Buddha Tea, Elderberry Tea

https://www.buddhateas.com/elderberry-tea.html

I love elderberries.  My favorite pie is elderberry, my mom makes me one almost every year for my birthday.  It seems like in the past 2-3 years everyone is saying how great elderberries are for you, especially during cold and flue season.  So, it is win win to eat and drink elderberries.

I picked up a cold recently, so I was enjoying this tea.  It reminds me of my moms pies.

This is an herbal tea, so there is no caffeine in it.  You want your water to be around 205 degrees.  Also herbal takes longer to steep then other teas- you can steep 5-6 minutes.  Side note- herbal tea is not a "real' tea- it does not come from the Camellia sinensis plant like all the other real teas do, (True teas-white, yellow, green, oolong, pu-erh, black, and purple).

It has a great fruity flavor, it is not too tart.  I like this tea.

This tea is also good cold brewed (see about cold brew below).  I shared this tea with the CEO of my company when he was fighting a cold and he really enjoyed it.  He even went out and bought it and has been enjoying it too.

The only down side to this tea is that you only really get one good steep out of it.  The flavors are really good on the first cup, but the second steep the elderberry flavor is completely lost.

Elderberry towers above other berries reputed to support the immune system. Elderberry also provides damage control during cold and flu season, as well as while our bodies endure the challenges of aging.

Enjoying my moms pies over the years.....

Love this pie!!!  I know this pie is a labor of love, since it takes so long to shuck the elderberry.

The only time I have milk is with tea and elderberry pie.  It's the way I grew up eating it and now it's the only way I like to eat this pie.

This tea is good cold too.  And as Kombucha.  I made a batch and I am loving 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 have 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.

Sub Rosa Toasted Almond Cookies

I love using my teapot with the built in steeper.  It is an art deco teapot that I bought at Journey in Time in Orrville.  I love this antique shop we have in town. https://www.facebook.com/journeyintime/  You need to check it out if you are in the area, or make a day of coming to visit. 

I have so much fun using vintage items, this might be one my favorite teapots I have.

https://subrosatea.com/products/toasted-almond-cookie

Ingredients: black tea, roasted almonds, cinnamon, natural flavors, safflowers

This is one delicious tea!!!  The aroma when you are steeping the tea is just like you are making cookies.  I am a fan!!!  I think I like the roasted almonds flavor the best.  This is a great tea!  I have not added milk to this tea, but plan on it next time I make this tea.  I think that the milk will only add to the flavor.

Ohio Tea Company, Mango Mist and English Style Crumpets

I picked up some Mango Mist Tea at the Ohio Tea Company.  I also purchased English Style Crumpets from Trader Joes.  I don't think I have ever had crumpets before.  But, I have always heard the saying, "Tea and Crumpets", so I wanted to try it.

I really enjoyed the crumpets.  They are a lot like English Muffins, but have more soft dough in the middle.  I just put butter on the crumpets, but I think they would be great with jam.

https://www.ohioteaco.com/Mango-Mist_p_754.html

From the website, 

"Fresh, piquant mango character with memories of happy days in the sun. Stunning over ice.

Extra Info:

Extra Info: Mango, (Latin: Mangifera indica), sometimes known as the king of fruit, is one of the most commonly consumed tropical fruits in the world. They were originally grown in East India, Burma, and the Andaman Islands, around the 5th century B.C., but are now cultivated in just about every warm corner of the globe. Besides being pulpy sweet and delicious, mangoes have long been associated in the Eastern world with peace, tranquility, and harmony. Legend has it that the Buddha himself would often seek repose in a grove of mango trees. In certain parts of India it was believed that mango trees were sacred, and a symbol of love some even believed that mango trees could grant wishes. Even to this day Hindus hang fresh leaves from mango trees outside their doors during Ponggol, the Hindu New Year, as a blessing for peace in the New Year. Brewing Instructions: Bring filtered or spring water to 212°F. Add 1 tsp of tea leaves to an 8oz cup. Pour boiling water over the tea leaves and let steep 4 minutes.

