Tea Notes: David's Tea: Jessie's Tea

Steeped somewhere between 4 and 7 minutes in water heated to 200 degrees F, this tea forms a beautiful gold color. The scent is very relaxing with hints of coconut and lavender. The flavor is rather delicate and enjoyable without additional sweetening. The most noticeable flavor is the coconut, but it is not overpowering nor unpleasant. I enjoyed this cup of tea greatly in my delicate porcelain tea for one set from the English Tea Store (stay tuned for a review of the product later).

Jessie's Tea came in my latest sampler from David's Tea. It is an all organic, all caffeine free sampler with some new and some familiar blends. Like the other 2 samplers I've gotten, this one has 12 small tins of tea.  It was a logical set to purchase as I like to avoid consuming caffeine in the evening and staying up until sunrise (unfortunately I know this from experience). I'm also growing a bit bored with the delicious chamomile tea from Harney and Sons and wanted to mix things up a bit.

All in all, Jessie's Tea is a beautiful, delicate, tasty tea that I give 4 stars.

Sweet Peppers w/ Peanut Butter Sauce

This incredibly easy recipe is also surprisingly tasty! I had it today as a side dish to a veggie soyaki with rice. To make it, simply mix some peanut butter and water then toss a bit of sliced sweet peppers to coat. I've enjoyed this dish several times when visiting a family friend for homemade dumplings. My dad's colleague and good friend is from China and makes some of the tastiest foods I've had the pleasure to eat. This is one of his recipes and it goes wonderfully with various Asia-inspired dishes. Give it a try if you like peppers and peanut butter then let me know what you think!

For this dish, I used the peanut butter I had open in the pantry- it was an all natural crunchy peanut butter and worked pretty well. It's also good with creamy peanut butter, just use what you have on hand. No need to buy special ingredients, just use what you like!

Tea Notes: Product Review: Tea Box Express: February 2016

 

After finding so much joy with Topper's monthly Bark Box subscription, I was searching for a nice little subscription box for myself. After some pretty exhausting research, I decided to try out 3 months of Tea Box Express as a gift to myself. I love to try new teas and tools, so it seemed like a rather good subscription to try out. The reviews and contents of previous boxes were rather promising with 2-3 featured teas, a small food item, and a tea accessory each month, all with a central theme.  I especially liked the idea that the box would come with new flavors and brands to try as well as a tea accessory. Some of the boxes looked really nice so I thought I'd try it out with a 3 month gift order instead of the recurring subscription.  If I like the 3 boxes, I will probably sign up for a regular subscription.

The February 2016 box has a pretty basic, unimaginative theme of "Valentines Day" and arrived on February 19.  Had it arrived before Valentine's Day, the theme may have been a tad less disappointing. I would have liked to see a bit more creativity in the theme selection and look forward to seeing what the March box holds. 

The featured teas for February are Berry Me in Kisses and Chai Love You by Tease Tea. I had never heard of the company before this subscription, so I'm looking forward to trying them both out. My experience with chai teas has been a bit hit or miss lately, but I am hopeful that the Chai Love You will be good. It seems like a nice list of ingredients so I am optimistic. I had the Berry Me in Kisses during work today with honey and without and it tastes pretty good either way.  It's also a really pretty color when it steeps. 

The box held 2 food items: a tiny box of chocolates by Nunu Chocolates and a heart-shaped decorated sugar cookie from Corso's Cookies. The chocolates I've tried so far have been pretty tasty. The chocolate shell is a bit underwhelming but the filling is good and the little box is rather cute in its simplicity. The box of chocolates also fit into the valentine theme rather nicely.  The cookie was pretty standard in the decorated sugar cookie world... sweet and cute.

The accessories in this box were a tea scoop and some loose empty tea bags. It never hurts to have an extra scoop around the house. The tea bags were a bit disappointing. They were just a thin paper that is folded and sealed around the edges. Without a drawstring or other means of closing the bag, they're a bit awkward. This isn't a huge deal, but I would have liked something a bit more conducive to steeping tea without a mess or risk of leaves escaping.

All in all, this was a decent box, but I am not yet convinced that I will want to order another set after the gift subscription trial is through. This particular box pulls in 2 stars on the 1-5 scale.  I am still hopeful for the next 2 as I like the concept of trying new teas as well as receiving treats and tea accessories. We shall see!

