Are You A teapig?

Have you tried teapigs yet? They are merry tea folks with a great aesthetic and delicious high quality tea. The UK company was founded in 2006. I've seen their products in a few local stores here in the states and they recently launched a US website. The new US site is fun to look at and easy to navigate. Of course I also love the company name. How can you ever forget a name like teapigs? I know I can certainly be a piggy when it comes to tea.

love the packaging!

One of the enjoyable aspects of the new website is a search for tea based on mood. I was feeling a bit grumpy, so that's what I clicked on, curious to see the recommendations. The one that caught my eye was 'chocolate flake tea'. Hmm chocolate and Assam together would lift my mood considerably (note to self: order this tea)! To give this feature a spin yourself, check out the moodometer.

English breakfast tea temple

I love that teapigs calls their tea bags 'tea temples'. The temples are biodegradable mesh derived from cornstarch. Much better than many of the other toxic teabags used in the industry. The bags also contain whole leaves.

silver tips white tea

Teapigs generously sent me a package of tea temples for my birthday (first picture above). I was immediately taken with the fun graphics on the packaging. It's rare to find a tea brand that adds whimsy to the packaging while still keeping the overall image sleek and professional. Not only is the packaging joyful to look at, it's also environmentally friendly.

I've tried a few of the teas in my package and they all are fresh and high quality. I particularly liked the English Breakfast, tung ting oolong, and the silver tips white. I was impressed with the flavors produced by a bagged tea. The breakfast tea was malty and a little bit sweet with a strong punch- a classic English breakfast. The oolong grabbed me with a gorgeous floral aroma which translated to the brewed tea. Perfect for an afternoon tea moment. The white tea was gentle but not subtle. Slightly grassy, with the sweet flavors of stone fruit. These tea bags are a fantastic choice for travelling or whenever you don't have access to loose leaf tea.

If you're looking for a new tea experience, definitely check out teapigs! 

Giving Oprah's Chai a Try

You've probably heard the news that Oprah Winfrey has created her own chai blend, sold through Teavana and Starbucks. I've read a few articles and watched a video of Oprah brewing her chai. Starbucks rolled out Oprah's beverages today, so of course I had to check them out.

I can't remember the last time I was in a Starbucks. Their teas are fine in a pinch, but I don't seek them out. A friend and I headed over to our local store to try out the chai. The drink is available hot or iced as a latte or just straight tea. Canisters of the blend are also available for purchase. I decided to try the latte, since I have a hard time finding one that I like. The last time I had a chai latte at Starbucks it was far too sweet for my taste. Oprah's latte is definitely a tad less sweet, but still a bit cloying. This could be easily remedied by asking for less sugar, or even going without it completely. The regular chai latte was a bit heavy, the foam masking some of the spices. But if you don't like your chai spicy it's not a bad thing. I will say I enjoyed the spice blend used in this chai. I could distinctly taste the ginger, clove, cinnamon and cardamom. The ginger and cloves lingered on my tongue long after I finished the drink. I think the blend is supposed to have rooibos as well as black tea, but I didn't taste the rooibos. This is fine with me, since I don't prefer it.

I enjoy creating my own chai at home, where I can control the spices and sweetness. Some mornings I'll make a large pot of it and take it to work in a thermos. But I will say this chai latte will definitely do if I'm out and about, craving something a little sweet and spicy. Perhaps now you'll spot me at Starbucks more than once a year.

A small portion of each chai product sold will be donated to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls. Of course this is great press for Oprah but it's nice to know you're doing a little bit of good while sipping your latte. Like her or not, it's wonderful that Oprah is putting tea in the spotlight. Hopefully it'll urge more folks to give it a try.

Visit: Puff Cha

Tucked away on a quiet street in Hell's Kitchen is a new Thai cafe offering a tasty spin on the classic curry puff, along with other Thai dishes. More importantly, they have a large tea menu that's worth some attention.

