Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Trump Tea?

Today I was roaming around a large discount department store, looking for sandals for my son. I always look through the housewares, just to see what I can dig up. I noticed a few tea tins, so I naturally picked one up for further investigation. I was stunned when I noticed the brand name. Trump Tea. Yes folks, apparently Donald Trump has started a tea brand, and a few sad and lonely tins were sitting on the shelf of a discount store. For $7.99 one could be yours.

Why on earth would Trump create a tea brand? Is it because he loves the Tea Party so much? Politics aside, perhaps it is for sale in his hotel gift shops? I have no idea, but of course there is a website for the tea, if you are interested in learning more. According to the website, the teas are "Inspired by world-renowned developer and businessman Donald Trump, Trump® Tea is a premier collection of gourmet teas that embodies the luxury and sophistication synonymous with the Trump name. Superior quality and attention to detail are keys to Donald Trump’s success and the same principles are applied to all things Trump".
  
So there you go. The tea appears to be whole leaves (and herbs, fruit, etc) in a silk pyramid. I was very curious to try one, but I just couldn't let myself purchase it. I have no interest in supporting anything related to The Donald.

If anyone has tried one of the Trump teas, let me know in the comments!

Friday, May 27, 2011

Steep Thoughts

Today as I was steeping and then enjoying a pu-erh tea from Radiance, I came across this fun and informational interview with Emeric Harney from Harney & Sons. The interview is quite lengthy but is very informative for the newbie; and even seasoned tea drinker would find it interesting. Mr. Harney gave some surprising information regarding tea and caffeine. He speaks about the difference in types of tea, difference between using a tea ball and a tea strainer, and even debunks the old wives tale of 'decaffinating' a tea by flash steeping it.  He also discussed taking a moment to sit down with your cup of tea, and the importance of ritual and tradition. I love that he pointed out that tea is actually cooling on a hot day. I do enjoy iced tea on occasion, but I always drink hot tea, even in the summer.

I had to watch this over a few sittings, but it's worth a look if you have time!

Hope everyone enjoys their long Memorial day weekend. Drink lots of tea!

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Mysterious Chrysanthemum Crystals

A few months ago I received a package in a tea swap, and with the tea came these mysterious chrysanthemum tea crystals. The package does not give much information in English, except to dissolve the crystals in warm or iced water. It also lists the ingredients as chrysanthemum and granulated sugar. The person that gave the crystals to me just said she got them from a friend. She said to add them to tea, or drink them alone.

The cyrstals have a sweet and bitter bite to them. They have a drying effect on the tongue, which reminds me of the tannins in tea. I decided to try them in a cup of basic Yorkshire Gold tea. The crystals give the tea a sweet yet slightly bitter taste. An interesting way to sweeten tea without making it too sweet.

I tried them alone in warm water, and it just takes like sweet water with a very slight bitter note.

I've been doing an online search, and have found a similar product here:

But I can't seem to find much else about this mysterious product. If anyone knows more about it, please let me know in the comments. I'd love to learn more!

Friday, May 20, 2011

Steep Thoughts

And now.. Steep Thoughts. I realized that many of us have some interesting ideas running through our heads as we wait for the tea to steep. So I thought I'd share mine. Please feel free to share yours in the comments
As I sit and wait for my cup of Yorkshire Gold to steep, my thoughts today drift to feelings of nostalgia. The flavor of food, or even tea has the power to bring back nostalgic thoughts for me. With tea, this works particularly well with two kinds- Darjeeling, which was my brew of choice in and after college, and plain ol Lipton with honey and lemon. My mom would always give me tea with honey and lemon when I had a sore throat. It is very soothing, and the lemon will provide a tiny extra bit of vitamin C, which always helps. I always feel better after a cup.

Music can also send me on a memory romp. Just this morning my daughter was watching a Mickey Mouse short that I must have seen as a child because as soon as I heard the sound effects, I knew what it was. It's amazing how our brains can tuck away things as subtle as this. Every so often I'll go on a youtube bender, playing old clips from saturday morning cartoons, or The Muppet Show. Just a few notes of music, or the voice of a character can bring me back. Of course this goes for any song I hear that I obsessively listened to back in my high school and college days as well.

My cup is ready, and I need to bring myself back to reality. But sometimes it's nice to think about things in childhood, and how the simple little things made life so cheerful, and continue to do so. Just like my daughter's snuggles, or a tea break.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Rainy Tisane Season

It has been a gloomy few days here in NYC. The grey clouds are heavy and the tops of skyscrapers are veiled in misty fog. This weather makes it difficult to get up in the morning, and seems to enhance little aches and pains.

