HARNEY & SONS GIVEAWAY!!!

I am so very excited to offer my first giveaway!!!  Harney & Sons sent me four teas to give away!

http://www.harney.com/

I am offer two teas on facebook and two teas on this blog.

I was first introduced to Harney & Son when I purchased the Citron Green at the Hungarian Restaurant, Tulipan  http://www.tulipanhungarianpastry.com/ in Wooster, Ohio.  Then I was given the Hot Cinnamon Spice as a Christmas gift.  Since then I purchased other flavors, and have not found one I don't like.  I really like Harney & Sons. They use the nylon sachets that I love.  The flavors are rich and soooo good.
My sister loves the Hot Cinnamon Spice.  We were recently at a store and the prices were so good for the tea that she purchased all they had.  I hope you like as much as she and I do!!!

I am giving away Earl Grey Supreme and Citron Green on this blog.  The way to win is to leave a comment on my blog here.  I will randomly pick a winner on May 8th.  I will contact you if you win.   All can enter- Family, Friends, Men, and Women.  I know that not everyone has facebook, but feel free to share the blog site with your friends !!

Earl Grey Supreme- Blend of four black teas, silver tips, and natural bergamont oil.

Citron Green-  green teas, marigold petals,and natural orange oils

Win Paris and Hot Cinnamon Spice on my facebook page- Kerrie's Cup of Tea.  Share the post about winning and a winner will be picked on May 8th.   All can enter- Family, Friends, Men, and Women!!  I have not tried Paris, so whoever wins that will have to let me know how it is!!!

Paris-blend of black teas,natural and artificial vanilla, fruit, and citrus flavors

Hot Cinnamon Spice-blend of black teas, three types of cinnamon, orange peel, sweet clover, natural and artificial flavors

GOOD LUCK ALL!!!!!

Revolution Sweet Ginger Peach Black Tea

A friend passed along a tea to me that she did not like. (thanks Chrissy!)  Hey, I am fine with that.  I love to try new teas.  And I do the same thing. We don't all have the same taste buds.  When I don't care for a tea I always try to pass it along to someone else.  There is actually a lady I work with that when she likes a tea I usually don't and vice versa.  We often find ourselves chuckling on how different our tastes in teas are.

So, I decided to take a small tea break and try this new tea.  I just could not wait for lunch to break into it! I am like a kid in a candy store when it comes to trying new teas.  I almost wish that there were not so many cool kinds

So, now I sit at lunch enjoying my second cup, writing this blog, I think this is a good black tea.  I don't taste the peach as much as I would like to, but it is still very good.  Still, I would recommend this tea.  Anyone else tried it or other flavors from Revolution that they like?  Is it wrong that I would rather drink tea and write about it, then eat my lunch???

I am really liking the nylon benefits of mesh bags that companies are using over the old paper tea bags.  There may be no difference in the taste, but I like to think that the mesh keeps it fresher.  When I did some reading on line, I found that the nylon mesh tea bags allow water to flow freely through the bag since the holes are bigger than paper.  This allows for getter infusion, better flavor, and more essential oils can be released.  That makes sense to me. They also say that the pyramid shape provides breathing space for the tea leaves to completely open up and better circulate.  That makes sense to me as well.  SO maybe it DOES in fact taste better.

I will need to look into this further I think.  I found my information off these websites.

http://www.lupiciausa.com/v/static/find-tea/tea-bags-available.html

http://www.qtradeteas.com/Tea_Bags_s/48.htm

 

Have you ever tried the Teavana Perfect TeaMaker- 16 oz?  I love mine!  You just need to be sure not to fill it too full with water, if your cup is smaller.  It is $19.95 and fits right on my tea cup.  I tried to get another one for my office.  I went on line and got a IngenuiTea teamaker from Adagio from Amazon for less money, but the bottom is actually smaller and does not it all cups.  It still holds 16 oz, but you kind of have to put the teamaker on the side of the cup.  I will blog about these more later.  I just thought since I posted a photo I would talk about how great the Teavana TeaMaker was!!!

