Friday, November 27, 2015

Tasting Experience: Winter Garden Teas from Palais des Thés


Growing up in the suburbs, I never had much time to walk through rustic gardens or have adventures in the forest. Aside from ice skating, I wasn't one for winter outdoor activities. Although I did go hiking on occasion and once had the pleasure of walking through the woods in the West of France. During the magical walk I remember the absolute quiet, and sheer sense of peace I could feel right through my core. Even though I didn't have many wintertime garden experiences, I still managed to  cozy up with warm drinks and inhale the aroma of spices slowly baking in the oven on chilly afternoons.


I'll never forget the comfort of sitting in a warm house under a fuzzy blanket while letting a warm drink flood my senses with peace. This feeling of comfort is what Palais des Thés is hoping to convey with their new line of Winter Garden teas. Warmth, nostalgia, and of course delicious flavor. I'm always skeptical of tisanes (Palais des Thés refers to tisanes as infusions), since I'm not a fan of many herbal teas. They're too mellow, too floral, too...not tea. So I went in to the tasting with some skepticism. Palais des Thés has many specialized infusion blends, which are created with health and flavor in mind. The General Manager of the store welcomed us and we dove in to the three different teas.


The first we tried was the Forest Garden tea. This tea is packed with fruits and berries. It has a deep red color. It was juicy, tart, yet earthy. I could taste currents, blackberries, and apple, which gave sweetness and a robust berry flavor. The earthiness was from the beets, which not only lent flavor but also added a beautiful color. The infusion also contains elderberry which is a deep berry flavor and is also supposed to be helpful to fight colds during winter months. I don't like to discuss the health benefits of tea, but I have read quite a bit about elderberry. I enjoyed this tea, and had the idea to add a little of the infusion to my cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving. I think the intense berry flavor would pair well with the tart cranberries and sweet citrus that I use in the sauce.


The second tea was Festive Garden. I noticed this tea had huge pieces of citrus and I was a bit hesitant to try it. I enjoy citrus, but only in subtle amounts in tea. I admit I was enticed by the aroma, because it has strong chocolate notes along with the citrus. When I tasted the brew, I was happy the bits of cocoa, apples, and grapes rounded out the citrus flavor. It reminded me a bit of chocolate covered orange peel. This would be a lovely tea to serve during the holidays along with chocolate desserts. It would also make an interesting addition to a sweet sauce.


Our final tea was Queens Garden. This one intrigued and puzzle me the most. It has big pieces of apples, almonds, and cinnamon. I've never had actual nuts in tea before, and I wasn't sure if I'd like it. The aroma smelled like an apple pie- apples, cinnamon and sweetness. I was quite taken with the brew- it tasted like apple pie filling. Sweet apples, spicy cinnamon, and a nice earthy almond flavor. It reminded me of those lazy snow days, warming up and inhaling the apple pie baking in the oven. My grandmother used to make stewed apples, and this aroma reminded me of that as well. This tea brought me many happy nostalgic memories.  It is a nice tea to drink after dinner in lieu of dessert. I'd also be interested to try brewing it with hot apple cider. Maybe add a shot of brandy.

I admit, I enjoyed these herbal teas much more than I was expecting to. I was surprised at how much flavor was in the cup. With all of these festive flavors, the teas would make a nice holiday gift.


Monday, November 23, 2015

Interview: Naomi Rosen of Joy's Teaspoon

Naomi Rosen at World Tea Expo
Today's interview is with Naomi Rosen of Joy's Teaspoon. She is an online tea retailer, based in Las Vegas and is involved with the US League of Tea Growers, where she is helping to support our nation's expanding tea farms. Read below to learn about her adventures in tea, and family.

Thursday, November 19, 2015

GIVEAWAY: Chambre De Sucre Gift Pack!



As promised in yesterday's post, it is time for the Chambre de Sucre giveaway! Enter to win the following lovely sugar creations:

- 1 package of 4 diamond sugar stirrers
- 4 piece sucre carré  gift set
- 1 bottle mini heart sugars
- 3 cup huggers


a Rafflecopter giveaway




Good luck everyone! Contest ends on 11/25. Right in time to start your holiday shopping!



Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Sweet Thoughts


I have fond memories of sitting at my grandmother's table, watching her sip her tea (a no nonsense teabag, made strong) with a sugar cube expertly clutched between her teeth. She was able to keep that cube in place sip after sip. I tried to imitate her, but I could never stop myself from biting through the sugar after one sip. In my mind, my grandmother's skill was an impressive act of restraint.

She was always particular about which sugar cubes she liked to use. They couldn't be the tiny little mini cubes. She liked the larger, more rectangular sugars. They were more substantial for her large cup of tea. To my young mind, I didn't understand why there was a difference. Of course, more sugar would be better, but why would the shape matter? I never realized that the look and feel of the sugar was just as important as the taste.

