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We made it through the worst storm season in several years with not even a blip in electrical power; this clear and sunshiny morning, with no earthly-known cause, we went all black two minutes before I had to roll out of bed. Bumbled around getting ready with the aid of camping lights, grabbed an emergency packet of Lord Kensington, and left the house early to get to the work kettle.

I haven’t mentioned this one frequently, but it has become a pantry staple for bleary mornings. The vendor’s description calls it an Assam blend. Its color is a little more orangey-coppery than my favorite straight-up Assams and its flavor is a bit sharper and nippier as well—a feisty Jack Russell terrier skipping alongside the bulldog. I’d try some on ice, but I’m already looking at the bottom of the mug.

Amazing what happens when you actually read the label! This is an Assam green tea! No wonder I was mystified at the scorched-flowers scent and taste in the first mangled cup!

More properly prepared, it has drastically improved. Beautiful champagne color; still a scent that reminds me of lilac. Assam greens have always been very finicky for me—the perfection zone is so skinny that half a degree or three seconds too much pushes it over the edge. I’ve still just about fallen off the cliff here—still a little bitterness on my tongue—but now that I know what I’m working with, I will continue to practice restraint until I get the hang of it.

I really like this mellow cranberry gem and have been experimenting with its summer potential. Conventionally steeped on ice, it’s very nice—authentic cranberry, but no nasty tartness.

Last night, I threw some random spoonfuls into a quart jar and left it unattended in the fridge overnight. This sloppy method results in a more bitter brew, but I don’t mind that with an iced tea. Steeped like this, it would be a better base for some Ocean Spray cranberry juice to make a juicy tea cooler.

This was on the mandatory restock list when we went to Savoy a couple weeks ago. Unfortunately, since that particular storefront was winding down before it closed, the only option for purchase was tea sachets.

I generally dislike sachets for two reasons: portion control (never enough tea) for my 12 ounce go-to-work tumbler and the strings are always, always too short. Yeah, I could’ve cut two bags open and freed the leaves, but I was in a hurry. So to compensate for the scant amount of tea, I bumped up the steep time to 5:30. Didn’t accomplish the desired results—just a watered-down version of the original. This is still an excellent tea of the wheat-and-bread crust variety when you are in control of the spoon.

Oh. I have had this one, says my tealog. And I thought I was sampling something new! The memory’s going, y’all. Any volunteers to push my wheelchair up and down the hallway?

Rum, pineapple, coconut in equivalent proportions. I felt like I needed a maraschino cherry speared with a drink umbrella when I had a cup this morning. The flavoring is much more prominent than the tea base. Cheerful and tasty and no doubt more so on ice…this week’s weather forecast looks to be perfect for experimentation.

Eavesdropping on one of your conversations about lavender prompted me to make a little Franken-blend of my own: 2:1:1 generic bulk China black, chamomile, lavender. Fridge-steeped, cool, and tasty after some yard work today.

I have been craving something low-caf or decaf and lemony, so this caught my eye when we were at Savoy last week. Alas and alack, there is definitely a lack of lemon here—it’s a decent sencha base with flavoring that’s kinda raspberry, kinda Hawaiian Punch. It’ll be a tasty summer cooler on ice, but not what the name led me to expect.

Have I previously and frequently mentioned how much I love this tea for waking up and bucking up in the summer? Yup.

Have I previously and frequently mentioned how good this is on ice?
Yup.

(Just wanted to make sure you knew. Happy Thursday.)

This was on the “essential restock” list when we hit Savoy last week. It’s brash and brassy, especially when it’s overleafed and oversteeped, which I purposely did this morning. Enough of a bite to get the eyes open (first half of the tumbler) and sufficiently strong to accommodate ice (second half—our office AC has been off all weekend).

Air’s so thick you could swim through it this afternoon. Something on ice is a must, and with its fruity undertones, this is delicious cold steeped in the fridge.