iFedio, 8 Cup, Glass Electric Tea Kettle

Yes, another product test...see what I thought about it...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08226WTF1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

$37.99

I got this kettle as a product test and I am loving it!!  I love that there are different temps so I can make any kind of tea I want.  I love how quickly the water heats up.  This kettle is so easy to use!!!

For me, an electric kettle is the easiest way to prepare my water for tea.

Different color for indicating different temperatures: 120℉(green), 160℉(blue), 175℉(purple), 195℉(light green), boil-212℉(red)

The different temps are important when making tea.  You can't make the water too hot or it bruises the tea leaves.  If you don't get it hot enough you can't extract the right flavor from the leaves.

**MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WHEN MAKING TEA- WATER TEMP AND STEEP TIME!!!**

STEEP TIMES AND WATER TEMPS FOR HOT (LOOSE LEAF) TEA:

Black tea: 3-5 minutes, water temp between 200 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit

Chinese Green tea: 3-4 minutes, water temp between 170 and 185 degrees Fahrenheit

Japanese Green Tea: 30 sec - 2 minutes, water temp between 170-185 degrees

Sencha: 2 minutes, water temps between 175-190 degrees Fahrenheit

Gyokuro : 3 minutes, water temps between 120 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit

Genmaicha: 1 minute, water temps between 175-190 degrees Fahrenheit

Purple: 3-4 minutes, water temp between 160 and 170 degrees Fahrenheit

Oolong: 3 minutes, water temp between 190 to 200 degrees

White tea: 4-6 minutes, water temp between 160 and 170 degrees Fahrenheit

Flavored White: 2 minutes, water temp between 160 and 170 degrees Fahrenheit

Pu-erh: 3-7 minutes, water temp between 205 and 212 degrees Fahrenheit

Yellow tea: 3 minutes, water temps between 160 and 170 degrees Fahrenheit

Rooibos tea: 6-7 minutes, water temp between 205 and 212 degrees Fahrenheit

Honeybush Tea:5-8 minutes, water temp between 205 and 212 degrees Fahrenheit

Chai tea: 5 minutes, water temp 200 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit

Herbal tea: 5 - 6 minutes, water temp between 200 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit

Mate tea: 5-6 minutes, water temp between 180 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit

Tisanes tea: 7 - 9 minutes, water temp between 200 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit

Blooming tea: 3-4 minutes, water temps between 175 and 190 degrees Fahrenheit re-use bloom 4-5 times

Matcha Tea: water temp between 180 and 190 degrees Fahrenheit

This is a great kettle and I'm super pleased with how easily it is to use and easy to clean.

From Amazon

• 【Healthy Borosilicate Glass Material】The electric water kettle combination of food grade glass and 304 stainless steel, the borosilicate glass having very low coefficients of thermal expansion, making electric tea kettle resistant to thermal shock. And stainless steel inner lid and bottom ensure the drinking safety
• 【Auto Shut-Off & Boil-Dry Protection】The British Strix thermostat technology enables the iFedio glass electric kettle to automatically shut off within 30 seconds after the water is fully boiled; boil-dry protection automatically turns the glass tea kettle off when there is no water in the tank, making it safer to use than a traditional kettle
• 【Fast Boiling & LED Light Illumination】With 1500 watts, the boil water electric glass can boil up to 1.7 L water in 3-7 minutes, allowing you to enjoy tea, pour-over coffee, pasta, oatmeal, milk powder and more. Different color for indicating different temperatures: 120℉(green), 160℉(blue), 175℉(purple), 195℉(light green), boil-212℉(red)
• 【Wide Opening & Easy to Clean】The iFedio glass kettle electric has a wide 4.3 inch (11 cm) opening easy for filling and cleaning, and it’s large enough to easily perform any wipe-down of the iFedio electric kettle’s interior walls or stainless steel bottom
• 【Feature-Packed Design】This hot water kettle lifts right off its heating base for cord-free convenience; liquid measurements are labeled on the side of the water heater kettle for precise filling and checking levels at a glance; an ergonomic stay-cool handle and push-button lid make filling and serving easy and safe; a convenient cord wrap below the base keeps the power cord neatly tucked away for compact storage

ikich 8 Cup, Glass Electric Kettle

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Q9K28KC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

$32.99

I got this great kettle while product testing.  I am always looking for great tea supplies and this one did not disappoint!

We did a ladies night at church and my sister asked me to do a hot drink bar.  I did hot coco and chai drinks.  This electric kettle heats up really quickly and is really easy to use. 

I like using an electric kettle when I make my tea.  This kettle has one setting, boiling water Therefore, I would not use this kettle when making Green, White, Purple, Yellow, Mate, or Oolong tea- the water will be too hot.  But, the water will be perfect for Black, Rooibos, Pu-erh, and Herbal teas (water temp should be between 208 - 212 degrees) .

