Wooster Everything Surplus

Wanting to try new teas, but don't want to spend much?  Try surplus and scratch and dent places. I have had really good luck at these places.  

Everything Surplus in Wooster is a great place to find teas.  

https://everything-surplus.com/

I am a fan of Shangri La Iced Teas.  I have been able to find this tea several times when I have gone there.  The mango flavor really comes through in this tea.

I am not a big fan of plain black tea, but my sister loves this tea.  Also, my friend is a fan of this tea, so I purchased some for her.  It always makes me chuckle when I think how different all our taste buds are.  I am glad God made us all different and unique.

One of my new favorites is the Special Tea.  I have purchased 5 or 6 different flavors and love them all.  If you purchased this tea on line it would be super expensive, but at the Surplus store it is very reasonable.

If you see this tea you should snatch it up!  And if you don't want it for yourself, I will buy it from you.

https://specialteacompany.com/

Twinings Cold Infuse Watermelon and Mint

https://twiningsusa.com/collections/all-teas

Twinings Cold Infuse Watermelon and Mint 

Red Hibiscus, Rosehips, Natural Strawberry, Watermelon And Mint Flavours With Other Natural Flavours, Beetroot, Natural Flavour (Steviol Glycosides), Orange Peel.

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This was a nice tea.  I made it cold and I did not really like it.  Then I did it hot and I really enjoyed it.  I got the watermelon notes the most.  I did get light notes of mint.  It was very pleasant tasting.   

I gave this tea 3 tea cups.  The taste was very nice.  I did enjoy it hot over cold.

 

Earl Grey Tea, Tulsi, and Ohio Tea Co

I was in Canton and I wanted to stop by and get some Earl Grey tea.   I love stopping in at Ohio Tea Company.  I can not tell you how great these guys are.  Everyone is super friendly and knowledgeable. 

They have shelves of all kinds of teas.  Any kind of tea you might be looking for has to be here.  They also have tons of herbs too.  I bought  some fun herbs to also add to my tea.

I bought some Tulsi (also known as Holy Basil) to add to my tea.  Tulsi does:

"1. Reduces Stress Tulsi helps maintain normal levels of the hormone cortisol, known as the stress hormone. Tulsi lowers cortisol and acts as a natural herb against anxiety. Tusi green tea also soothes nerves, regulates blood flow and helps the body remain calm.

2. Improves Metabolism Tulsi Green Tea helps in improving metabolism and burns fat. One of its primary anti-oxidants known as catechinsis are mainly responsible for the breakdown of lipids.

3. Dissolves Kidney Stones Tulsi green tea reduces the levels of uric acid levels in the system and helps the body in removing the toxins. It also assist in minimizing the pain of kidney stones.

4. Keeps Osteoporosis at bay  Tulsi Green Tea comprises of anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties that relieve the pain and inflammation and prevent the degeneration of joints and tissues.

5. Promotes great heart health
Tulsi is abundant in magnesium that is a pivotal nutrient in the prevention of heart ailments.
Tulsi Green Tea promotes a healthy heart by reducing LDL cholesterol, decreasing triglycerides and decreases the levels of fibrinogen, the protein responsible for blood clot formation.

6. Prevents cold Tulsi Green Tea has catechins that prevent the viruses from multiplying rapidly.

7. Improves hair and skin Tulsi Green Tea, if drunk regularly, can help maintain beautiful and healthy skin. It also helps in the reducing itchiness in the scalp and reduces hair fall. Daily intake of Tulsi Green Tea helps in treating skin and hair disorders.

8. Reduces fever Due to its anti-microbial properties, Tulsi Green Tea can be used as a therapy in treating fevers.

9. Relieves headaches Headaches due to cold and flu or improper sleep, worry and long hectic days can be dealt with by drinking Green Tulsi Tea. It perks you up, and its aroma relieves migraines removing stress and helps you feel fresh and energetic.

10. Improves digestion Tulsi green tea promotes healthy liver function, that is needed for improving digestion. It also facilitates proper metabolism, absorption, and assimilation of lipids, carbohydrates and proteins."       https://www.gaiagoodhealth.com/blog/benefits-tulsi-green-tea/

I also wanted some Earl Grey Tea.  Ohio Tea surprised me with putting my Earl Grey cat on the label.  It is just a label for me, others do not get this great label, lol.

Did you know that, Earl Grey tea was named after the 1830's British Prime Minister.  Earl Grey is the western world's most popular tea. 

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

I love this shop! 

