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As a housewarming gift, Kiki gave me a nice glass teapot from HomeGoods that included a few flowering teas. Spring snuck (do you say sneaked or snuck?) in this weekend, so why not give one of them a try. Gosh, I don’t think I’ve had one for 12 years, since my dad sent me an awesome Numi flowering tea giftbox.

Directions say to brew with boiling water for 5-10 minutes but I can’t bring myself to do so, recalling how the Numi balls would become bitter. So 185F, enough to get the ball to unfurl. The flower tower isn’t standing upright; it’s definitely a leaner.

The tea itself is drinkable, mostly mineral with light cooked green bean taste and a hint of butter. It is so heavily perfumed with jasmine and maybe rose?, though, that I’d only be comfortable serving this to a matronly patron of Crabtree & Evelyn. A little peach hides behind that gigantic perfumed schnoz.

For me, it’s a fair complement to the sunny, windows-open day but not something I would buy.

The second half of 2024 and moving into 2025 has been tough. I lost my sense of self, my sense of humor, hobbies, interest in tea. Everything has been off-center but my boyfriend helped me from shifting too far into the gnarled grip of depression.

It took me six months to finally sign up for the 6-week course at the lumber yard-converted-to-studio-space, but on Wednesday, I had my first introduction to pottery outside of making one lonely and lumpy pinch pot tea cup in an Environmental Lit class in high school (I didn’t realize until years later how much that class effected the trajectory of my life). Starting off with another lonely and lumpy pinch pot, I felt the slow release of all the stress and struggle that was trapped in my body. I felt true calm and freedom for the first time in months. I can’t wait to go back next Wednesday.

This tea, like the process of molding clay with the hands, aids in shifting the self into a centered state. So grateful to be able to experience its unwavering character with each bowl.

When I used to make kombucha, I’d do a second fermentation with freshly juiced pineapple and ginger that turned out so good it was nearly perfect.

GT’s was the only game in town back then

(when they got tagged by one of the ABC government agencies for the alcohol content. All their product was pulled nationwide and now commercial kombucha brewers are subjected to scrutiny. In the U.S. you have to be 21 to buy GT’s “Classic” flavors whose alcohol content might be greater than 0.5%. I don’t know of any other widely available brand in the Bay Area that gets you carded.)

and I always wondered why they never made kombucha with pineapple juice. They do have Golden Pineapple now, but not back in the late 2000s.

That said, Pineapple Tepache is incredible! If you can handle the tiniest bit of heat, try this invigorating blend of pineapple, turmeric, cinnamon, ginger and habanero. For my tastes, it is perfection.

U.S. teabag version not good. Any kind of milky addition added to cover the paper tea bag taste destroys whatever other flavors try to emerge.

Deep and dark malt and oats. Handled eggnog like a champ. Probably the only way I’d drink this Irish Breakfast should it land in my hands in the future.

I loved the rose flavoring here. Saturated and sweet rather than a perfume that goes straight to the head. Worked really well with the leathery-malty base tea which made a very bold but not tannic cup. In my experience, almond milk drowns tea, but here, a good dash of unsweetened vanilla almond milk made it even better! Thanks, g <3

Standard peppermint. Herbaceous with some mustiness.

DF Advent — Day 24

Complex but not so much that it takes away from the comfort and ease of drinking a pineapple upside-down cake soaked in maraschino cherry juice with a splash of orange. Big undertone of tobacco and brisk yet smooth body marry the flavors perfectly to create a festive and indulgent cup.

DF Advent — Day 23

Still not a fan of Happy Dreams due to strong lemongrass but it was much better tasting than 4 years ago. Rich flavor yet soft and sweet with an exotic spice note lended by the star anise that really made this tea pop while overall remaining comforting like lemon fluff. Recommended :)

DF Advent — Day 22

This reads like a classic afternoon tea to me. Clear taste that’s coppery, woody, floral, fruity. Smooth body with light touch of astringency. A nice mix of Darjeeling and Nilgiri leaves. Appreciated the 2 bags of Tea for Two.