I've been saving a special herbal tea for just the right occasion (or more like putting it off until I was ready to try it), and I think it's time. I don't usually drink tisanes, as they aren't officially tea and I don't usually like an herbal or floral tasting brew. But I'm trying to keep an open mind, so I took out a special box sent to me by a fellow tea lover.


The tea is called "Matri: Tea of the Mother", and according to their website, "Matri® was blended to breathe women in birth in the most high & loving way. Matri was created by Sacred Rose® Organic Herbal Teas to inspire mothers to be unified with the higher consciousness of the physical, emotional, mental, & spiritual body systems". I have two young children, so I'm not exactly planning on going into labor anytime soon, but I was intrigued. I also believe drinking tea presents an opportunity to relax and be more aware of the mind and body. The description may have bit a bit 'crunchy' for my taste, but hey, it's a 'mother's' tea, so this worn out mother decided to give it a try.

The leaves smell like dried grass and herbs, but I can't pinpoint anything specific. I wasn't sure how to brew the tea since I didn't see any instructions. But I just added a bunch of the mixture to a cup with a strainer, and poured in the hot water. The brew smells very grassy, which I assume is from the alfalfa and dandelion. There is also a hint of lemon and ginger. It has a very pleasant taste. Gently grassy, a bit lemony and a slight taste of ginger. It has a nice calming effect. It is very soft and smooth on the tongue. I've had a sore throat for a few days, and this tisane is definitely soothing my throat a bit. On this damp and gloomy day, it is warming and cheerful. The grassy flavor makes me hopeful for sunny days out in the park.

The Matri tea contains everything I dislike in an herbal tea, but I'm glad I decided to try it. It has made me pause a bit and re-think. While I won't reach for this tea (or any other of its kind) on a daily basis, it's good to have around when I'm feeling under the weather, or just need a bit of warming up on a chilly day. Perhaps next time I'm offered an herbal tea I will not be so quick to dismiss it. Or at least I'll try to be a bit more open minded.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Bosie Tea Parlor

A few tea shops have popped up recently in the West Village. When Yosh O. mentioned that she was thinking of going to Bosie with her friend BL, I jumped at the chance to join the fun.
I love tea places that are not all frills and chintz, and Bosie is a nice mix of wood tables, walls of tea canisters, and pretty, but not frilly teapots.  L’Âge de Thé is the tea brand within the golden canisters. This is their in-house brand, which according to their web site is "a collaboration between Kiley Holliday, the youngest female Tea Master in the United States, and Nicky Dawda, an accomplished New York restaurateur and former hedge fund CTO...Holliday and Dawda travelled to many estates, personally tasting and selecting the finest teas of each region that comprise the collection."

The tea selection did not disappoint. There are teas for just about every palate. I was also gratified to see the herbal teas relegated to the very back of the tea menu. Anyway, I was in the mood for a black tea, and decided on the Fujian Golden Tips. A little while after ordering, I heard tea timers go off and our drinks arrived. My tea was lighter in color and flavor than I had expected, and was very subtle. I could taste a honey sweetness with a touch of malt. The tea was pleasant and soothing, but I was expecting something a touch stronger. It could be that I had the wrong expectations, but Yosh also commented that she thought her tea was weak. I've mentioned this a few times before, but taste preferences can vary. I wish that we could get the steeping basket on the side, in order to steep longer if necessary. But I suppose that when I dine in a restaurant I wouldn't tell the chef how to prepare the food, so perhaps I shouldn't tell the staff how to brew the tea. Still, I would have preferred it a little stronger.

Along with our tea we had a few standard tea sandwiches, and delicious pastries. I later found out that the pastries are all made by Damien Herrgott, who worked at Ladurée in Paris and Bouley Bakery in New York. As you can imagine, the macarons were very authentic. They had great texture and flavor (for the most part). My favorite macaron was one made with Darjeeling tea.  It had a strong Darjeeling flavor, but also a gentle sweetness. It was exactly how I'd want a Darjeeling macaron to taste! I also had a Matcha macaron which was very well done, and had a strong matcha flavor. The only miss for me, was the 'Jasmin'. I was expecting a subtle floral taste, but it was so strong, I felt like I was biting on a bar of perfumed soap.
 
Tea under glass...true works of art!
Bosie is a nice little find in the West Village. It's a perfect stop after strolling through the neighborhood's historic nooks and crannies. A comfortable place for some tea, and a tasty macaron.

