Libre Glass – Product Review

A couple months ago, I found myself drooling over a tea mug owned by a fellow tea blogger and aficionado.  Chris Giddings also known as the Tea-Guy could not stop singing the praises about his new Libre Glass. I knew then that I needed to try one!

Is it possible to steep and enjoy quality loose leaf tea while on the go?  Or should I say, is it possible to easily steep and enjoy quality loose leaf tea while on the go mess free?  The Libre Glass makes that promise.  After making numerous cups of tea using the Libre Glass, I was convinced.

Using the Libre Glass is simple.  The first option is to place loose leaf tea leaves in the body of the glass, add water, twist on the double lids and steep.  The first inner lid contains a removable stainless steel filter, the second outer lid is beautifully adorned and holds in steam during the steeping process.  When the tea is ready to sip, simply remove the second lid and drink directly from the Libre Glass or pour its contents into your tea-cup or mug of choice.  Either way, the stainless steel filter does a great job containing the tea leaves within the mug. If using the second option, pour water into the body of the glass and twist on the inner lid.  Place loose leaf tea leaves in the stainless steel filter, twist on the second outer lid and invert to begin the steeping process.  When the tea is ready to sip simply turn the Libre Glass right-side-up, remove the double lids and enjoy either directly from the Glass or pour the liquor into your tea-cup or mug of choice.

So what do I like about this product? First the Libre Glass is produced in two versions – glass’n glass or glass’n poly.  I own the glass’n poly version which has a durable polycarbonate exterior and glass interior.  No matter how hot the water, the exterior of the glass remains comfortable to the touch. The glass’n poly model is 7.5 inches in height and 2.5 inches in diameter and holds approximately 9oz. or 260 mL. The size is perfect for transporting tea wherever I go and is easily placed in my purse, computer bag or gym bag. What do I love the most? The ability to easily steep my loose leaf tea no matter where I go without the hassle of carrying around tea, a mug, and separate infuser.  Of all the things I love about the Libre Glass, there is one problem.  My preferred steeping method is the inversion process, however, I found that the lid has a slow leak.  Even though I twist the lid on tightly, it is difficult to ascertain if the lid is on tight enough.  I get it right about 50% of the time.

Overall, the Libre Glass is a great product for the price. For $24 I have a tea mug and infuser all in one – considering I have paid $15 for an infuser alone. I love the portability of the product and the ease of use.  When at home, I use the inversion process, but when out, I place the tea leaves directly in the body of the glass – I’d rather not take a chance with the lid possibly leaking.

If you own a Libre Glass, please stop by and share your experience.  Until then… Happy tea drinking!

Libre Glass Demonstration (compliments of Libre):

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BISCOTTEA – Blueberry Tea Shortbread Cookies

My girlfriend Chara, owner and founder of WanderingLotus – a mobile yoga studio, came over in preparation for our upcoming yoga and tea event. As always, we began our meeting with the usual ritual… I put on a pot of tea and Chara procures a yummy sweet treat. I am a complete sucker for sweets – not candy – but cake, pie, cobbler, ice cream, pastries, decadent cookies you name it, I love it!

This time, Chara brought a box of BISCOTTEA, gluten-free, blueberry, tea, shortbread cookies.  We were a little nervous, because of the gluten-free tag, but thought we would try them out anyway. Initially we were a little surprised, because the cookies in the box looked distinctly different from the picture on the package.  We sort of looked at each other as if to say, “Are these the right cookies?”.  Then we conducted the smell test… blueberry tea shortbread cookies smell delightful – just like blueberries. Not surprising, but definitely a plus considering the visual inspection.

