Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Good afternoon,

You know what is overrated? Lunch. You know what isn’t overrated? Dessert. Like Vanilla Red Velvet Cake. But I know I know.. bikini season. And for you lads…Speedo season. It’s creeping up. And that’s not the only thing creeping up. But life is too short to live without all decadence, so lets cheat a little, shall we? You want Vanilla Red Velvet Cake? But none of the guilt and all of the tight skimpy fabric? Okay! Lets have our cake as tea.

Today’s Black tea, Vanilla Red Velvet Cake, won’t make you bathing suit season ready, but it sure ain’t going to hurt. At the very least, it’s like cup of pre-season tears. Just not as bitter.

Currently hot and ready under the tea cozy!

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Good afternoon everyone,

It’s Valentines day this Friday, did you know? I knew. I know because there are heart shaped candies on the counter in front of me. Also there are chocolate kisses, and Hershey’s hugs and other chocolaty delights. Every time I pass by that candy line up, I am passing by on hearts, hugs, and kisses. Because I know that flowers are the way to go… like in today’s tea! Green tea and roses are the focal point, along with mucho romantico strawberries and vanilla. And there is a bit of cinnamon spice in there too, for I may have added my own cinnamon heart into the mix.

Currently hot under the tea cozy.

Friday, February 07, 2014

Good Afternoon,

Have you heard the reports? Snow for the long weekend. Terrible news. Cold news. Tomorrow I will be out on a Viking ship, and probably frozen to the oars. Literally and figuratively. To make myself feel better, I am being proactively nice to myself with chocolate today.

The caffeine free tisane that’s hot in the pot - hold onto your plundering/purloining pants everyone- is White Chocolate and Peppermint tea. A perfect pairing for the premonition of snow.

And, as chocolate teas typically go, this one will disappear fast. So hurry down and pour yourself a cup like you were being chased by Viking Raiders.

Thursday, February 06, 2014

Hello everyone,

You know that juice is bad for you? Loaded with sugar, concentrated fructose, just bad bad bad. But if you are a person who appreciates a good cup of tropical delish, well perhaps you should give this tisane a try. Made with mango, apple, guava, elderberry, rose hips and sweet sweet delish. The sweet delish is a secret ingredient. Okay. It’s love. The non-tangible kind, of course.

All the flavours, non of the sugar, a tisane to try for sure!

Happy Thursday!

Monday, February 03, 2014

Good Afternoon Everyone.

It was groundhog day yesterday, and there are some conflicting reports. In Nova Scotia, Shubenacadie Sam, the resident groundhog, has predicted an early spring. This was also the same for Winnepeg’s Groundhog Willow. But she’s a bit of an air head and hasn’t gotten it right for a few years. Ontario’s groundhog, Wiarton Willie is a bit more reliable, famous, and pessimistic. He’s declared another 6 weeks of winter. But then again, we are getting that information second hand from the Mayor of the town where Wiarton lives. The man sports a purple tuxedo and cape, and claims to know fluent “groundhogese.” A likely story.

Out west, we are above that nonsense. Out west, we look to the Cherry trees, and they’ve already started blooming. It is chilly out there - I dare say it is so cold I thought I saw some squirrels sporting some thermal underwear.  It is still winter, but I think all the sun shining means that Spring is on its way.

Time to warm up with a little Tisane, today we have a non-caffeinated brew of cinnamon, apples and cloves. Perfect for the winter weather, and the sunny disposition.

Friday, January 31, 2014

Gong Hei Fat Choi everyone!

In the spirit of Chinese New year, I made a tea that brews bright red  -- and that is good luck! Hibiscus, bergamot, and a dark black tea gives this tea it’s character, and it is well worth giving it a try.

Try not to stampede down to the kitchenette like a herd of horses though.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Good Afternoon Everyone,

Every crack of sunshine that spills out of these grey and grizzly clouds is like the tantalizing promise of Spring. I haven’t seen it in a few days, but I know that sun is just behind those clouds. And while it may have just officially changed to Winter last month, I am still itching for the delicately warm days to come. This comes through in many ways, I find, most obviously in how I look. Just in case you wondered-- it isn’t warm out there. For heaven’s sake, wear a jacket to work. Or at least a bulky sweater. Even a rain jacket would have made more sense. But no, I am a springtime optimist.