Tea Notes: Tease Tea: Berry Me in Kisses

My first box from Tea Box Express arrived today and this is one of the teas it contained. A post on the overall box is to follow. This tea has a nice and fruity aroma in the bag. A combination of strawberry, blueberry, elderberry, rose petals, and white tea leaves form this blend. It steeps to a beautiful deep purple-red color. The flavor is mostly fruity with just a hint of traditional tea flavor.  Without a sweetener, there is a pleasant tartness to this tea. With a sweetener, the sweetness of the berries is more enhanced. Overall, I'd say it is rather good with or without any added honey. I would purchase this blend again if I were in the mood for a cup of berries. 

Garlic Naan with Marinara Sauce

This is a very tasty and easy combination to prepare.  I came across the garlic naan from Trader Joe's while perusing the frozen foods section on my last visit.  As a solo diner most of the time, if you don't count the eyeballs surrounded by fur watching my every bite, I rarely purchase bread anymore because I can never finish it before it goes bad. The frozen naan was an excellent solution because it is already frozen and is pretty flat, thus taking very little space in the freezer. The package contains 4 naans and is recloseable. The naan takes about 10 minutes to prepare, mostly just waiting for the oven to warm to a toasty 400 degrees Fahrenheit.  I'm very glad I picked it up because it is also delicious!  I heated a bit of Trader Joe's marinara sauce (also delicious) for dipping and the combination has found a new home in my easy peasy go to pseudo-recipe collection. With a nice leafy salad, some cheese, and fruit, it makes a pretty spectacular lunch or light dinner. Alone, it makes a tasty snack between meals.

I'm all out of the garlic naan until the next trip, but I still have a package of whole grain naan ready to heat and eat. I'm looking forward to trying that one too!

Tea Notes: David's Tea: Midsummer Night's Dream

I decided to try a new layout for the tea photos. This time it's a chalkboard and I rather like the style. Anyway, back to the review. David's Tea sends 3 samples of tea with every order. Midsummer Night's Dream came with my last order. It has a strong citrus/fruity scent and the flavor of orange zest is rather prominent in this tea. It is not bitter like some teas that feature orange peel, so I am rather pleased with this sample. Even though it does not have any caffeine, I can see it being a tasty beverage to start a lazy day. The citrus reminds me of orange juice to a degree, but it is still clearly a tea blend and is rather enjoyable. I would consider purchasing this product again though it is not one of my favorites at this point in time. It may be a lot tastier as an iced tea when the days get warm in the summer. Perhaps even as a sun tea!

This tea can be found at www.davidstea.com. This review is entirely my own and I did not receive any products, discounts, or money to write it. I just like keeping track of the things I find and what I like vs dislike.

Tea Notes: David's Tea: Forever Nuts ⭐️⭐️

Forever Nuts

This tea smells incredible, like fresh cooking candied nuts, then falls flat in the flavor department.  The color is a pretty shade of orange and the fragrance is wonderful.  However, it is nearly flavorless. The second round, with more of the mixture, provided only a tiny bit of added flavor. This tea is reminiscent of drinking scented plain water.  There were a few hints of apple or cinnamon here and there, but overall I would consider this to be one of the most disappointing "teas" thus far.  I would not purchase this tea again due to the lack of flavor. It isn't repulsive, but it is utterly flavorless. 

This tea is featured in the David's Top 12 sampler set from www.davidstea.com. This review is entirely my own and I did not receive any products, discounts, or money to write it. I just like keeping track of the things I find and what I like vs dislike. 

Tea Notes: David's Tea: Mother's Little Helper ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Mother's Little Helper

This tea was a pleasant surprise.  I had low expectations from the description because some of the ingredients are not usually very high on my list of likes.  However, the aroma of this tea clears the airways and the blend of flavors works very well.  I enjoyed this tea shortly before bed and found it to be pleasant and relaxing.  I would definitely order this tea again.

This tea is featured in the David's Top 12 sampler set from www.davidstea.com. This review is entirely my own and I did not receive any products, discounts, or money to write it. I just like keeping track of the things I find and what I like vs dislike. 

Tea Notes: David's Tea: Chocolate Macaroon ⭐️⭐️

This tea has a soft scent of chocolate and puffed rice. It is light tan in color. The flavor is a bit weak and leaves something to be desired. I can't quite place what is missing, but it is not a favorite. It does not taste bitter or otherwise bad, it just isn't very flavorful.

The flavor did strengthen a bit as I left the infuser in the pot while I was working and the flavor improved. This is a tea that tastes better the longer it steeps.  It might have been a good idea to use the entire sample for one steeping instead of dividing it into 2 servings. The tea had grown cold by the time it was strong enough to enjoy.  I am willing to try it again, though, with more product to provide more flavor. After the tea had basically been soaking/steeping for an hour and a half, I noticed a nice flavor of coconut that balanced well with the chocolate and tea. This is definitely a tea to try again with the knowledge that it needs to be brewed stronger. For now, though, I'm only giving this one 2 stars. 

