Is There Such A Thing As Too Much Tea? NO!
Dear Tea Friends,
My drawers are currently FILLED with tea. I have been sampling tea till it comes out my ears, in order to write this article for you. Are you ready to try a new tea? Are you ready to support a small tea company? Do you need a special birthday, Valentine or St. Paddy’s gift? If so, this article is for you. Here are the simple steps I would like you to take.
Step #1 – Read the article and decide what sounds yummy!
Step #2- Order it and support the vendor mentioned. (tell them you read about them on Tea Party Girl) Don’t wait. Take action.
http://www.darjeelingteaxpress.com/
The first company to send me teas was Darjeeling TeaXpress. They sent only Darjeeling and it came straight from India to my home in Kansas. (pretty cool). I enjoyed a variety of their first and second flush offerings and it is surely some of the freshest tea I have ever reviewed.
Here’s a bit about the company:
DarjeelingTeaXpress is a Darjeeling based progressive Tea Brand with a singular focus on delivering the best Darjeeling Teas to tea connoisseurs and consumers worldwide. Founded by tea entrepreneurs with a strong knowledge about the Darjeeling tea industry, DarjeelingTeaXpress was started with a vision of sharing authentic Darjeeling teas with the world, the way it was meant to be enjoyed- a fresh cup of the highest quality.
The aim at DarjeelingTeaXpress is to reach as many customers, consumers and Tea Connoisseurs as they can all around the world. It is their passion to share our Darjeeling teas in their freshest and finest state so that customers get full value for their money and can enjoy a cup of tea to its fullest anytime of the day.
DarjeelingTeaXpress is a brand that believes in innovation and we took the first step in reaching our customers personally by creating the first online tea store dedicated only to Darjeeling Teas at highly reasonable prices. It is the perfect place for tea connoisseurs, retailers, wholesalers and tea lovers who only want the best Darjeeling teas.
The teas:
I was sent a set of samples each from specific plantations in Darjeeling. Giddapahar, Goomtee, Sourenee Blossom, Gopaldhara. They sent a variety of types including first and second flush, green and black muscatel. The teas were exceptionally fresh and even an untrained palate would be able to enjoy the different tastes of each region.
My personal favorite was the Sourenee Blossom – Special Black Muscatel. This single estate tea stood out from the rest. It has a natural sweetness and a flowery scent. It is very smooth and mellow with an astringent finish. This means it is a great cup of tea for any afternoon gathering you might have.
Here is the link to this tea: http://www.darjeelingteaxpress.com/2012-darjeeling-first-flush-sourenee-bio-organic-black-tea.html
If it is out of stock try another tea from the Sourenee region. You will be very satisfied!
The Tea Spot, known for unique tea innovations, was the second company on my list. Based in Colorado, the Tea Spot has had products and teas featured in Oprah’s magazine and all over the media. They have a fun approach to tea and they sent me some flavored teas perfect for the winter months. I love their “steepware” particularly the no drip teapot and their super cool, steep and go.
In addition to cook steeping products they also carry a full line of quality teas. I personally sampled their Harvest Spice and their Red Hot Chai both of which would be fantastic hot or iced.
Harvest Spice is a limited edition product originally designed for the holidays but honestly, this tea makes ANY DAY a holiday. Imagine a cup of black tea wrapped in layers of orange peel, cinnamon and cloves. The aroma is simply heavenly. The tea tastes fresh and flavorful and over ice becomes exceptionally refreshing. You can order Harvest Spice at: http://theteaspot.com/black-spiced-tea.html but remember it is a limed edition. SO ACT NOW!
Red Hot Chai is perfect for those of you who love spice but want to avoid caffeine. This Chai blend uses Rooibos as its base so there is no caffeine only natural, healthy antioxidants. This herbal blend has a spicy kick that again would be great iced or hot. Filled with ginger, cinnamon, cardamon, cinnamon and a splash of vanilla, Red Hot Chai indulges your Chai cravings without all the calories. You can order Red Hot Chai at http://theteaspot.com/red-hot-spiced-chai.html . This herbal tea is also a limited edition.
Personally, I liked the Harvest Spice, iced with a touch of stevia. YUM.
Lastly, our featured advertiser, Trail Lodge Tea, sent me a great collection of unique samples. Trail Lodge Tea not only offers fantastic products but one of their teas help support a mission work in Mexico! ( which makes it even more special). Trail Lodge main emphasis is Fair Trade and cause related tea programs which makes buying from them extra special.
March is right around the corner and with it comes, St. Paddy’s Day. As an Irish decedent I love celebrating afternoon tea on March 17th so what could be better than offering my guests Connemara Morning from Trail Lodge Tea. Connemara Morning is an Indian black tea with a splash or Irish cream flavor and a dash of Shamrock sprinkles. This tea is not only fun to serve your guests, it makes a terrific party favor for each and every Irish wannabe! You can order Connemara Morning at http://www.traillodgetea.com/Connemara_Morning_p/teaconnemaramorning.htm
My favorite tea from Trail Lodge is their Mexican Cocoa Rooibos which is extremely unique. It blends Rooibos, Honeybush, Mexican Cacao and a kick of chili! This tea will wake your taste buds up naturally. Drink this tea hot or iced and remember that each and every cup gives back to the Ninos De Mexico charity. http://ninosdemexico.org/ The tea is available at http://www.traillodgetea.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=cocoa+rooibos.
There aren’t a lot of Darjeeling teas that can disappoint, as it is most commonly heralded as the champagne of teas. This tea does not disappoint as well.
When I think of Thanksgiving, I think of pumpkin pie! I tried spicing up my pumpkin pie this year by adding masala chai to my pumpkin pie filling. The result was a pumpkin custard that had a richer, deeper spice flavor, and a sugary sweet top. Check here to view the full recipe for Pumpkin Pie Masala Chai !