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Post by Critical on Nov 3, 2020 18:06:48 GMT
My favorite is white tea. I like that it's naturally sweeter. I like that it takes less time to steep. I like that it's processed for the least amount of time over both green and black tea. I love flavored white tea but it's been much more difficult for me to find flavored white teas. Green tea is much more prevalent, but I really don't care for the taste of green tea. Considering they're all made from the same plant I do think it's odd how much I dislike green tea when I love white or black tea. Even though the flavor of tea leaves is better than tea bags, I often make tea first thing in the morning for my caffeine fix. I love tea bags because I don't have a lot of steps before enjoying my tea! I cannot drink most herbal teas because so many of them have rose hips which I'm very allergic to. Last time I had it it felt like my throat was constricting. I prefer not to become more allergic. I also don't really care for other herbal teas I've had, maybe because I actually want my tea to contain tea. I like the flavor of tea. As an aside (a mini rant), I realize it's what everyone including the companies labeling them call them, but any herbal "tea" that doesn't contain tea is technically called a tisane. Tea is a plant, not the process! Tea balls are a pain! We ended up buying fill-your-own tea bags for loose tea. My son-in-law has a couple of infusers, but as I previously mentioned that's generally a whole process I can't be bothered to take the time to make. I do not like cooking and that's getting a little too close to being in the kitchen longer than I want! Since I've been having trouble finding flavored white tea bags I've taken to buying unflavored white tea bags and using flavored syrups. Bentley tea used to be my favorite flavored white tea bags but haven't seen it for a long time. Their black tea is very good too. I've had a couple of good Republic of Tea white tea choices but haven't found a good, reliable, inexpensive way to buy them. True, but I still call it tea MY pet peeve is that they call some coffee drink "chai." Chai is literally the word for tea in Russian. It's weird enough that chai tea is a blend of spices and not just straight tea
I got some nice white pomegranate tea at Trader Joe's. Not sure if there are rose hips in it OR if they even carry it any ore. It's a bummer, because I know rose hips are in a lot of flavored tea blends. Give Adagio and Stash a try. I know Adagio does have some flavored white teas and I think Stash does too and both companies list every ingredient in their teas on their website. I have a friend who own a tea company and she had a really nice butterscotch white tea that, sadly, I think she discontinued.
I generally do a bag tea in the morning too. I'm too tired to do anything else! Lately, it's been an English/British breakfast to help get me going.
waywyrd - I'm so glad you like your first August tea! They're definitely not for everyone, but I love them! Pretty much my only acknowledgment of Halloween this year was a cup of their Psychocandy tea, which is a rooibos with pumpkin and caramel. I think they only do it seasonally now, but it's pretty much the only tea with pumpkin that I like....probably because they use actual pumpkin and not pumpkin flavoring.
After posting about Adagio's Reindeer Fuel, I had to go spelunking in my cabinets to see if I had any of last year's order left. Success! I hadn't quite finished the bag, so I had a cup last night. It is SO good. I hope they bring it back this year because I need more!
Finally had to break out my metal insulated travel mug after my tea started cooling down too quickly. We're dropping into the 60s as a daytime temp later this week, so I'd be having iced tea without this mug!
I'm sad that all my work events have been canceled this year. I do several shows in the Napa/Sonoma area and there's a tea company there that I love called Tea & Trumpets. I'll miss stocking up on his teas this year! I know I could order online, but I always love checking out his new flavors and smelling it all.
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Post by justCoz on Nov 3, 2020 20:04:55 GMT
Unfortunately we're about 3 hours from the closest TJs. I do have some of their pomegranate white tea, but it's not my favorite. I really loved their ginger pear white tea but they haven't carried it for several years.
I think I've tried a Stash tea, but I don't remember what it was. I'll check into Adagio's.
I tried Tazo's berry blossom white which was good.
