Twinings English Breakfast Tea

https://www.twiningsusa.com/our-products/english-breakfast

While enjoying my dad's birthday I was given a chance of tea with dessert.  I went with Twinings, a bagged tea that I think can be hit or miss.  For me this was just okay.  I think I needed to add milk.  I know I have enjoyed this tea i the past. But, for me today I was not feeling it.  

English Breakfast is Twinings most popular tea, so maybe you will like it, again I know I have in the past.  The best thing about this cup of tea was the cup itself.  I loved the pottery mug I drank from.

Celebrating my dad!!

Playing chess with my nephew....I think I even won.

Arwan Thai, Thai Tea

This family owned Thai shop opened in Vancouver WA in 2002.  The food was very good, but what I thought was great was their Thai Tea.

I asked if they had tea for sale and she said normally they do, but there were out.  I asked if there was any sweeteners in the the tea and they said no.  It completely reminded me of Thailand.  If I had not known it was Thai tea and I tasted it, I would have thought this takes like Thai tea.  Hard to describe, but almost like it has sweet and condensed milk in it, but not.

https://www.arawanthai.com/

35 GANG MUSSAMAN แกงมัสมั่น

Tamarind with coconut milk, onions, potatoes, carrots, and roasted peanuts.

The brown rice, is almost purple looking.  It is a very nice rice.  

Bird & Blend Pineapple Mint, Cold Brew Tea

https://birdandblendtea.com/uk_en/pineapple-mint.html

Dried apple, hibiscus, rosehip, dried coconut, pineapple pieces, lemongrass, peppermint, spearmint, flavour.

I love all the chunks of real fruit!!  This tea is really good cold brewed.  I don't pick up the coconut or pineapple, but I do get the peppermint, spearmint, and a light fruity taste.  It is very refreshing and minty.  I love it!

 Cold brew is a great way to drink tea.  By not heating it, you are not releasing the tannins and you can add cold water over and over again. Also you retain more antioxidants than hot brew and also it releases only half the caffeine.  I usually can add water 2-3 more times to my glass or  pitcher of water.    

If I have bagged tea I do one bag per 8 oz of water.  When I do the loose leaf in a pitcher, I generally eye ball it, but if you want something more specific go with 4 Tbsp per 1 quart.

I filled the pitcher up twice and it was great both times.

Washougal Coffee Company, Iced Chai (Black Scottie Chai), Washougal WA

Just about 20 minutes from my sisters house is Washougal.  I had a lot of fun trying to say the name of this  town.  My family worked with me and now I can say the name and when I say it, it no longer rhymes with arugula. 

I have been there once to visit the Pendleton store. Pendelton has free tour of their factory,  if you get the chance it is super interesting.   It is a cute town.

My niece said that there was a coffee shop there that she had never been too, but they may have tea too.  Since she had the morning off, we decided to go out on an adventure and try it.

A cute little down town shop.

http://washougalcoffeecompany.com/

They are a coffee shop, but I love that they do have tea too.  They bagged tea is Tea Pigs.

I decided to go for iced chai.  They said they used Black Scottie Chai, which I was not familiar with so, I was even more excited to try it.  The gal at the counter was super helpful and said that she thought it was a good mix between spicy and sweet. 

https://blackscottiechai.com/

(Spices, black tea and honey)

I tried three iced chai teas and this might be my favorite one of the day.  It wasn't overly spicy and it had a nice sweetness without being overly sweet.

These cute bears are painted on the side of one of the buildings in town.

Lion Heart, Wild Blueberry

 I was in Vancouver WA visiting family and I wanted to try some different kombuchas.  I found this particular Kombucha at Chucks.  This kombucha is made in Portland.

http://www.lionheartkombucha.com/

I liked the Oregon blueberries in this kombucha.  The flavors were very good.  I could taste the ginger too.  I love a hint of ginger in my kombucha.  I am a fan!!  And there are only 25 calories!!  They call it a dry kombucha.  They only put enough sugar in it to have a healthy culture.  I love that.  That extra sugar is definitely not needed....or wanted!