Ingredients:

Organic black tea, natural dried mango, and natural flavors,,

Origin:

Sri Lanka
Blended: Canada"

The mango mist tea was super. I was loved the mango flavor.  I also think it would be perfect iced.  I  made two delicious cups out of one bag.  It is super flavorful.   This is one I will need to get more of, lol.

Ohio Tea Company, Amore

https://www.ohioteaco.com/Amore_p_656.html

I was not planning on liking this tea, but I loved it!  In the past I found some cherry teas to have a cough syrup taste, but not this one.  The flavors mixed so well together. I really love all the fruit flavors, not one was over powering, the blended great together.

This tea is blend that they created in Canton.

Ingredients:

Black tea, cherry, elderberry, rosehips, cranberry, blackberry, raspberry, cherry flavor

Meet my new cats

Chai Latte and Earl Grey

After the sad passing of my Shakespeare I needed new companions.   It was so hard to let go my cat of 16 years, but it was the right thing for her.  I didn't waste any time getting getting new cats.  I went to the local humane society shelter to check out their cats.

I knew I wanted older cats, not kittens.  I didn't crazy kittens that I needed to train, lol.  I was excited to learn that the cats were $25 off in October.

I was so excited to see this eight year old boy that was already declawed.  He was perfect to be my Earl Grey buddy.

Earl is a really loving cat.  A perfect companion. 

Earl loves to sleep with me at night and sleep on the arm of the chair when watching TV.

I asked Earl if there were any friends from the shelter he wanted to bring home, he could pick one.  But, he didn't seem to have anyone.  It turns out that he they really don't have the cats interact with one another until you pick them out.

I found this other guy that seemed super sweet, that I wanted to call Chia Latte.  The staff introduced them together and they seemed really good together.  So, I took them both.

Sadly I took Chai Latte back to the shelter.  I was given a two week trial period. And I just did not feel like it was working.

 It was super hard and I cried as I took him back.  He just was too active to Earl Grey and myself.  I was fooled the first few days and thought it would be great fit, but the more at home he felt the more active he became.  He would attack and scare Earl.  It was too stressful for me.

The Wooster Human Society has a no refund policy, but they will give you a 90 day credit.  I have no plan on getting another cat in 90 days, so my $50 credit went towards Chai and another cat that I hoped would be an incentive for someone to adopt quicker.  Chai really was  a good cat, but he just really wanted to play more than I was around for and more than Earl was ready for.  I am praying that a wonderful family gets him.

If you are looking for a fun, playful, trained cat- go to the Wooster Wayne County Humane Society and ask for Baxter!!!  (aka Chai)

 I wanted my tea followers to get a chance to meet my new companion.   Also, to let you know why Shake would not be any more of my blog posts.

Wagh Bakri Instant Cardamon Tea

I tried this instant Cardamon tea, it is spicy and good.  Sadly again there is sodium and sugar in this instant tea.

Still searching for instant teas that don't have sodium and sweetener added.  But, if you don't care about that and want to try something fun from another country, India, this is a good option.  I liked the spice of the cardamon.

http://www.waghbakritea.com/instant-tea.php

I let my co-workers try it and we all enjoyed the tea and the little stir spoons that came with the tea.

Stash, Christmas in Paris

https://www.stashtea.com/products/christmas-in-paris-herbal-tea

Ingredients
Cocoa shells, peppermint, lavender, chocolate flavor, vanilla extract

Steeping Instructions
3-5 minutes at 190-209 degrees Fahrenheit

Caffeinated
Yes (Trace amount from cocoa shells.)

Don't let the smell when you open the package fool you.  When I first opened the tea packet I admit it smelled like old lady perfume.  When I let a co-worker smell it she said it smelled like old Avon. I almost did not try it.

But, once package was open for awhile and all the tea was not trapped in the package the aroma got better.  After I steeped the tea the perfumey smell went away and it smelled more like a peppermint patty.  I have to say the more I sipped this tea, the more I liked it.

There was a great chocolate peppermint flavor with a hint of lavender.   It reminded me of a Lady Grey tea with a peppermint patty dunked in it.  This tea really grew on me. I enjoyed it.