Thursday, December 13th, 2007...1:42 pm
spelling winter with a tea
This time of year always has me drinking more and more. Tea, I’m talking about. Especially since our replacement Insta-hot is working great.
I recently succumbed (hey, 2 for $4!) to Celestial Seasonings holiday teas. I got these three (purposely avoiding the “sugarplum” one since it gagged me last year and then the stupid box stared at me for 9 months before I finally pitched it since I couldn’t get any unsuspecting friend to drink it either).
Here are my thoughts:
1. The sugar cookie tea smells so much like cookies that my dog keeps sniffing my mug! Now, that’s convincing cookie smells! And it tastes good, too, mild and sweet.
2. The candy cane one smells like candy canes (surprise!) and is quite tasty if you like minty flavors. It’s a decaf green tea with no grassy green tea quality at all. I am not sure what that leaves for caffeine, but I don’t drink it right before bed just in case. It wouldn’t go well with my two shots of Herradura with Melatonin, anyway.
3. I love spice flavored teas (Tazo spice being my longstanding, herbal favorite), and this gingerbread one is another good one, potent but no bitterness (and I’m a “bag-in” person, are you?).
Now, I must vent. Christmas isn’t even here yet, and I am mad about packaging! I recently bought E&A Tea Company’s Genmaicha tea. It’s a green tea with roasted rice. It was also on sale, half price, otherwise, I never would have splurged on it at $8/box for 15 bags. And while it may be my favorite of the Genmaicha style of tea, with actual, visible rice in it, I was shocked and amazed at the waste of packaging that is this tea. Check this out:
Their box is twice the size of a normal tea box and has five fewer bags inside.
I thought, hmm, maybe the tea bags themselves are big? Uh, not!
Look how ginormous each bag’s bag is, and then, inside, a tiny little smidge of tea and rice bits.
How is that huge box supposed to balance on the ledge of my stove, anyway? I may use that outer box to put gifts in this year, like sweaters or slippers.
Such waste depresses me! Since when is the tea industry like the cosmetics or toy industry? At least there were no twistie ties involved.
This may push me into loose teas (are people using these?). One can, tea leaves, period.
So, I am wondering - what are you sipping on this winter?? (Doesn’t have to be tea or be available for drinkers of all ages……)
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7 Comments
December 13th, 2007 at 1:59 pm
Those teas sound heavenly!
I’m sipping on any tea that is either decaf or caffeine-free. I also enjoy a good hot-buttered rum, or mulled cider. I’d like to try mulled wine. Baileys is always good over ice cream, but that’s not really for sipping. Then there’s always hot chocolate with a candy cane in it. Yum!
December 13th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
I had an allergic reaction to tea (I think) many years ago so I’m scared to try again. I’m drinking Coke, water and coffee. Not even exciting coffee like a tall, half caf, double foam Mocha Choka or whatever. Just regular old Maxwell House. Yea, I know it’s boring. I occasionally drink beer. Is that better?
December 13th, 2007 at 6:57 pm
I am a green tea addict. Currently, I’m drinking Yogi Tea’s “Green Tea Energy.” I’m partial to green tea mixed with lemongrass.
I never drink coffee, but I do like a cup of Postum occassionally. But my hands-down current favorite is the unbelievable Hot Chocolate at that coffee shop next to Bon Bon (can’t remember the name). They actually melt real bars of chocolate to make it. Topped with real whipped cream . . . Ohhhh baby!
December 15th, 2007 at 8:44 am
@Queen, hot chocolate with a candy cane? That sounds good, although Kid would fight me for the cane, I’m sure. I assume I could still have Peppermint Schnapps in there, too…..
Jeff, you are a mystery! No teas, but coffee, Coke and beer….. Good thing you don’t live near Seattle, because you might get beat up drinking Maxwell House.
Brooke, O, Brooke, this is dangerous information! I saw their sign the other day and wondered….. Some things we don’t need here, like European style hot cocoa (you almost need a spoon to eat it, it’s so thick) which I will drink and drink and drink…..yummmmmmm. I’m going to check that out!
December 15th, 2007 at 10:19 am
[...] Good ‘Uns spelling winter with a tea [...]
December 17th, 2007 at 12:29 pm
Coffee in the morning, tea at night. I prefer the loose teas because I can make it as strong as I like without the bitter “bag-in” taste some teas get. I am currently ga-ga over a jasmine black tea. It’s perfect with a big spoonful of honey from the local apple orchard.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
That tea sounds great, Jenn!!
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