Not Your Average Leaf

An Ode to Chun Mee

2010-11-04T10:33:00.000-04:00

Oh Chun Mee how I love thee, let me count the ways! I have found green tea nirvana. I found this minx in a local supermarket, and was supposedly purchased from SpecialTeas as # 522. This tea is smoky and sweet, yet reminiscent of ripe plums. Not like any other grassy, vegetal, and weak green tea I have ever had. A lifetime friend for certain.

Assam Rembeng TGFOP Organic

2010-11-04T10:28:00.001-04:00

I am weary of Assam teas because they usually pack the punch of coffee. But with careful preparation and the right does of milk and sugar, it makes an excellent morning tea. As the colder weather has come and the sun is rising later in the day, I find it harder and harder to pay attention in class without dosing off. This black tea is the kick in the pants I needed! It has a distinct malty flavor and hearty feel to it. A yummy treat in these cold months.
Brew for 3-5min in freshly boiled water. Add milk and sugar to enhance flavors.

Special Teas #247

Chai Tea

2010-10-27T11:03:00.003-04:00

What a gem of a Chai this is! Again, I did not expect much from a $2 box of tea but I must say- whoa. This Chai was not overly harsh like most brands. It flowed smoothly, without trying to prove it was full of peppercorns and ginger. A new fall-favorite of mine. I was so impressed, I will definitely be reviewing more blends from this company. Sold by Good Earth.

Black Currant

2010-10-27T10:57:00.000-04:00

Don’t let the $5 tin at Hannaford fool you. Upon opening the container I found the seductive and powerful scent of rose petals drifting in the air. Not like other teas that try to mask black tea with rose oil. The black currant tea lends itself to a naturally floral/rose black tea, great with a bit of milk and nothing more. A personal favorite. Sold by Harney and Sons Fine Tea.

Green Tea Tropical

2010-10-27T10:54:00.000-04:00

Green tea that is not boring. The tropical fruit notes –pineapple and guava- complement this tea, rather than overpowering. A harmonious mix that transports you to summer days in the dead of winter. Sold by Mighty Leaf.

White Orchard

2010-10-27T10:50:00.003-04:00

Very aromatic upon opening the pouch with silk tea bag inside. Strong peach and melon scent. Brews rather strong for a white tea. Hints of fruity flavoring while drinking. Use sugar to bring out flowery notes. Hard to taste the white leaves over the fruit medley. Excellent as a cooled tea with sugar. Sold by Mighty Leaf.

Finum Medium Infuser

2010-10-27T00:47:00.003-04:00

I've had this for almost 2 months and it works great. I find it much easier to clean than my old 16 oz. Teavana Perfect Tea Maker. Plus the leaves can drip dry in a second cup for multiple infusions. Soggy leaves no more!

White Lavender

2010-10-27T00:16:00.005-04:00

I substituted Chamomile for Elderflower in my White Lavender blend and the result is an incredible cup! I might fall asleep while typing this because this tea is so relaxing. Recap of the new recipe is below:

1.5 tsp White Peony
1/2 tsp Lavender
1/2 tsp Chamomile

Steep for 5 mins @ 180 degrees F

Review: Making a Good Thing Even Better!

Finum Medium Filter Bags

2010-10-26T14:00:00.002-04:00

I just received in the mail from Amazon.com my order of Fill-your-own tea bags. They are much larger than I anticipated, but they do allow a lot of room for full leaves to expand. I packaged up some of the Moroccan Mint I made the other day and the Gunpowder Green happily expanded to its rightful size. They look absolutely silly, and I'm not sure they would make good gifts. I think if I packaged up loose Lemon Grass in these as a Christmas present, my mother would die laughing at the giant proportions.

I think the Red Rose Tea Bag is afraid of being eaten...

Traditional Chai

2010-10-26T00:00:00.005-04:00

This is attempt No. 1 at making Indian Chai. Here goes nothing.

1/2 cup Black Tea of Choice
3 whole crushed cinnimon sticks/bark
12 whole crushed black peppercorn
5 whole crushed cloves
5 whole crushed cardamon seeds
1 tsp crushed cumin
4 whole crushed allspice
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg

Steep for 5 mins @ 212 degrees F

Review: Pending. Still need to go shopping.