The tentative first bite proved to be tasty.  Traditionally, I do not eat gluten-free products so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.  Blueberry tea shortbread cookies were not as dense as some shortbread cookies I have enjoyed in the past.  This is not a bad thing, just different.  The cookies were crumbly and slightly dry, similar to the crisper portion of a scone.  The taste of tea was definitely evident as was a mild blueberry flavor.  The cookies were not overly sweet and paired well with our tea – sweetened Moroccan Mint and later with an unsweetened oolong.  The only drawback – the cookies left a slighty gritty feel in the mouth – which really isn’t that big of a deal.

BISCOTTEA, blueberry tea shortbread cookies are manufactured in Issaquah, WA.  With a desire to make cookies that taste homemade, founder Laurance Milner uses the following ingredients: gluten-free all-purpose flour, sorghum flour, butter, sugar, cornstarch, xanthan gum, organic white tea from China’s Fujian Province, organic natural blueberry flavor, baking soda, and salt.  Additionally, according to the website, BISCOTTEA™ is more than just a cute play on words; it’s the result of a four-year search that started in 2003 when Laurance Milner, a Specialty Food entrepreneur and tea drinker, determined to create BISCOTTEA to pair perfectly with tea. You can now purchase BISCOTTEA,™ in four additional tea flavors:

• African Honeybush: Made with sweet herbal tea leaves grown on the same unique South African mountains as the Rooibos (Red Tea) plant.
• Mint: A mixture of organic peppermint and spearmint leaves farmed in Oregon.
• Chai: A blend of organic chai spices, including cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, ginger, and pepper.
• Earl Grey: A combination of organic Darjeeling tea, estate-grown in India, with natural Bergamot Citrus flavor.

To purchase BISCOTTEA, visit their website www.biscottea.net to locate a retailer near you.  Or you can make a stop at your local TJ Maxx, where Chara purchased our box of BISCOTTEA.  Until then… Happy tea drinking!

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Thistledown’s Newest Tea Cozy – The HOB

While not a stranger to the concept of tea cozies, I never actually owned one.  That is until recently when I became the proud owner of two HOBs from  Thistledown.  Of course, I understood the concept of the tea cozy coined the HOB by Thistledown, but must admit I was curious about whether they actually worked. So when, my brother-in-law and his girlfriend Dee came over for dinner I was excited to try them out for the first time.  Armed with two steaming pots of tea – lavender oolong and strawberry oolong, I prepared to settle the debate once and for all.

After pouring cups of tea, I dressed the strawberry oolong with the smaller of the two Thistledown HOBs. The lavender oolong went naked or commando as others would say while Dee and I sipped and talked.  Sated and ready for a second cup, it was time to test my theory…

The actual pot of strawberry oolong felt distinctly warmer than the lavender oolong.  When poured into a teacup, the strawberry oolong liquor had remained warm and ready to drink while the lavender oolong required microwave subjection to reheat.  It was official, my Thistledown Tea Cozy definitely kept the pot of tea warm for a longer period of time. The test duration was 15 minutes, but the HOB is capable of keeping a pot of tea warm much longer.  (Check out the Heat Retention Experiment found on the Thistledown website.) I was pleasantly surprised! Now convinced of the HOBs utility, I’m compelled to share a bit more about this great product.

The HOB is the latest in Thistledown’s line of tea warmers and is available in two sizes 20 ounce and 40 ounce. As described by Thistledown, the HOB is constructed with two layers of high-tech mylar batting.  This batting insulates with both a layer of mylar reflecting heat back into the teapot and layers of polyester preventing heat conduction away from the teapot.  Perhaps you are familiar with mylar batting, but I however, am not.  So I took a trip to Fabric.com for help.

According to Fabric.com, mylar batting is the material that makes pot holders, oven mitts, and casserole covers safe. The material is breathable and won’t break down with washing. It contains hollow fibers that resist conduction while the reflective mylar resists radiant energy. The energy, hot or cold, is reflected back to its source. This is key to how the HOB is able to keep your pot of tea warm for an extended period of time.

