Yogi Egyptian Licorice
Herbal Tea
teabag

Mmmm, licorice tea. This stuff is like candy. Its at a perfect temperature. This is a good moment.

Quote from packaging:

Naturally Sweet with a Hint of Spice

Choice Certified Organic - Twig Tea
Black Tea
Unbleached Teabag

Its that time of evening. We're trying to get kids to sleep who don't want to go to sleep. Mom's exhausted. I'm pretty tired too.

If I can get just a moment of peace between "I have to go POOPIES!", "WAH!" and "Dad, I need to talk to you." I may just survive.

Some teas help bring about that moment of peace -- this is one of them.

Quote from Packaging:

Choice Organic Teas come from mountain top gardens tended by traditional methods. Without chemicals, our Choice tea growers practice careful topsoil management and weed control, creating a balanced environment to alleviate any agricultural problems. With experience and very diligent care, they achieve exceptional teas.

Tazo Awake Tea
Black Tea
Bagged
Splenda

The last day of the month is traditionally very busy. I pretty much gulped this tea down without thinking about it too much.

Twinings Irish Breakfast Tea
Black Tea
dash of milk

Its a very rainy morning in SouthWest Washington State. I appreciate the tea helping keep me warm.

Kalahari Reserve
Red Tea (Rooibos)
Bagged

Just finishing up one last cuppa before bed.

Good Night!

Wild Oats Bulk Darjeeling
Black Tea

A very nice tea. This is exactly what I expect a black tea to taste like. Thanks to everyone who suggested I check the bulk foods section of my local supermarket.

Quote from packaging:

2503

Stash Orange Spice Black Tea
Black Tea
Bagged

I stuck with this old favorite. Stash is based out of Portland. It hit the spot and is keeping going through this day.

quote from packaging:

blended and packed by
THE STASH TEA COMPANY, PORTLAND, OREGON USA

Tazo Awake
Black Tea
Splenda Packet

My disoriented morning continues. I decided upon Tazo Awake as my replacement tea. I was just about to take a sip when something just struck me as wrong.

The tea was sort of greenish which is odd for any breakfast tea. It had a distinctive minty smell. I had grabbed Tazo Zen. Tazo Zen is a wonderful afternoon tea, but it doesn't get me going in the morning.

I now have a cup of Tazo Awake. Hopefully my day picks up from here.

Twining Irish Breakfast Tea
Black Tea

I needed this caffeine more than I knew. When I walked out of the house I had forgotten:
1)To Add Milk to this tea.
2)To bring the iced Rooibos I made
3)To bring Stevios Herb with me.

This tea is ok without milk, but I'm not going to finish this cup.

Weekend recap:
Started using Stevia thanks to a tip from Dreena.
Tried Stash Fusion Red and White tea -- disappointed.
Bought and drank some top notch darjeeling.
Picked up a couple of other boxes of tea to try.

I made some iced rooibos tea to bring to work. I'm hopeful that will replace my afternoon soda fix.

I started this blog to help keep me motivated in drinking tea in a coffee mad world. I gave up coffee a few weeks ago because I just wasn't willing to deal with the caffeine withdrawals. I gave also gave up caffeinated sodas and energy drinks. So far I have stayed on course. I am appreciative of those of you who have left comments -- you make this fun.

Stash Fusion Red and White
Rooibos / White Tea Mix
Bagged

I saw a blog that raved about this tea. I bought a box today and am most of the way through my first cup. I can't decide if I like it or not.

Maybe just a little bit of raw sugar or splenda would help.

Tea Brick
Black Tea
Tea Brick

This is from a tea brick that I bought at Fort Vancouver some time ago. I don't much more than that, but its a good tea.

Tazo Awake Tea
Black Tea
Bagged
Splenda

I'm always surprised at how sweet Splenda is. Just one packet made this a very sweet tea.

I couldn't resist one more cup of Red Tea. Now for a little Tai Chi and a nice long sleep.

I love Celestial Seasonings packaging. I can sit and reread the quotes until my water is heated up and my tea is ready to go. Here's a quote:

Out behind the house we have "our mountain." Alpinists would chuckle at its diminutive size, but the modest, grassy summit affords an ample perspective of the surrounding country. And why else do we climb, if not for perspective? When the mists in my head rival those of our valley floor on an early spring morning, I know where I need to go: up to where I can see. There is nothing fancy here, I'm afraid. Just my little footnote in the great human striving for clarity. But I must confess to a feeling that some happy magic is at work, when the mists clear and I arrive home, a little wiser, for today.

So -- go have a cup of red tea and wait for the mists to clear.