This tea can be found at www.davidstea.com. This review is entirely my own and I did not receive any products, discounts, or money to write it. I just like keeping track of the things I find and what I like vs dislike. 

Tea Notes: David's Tea: Strawberry Rhubarb Parfait⭐️⭐️⭐️

Strawberry Rhubarb Parfait

This selection has a delightful scent of sweet strawberries and cream. The moment the tin is opened, the aroma pleasantly permeates the air. As it brews, the color becomes a beautiful shade of red. This tea provides a perfect balance of sweet from the strawberries and yogurt and tart from the rhubarb and apples. I would purchase this tea again.  Well done, David's Tea!

This tea is featured in the David's Top 12 sampler set from www.davidstea.com. This review is entirely my own and I did not receive any products, discounts, or money to write it. I just like keeping track of the things I find and what I like vs dislike. 

Tea Notes: David's Tea: Birthday Cake⭐️⭐️⭐️

Birthday Cake

The fragrance of this tea is reminiscent of a fresh cake.  The flavor is satisfying, and I can see myself purchasing it again.  Ice cream sprinkles (that's right, those tiny molded pieces of sugar, wax, and cornstarch) were added as a cute nod to birthday festivities.  While they caused a slight waxy film on top of the tea, it did not detract from the flavor or aroma. A benefit of the sprinkles and vanilla flavors are that I did not add any sweeteners and still enjoyed this tea quite a bit.  I would purchase this caffeine-free tea again. 

This tea is featured in the David's Top 12 sampler set from www.davidstea.com. This review is entirely my own and I did not receive any products, discounts, or money to write it. I just like keeping track of the things I find and what I like vs dislike. 

Tea Notes: David's Tea: The Skinny⭐️⭐️

The Skinny

This tea was not very tasty on the first sip.  However, with a small amount of agave nectar, the tea slowly grew on me as I continued through the pot.  With the sweetener, the tea has a nice balance and becomes more palatable.  I brewed a second cup (the sample has enough for about 3 steepings in all), this time with a generous amount of agave nectar and the tea was much tastier. I would not consider this to be a favorite, but it is not terrible. I am not likely to purchase this particular variety again.

This tea is featured in the David's Top 12 sampler set from www.davidstea.com. This review is entirely my own and I did not receive any products, discounts, or money to write it. I just like keeping track of the things I find and what I like vs dislike. 

Tea Notes: David's Tea: Super Ginger⭐️⭐️⭐️

Super Ginger
Super Ginger is surprisingly good. I like the spiciness of the peppercorns. This was not a tea I expected to enjoy as much as I have.  It isn't a favorite, but when the mood is right, I rather like the balance of ginger and pepper. It is a rather pretty tea with the pop of red, tiny green leaves, and pieces of ginger. The flavor is somewhat strong, but it works. This is a nice tea to drink by the window on a cold rainy day.

This tea is featured in the David's Top 12 sampler set from www.davidstea.com. This review is entirely my own and I did not receive any products, discounts, or money to write it. I just like keeping track of the things I find and what I like vs dislike. 

Tea Notes: David's Tea: Cream of Earl Grey⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed this tea.  It has all the necessary components of a tasty Earl Grey with an added touch of creamy vanilla flavor.  The tea smells nice and brews to a pretty shade of brown.  I would purchase it again.

This tea is featured in the David's Top 12 sampler set from www.davidstea.com. This review is entirely my own and I did not receive any products, discounts, or money to write it. I just like keeping track of the things I find and what I like vs dislike. 

Tea Notes: David's Tea: Buddha's Blend

 I was very excited to try this tea because the description on the website sounds so delicious.  The tea smells like a jar filled with fruity gummy bears and as a person that likes gummy bears, this is a good thing!  The flavor has more floral than fruity notes, but it is rather tasty. It is especially tasty with honey.  This tea is pretty, smells nice and tastes good. I can see myself wanting it again when I'm craving something sweet and flowery.  I would definitely purchase this tea again.  The flavors are a bit powerful, so a little bit of tea and short steep time goes a long way. 

This tea can be found at www.davidstea.com. This review is entirely my own and I did not receive any products, discounts, or money to write it. I just like keeping track of the things I find and what I like vs dislike. 

Easy Peasy Quinoa Bowl

This is one of the easiest dishes I've made in a while (okay, okay, most of my dishes are rather easy).  It's one bag of frozen Trader Joe's Quinoa Vegetable Melange, a fresh avocado (sliced and sprinkled with some lime juice), some grape tomatoes (halved), and the juice from 3/4 of a fresh lime. Prepare the quinoa package as directed and pour it into a bowl, squeeze some lime juice over it, and stir. Top with the tomatoes and avocado. Voilà, it's ready to eat!

