I think that if you are going to buy bagged tea Celestial Seasonings is on the top five list. I have rarely…RARELY been disappointed with the flavor in their tea. I love the artwork on the boxes AND the flavors are generally unique and unusual.

That appeals to me. In fact, that has appealed to me since my first sip of the Morning Thunder Tea back in the 1970s.

Tangerine Orange Zinger tea is a perfect breakfast tea or a tea to take a break with in an afternoon, preferably with a pice of chocolate cake. The orange flavor is delicate but it is the tangerine that really comes through. This does not taste like Tang. It does not taste like watered down orange juice. It is amazing. Hot sunshine in a cup.

The weird thing to me was the intense ruby color. It looked like blood orange. I totlally recommend this tea. I don’t like the carbs and calories in orange juice but this, with a little stevia, is perfect for that citrus boost.

images:Marye Audet

Whether it is from a cold, strep, or just a change in the weather a sore throat is no fun.  O.k.. when I was a kid it USED to be fun because it meant a day off school. Now? Not so much.

When I was growing up we didn’t do medicine or doctors a whole lot. Things were handled with home remedies. Doctors were reserved for concussions, broken bones, and copious bleeding. And most of the home remedies consisted of some sort of tea. Black tea and toast for tummy trouble… chamomile tea for nerves and sleeplessness… and lemon and honey for a sore throat. I am not even sure you could call this a tea…

If you have a sore throat give this a try. The honey is soothing and comforting while the lemon is antibacterial and boosts your immune system with a shot of vitamin C.

Honey Lemon Tea for Sore Throats

• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon
• 1 cup water
• 1 chamomile tea bag or equivalent in loose chamomile tea
• More honey if needed
• Lemon slice

Bring water to a boil. Add the chamomile, lemon, and honey. Allow to steep for two minutes. Drink hot.

serves 1

image:sxc

Are you concerned with global warming? You hear a lot about it and almost everyone has an opinion on it. Well, how cool is this Global Warming mug? Pour coffee in it and the sea level rises.

Check it out on Amazon!

Image via: Amazon.com

Indonesia has a unique, new decaffeinated coffee. Well…sort of coffee. It is an instant coffee flavored beverage that is made out of grape skins and pulp leftover from making grape juice.

This waste is dried and fried and then pulverized to create a powder that can be added to boiling water. The resulting beverage apparently tastes like coffee but has no caffeine at all. Even decaffeinated coffee retains a small percentage of caffeine. I think it is great that the inventor of this got innovative with a waste product. I mean this is repurposing and upcycling at its best. I am just not so sure HOW it would actually taste. Does pulverized grape waste really taste like coffee?

Go ahead and blame it on being gullible for years and believing too many things that people said with wide eyed innocence. I find it most difficult to believe that grape trash can be turned into a steaming hot cup of coffee. I am thinking that they don’t have Kohana or JazzyBird or Kinetic Koffee or Muddy Dog or Ugly Mug….or… in Indonesia so they probably don’t know what really good coffee tastes like. It’s like being around people that think Hershey’s chocolate is terrific.

O.k.

Anyway, it is a fascinating concept and it will be fun to see whether or not it catches on as a healthy alternative to coffee. You can read more at the Jarkata Post.

On a side note. Isn’t it funny how the Internet opens up your horizons when it comes to what you read? I promise you I would never have considered reading the Jarkata Post before!

image: SXC

For Christmas Kohana sweetly sent me a little care package because…. ummm…. well…..

They are just so cool.  It was one of the highlights of my Christmas to tell you the truth… it was a difficult year this year because of the circumstances (divorce). However send it they did.

The Kohana blend looks beautiful in my grinder. I have one of those grinders where the top is clear and you store a few hours days worth of beans in there. Why is it so beautiful you ask? Well…Look at the artistic beauty of this!

The coffee is incredibly silky smooth. Buttery mouthfeel with a soft aftertaste. The flavor is hard to describe and I suspect because the beans are so different, that the actual flavor is a little different each time you have it depending on the individuality of your scoop. (more…)

French vanilla has an intense vanilla taste when it is really good. This is so simple to do and really really has that deep vanilla flavor that makes you want to swoon when you smell it.

You can use dry milk, dry creamer, or a combination of the two from the store. Dry milk is more pure, especially if you go with the organic, but it is not going to be creamy. The powdered creamers are going to be creamy but you are adding a lot of toxins and chemicals to your coffee. Your choice. So far I have not found anything in between but I will let you know if I do.

You are going to need a good vanilla bean. Yes, they are expensive but you will be able to use it again a few times. Bourbon Vanilla is available at Amazon and a lot of other places. You want to make sure the beans are plump looking and not dry and withered.

Now, just put about a cup of dry milk (or creamer) in a jar with a tight fitting lid. Add your vanilla bean and screw the cap on tightly. Set aside for a week or so, just shaking it every day.

At the end of the week you are going to have a very fragrant Homemade French Vanilla Creamer. If you are using dry  milk and you want it pre sweetened you can also blend 3/4 cup sugar to a powder and add that as well. No change in the vanilla.

You can also add a teaspoon of cinnamon if you like for French Vanilla Spice Creamer. Once your vanilla creamer is finished you can use the vanilla bean in something else. It is great to flavor sugar or use in a pudding or whatever.

Label the creamer and store it in a cool, dark place that is dry (not the fridge) and shake before using.

image: wikipedia