The Tea Zone - Ti Kwan Yin
Oolong Tea
Loose Leaf

Normally I don't drink caffeinated tea in the evenings, but I'm tired and I need to be up for a few more hours.

The picture is of one of the four places I stash my teas. You'd think I'd be organized, but with 4 kids its sometimes a case of just grabbing what I can see and moving on.

Quote from Packaging:

Experience the Adventure
One Cup at a Time

Bigelow Constant Comment
Black Tea
Bagged

A Styrofoam Cup
Sipping caffeine to help cope
Thank God its Friday.

quote from packaging:

For a gift catalog call

Tazo Awake Tea
Black Tea
Bagged

I'm having a hard time getting going this morning. I could really use another two or three cups of this one.

Twinings Irish Breakfast Tea
Black Tea
Bagged
Dash of milk

I was cold after scrapping the morning frost off of my car. This tea warmed me up.

Yogi Egyptian Licorice
Herbal Tea
teabag

Licorice tea is an excellent just-before-bed tea. Sometimes my wife and I will take it to bed with us to drink as we're settling in for the night. Its so nice on the tummy too.

quote from packaging:

Experience this tasty tea as you treasure each delectable sip and imagine all the wonders of the world.

Goodnight!

Unknown
Vanilla Nut Creme Tea
Black Tea

I had this tea during the break period of my Tai Chi class. We sit around a larger wooden table with two pots of tea. One pot has decaffeinated tea and the other has herbal tea.

The tea always tastes better there.

Stash earl grey black tea
Black Tea
Bagged

Earl Grey is an old favorite of mine. For many years if I was going to make a cup of tea I reached for Earl Grey.

Then I discovered Stash's Double Bergamot version. For a month or two I was wowed by it. Soon I found that I had overdone the Earl Grey and lost the taste for it. I'm enjoying this cup.

quote from packaging:

Smooth and aromatic with a hint of light citrus, our Earl Grey is excellent as an afternoon or after dinner tea.

I agree.

Tazo Awake Tea
Black Tea
Bagged

I love Tazo Awake. Since I gave up coffee this has become my new best friend.

Quote from packaging:

Imagine finding yourself on a lush tea estate in India around the turn of the century. Your breakfast tea would have tasted a good deal like Awake.

Twinings Irish Breakfast Tea
Black Tea
Bagged
Dash of milk

It must be Thursday. I gulped this down on the way to work and hardly tasted it.

I was concerned as I balanced it on the gear shifter while trying to change CDs at 50 MPH. The opportunity for disaster seemed high.

Good Morning!

Choice Certified Organic - Twig Tea
Black Tea
Unbleached Teabag

The packaging recommended trying a twist of lemon with it. I must say the twist of lemon really worked -- worked like a shot of hot vomit in your mouth.

Ugh. What a way to make a good tea bad.

Bigelow Pomegranate Pizzazz
Herbal Tea

A friend of mine made me pomegranate tea last week. It was excellent. When I saw that Fred Meyers had Bigelow on sale 3 boxes for $5 I knew I was going to pick up this one up.

I was disappointed. I'm not sure if I used a different brand or what. Maybe it was just the good company that made it taste so good.

quote from packaging:

No Caffeine. No Calories. No Carbs. No Guilt.

Trader Joes White Tea
White Tea
Bagged

This is the only white tea I've tried. It doesn't seem to brew as dark as most other teas. Its a fine tea with a rather uninspiring taste. I want to try another brand of white tea before I pass judgement on this one.

quote from package:

"The tea is coming!...
She may want a martini,
but make her drink tea."
Alice Taylor
To School Through the Fields

Stash Orange Spice Black Tea
Black Tea
Bagged
1 Splenda

This is quickly becoming my afternoon tea of choice. Today is a little rushed all around, so I can use the caffeine hit.

Brewed Awakenings
Chai Latte
Pre-made

I stopped at Brewed Awakenings on the way to work to pick up a chai latte. Its got a little more spice than the Starbucks version. I don't have a picture of it, but here's a picture of my favorite morning tea cup.

Quote from cup:

CAUTION HOT BEVERAGE!

Kalahari Reserve
Red Tea (Rooibos)
Bagged

I love drinking red tea at night. No caffeine. sweet taste. Its a consistent tea that always delivers for me.

From the advertising included with the packet:

Now commonly known as Red Tea, Rooibos (roy-boss) was discovered thousands of years ago by the South African San people. Coveted for its healing power, Rooibos is indigenous to the beautiful Cederberg mountains and found nowhere else in the world. The San fermented needles of the "Redbush" plant creating its deep red color and sweet, smooth flavor.