As a quick weeknight meal with a decent amount of nutrients, this one is a keeper. I might add some spring mix, onion, or other fixings next time, but it is pretty good with this combination. Alone, the TJ's Quinoa Vegetable Melange has a decent flavor but is a bit boring for a full meal. Adding the fresh ingredients gives it another layer of flavor and texture that I really enjoyed. 

Tea Notes: Joie Tea Infuser: Product Review

Joie Tea Infuser
Looking for an alternative to the functional yet boring and quick to rust mesh ball infuser I've purchased a few times in the past, I was excited to find this sleek little gadget with its own built-in scoop on a shopping trip before the holidays.  I've used it several times so far and am happy to report that I haven't seen any rust yet. The tea can be a bit challenging to get from the tin into the infuser without causing a small mess due to the opening size, but it is superior to the cheap mesh infuser. Removing the little leaves out of the infuser can be a bit challenging, but I am happy with the purchase.  Ultimately it is not that difficult to use or to rinse out. Scrubbing, however, requires a tiny brush.

Once the tea is in the infuser, the lid/handle secures nicely and the gadget it is long enough to fit a standard mug (as shown above). The tiny holes also do a nice job preventing any escape attempts by the steeping leaves.  Overall, I like this infuser. It is not perfect, but it serves its purpose well and I would consider buying another in the future.  The tray and lid are made of plastic, but I have not had any issues with water touching the plastic while steeping. If your mug is too tall and filled completely, the plastic may be submerged.  If not, there is no risk of the plastic touching the tea. The plastic part doesn't bother me much, but I know some people specifically ask for the materials and if plastic touches the water.

One item to note is that I have not seen this particular style for sale online. The company's website has a selection of other shapes and styles, but this one may have been discontinued.

Tea Notes: Harney & Sons Paris Tea

I've been enjoying Harney & Sons teas for the past few years and this is one of my go-to varieties. The beverage is a tasty black tea blend, reminiscent of a fine Earl Grey with added notes of vanilla. The tea is a true pleasure, especially when sweetened with a touch of raw honey. The tea comes in loose leaf and sachet form.  Historically I've purchased the sachet tins but will likely switch to loose leaf on my next order. This is a tea I rarely don't have in my collection. Recently, I found that they offer the tea in a decaffeinated form and purchased a tin for my mom. She also enjoys this beautiful tea. I'll stick to the caffeinated variety, but I'm glad they offer decaf as well.  It is a very good tea!

Tea Notes: ForLife Stump Pot (product review)

The ForLife stump pot is pretty wonderful. I received it as part of a set I had purchased with tins of Harney & Sons Paris and Earl Grey Supreme teas (to be reviewed in the future). The stump pot comes in a variety of colors with two matching cups. Mine is white and it is my favorite set thus far. The white allows for an untinted photo of the tea, which is particularly useful for the review photos.  All of the colors look nice, though. I particularly like the turquoise, gray, and mandarin ones.

The pot is relatively easy to clean and the infuser fits perfectly. The area that is most difficult is the spout, but with a small brush (think pipe cleaner), it is easy to clean.

The infuser has very small holes, which are great for preventing the leaves from making an escape into the rest of the pot.  The handle easily flattens to allow the lid to close and gives no trouble when I lift it back up to pull out the infuser.  The infuser handle is plastic, which prevents it from getting too hot to touch.  It does not make contact with the tea during steeping or pouring.

The flat lid is particularly useful because it provides a perfect resting place for the tea cup.  The tea cups also stack together nicely.  On a cluttered desk, I like that I do not have to make room for the pot and cup to rest separately.  The pot holds about 16 ounces of liquid and retains the heat longer than a regular mug.

I have noticed some wear on the lid where the teacup sits.  It is nothing major and does not remove from the other wonderful qualities.  I've been using the pot several times a day for a couple of weeks now and it is holding up very well.  My main concern is breakage if I drop it.  It is primarily high-fired ceramic, after all, and my kitchen floor is made of hard tiles.  The pot, itself has not shown any signs of staining so far and I have brewed teas that are bright red, dark brown, bright yellow, etc.  The pot and cup are as white as they were when they came in the box.

Overall I'd give this set 4 stars. It is a nice size, has clean lines, and functions very well. The cups can stack and rest on top of the pot.  It is very close to a five-star product (I really love this pot!), but with the slight wear on the lid and mild difficulty cleaning the spout, it is not perfect.  There may never be a "perfect" teapot by those standards, but I do like to leave room for improvement.

