Starbucks Pistachio Chai

At Target they have a Starbucks and I decided to use one of gift cards to get myself a little treat. They were featuring a Pistachio coffee drink and I thought I would add that wonderful nut goodness in some chai.

Remember to ask for your drink the way you want it.  If you see a drink that sounds good, but there is part of it you are not interested in it, ask the barista for a change.  For me, it was the coffee part of the drink I did not like.  I asked if the Pistachio was a syrup and they said yes.  I then asked for the Pistachio to be put in the chai.

https://www.starbucks.com/menu

Pistachio Sauce [Invert Sugar, Condensed Nonfat Milk, Pistachio Butter (Ground Pistachios), Natural Flavors, Cocoa Butter, Salt, Preservative Potassium Sorbate, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherols, Monoglycerides]

The thought of the drink was better then the actual drink.  I mean it was good, but not great.  I gave it 3 tea cups.  The chai is pricey, the syrup was overly sweet.  I think I should have gotten half the syrup, but I forgot.  If I got it again, it would be because I had the gift card and I would ask for half the syrup pumps.

Tipson Moringa and Mango from Sri Lanka

When I was on a mission trip in Africa in 2006 I learned about Moringa.  I learned about all the benefits and was amazed how incredible it was.  I wished at that time I could find it in the states.

When I was Jungle Jims in the fall I saw this tea and was super exited. A shout out to Jungle Jims and their incredible tea selection.  I love going  up and down the isle of seeing all the tons of countries represented.  In the Sri Lanka area I found this tea. 

https://junglejims.com/

This is an herbal tea, so the water needs to be over 200 degrees.  You steep the tea for 4-5 minutes.

https://tipsonteausa.com/product/organic-moringa-mango-tea/

from the website, "Moringa – the amazing tree – grows leaves full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that have been relied upon for their healing properties for centuries. When organically cultivated the leaves offer a variety of health benefits and are reputed for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. They may even also help control blood sugar levels and help reduce bad cholesterol. A delicious, caffeine-free tea, our moringa leaves and natural flavorings are grown 100 percent organically, so you can be sure you’re getting all the healthful benefits this amazing tree has provided enthusiastic drinkers across many cultures. Expertly flavored, Tipson’s moringa teas are a wonderful tonic hot or iced. We enclose our bleach-free biodegradable tea bags in foil envelopes to ensure they keep all their medicinal benefits for your good health. Tipson’s flavorful organic moringa tea collection is a great pick-me-up alternative to caffeinated beverages like coffee and black tea (Note: Tipson’s Moringa and Green Tea flavor does contain caffeine!). Enjoy our moringa and mango night or day, hot or cold – it’s a nutritious complement to your healthy lifestyle. Count on Tipson to give you the quality you deserve!"

These tea was really good.  The mango notes were strong.  I found it refreshing and really enjoyable. 

This is a really nice herbal tea with lots of health benefits from the Moringa.  I have it 4 tea cups.  I think you will like the mango flavors. 

sugar snowflakes

I was browsing the internet the other day and I came across these sugar snowflakes!  They are incredible!  They are delicate and gorgeous.

They lady who makes these is in Las Vegas.  I could not find her on social media, but found her on Etsy.  

https://www.etsy.com/listing/222329190/edible-wedding-favors-cake-lace-sugar?ref=hp_rv-6

DStudioArt has all kinds of beautiful sugar dollies.   The price was about $1+ a doily, but I felt worth it for the uniqueness of the items.  There were several choices all of them beautiful.

They can be added to cakes, cupcakes, cake pops, and more.

They came each one wrapped in parchment paper.  They look just like paper.

Materials: wheat starch, stablizer, glucose, food coloring, vanilla flavor, fruit citrus

I made a cup of tea.  Picked a doily and gently added to the top of the cup.

I liked that the doily did not add any real flavor to the tea.  It was just there for the prettiness of it.  It dissolved into the tea.  There was some residue at the bottom of the cup, but that is fine.  

I am super pleased with these sugar snowflake doilies. They are great fun to add to a cup tea, even if the beauty lasts less than a few minutes.

The artist also sent these gingerbread cookies as well.

Giant Eagle, Market District Kombucha

Enjoying Giant Eagle, Market District Kombucha.  I took a little break from making Kombucha, I have been making it for about four years and wanted a little break.  I have been getting some from Giant Eagle,  The prices are good and the taste is great.

https://grocery.gianteagle.com/pd/Market-District/Ginger-Cayenne-Kombucha/16-oz/030034918651/

I give this kombucha 5 tea cups!  48 ounces for $8 and sometime even cheaper when on sale.  Kumbucha is great for your gut health.

I enjoyed this kombucha with my chocolate buckeye, lol!

Ohio Tea Company Peppermint Sticks

Christmas Day we had some wonderful snow.  It was a white Christmas for sure.  I decided to have some of my Ohio Tea Company tea.  They did a new blend this year, Peppermint Sticks.  It came in their winter pack.

https://www.ohioteaco.com/Winter-Variety-Pack-_p_1938.html

My sister made me scones for Christmas, I was excited to have them with my morning tea.

The tea has broken up peppermint candy sticks in it.

Earl Grey and I enjoyed watching it snow.  I had the bonus of having the tea to drink.  This tea is full of peppermint flavor.   The notes are wonderful. I had several cups.

I am giving this 5 tea cups.  I love the peppermint in this tea. It is soothing and get has a little kick with the peppermint.  It is a black tea so there is caffeine in the tea as well.  I would recommend this tea if you like peppermint.

A friend also gifted me some Peppermint Sick tea for Christmas.    I decided to use my french press to make a cup for work. 

When I make tea in the french press, I put the tea above the press so that I can lift the press when the tea is done steeping, that way I don't over steep it.  Or I put the loose leaf tea a tea bag to steep.

This tea is really great on a cold day and with the peppermint in it, it reminds me of Christmas.

Tealyra Coconut Milky Oolong

This tea was a gift.  I got it for Christmas in our work Christmas exchange.  Yes, we made a list of what we wanted, lol!

https://www.tealyra.com/loose-tea/oolong-tea/flavored-oolong/coconut-milky-oolong/

Taiwanese milk oolong, dried shredded coconut

I then got this unique tea pot for $5 as well.  This tea pot is like no other tea pot I have seen.  It also steeps tea.

There is a basket that holds the tea.  Then there is lever that goes up and down that moves the basket of tea up and down.  Once the tea is steeped, you pulled the lever up and then it folds off to the side to keep the basket up inside the lid so that the tea does not over steep.  It is super clever,  I just adore this pot.

You can see below that the basket it up in the lid and out of sight....and the lever is folded so it does not lower again.  

Here you can see the basket is being lowered into the tea pot.

I add the tea to the basket, close the lid add hot water and steep.  This is an Oolong tea so you want to have the water around 185 degrees.  You also want to steep 2-3 minutes. 

I don't use my tea cups too often, not because I don't love them, but because they don't hold much tea.  I do enjoy using the tea cups when I put tea in a teapot....it seems so refined, lol.  Plus, you can refill the cup often from the teapot.

Oolong tea is really good with Chinese food.  Oolong is the most common tea served in Chinese restaurants.  The darker roasted oolong.

I am fan of this tea.  Oolong is my favorite tea. And this one has great coconut notes.  And it might seem odd, but there are buttery notes and even a bit of floral note. Taiwan is one of the largest producers of oolong- this is quality tea.  I also am a big fan of the rolled oolong that unfurls while it's steeped.