Festive Favorites

picture from Asiasociety.org


Wishing you all a healthy and happy New Year!  If you're going to have a boozy party, why not try some tea infused cocktails? Here are a few resources for cocktails to try, both hot and iced:

http://www.drinksmixer.com/cat/19/
http://www.winemag.com/Wine-Enthusiast-Magazine/June-2010/Cool-Tea-Cocktails/
http://www.thatsthespirit.com/en/drinks/articles/hot_tea_cocktails.asp
http://imbibemagazine.blogspot.com/2009/05/top-tea-cocktails.html
http://asiasociety.org/lifestyle/food-recipes/food/drinks/new-twist-summer-cocktails

Or you can also try one of my favorites, Oolong-Hai!

Of course you don't need the alcohol to have a joyful celebration. Blending tea with juices and other flavored drinks works well too. Do you have any festive favorites?

Enjoy, everyone!!

Reflection In Loss

Last week the world lost a treasured soul. My Mother-In-Law passed away after a courageous battle with ALS. She was the most fun-loving, optimistic person I've ever had the honor to meet.

Watching family around me grieve in their own individual ways, I noticed the common healing element revolved around food and conversation. Joyous and wonderful stories of our beloved matriarch were shared while new tears were shed over salty cheeks. A warm cup of tea held and consumed absentmindedly. Its warmth fueling the conversation, quietly comforting the mourner.

We gain strength from the family and friends supporting us. In the Jewish tradition we Sit Shiva, which is a time to reflect and remember. I look around and marvel at how many lives she touched and influenced. The feeling of love is overwhelming.

A seemingly trivial cup of tea amidst the sadness was actually a source of peace for me. A personal moment for reflection and remembrance. A small moment of warmth and comfort. Easing a burning throat and puffy eyes.

I will always keep her brightness with me, remembering just how much she influenced my life in the brief time she was a part of it. I will hold my family close and let the joy she felt in life influence all of our daily tasks. The sky has one new shining star watching over us.

a Dragon Well fit for an Emperor

A few weeks ago I mentioned a generous tea gift given to me by my brother and sister in law. While vacationing China, they visited a tea plantation in Hangzhou. I am envious of their tour! They learned about how the tea was grown and processed.

They brought back a beautiful Dragon Well tea called the Emperor's tea. I decided to try brewing this tea in a gaiwan, as it seemed appropriate. I'm a novice at this method of preparation, but why not get some practice!

This tea has distinctive smooth, flat leaves which are a result of the pan-firing process. I wished I was there to see the leaves take shape! It must be an interesting process to watch.

My first couple of infusions smelled vegetal and toasty. The flavor was smooth and delicate with a strong roasted asparagus flavor. A delicate floral note was in the background. My third infusion was much more buttery, and still retained a hint of the roasted asparagus. 

I was also given dried orange peel and hawthorne to add to the tea. I want to taste the tea a few times without anything added to it. When I'm feeling more adventurous I will try the added ingredients. Apparently I will be healthier for it as the brew is supposed to reduce cholesterol.

This is such a lovely tea. It is a special addition to my daily rotation. I'm so grateful for the gift!

Steep Thoughts: The 'Thank you Universe for Giving Us Tea' edition

This afternoon I am steeping a Darjeeling from TeaGschwendner, eagerly anticipating the comfort of that first sip. After a long night with a sick baby and then a full morning, I have been craving the familiar taste of this tea. It always amazes me how flavors and scents can bring instant comfort (or do the opposite). Pure enjoyment or nostalgia, connecting the sensation to a favorite memory.

Playing a favorite song on Spotify and sipping this tea has given me a few minutes of peace. I feel my mood change almost instantaneously. Now on to the rest of this crazy day! How do you use tea to get through your busiest days?

A Visit to DAVIDsTEA

I admit, I have a 'thing' for Canada. I've never met a Canadian I didn't like (and I've met quite a few), and I have loved every Canadian city I ever visited. They also have Mounties and great health care. What's not to like? When I heard that Canadian tea-purveyor DAVIDsTEA recently opened two shops in NYC, I practically grabbed my coat and ran out the door.

