For the Love of Lavender

Latest discovery: Lavender makes Oolong wonderful. I've tried a few different blends, such as Ti Kuan Yin (of course) and with darker, Formosa Oolongs...so far, so yummy.

One part Oolong
One part Lavender

Brew around 208° for about 4 minutes. Good for multiple infusions.


Your Faithful Addict,
The Tea Mistress

Republic of Tea Emperor's White Review

It's Sunday and I've consumed enough black tea this morning to wake the dead, so I decided to run to the cafe and switch to a mellower blend for a cup. Republic of Tea and Tazo are the only two brands offered, no loose leaf here. (Although you can order loose leaf of their blends online!) I'd figured I would try Republic of Tea's Emperor's 100% White Tea- because honestly, I'm probably never going to pay the $15-$18 a tin they charge.

In short...it's bland. While they promote it as rare and exquisite tea, there's really no flavor therefore it's probably not a very high quality white. White tea is known for its light flavor with fruity, sweet undertones no matter what blend you get- it should have a delicate but complex taste. This cup tastes like green tea that was only steeped for 15 seconds. There's hardly anything to it.

Now, I do not want to discourage people from purchasing Republic of Tea. They offer a few excellent blends- such as Blackberry Sage, Ginseng Peppermint (great during the cold winter months!) and a fun Genmaicha marketed as "Tea of Inquiry," - however this is not one of their best blends. In short, don't waste the money on this white tea.  A simple white, such as Pai Mu Tan, offers so much more flavor for your money.


Don't be duped by marketing trends. I love tea, but the producers want your money- don't be tricked by some fancy name like "Emperor's Blend." Pay attention, read the ingredients, and almost always you can find something just as good for half the price. Sure, you're paying more for the convenience  of not having to do this, but what's few extra minutes of fun research out of  your day?I remind my stressed out, work laden readers

"All work and no play...makes Jack a dull boy."

Your Faithful Addict,
The Tea Mistress

Friday Afternoon

It's finally Friday. Reward yourself with this calm yet refreshing brew.

1 Tbsp mint
1 Tbsp lavender
1 big pinch of rosemary

Rosemary adds an interesting texture to the flavor. I recommend starting small and adding as your palate sees fit.

Brew close to boiling for about 4-5 minutes. Add honey or rock sugar and enjoy.



Faithfully yours,
The Tea Mistress Extraordinare

Tea Personalities...

I don't think I've ever seen a cup of green tea THIS green...maybe KoolAid, but not tea!

                                           -Tea Mistress Extraordinare 

What is your tea personality?

Green Tea You are subtle, but you have a very strong presence. Your proponents claim that being around you makes them feel better both spiritually and physically. Your personality is an acquired taste for some, but once someone is your friend, they're with you for life.

Fun quizzes, surveys & blog quizzes by

My Perfect Cup of Oolong

Great minds think alike- I was going to title this entry "Ode to Oolong" but alas I have been beaten to the punch.

My perfect cup I am quite sure will be an Oolong. Long before I began my affair with loose leaf tea, I've always had a special place in my heart for Oolong teas. My only experience with it growing up was at Chinese restaurants, therefore it was always reserved for special occasions- dance recitals, family birthdays, New Years...and my mother let my sugar sensitive self put three or four packets in the little tiny cups so I'd be zooming for days on it, which is probably the larger reason I loved it so.

During high school when I began to dabble in the loose leaves, I learned that most Chinese restaurants serve Oolong, and the hunt began. I spent way too much at Teavana trying all their Oolongs, and purchased over a dozen samples from SpecialTeas and Upton trying to find my perfect cup of Oolong. I was looking for that warm, breadlike taste that would refresh all the special memories from childhood.

I figured at this point, I'll publish my findings so far....more for my shoddy memory so I don't waste more money on teas I've already tried, but also for our reader's enlightenment as well:

1. Monkey Picked Ti Kuan Yin Oolong: This tea is damn close to my perfect cup. I can't even begin to describe the wonderfully complex light jade flavor of this...it's a simply beautiful. However, it is expensive. (Cheapest I've found is $15/2oz) Any tea that is described as "Monkey Picked" is the highest quality, and although I believe it is worth the price...I'm a broke college kid.
   
   
   
   
2. Ti Kuan Yin Oolong:  Monkey Picked of this is like spending the $50 for the special occasion wine. Therefore, I found the good quality $6 bottle of wine for anytime consumption. This type of Oolong is available almost anywhere, and is fantastically light with sweet, almost peach flavor undertones. Cheap enough to buy in bulk and tasty enough to enjoy daily. Also sometimes spelled Tin Quan Yin. This is usually what you'll find in my cup because I love it so.
   