So from my lack of warm WINTER clothing, I have warmed myself up by drinking some very delicious tisanes. Today is a mellow Rooibos, a caffeine free drink that should allow me to hibernate the rest of the Winter months away. Mixed into the brew is coconut, rose buds, and apples, because I want it sunny and warm now. And because it isn’t, there is a hit of Indian Masala spices to give it depth and warmth.

The brew is currently warm under the cozy, and I am currently eyeing the space under my desk. Heck, bears hibernate in caves, that’s got to be ample enough space for a nap.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Good afternoon everyone.

I’m a bit annoyed. And when I say a bit, I mean that I internally raging. I’ve been dealing with some fussy, ugsome external clients that have been causing my frustration to smolder like a bright red ember. How to deal? This tea should help. I’ve named it RAGE TEA. Please make sure to refer to this tea in capital letters, as that is important.

RAGE TEA™ consists of what I feel, and the “attempt” to sooth my FIREY BURNING soul. First is chocolate. Enough said. There is also chamomile and mint in there, herbal ingredients that are known for their calming properties. Sadly these aren’t enough to stem my fuming.

So to give you a taste (literally) of how I feel, we’ve got some heat in this here tea. Chilie, pepper, and even a bit of the fire wood smoked tea. Together, blended and smoothed with fresh vanilla, RAGE TEA™ tastes delicious and leaves a tad bit of fiery bite on the tongue.

If only those external clients could have this tea. Burning hot. On their laps. Instead, my darlings, this tea is waiting for you hot under the cozy. Careful handling the red hot tea though, you could get burned.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Good afternoon everyone,

Today’s tisane is perfect if you are a little stressed, a little frazzled, a little tense, or if you are fighting a bit of a cold. This non-caffeinated brew is smooth, mellow, creamy and will hit you in your tangle of nerves just as the right spot as a cup of liquid relaxation.

To get the most out of this brew, pour yourself a cup, sit at your desk, push the lever to tilt your seat back. Get off the floor, try the other lever, there you go that one. Lean back, relax, take a moment. Breathe in deep (smells fabulous eh?) then take a sip, and give us an audible “Ahhhhhhhh.” The longer, more dragged out the better.

This tea has an assortment of ingredients, all there to serve your mental health and well being.

Monday, January 27, 2014

Good afternoon noon everyone!

When I was younger, coffee cakes used to stick in my craw. There was never any coffee IN coffee cake, and I was at the young tender age where I wasn’t actually allowed coffee. So I would have coffee cake with absolutely no coffee in attendance. So I used to not like coffee cake on principle – the whole situation was a bit ridiculous.

Which means this tea causes me a bit of an internal conflict. I present to you Black Coffee Cake tea. There is no coffee in this tea. And drinking tea, well you aren’t drinking coffee. ONCE AGAIN, THERE IS NO COFFEE PRESENT. Except on my desk, for I am drinking an excellent cup of coffee. Shh.

So this sans-coffee coffee cake is filled with cherry, pineapple, vanilla, caramel, and it really does smell and tastes a bit like cake. But not coffee.

Currently hot and piping under the cozy!

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Good Afternoon Darlings,

Would you care for some Darjeeling?  It is the tea title that you know marks a good quality tea, but you don’t know why. At least, most don’t know why. Why is it good quality tea? The same reason most things cost you more, it took a bloody lot more work to produce than you regular ol’ Red Rose tea. You guys aren’t drinking that… “stuff” anymore, right?

Why more work? It is grown at a very high elevation, on the side of mountains, where the sun is often blocked by rock and cloud. The lack of sun means the plant has to drawn on the soil for the nutrients to grow. This takes the plant much longer to mature, but all the minerals and nuances in the soil are also pulled into the plant giving it complete and complex flavour. I’ve mixed some berries and mulberry leaf in our pot of tea, to also give the tea some sweetness.

So today as you drink your tea, think of the mountains and enjoy.