I am compiling a list of 'Tea Happiness Recommended' places in NYC, and Bosie will definitely be included.
Bosie Tea Parlor, 10 Morton Street (212) 352-9900

Friday, May 6, 2011

Today's Steep Thoughts


This week's installment of Steep Thoughts is actually a bit of a rant that went on in my head while steeping a much needed tea to cleanse my palate. Background: while grabbing lunch today, it was warm and I was feeling summery. I decided to try a brand of iced tea that I never usually pick up. I usually stick with Ito En's unsweetened tea when the mood strikes. But if you've been following my posts, you'll know that I've been on a sweetened tea kick lately. Because of this, I was feeling nostalgic for a particular brand's peach iced tea, which doesn't really taste like peach, or tea. But I used to drink it in my college days, and I have a fondness for the flavor. While looking at the iced teas in the grocery store, I noticed a White Peach iced tea from Inko's. I've never tried this brand before, so I thought I'd give it a try. I wish I had thought more rationally about how my palate has changed since college. But I let nostalgia guide me.

The label says 'Made with White Tea-which is documented as one of the rarest and healthiest teas in the world.' Rarest? Is white tea rare? I can get it in any tea shop, and I'm guessing Inko's couldn't charge less than $4 a bottle if it was rare. The label goes on to say, 'Inko's isn't loaded with sugar, nor does it leave you with any harsh, grassy aftertaste.' But I like both bitter and grassy teas! I wish I had read this before purchasing. I knew I was in for an overly-sweet beverage that did not taste like tea.

Well, it did not taste like tea. I did not detect any white tea, I only tasted syrupy sweetness with a slight hint of peach. The tea had a strange cloying consistency, and tasted almost chemical. The dominant sweet taste and whisper of peach did conjure up images of my college days, which I guess is a positive thing. I was drinking the tea outside in the sunshine, which made things better. I had the sun warm my face with a cool liquid to drink, which was a nice break from a hectic day.

With only a few exceptions, it seems sweetened iced teas are always sweeter than you are expecting. I imagine they are catering to an average American soda drinker, and not the tea enthusiast. if you are looking for a bottled tea that tastes like tea (and may have a strong grassy aftertaste!), try the Ito En unsweetened varieties.

When I came back from lunch, I brewed a fresh cup of Royal Yunnan from the newish tea company Tea Licious. The tea was malty, slightly sweet, and just what I needed to wash out the sticky sweetness of the White Peach Tea. Now I feel better. Perhaps the bottled tea will end my sweet tea kick.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Portable Thai Iced Tea

I don't usually add anything to my daily cups of tea. I don't even like sugar in my iced tea. I always ask before ordering one, to make sure it isn't pre-sweetened. As you can imagine, I am a born and raised in the Northeast. The only time I like sweetener in my tea is when it's bubble tea, chai, or Thai iced tea.  Those sweet treats are usually an occasional indulgence. But over the last few weeks, I've had my share of sweet teas with HK style milk tea, and more than one bubble tea. But when Yosh O. and I went to Qi, a new Thai joint midtown, I felt the pull of the milky, sweet Thai iced tea. I noticed it on the menu, and it just got stuck in my brain. Like the little devil that sits on your shoulder, trying to tell you what to do. But there was no angel on the opposite side, convincing me to make a healthier choice.

We ordered everything to go, and I was surprised to see that the tea was in a bag. When I've ordered a tea to go in other restaurants they usually give it to you to hold, to make sure it doesn't spill. After walking about a block, I peeped into the bag, thinking I'd take a sip while we made our way back to the office. I was looking forward to a cool sip of iced tea, when I was confronted with a soup container. The tea was in jail, sealed shut with an airtight lid. How strange, and disappointing! The tea sat in the bag mocking me while we took the long walk back to the office.

I had a large ceramic cup at my desk, so I thought I wouldn't have to slurp out of the plastic soup container. But I was very thirsty, and also worried that my attempt to pour the tea into the cup would result in a sticky keyboard. So I drank from the plastic container. It was almost like drinking from a tea bowl...almost. Despite the hassle, it was actually very good Thai iced tea. Much better than what I've had in most midtown restaurants. It was sweet, but the strength of the tea came through, as did an interesting flavor I couldn't identify. Possibly tamarind? It could be star anise, which is a typical Thai Iced tea ingredient, but I didn't taste licorice.

Since the restaurant had just opened a few days prior to our visit, I'm guessing that they didn't get their order of take-out beverage containers. At least, that is my hope. When I return to the restaurant, I'll probably order the tea only when I have time to dine-in, just in case.

It's time to cleanse myself of all the sugar, condensed milk, and artificial additives that I've consumed over the last couple of weeks. What better way than with many, many cups of tea.