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Post by Critical on Nov 4, 2020 7:04:57 GMT
Unfortunately we're about 3 hours from the closest TJs. I do have some of their pomegranate white tea, but it's not my favorite. I really loved their ginger pear white tea but they haven't carried it for several years. I think I've tried a Stash tea, but I don't remember what it was. I'll check into Adagio's. I tried Tazo's berry blossom white which was good. I liked that ginger pear tea better than the pomegranate too. It's such a bummer when TJ's discontinues products.
I got my cousin a variety pack of green and white teas from Revolution Tea and she said the white pear tea is amazing.
It's hard to be a white tea drinker on the budget. It just seems to cost more.
I'm slightly obsessed with Plum Deluxe's advent calendar. I wish I could afford it, but $70 is just not in my budget right now. The tea refills are $35, so once you buy the fabric calendar, it's cheaper. Still, $70 = UGH. Maybe things will be better next year and I can justify the splurge!
One of my favorite teas (and probably the most expensive one I have) is Mariage Frere's Bourbon Vanilla. It's a rooibos with Bourbon vanilla that is just insanely good. Not cheap but, IMO, worth the splurge. I bought it at a store in Berkeley that sells their teas by the ounce. A non-tea drinking friend was with me and was horrified that I spent $8 on a little bag (and rooibos is light!). I didn't ever tell her what I paid for a whole tin of it Even if you never buy anything from them, the website is amazing! Mariage Freres
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Post by justCoz on Nov 4, 2020 15:08:50 GMT
Critical oh, I've tried that Revolution pear white tea, it was good. I had a sampler from them. I really don't care for green tea enough to buy sampler packs. I saw a mixed pack like that at TJ Maxx the other day. The front pack was a white tea choice I thought I'd love, but then was so disappointed when it was part of a big pack that too much green tea.
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Post by waywyrd on Nov 4, 2020 15:40:02 GMT
I need to try some straight rooibos, I've tried some blends that have hibiscus in it which I did NOT like. It tasted sour to me, and I can't stand sour flavors. It has to be the hibiscus since I've read that rooibos is supposed to taste smooth/nutty, not nasty and bitter.
I tried my Low Country tea last night - excellent! Burnt caramel with bourbon flavor in a nice strong black tea. Yum.
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Post by Critical on Nov 4, 2020 21:15:58 GMT
I need to try some straight rooibos, I've tried some blends that have hibiscus in it which I did NOT like. It tasted sour to me, and I can't stand sour flavors. It has to be the hibiscus since I've read that rooibos is supposed to taste smooth/nutty, not nasty and bitter. I tried my Low Country tea last night - excellent! Burnt caramel with bourbon flavor in a nice strong black tea. Yum. I've got some really nice rooibos blends that aren't bitter at all. I think you're right that it's the hibiscus. That's one of the few tea ingredients I just can't stomach. I've tried it enough times that I know now to avoid anything with hibiscus. Blech.
I've got rooibos Chai, a roobos vanilla, a vanilla and almond, so many blends. It's okay on it's own, but i prefer it with other ingredients. That blood orange smoothie tea I got from The Tea Spot for my bday last month is a rooibos and it'[s incredible. Trader Joe's has a rooinos and honeybush blend that's pretty okay. That's as close to a plain rooibos that I get, but it's definitely not my favorite.
There was a a period of time about 10 years ago when I had really terrible acid reflux and had to go off caffeine completely, so I really explored the caffeine-free options!
I wonder if brewing temp and steeping time. is causing folks to get bitter green tea. I got a Kitchenaid electric kettle a few years ago because you can set it for different temperatures. Green and white teas shouldn't be brewed with boiling water like black and rooibos can. Plus if you steep green tea too long, it starts releasing tannins that cause the tea to taste bitter. IIRC, it's between 2 and 5 minutes for green tea and around 160-180º (I'm too lazy to get up and check the guide on my fridge door )
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Post by waywyrd on Nov 4, 2020 21:54:17 GMT
Ugh. I might just toss the ones that have hibiscus, then, I don't enjoy it at all. I've even tried making iced tea out of them - yuck. I'll look for a rooibos without the stuff. Critical do you use milk/cream in your rooibos? Green tea can get bitter, for sure. I'll pour the water just before it boils and set a timer for four minutes, because I'll walk off and get distracted and come back to nasty tea.