Now you know the “why” and “how” the HOB works, let’s talk about its construction. The bottom of the HOB  also has two layers of mylar batting, acting like a built-in trivet.  As you can see from the picture, the HOB completely encases the body of your teapot. It is extremely easy to use: simply sit the teapot between the two “clam shells”, flip over the top and clip together with the buckle. Yes, there is a buckle – simple yet practical construction. But the greatest thing of all… the fabric is washable.

For years I have always called products like the HOB a tea cozy.  Thistledown has chosen to call this new product a HOB for two key reasons – 1) ”tea cozy” was too feminine and 2) HOB defined means a shelf in the back of a fireplace used to keep things hot.  The name HOB is a perfect fit!

My HOB is pictured in the beginning of this review, while my other is two-tone red and brown.  Be sure to keep your eyes open for many new colors and patterns available from Thistledown this spring.  The photo on the right depicts a few.

To purchase the HOB visit Thistledown’s website where they retail for $35 for the 20 ounce and $40 for the 40 ounce.  If you have used this product, please share your experience.  Until then… Happy Tea Drinking!

**The HOB was provided by Thistledown as a sample.

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Peppermint Cacao Nibs – Tea Cookies

Last year, while attending the 2009 World Tea Expo, I had the pleasure of meeting Sondra Wells, Owner and Founder of Botanical Bakery.  It was great to put a face with the name – several months earlier I sampled and reviewed several Botanical Bakery products.  See Tea Escapade Blog Post: Botanical Bakery – Tea Cookies.  At that time, there were only four varieties of their yummy tea cookies available.

Imagine, my surprise, when I opened my mail today, to find a Christmas gift from Ms. Wells, as a token of appreciation.  I am sure you guessed with accuracy the contents of the gift – a package of Peppermint Cacao Nibs – the latest tea cookies created by Botanical Bakery. Every now and then, we receive little surprises that simply add more sunshine to our day. I couldn’t wait to rip open the package.

The ingredients are simple: organic unbleached flour, organic sweet cream butter, organic pure cane sugar, organic peppermint, organic cacao nibs, and vitamin E. However the taste is far from simple. I’m sure, Botanical Bakery will be quite surprised to see another product review. But the reality is, I have to give credit where credit is due.

Peppermint Cacao Nibs have the buttery quality characteristic of Botanical Bakery products. Combined with unique all organic ingredients like – cacao nibs and peppermint – these cookies by Botanical Bakery are distinctly different from other butter cookies.  Crisp, dense, and buttery Peppermint Cacao Nibs are delish!  The cacao nibs not only provide a sweet yet mild chocolaty flavor that is released while chewing, but add a crunchy texture.  To explain further, cacao nibs are cleaned, roasted, winnowed and lightly crushed cacao beans.  And just when you think you have tasted all the flavors, the taste buds are greeted by the pleasantly cool taste of peppermint. I almost finished the entire package in one sitting, because the more I ate, the chocolate and mint became more profound.

To learn more about Sondra Wells and Botanical Bakery or to place an order, visit their website at http://botanicalbakery.com. Be sure to try the Peppermint Cacao Nibs. When you do, please stop by and share your experience.

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Tea Top Brew Mug

It is always exciting to find a new tea related product. Especially one that adds convenience to tea drinking.

Recently, I received a Mighty Leaf Tea – Tea Top Brew Mug. The travel mug is stainless steel which is great for keeping beverages hot or cold. The body is shaped perfectly for holding the mug while walking, driving, or curled up with a book in Barnes and Noble. My only complaint – the steel on the top portion of the mug can become pretty warm and uncomfortable to hold when full of hot tea.  However, the remainder of the mug remains cool and easy to handle. Additionally, I was specifically enamored with the extra-large spout. As the proud owner of several stainless steel mugs, it is quite irritating when air bubbles form under the lid, pop and hot tea shoots through burning my lips.  Not a problem with the Tea Top Brew Mug.