I was happy to see a few selections of black, oolong, green, white, and pu-erh teas. There is also chai and lots of herbal choices. My friends and I all wanted different teas so we chose a cup each instead of a pot. When the teas arrived they smelled wonderful and tasted just as good.  I chose a Darjeeling oolong which was delicate and flavorful. On a separate trip I had the organic pu-erh which was also quite nice and a great pairing with the greasy (but delicious) puffs. My companions enjoyed their teas as well.

I did however have two small gripes. First, the cups don't have handles and are extremely hot to the touch. A thin napkin wrapped around the outside didn't help (seen in the first photo above). We had to wait quite a bit for the tea to cool before we could touch the cups. My second issue is with the infusers. I don't like using small restrictive infusers since the leaves don't get a chance to open and breathe. However, our teas were still quite tasty and satisfying. Our server was also attentive with hot water refills.

Pu-erh leaves

Puff Cha has a narrow but cheerful dining area. The staff is friendly and let you sit as long as you like. It's a cute place for lunch or a cup of tea and a pastry. If you are going to try a few of the curry puffs I'd recommend a pu-erh tea to wash it down, as eating more than one will definitely exceed your daily grease allotment. Next time I go back I will probably order a pot of tea, and one of the tempting sweets.

Puff Cha: 457 50th street NY, NY 10019- Recommended for a pot of tea and treats 

Recap: The NY Coffee & Tea Festival

It's been over two weeks since the NY Coffee & Tea festival, and I finally have time for a recap! There was much to see, many people to meet, and good friends to share the experience with. As a full fledged introvert, it's never an easy time to wade through crowds and chat with new people.  But it was a wonderful day. I now have many more teas and companies to write about in the coming weeks!

There were large and small tea companies to feature, but since it would take days to document everyone, here are a few favorites that stood out:

One of the first booths to greet patrons was Owl's Brew. They had a long line last year, and this year was no different. Everyone wanted a sample of their delicious boozy tea drinks. I tried the 'classic' which includes sweetened English breakfast tea and lemon peel. I have to admit I was surprised at just how delicious it was. I made a mental note to swing back and pick up a bottle, but by the time I did they were sold out! They are in lots of local markets though, so I'll still be able to have a delicious springtime tea cocktail.

I've been following The Meaning of Tea on twitter and facebook for awhile, and I was happy to have a sample of their teas. I discovered they grow herbs for their teas at their organic tea farm in Vermont. I love that! I took home their Golden Monkey and Golden Lion Masala Chai teas, and I have to admit they are both quite good. The Masala Chai is a gorgeous mix of tea, herbs, and spices.Both teas need their own blog post (coming soon). I was also given this book, which I can't wait to read! I truly appreciated their kindness and generosity.

I had a fun chat with the guys from Andrews & Dunham and picked up a Spring Keemun, their latest release. I love their passion for tea, and their design aesthetic.

I've tried a few of their teas over the years, and they are all fantastic. They have the best promo materials, too. Love the pins and tattoos they gave out. They sell 'damn fine tea', indeed.

I was excited to see a booth for Joseph Wesley Black Tea, a relative newcomer to the industry with quality black teas. Joe himself was there, and it was lovely to meet him. I admire his passion and dedication to artisanal teas. I've tried a few of their teas, and can't wait to order more. A proper review will be coming soon. I am definitely hooked on their black teas.

If there was an award for the most cheerful folks, I think it would go to Simply Good Tea. These guys were happy, friendly, and thrilled to chat about their tea subscription company. They are trying to bring quality tea with added convenience and affordability. Definitely a great idea. They are currently taking subscriptions via indiegogo if you are interested in checking them out. I look forward to seeing more from them in the future.


The most memorable experience from the day is the tea and chocolate pairing event I attended. Jo Johnson is one of the most elegant and passionate tea people I've met. She gave a fabulous and informative presentation. Doesn't drinking tea and nibbling on chocolate sound like an amazing way to spend the morning? Everyone sitting around me fully enjoyed the interactive presentation.

