Shades of Black

Tea is a wonderful beverage. It can soothe as well as inspire. It's wonderful to drink when you're alone, but it's fantastic when shared with friends.

I spent last evening sharing tea and conversation with my friend Niraj at his tea studio. We drank a flight of black teas, four from China and one from Nepal. It's so interesting to taste these teas side by side so you can really see the similarities as well as the differences.

We started with the Yunnan Gold, and also ended with it! Such a smooth sweet tea (and no-we don't add any sweeteners, it's naturally sweet!). Yet with this sweetness, you also get pepper and some spice. It's quite malty. From there we moved to the Himalayan Imperial Black from Nepal. Although the tea is similar, I got a totally different aroma from the steeped leaf, moist green earth. Of course these teas are from two very different areas. The Imperial Black is very creamy with a complex taste. We had to have my Lapsang Souchong and this time I noticed a slight menthol note. It's interesting how different notes can emerge.

Next up was the Keemun Mao Feng followed by Kickin' Keemun. What was most interesting to me was the difference of the leaves. Both Keemun, but totally different looking leaves. The Kickin' Keemun (Keemun Hao Ya B) is on the left (I had moved the cups for the picture) and the larger leaf of the Mao Feng is on the right. Both are slightly smokey (so you know I like them) with the Kickin' Keemun having more "a taste of fire" than actual smoke. It was quite malty with some pepper and an earthiness about it.

It's great to be able to compare taste and notes with someone. You can bounce ideas off each other and perhaps sense nuances you hadn't noticed alone. Find a friend and taste some teas together. You can open your mind to new possibilities and great conversations!

A Visit To The Celestial Seasonings Tea Factory With Karen

Karen here and yes I really was that happy to wear a hair net!
Last summer I traveled to Boulder Colorado with my family for a wedding and while we were in town my sister in law and my mother in law took me to the Celestial Seasonings Tour. It was truly one of the highlights of my trip!

The tour of Celestial Seasonings was free and it was fantastic. I truly learned a lot. The tour was not very long but it was very informative. The staff were very knowledgeable and it was amazing to be up close to the belts of boxed tea whizzing by us destined for shops all over the world. One of the things I found very fascinating is that Canadian's like me are the second largest purchasers of Celestial Seasoning tea and tisanes. I was impressed to learn that there is different packaging for Canada then the USA and that they are done in separate batches. I got to tour the Mint room, which was the perfect place to find yourself as a mint tea lover,. The sensory overload that is the Mint Room it is something you can only experience first hand and not accurately describe to anyone.  The tea testing room was also something I will never forget, you could sample any of the teas hot or cold that Celestial Seasonings makes while you are there. I sampled a dozen teas and I left with 20 boxes of teas I would never have bought in store had I not tasted them first hand.

When I was in store I was in full sensory overload. I had wished we towed a trailer behind us all the way from Canada as we were driving across the country, so that I could have bought more. The photo above is just some of the teas I picked up on my trip but the prize is my Sleepy Time Tea Bear Tea Pot. Truly the largest stone in the crown of my collection. I also picked up a matching tea pot and tea cup which are now my traveling set as I had not brought a proper tea pot on my trip and I missed it so much so when ever I travel I bring my own electric tea kettle, Teapot and Cup and Saucer. I have a plastic tea pot and strainer combo but I swear it doesn't taste the same so I travel now with this set. My Bear however stays at home on a shelf being admired and waiting for the perfect evening tea party to make his debut! Would you believe he only cost about $30 US! I could  not either so he came home to Canada with me.

If you ever find yourself in Boulder Colorado make the time to take this tour and leave yourself plenty of time for the tasting and the gift shop. The photo above is only one of my 4 baskets I carried around the store. That tea shown above is one of my most favorites and I can not wait to tell you all about it in an up coming post and tea review.
To learn more about the Celestial Seasonings Tour and Store please visit them on line by clicking here.
Thank you so much for joining me today. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Tuesday Tea Quote!

Strange how a teapot can represent at the same time the comforts of solitude and the pleasures of company ~Author Unknown

Karen here. Today I am reflecting upon this  tea quote and how much I love this very statement. I am in awe of how much pleasure it truly the taking of tea alone or with company and wanted to share this quote and my cup of tea with you. 
I hope that you find yourself with a full pot of tea, a pretty cup and saucer and a moment to yourself or that you are sharing one with friends. 

Once upon a midnight dreary...

Ah...Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven."  Is there anyone who has not heard this poem?  Having spent many delightful hours with the works of Mr. Poe, I was delighted to see this tea on the shelf.  It is another outstanding Eastern Shore Tea: Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe " 'Black as a raven's wing,' Black raven Tea is richly fragrant and satisfying.  Cover Illustration by Howard Burns."  It needed to come home with me even if I was unfamiliar with Blackcurrants.  The ingredients are simple: black tea and blackcurrant flavoring.  I've been enjoying this tea for several weeks now and while discussing it with Kathleen Kaminski, I discovered we both felt the same way: we love it; however, neither of us could really say what exactly we loved.  With that in mind, I pulled out an appropriate mug this evening and brewed a fresh tasting.

Unfamiliar with blackcurrants, I took a few moments to immerse myself in the aroma of the unbrewed tea.  It is a strong scent of, I assume, blackcurrants.  Quite lovely after I took a few moments to consider it...and a nice dark amber brew when steeped.  I love the taste and have made a mental note to look for blackcurrants this summer.  A simple tea, it can only be described as flavorful.  I wish I had more experience with this particular berry.

