Nothing

I really wish I had my darjeeling tea here. I suppose its time for another cup of Tazo Awake.

Next time I go to the tea store I'm going to buy some empty tea bags and bring my darjeeling with me to work.

From Wikiquote:

"Pise krapo ogmante larivyè." The frog's pee adds to the river.

-Haitian Proverb

Tazo Organic Gunpowder
Green Tea

My 4 year old daughter and I drove down to Portland today. We walked around until we found Tea Zone. I asked them to let me keep one of their menus, so I'll stick quotes from there on here occasionally.

I bought a chai there that was overly sophisticated - which is to say that it had none of the harshness that I love in chai.

I bought 2 ounces of Organic Gunpowder. It has a nice taste and I like the lower caffeine amounts of green tea.

quote from menu.

Tin #1) Organic Gunpowder Green (Premium)
This tea is from the Zheijang Province in China. The name is said to come from the fact that the tightly rolled balls of tea resemble gunpowder. Brews a heady cup, with a rich slightly smoky flavor and amber color. The tea is high in fluoride, which is helpful in reducing dental caries. Recommended to be drunk anytime of day and makes a good ice tea with lemon or mint and sugar.

Pomegranate Pizzazz
herbal tea
Unsweetened

Its been a good tea day. I had two cups of my favorite morning tea, Tazo Awake.

In the late evening I had Stash's Red and White mix. I'm hardly to prepared to tell everyone to run out and buy it, but it is growing on me.

I followed that with Choice's Branch Tea. It had a bit of a bitter taste, so I think I let it sit for too long.

This pomegranate pizzazz is really dang hot. I may have to let it cool for a bit.

just like the game, if you stay “it” too long, you lose.
-Michael Hyatt

Trader Joe's Organic Green Tea
Green Tea

I have been struggling to make a good cup of green tea. Today was a turning point.

I let the pot heat up until it had been making sounds for about 30 seconds. I put the tea in for probably a minute. The tea is not piping hot like I am accustomed to with black tea, but it has an acceptable taste.

If I can get an acceptable taste out of a teabag -- how much better of a taste can I get from the loose tea my grocery store sells?

Bart, with $10,000, we'd be millionaires!
-Homer Simpson

Wild Oats Bulk Darjeeling
Black tea

I have had a hard time finding a green tea that I can stand. Trader Joe's came close. I had started to just think that I don't like green tea. Then I read this post from Tea Tales.

It seems that the green teas they get in Japan are of a superior quality than what we get in the States. I think I would very much like to try one of their teas. I do think so.

The next post in Tea Tales lists four sources where you might be able to order good japanese tea to the states. I think I may arrange a tea swap though -- if I can find something good to exchange.

I have never won a debate with an ignorant person.
-Ali bin Abi-Talib

I bought some Assam tea from the bulk foods section of Wild Oats. Its good. Its nothing to write a long entry about, but its good. I'd like to try a different Assam tea before passing judgement on it.

I enjoyed tea with my Tai Chi class this morning.

Mariage Freres Lapsang Souchang
Black Tea

OMG, OMG, OMG. My tea came!
OMG! OMG! OMG! Its so good!

Better to be deprived of food for three days, than tea for one.
-Chinese Proverb

Tazo Awake
Black Tea

My order of Lapsang Souchong is due to arrive today. Yea!

I need to venture back into some more old favorites. Ceylon teas, Georgian tea, etc...

Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.
-Margaret Mead

Celestial Seasonings Madagascar Vanilla Red
Rooibos

I'm feeling surprising mellow as this week comes to an end. I hope all is well with all of you.

We're all working together; that's the secret.
Sam Walton

Wild Oats Bulk Darjeeling
Black Tea

I shouldn't have Darjeeling this late in the day, but I need a bit of treat.
It wasn't a bad day, just a very full day.

Oh cruel fate, to be thusly boned. Ask not for whom the bone bones, it bones for thee.
-Bender (Futurama)

Tazo Awake
Black Tea

I don't have a lot to say today -- so straight on to the quote. Ali Farka Touré was a musician from Mali (I think). If you like Delta Blues I think you'll be surprised by how much you like Ali Farka.