I was also able to quickly say hello to Niraj from Happy Earth Teas which was lovely, but too brief. Hopefully we'll have more time to chat when we visit family up in Rochester.I also met up with two old friends and we walked the booths together. It was great fun to hear about what samples they liked and didn't. We sampled, walked, and chatted the afternoon away.

Palais Des Thés- Pure Indulgence Cinnamon

To commemorate the first day of spring, I decided to feature the newest teas released by Palais des Thés. The brand has introduced two new teas to the Pure Indulgence line: lavender and cinnamon. I'll start with the lavender, because it is the epitome of springtime in a cup.

This lavender oolong tea is a breath of springtime air. The dry leaves have a strong lavender aroma that immediately relaxed me. I could feel the gentle springtime breeze and see the purple blossoms of Provence. After steeping, the tightly rolled leaves unfurl to reveal their deep green beauty. The lavender aroma is more subtle in the brewed tea along with a mellow vegetal note from the oolong. The tea's lavender flavor and mild vegetal notes are quite calming. It reminds me of being in a fancy spa, which is a 'pure indulgence'. This is a comforting, well balanced tea that would be refreshing iced.

While the lavender tea relaxed me, the cinnamon woke me right up. The dry leaves have a sweet and spicy cinnamon smell. I am so glad the flavors are all natural, since I have tried cinnamon teas in the past that contain artificial flavors. This tea also has the leathery aroma I associate with pu erh, something I have grown to love.

The brewed tea is smooth, and the cinnamon flavor is much more muted than I was expecting, but pleasantly so. The pu erh sings loudly in this brew with woodsy earthy and leathery notes. The cinnamon compliments the pu erh very well to create a smooth and satisfying brew. As with most pu erh teas, giving the leaves a quick rinse with boiling water before the first brew produces a smoother cup. Even though the cinnamon is subtle, the spicy hum lingers for a long time. It reminded me a little of eating Sichuan peppercorns. The only other flavored pu erh I've had recently is the ginger pu erh from Miansai Tea Bar which I also enjoyed. I may seek out other flavored pu erh in the future, to see how they stack up. If you enjoy the unique flavors in pu erh, I'd say this is a good choice to try.

Thank you to Palais Des Thés for providing these two luxurious blends to taste! They definitely enhance the happiness of springtime!

Steep Thoughts: Tea Visualizations

Do you ever notice flavors evoke images in your mind? We all know a nostalgic dish can send us right back to childhood, but what happens when you sip tea? When I focus on flavors in tea, I can picture an entire landscape associated with it. I feel as if I'm transported to a different place, and can hear, see, and taste it.

Sometimes I'll see a sunny field of wildflowers if the tea is bright and floral. I can smell the daffodils and feel the sunshine. Or I'll be walking through crunchy leaves on a fall day if the tea is woodsy and nutty. A smoky campfire crackles in the background.

I'm currently drinking a pu erh which tastes leathery and ever so slightly smoky. I'm travelling on the back of a motorcycle in a wooded area of France with a leather jacket clad rider. I can hear the motor and smell the exhaust. Occasionally we'll pass a small stone house or animal.

For me, the visualizations associated with the tea I'm drinking is part of the meditation. My mind can go somewhere else, away from where I'm sitting.  This transformation will happen anywhere that I'm sipping. Sometimes I just need to clear the thoughts from my mind, but I do enjoy this creative escape.

Have you experienced this transformation? Do certain flavors bring you to specific places?

Get Festive: NY Coffee & Tea Festival

With the frigid NY weather we've had this winter, I am daydreaming of springtime adventures. A pre-spring event to take note of is the 9th annual NY Coffee & Tea Festival is March 22nd and 23rd. If you are considering taking the trip, I urge you to do so. It's a great opportunity to meet and chat with vendors, and learn a few things. There are free and paid events to check out to further enhance your experience as well. There are always lots of freebies and samples at the event which is an added plus!

If you haven't bought tickets yet, Sunday is still available. If you're new to the event, check out my post from last year to get an idea of the festivities.

We're trying to set up a blogger meet up during the event. If you are going, let us know in the comments!