Sunday, December 5, 2010

Love and scandal are the best sweeteners of tea

While I was out and about this weekend, I noticed that my favorite tea shop in Middletown DE was open, and even better~ there was a parking spot right out front.  So in I went to do a little holiday shopping and to pick up some Earl Gray with jasmine, a favorite loose tea of mine which I’ve been out of for months.

The shop is full of unique gifts like ceramics, hand blown glass, jewelry, and soaps. While I was looking around in the main room, a woman came in. She was excited and chatty and obviously a longtime customer from the conversation I overheard. She seemed thrilled to find out that her favorite tea was in stock and was buying several bags to give as gifts to her tea-lovin’ friends.

Her cheerfulness was infectious and I got to wondering just what is so special about her favorite tea that she’s buying gobs of it for gifts.

 

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And so when it was my turn at the counter, I ordered my Earl Gray but I also asked about the honey vanilla nectar tea that the other customer had been talking about.

When the owner told me it was a rooibos tea, I wasn’t too keen on trying it. I’ve tasted rooibos teas before and can’t get past the smell, but I wanted to find out what was so special about this one. So I bought all of what she had left, which was just under two ounces.

Because the leaves are so fine, they won’t work with my strainer, so I bought a pack of tea bags.

 

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I added a teaspoon of the tea to the bag ~

 

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~ then folded it up and put it in the cup of boiled water. After several minutes, I took the tea bag out and added a teaspoon of honey. I was surprised and glad to find that it was really good.

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When I got home, I researched rooibos tea and found that it’s loaded with all kinds of health values.

Benefits of Rooibos Tea

I plan on having some before I go to bed at night to help me sleep better. Maybe it will even help me get outa this funk I’ve been in. The tea is highly recommended to people suffering from sleep problems, headaches, anxiety, and even mild depression, among a host of other ailments.

Have you ever tried rooibos tea? Do you like it? I’m sure there’s lots of flavors, but this one in particular is perfect for me. So glad I found out about it!

: : ~ : :

tea leaves
tea loves
loves tea
lives tea
leaves tea?
never.

~Uniek Swain

 

Thanks for stopping by. Until tomorrow, then . . .

123 Signature

35 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

Vanilla and honey? I can almost smell it now!!! Nice cold weather sipping stuff. I'll have to look for that type of tea! :)

Country Girl said...

It's yummy. I see it's available here:
http://www.teasetc.com/details.asp?prodid=1624&Review=Add
Not sure about the site, as I've never used it.

~ C.G.

BB said...

Sounds delish - my fave is green tea... good for unhappy tummies. And for relaxing too, I reckon. Sorry your car is being expensive... I know the feeling!
:-)
BB

Tiggeriffic said...

I like StarBucks Holiday Tea which they only sell at christmas time.
I'll have to look up the Honey Vanilla nectar tea.. Sounds good.. I love vanilla in my coffee. I'll bet I'll like it in my tea. ta ta for now from Iowa...

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

Never heard of rooibos tea but if it helps pull you out of a funk, I'll be first in line to buy some.

Michelle said...

Yep, have tried several varieties of rooibos, and like most of them. But lately I've been on a Stash Wild Raspberry herb tea kick - with stevia. Mmm . . . off to brew a cuppa!

ELK said...

the teabag makes for an interesting and lovely photos.. I shall go brew a cup ..I am a chai kinda girl!!

Unknown said...

Very sorry for the funk....I get them this time of year, fairly easily too....take care of you! smiles...

tj said...

...Geez a lou! I'm getting me some of this! Just reading about this sounds like this is something that would really benefit me. Thank you Kate! :o)

...Sorry to hear about the funk. It sucks when you're in one but it will pass girl, just keep your chip up and plow forward! ;o) (((hug)))

...Thanks for the tip!

...Blessings... :o)

tj said...

...And btw, even tho' they're just photos of you makin' a cup o' tea I wanted to add that the photos are quite lovely! :o)

Anonymous said...