Usually I make my tea for work in a stainless steel travel mug.  I mentioned to Kathleen that this tea travels well.  Even at the end of my work day, if there is any of the 12 ounces of tea left, it will be cold and still deeply satisfying.  Tonight I decided to try it iced and to detect any differences in the flavor.

Black Raven is milder when chilled, but the distinctive blackcurrant flavor is still satisfying.  This tea is a 5/5 for me.  For a tea that I bought for the packaging, it has been an excellent addition to my tea locker.  And please forgive my favorite matte lipstick; it insisted on being included in the photo.
Next week: more varieties of Eastern Shore Tea.

Addendum to previous blog;  In my March 14, 2016 entry, "Experimenting with Maple Tea," I mentioned a friend tasting with me.  She has since corrected me.  She did not put honey in it: only milk, maple syrup, and a bit of sugar.  And it is her favorite hot tea; she gives it a 5/5.

The Perfect Easter Basket

Happy Easter! It's an early holiday this year, but absolutely perfect here in WNY with temperatures supposed to be in the mid 60s!! In honor of the holiday I thought I'd share what would be a wonderful gift-the perfect Easter basket! (Or Ostara Basket or Passover Basket or...)

My tea themed Easter basket would have a multitude of wonderful items. First of all: tea! I'd have some wonderful teas gathered from Happy Earth Tea, perhaps some Himalayan Imperial Black or a Temple of Heaven! and since it's a holy day, I should get my favorite Holy Ginger, which I always keep on hand! In addition I might create a special blend from Design a Tea (perhaps a passion fruit mango green or a chocolate hazelnut black) or add something from Eastern Shore Tea Company, (my favorite is Black Raven, but maybe I'd try something new like Blackberry Summer Tea or Burgundy Cherry-which is made from a Keemun tea.).

Next I'd like to add a cup or mug. A fancy tea cup, or a cup with an infuser already attached, or a tea for one set!

I'd add a tea accessory, perhaps a useful teaspoon, a tea pet, or a fun infuser!

What would Easter be without candy! Hedonist Artisan Chocolates have absolutely amazing goodies and their Spring 2016 truffle collection is tea inspired: Milk Chocolate Chai, Earl Grey Caramel, Jasmine, Green Tea, and, my favorite (of course) Lapsang Souchong!

There has to be a book or two, perhaps a nonfiction book about tea and a tea mystery. I need to add Tea with Milk and Murder by H.Y. Hanna to my basket. You could add any of her Oxford Tearoom Mysteries, or Laura Childs Tea Shop Mysteries, a Teapot Collector Mystery from Amanda Cooper, or...

Why not get creative and add a coloring book. They're all the rage and for good reason. I love to color! Did you know there are coloring books devoted to tea?

I love home fragrance products! In fact I'm an independent consultant with Pink Zebra! Our main product are Sprinkles a soy/paraffin wax blend you melt to fragrance your home. Imagine my surprise when I discovered the March scent of the month was Sweet Tea!!! I'd add a jar of Sweet Tea Sprinkles as well as our Pomegranate Tea Sprinkles to my basket! You can also combine our Sprinkles to create your own personalized scents too-I have recipes to make Raspberry Tea and Chai Tea Latte!

Finally I'd add a fun tea themed goodie. Perhaps a bracelet, like this one from wileywolverine. Or maybe a pair of socks or a tea-shirt, er t-shirt.








Wouldn't this be the perfect Easter basket?! Heck, I'd be happy with one item from it. Whether you get an Easter basket or not, I hope you have a joyous day!

Tea Whimsey Jar Swap I Made

Karen here, a few years ago I was an "active swapper" on a site called www.swap-bot.com I loved it. I have participated in 428 swaps over the years but my favorite one that I did was a Whimsey Jar swap. I have done more then one tea themed whimsy jars swaps but this was one of my most favorites. You can have any theme you want with these swaps but this was a "Tea For One Themed Swap."

To make the jar, I saved a plastic mayonnaise jar and washed it really well. The first swap I did I used glass and it was so much more expensive to mail. I also worried the entire time that it would break in transit.
I decorated the outside of the jar with a tea quote and tea themed embellishments to the lid and label.  For the inside I used ribbon to dress up two tea light candles. I included several loose leaf tea selections, measured out in to tiny zip lock bags, as well as individually wrapped tea bags. I included hand made tea themed napkins. I quickly zipped up on my sewing machine and included a vintage Canada teaspoon as well as a recipe written on a pretty recipe card.
I loved putting this swap together and wish the cost of shipping was lower so that I could participate in so many more.  These Whimsey Jar Swaps are such a delight to receive. I think they make lovely gifts and there are so many things you can fit in a jar. Pick a theme and fill! Such fun. My only regret is that my partner who was assigned to send to me never followed through so I did not get one back to share, thus is the nature of some swaps but I still have fond memories of making it and know that the person I sent to loved it.

Please join me for tea daily at www.acupofteaandacozymystery.com 

Tea Quote - Ueda Akinari

Though I cannot flee
From the world of corruption,
I can prepare tea
With water from a mountain stream
And put my heart to rest.
~Ueda Akinari