Per te, pear tea

We had a very successful trip to Everything Tea in Snohomish today. We can’t wait to share our finds throughout the coming weeks. Today we tried a pear green tea.

This tea smells divine dry! It is undoubtably pear scented. However, after steeping I was a tad bit disappointed in the flavor. The pear flavor was almost nonexistent and it seemed like just a good green tea with an awesome smell.

For today we tried it as a hot tea but I think I may try it as an iced tea to see if we can coax out some more of that pear flavor.

Love & tea,
Chris + Alexis

Off to see the wizard

And by Wizard I mean the tea store! We will be at Everything Tea sometime tomorrow to stock up on new teas to share with you guys! 

 

Eyes peeled?

Always,
A+C

Oh hey there strangers! We’ve missed you!

Hey guys! Sorry for the long hiatus. We have been busy busy busy with some life changes and just trying to spend some more time with family.

Fear not! We are back with another wonderful tea to share with you all.

Again with the herbals. I know I know, when are you going to post some caffeinated teas? It’s coming, I promise, but we couldn’t pass up this delicious tangy tea. Who doesn’t love a good peach tea? Super rich with flavor, zesty and usually a black or green tea. Well once again, Everything Tea in Snohomish had something just for us. We found an amazing Georgia Peach Rooibos. Decaffeinated, sweet, & delicious.

Like most peach teas, this one is extremely aromatic and brews deep orange.

Tips: Wonderful afternoon tea, or a warm me up. Even though it is herbal, it is not relaxing like the Sunset in Seattle.
Be sure to use a strainer with the extra small mesh holes. This tea breaks easily and no one likes to eat their tea.

Love & tea
A+C

Terracotta Red doesn’t disappoint

Tonight we decided on a whim to visit our absolute favorite restaurant, Terracotta Red. We usually enjoy the Jasmine Pearl tea but this time we decided to go with a non-caffeinated tea so close to down time.

We would like to introduce you to Tangerine Ginger, our new loud friend.

Tangerine ginger tea is a beautiful blood orange in color and extremely rich in flavor. If you enjoy bold flavor and fruity aromatics, I highly recommend a cup. You can find it here

As always, an amazing dinner at T.Red (website link below). If you’re ever in Everett, go allow Chef Jimmy to show you what he can do!

Love & Tea & Sweet Things,
Alexis & Chris

Try Terracotta!

Tea&HP

Chris and I are spending a little down time enjoying Harry Potter (Prisoner of Azkaban) and Sunset in Seattle (previously blogged about). Will be writing about a new tea tomorrow!

Sweet dreams & drink tea!

-A&C

Hello There Blue Eyes!

Last night, Chris and I watched our new favorite show, Orange is the New Black, and curled up with a sweet little tea called Blue Eyes. This is another herbal tea so it is perfect for before bed.

Blue eyes is comprised of dried apple pieces, rose hips, hibiscus, orange peel, cornflower petals and natural flavors. It is a rich purple color, with a light aroma. We prefer our night time teas hot but I would definitely recommend this as an afternoon iced tea as well. Because it is an herbal, it is completely without caffeine. 

Short post, but it really doesn’t need much. It’s just that good!

Peace & Tea
-Chris&Alexis

Types of Teas & Why You Should Drink Them

Here is a quick look at different teas and their health benefits! We hope to educate & learn together.

White Tea – Uncured and unfermented, it would be really hard to deny that this would not be beneficial.  Studies have shown that white tea has the most potent anticancer properties compared to more processed teas. A group of polyphenol antioxidants, catechins, are found in white teas. Catechins have been found to reduce cholesterol, decrease blood pressure, and improve the function of blood vessels. Bye bye cardiovascular disease! White tea or herbals are lowest in caffeine with only 0-25mg depending on how it is prepared. Very often, these teas help you relax and calm you down. 

Green Tea – Green tea is probably the most commonly known tea and the most underrated. Green tea is EVERYWHERE. So what is so great about it? Not unlike white tea, it inhibits the growth of cancer cells, lowers cholesterol levels, and blood clots. Green tea helps fight against rheumatoid arthritis, and infections such as food poisoning. My favorite part about green tea? It’s a fat buster! Yes, green tea has been known to aid in weight loss. We suggest using green tea mid-day due to the levels of caffeine.  Green tea has 15-30mg of caffeine and will keep you up up up all night!

Black Tea – Black tea has the highest caffeine content of 40-60mg and forms the basis for flavored teas like chai and some instant teas. We like our black teas in the morning as a replacement for coffee.  Multiple studies have shown that black tea may protect lungs from smoke exposure and reduce the risk of stroke. 