Stash Orange Spice Black Tea
Black Tea
Bagged

Time for an afternoon pick-me-up. This tea has the strongest orange flavor of any of the orange spice black teas that I drink. While I was making this tea two other people came up to get a drink of coffee.

They asked about the aroma and I pointed to the box of Stash. They both decided to try this tea instead of coffee. One of them commented that this one has a stronger orange flavor than Bigelow's Constant Comment.

The picture is of my dragon teapot.

Tazo Awake Tea
Black Tea
Bagged

This is my favorite morning tea. Its an excellent way to get back into the work flow of my 8-5 job.

Twinings Irish Breakfast Tea
Black Tea
Bagged
Dash of milk

This is an excellent way to start the day. Its not as bitter as coffee, but I like a dash of milk just to take the edge off.

Good Morning!

Yogi Egyptian Licorice
Herbal Tea
teabag

I normally get the cheapest licorice tea I can find. I don't discern a great deal of taste between any of them. If someone knows of a meaningful difference between them, please leave a comment.

My last trip to the store I saw this Egyptian licorice tea. The packaging intrigued me enough to try it. It tastes exactly the same as the Celestial Seasonings licorice tea that is a buck cheaper. It is nice that each of the bags has its own wrapper.

A good tea that settles my tummy before bed.

From the box:

There are worlds upon worlds
beneath and beyond
What power is that
which supports them all?

They are the letters
written by God's flowing pen
Which determines the kinds,
the colors, and names
of all creatures.

A few know how
to write this account
How staggering would be
that scroll.
If one were to try to write it.

How great is His power.
How striking his beauty.
None can assess how great is His gift.

Choice Certified Organic - Twig Tea
Black Tea
Unbleached Teabag

I am impressed with this tea. I drank it in the late evening last night and then slept like a baby. The taste of the tea itself is excellent. I can see that I will keep this one in stock. I should try twig tea by another manufacturer and see if I like it so well.

Choice Organic Twig Tea is a uniquely delicious and satisfying beverage, made from the carefully-aged twigs and stems of the tea plant. After aging, the twigs are roasted, providing a full-bodied tea that is both mild and soothing. Twig tea is naturally quite low in caffeine and can be enjoyed at any hour.

Bigelow Constant Comment
Black Tea
TeaBag

I don't normally use Constant Comment as a breakfast tea, but I don't have anything else quick and handy.

Good Morning!

Kalahari Highlands Honey
Rooibos (Red Tea)
TeaBag

This is my favorite night time drink. No caffeine. Sweet enough to not need sugar either.

My first rooibos tea was Celestial Seasoning's Madagascar Vanilla Red. I took one sip and was amazed at the taste. I went on ebay and bought a lot of 1000 teabag packets of Kalahari brand red tea. 500 of Highlands Honey and 500 of Kalahari reserve. It is very nice to know that I always have a packet available.

Choice Certified Organic - Twig Tea
Black Tea
Unbleached Teabag

This tea claims to be low enough in caffeine that you can drink it anytime. It has the taste of a true tea. I normally drink red tea (rooibos) at night, so this could make a nice change.

Either that or I'll be up all night posting about how the caffeine is keeping me up.

Starbucks Chai Latte
Chai Tea
Pre-made

Cynosion sent me his own chai mix and recipe. I got a cup of starbucks chai as a baseline.

Starbucks Chai suffers from the same problems as the majority of Starbucks products. Inferior quality ingredients with lots of sweetener to make up for it.

My favorite Chai is the Oregon brand. If Cynosion beats out Starbucks I may have to arrange a side by side tasting.

This post is from my roof. The windstorm that raged for the past week damaged 25 shingles.

The Tea Zone - Ti Kwan Yin
Oolong Tea
Loose Leaf

This is an excellent tea and is easily enjoyed without resorting to cream or sugar. My Mother in law gave me this tea for my birthday last year.

I sometimes refer to my mother in law as my M.I.L. or MIL. Unfortunately, there is a similiar abbreviation that some people think I am using (MILF).

Humor, eh?

Bigelow Constant Comment
Black Tea
Bagged
1 packet of Splenda

I would like to say I don't like this tea, but I do. It is affordable and easy to find. It has a pleasant aroma and while the taste won't leave you making Constant Comments about how good it is, it won't leave you making Constant Comments about how bad it is either.

Market Spice Tea
Black Tea
Loose Leaf

I just finished off a small pot of Market Spice Tea.

I started drinking Market Spice Tea when I lived in Seattle and would get it from the Tea shop in Pike Place Market. Pike Place Market was only about 10 blocks from my apartments. Some days I would walk down there just to browse around and drink a free small cup of tea. Now its a special treat when a friend brings me a bag of it.