Monday, January 20, 2014

Good Afternoon everyone,

Today’s tea is a black tea – Chocolate and Vanilla. Both fresh and dry vanilla, and both chocolate chips and cocoa nubs, this is a tea with a deep dessert flavour. Because, you know, it is January and time to start thinking about our waistlines – and this is possibly the best way to have our dessert and still strut it out on the beach in a few month’s time.  Come by, have a cup, and I won’t mention anything about that box of chocolates that didn’t last very long on the back facilities table.

Currently hot and ready under the tea cozy!

Friday, January 17, 2014

Good afternoon everyone!

Can everyone smell Apple Pie wafting out of the brown teapot in the kitchenette? Better than a hot pie cooling on a window sill, this green tea is guilt free and just as tasty. And there isn’t any worry about someone running off with the entire thing. Which is a little unbelievable since this tea is such a kind that I would have thought, surely, someone would run off with it.

I might have to do that just on principle.

Might burn myself during the actual running though.

I think I should rethink this. You should just get yourself a cup of tea. Just in case.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Good Afternoon,

Crickey it is a sunny one out there! I think the sun is trying to pull the blooms of Spring out prematurely. Can you just envision the cherry blossoms waking up? No? How about some tea to inspire your imagination?

How about you try some Green tea flavoured with strawberry, apple, rose and vanilla. This is the soft pink taste of spring.

Currently warm under the tea cozy!

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Good afternoon everyone!

So some of you may have heard that I got a dehydrator for Christmas. Well, let me tell you, I’ve dehydrated so much fruit in the last little bit. Bags of apples, baskets of strawberries, plates of grapes, and bananas aplenty. I can strut around and claim that I am more stocked than Miss Chiquita Banana head piece (Olé, Olé, Olé!)

So. What does this mean for you? It means that I get to make my own tea additives, from my own fruit, resulting in blends unique and available only to you. Like today, the fruit that I managed to not eat (DEHYDRATED FRUIT IS DELICIOUS) I’ve added to a full bodied English Breakfast tea. So today, for your drinking pleasure, is a Strawberry, Pink Grape and Apple Black tea, with a bit of cinnamon and nutmeg added to the mix.

I am still sussing my way into the tea blending world, so feed back is always always appreciated!

Tea is currently hot under the tea cozy.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Good afternoon everyone!

Today’s tea is a Jasmine green tea, floral and making us wish for Spring. Well, making you wish for Spring – I can’t drink jasmine tea so you will have to be the judge on how wonderful this tea is. I wish I could, but as soon as I take a whiff and a sip, I am blasted by a headache.
Bam, right between the eyes faster than if I insulted Billy the Kid’s momma.
A real shame, as jasmine has been a flavour additive to tea for centuries. It is an excellent and  traditional pairing, and they’ve had centuries to perfect the art of scenting and flavouring our typical pan fired green tea with the delicate and tender blossom.

The brew is hot and flowery under the cozy, awaiting your judgement!

Monday, January 13, 2014

Good Afternoon everyone!

You know what’s disappointing? Yesterday was “Kiss a Ginger” Day. Being a red-head I would have thought I would have gotten at least a peck on the cheek, if not a blown kiss.  But yesterday my kiss tally remained pitifully at a negative. I mean, golly, even on a national day dedicated to smooching ladies like me and I got zip! Such numbers can give a girl a complex. Well. Did you kiss a ginger yesterday? (Don, of all people you had  –better- kissed your lovely ginger.)
What? No? Unacceptable. You didn’t give to the gingers yesterday, but the ginger is giving to you today!

In the teapot today you will find a caffeine free, potent gingery tisane, mixed with a bit of chamomile and banana to soften THIS GINGER’S ANNOYANCE. I mean, the ginger bite. WHICH IS STILL RELEVANT TO ME.

Ahem. Enjoy the brew everyone!

Friday, January 10, 2014

Good Afternoon everyone!

After such strong fire bells, I thought we should have something soft and mellow – White Tea! A very high quality white tea, great antioxidants and a bit of a herbaceous taste. And if you really concentrate, you will tastes notes of banana and grape in there.

Currently hot under the cozy, ready when you are!

