Tea Time Chit Chat

Welcome once again to tea time. I am posting two tea times today because the scheduled post for last Tuesday did not work. I was away on an old car tour called the Normoska with my grandparents. Anyways the tea I was enjoying throughout the week was Blackberry Vanilla by Lipton. I also brought along a few teabags of Earl Grey Vanilla. I also tried two new teas; Calm (a blend of camomile, lemongrass, peppermint, and hibiscus) which was interesting but not my favoirite, though I could get used to it, and Awake, a black tea, meant for those slow mornings or late night study sessions.

Happy sipping!

Top Three Thursday

For my first top three I will start with summer foods.

1. Fresh Fruit

Fresh fruit from local farms and farmers markets is a great way to support your local economy. Buying local is highly cost effective and has many other benefits. When you go to the market you can talk to and interact with the farmers and learn about how the food has been cultivated and what is in season.

Photo from: http://kristenlillian.tumblr.com/post/28659655868/when-one-can-only-eat-soft-foods

2. Iced teas

I am a brewing tea lover (pun intended!) so I had to throw this in. Tea has many health benefits including antioxidents which are believed to help inhibit cancer causers. It is also a tasty alternative to high sugar beverages like soda and energy drinks. Tea is a warm drink on a cold day, perfect for getting cozy with a book, but is also great on a warm day when brewed over ice. Tea is hydrating and light, which wont slow you down and make you feel sluggish like sodas do. Overall tea is a great beverage any time of day, all year round.
How I brew cold/iced tea:

In a tassimo/keurig machine:

1) put loose tea or tea bag/packet into machine or mesh k-cup.
2) fill cup/mug with ice
3) brew over ice to chill

With kettle:

1) In a mug add tea bag or infuser for loose tea
2) Pour near boiled water into mug and steep tea
3) When tea is brewed to your liking chill in refridgerator with ice or fill larger cup with ice and pour tea over ice.

Remember whichever method you you choose it may take some practice and fine tuning to perfect your iced tea. I am still trying to make the perfect iced tea.

Photo:  http://keepcalmandeatmore.tumblr.com/post/28800590034

3. Couscous or Quinoa Salad

In the summer a light yet filling side dish or meal is a couscous or quinoa salad with lots of fresh veggies tossed in there. Couscous is easy to make at home and if you find a good recipe to jazz up the flavour it will taste delish! 

I like to add lemon juice, original mrs dash and some green veggies like zucchini and asparagus. It is also yummy with a sweeter or more savoury type sauce and bok choy (chinese lettuce) and nuts for protein. 

Try it out and let me know what you think. If you have any recipe sugestions comment and let me know.

Photo: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/knowhow/glossary/couscous/

Tea Time: Rainy Day

Welcome, once again to tea time. Today I would like to show you my current favourite teas for cold rainy days. I like to enjoy a warm, spicy, black or chai tea on such days because they're cozy and heart-warming, especially when you curl up with a book. 

My favourites include earl grey vanilla, chai tea lattes, cranberry, apple cinnamon, and lemon camomile with honey. I typically take these teas with a bit of sugar, honey or a sweet cream like vanilla or hazelnut flavours. 

Grab a book and let me know what your favourite rainy day drinks are. If you try any of these teas or have a suggestion for me to try a new one let me know. I'm still new to the tea world.

Chai latte http://www.sammiekennedy.com/2011/10/27/clean-comfort-chai-latte/

Earl Grey Vanilla http://steepster.com/teas/tetley/15663-earl-grey-vanilla

Cranberry http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/mulled-cranberry-tea-recipe.htm

Apple http://www.veggiebelly.com/2009/07/apple-tea.html

Camomile http://www.foodnetworkstore.com/lemon-chamomile-tea-bags-20-ct-by-the-coffee-bean-and-tea-leaf/shop/329936/

Tea Time

Welcome to Tea Time. Have a seat with your favourite brew, or should I say steep. ( ;D)

At the moment I am drinking one of the first teas that I tried and actually liked when I was being introduced to tea. I used to think it all tasted like odd water, specifically orange pekoe tea, but this one sparked a new found interest and budding love for the world of tea.
It is a Cranberry Tea. I'm not really sure about the details specifically, but it comes from a generic brand at the grocery store in bag form. Not bad when steeped for 4-6 minutes, no sugar added. I prefer fruity herbal teas, especially in the summer, however I do enjoy a good Vanilla Earl Grey or Chai come fall.
I'm drinking it out of an old cup from my Great Grandparents house with an antique car on the front, a 1907 Pope-Waverly. The cup its self is rather cute and reminds me of them.

I am also very interested in getting more into loose leaf teas and to start off I have my eye on a few tea infusers to start out with. The first a Tea pot with infuser, mug set from ModCloth.  The second, a simple mesh tea ball infuser from DAVIDs tea, you can get these pretty much anywhere that sells tea. 

http://www.modcloth.com/shop/kitchen-decor/at-your-service-tea-set 

http://www.davidstea.com/accessories/infusers-and-filters/mesh-teaball

New feature! - Top Three Tuesdays and Thursdays!

I'm going to post my top three fashion, music, food or other things every Tuesday and Thursday. So stay tuned for my top three later today!

Update- I'm going to do my Top Three Thursday's instead and post about my favourite, new or current tea related loves on Tuesdays, Tea Time. So watch for my top three on Thursday and Tea Time within the hour!