STEEP TIMES AND WATER TEMPS FOR HOT (LOOSE LEAF) TEA:

Black tea: 3-5 minutes, water temp between 200 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit

Pu-erh: 3-7 minutes, water temp between 205 and 212 degrees Fahrenheit

Rooibos tea: 6-7 minutes, water temp between 205 and 212 degrees Fahrenheit

Honeybush Tea:5-8 minutes, water temp between 205 and 212 degrees Fahrenheit

Chai tea: 5 minutes, water temp 200 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit

Herbal tea: 5 - 6 minutes, water temp between 200 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit

Tisanes tea: 7 - 9 minutes, water temp between 200 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit

From Amazon...

• [Advanced Materials Electric Kettle] High quality stain-resistant borosilicate glass is complemented by accents of 304 stainless steel no plastics touch the boiling water inside including the lid Durable design and contaminant-free flavors
• [Safety auto-off & boil-dry protection] Supreme safety is controlled by automatic shut-off mechanism which is activated within 20 seconds after IKICH cordless water kettle reaches a full boiling point Never worry about overboiling thanks to the boil-dry protection function
• [1500W Fast & quiet water boiling] Utilizing the newest water circling boiling technology only takes 7 minutes to boil 1 7L/ 8 cups water Perfect match for Coffee tea oatmeal pasta and much more quicker than a microwave Equipped with bright LED lights It can indicate when the electric kettle is boiling
• [Gorgeous design] Cool blue LED indicator works simultaneously with the IKICH electric tea kettle Soft Blue Light and visible glass design enables you to measure water capacity clearly
• [Wide Mouth & Easy To Clean] Mineral deposits especially from hard water cause scaling which gradually slow down the process of boiling A wide mouth means both easy cleaning and filling To remove mineral deposits or rust stains from inside the hot water kettle combine two tablespoons of baking soda and lemon juice with water boil for 30 minutes and rinse thoroughly

Dunkin Donuts, Matcha Latte

For my birthday I got a free drink at Dunkin Donuts.    I am not a fan of Chai here at Dunkin, so I decided to try their Matcha.

https://news.dunkindonuts.com/blog/dunkin-the-story-behind-matcha

I tried the large frozen Matcha Latte.  They did add 2 scoops of vanilla bean powder to the latte for some sweetness.  It was really good.  I finished the entire thing.  I thought it was really good.  I could tell there was the Matcha in it, but there was also a sweetness of vanilla in it.

I would for sure get this again!

Mango Sencha, Ohio Tea Company

https://www.ohioteaco.com/Mango-Sencha_p_683.html

Sencha, mango flavor, sunflower blossoms

This is a really great green tea.  I am becoming a bigger fan of green teas.  I've always heard there were lots of benefits, but I am also enjoying some of the flavors.  Ohio Tea is the main reason for this, they  have quality green teas with amazing flavors.  I have two green teas of theirs that I am loving.

I've heard that you should not drink green tea before 10 am, because the the high contents of catechins in green tea that can damage the liver if you have an empty stomach.  Catechins are natural antioxidants that help prevent cell damage and provide other benefits

The best time to drink green tea is around 10 am.

You should drink green tea between meals to maximize the intake of nutrients and iron absorption.  Don't drink green tea with your meal if you suffer from anemia.

Drink green tea before you exercise.  Green tea can increase your energy and you can exercise longer and because of the caffeine in green tea you can burn more fat.

Drink green tea two hours before you go to bed, the caffeine can keep you awake, green tea is a stimulant.  If you drink it two hours before bed this is when you have the lowest metabolism and the green tea can increase it.

This green tea is really nice and light.  It does not have that earthy, grassy flavor.  I am really enjoying the mango notes in it.  This is a keeper!!

Tea Forte, Ginger Pear White Iced Tea

https://www.teaforte.com/store/gourmet-tea/iced-tea/

• Ginger
 
• Blackberry leaves
 
• Lemon balm
 
• White tea
 
• Natural apple flavor
 
• Pear pieces
 
• Natural pear flavor
 
• Mallow flowers
 
• Natural orange flavors

I thought I was making two different Tea Forte Iced Teas, but then I realized they were the same.  I was hoping to do a comparison, but it was the same White Ginger Pear Tea...lol.

This tea is really good and super easy to make.  This is a white tea, so you don't want to boil the water- or you bruise the leaves and it will be bitter.  Heat the water to around 175 degrees,  I then add less than 1/4 of sugar, drop in the tea pyramid and add the water.  I let steep for 10 minutes or so, then fill up the rest of the pitcher with water, then it goes in the fridge. 

This is a really good iced tea.  The ginger and pear both come out and are really good.  Tea Forte does a great job with their teas.  Even these iced teas are bagged tea, this companies does loose leaf and they know  how to do tea right!

You are not drinking tea dustings, you have real ingredients.  

Market District, Organic Kombucha- Blue Disco

I got this kombucha at Giant Eagle.  It is a really good blend.  I really enjoyed the flavor.  I could taste the blueberries and ginger, the flavors played really well together.

The draw back to this kombucha is the 100 calories, added 40% sugar, and 21 grams of sugar  Other kombucha's have around 60 calories, 0% added sugar, and 16 grams of sugar.  So, while I loved the flavors I want a kombucha with less calories and sugar.