Tropical Fruit from Storehouse Tea. . . .

by SuperStarling

Confession: I’ve written two reviews for this tea. The first review was written longhand in my journal after a party where I made a few non-tea-beverage tactical errors. It said:

“This tea tastes like what’d it be like to receive a Care Bear Stare.”

The rest of it is, basically, incomprehensible, mostly in terms of handwriting. So I’m writing it again.

“Tropical Fruit” ‘s ingredients include organic orange peel, organic apple, organic rose petals, organic calendula, and natural fruit flavors. Apples, oranges, and flowers aren’t really all that tropical, but the result is still sweet and fun anyway. It tastes like very vivid pastels might taste. I’d probably qualify this taste as more of a “spring” than a “summer” (as the tropics might be), but the accuracy of title-to-flavor isn’t one of my major sticking points.

I’ve drank both of these samples iced. It seems fitting to enjoy the tropics with a cool beverage at your hand.

Cold temperatures also seem to bring out the sweetness in a tea, which I especially enjoy doing with rooibos. It brings out a velvety, vanilla-like quality that makes everything taste like a wash of ice cream.

Or, you know, the Care Bear Stare.

Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  Rooibos
Where to Buy:  Storehouse Tea
Description

Combines natural exotic tropical fruit flavors with caffeine free, Fair Trade red and green rooibos makes this infusion deliciously refreshing and rich in anti-oxidants. Excellent iced.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

SuperStarling

"Hey, everybody! I'm Leah, a graphic designer from Pennsylvania, United States. I live with my husband and rescue mutt in a house with colorful walls. I love fonts, colors, animals, flowers, novels, illustration, geeking out, and -- obviously! -- tea. I've only been heavily into tea for about a year, but I've found I tend to prefer loose blended black dessert teas. I normally drink them hot western style without anything added; if I add in some vanilla almond milk or honey, I promise I'll mention it! When I'm not blogging here, I'm blogging at leahlucci.com/starling or posting to Instagram (super_starling), so come say hi!"

This post was posted in Rooibos, Storehouse Teas

St Nick’s Tea from Simpson and Vail. . . .

by SuperStarling

This is one of my new acquisitions that I bought in a turkey stupor over Black Friday weekend. I bought a LOT of tea on Cyber Monday. Like, I’d be embarrassed if it, if I still had the capacity for that. But blowing money on my tea collection is part of my REPUTATION at this point. Gotta maintain my street cred.

I picked this one specifically because Christmas is coming. I have been assiduously avoiding “Santa Baby” like the plague, but I imagine it’s only a matter of time until I hear it. I’m having trouble getting into the Christmas spirit this year, so I thought maybe this would help.

RESULT: Nope, I’m still not bothering with a Christmas tree.

HOWEVER: this is a very tasty blend. It has a nice nut-chocolate vibe. It tastes like hot chocolate mixed with an oatmeal nut cookie. Its caffeine content content keeps him zingin’ along as he halts time and gives out —

ATTENTION: THIS IS THE INTERSTELLAR TIME-SPACE CONSORTIUM. YOU DID NOT HEAR THAT. SANTA IS DEFINITELY FICTIONAL AND DEFINITELY NOT A REAL LIVING TIME-TRAVELER WITH THE ABILITY TO STOP TIME. YOUR PARENTS MADE HIM UP. ALL GIFTS ARE BOUGHT FOR YOU BY YOUR PARENTS. LOOK INTO THIS LIGHT.

— Where was I?

This tea is very sweet in a healthy homemade cookie way. If you’re not sure if you can get the Christmas spirit going, try this. Even if you don’t wind up getting the tree, at least you had a tasty tea.

Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  Black
Where to Buy:  Simpson and Vail
Description

“Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there….”

Add St. Nick’s Tea to your holiday wish list because this blend is Nutty & Nice! Black teas are enhanced with the flavors of chocolate and roasted nuts with a hint of maple. The tea brews to an amber cup with a smooth, nutty, slightly sweet taste. It’s the perfect blend to enjoy on winter nights while you’re sitting by the fire. A definite crowd pleaser!

Ingredients: Black teas, almonds, organic cacao nibs, vanilla beans, flavoring and orange blossoms. Contains Tree Nuts.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

SuperStarling

"Hey, everybody! I'm Leah, a graphic designer from Pennsylvania, United States. I live with my husband and rescue mutt in a house with colorful walls. I love fonts, colors, animals, flowers, novels, illustration, geeking out, and -- obviously! -- tea. I've only been heavily into tea for about a year, but I've found I tend to prefer loose blended black dessert teas. I normally drink them hot western style without anything added; if I add in some vanilla almond milk or honey, I promise I'll mention it! When I'm not blogging here, I'm blogging at leahlucci.com/starling or posting to Instagram (super_starling), so come say hi!"