Tea Caddy

If I have not mentioned it yet in my blog, I will say it now...My dad rocks!!!  This morning at 11:45 my mom sent me a text that my dad had built a seed carrier.  He had seen one at an antique store, thought it was clever so he built one.  I saw the photos and said, "Hey, I bet I could put tea bags in that."  At 3:45 today I received a text that he had made me a tea caddy!!!

 

The tea caddy has 2 carriers, that fit together to carry

 

There is "plug" that you can put in the carrier so that the 2 pieces stay together when you carry it.

 

I love this caddy that my dad made for me.  If you want one it is $60.00 (shipping not included)

 

 

Not sure I will take this to someones house when they invite me for tea...but, maybe again I will!!!

Yogi Rest and Relax Sampler teas

I can't help but laugh as I write this at 11:27 at night.  I want to be sleeping but I have a bat in one of my two spare rooms.  It was in the hallway and then flew into one of the rooms. I hear it trying to get out one of the windows.  Each time I hear it flapping against the window I go bravely with my flashlight and pillow into the hall to try to determine which room it is in and how I can "catch" it... aka kill it!  I am sure it is a bat...and I know that they are good for the world we live in, but they are not good for the house I live in!!!

This makes me laugh as I am stressed about this, because I tried a new tea tonight called Stress Relief!!  I was hoping to like it!  This tea has cute little sayings on the tea bags tags, I was all prepared to find a new tea to love.  But, sadly I did not enjoy it.  The only thing I liked was the cute saying on the tag.

  a box of 16 tea bags sells for approximately $4.95

This tea includes cinnamon bark, ginger root, organic barley malt, sarsaparilla, carob pod, licorice flavor, and cardamon seed- just to name a few things.  I am not sure which flavor was not my favorite, maybe the licorice.

 

If you  have tried other flavors, please let me know, I would love to find something I like.  There were other flavors in the box, and I will be sure to try them and let you know what I think.

May Day

Today is May Day, May 1st.  When I was growing up we used to make baskets out of construction paper, cut my moms flowers, put them in the paper basket, ring our neighbors door bell, place the basket of flowers around the door knob, and then run!  I love May Day and the memories I have with May 1st.

I also love this flowered tea set I picked up Audrey's Attic, (http://www.shopaudreysattic.com/) a great shop in Orrville.  And as much as I love tea sets, I wish the tea cups were bigger!  I don't know about you, but I could use the tea pot to fill all up the cups and drink it all myself!!!

Do you have a favorite tea set that you use??? 

2013 Teavana

I always enjoyed tea, but in 2012 when I was in Vancouver, Washington I tried Teavana for the first time.  That is when my love of tea exploded into a love of loose leaf tea.  The rich, bold flavors you get from loose leaf tea amazes me.  I now consider myself a connoisseur of loose leaf teas.  Here is to  Teavana and the journey that they started me on.

 

What is your favorite Teavana drink??

 

My top picks

 

**Citrus Lavender Sage (herbal tea)

**Sevenberry Sangria (rooibos tea)

**Sweet Fruit Garden (herbal tea)

**Acai Mateini (Mate)

**Cha Yen Thai Tea (black tea)

**Opus Rouge (rooibos tea)

**Berry Basil Blast (white tea)

 

 

 

LEMON BLUEBERRY SCONES!!

my niece and nephew love these!!!

With every cup of tea you need a good scone, right??? Okay maybe not EVERY time you have tea...but this scone recipe is so good, you will not be able to stop at one!!

Lemon Blueberry Drop Scones

1C whole wheat pastry flour
... 1C flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp grated lemon peel
1/4 tsp salt
1C Vanilla yogurt
1 T lemon juice
1 egg
1/4 C butter, melted
1 C fresh or frozen blueberries

glaze
1/2 C confectioner's sugar
1T lemon juice
1/2 tsp grated lemon peel

in a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients. In another bowl, combine yogurt, egg, and butter. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in blueberries. Drop by heaping tablespoons 2 inches apart onto a greased baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-18 minutes or until lightly browned. Combine glaze ingredients; drizzle over warm scones.

 

2013 Caribou Coffee, Denver Airport

http://www.cariboucoffee.com/

 

 

Mango tea- decent, but even better with milk added.

I like black tea, but I love black tea with milk.