But the greatest thing about the Tea Top Brew Mug, is on the opposite side of the lid – there is a slit made especially for tea bags. A bit picky about the quality of my tea, I was excited to test the Tea Top lid with one of my loose-leaf tea sachets.  It was simple – after sliding the tea sachet/bag tag through the slit the bag itself dangled into the Tea Top Brew Mug while steeping. Once complete, the slit is made wide enough for the sachet to be pulled partially through while sipping tea (see picture to the right). The bottom half of the tea bag fits neatly into the special molding of the lid.  I must report, it worked like a charm… no mess… no fuss…  What an awesome travel mug!

Purchase your own Tea Top Brew Mug

Retailer: Mighty Leaf Tea

Price: $12.95

Size: 12 ounce

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Jewelry, Tea, and Scones

Tea pairs well with everything. Just ask the group of amazing women I shared my Saturday afternoon with. About a month ago, my best friend became a Silpada Sales Rep and subsequently asked that I host a Silpada Party. Of course I agreed and in a flash, we planned my “Tea and Bling” party. Translation… a combination jewelry and tea party.

My dining room table held a beautiful display of jewelry, while my kitchen table held an awesome display of tea cups, tea foods and tea treats. A perfect setting for afternoon tea. In preparation for the party and to ensure I was able to keep the tea flowing, I purchased two fun little teapots from The English Tea Store – the Amsterdam 2 Cup Infuser Teapot in Burgundy and Sahara. The Sahara pot is pictured on the left and the Burgundy pot is on the right.

Upon receipt, I immediately fell in love with my Amsterdam Teapots. I found them to be not only adorable, but suitable for everyday household use.  As anticipated, both teapots had matching infuser inserts perfect for brewing loose leaf tea.  Thus, my guests enjoyed fruit oolong, silver needle, a blooming jasmine green, and masala chai. Don’t worry tea aficionados, I used a different teapot for each tea served.  I forgot to pre-heat the Teapots before serving tea, however, the Amsterdam teapot was easily microwavable to restore the tea’s warmth.

In addition to the teapots, I purchased the matching Amsterdam Teacups and Saucers in Sahara and Burgundy.  The Amsterdam Teapots hold approximately 23 ounces of tea which equaled about 3 cups of tea in the matching teacups. By the end of the party, we were not only stuffed with chicken salad and croissants, scones and clotted cream, tea and tea cookies, fruit and more… we had an awesome time chatting and buying jewelry. (All sweets were purchased from my favorite French bakery – The BonBoneri.) Even better, clean up was easy – I was able to toss my new teapots, cups and saucers into the dishwasher and worry no more!

Here are the pros and cons of my purchase:

• My order was placed with The English Tea Store on Tuesday of last week. I paid extra for shipping and received my order in record time – the next day to be exact.
• The cost of the Amsterdam Teapots and Teacups were quite reasonable – $11.99 and $3.50 respectively (the teacups were eligible for a bulk discount).
• The infuser for the burgundy Amsterdam Teapot arrived broken. While I wasn’t able to obtain a replacement in time for my party, The English Tea Store was easy to worth with when facilitating a replacement.
• The color on two of the burgundy teacups appeared to be worn.
• The spout of my Amsterdam Teapot in Sahara dribbled a little when pouring.

Overall, I was happy with my purchase and received many compliments on the spread. I look forward to purchasing more tea accessories from The English Tea store. If you have had an opportunity to purchase any of their tea accessories, please stop by and share your experience. Until then… Happy Tea Drinking!

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The Teashop Girls

How often do you get the chance to read a delightful story about friendship, tea, and family all rolled into one? That is exactly what you get when you read “The Teashop Girls” by Laura Schaefer.