Floral White

2010-10-25T20:40:00.003-04:00

I found myself looking for a way to make plain white tea more exciting because let's face it, White Peony on its own is quite bland. I originally thought of adding dried peaches to the mix or even blueberries, but that will have to be another day. I managed to come across some bulk lavender at the store and thought this would be worth a try. If you are like me, I usually start my day off with a powerful black tea blend and then coast through the rest of the day on lighter greens and whites. This combo makes a nice post-dinner tea.

1.5 tsp China White Peony 'Pai Mu Tan' (SpecialTeas #557)
1/4 tsp Lavender (Frontier)
1/4 tsp Elderflower (Frontier)

Steep for 3 mins @ 180 degrees F

Review: The delicate floral notes of this 'Pai Mu Tan' are enhanced by the addition of Lavender and Elderflower. To be enjoyed without sugar or honey for experiencing this blend's nuances.

Moroccan Mint

2010-10-25T17:10:00.002-04:00

There is something about the combination of a smoky green and mint that wakes me up from any slump. After stealing several cups worth of peppermint from my neighbor, I finally broke down an ordered a 100g tin from Upton Teas (suggested to me by my partner in crime). I must say, I am pleased with the herb. It is more powerful than any other mint blend I have had at the school dining hall.

3/4 tsp China Gunpowder Green Organic (Special Teas #520)
1/2 tsp Domestic Peppermint (Upton Teas #389A)
1/2 tsp Spearmint (Frontier)

Steep 3 mins @ 180 degrees F

Review: A Moroccan mint that will knock your socks off. The smoky gunpowder taste is noticeable with the first sip, followed with cooling mint tones that linger. No need for sugar here.

Sweet Dreams

2010-10-25T15:18:00.003-04:00

Okay, so after my very successful trip to Morning Glory I was a little excited to start mixing things. I've been on the lookout for a new bed-time brew and plain old Chamomile just isn't doing it for me anymore. I went for the tried and true sleep/relaxation aides. We will see what happens from there!

1/4 tsp Elderflower (Frontier)
1/4 tsp Lavender (Frontier)
1/2 tsp Chamomile (Frontier)
1/2 tsp Raspberry Leaves (Frontier)

Steep 10 min @ 212 degrees F

Review: After adding a touch of honey to this herbal infusion, the flavors balanced out wonderfully. The Raspberry Leaves are the first taste to hit the pallet, followed by the sweet and calming flavors of the Lavender. The Chamomile and Elderflower add their own sweetness to the brew, making this the perfect blend to drink before bedtime. Elderflower is known for its ability to maintain a healthy immune system as well, so drink up!

Future Apothecary

2010-10-25T12:00:00.001-04:00

Just today I discovered that Morning Glory has a wall full of every flower, herb, or spice you could imagine. Perfect for the budding tea blender! Expect a slew of new blends to try, since I just bought several herbs to start experimenting with. The best part is that if you find a recipe you like, it will cost pennies to make since Morning Glory sells its herbs in loose bulk. If you lucky, maybe I'll blend a batch up for you anyways. I am a tea snob by definition, but more importantly a bargain-hunter. I believe in quality at an appropriate price. So stay tuned, I have a feeling my dorm room with become an apothecary.

My Current Inventory for Mixology

Red Rooibos and Lemon Grass

2010-10-25T00:18:00.000-04:00

I have seen similar attempts from other tea companies, but sometimes you just can't mess with the goodness of simplicity.

1/2 tsp Rooibos Superior Grade Organic (SpecialTeas #950)
1/2 tsp Lemon Grass, Course Cut (Upton Teas #BH65)

Steep for 10 mins @ 212 degrees F

Add honey if desired

Review: Lemon Grass has been a long-time favorite of mine since childhood. Tangy, yet smooth in nature, it boosts the natural sweetness of the red bush tea. A simple and excellent blend to try.

An Introduction

2010-10-25T00:17:00.001-04:00

A little summary about myself before I get too into detail. I'm a liberal arts college student who started drinking loose leaf tea about 3 years ago. Since then I've become a fanatic. I've tried several different loose leaf tea companies and recently I've thought about blending my own for a change. I've noticed a complete lack of information available on the web about tea blending recipes, except for a few rare videos and how-to's here and there. So for posterity's sake, I will be documenting my blending attempts in hopes of finding 'The Perfect Blend'. Hilarity may ensue.

The Sexiest Tea Pot Alive