Oolong Tea –  Oolong is a traditional Chinese tea that goes through a unique process of withering under strong sun and oxidation. This is why the leafs are often curly. Many believe that oolong can help improve mental alertness  and sharpen thinking skills. Studies show that it can help treat obesity, high cholesterol, and even help with skin allergies such as eczema. Again, this is NOT a bedtime tea. It has similar caffeine to black tea. 

Herbal Tea (tisane) – Made from herbs, fruits, seeds, or roots; their chemical compositions vary widely depending on plants used. Even though they carry lower concentrations of antioxidants that the other kinds of teas, it does not mean they aren’t beneficial. Herbals  are known to help shed pounds, keeps colds at bay, and bring on restful sleep. Below is a breakdown of some herbals.

• Chamomile: The antioxidants may help prevent complications from diabetes, like loss of vision and kidney damage, as well as stunt the growth of cancer cells.
• Echinacea: Got a cold? Echinacea is a wonderful way to fight it!
• Hibiscus: This is a great way to lower blood pressure. A study has shown that three cups a day can help lower blood pressure in people with modestly elevated levels. 
• Rooibos (roy-boss): Rooibos tea is a South African herb that is fermented. You can drink this any time of day due to its lack of caffeine. It has been shown to assist with nervous tension, allergies, and digestive problems.

If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to ask!

 

Love & Tea

-Alexis&Chris

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French Caramel Brulee

Bonjour mes amies!

We started the morning with a hot cup of french caramel brûlée, a flavorful black tea. If you are not a coffee drinker or just trying to drink a little healthier, we suggest you try this.

Again, we found this amazing blend at Everything Tea in Snohomish, WA. We were looking for a flavorful black tea that had enough caffeine to pick us up in the morning to substitute the gallons of coffee we usually drink.

When you first open the bag, the fragrance is inviting and warm. It smells just like the dessert so how could you go wrong?

We added 2 teaspoons of loose leaf tea to our strainer and poured boiling water on top. Steep for 3-5 minutes to maximize flavor. Do NOT over-steep this tea if you can help it (no longer than 7 minutes). Black teas can get very bitter.

After steeping, drink up! This tea is a beautiful deep caramel color and rich with flavor. It is a fantastic wake up and I’m sure I’ll have a cup or two tomorrow morning and I hope you will too!

Sunset In Seattle

Today we spent a few hours walking around Snohomish and came across an amazing shop on First St called, Everything Tea. If you are able to go there I highly suggest you do. They have so many teas and so much knowledge about them its crazy! Definitely the place to go wether you are a first time tea drinker or your on your billionth cup.

While there, we could not leave without the Sunset in Seattle. It smelled AMAZING and we have been looking for a good decaffeinated tea for before bed. The verdict… we have a winner!

Sunset in Seattle is a tisane* blend of rose hips, vanilla, chamomile, valerian, sassafras, spearmint, strawberry leaves, raspberry leaves, lemon grass, hyssop, wintergreen passion flowers, lemon peel, white cherry, and herbs. Tisane blends are often used because of their physical and medicinal effects. Different blends stimulate while others relax and act more like sedatives.

How To: Bring water to a boil. Use 2+ teaspoons of the blend. We recommend using an infuser, strainer, or filter (no one likes loose leafs in their tea!) We personally love a tea strainer with a bamboo handle. Pour the boiling water over the tea (which hopefully is resting in your strainer above your mug). Steep* 5-7 minutes. Longer if you prefer a stronger flavor.

Alexis’ experience : This is definitely my go-to night time tea. Within minutes I could feel its effects. My shoulders relaxed after a long day of hunching, my mind slowed down (and left me capable of writing this blog), and I am more than ready to fall in to bed. The aroma is light and calming. Don’t let the list of ingredients fool you, only the vanilla and spearmint really create the aroma and it is wonderful.

Chris’ experience : I’ve watched Chris yawn at least 3 times since finishing his cup. After asking, he confirmed my suspicions. He is relaxed, calm, and IN LOVE with the divine aroma this tea gives off.

Overall: We have both decided this is a 4.5/5 star tea. The only thing we would do to make it better is have a tea fairy restock it for us!

Enjoy!

*Tisane or “herbal tea“, is a catch-all term for any non-caffeinated beverage made from the infusion or decoction of herbs, spices, or other plant material in water.
*Steep
1. To soak in liquid in order to cleanse, soften, or extract a given property from.
2. To infuse or subject thoroughly to.
3. To make thoroughly wet; saturate.