I like Earl Grey as a plain tea, but I also LOVE it as a London Fog.  A London Fog is when you frothed in milk and add vanilla or lavender into the milk and then add it to the Earl Grey tea.

Assam black tea with natural bergamot oil

This is a great tea!!  The price is good and the flavors are spot on.

This is Earl Grey and he loves to hang out with me while I drink tea and blog about tea.

Health-Ade Grape Kombucha

Health-Ade is one of my all time favorite kombucha companies.  When I see them on sale I love to pick some up.  I saw this Grape Vibes flavor for the first time, so I wanted to try it.

It was really good and it is SO healthy for you.

From the website, "Kombucha is a traditionally fermented beverage, not a supplement or prescription. We like to view our bubbly, fermented beverage like you would yogurt, kefir, or even your favorite fruit or vegetable: something wholesome and natural that helps you feel good. Naturally, Health-Ade Kombucha, like other fermented foods, contains healthy acids and living probiotics - both of which are key ingredients to a healthy gut! Most people drink kombucha for the great taste, to replace sugary sodas and because it makes them feel good. We hope you feel the same!    Simply put, fermentation is when friendly bacteria (aka probiotics), yeasts and enzymes convert our sweetened, brewed tea into our tasty, high-quality kombucha. A couple of things to note - all kombucha is made with sugar (it's the food for the probiotics!) AND Health-Ade uses the highest quality ingredients to make the best tasting brew."

https://health-ade.com/pages/grape-vibes

Kombucha Culture
Organic Black Tea
Organic Green Tea
Organic Grape Juice

Unsure if you want to try kombucha? Find a fruit that you like and try that one.   I really like this grape one, but my favorite is the Pink Lady Apple one.   But, there are lots of fruit flavors to try- pomegranate, pineapple, watermelon, passion fruit, orange, etc.

I like this kombucha, I am giving it 4 tea cups.

Tea India Chai Moments

Tea India was a running a special and I was able to get free shipping.  This tea is reasonably priced.  The instant tea is $5.99 and the bagged tea is $2.99.

https://teaindia.com/products/chai-moments-masala-instant-chai-tea-latte

https://teaindia.com/collections/tea-bags/products/tea-india-masala-chai-20ct

Ingredients: Black Tea, Ginger Root, Cinnamon, Black Pepper, Cloves, Natural Flavors, Cardamom.

I have not tried the bag tea yet.

Ingredients: Cane Sugar, Whole Milk Powder, Skim Milk Powder, Instant Black Tea, Vegetable Fiber (Chicory), Spices (Cinnamon, Cloves, Ginger, Cardamom, Black Pepper). Contains Milk.

The aroma of this tea has all the chai smells.  And I do enjoy a good instant tea, yet there is a lot of sugar in this tea.  I would not drink this on a normal basis.   I am finding that most instant teas have too much sugar.  I wish I could find instant teas without sugar.

The taste is good, but also I prefer my chai with a bit more spice.

I gave this tea 3 tea cups.  The price is good, the taste is really good, but it does have a lot of sugar in it and I like my more spice.

Tea Globe by Infusion Express

I was super excited to be given this Free Tea Globe from Infusion Express. 

https://www.facebook.com/InfusionsExpress

There is some glitter in the tea globe.  It is beautiful.

I add the globe to my cup.  They say to use boiling water.  Normally, with oolong tea I would not be adding boiling water, but I guess that helps the globe dissolve. 

The water is turning blue, so I am assuming that there is butterfly pea blossoms in the globe itself. 

I let it steep for 3-4 minutes.  I can see the glitter in the tea.  I tried to stir the tea, but there is a bit of sugar at the bottom...and to be honest I don't want that sugar in my oolong tea.  I am wondering if I should have jut cracked the globe and gotten the tea bag out, I know that defeats the purpose of the globes.

There was a sugary residue left at the bottom of the cup.

Also a gooey glitter residue on my cup and even my hands as I tried to clean the glass.  i don't like the thought I was drinking that residue.  And that was probably some of the taste that I did not like.

Sadly I gave this tea globe 1 tea cup.  The tea was sweet and artificial tasting.  Also, there was a fake taste that should not be in tea- I am wondering if it was the glitter or the food coloring.  The oolong tea had the oolong smell and flavor, but it was overtaken by the sweet, non-tea flavors.  I did about two sips and had to pass and toss it.  They only reason they get 1 tea cup is the packaging.  

I love love love the heart shaped holder that holds the tea.  But, I think oolong is too delicate a tea for all that sugar.  I think a tea with more boldness and flavor and something that can be mixed with sugar is what should be added to the globe.