Maddy Barone Send Message

This was my tea of the morning today. This is one of my all time favorite teas. Not so much because of the flavor (which is good and enjoyable, but not honestly, outstanding) but because it makes me remember good times with friends. My friends Robyn and Jocelyn keep me supplied with this tea, and I always think of them when I have it, and that makes me smile. Sometimes that’s what makes a tea superb.

Sad day. I finished this one. There is no more in the cupboard and I’m on a very strict tea diet until I get a little more caught up on my bills. All the medical/dental/eye glasses stuff has rendered me flat broke. Flatter than an empty envelope. But I still have lots of yummy teas to drink. Maybe after Christmas I can re-stock on some of the favorites I have sipped down.

A friend gifted me a tin of this tea as a belated birthday present. It’s the firs tea from Harney & Sons that I’ve had. I brewed up a cup early this afternoon and drank it while working. It was quite nice. I don’t know if I would have picked it up myself. I love cinnamon, but sometimes it a bit overpowering in tea and leaves me with an odd dryness on my tongue. But this is quite nice. It brewed up a dark amber color, and I could catch a tiny whiff of the cinnamon when I inhaled, so I suspect it’s very strong. The flavor is definitely cinnamon, but also a bit sweet. I can see this becoming a favorite for cold afternoons this winter.

Ah, how nice. My sense of smell was a little stronger today so when I brewed this up tonight I got a little whiff of the cinnamon. Such lovely weather for tea drinking and knitting! And this tea hit the spot tonight. In the beginning I wasn’t sure I would like honeybush, but man, it’s delicious!

This one sounded so good in the store. I was told it was caffeine-free, sweet, creamy, caramel-y goodness with a light spice finish. I liked the sales clerk’s description, and it really did sound like exactly what I’d enjoy on a fall evening. Well… I found it rather blah this evening. Of course, I can’t smell or taste it, so I am with holding my rating until the next time I try it. There just doesn’t seem to be any punch here right now. Hopefully I’ll be able to enjoy it more next time.

Had this one this morning when it was still a lovely 50 degrees. I just love mornings that =start out cool and then it’s sunny and 65 during the afternoon. Anyway, I needed something this morning, and this one was the one I pulled out. the sense of smell is very muted, so I didn’t get a lot of flavor here, but it was warm and slightly spicy. Really, really nice this morning when it felt like fall.

I arrived home around 10:30 tonight. All went excellently at the Mayo Clinic. The aspirin challenge/desensitization went very well. No reaction today even at high doses of aspirin, so I am considered non-sensitive to aspirin. I’ll be taking 650 mg twice a day for the rest of my life. So, yay! And a little boo, too, because the doctor said it was possible for me to regain my smell, but he believes not. So probably I’ll be plagued by no sense of smell interspersed with brief, vague flashes of scent or taste. Likely when scooping out the cat box or cleaning the moldy leftovers out the fridge.

So now, to the tea. I am beginning to like this one more and more. It is a mellow, sweet infusion. Slightly on the artificial side, but not bad.

I had a sample of this one tonight at Teavana in the Apache Mall in Rochester. I enjoyed it but not so much that I bought any. Instead I bought 2 ounces of Caramel Chai instead. Sort of wish I’d gotten the Pumpkin Spice Brulee. Oh well.

The first day of the aspirin desensitization is complete and went well. I had the desired alleric/asthma attack with hives, so the doctor is pleased. Tomorrow we do it again. Yay?

Dug this one out this morning. Really enjoyable, mellow and smooth and just what I wanted. It was supposed to be cool overnight, so I was anticipating the joy of a hot cup in my hands. But alas, although it was coolish outside, my windows weren’t open so it was 74 in my apartment. sigh. Oh, well, this is North Dakota, so winter is coming. I’ll have plenty of opportunities for a warm cup in my cold hands in the coming months.

I need caffeine!! This darned prednisone keeps me from sleeping, so I got only a few hours last night, and this afternoon I’m driving to the Mayo Clinic to start that aspirin desensitization procedure. Think good thoughts for me! I’m sure I’ll chime in over the next few days. I’m going to bring a few tea bags with me to Mayo. Maybe some of my basic Twinings like Prince of Wales and peppermint.