I knew the spirit who gave me the gift very well.
And I remember that night in Niafunke. A night I'll never forget. I was about thirteen years old. I was chatting with some friends. I had a monochord in my hand. I was wandering playing ordinary songs, just like that. It was about 2.00 am. I got to a place where I saw three girls standing like steps of stairs, one higher than the other. I lifted my right foot. The left one wouldn't move. I stood like that until 4.00 am. Next day I walked to the edge of the fields. I didn't have my instrument with me. I saw a snake with a strange mark on its head. Only one snake. I still remember the colour. Black and white. No yellow, no other colour, just black and white. And it wrapped itself around my head. I brushed it off, it fell and went into a hole and I fled. Since then I started to have attacks.

I entered a new world. It's different from when you're in a normal state; you're not the same person you know. You don't feel anything anymore, whether it's fire, water or if you are beaten. I was sent to the village of Hombori to be cured and I stayed there for a year. When I felt better, I returned home to my family. There I began playing again and l was very well received by the spirits. I have all the spirits. I possess all the spirits and l work with them. I was born among them and grew up among them.

Ali Farka Touré

Stash Fusion Red and White
White Tea and Rooibos mixed
Unsweetened

The first time I tried this one I found it to be too bitter for my taste. This time I liked it. I did two things differently:
1) I didn't heat the water up fully.
2) I left the teabag in for under 2 minutes.

I've just got to get in the habit of treating white and green teas this way.

If someone is ugly,
don't say to them "you are ugly."
Say, instead, "what an interesting physiognomy
you possess."

-Ivor Cutler

Tazo Refresh
Herbal Tea

I think I'm going to have a mint tea this afternoon. I find it gives me a good afternoon lift. I think I'm going to do that right now.

Quote from Sitting Bull:

It is not necessary for eagles to be crows.

Tazo Awake Tea
Black Tea
Sweetened

Good Monday Morning!

Quote from The Princess Bride:

Vizzini: He didn't fall? Inconceivable!
Inigo: You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

MacWhinnie Chai
Chai Tea

I made the Chai that my friend sent me. It was truly excellent. I will write a longer post on its virtues. It is a worthy drink.

Quote lifted from wikiquote:

Take a step forward lads - it'll be easier that way.
-Erskine Childers, last words, to his firing squad, Irish Civil War 1922

Trader Joe's Organic Green Tea
Green Tea

Green Tea should be brewed for 2-3 minutes at a temperature that is below boiling. This presents a problem as I'm used to preparing black tea. I keep boiling the water or leaving the tea in for 5-6 minutes. This leaves me with a tea that is not nearly as good as my black teas.

I ordered some Lapsang Souchong last night. Too expensive, but it is what it is. Safeway had Stash tea on sale 2 boxes for $3. I really don't need anymore bagged tea, but it was too good a deal to turn down.

random quote:

Brain: Our ratings are in the toilet.
Pinky: Oh, I'll get them.

Wild Oats Bulk Darjeeling
Black Tea

Today I am enjoying a rebrew.

My Mom used to rebrew coffee. I believe she did it to save money. She would make a morning pot of coffee using fresh coffee grounds. When she got home from work she would add another scoop of grounds to the filter and rebrew it. She would do this another one or two times before she was done for the night.

I've heard other people say that a rebrew tastes less bitter. My experience was just that it tasted like coffee.

When I rebrew tea I do the same basic thing. I add a pinch of new leaves to the old and add hot water. Sometimes I don't even add new leaves -- just depends on the tea.

Random quote:

Ninjas aren't dangerous. They're more afraid of you than you are of them.
-The Tick

Bigelow Tangerine White Tea
White Tea
Sweetened

I've been looking for a good Lapsang Souchong. Actually, I've been looking for any Lapsang Souchong. I used to have a tin from Twinings that was excellent.

I've had Mariage Frères brand tea recommended to me. Perhaps I'll order their Lapsang and kill two birds with one stone.

After a brief search on the web I was pleasantly surprised to find that Portland's own Stash Tea carries it.

I've also been corresponding with a mail order business that doesn't carry Lapsang, but has given me some excellent recommendations. They're willing to get Lapsang for me though.

Wild Oats Darjeeling (Bulk)
Black Tea

Good Morning!

Quote from random source:

Every nation criticizes every other one—and they are all correct.
-Arthur Schopenhauer

Trader Joe's Organic Green Tea
Green Tea
Raw Sugar

Trader Joe's goes to a lot of trouble to appeal to every possible cause with this tea.
1) Its a green tea.
2) Its fair trade certified.
3) Its organic certified.
4) The teabag is unbleached.

So why do all that and then use individual plastic wrappers? So close and yet they still don't get it.

I spent the day dealing with an unexpected medical issue in the family. It is worked out now.