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Post by Critical on Nov 5, 2020 0:42:35 GMT
Ugh. I might just toss the ones that have hibiscus, then, I don't enjoy it at all. I've even tried making iced tea out of them - yuck. I'll look for a rooibos without the stuff. Critical do you use milk/cream in your rooibos?Green tea can get bitter, for sure. I'll pour the water just before it boils and set a timer for four minutes, because I'll walk off and get distracted and come back to nasty tea. Mostly. If it's vanilla or a chai or something like that, I use cream and sugar. With some, I use honey. I really like Republic of Tea's Get Burning, which is actually a green rooibos. It has cinnamon and chili (among other things) and I think it works better with honey.
There's a honey vendor in Orange County that sells at some events my mom does for my business. They make different flavored honeys and creamy honeys. I love their creamy lemon honey and creamy cinnamon honey. The lemon honey is SO good with Twining's Lady Grey, which is a black tea with bergamot and orange and lemon peel.
I set timers for my green tea and then for stuff like the ginger and throat comfort teas that need to steep for longer. I totally forget about it too.
A few years ago, I bought some really cool herbal tea blends from my "neighbor" at a craft show. They need to steep for up to 15 minutes. I'd totally forget those without a timer! It'd be stone cold before I'd remember it.
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Post by justCoz on Nov 5, 2020 3:45:23 GMT
Oh, I'm pretty careful about steeping my tea for the correct times, and I never boil the water, as they all taste better to me at that lower temperature of not quite boiling. MrCoz is a fanatic too and has taught several people at work the best way to steep their tea, and the correct time. White tea steeps the least amount of tea, which is another reason I like it! That's not quite it, I do like black tea. At home, we get the water from our Keurig because that's a good temperature at, IIRC, 190° He also likes to sweeten his with honey, but I don't like that as much. I really prefer sweet iced tea, which is a result of my Tennessee roots. I drink cold or room temp tea all year. I do like hot tea on a cold day, but not when it's already hot out. My husband can drink hot tea no matter the temperature.
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Post by Critical on Nov 9, 2020 7:45:41 GMT
waywyrd, I went and checked all of my August teas and I don't have even samples of either of the ones you've posted about. I thought sure I'd tried almost every flavor! That's an excuse for another order! I did find a tin I forgot about of a discontinued flavor called Veins of Gold - rooibos with chocolate and nutmeg = YUM! I'm going to have to ration that one out, since I can't get it again.
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Post by momrek06 on Nov 12, 2020 16:13:05 GMT
I did! I ordered yesterday with minutes to spare on the Bella Luna Blue tea. Adagio is one of my favorites. I think their prices are great (don't forget to get the $5 coupon on your first order! I think you have to sign up for their emails), the tea is excellent and they have such a great variety. I love the fandom teas - so many great combinations - and I love that you can create your own blend if they don't have what you want.
I was tempted by the 12 Days of XMas too, but could only get one.
I can't see it on their site now, but a few years ago, I got my cousin a tea kit that allowed you to create your own blend. You got a base tea - black or green - and then little bottles of different ingredients. It looked like so much fun!
That infuser is literally the only one I use. I've bought a bunch of them and I always go back to that one. I even bought these little silicone ones that look like teabags that, while being super cute, were a pain in the you-know-what to clean out. Plus, the holes were bigger than the metal infuser, so leaves still got through. I've used the paper tea bags - the ones you fill up and then they sort of seal to the side of the cup with water while the tea is steeping - but I prefer to not use something that then gets thrown out.
The other cool thing about Adagio is that you get points for each purchase that you can use for discounts on future purchases. I got $10 off my order, which is a 3oz (or more) bag of tea. With that discount, it brought my total down to $49, which is the minimum for free shipping!
Glad you're enjoying the ginger tea! I really like it too. Sometimes I just want something hot to drink. The spiciness of the ginger seems to warm me up a little too.