The author does a fantastic job developing the characters into real people. The story is told from the perspective of Annie, a happy-go-lucky teenage girl who is attempting to navigate her way through junior high, puberty and the rocky road of teenage friendships. Classified as teenage fiction, “The Teashop Girls”, takes the reader on an adventurous yet somewhat predictable journey, that young readers will enjoy reading over and over again. Annie’s world is turned upside down when she discovers her grandmother’s teashop (the Steeping Leaf) is in jeopardy of going out of business. The Steeping Leaf has not only been a pillar in the lives of Annie, her family and the community, it is ingrained in the fabric of the many life lessons learned and traditions created with her two best friends – Genna and Zoe.

In a lighthearted yet very poignant way, Annie and her friends experience a taste of the challenges of adulthood. Annie must balance a budding crush on a cute “older” boy and the renewal of friendships with the Steeping Leaf’s mounting unpaid bills and eviction from the only location it has called home. All the while intermingled with tea facts, tea history, and tea recipes. So how does it all end? You will simply have to purchase your own copy of The Teashop Girls to find out. 

Purchase The Teashop Girls

Title: The Teashop Girls

Author: Laura Schaefer

Illustrator:  Sujean Rim

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing

Price:  $15.99

Ages: 8-14

Official Website: http://teashopgirls.webnode.com/

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Adagio Teas – Sugar Crystals

Periodically, I like to add sweetener to my tea – typically only to black tea or even better southern style sweet tea. There was a time when I only used old faithful white sugar. Some would say that I graduated to honey. While honey is tasty I found the taste distorted the flavor of my tea. In an effort to discover the perfect sweetener that enhanced the flavor of the tea instead of detracting from it, I began using Sugar-In-The-Raw. I cannot say there was a compelling reason for trying Sugar-In-The-Raw other than ,”Starbucks uses it”. Then recently, I discovered Sugar Crystals by Adagio Teas.

What are Sugar Crystals? According to Adagio Teas website, these crystals are sugar in its purest form. “Adding a few sugar crystals will sweeten tea without distorting its flavor profile, pleasing both your sweet tooth and taste buds.” After reading, I knew I had to place an order. When I opened the container, I laughed. Adagio’s Sugar Crystals look like the rock candy I used to eat as a child. Large chunks of amber colored sugar crystals in varying sizes. Eaten alone the crystals are hard and crunchy with a natural sweetness.

I decided to brew a cup of tea and give these Sugar Crystals a try. With a steaming cup of tea in hand, I added several crystals. One note, the crystals do not dissolve immediately, but require a few moments of continuous stirring to fully melt down. I found my tea wonderfully sweetened. There was no aftertaste as with artificial sweeteners like Equal or  Sweet and Low. In addition, no distortion, like honey – I was pleasantly pleased.

In consideration of the fact that Sugar Crystals are sugar in its purest form, I was surprised by the amount needed to sweeten my tea. My assumption was that the crystals would be very potent, however they were not. In contrast, Sugar Crystals by Adagio teas are quite mild. Perhaps this is how sugar was always meant to be.

Just a few details…

Adagio Tea’s Sugar Crystals can be purchased in two different sizes – a sample size for $3.00 and 16 ounces for $9.00.(I purchased the sample size, which has lasted longer than I ever anticipated.)  In addition, the Sugar Crystals come in both amber and white. Visit Adagio Teas for more information about this spectacular accessory to your tea collection.

If you currently use Sugar Crystals, stop by and share your experience. Until then… Happy Tea Drinking!

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Botanical Bakery – Tea Cookies

So I thought I’d heard it all. That is until, I learned about gourmet tea cookies sold by Botanical Bakery located in Napa Valley, California. Sondra Wells, “planter, baker, tea cookie maker” and now owner of Botanical Bakery, began creating her tasty treats 10 years ago when preparing for a dinner party. That first cookie, Lavender Tea Cookies, was a big hit with her guests. Unknowing, this was the beginning of Botanical Bakery. A company that prides itself for its quality ingredients and creative cookie recipes.

