When the weather has you down, tea can lift you up!

Last week we had a few days of 60+ degree weather. I was happy, I was excited. I just got new shorts and a new summer dress, my fiance' had gotten me a new wrap type jacket. I am slowly getting set and ready for that wonderful season called summer. I was greatly depressed when I watched the news last night and they said that dreaded 4 letter word. $n*w! They also mentioned temperatures in the mid 30's to low 40's for most of the week. Nothing above 45 till NEXT week!!!

There goes all my excitement for sun and heat, iced teas while I get a tan. Shorts and tanks, flip-flops, bathing suits. All gone, except that one little dram of hope.... till I woke up from a mid afternoon doze off (I forgot to drink my Mate' this morning.) and look out the window. It was snowing. I was going to take the dog out for a walk, but he wont walk in snow, weather its barely a flurie or its coming down in shovel fulls. He hates snow more than I do.

Then I thought about how great it is to sip a nice hot steamy cup of <insert fave tea here> after you have been out on the cold. How great it is to sip that hot cup of tea watching the snow fall, and NOT going out in it. Then I thought about how each of my teas trigger a thought or memory that makes me smile. So I got my lazy buns out of my blankets and un-wrapped the dog, we went to the kitchen and made our selves a nice hot pot of Earl Grey. Yes, my dog and I sat on the couch watching Bizarre Foods, longing for summer but living blissfully in the sweet steam rising from our cups. Also don't forget the wonderful mood lifting herbs available in tea as well. It is mentally and medicinally helpful.

I would like to encourage you to also live in the sweet steam of your favorite blend. Share with me, and HaRRRy the tea drinking pooch what you are drinking today.

HaRRRy not wanting to get out of his blankets to make tea!



Allergies are a problem no more.... well less of a problem anyway!!

Teavana sent me this wonderful little news letter today letting me know how great rooibos teas are for my seasonal and everyday allergy problems so I felt complelled to share!

Also blending Blueberry Bliss with  Silver Yin Zhen Pearls is perfect for allergy season.





http://www.teavana.com/tea-info/allergies-rooibos-to-the-rescue?SC=EMROINC&cm_mmc=Email-_-RooibosforAllergies-_-cust-_-RooibosRemedy

Earl Grey Creme

As I sit down to write this I am indeed enjoying a cup of this fine black tea. It is a very light bergamot and black blend with a suttle vanilla kiss. Enhanced with blue cornflowers it is a wonderfully light and lovely mid afternoon, early evening drink. I even added a little non-dairy creamer to it and lightly sweetened.

Bergamot is a natural anti-depressant

Black tea aids in lowering cholesterol
good for heart
regulates blood sugar
promotes healthy teeth skin and bones

Although this is a creamy tea is is non dairy

20% caffeine of equal amount coffee

best blended with snow peak downy tips, Swiss vervaine melange', and cacao mint black

$4.50 for 2oz (about 25-30 tea spoons)

1 teaspoon to 8oz of water brought to 195-205 degrees and steep for 2-3 minuets


　http://www.teavana.com/The-Teas/Black-Teas/Earl-Grey-Creme-Black-Tea.axd

I just found out.....

That sadly enough I am allergic to a tea that is exelent in weight loss. I have a sever allergy to Pu-erh. I was down for 2 days with a migrain. It does taste very good, actually I loved it. I will have to stick to Mate's for weight loss, that and green tea. Just wanted to let you guys know that I will not be able to give you reviews on that peticular kind unless some one else gives me a review to share.

I also want to share my condolances to the family and friends of Elizabeth Taylor. She was an icon and her presence will be missed.

I LOVE TEA!!!!

            I know, lame title for my first post but there is no other way around it!!! I love it. I drink about 3 cups of hot tea in the morning, 2 tall glasses of iced with lunch, a small glass of iced with my wine and dinner, and then 2 more cups before bed. THAT'S A LAZY DAY!!! If I have been out side working, exercising, or deep down cleaning, its way more.

          I love tea bags from the grocer, loose leaf from World Market or Teavana, making my own, you name it and I love it. Spicy, mellow, smooth, green, black, white, floral, fruity. Even my dog drinks tea! Tea is very diverse but it doesn't have to be complicated. If you really want to get into it I can point you in all the right directions.

      Today's post will just be a simple listing of teas, amount of tea to water, temperature for brewing and length of steep time. In all of the teas there is a ever expanding variety of flavors. There are fruits, floral, spicy, earthy, just because it says black doesn't mean it will taste like the typical tea bags we make summer iced tea with. I have a wonderful black tea that is a ginger peach, it has mellow fruity notes with a nice little peppery kick from the ginger, you cant even tell its a black. Its more like a serving plate for the flavors. If you have any questions just comment below and if I don't know the answer, I will go find out and post another blog answering you to the fullest that I can.

        All teas have 2 different measurements and times, the first is the hot, the second will be the iced. When making iced you brew it with the standard 1 cup of water (8oz) but you pour it into a tall glass full to the rim with ice. The melted ice makes up the water you need for dilution. If you are not using ice then brew with the water and then pour it into a glass and add another cup (8oz) of cold water and then enjoy or refrigerate for later. This is the brewing system I use because it is fast, easy, and makes 16oz at a time. They have a larger one that makes 32oz at a time. You just put the loose leaf tea in it and add your water after its brought up to temp and close the lid. Once it has steeped you just pick it up and sit it on top of your vessel of choice. It will drain right out the bottom and the tea stays in the top. I also tear open store bought tea bags and dump them in and use it the same way. You get better flavor because the tea has room to breath.

All measurements are teaspoons to 8oz of water and all temps are in Fahrenheit.
          Tea type-------------Amount----------Temp---------------Time

• White Tea                 1.5                      175                           4-5 minuets
•                                    3                       175                           4-5
• **Flav. White               1.5                      175                           2
•                                  3                         175                          2
• Blooming                 1 ball                    180                          3-4 minuets untill bloomed
• **Green                         1                       175                            1
•                                  2                        175                             1
• Oolong                      1                        195                            3
•                                   2                        195                           3
• Mate'                      1.5                        208                          5-6
•                                 3                          208                          8-10
• Rooibos                  1.5                       208                           5-6
•                                  3                         208                          8-10
• **Black                        1                        195-205                  2-3
•                                  2                       195-205                    2-3
• Herbal                      1.5                       208                         5-6
•                                 3                          208                         8-10

** teas will turn bitter if infused longer than suggested time. If stronger flavor is desired add more tea.
I obtained my brewing instructions from Teavana.





Hope I helped somebody out today! Now I am off to drink a tall glass of Mate' to get rid of my headache!! Enjoy!



World Market Tea Shop:   http://http://www.worldmarket.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=4339833&ab=header:menu:fooddrink:drink:tea

Teavana Store Front:   http://www.teavana.com

Tea maker I use:  http://http://www.teavana.com/Tea-Gift-Center/Tea-Gifts-by-Experience/Beginning-Tea-Drinker-Gifts/Teavana-Perfect-TeaMaker.axd