I decided to visit the West Village location, as it was more convenient to my office. Getting back and forth in an hour is key! Taking the subway from Midtown and ending up in the charming West Village is always a pleasant experience. Walking through the historic streets of 19th century brownstones and federal style buildings makes me a most happy lady.

The shop is on Bleecker street, the bright wood stands out from the other stores on the block. Walking in I was immediately hit with a loud and enthusiastic 'WELCOME TO DAVIDsTEA!!!' I was a bit startled, but enjoyed seeing all of the smiling faces behind the counter. A sample cup of tea was ushered into my hands as I looked around a bit. A friendly yet laid back employee asked if I needed any help. We chatted for a little bit, and I could tell that he loved working at the store. He seemed relatively new to teas, but was passionate and had all of the basics down. It seems that DAVIDsTEA is known for their flavored blends, but they also have a nice selection of White, Black, Green, Oolong, and Pu-erh as well. When I mentioned I was looking for a new black tea, he instantly started grabbing canisters for me to smell. It was a whirlwind of tea happiness.

If you've been following this blog at all you know I'm not too keen on flavored blends. But while I was smelling the slew of black teas, one called Glitter & Gold jumped out at me. I'm not much of a girly girl, but this tea had sugar gold balls in it. The man helping me mentioned that the tea gets glittery once it steeps. My inner teenage girl started jumping up and down.

I selected a Wild Black Yunnan to purchase. I was looking for a breakfast black tea, and it was picked from wild tea trees. I haven't tried it yet, but the idea is intriguing. I also decided to get a glass travel mug as I have been coveting one for weeks but hadn't pulled the trigger. While paying for my purchases, I was offered a complimentary cup to go. Of course I jumped at the chance to try the Glitter & Gold!

After leaving the store I eagerly uncapped my cup, revealing a black tea with gold glittery flecks slowly floating through it. The teenage girl squealed a little bit. I unfortunately couldn't get a good picture of the glittery goodness, so here is just one of the cup on someone's stoop. It tasted sweet, very cinnamony with a hint of orange and vanilla. Probably not something I'd purchase for myself, but it would be fun to serve at a holiday party, or give as a gift. It is festive, and comes with free entertainment, after all.

My visit was a great break from the day. The store is cheerful and filled with a good selection of tea and accessories. Walking around the neighborhood is always an enjoyable history lesson with historic buildings at every turn. The area is also home to quite a few other tea shops. McNulty's for tea buying in an old-school atmosphere, Bosie Tea Parlor for a lovely afternoon tea break, the always-wonderful Tea and Sympathy, and The Tea Set, a tea cafe that is on my list of places to visit. I sense a West Village tea crawl coming soon...

 

DAVIDsTEA (multiple locations) 275 Bleecker St, NY, NY 10014- Recommended

Highlights- good selection, friendly service, free samples

The Orange peel masquerading as a mushroom!

So after the kids went to bed I tore open the mushroomy package. Still looked like dried mushrooms, but they were more pliable. So I bit one. I was hit with the unmistakable flavor of orange! Guess it is orange peel after all. It was fun to have a mystery ingredient in the house! In the next few days I'll try the tea with and without using the suggested 'recipe'. Stay tuned!

Another Tea Mystery

back of mushroomy package

My generous Brother and Sister in Law visited a tea plantation in Hangzhou China and brought back a wonderful tea gift for me! It included two beautiful boxes of Dragon Well (longjing), a package of dried fruit called 'Hawthorne' and also the above strange package, which looks like dried mushrooms.

front of mushroomy package

Along with the tea there is a pamphlet that is mostly in Chinese, but in English gives 'A Folk Prescription on Dragon Well Green Tea' for high cholesterol and diabetes. The recipe includes the tea, Hawthorne, and orange peel. The package doesn't look like orange peel, but maybe?

 I haven't opened the mushroomy package yet, will probably do so tonight. I plan on a more in-depth post about the tea and the accouterments, but I need to ask- does anyone know what this mystery mushroomy tea thingy is? Please let me know!!