t, an urban teahouse

I grabbed this bag earlier in the week to take to work since I polished off the Tiger Assam I was keeping there, thinking it was a good way to get it used up. It’s a tasty tea, not as “hot” spicy as I had anticipated when I bought it – I was expecting something like chili powder-spicy. It’s more chai-spice spicy, but it’s not a chai. Probably not the best choice to start my day – I think it is aggravating my acid reflux :( So I may have to just give this one away. I promised a friend I would put together some samples for her, so I may include the rest of the bag with that.

My last mug of this – all gone now! I liked this for a work tea, it is good enough for my tea snobbery, but not so good that I am wishing I could point my full attention at it for enjoyment. A good background tea.

Now I have to figure out what to bring to work to take its place; in the meantime, while I inevitably forget to choose and then forget to bring whatever I choose, I have a tin of Twinings loose Earl Grey.

I brought this into work to replace the Chocolate Energy Tea that I used up yesterday. I brewed it in my ForLife brewing mug. This time, I am catching the smokiness that didn’t come out the last time. Not as much malt or cocoa, but I like the basicness of it. I think this will make a decent work tea. And hey, the cupboard at home continues to get roomier!

Brewed in my new mouse teapot I got from Teavana last weekend. Yeah, I know, Teavana. But I love mice and rats, so I couldn’t resist.

I decided that I wanted to dedicate that pot to Keemun, and was planning on buying some from Adagio since I am out. But then I remembered this morning that I had this from a little shop in OKC.

I brewed it gongfu style in the new pot, combining the first and second brew (not counting a rinse) in a small pitcher. I drank a bit straight, which was all right, but I little less soothing than what I want this morning, so I whipped up some splenda and half and half and combined it with the tea in a nice western-style mug. The half and half bring out the maltyness and smooths the rough edges off the hint of tobacco. I can’t detect any smokiness in it, which I like in my Keemuns.

I’ve got quite a bit of this left, and it’s nice enough, I will definitely drink it, but I’ll probably try something different if I get back to T, and just order my Keemun from Adagio.