   **Update: Upton's Formosa Jade Oolong is a nice compromise between this blend and a Formosa Oolong. A tad more expensive, but a very unique taste...it has all the qualities of Ti Kuan Yin with a hint of smoky, darker flavors. I recommend !
   
   
   
   
3. "Eastern Beauty" Oolong: I suckered a Teavana employee into letting me try this, and it was a delightful cup. Much darker than what my palate usually enjoys, therefore I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Again, it is expensive. I have been on the hunt for a similar, cheaper version through Upton and SpecialTeas. My findings are below:
   
   
   
   
4. Formosa Oolongs: Turns out 3 is a type of this Oolong. Darker, much richer flavors than my typical Ti Kuan Yin. I have yet to find one as high of quality as Tevana's Eastern Beauty, however mixing some Lavender with Upton's Fine Grade Formosa produces a pretty good blend. Does wonders for an upset stomach or that murky feeling associated with hangovers.
   
   Another type of Oolong I sampled was "China Oolong Se Chung" also from Upton. It was way to dark for me, and had very strong peach and bread undertones. I tend to favor lighter teas, but if you like a powerful dark tea (or are typically a coffee drinker) this is a good tea for you...make sure you add some honey to it though to really bring out the peach flavor!
   
   Turns out Oolongs are typically associated with this darker texture, and my lighter palate tends to run with the elite and more expensive blends. (Of course I like the expensive stuff- I am a girl after all !) However, with the help of my cowriter, I did find out something interesting about Formosa's....
   
   
   
   
5. Bigelow's Oolong: That's right ladies and gentleman, I found the tea from my childhood. Turns out it wasn't an expensive blend at all, it's actually graded as dust. And Bigelow sells it dirt cheap and at most grocery stores. Go figure. 

My hunt will continue throughout the Formosa blends- I have found success with Monkey Picked Ti Kuan Yin and am determined to find a cheaper equivalent to "Eastern Beauty." We'll see what next payday brings....

FYI: "Fomosa" simply means it is tea from Taiwan, formerly known as Formosa. Yes, that little tiny island produces a lot of tea! 

Your Faithful Addict,

The Tea Mistress Extraordinare 

An Ode to Chun Mee

Oh Chun Mee how I love thee, let me count the ways!  I have found green tea nirvana.  I found this minx in a local supermarket, and was supposedly purchased from SpecialTeas as # 522.  This tea is smoky and sweet, yet reminiscent of ripe plums.  Not like any other grassy, vegetal, and weak green tea I have ever had.  A lifetime friend for certain.

Assam Rembeng TGFOP Organic

I am weary of Assam teas because they usually pack the punch of coffee.  But with careful preparation and the right does of milk and sugar, it makes an excellent morning tea.  As the colder weather has come and the sun is rising later in the day, I find it harder and harder to pay attention in class without dosing off.  This black tea is the kick in the pants I needed!  It has a distinct malty flavor and hearty feel to it- with a flowery/fruity aroma to the leaves.  A yummy treat in these cold months.  Brew for 3-5min in freshly boiled water.  Add milk and sugar to enhance flavors.

Special Teas #247

What does TGFOP mean? Click here to find out!

Simple Sleepy

• 1 part lavender
• 1 part chamomile 

Steep close to boiling (208°-212°F) for at least 4 minutes. 

Sip slowly...

let tensions of  the day ease out of your muscles as the sweet liquid warms your body from the inside out... 

pull up the covers to chin to complete the warming process as rain continues to pound on window outside...

                                                              and place head on pillow.

                                                    

Sweet dreams. 

Your faithful addict, 

The Tea Mistress Extraordinare 

What the Experts Have Said

I'm pretty sure the judges at the World Tea Expo know what's going on.

http://www.worldteaexpo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1404&Itemid=574

Weird and cool things to do with tea

http://www.stashtea.com/tea+beauty+remedies.aspx

Use it as an antiseptic, mix it with alcohol, bath in it for a tan.  Crazy stuff.

Get your orange on

Awesome Customer Service

Upton Tea receives a gold star for their customer service.

A few weeks ago I ordered Upton Tea's Egyptian Peppermint, available at lower cost due to their original Peppermint being out of stock last season. The bargin hunter I am, I ordered it, and received 100g of mush. Not literally, but the taste was musty and far from the Peppermint I was expecting. Within 4 days of writing a scathing email, I had a new 100g of tasty, fresh, and delicious Peppermint tea sitting in my mail box at no additional cost.

However, I am stuck with 100g of "Egyptian Mint." At least I didn't have to return that. Maybe I'll make soap or something with it...any ideas?

Your Faithful Addict,

The Tea Mistress Extraordinare