Also, a fun fact- their mother culture came from Russia in the 1980's and has never touched non-organic tea.

I was happy to try this kombucha on sale 2 for $5.00

I would love to see my grocery store carry this kombucha!

Hidden River Roasters, Chai in Camas WA

https://hiddenriverroasters.com/

My niece took me to this great coffee shop- that had tea too.  I have been to Camas several times while visiting my sister and her family in Washington, but I have never been to this cute place.  Camas is a great little town.  I love how quaint it is.

 

I got an iced chai here.  I ended up getting 3 iced chai's today.  This one was really good.  I liked the flavors.  It was on the sweeter side, not too spicy.

They had a fun painted board in the back that was great for photos.  Katie and I had fun taking some pics.  They also have out door seating as well.

I love this gal!!!  She is my favorite niece...okay, my only niece.  She loves Jesus and her heart for others shines through.

Very fun place. I liked the decor a lot.  The staff was super friendly and helpful.  The cafe was clean and inviting. 

I hope you get a chance to try it.  Let me know if you try it out and what you like to drink there.

While there I noticed that they were selling a tea I had never heard of.  I asked the gal behind the counter about it and she said it was a mother/daughter team that had created the tea.  I bought some and I look forward to telling you about it. 

River Maiden, Boba Fett... Starkrimson Pear spiked with spices, Black Tea Boba, and Brown Sugar, Vancouver, WA

Very fun, hip looking shop inside.  I love when coffee places, have tea too!!  This place has both fun teas and coffees.

My niece and I were out and about looking for tea in Vancouver.  Last year we went to River Maiden and I had a fun Boba tea, so I suggested that we go back again.

I tried the seasonal, Boba Fett- Starkrimson Pear spiked with spices and brown sugar, with Black Tea and Boba.  The photo above is what it would have looked like if I had gotten matcha instead of black tea.

The spiced pear was good.  It reminded me of applesauce, only with pears.  It was a super fun fall drink.  I wish I wasn't so scared of the matcha, cause I love the way that one looked.  But, the black tea was good and for me,if I am paying $4 something for a drink I want to enjoy the entire cup!  I will  have to work my way up to matcha in a bubble tea.

This was a really good boba tea.  This place has lots have fun drinks.  I love their creativity. I hope you get to try it.

My niece picked up iced coffee for her mom (my sister) and then we headed to her office to surprise her.  I had so much fun with my niece, she is the best!  She spent her morning off driving me around visiting tea places, seeing where my sister works, where she goes to college, seeing Vancouver signs and eating sushi.  i love family!

Vancouver WA

Di Tazza, Chai

While in Vancouver, my niece let me borrow her car, Dorthy, to run some errands.... And by run errands I mean going to Di Tazza for chai.  I love their chai. I think it is one of the top 5 best chai's I have ever had.  For sure the best in the Pacific North West.

http://www.ditazza.com/

Ahh, now that I have my chai, the next errand is to get a hair cut out here.  So glad I discovered Di Tazza a few years ago when I came to visit.  They also have coffee, breakfasts, pastries, soups, panini's, and other fun things to eat. 

What makes this chai so great you ask?  It is not overly spicy, it is super smooth and creamy.  It just has a great blend to it.  They say they get their chai from someone else, I am trying to buy some to take back home to Ohio. I have messaged them, but I am still waiting to hear if I can buy some chai....

Steve Smith Teamaker Masala Chai

https://www.smithtea.com/products/masala-chai

One of top 10 favorite chai teas.  It is spicy, but not too spicy.  It was a  terrific aroma when steeping.  The flavor is exceptional. 

Enjoying my sisters amazing lemon blueberry scones with Smith's Masala Chai.  I love a great chai, and this is a great black spice chai.

Smith Teamaker is from PNW, so it seems fitting that I drink this tea while I am in the PNW.

I frothed some milk and added that to the chai and it hit the spot!!!  Milk and sugar in your chai is a necessity.  The milk and the sugar enhance the flavor of the chai.  Chai is the only drink I will add sugar too.

So delicious!!!