I love peach rooibos. There's a store where we shop that has samples outside so we try it and then end up buying some. Tea good!
Your fav seestah :)

Cait O'Connor said...

I must try rooibos tea for my headaches, thanks for the tip.

beth said...

rooibos is my fav !!!
and i drink it all the time !!
mine is a rooibos chai from whole foods....yum !

Mental P Mama said...

Ahhhhh. I drink a red rooibos. I keep it at the office;) That's where my favorite Mr. Cardinal is going soon. Thank you very much! xoxo.

PS...a trip to CT can cure much.

Cloudia said...

"ah! the 14th cup!"



You showed me something completely NEW- and now I need a cuppa tea :)


Aloha from Waikiki

Comfort Spiral

><}}(°>

Michelle said...

Now you have me very intrigued by this tea, and I will have to find some. Love the title of this post!

Donna S. said...

Sounds like I could use some too. Something about this time of year. I love it but also have a hard time this time of year.

Jeanne Walker said...

I've come to realize that I've lived a very sheltered life. Kate,
I learn so much from you. Never have heard of rooibos tea...so I read up on it. Not familiar with any tea shops around here, so I will see if maybe Celestial tea has one at some of our local supermarkets. Love the Starbucks mug! 1 grande hot skinny vanilla latte with 1 Splenda, please. I hope you have a wonderful week! Only 20 days 'til Christmas! Hugs!

deborah said...

So sorry you are also in a blue funk...hoping the tea helps! I'm going to look for it and try it, too.

mrs mediocrity said...

i love tea, never have liked coffee, but i think tea is the one thing in life i could not do without.
earl grey is one of my favorites, but recently i discovered P&G Tips, it comes right from England and it is amazingly strong. I think I'm addicted.
I have never liked rooibos tea, but i am intrigued that you like this one.

Dawning Inspiration said...

Hmmm - think I'll have to go tea shopping now! Thanks for sharing this!

retro sweets said...

Nope, never tried it but with your interesting post I'll search for one here in the UK. Uhm, have you tried it with milk? Because I'm a weird person who don't drink plain tea.

Anonymous said...

Sometimes it pays to over-listen or eaves drop or just casually hear someone else's conversation. I've discovered some great products by doing so....

Glad you enjoyed your new discovery!

Di

altar ego said...

Never heard of it, never mind tried it, but I DO love the quote that is the title of your post. I've been trying to figure out for years the best way to cross stitch it for fun and pleasure.

The JR said...

Never heard of it. But, I have found out that being nosey has led me to a lot of good things!

Carolynn Anctil said...

I didn't know that about rooibos tea. I'm not sure I've ever tried it. I'm a bit of a tea snob, I admit. Will have to source some and give it a taste.

Unknown said...

Sounds good! Never had it. Must try it now.

Daryl said...

A trip to CT with a side of NYC is in your tea leaves, I can see it from here .. xo

Kerri Farley said...

I'm not much of a tea drinker but it sounds like it would be nice!

Unknown said...

I have a delicious rooibos chai tea that I found at our Giant Eagle Market District. That's the only one I've tried. I didn't know it was good to help sleep, maybe I should try drinking that before bed.

sharon said...

I've never heard of Rooibos tea. I'm going to have to try it now. i could use a little help falling to sleep now and then. thanks!

GailO said...

I've never even heard of rooibos tea but if it gets you out of a funk let me know and I will go try and find some! There is a lot of funk going on around this time of year:(... Earl Grey is my kind of tea. I love the little do it yourself teabags too...

Anonymous said...

Never heard of this tea, but I'm always willing to try something you recommend!

Lili said...

It seems like the only tea I ever drink is green tea, I really should branch out. Thanks for the info, I had not heard of that tea before and what a bonus to actually have a calming effect. xoxo ~Lili

Mary said...

Hmmm, I will have to try it. Anything to help with sleep problems would be most welcome!