Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween, everyone! Drinking a Darjeeling from SerendipiTea to gear up for trick or treating with the little ones!

Tea infused chocolates

Chocolate and tea are two of my favorite things, but not always together. The combination is familiar to me; I've had tea infused chocolate truffles many times, especially as a mignardise at the end of a fancy meal. I've also started to see chocolate bars made with tea flavors in stores, but I usually overlook them. I like my chocolate at about 75% cacao without any added flavors aside from salt. But this afternoon PC came over to my desk and offered me a taste of 'maté and cacao nibs' dark chocolate. How could I say no? Especially since it was dark chocolate!

I usually shy away from tea infused chocolate because the tea commonly used is earl grey. I'm not a big fan of bergamot (is that sacrilegious for a tea drinker?), so I don't usually drink earl grey or any other citrus tea combination. But the tea used for this chocolate bar was yerba maté, so I decided to give it a try. I don't drink yerba maté very often, because it has an herbaceous taste that I'm not looking for in my tea. But add 72% dark chocolate, and I'll give it a try! The chocolate had a nice fruity tang to it, along with the herbal, tobacco-like taste of maté. There is also a faint hint of anise. It is definitely a unique combination to pair with chocolate. I don't think I'd buy it for myself, but possibly for an adventurous chocolate lover.

On their website, the other Dark Chocolate varieties that The Tea Room makes is 'green earl grey' and 'raspberry rooibos tea'. Given my feelings towards bergamot, as well as herbal tea, I may not rush out to try these. But if PC picks up a bar, I will hopefully get to try a little taste...

It looks like The Tea Room has a nice selection of loose teas that I'll have to try when I am looking for something new to drink. If anyone has tried any of their loose teas, please let me know what you think.

As far as pairing of chocolate and tea, I'm also not a fan of 'chocolate teas'. If I want chocolate in my warm drink, I'll have a hot chocolate. When I feel like having a bit of chocolate with my tea, I think I'll stick to nibbling a piece alongside a nice warm cup of tea.

The Tea Room 'Tea Infusions' with Maté and Cacao Nibs

Chai on the parlor floor

This past weekend consisted of unpacking, moving boxes from one room to another, and cleaning our new apartment. To take a tea break, I decided to try a 'masala tea' that had been a gift from a friend who recently returned from India. I'm a big fan of masala chai, I would make it with whole spices when I had more free time on my hands. If I remember correctly, the recipe I used contained cardamom pods, a piece of cinnamon stick, a piece of ginger (when available), peppercorns, and a couple of cloves, along with black tea, sugar, and milk. I'm not sure what spices were with the tea inside the pink bag I was given, because they appeared to be ground up. According to the label there was cardamon, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, saffron, and black pepper. But the whole mixture just smelled strongly of cardamom. I should have boiled the tea and water together with milk, but I absentmindedly put the kettle on and put the tea in a strainer. So I just added the milk afterwards. I couldn't find the sugar (I thought we had unpacked all of our food?), so I added honey instead. Again, not the best choice, but it's what I had on hand, and I was eager to try the tea.

I don't know what authentic masala chai should exactly taste like, but I know how I like mine to taste. The tea basically tasted like cardamom and honey, which isn't really a bad thing, but I would have preferred a few other spices to come through. It was very thoughtful of my friend to bring back tea from India, so I'm sure I will continue to brew it. Perhaps I'll doctor it up with a few extra added spices when I have a little more time to spare.

Russian Morning sadness

As I've mentioned, I always try to have a sufficient stash of tea in my office. I drink countless cups during the day, and I get cranky when I can't get my tea fix. It's always chilly in my office as well, and a good cup of tea is always a welcome way to warm my hands. Today I noticed I was very low on black 'breakfast' style tea, so I ran out to the local grocery store to see what I could find.

This is a store that usually has some sort of black tea that will work in a pinch. On occasion I've even found a few that have pleasantly surprised me. Today the pickings were slim, but I noticed a little box of Kusmi Tea 'Russian Morning No 24' on the shelf. I've enjoyed the loose leaf version of this tea before, so I thought I'd give it a try. It's an odd tea to find at a grocery store, and it was pricey at $10 for a box of 20 'muslin teabags', but I was desperate. Besides, when you break it down per cup, it is not too expensive. At least, that is what I was trying to tell myself.

There were a few warning signs that I ignored about this box of tea, and I'm sorry I didn't pay more attention to them. 1) the box was the last one on the shelf, and it was a little smooshed. 2) there is a place for a 'best before' stamp, but there was no date. 3) something about 'muslin tea bags' for mass produced tea just made me think i was going to be disappointed. perhaps because it is trying too hard. But desperate me decided that I'd spring for it anyway.

Right out of the box, the muslin teabag is a little disappointing, but there is room for hope. The bits of tea leaves are small but at least recognizable. It makes me wonder why they bothered to use a muslin bag for steeping such small pieces of tea. But at least they were attempting to give their tea a chance to shine. I took a sniff, and the tea didn't smell like anything at all. Still trying to be optimistic, I brewed a small pot. I took a sip, and was sad. The tea didn't really taste like anything. Just warm, slightly malty water. A big disappointment. Since I have enjoyed this tea before, but in the loose leaf form, it's possible that the grocery store just sold me stale tea. They must have kept that little box on the shelf for months, hoping some desperate sucker would come by and purchase it. If anyone has had a positive experience with this bagged tea, please let me know!