 

2013 Coffee People- Portland International Airport

 

http://www.coffeepeople.com/

 

at 5:30 a.m. the girls behind the counter were all happy and up beat and friendly!

Oregon Chai Latte
Very good!

 

2013 Fuze tea

 

I tried Fuze Raspberry iced tea for the first time. I was good, sweet, but good. I think that I would rather have unsweetened tea and not the empty calories

 

2013 Organic Kombucha, Portland, OR

 

In Portland, OR I went to the OMSI food cart contest and discovered that I loved fermented tea!  I enjoyed the unique taste and can't wait to try more

 

 

Herbucha- combines natural occurring healing properties found in kombucha with the wonderful flavors and healing effects from herbs and herbal tea. they use only the finest organic and wild-harvest ingredients to craft their distinctive and delicious beverages

 

 

 

 With the Goddess Blend we address the female side in all of us. The following three herbs were added to help problems women experience at times. And the pomegranate simply makes it taste delicious.

Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris) is a perennial herb found in North America, Europe, and Asia. Its scientific name Alchemilla is a derivative of the Arab word alchemy, because folklore believed the dew that gathers at the center of its furrowed leaves was a key ingredient in several alchemical formulas. The dew was also collected and used for beauty lotions. Pre-Christianity, Lady’s Mantle was associated with Earth Mother, but like many pagan symbols and rituals as Christianity spread it was absorbed. The cape-like shape of the leaves were then said to look like the Virgin Mary’s cloak, hence Lady’s Mantle.
Lady’s Mantle is a general guardian and supporter for the female constitution. More precisely the tea is used to treat heavy menstruation, menstrual cramps, and fibroids (benign tumors in or around the uterus). It’s astringent and styptic properties make it an helpful herb also for topical bruises and cuts.
We use organic, dried flowers and leaves for my “Goddess” tea blend.
Red Clover (Trifolium pretense) is a perennial plant belonging to the legume family that grows wild in most temperate climates. Tests have shown that red clover contains isoflavones, plant based chemicals that produce estrogen like effects in the body. Red clover has been used for a long time to help with menopause symptoms like hot flashes or night sweats. It also can delay bone loss associated with osteoporosis
We use organic, dried red clover flowers for our “Goddess” tea blend.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a herbaceous perennial plant with almost feathery leaves that are arranged spirally on the stems. It is a long-stemmed member of the sunflower family and can be found in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
Among others, yarrow has antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative properties and has been used to help regulate menses and to regulate cramps and bleeding.
We use organic, dried yarrow herb and flowers for our “Goddess” tea blend.

Ingredients: Organic kombucha made with filtered water, herbal tea blend (organic Lady’s Mantle, organic red clover, organic yarrow), organic green tea, organic evaporated cane juice, pomegranate concentrate

 

http://herbucha.com/evas-story/

Godess Blend- so refreshing. a fermented soda

Kombucha is a fermented tea originating in China- it dates back to the Qin Dynasty around 250 BC. From there it traveled to Russia and then Japan, and then to Germany.

 

2013 Starbucks

 

Tazo® Chai Tea Latte- so great

Spiced black tea blended with steamed milk.

20 oz- 310 calories, good, but a lot of calories for a hot drink....

 

An infusion of hibiscus and natural tropical flavors, lightly sweetened and hand-shaken with ice

Tazo® Shaken Iced Passion Tea with 1/2 the sweetener. 5 out of 5.  so refreshing!
20 oz- unsweetened ZERO Calories, sweetened 120 calories. 1/2 and 1/2 60 calories...not a bad deal!!!

2012 Sweet Mango in Strongsville, Oh

 

http://sweetmangoohio.com/

I found that in some Thai restaurants you can find Bubble tea. I love my Bubble tea!!!

Home Tea Parties....

Home Tea Parties are ALWAYS special

the Queen is in!

the Gardner is ready to park your cars....

Prep time...

 

 

 

 

 

 

my mom (the Queen) and my sister

 

my parents love to have family over for tea

 

 

mom and dad love to have neighbors over for tea

 

mom and dad love to have co-workers over for tea

 

mom and dad love to have people from church over for tea

 

if the weather gets bad, just prepared to have tea inside