tea from the Yunnan region of China, grated fresh ginger, grated fresh orange, orange slice and dark agave.  Using my $8 glass tea pot from Mission Thrift.

I picked up this Yunnan Pu-erh tea in Asia Plaza in Cleveland.  I love this place.  I have been up there three times.  I always find great teas there...and the Dim Sum place is incredible too.

The tea is a cake or brick.  I use a special "knife" to cut off chunks of tea.

https://asiaplazacleveland.com/

I put in about 4 teaspoons of loose leaf tea in my tea bag.  Since it is Pu-erh, I had the water temp around 200 degrees and I steeped for about 4 mintues.  You steep this tea 8-10 times before it looses its flavor.

Pu-erh teas age and improve with time.  Many Pu-erh teas can keep their freshness for up to 50 years.

Pu-erh tea is post-fermented, which means that the tea leaves go through a microbial fermentation process after they have been dried and rolled, causing the leaves to darken and change in flavor.

The older the tea gets the less caffeine it has in it.  But, also, the longer you steep it, the more caffeine will come out.  Each cup will have less and less caffeine in it.

I let the tea steep and then I add the "extra" ingredients.  I added Blue Agave, fresh ginger, and fresh orange zest and juice.

When I had the tea at the Algebra House they did not give me a recipe.  I am only going off of what the menu said was in the tea.  So, this is kind of a Kerrie Creation.  My take on a Southern Soul Tea.

I grated fresh ginger right into the tea while it was steeping.

 I zested an orange into the tea as well.

I put orange juice and orange pulp.

I added blue agave to the tea too.

When it was finished steeping I removed the tea.

I left the orange pieces in the tea, but strained them so that they did not fall into my tea cup.

I don't often make entire pots of tea for myself, but I wanted to try my new glass tea pot out.  I enjoyed using the pot, it felt more special to use it than to make just one single cup of tea.

The tea was really good.  There were nice citrus notes as well as the ginger. I did not add much agave, since I don't like super sweet teas- so I may have enjoyed this more when I made it than at the Algebra House.   The pu-erh tea was nice as well.  This was a winner for me.

I enjoyed sipping my tea with my cat, Earl Grey, snuggled up beside me.

How to make a London Cloud

How do I turn Earl Grey tea  into an Iced London Cloud Latte??  This is my new favorite- making Earl Grey iced tea.  I take 6-7 bags of Earl Grey tea, today I used Stash tea   Then I add 1/4 C sugar some hot water- and let steep for 10 minutes.  I then add cold water and pull out the tea bags.  Boom Earl Grey Iced Tea.  

Since the tea isn’t cold yet, I pour myself a cup and add ice cubes- I put the pitcher in the fridge to make the rest cold.  

What puts it over the edge taste wise and makes it a cloud latte you ask?  I add oat milk and some coconut syrup and froth.  You can use lavender syrup too.  Then add the froth to the top of the glass and it’s like a cloud!  I don’t use “cows milk” so it doesn’t get as frothy- but the taste is there and it’s great!!  #icedlondonfogtealatte   #earlgreytea #londonfoglatte #icedearlgreytea #stashtea #kerriescupoftea. #earlgreybestcat approves of this drink named

After him too!!!

I don't like my tea too sweet, so I only add 1/4 C per gallon.

Let it steep for about 10 minutes- if it steeps too much the tanins make it bitter tasting.

Once steeped take the tea bags out and fill the pitcher with cold water and put in the fridge.

Iced Earl Grey tea...great by it self, but add frothed syrup milk and it bumps it up a few notches. 

I have also made it lavender syrup instead of coconut.  And I have use almond milk instead of oat milk too.

Frothing my oat milk with some coconut syrup.  

Pour the milk syrup right on top. 

This is still my favorite Earl Grey!!!  We are going on 3 years together, but it seems like it has been forever.  He is just the best cat!  He has his own Instagram page too, if you ever want to follow him.  #EarlGreybestcat

This London Cloud is great!!!

This becomes a London Fog when the Earl Grey tea is hot.

Yep- giving myself 5 teacups!!!  I love this drink.

Boba Bowl, butterfly pea tea with lavender milk. Also milk tea at Pho Bowl.

My friends came down for my Wednesday Wanderings Day.  We met in Wooster for Pho and Bubble Tea.

https://www.mybobabowl.com/

Boba Bowl does a great job with their variety of options.

I ordered the Butterfly Pea Tea with Lavender Milk- no bubble or boba.

I am becoming more and more a fan of this place.  The prices are a little high, but you are paying for the experience.  The flavors are really good and the staff is super friendly.  I think it is great that Wooster has a place like this down town.  And I like that they are branching out and having more than just bubble tea.  They also have crepes, merchandise, and other fun things in the store.

My friends also got me some fun tea items for my 50th.  These are pieces that were in their family, so that makes them extra special!!!  They know I love purple too!!

They gave me this sweet tea set too.  It is so sweet.  I believe it is lusterware pottery.

At Pho I got milk tea and shrimp rolls.

Then we spilt some appetizers.  What a great day with friends!  The food here is terrific!!

My friends and I met in the late 80's at Beulah Beach Church Camp.  I love them to death!!  Every time we are together we pick up right where we left off.  We can encourage and lift each other.  We pray together, cry together, and laugh together.  Friends like that are everything!!!!

FarmHouse Finds in Orrville OH

I saw this post on line and I knew I had to check out this new store!!

I can not believe that this shop has been in my town for almost a year and I had yet to visit it.  I thought maybe it was more of a cutesy craft shop- but it is more my style...antiques!!!

This store is right on High Street in Orrville.  I pass it probably 3 times a week.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077630297094

I was so excited to see the old teapot/coffee pots/percolators.  And she has really reasonable prices too. 

You need to spend some time looking, or you will miss something.

See the top shelf of tea pots...there are a few missing now.

The store is full of all kinds of fun finds.

Check her hours, there are a few days they are closed.  But, this needs to be added to the list of places to see in Orrville.

I purchased 3 tea pots.  YAY!!!

Here is my bathroom shelf.  I love to pick up old small tea kettles and teapots.  The one on the far right is the percolator I just purchased.

This little guy is adorable!!  And all the pieces are here too.