If I'd wanted a tasteless tea, I'd just go for one of the generic bags that are offered in our lunchroom. I was looking for a nice bold breakfast tea for a chilly, sleepy, late morning break. I guess I will just have to use this tea to warm my hands when it gets particularly cold in the office. Or perhaps I could figure out a way to empty the tea out of the muslin, and use it to steep a better tea.

Kusmi Russian Morning No 24

a quick tea break

Today has been one of those days. I've been running from one meeting to the next, and getting pulled in all directions. My head is also swirling with the many things going on at home. When I had a few minutes for lunch, I decided to try an Assam tea I had picked up on sale at a local store. I know Assam is more of a breakfast tea, but I enjoy the bold flavor all day long.

This Assam from 'two leaves and a bud' tea company is a surprising change of pace from my regular black tea rotation. This tea has a pleasant aroma and a smooth taste, along with a nice malty undertone. However, I wouldn't consider it a great breakfast tea. Honey is the predominant flavor that unfortunately masks everything else. It is a nice afternoon tea, but it's not quite bold enough to wake me up in the morning. It is actually too smooth and soft, if that makes any sense. The tea was on sale at the store, but I think it usually costs about $8. I'd consider it a mid-range price. The leaves are in small pieces, but I was still able to get a full tasting brew. I do admit that the gentle smoothness of this tea worked wonders in relaxing me, and helped me forget my worries for a few minutes. I don't think this tea will make it into my every day rotation, but it will work well when I am in need of some peace during the work day.

If anyone out there has tried other varieties from two leaves and a bud, let me know what you think!

two leaves and a bud-Assam tea

Vinegar Hill Tea

Bringing young children out for brunch is always a gamble. You never know if they will sit and eat, or instead try to spill things, play with knives, drop food on the floor and run around the restaurant. With my daughter Hana, it is usually a combination of sitting for 5 minutes, then playing with everything on the table, and whining until she is taken outside to run around.

Despite the extra energy it takes to bring our kids to restaurants, we try to go as often as possible. It gets them used to eating out, and it also helps us attempt to feel like social beings. We met our friends at Vinegar Hill House on a beautiful Sunday morning. It will probably be our last meal there for quite awhile, since we are moving to Park Slope in 2 days. Vinegar Hill House is a great neighborhood place- the atmosphere is quirky and rustic, and the food is seasonal and simple. Most of it is quite tasty and thoughtfully prepared. Pork is a predominant ingredient on the menu, which is always a good thing. But I’m here to talk about the tea. I asked the waiter for the types of black tea they had, and he simply replied with ‘China Black’. In desperate need of caffeine, I placed an order for a pot. The price escapes me, because my daughter kept grabbing the menu out of my hands.

When the tea arrived we let it steep for a few minutes, and then gave it a taste. It looked and tasted like Yunnan. It had a golden color, and was strong with a very light floral note in the background. The leaves were a nice size, and seemed fairly intact. Most importantly, it gave me a nice caffeine jolt to handle the little girl next to me, who was trying to empty out a salt shaker.

Thankfully our younger baby Noah was having a great time, as he usually does. He is not old enough to make demands or move around too much, and he’s just an all around sweet guy. He was sporting the old-man-ready-for-retirement look, and couldn’t have been happier about it. He couldn’t drink any tea of course, but his big sister did, and she thoroughly enjoyed it. It also gave her something to focus on for a few minutes, which is always a good thing. Vinegar Hill House is a great spot to add a quality pot of tea to your meal, with or without little ones around to keep you busy.

China Black Tea @ Vinegar Hill House- 72 Hudson Ave, Brooklyn

Tea at Bubby's Brooklyn

We are moving to Park Slope in 2 weeks and have not packed a single thing. Living in a small space with two children means odds and ends collect in every corner, and get shoved into every available space. You never know what you're going to find under the dresser, or behind the desk. We have a daunting task ahead of us. On rainy Saturday morning, we had a family outing to Bubby's in order to fuel-up and gain motivation to start packing. We had not visited Bubby's in months, and were happy to discover they had added a 'local' slant to their menu, proudly boasting where they sourced things such as eggs, and meat. I was especially intrigued to see 'Bubby's specialty hot teas' on the menu. $4 for a pot of tea seemed a bit much for a place that is basically a glorified diner. But when I asked for a black tea, the waiter said they had an Assam. Eying the sleepy waiter in disbelief, I was skeptical. But at least they weren't charging that much for a bag of English Breakfast. I was tired and thirsty, so we placed our order.

When the pots of tea arrived, the waiter mentioned that they needed a few minutes to steep before pouring. Another surprisingly good sign. On the rare occasion that we visit a place that has loose tea, they usually have no idea how to prepare it. The leaves were a nice size, and a few minutes of steeping turned the tea a lovely shade of golden brown. It tasted just as Assam should- bold, and slightly bitter, perfect for waking up on a rainy day. I was satisfied, and ready (but reluctant) to start our day of packing.

My three year old daughter enjoyed the tea as well. She has been stealing sips of tea (in moderation) for about a year now, and loves everything from delicate oolongs to over-steeped bitter black teas. I can't drink a cup in front of her unless I'm willing to give up at least half of my share!

If you find yourself in the DUMBO area and are looking for a better than average cup of tea in a (very) family-friendly environment, Bubby's is a good pick. Just be prepared to spend a little more than you would expect.

Assam tea @ Bubby's Brooklyn: 1 Main st, DUMBO