Maddy Barone Send Message

Had this one tonight. Nummy. Sometimes the familiar favorites are chosen even tho you have new exciting teas to try. Like when you have a tummy bug and really don’t want to try anything new.

This is the third tea of my recent 52Teas order. I believe they were going for a fire burning in a rustic cabin feel, and I think they nailed it. The smoke is prominent here, but not overpowering the clove and cardamom. I did not get the sweetness in this cup, but I didn’t miss it. The tea is not bitter or astringent. I really enjoy trying out the teas from 52Teas. They are all excellent quality teas, with unusual flavor combinations. I’m glad I got to try this one. I wouldn’t want 50 grams of this, but the taster size I purchased will be just right.

This is really different. It actually smells sort of smoky. Like a campfire. It takes me back to Gimli, Manitoba. Over Labor Day I usually go camping up there, and at night we build a big fire and sing and roast marshmallows. One year we eat peaches that had been soaked in brandy. Just the smell of this transported me back. What a lovely thing!

This is smoky, and that was the dominant initial flavor, but it is chased by something sweet and buttery, and a sweet zing of peach at the end. Not artificial peach. The butterscotch is there too, like one of those butterscotch hard candies from Brach’s. I was not sure at first if I would like this, but I do. I really, really do.

My order from 52 Teas arrived today!!!

It was hard to decide which to try first. I settled on this one. Once upon a time OI had a bagged honeybush tisane. OMgosh. It was horrible! I decided long ago that I would never drink honeybush again. However, I discovered flavored honeybush from 52 Teas, and now I’m always on the look out for something new and yummy. This one looked intriguing. I love amaretto in my coffee, so I thought I’d give it a try.

I let it brew for the full 10 minutes on accident. I planned to let it steep for 6 or 7 minutes. The color was rich and dark as most honeybush and rooibos teas are. I don’t believe I’ve ever smelled chestnuts, but I think I could smell them here. There was a faint tang of orange also. Orange is so hard to get right in tea, but it was perfect here. Not too strong. Not artificial. I couldn’t taste any almond or amaretto flavor. But the little pouch was completely full so shaking it probably didn’t mix the tea around much. I will be happy to try it again. Although this is not my favorite honeybush tea, (I think that might be the white chocolate grasshopper) it is quite tasty. I’m looking forward to my next cup.

I made a big mug of this tea this afternoon. My, how I love it. I weep when I think that it will soon be gone forever. sob

This was a sample in my last Q2T order. I’ve been putting off trying it because I’m not a fan of floral teas. But it’s been a long day and a little spill on the ice has resulted in a very sore shoulder/neck. I thought a tranquility tea might be just what I need before bed.

This brews up a nice rich color. The flavor was almost sweet all on its own. A bit flowery, a bit honey, a bit like a straw that you pluck from the grass and nibble between your teeth on a hot summer day. This will not be a re-order for me as I don’t really like the faintly lavender taste. But if you do like floral teas, you should give this one a try.

Happy sigh. I love this tea. After the past several weeks of drinking mostly the teas from my 24 Days of Tea from DAVID’s, I decided to brew up a pot of this. I really enjoy a good flavored tea. The dessert-y teas from 52 Teas and A Quarter to Tea are my favorites. But when the wind is howling on a cold December morning, I want a solid straight tea, and North Winds remains my favorite breakfast-y tea. So smooth. so rich.

I had planned to run out for some After-Christmas-Sale shopping this morning, but it is far too icky to go outside today. That’s ok. I have a book to revise and tea to drink. Let it howl!

David’s Tea Advent Calendar Day 24:

Since I’ve already rated this tea multiple times, I won’t do it again. Instead I want to talk about my Tea Advent Calendar. This is the first year I’ve gotten one. My experience was overwhelmingly positive. I didn’t find any new teas that I am dying to add to my cupboard, but I found several that I enjoyed, and many others that I’m glad to have tried. There were some that at first I didn’t care for very much, but subsequent cups were very good. For instance, on Day 1, I didn’t really enjoy Snow Day very much. But I had it a few more times over the month, and I found my enjoyment growing. If that comes back next year I may pick up 50 grams of it. Another one that I wasn’t really crazy about at first was
Chocolate Covered Almond. I had it again a week later and I liked the chocolate more than I had previously.

So, the 24 Days of Tea was a lovely experience. I wish all of you a happy holiday, a safe and cheery Sunday, and lots of delicious tea.

My knitting circle exchanged gifts last Sunday, and one of my presents was a bag of this tea., I don’t think it will be a favorite, but it’s a perfectly good tea for a cold winter afternoon. What makes it special is that my friend went to the trouble to buy something she knew I liked, something that she would never buy for herself. So I will think of her and the hours of fun we’ve had together this past year every time I drink it.

And GRRRRR my new electric kettle was supposed to be here Wednesday but of course the Fed Ex came while I was out shopping. Then they didn’t make it to my place yesterday. So maybe today.

First of all, A TRAGEDY has happened. Sunday night my electric kettle gave a flash of light and a sizzling sound, and died. I never really liked that Oster kettle. I had an Aroma one for about 5 years when I decided I wanted a programmable one. A lovely, reliable five years it was. I then donated it to my church and it has been in weekly use there for the past year. I can’t bear the thought of entering a store at this time of the year so I ordered an AROMA replacement. It should arrive tomorrow. Meanwhile, I’m using a saucepan on the stove to heat my tea water. It is not ideal, but it works. On to the tea note.

DAVID’s Tea Advent Calendar Day 20

Num. This is the second time I’ve had this tea, as I bought 50 grams in my November order. I am able to smell a little bit this time, and I have to say that the scent is divine. Warm and spicy and sweet. But not a chai. I let it steep for 5 minutes, which may have been a tish long, but the color remained rather pale for a black tea. Luckily, it didn’t turn the tea bitter. I think I rather like it better this time. I think next time I will increase the amount of leaf rather than the steeping time.