3008 Tasting Notes
Somebody once said that waiting for a major weather event that’s been local headline news for days is like being stalked by a killer turtle. Our turtle is due to arrive Tuesday—foot of snow; sub-zero temps. I don’t do even do the mild version of winter well, so something soothing is much needed this evening.
I haven’t written about this much—a fall acquisition from an out-of-town Fresh Market (Whole Foods lookalike), but I’m down to just a few bags. It is lavender heavy, but not like grandma’s talcum powder. I’m not sure there’s enough valerian in the blend to have much effect on my night’s sleep, but the overall effect soothing and makes me think of lilacs in the sunshine and honeybees browsing in my container garden.
I’ve been saving this for special occasions. “Snow day, I’m frazzled from working on home office matters all day, and I’m very tired” is an occasion, isn’t it?
Thus, to smooth out the frazzles, I made this as a latte with skim milk and left the bag in. It’s practically white chocolate cocoa. Recommended.
This was a recent whim purchase from the bulk jars at Fox Farm, our local indie place. Nice and fresh and maybe just a touch citrusy, especially with a spoonful of cocoa nibs tossed in as a counterpoint. Chocolate orange lite.
I’m kind of warming up to this one…our office feels like a rainforest in the mornings and a glacier by mid-afternoon, and a caffeine-free warmer-upper is welcome. Mostly rooibos and cinnamon (the “granny’s spice cabinet” kind, not the red hot candy kind) with a little natural sweetness from both ingredients.
Calming in times of national peril. Fortifying when courage is required. So says the product description on the Rare Tea website. Considering family events of late, I’d brew this by the gallon on that guarantee alone :)
But fortunately, it has a lot going for it beyond the description. At just a two-minute steep (heresy!) it is strong, bready (dark pumpernickel), and slightly sweet. Those of you who prefer tea that doesn’t wear combat boots would want millk.
I thought it sounded right up your alley! I hope it fulfills all of its promises!
Daughter who lives with us said to tell you – adding milk is like girls who wear combat boots with sundresses.
Should I tell her that as a child I wore Dingo boots (advertised by Joe Namath and few people on here will remember those commercials!) with maxi dresses? I made my mother sigh a lot.
Cowboy boots with leg warmers here. ;)
From a work friend who raved over it. I was pleasantly surprised not to have to squunch up my face from a lot of tartness. Read through some prior reviews as I was sipping it … some of you will remember K S, whose general pronouncement was “kool-aid.” Yeah, cranberry kool-aid about sums it up. In a nice way.
Isn’t it a wonderful thing when a kind friend who knows you’re knotted up like a bad macrame project sends a surprise to untangle you? One of those thoughtful gifts arrived today, and this herbal blend was in the box.
It’s beautiful—looks just like something the herb granny would’ve gathered in her basket just last week. Big mint leaves, fresh chamomile. And while the flavor profile is typical of a mint-and-cami tisane, the provenance of each ingredient is fair proof that they were selected thoughtfully and deliberately for medicinal purposes.
Until I read the tea description, I had never heard of Mexican Toronjil Rojo, but I’m catching a very mild anise hint with it, as advertised. We’ll test the relaxation efficacy at bedtime (when the brain turns on the moment my left ear hits the pillow), but there’s tulsi in this little leaf garden, which is one herb that actually works on me.
Thank you, friend! <3
Somebody left this on the pay it forward shelf at work, and I’m a magpie: see something shiny, pick it up. (And I never have enough good decaf options.) First test cup wasn’t bad, extremely light and grassy. Decent option for days I’ve overdone the hard stuff.
Elder care is not for sissies. We have been unsuccessfully researching care and living options for mom-in-law and I feel like a moth who has beaten its little head senseless on light bulb after light bulb without getting anywhere.
So this evening I folded my scorched wings and overheated brain, picked out a playlist of hymns that made my heart happy, crocheted to the beat, and washed it all down with a double bagger—this nice spearmint/peppermint blend, plus a tulsi chaser. Other reviews mention a cooling effect. I concur. Leaves your taste buds a little tingly.
Sounds like the perfect break that you needed. Take care of yourself while dealing with the care of your mother-in-law! :(
Thanks for the kind words!
I hope the tea helped and that a solution presented itself to you!
Tea, yes; solutions, nothing. Waiting lists, waiting periods, waiting for return calls, no clear and helpful “here’s what you should do and in what order” answers.
Whoa, I had not heard about that! We have a chance of rain mixed with sleet Wednesday, and I expect all the milk and bread will be sold out by tomorrow night.
We’re in the middle of a two-day snowstorm here in Toronto, after just clearing up from a big snowstorm last Wednesday. I feel your pain. :)
We do have some snow and temperatures dropping down to -15 °C (5 °F), so that it quite low for us here. But, as I said, there is some snow outside, so it is not that bad…
Our forecast changed to 100% chance of snow and ice mixed. IF we get it, ice and power lines down will be one of the biggest problems. We have purchased bread as required by the universe. We already had milk.
Hope everyone stays safe, warm, hydrated, and well-fed through the bad weather!