Wild Ginger Oolong and Sushi

https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Chinese-Restaurant/Wild-Ginger-China-Bistro-854793171573700/

I am a big fan of Wild Ginger in Wooster, Ohio.  I had a friend visiting me from PA.  We actually met a few years ago in Spain.  And how fun that she came to visit!!!  

I love when I have friends that like Sushi!  At Wild Ginger they have half price sushi on Tuesdays.  It was a win win to go there.  They have really good sushi.  We had a fun night there.

If you have followed my blogs you know that Oolong is one of my favorite teas.  And oolong is the perfect match for Asian food.  I have also recently learned that oolong teas are really good with greasy foods. Oolong helps you enjoy fatty foods, I find this fascinating. 

(https://www.suntory.com/sic/research/t_oolong/)

Wild Ginger did a great job of preparing this tea.  They made it in the kitchen and brought it out when it was ready.  I prefer my tea in a restaurant made that way,  When they bring the tea pot out with the tea leaves already in it, you never know how long the tea leaves have been in the pot to get the perfect steep.

Ohio Tea Company - Berry Blues

We three co-workers love Ohio Tea Company.  We each brought in a tea for the other two to try.  I have to say Berry Blues is great.  I recommend finding friends who like tea and each buy different flavors and then try them together.  It is a great way to try new tea.

Also- the great thing about Ohio Tea Company in Canton, Ohio- you get a free 1/2 oz each month.  It's the best way to try their teas, find the ones you like and buy more!

https://www.ohioteaco.com/Berry-Blues_p_702.html

Hibiscus, Rose Hips, Apple Pieces, Natural Blueberry Flavor & Blueberries

This tea has a nice tart taste due to the hibiscus- I love it!!  I would say I get get the apple and hibiscus the most at first and then at the end the berry notes come in.  I think this tea would be great cold too.  This is a really nice tea!

Turmeric Chai, Ohio Tea Company

Turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, lemongrass, cardamom, black peppercorns, cloves, orange peel, anise seed, sarsparilla

https://www.ohioteaco.com/Turmeric-Chai_p_699.html

This is a really great different spin on a chai tea.  I am not sure I have ever had chai with lemongrass, sarsaparilla and orange peel,  But I am enjoying it.  I do love the turmeric in it.  Turmeric is good for your joint health among other things- and as someone with arthritis, I tell myself this is a healthy tea for me.  There is a bit of a smokey flavor that I am not sure how I feel about yet, but the more I drink it I think I like the mix of flavors.  There is a real lightness to this tea with the citrus flavor, but then the smokiness with the turmeric and chai spices give it that chai feel that I do love.  This is a unique tea that I do like.

What makes this chai even better is making it a latte.  I took milk and added maple syrup and frothed them together.  Adding it to the turmeric chai.  It is amazing!

Ohio Tea Company is my go to for the best loose leaf tea!  Ohio Tea Company is in Canton Ohio.  But, if you don't live close by, they ship their tea for free!!

Ohio Tea Company in Canton Ohio

Sub Rosa -Banana Nut

https://subrosatea.com/products/banana-nut

My friend gave me this one to try.  I have to say I like it.  Others in the office were not sure.  They said if they would rather have the banana bread then drink it, but for me... I would rather drink it.  There are no calories in drinking banana nut.

I thought this tasted like a warm muffin or slice of bread.  I found it very delightful.

I am a fan of Sub Rosa.  They are from Ohio- which makes them local for me.  And when I went to Africa and I did a tea tasting class, they sent me free teas to take over to Africa.  They are a class act.  I also like all the tea ladies I have met who sell Sub Rosa.  They are super friendly and have a great knowledge of the tea that they are selling.

When making loose leaf tea, if you don't have a steeper, then just keep empty tea bags/brew bags on hand.  This the the way we share tea at work.  Put some tea in a tea bag and share with a friend.

Kusmi Tea- from France- Prince Wladimir

https://us-en.kusmitea.com/prince-vladimir.html?packaging=56

from the website, 

"CITRUS FRUITS, VANILLA AND SPICES-FLAVOURED BLACK TEA

Ingredients: Russian blend of black China teas with scents of bergamot, lemon, grapefruit, vanilla and spices

Created in 1888 in honor of Vladimir the Great, ruler of Holy Russia, Prince Vladimir tea is a blend of Earl Grey, citrus, vanilla and spices. It is one of our most unforgettable teas."

     

This tea is great!  I love it, so flavorful.  I also love their mesh bags. The vanilla and spices blend really well together with the citrus.  It reminded me a bit of an Earl Grey without the bergamont.  Vanilla and Citrus blend great, I really loved this tea.  I was sorry I only had the one tea bag.

This is a really nice tea. There is chunks of tea and ingredients.  This is not a tea that has dustings of flavors.  I love a tea that has real flavors.

While in France in 2015 I first learned of Kusmi and I was able to try their tea.  This tea was a little pricey for me, so I purchased a variety pack so I could try a lot of the flavors.

I also have some loose leaf tea, that I purchased later when they had a sale.  This is the one I liked and purchased.

Tea Forte and Justea Gift basket

It's winter at my house....I love the sunrise with a light snow on the ground.

At Christmas time we do a Christmas benefit auction, raising money to support and help people.  This year I went with a tea basked.

I went with some Tea Forte individual packaged steep bags and a mug.

https://www.teaforte.com/store/tea-gifts/tea-gifts/teachest-singlesteeps/single-steeps-tea-chest/

This expansive selection includes 28 popular loose leaf blends: 9 black teas, 1 oolong tea, 7 green teas, 3 white teas, and 8 caffeine-free herbal infusions. The tasting menu on the inside lid will guide you through the timeless experience and luxuriant taste of our exceptional tea varieties.  This is a $28 value

The cup came with 10 more steeping teas for $25.00  

Or you can just get the mug by itself for $20

https://www.teaforte.com/store/tea-accessories/kati-steeping-cup/blue-snowflake/

 

I also purchased some Justea, Earl Grey tea $15

https://justea.com/product/kenyan-earl-grey-tin

I also have a tea bag holder, empty tea bags, and a tea bag string holder in a wicker basket

We will see how much this brings.... If you want to submit a bid for me to enter at our auction on the 19th of December, just let me know.

Merry Christmas!!!

Bird & Blend Earl Grey Creme

This is my cat, Earl Grey.  This cow lives next to my parents house, I have named him Earl Grey.  He is adorable!!

I have discovered that I like Earl Grey tea...but only the right blends.  There are so many Earl Grey bagged teas that are not so good.  But, there are so many great Earl Grey's that are fabulous, you just have to find them.

Bird & Blend is one of those tea companies that has great Earl Grey tea!  They don't skimp on the tea and flavors.  You get great a cup of tea each and every time.

This is a black tea, so I heat the water to 212 degrees, I steep the tea for 3-4 minutes.   I also like to add milk to this tea.  This is also the only tea (Earl Grey) that I would add lemon too.  Don't knock it until you try it :) 

Ceylon black tea, vanilla pieces, blue cornflowers, natural flavouring

https://birdandblendtea.com/uk_en/earl-grey-creme.html

For bagged tea I got these adorable tea bag holders.  At Ohio Tea Company they are .29!!!

These little guys fit on the mug/cup and hold your tea bag in place.  Even if you don't drink bagged tea, if you buy loose leaf tea you can put your loose leaf tea in an empty tea bag to steep in your cup...these come in handy.

https://www.ohioteaco.com