Aloha clean

 

Oh my!  Someone brought in my favorite scones from Quince bakery in Kidron.  A great time for a cup of tea.

 

Clean may have been my favorite of all the teas from Aloha.  I like it, it has a very nice taste.  An odd mix of teas....The nettle in there reminds me of when I was in France and I got stung by stinging nettle.  This one is unique and I like it.

 

https://aloha.com/shop/product/large-tea-collection

Fayda Bakery, NYC- Creamy Coconut bubble tea

I did a "day" trip to NYC with my cousin.  I was in search of bubble tea.  I found several places in Chinatown had carried the tea.  I tried Fayda.  Their Creamy Coconut Bubble tea was very good!!!

 

http://www.fayda.com/

They had DELICIOUS looking pastries!!

It was a beautiful day to be in NYC.

Dammann Tea from Paris!!

I spent a little over a week in France this year on a mission trip.  I met a dear lady, Carma, whose home I stayed in for part of the trip.  She is a kindred spirit!!!  She sent me this tea from France.  I am not sure what flavor it is, but I love it and think of her when I drink it!!! 

 

http://www.dammannstore.com/

Tazo iced tea bags

I love the Starbucks Passion Iced Tea....but it is somewhat expensive and we don't have a starbucks near us.  So, I bought a case on line.  I love this stuff!!!  I make 2 quarts at a time and I think I make it 1-2 times a week.  It taste JUST like the store's iced tea- I promise!!!!! 

 

I take 2 tea bags and add 1/2 cup sugar pour in a quart of hot/boiling water, let it steep for 5 minutes, take the bags out and then add 1 quart cold water.  It is perfect!!! I tried to make another 2 quarts- but it was too weak- I threw it out.

 

http://www.tazo.com/Product/Detail/34

A radiant blend of hibiscus flowers, herbs and tropical fruit essences.

Voluptuous hibiscus blossoms, perfumed with passion fruit essences, sidle up to tall lemongrass. A forbidden fruit romance ignites, but ice cubes will quickly cool things down to a pleasant PG-rated affair.

 

Petra House, Vancouver, WA- Arabic Tea

 

http://www.petrahousewa.com/

 

The kids and I went out one night while their parents were out of town.

 

I love their mint tea!!!!  ( I found on line a recipe to making Arabic tea, see at the end)

 

Homemade pitas, amazing humus and more!

Josh seeing how high he can pour the tea.....

 

Ingredients

• 6 cups water
• 4 teaspoons black tea or tea bags
• 1 bunch fresh mint leaves
• 4 cardamom pods
• 6 sage (maramiah) leaves (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
• Sugar

Directions

Step 1

Bring the water to the boil in a pot and add the tea leaves or bags.

Step 2

Simmer for two to three minutes until the color diffuses, then remove the pot from the stove.

Step 3

Rinse the mint leaves under running water, shake them dry, then tear them apart by hand.

Step 4

Crush the cardamom pods gently in a pestle and mortar.

Step 5

Pour the tea into a serving pot, add the mint and cardamom pods, cover and allow to steep for five minutes.

Step 6

Serve the tea by pouring it through a strainer into small, delicate heatproof glasses and add sugar to taste.

Tip

• Arab tea served in the Middle East tends to be taken sweet, with an almost syrupy consistency.

Spicy Brew

Boost the infusion with a more assertive spice mix, usually at the expense of the mint leaves, as the fragrant subtlety is lost once the spices take over.

• Meramieh tea substitutes fresh sage leaves, native to the
  Mediterranean, for mint to give a soothing tea. This tea is traditional in Lebanon.
• Cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg are also appropriate options, releasing
  aromatic oils into the tea as it steeps.

Milky Tea

The influence of Indian chai on the Arabian peninsula makes itself known with Karak tea, served with condensed milk.

• Boil up the spices first, typically cardamom, nutmeg and
  cinnamon, then add the black tea and allow to brew.
• Stir in a dash of condensed milk, enough to give the tea
  some creaminess, but not too much to dilute the dark tan color.

Tip

• Some brands of condensed milk come flavored with cinnamon.

Serving Suggestions

Presentation is key when taking Arab-style tea. Although there is less ritual than, say, the Japanese tea service, the pot should be arranged on an ornate tray surrounded by small, dainty glasses or cups. Large cups or mugs are too unwieldy.
Allow guests to serve themselves from a sugar bowl to accommodate differences in taste. 

I drank the entire tea pot.  It was soooo good!

Pink chai take 3

Out in WA, my sister and I attempted to make pink chai again.  I made it at home twice and they were pretty much fails.  The first time it tasted okay, but never really got pink.  The second time it never got pink and it tasted horrible (too much baking soda)

 

So, I figured maybe I needed help making it.  Maybe, I was missing something.

Ingredients
32 ounces of milk 
32 ounces cold water 
12oz of cold water 

1/4 tsp salt 
2 heaping tbsp Kashmiri Chai or Green Tea
1/2 tsp baking soda 
cinnamon stick (about 2 inches long) 
6 green cardamom pods
4 tbsp sugar (or to taste) 

finely chopped pistachios and/or almonds for garnishing 

This recipe will yield 4-5 cups of Pink Chai

 

Over hi heat, pour cold water into pot. Add in Kashmiri chai, salt, baking soda, cinnamon stick and cardamom pods. Allow it to come to a boil, then lower to medium heat and cover. Allow to cook for 30 minutes, but check on it every 10 minutes, to make sure the water hasn't all evaporated. 

After 30 minutes, add in 12oz of cold water. Stir vigorously for 5 minutes.

Add in milk and sugar. Allow to come to a boil, then partially cover. Lower heat and allow to cook for 10 minutes., with the cover half on. You'll notice that the color is becoming a nice shade of pink!

Sieve the Chai, and once chai is poured into cups, sprinkle chopped almonds and/or pistachios on top. Its ready to drink!

It took us almost 2 hours to make and it still tasted too much of baking soda to me, plus it never turned pink.  I can now see why no one ever makes this.  I wanted it to be the signature tea in my shop, but I think I'll have to pass on it!!!

For the time and expense I'd just buy it!   This was a fail!!!!  But, at least I had fun with me sister.

Tazo Iced Passion Concentrate

http://www.tazo.com/Product/Detail/73

I was super excited to find this at Walmart in Vancouver, WA.  And then I tried it and I must say I was let down.
It says half water to half tea, but I found it to be more 3/4 tea to 1/4 water.  I like the Iced Tea Bags much better than the concentrate, plus, it's cheaper and you get more iced tea.  So, if you want the taste of Starbucks Passion Iced Tea- buy the bags and I think you will be VERY PLEASED!!!  I bought a case of the boxed Iced Tea bags and I make 2 gallons 2-3 times a week.