Wednesday, January 08

Guy, guys, I made something. A tea blend --  of course a  tea blend!

I think this blend is smashing. pu’erh, green, lemon and vanilla. Strong on the green, light on the pu’erh, this tea is… unique! And good! Of course it is good. The green is bright and vibrant, the pu’erh earthy and deep, and the flavours wrap up the tea in a perfect little package. But it isn’t your typical run of the mill tea – this tea is for being adventurous. This tea is your safari of the office. Your South American trek of Surrey Main. Your late afternoon Walk-about facilities.   

But hey, it is a New Year, a new you, and I think you can handle this tea.

Currently sitting, waiting for you to try, under the tea cozy.

Tuesday, January 07, 2014

Good afternoon everyone,

Today’s brew comes from Hawaii, and it is called Mamaki Tea. Now in this tropical state there are new and young tea plantations being established – the first in continental North America. I’ve been itching to try some, to see what the terroir for Hawaiian tea is like. But I can’t with this brew because Mamaki Tea isn’t tea at all – much like Chamomile Tea. Why? It isn’t tea because (since you’ve all heard me gripe about before) it doesn’t have the plant Camellia Sinsesis in it. Mamaki tea is looks very similar to tea, especially dried, so when I first saw it I mentally stamped “white tea” on it and called it done. But when I brewed it, I got a little poetic and said “it is not brewing like a tea – in location doth make brew better be.”

But really, as soon as it was in water, that was certainly no tea. Mamaki is a part of the nettle family, native to Hawaii and traditionally considered a supreme healing plant. In all actuality, this plant is great for antioxidants.

I’ve mixed some dried apple in with this brew today, so even if you are iffy about a plant from the nettle family, it will still taste delicious.

Currently hot under the tea cozy!

Friday, January 03, 2014

Good afternoon everyone!

Did you take your health medicine today? I forgot to take my multi-vitamin – oops. But I am okay, because I made a tea that is filled with Ayurvedic spices-- spices used in southern India as a traditional and medicinal blend. You don’t need a spoon full of sugar for this to go down easily though, unless you like your tea a bit sweet.

Why no sugar? Simply because the ‘medicine’ is cinnamon, clove, ginger, pepper, lemon-balm, coconut, pineapple, cardamom and sweet lemon grass – tastes great and is revitalizing. Rounding it out with a delicate white tea, and this is your perfect cup of health.

Currently hot and ready under the tea cozy!

Thursday, January 02, 2014

Good Afternoon everyone,

It’s a New Year, but some things don’t change which is both good and bad. When it comes to Earl Grey Cream it is nice to have a familial and reliable, unchanging brew. But some things do change, and that’s also for the good – I take credit as well as cash if you were to want unlimited tea this chilly month of January.

Any new years resolutions made yet?
Be healthier? Tea is great for your health and well being.
Spend wisely? If you consider how much a cup of tea is at Starbucks – and it is never as good as mine – then you’ll know what a fantastic deal my tea is.

Spend more time with friends and family? A pot of tea is the best way to bond, over a good cup of conversation.

Become more organized? Well if you plan your day around 2:00 pm tea, you can’t go wrong.

I really don’t know what tea can’t solve – come have a cup of Earl Grey Cream and see what it solves for you.

Currently hot under the tea cozy!

Monday, December 30, 2013

Good afternoon everyone!

Today’s tea is a pot of my best stuff – Japanese Sencha that is probably the freshest green tea you will find locally.  Buttery, mellow, and has the tiniest bit of sweet roasted chestnut sweetness. It is delicious, and there is none too much of it in the pot. Just enough, just for us – those who are here today on this quiet December 30^th.

Currently ready for your cup.

Monday, December 23, 2013

Hello? Is anybody there?

There is a grand pot of tea today, something nice and comforting – Earl Grey Cream black tea. I picked something with caffeine because…well really, there are soft quiet days and then there are days like today. So a soft creamy Earl Grey seems quite perfect for this slow, sunny afternoon.

I don’t know how many of you are here today to enjoy this tea, but those of you who are… I hope get a chance to have a cup or two.

Very Merry Christmas everyone.