For many tea lovers, tea is so much more than just a beverage. Tea becomes a comfort, a joy, a means of sharing special moments, a way to quiet the noise of life, a way of making friends, a glimpse into another culture.
Tea ceremonies from other countries may be studied and practiced. Special tea times are set aside to focus the mind on the fullest enjoyment of the beverage and the rituals that go with preparing it, alone or with friends.
Gong fu sessions have become an important part of our household. While we do not do this every week, it is a treasured time of quiet and relaxation with our favorite beverage.
To prepare for our special tea times, we play soothing music, usually traditional Asian music, turn the lights off, and light candles. Everything begins to slow down. Water is heated, cups are chosen, the tray is placed on the floor, and we settle ourselves around the tray.
When I saw the brass sanctuary candle on Bellocq’s website, I knew I was going to try to get it one day. I am very budget conscious, though, and will not frivolously spend large sums, except when quality dictates worth. Everything I have ever purchased from Bellocq has been high quality and I have not regretted a single one of them. I decided to watch for a sale. (I may have picked up some tea in that order since there was a sale on. That’s just being smart!)
I always feel special when a box from Bellocq arrives. Their signature yellow tissue paper cushions your goods in a fabulously strong reusable box. Even their labels are artistic. Everything arrives looking like a thoughtful gift.
As for the Sanctuary Candle, was it worth it? Every penny. This is very thick brass, with lovely proportions and beautiful, useful design. The brass cylinder stores the candles, and when you are ready to use them, you take off the lid and flip it over to serve as the candleholder.
This is a really heavy gauge of brass and I think it would be pretty indestructible. I would buy it again in a heartbeat. I fully expect to own it for the rest of my life and pass it down to my children. Seriously.
They say the candle should burn for about one hour, and I can almost perfectly time our tea sessions by it. I have never seen any dripping wax – it burns that cleanly. I have taken no special measures to protect the flame, yet it burns brightly and cleanly. I do not have to trim the wick mid-burn, because it is well-sized for the diameter of the candle. These things count!
When tea time is done, the lid that holds the candle goes back on and the Sanctuary Candle is placed back on the mantel to lend its warm, golden glow until our next tea session.
Now that I have experienced the Sanctuary Candle, I will be watching for another sale to try their long-burning tea scented candles in brass containers. I can hardly wait to see all the ways we think of to re-use the empty brass holders!
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type:
Where to Buy: Bellocq Tea Atelier
Description
Eighteen hand-dipped ivory tapers, presented in a brass vessel expertly crafted by Bellocq metal artisans, to adorn the armchair traveler’s moments of sanctuary, and to illuminate journeys of ritual and light. Each slender taper fits into the underside of the brass container with elegance and serenity.
Created from a blend of high-quality waxes, including beeswax, and a pure cotton wick,the Sanctuary Candles are long burning, drip and smoke resistant. Packaged in our elegant peacock blue candle box.
Burn time per taper: 1 hour
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Belgium Chocolate Matcha from Red Leaf Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Tea Description:
This dessert-like drink will knock your socks off! We’ve combined our fabulous Matcha Tea with cocoa powder to make a drink everyone will love and crave. This is an amazing beverage that can be served any time to anybody. Not only does this tea offer all the health benefits of Matcha Green Tea, it gives a little chocolate kick you are sure to love. This dessert-style beverage is healthy, tasty and will make you smile.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I have to agree with what Red Leaf Tea says about this Matcha, it is indeed knocking my socks off! Well, not literally, of course, but you know what I mean. This is a seriously delicious treat … and not only is it yummy but it is healthy too!
I was a little surprised when I first opened the container to this Matcha, I expected it to be a little … less green. Of course, most Matcha is green, and usually, the more vibrant green it is, the better. But I expected this to look a little more like cocoa powder or something, but it is indeed green. Not quite as brilliant a green as the photo above suggests, but, there’s no mistaking that this is matcha and not chocolate milk mix!
I prepared this the same way I would prepare other Matcha – scooping out the desired amount of matcha, adding hot water (about 160° F), and whisking until the tea powder is dissolved. It did not froth up very much, but what it lacks in froth it more than makes up for in delicious flavor.
Unlike some other chocolate flavored Matcha tea that I’ve tasted, this does not taste like ovaltine! Don’t get me wrong, I like ovaltine just fine and the taste of it evokes fond childhood memories but I was really happy to taste the rich, bittersweet flavor of Belgium chocolate! Yummy!
This actually tastes like a combination of Matcha and a thinned sipping chocolate, and I am loving every sip of it. The Matcha has a sweet, slightly vegetal taste to it, and the natural earthiness of the Matcha marries well with the deep, rich tones of the chocolate. A match made in Matcha heaven, this!
If you haven’t visited Red Leaf Tea’s Matcha Tea page lately, you really should! I was surprised to see how many Matcha teas they offer now! I mean, they had quite a few the last time I checked it out, but they seem to have added quite a few more since then, and they have almost every flavor imaginable! I’m excited by some of the new varieties: they have Pear Matcha and Peach Matcha and even Licorice Matcha. OK… I’d say a shopping trip is definitely in order!