Tea Notes: Harney & Sons: Holiday Tea and White Christmas Tea

Harney & Sons: Holiday Tea

The Harney and Sons Holiday tea is a flavored black tea. It tastes like a little bit of Christmas in a teacup. The spice and mild citrus notes pair wonderfully with the black tea base. It is a beautiful tea I greatly enjoy on the particularly cold winter days. I would recommend this tea if you enjoy a beautiful, warming tea with a perfect balance of flavors.

Harney & Sons: White Christmas

 Another winter hit from Harney and Sons! This is a mild tea with a light aroma and delicate balance of flavor. It is very pleasant and contains caffeine. The order came in a tin of sachets (similar to the pyramid bags of other brands).  I opened a sachet and brewed the tea in my stump pot with a bit of sugar. I've been enjoying this tea off and on since Christmas and have almost run out. I sincerely hope they make it again next season! This tea is a keeper, perfect for a winter day. 

Tea Notes: An Introduction

I've been on a bit of a tea kick recently. The hot tea warms me up on these cold days and there are so many different kinds to try.  While I still enjoy a cup of black coffee with sugar or a fancy latte from time to time, teas are so versatile and becoming a staple in my work routine.  In order to keep track of the many varieties I intend to try, welcome to Tea Notes!

Tea Notes is an unscheduled post containing notes and my own personal rating of different teas.  Some posts may take a while to be posted b cause they contain a review of each item in a set. For example, I am currently working on 2 sample collections from David's Tea. Please note that I have no formal training in the art of tea, which you may find to be rather obvious as you read the posts, but I'm learning.  I've been using my Keurig Brewer to heat the water, but a new variable temperature kettle is on its way from Amazon (I'm a Prime member, yay to free shipping!  As a side note, if you don't already use it, Amazon Smile is basically the same as the regular site, but a small portion of each sale goes to a charity/organization of your choice. I chose the Boxer Transfer Network... They do some wonderful things saving all kinds of dogs, not just boxers, and giving them the lives they deserve. I adopted my best friend from the BTN in a failed foster attempt and I couldn't be happier!). When the kettle arrives and I've learned how to use it, the teas will finally be brewed at the temperature they should be. That is exciting to think about.

I will be using a typical 0-5 star rating scale for my overall experience with the tea or accessory.

 5 stars means that I absolutely love the product and want to stock up on as much as I can.  This rating is likely to be very rare because it basically means there is no room for improvement and I cannot think of something better.  However, we will see about that.  If I love something, I'm going to tell you!

4 stars means that I truly enjoyed the product and would definitely purchase it again.  It is likely a part of my regular stock.

3 stars means that I found the product to be pretty good.  I would most likely purchase it again if it were on sale or as a seasonal selection.  It is enjoyable or useful, just not my favorite.

2 stars means the product is palatable, but I am not a fan.  I am unlikely to purchase a 2 star item again.

1 star means the product was pretty bad.  I may have finished drinking/using it, but I will not buy again.

0 stars mean that I found the product to be utterly disgusting.  It was so offensive to my senses that I threw it out before finishing.  If the company that sold the product has a satisfaction guarantee policy, I am likely to return it.  If not, the tea leaves may be thrown on the compost pile or tossed and the packaging recycled or re-purposed.


Some upcoming reviews include various selections from Harney & Sons, David's Tea, ForLife (product review), and Joie (product review).

Harney and Sons has been my go to tea company for the past few years and have enjoyed all but a few of their varieties.  The prices are affordable, the teas are a nice quality, the tins are cute and useful, and they have frequent sales and coupon codes. If Harney and Sons started a tea subscription program, I'd be sure to check it out!

Recently, I decided to branch out and try some new teas and brands. A couple of weeks ago, I purchased two sample collections from David's Tea: David's Top 12 and the 2015 Tea of the Month collections.  Ordering a full size of an unknown tea from an unfamiliar brand seemed crazy and the sample collections, while pricy, were a nice alternative. Each collection is housed in a slim, nicely constructed box with caffeine levels, instructions, and a brief description for each tea printed on the inside of the box lid. The teas' lists of ingredients are on the bottom of the box. The individual teas, in sets of 12, are stored in adorable little tins that are tastefully labeled with each tea's name. The tins will find a new home on the spice rack or in my craft box when they're done holding the samples.  The variety in each box provides an introduction to a rather diverse collection of options.  I am glad I had a few tea accessories already because the order does not come with any tools for measuring or steeping. 

Do you have any suggestions to make? Favorite brands? Infusers? Mugs? Steeping tricks? Please comment! I am quite new to this and value your input.