There is a great deal of poetry and fine sentiment in a chest of tea.- Ralph Waldo Emerson
One of my earliest memories is of my mother in her terry bathrobe drinking her tea. Rarely a day goes by that I do not have a cup of tea, alone or with the children in the late afternoon. Some days, I have several. My tastes have changed over the years as to which teas I drink most often but the following are a few of my favorites...
Hot Cinnamon Sunset by Harney & Sons
This tea is so delicious that I actually prefer it over dessert. It is a medium strength black tea with a heavy taste of cinnamon. It needs no sweetener as the cinnamon does the trick. The cloth bags are sold in an attractive tin. If you would like to sample it first without buying a whole tin, you can check it out at your nearest Barnes & Noble Bookseller. They carry a large number of Harney & Sons teas in their cafe. Call 1-800-TEA-TIME
Roastaroma by Celestial Seasonings
I have enjoyed this flavorful tea of roasted barley, chicory, carob, cinnamon, allspice and anise for several years. My dear friend Barbara introduced it to me during one of our many visits at her home. The scent of this tea steeping is heavenly. Add a bit of real maple syrup and a dash of milk and you will be hooked. Plus, who can resist the Michael Hague illustrations on the box? You can search by zip code for stores that carry your favorite tea on their website. Very handy.
Chamomile Citrus by Mighty Leaf Tea Company
My mother-in-love stumbled upon this tea at a restaurant, went home and promptly ordered some. The company's description is as follows: "Chamomile Citrus is a refreshing infusion perfected to curl up with and savor by the sip. Made with Soothing Egyptian Chamomile flowers and subtle slices of citrus fruit, this vibrant blend will rejuvenate the spirit. From intoxicating aroma to sweet flavor, this Mighty Leaf signature blend with Chamomile, fruits and herbs reflects our vision of the artisan tea experience." Need I say more? A pricey tea but treat yourself for your birthday or put it on your Christmas list!
English Breakfast by Twinings
A delicious, strong, everyday tea. Twinings has been in business since 1706 so I am fairly certain they have tea making down pat. I like it with milk. They also make a wonderful Irish Breakfast!
Gypsy Caravan
A delicious, black tea with vanilla and grenadine. Buy loose in two ounce bags at $4.95 from Lady Charlton Tea Parlour by calling 440-269-8380 or better yet, visit their parlour with a kindred spirit for a full afternoon tea the next time you are in Northeast Ohio. For those of you who are wondering, this blog is named, in part, after that tea, among other things that I will expound upon in another post.
Topmost photo credit: Mike Bresnahan 1999