OK OK OK OK Critical OMGOSH that website for ADAGIO.........I was on it for an HOUR.........I WANT IT ALL!!!!! And in the middle of shopping the $5.00 coupon POPPED UP and I was able to use it on this current order!!! I bought 3 of the 12 DAYS of CHRISTMAS, I bought the EARL GREY MOONLIGHT 4oz TIN, I bought a box of the 12 singles of EARL GREY, and I bought the PORCELAIN CUP AND INFUSER!!! AWESOME FAB REVIEWS THROUGH THE ENTIRE WEBSITE. I clicked on every thing at the top of the page hence finding the GIFTS ......... so MOM gets the PORCELAIN CUP but I am keeping THE INFUSER. So check out that INFUSER.......the gift set was $19.00 marked down to $14.00 so I decided for that price I will try THAT infuser before I buy the one you told waywyrd about ....go look at it and tell me your thoughts!!! What FUN I had on that site........such a USER FRIENDLY website to get around and I love their little 98, 96, 94 grading on everything!!! FUN FUN FUN!!! THANKS FOR TELLING ME ABOUT THAT SITE!!! OMG OMG MY ADAGIO TEAS ARRIVED LAST NIGHT!!!! AND THIS MORNING I AM SITTING HERE SIPPING THEIR EARL GREY!!!! HEAVENLY!!!!! OK on the MUG with the INFUSER.......I love it so much I am giving MOM the MUG BUT LETTING HER KEEP THE INFUSER and I am getting myself my OWN MUG with INFUSER. THAT INFUSER IS AMAZING. Plus the box shows the INFUSER ..... MOM would wonder where it was if I sent her the MUG without the INFUSER. While I did BUY LOOSE TEA for myself MOM drinks wayyyyyy more loose TEAS than I do so she DEFINITELY would love the INFUSER!!! The BOX arrived FEDEX and was really banged up BUT BUT BUT the way ADAGIO PACKS their ORDERS with INTENSE BUBBLE WRAP everything arrived SAFE AND SOUND. The 12 Days of Christmas TINS are FABULOUS! VERY FESTIVE! Even the TIN with my LOOSE EARL GREY MOONLIGHT is LOVELY. Critical the special cards that came in the box .... what do they mean about POINTS? Such colorful cards with tons of "TEA" info.......I will share with all of you...." Drinking tea relieves and lowers depression and anxiety" "Tea provides a welcome relief from life's stresses" !!!!!!
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Post by Critical on Nov 14, 2020 1:18:02 GMT
momrek06 - Adagio has a page on their site that explains about the points system. You get points for purchases, for doing reviews and some other things as well. Then you can redeem them for product of discounts. I'm annoyed right now because I used my points for a discount on my last order and I just found out that Reindeer Fuel is only available with points and I don't have enough! I'm about 27 points short, so I'm going to do reviews of my last order and a few other things to see if I can get enough points. I don't want to place TWO orders just to get that bag of tea. Adagio always gives fun freebies. My order included a week's worth of CommunitTEA bags - CommuniTEA a monthly box with a new loose leaf tea every day. I got next week's teas. I also got a packet of honey/sugar crystals. My order last Christmas had a free ornament and the aforementioned Reindeer Fuel tea. I am NOT looking at the mugs. I have too many already! If you do another Adagio order, the tea cookies are amazing. I love the vanilla chai ones. A little pricey, but they're a fun splurge.