I've recently been introduced to photos of gorgeous artisanal sugars from Chambre de Sucre on Instagram. I've drooled over these beautiful little works of art that stir my feminine side. There are sugars to suit every style and mood. Little petite hearts and flowers, or more substantial beautifully decorated cubes that my grandmother would have adored. And those cup huggers! I end up making high-pitched happy sounds every time I see them. Browsing through the website makes me feel like a little girl in an enormous toy shop. I want just about everything.


I was lucky enough to receive some of these sugars of my very own, and they are even more beautiful in person. They just beg to be placed on an antique porcelain teacup. One that isn't too ornate, so the sugar can be properly admired and enjoyed. I have to admit I was reluctant to try them because they look so perfect! I didn't want to waste even one. But they are sugar, made to be dissolved in tea or on the palate. I forced myself to try one of the little flower sugars. It's going to sound overly-dramatic, but it was just the perfect little drop of sweetness. You may scoff, but for me it is true.

The sugars on the website come in all different forms and package sizes, and the founder Lisa has created smaller packages designed for gift-giving. Perfect for the holidays, or just to show someone that they are in your thoughts. Lisa has found the perfect way to create a delicate sensory experience to accompany tea (or coffee if you must).

**Stay tuned, tomorrow I'll be hosting a giveaway and you can win a beautiful gift package of various sugars all for yourself, or to give as a special holiday treat!**

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Interview: Nicholas Lozito of Misty Peak Teas


It's amazing how one small moment can forever change your life. This happened to Nicholas Lozito, while travelling alone on the Tea Horse Road through Yunnan, China. He was interested in farming and photography, but wasn't focused on tea. That all changed on a  rainy day hiking through the mountains. He was invited by a young farmer to sit down and have some tea. This one event led him through a multi-year tea journey, and a life-long friendship. His tea exploration resulted in Misty Peak Teas, a tea company focused only on pu'er. Tea from the one farmer he met on a fateful rainy day. Nicholas' story is extremely interesting, and I am excited to share it with you.

Friday, November 6, 2015

A Tandem Tea Tasting of Yellow Teas


Yellow teas have always seemed a bit mysterious to me. They're not green teas, and they're not oolongs. They are a bit difficult to find, and the processing is a bit complicated. I hate to admit it, but it's just not a type of tea I've ever gotten around to tasting before. I was recently invited to an online tandem tea tasting of yellow teas, and I knew I had to participate. My introverted side tried to persuade me against it. But I knew I'd enjoy chatting with tea people, and I successfully ignored her nagging voice.

The tasting was organized by Jo J, and consisted of teas from Seven Cups. I don't have much experience with the company so I was excited to try a few of their teas. Yellow teas are lightly oxidized, which makes them a bit different from green tea. The tea is allowed to oxidize slowly to give the leaves a more yellow appearance. It is difficult to process and harder to find. The processing is supposed to tone down some of that vegetal green tea flavor. A week or so before the tasting I started to feel a little like the shy girl in high school- the whole group is already friendly and I was the 'new girl'. But I was looking forward to seeing some old tea friends face to face, and meet new ones.

I had to join the tasting late, since my husband was away and I had to get the kids to bed. Of course the bedtime routine took longer than usual ('one more book!' 'wait, wait, I have a question for you, mommy!'). Finally I joined the group that consisted of Jo, Nicole Martin, Jen Piccotti, Robert Godden, Geoffrey Norman, Rachel Carter, Darlene Meyers-Perry, and Nicole Schwartz. We were later joined by Linda Gaylard. What an amazing group! By the time I joined, the first tea had been steeped, and they were in the middle of the second.

I quickly started up my kettle and filled my gaiwan with Meng Ding. The scent had cooked vegetable and something...perfume-like and floral.  It was similar to green tea but also had floral oolong notes. The taste was mellow, vegetal, yet...soapy? I was having a cilantro moment- any time I try cilantro it tastes like something I'd wash my hands with. Thankfully Robert Godden mentioned this soapy taste. After a bit of discussion we decided that the soapy flavor could be caused by using too much leaf. It's certainly possible because I quickly filled my gaiwan and probably steeped it a touch too long.

After a few sips of tea my son decided to pay me a visit and announce that he had a bathroom need. well timed, as usual. So I had to leave the discussion for awhile. When I returned we were well into the second yellow tea, Mo Gan Huang Ya. So again I quickly prepared my tea and took a sip. I enjoyed this the more than the Meng Ding. It was much mellower, and I didn't get that soapy taste. It had an interesting soft, almost creamy mouthfeel. It was still slightly vegetal with muted floral notes. I wanted to re-steep this tea a few times, but it was getting quite late and I already have insomnia issues. So I resisted temptation.

In between the tea insights, the chatter drifted towards Star Wars. Ok, this made me feel at ease. These folks all like Star Wars? These are definitely people I can relate to. We chatted about blogging a bit, and then I knew it was time for me to make my exit. It was wonderful to sip with folks that are as enthusiastic about tea as I am.

Thank you to Jo for organizing this tasting! I look forward to attending another.