This post was posted in Black Tea, Simpson & Vail

Super Starling’s Festive Favorites!

by SuperStarling
Hello, TEA-ple! Hanukkah is here, and I’m ready to make demands!
You might be thinking “but Super Starling… the holidays are underway.” Don’t fret. I accept holiday gifts all year round.
Here are some tea-related festive favorites:
Watercolor Art Print. I love the style on this: part papercut and part watercolor. Plus, plenty of pink and purple. I’m not usually girly, but tea brings it out in me.
A Cup With Feet. Admit it. You’re wondering if this is dishwasher-safe. Strap in, folks: it is. The artist makes all kinds of mugs with — and a few without — feet. I can’t get enough of this.
Vintage Fortune Telling Set. I’m not sure if this would make tea-leaf-reading easier or harder, but I’m ready to try.
Tea & Tarot Bangle. I have a huge collection of those trendy bangle bracelets. You know the ones I mean. But none of them QUITE nail down my tea-witch nature like this.
Fabric Teapot. I just like the vibe of this. I could put it on a little shelf and incorporate it into one of the gallery walls of my house. Maybe put some emergency candy in there. NOT THAT I HAVE STASHES OF CANDY HIDDEN AROUND MY HOME.
Which reminds me: I’m also, obviously, accepting both candy and tea.

SuperStarling

"Hey, everybody! I'm Leah, a graphic designer from Pennsylvania, United States. I live with my husband and rescue mutt in a house with colorful walls. I love fonts, colors, animals, flowers, novels, illustration, geeking out, and -- obviously! -- tea. I've only been heavily into tea for about a year, but I've found I tend to prefer loose blended black dessert teas. I normally drink them hot western style without anything added; if I add in some vanilla almond milk or honey, I promise I'll mention it! When I'm not blogging here, I'm blogging at leahlucci.com/starling or posting to Instagram (super_starling), so come say hi!"

This post was posted in Uncategorized

French #7 from Blue Hour Tea. . .

by SuperStarling

Don’t let the flowers fool you: this Earl Grey blend is POWERFUL. It’s packed to the gills with the Earl’s trademark bergamot, plus lavender and cornflowers. This blend packs a punch. DO NOT OVERSTEEP IT.

Tired? The smell itself is so strong that it will wake you up immediately. Cranky? The flavor will get your gears in motion. Dead on the inside? The caffeine will give you a shove.

This is like Earl Grey’s spunky hippie sister got into his tea stash and started messing around with it

“I picked these today,” she whispers, dropping a handful of blossoms into the mix. “These will make it pretty AND align his chakras. He’s so UPTIGHT sometimes.”

And then the Earl gets in there and he’s like “OH MY GOD, MOONBEAM, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?”

Then he sips it and says, with a sigh, “Oh. It’s pretty good.”

And goes back to bureaucracy or whatever it is Earls do all day. She’ll wander back into the fields, going on a walkabout, not to return until the winds and the moon usher her back to the castle. He never knows when she’ll drop by, but he’s secretly glad when she does. She keeps him on his toes.

Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  Black
Where to Buy:  Blue Hour Tea
Description

This is by far our most fragrant tea, just one sniff and you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to the beautiful streets of Paris! Our French No.7 blend uses a base of rich Earl Grey tea and has been mixed with a generous portion of lavender & cornflowers to create its wonderful floral aroma and flavour.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

SuperStarling

"Hey, everybody! I'm Leah, a graphic designer from Pennsylvania, United States. I live with my husband and rescue mutt in a house with colorful walls. I love fonts, colors, animals, flowers, novels, illustration, geeking out, and -- obviously! -- tea. I've only been heavily into tea for about a year, but I've found I tend to prefer loose blended black dessert teas. I normally drink them hot western style without anything added; if I add in some vanilla almond milk or honey, I promise I'll mention it! When I'm not blogging here, I'm blogging at leahlucci.com/starling or posting to Instagram (super_starling), so come say hi!"

This post was posted in Black Tea, Blue Hour Tea

Zen from Tazo. . .

by SuperStarling

I grabbed Tazo’s Zen™ at the dentist’s office without realizing the dreaded mint* was inside it. However, I’m pleased to announce that the mint isn’t the primary characteristic of this tea!

* A note about mint: WHY IS IT EVERYWHERE? Mint is for toothpaste only.

Anyway, this lemon-mint green tea is mostly lemon with a toasty green flavor. It’s like a roasty, nutty kind of green, which is interesting against the citrus-y (and, okay, a LITTLE minty) high notes.

I think this is a nice choice for recovering from the harsh blows of a dentist visit. (I need $4k of Invisalign! And a filling! And part of the underside of my tongue cut! Almost $5k altogether!) It’s very… Zen™. *

* A note about the ™: How on earth can the word “Zen” be trademarked? I imagine it’s just in the context of tea products? No one else can name their tea “Zen,” maybe? Does this strike anyone else as weird?

Anyway, this tea comes in boxes at your grocery store, if you want to give it a whirl! You can enjoy it in your less-messed-up-than-mine mouth!

Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  Green
Where to Buy:  Tazo
Description

A harmonious blend of green tea with lemongrass & spearmint.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

SuperStarling

"Hey, everybody! I'm Leah, a graphic designer from Pennsylvania, United States. I live with my husband and rescue mutt in a house with colorful walls. I love fonts, colors, animals, flowers, novels, illustration, geeking out, and -- obviously! -- tea. I've only been heavily into tea for about a year, but I've found I tend to prefer loose blended black dessert teas. I normally drink them hot western style without anything added; if I add in some vanilla almond milk or honey, I promise I'll mention it! When I'm not blogging here, I'm blogging at leahlucci.com/starling or posting to Instagram (super_starling), so come say hi!"

This post was posted in Green Tea, Tazo Tea