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Post by momrek06 on Nov 14, 2020 1:59:48 GMT
momrek06 - Adagio has a page on their site that explains about the points system. You get points for purchases, for doing reviews and some other things as well. Then you can redeem them for product of discounts. I'm annoyed right now because I used my points for a discount on my last order and I just found out that Reindeer Fuel is only available with points and I don't have enough! I'm about 27 points short, so I'm going to do reviews of my last order and a few other things to see if I can get enough points. I don't want to place TWO orders just to get that bag of tea. Adagio always gives fun freebies. My order included a week's worth of CommunitTEA bags - CommuniTEA a monthly box with a new loose leaf tea every day. I got next week's teas. I also got a packet of honey/sugar crystals. My order last Christmas had a free ornament and the aforementioned Reindeer Fuel tea. I am NOT looking at the mugs. I have too many already! If you do another Adagio order, the tea cookies are amazing. I love the vanilla chai ones. A little pricey, but they're a fun splurge. CriticalSo I went to my POINTS page as you suggested!!!!!! OMG I have 45 points you can have them if you want AND if there is a way I can give them to you!!!!!! Oh I got the packet of honey/sugar crystals......while I always go black with my tea, dropping one or two crystals in my tea was TASTY TASTY!!!
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Post by Kao on Nov 14, 2020 2:09:12 GMT
Anyone have any idea where I can get some gingerbread tea? I've been to Jewel and Whole Foods and no luck. I need it for a moonshine apple pie hot toddy!
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Post by Critical on Nov 14, 2020 2:42:41 GMT
Anyone have any idea where I can get some gingerbread tea? I've been to Jewel and Whole Foods and no luck. I need it for a moonshine apple pie hot toddy! Adagio! I seriously don't make any money for recommending them, although let me know if you want a referral code and I'll get some points if you make a purchase
momrek06 - that's sweet of you to offer, but I don't think you can transfer points! If I miss out this year, it's literally nowhere close to the worst thing in the world!
Right now I'm drinking a cup of My Dear Watson an Adagio fandom tea that's a chocolate Earl Gray. It is SO good! I've been looking for another chocolate Earl Gray since Numi discontinued theirs. I finally found it!
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Post by sweetmermaid1 on Nov 14, 2020 2:50:13 GMT
I'm curious...do the tea drinkers also drink coffee on occasion? I drink both but have to say that I drink tea for calming moments and one cup of coffee on work days.
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Post by justCoz on Nov 14, 2020 3:55:51 GMT
I'm curious...do the tea drinkers also drink coffee on occasion? I drink both but have to say that I drink tea for calming moments and one cup of coffee on work days. Neither I nor MrCoz do. Although we love the smell of coffee, we can't stand the taste. I've even tried fancy flavored ones but I can't get past the coffee taste to enjoy the rest. The funny thing is my daughter likes coffee. She likes tea okay, but prefers coffee.
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Post by Critical on Nov 14, 2020 3:56:38 GMT
Nope. No coffee. Never. I hate it.
I use tea to relax and to NOT relax! I have some HiCaf tea from Republic of Tea that has even more caffeine than coffee, but it doesn't make you jittery.
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Post by sweetmermaid1 on Nov 14, 2020 11:37:09 GMT
I'm curious...do the tea drinkers also drink coffee on occasion? I drink both but have to say that I drink tea for calming moments and one cup of coffee on work days. Neither I nor MrCoz do. Although we love the smell of coffee, we can't stand the taste. I've even tried fancy flavored ones but I can't get past the coffee taste to enjoy the rest. The funny thing is my daughter likes coffee. She likes tea okay, but prefers coffee. For years I was a tea only drinker. I had a nanny job when I was in college for a British family who taught me how to make a proper pot of English tea. So many years ago but pretty sure I could still do it. I really only got back into drinking coffee when I scored my $7 Keurig at Goodwill.
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Post by angelic_one2002 on Nov 14, 2020 13:02:03 GMT
Critical oh, I've tried that Revolution pear white tea, it was good. I had a sampler from them. I really don't care for green tea enough to buy sampler packs. I saw a mixed pack like that at TJ Maxx the other day. The front pack was a white tea choice I thought I'd love, but then was so disappointed when it was part of a big pack that too much green tea. I don't, either. I know it's probably the best tea for you health-wise, but I just can't enjoy a plain cup of green tea. If I do have a cup, I want it flavored to mask the green tea flavor. I like mint flavor in it.
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Post by angelic_one2002 on Nov 14, 2020 13:05:34 GMT
I'm curious...do the tea drinkers also drink coffee on occasion? I drink both but have to say that I drink tea for calming moments and one cup of coffee on work days. I drink hot decaf tea at night occasionally at night to relax. I prefer coffee, overall. I like my cup of coffee in the morning to start my day.
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Post by justCoz on Nov 15, 2020 4:03:35 GMT
Critical oh, I've tried that Revolution pear white tea, it was good. I had a sampler from them. I really don't care for green tea enough to buy sampler packs. I saw a mixed pack like that at TJ Maxx the other day. The front pack was a white tea choice I thought I'd love, but then was so disappointed when it was part of a big pack that too much green tea. I don't, either. I know it's probably the best tea for you health-wise, but I just can't enjoy a plain cup of green tea. If I do have a cup, I want it flavored to mask the green tea flavor. I like mint flavor in it. I can't figure out why green tea would be healthier than white tea. Supposedly (at least one reason) it's healthier than black tea because it's less processed, but white tea is processed less than both of them. They're all from the same plant, so really, I'll take my chances and drink white or black tea and skip green.
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Post by angelic_one2002 on Nov 15, 2020 18:02:23 GMT
Ive heard white tea is really, really healthy too, justCoz. I've never had white tea before.
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Post by justCoz on Nov 15, 2020 23:22:55 GMT
Ive heard white tea is really, really healthy too, justCoz. I've never had white tea before. I like it best. It's naturally sweeter than the others. It takes less steeping time too, which is another bonus for me!
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Post by angelic_one2002 on Nov 16, 2020 18:33:12 GMT
Thanks for the info. I'll have to try some of the white tea.
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Post by justCoz on Nov 17, 2020 1:13:47 GMT
Thanks for the info. I'll have to try some of the white tea. Don't use boiling water to steep, but almost boiling, and steep it for about 2 mins. They say 2 to 3. I like fairly strong tea and 2 minutes is usually long enough for me. I'll be interested to know if you like it.
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Post by Critical on Nov 17, 2020 8:34:16 GMT
^^^ That's why I like my electric kettle. I can program it for whatever temp I need AND it heats the water faster. Best Christmas gift of the last five years! I have to say, if I could afford to pay for a monthly club of any kind, I'd definitely do a CommuniTEA box every month! You get a new single-serve packet of loose leaf tea for every day of the month - a got one week's worth of packets as a free gift with my last order. The packet lists the ingredients, but doesn't tell you the name of the flavor. For instance, day 1 just said "black tea" and it was a lovely Lapsang Souchong - I really like smoked teas, especially in the colder months. The tea on day 2 (which I'm drinking right now and LOVE) was a fandom tea called Rarity that is an Earl Gray with vanilla and mint. You have to go on the Adagio website to find out what the tea is called (and so, I'm sure they hope, you can order some!). I have their advent calendar for December, but maybe I'll splurge and get the CommuniTEA box for January. It's only $19, but I'm trying to be very frugal, especially until my EDD debit card FINALLY arrives!
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Post by Critical on Nov 19, 2020 8:34:34 GMT
I think I did this with my mind because I talked about it so much, but I managed to find someone on ebay with a bag of Reindeer Fuel on sale! It'll be here by Monday. I pulled out a tin of Simpson and Vail Jane Austen tea that I've been rationing for a while. I love it so much. I checked their website and the refill package, which is the same volume as the tin, is nearly $3 less. I'm placing an order! I love it when you can buy a refill for less. Republic of Tea does that as well. S&V has so many wonderful teas! I wish I could buy samplers of every line of teas they have!
Today's Adagio CommuniTEA flavor was rooibos orange. Excellent
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Post by Critical on Nov 20, 2020 2:45:04 GMT
Anyone have any idea where I can get some gingerbread tea? I've been to Jewel and Whole Foods and no luck. I need it for a moonshine apple pie hot toddy! In addition to the others I posted, Simpson and Vail has a gingerbread tea too
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Post by Kao on Nov 20, 2020 4:01:34 GMT
Thank you!
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