Lavender Tea Cookies, is quite unique with its dominant butter and lavender flavors. A lover of butter cookies, I found the taste of the former ingredient delicious and the taste of the latter distinct. Delicately sweet, Lavender Tea Cookies contains: organic unbleached flour, organic sweet cream butter, organic pure cane sugar, organic lavender buds, and vitamin E. While dense and buttery, the lavender left a slight vegetal after taste.

Intrigued, I was compelled to move on to Cinnamon Basil Tea Cookies. Crafted with the same ingredients, albeit two modifications – no lavender, instead basil and cinnamon. Upon removal from the packaging, the basil was immediately recognizable. My first bite, was robust with butter and basil, yet the cinnamon was surprisingly mild. A typically dominant spice, I found the cinnamon enhanced the buttery flavor by adding a second layer of sweetness. Visually, Cinnamon Tea Cookies, looked unlike any cookie I’ve ever seen. Pieces of basil were intermingled throughout the petite cookie.

After nibbling on both cookies, it was definitely tea time. With the kettle preparing to boil, I opened the package containing my last cookie. Cardamom Tea Cookies smelled divine. One of the reasons I love chai tea is because it often contains cardamom. Thus the combination of cardamom and butter made me giddy just thinking about it. My first bite solidified not only my love for this cookie, but my decision to brew a cuppa chai tea. Again, the ingredients were the same as the last two cookies, minus the cinnamon and basil but with the addition of green cardamom.  I found Cardamom Tea Cookies sweet and spicy and truly delicious. Perfect for eating along side a cup of tea.

Armed with a hot cup of chai tea, I finished each cookie, saving Cardamom Tea for last. The taste of each cookie was further enhanced by a sip of tea. Botanical Bakery cookies are sweet enough to enjoy alone, but not so sweet as to alter the taste of the tea. The perfect complement.

To learn more about Sondra Wells and Botanical Bakery or to place an order, visit their website at http://botanicalbakery.com. Until we meet again… Happy Tea Drinking!

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Vivabox – A Unique Tea Experience

During the holiday season, many people go to the mall in search of the perfect gift for their friends and loved ones. This year, I was pleasantly surprised when I received a Vivabox. I’m sure you are wondering, “what is a Vivabox?” The creators of Vivabox would say, “A vivabox is an exciting new product that combines the freedom of choice with the personal touch of a real gift.  This two layered gift can be the answer to all of your gift giving dilemmas.  The first layer is a gift inside the box that is intended to familiarize the recipient with the product.  The second layer is the gift card that can be redeemed for their gift selection from a menu of choices. ” You can check out their website for more details… I did.

So, translated into a real life experience, I received “The Gift of a Tea Experience” when I opened my ”tea time” Vivabox. Contained within my Vivabox were seven different types of Numi Teas.  Numi is the vendor of a variety of  certified organic, Fair Trade, Kosher teas located in Oakland, California. There were five tea bags (two of each) – Aged Earl Grey,

Italian Bergamot Black Tea; Temple of Heaven, Gunpowder Green Tea; Velvet Garden, White Rose – which I must say is a lovely cuppa tea. Very mild as is characteristic of white tea with an unexpectedly robust floral quality.; Ruby Chai, Spiced Rooibos; and Monkey King, Jasmine Green Tea.  Additionally, I was excited to see the inclusion of two blooming teas also known as art teas.

While I prefer loose teas there is something fun about receiving a box full of various flavors of tea. Like a kid in a candy store, I read each type of tea and immediately found myself looking up the websites for both Numi and Vivabox. As with Russian Nesting Dolls, where the opening of one contains yet another beautiful doll, I was excited to realize that the fun wasn’t over after opening the Vivabox. Found within the box was a plastic card, resembling a credit card with 16 digits printed on the front and further instructions on the back detailing how to redeem yet another gift.

After reviewing my gift options… isn’t that exciting?… I selected the Single Origins Tea Set.  Succinctly described as a beautiful tea gift that offers four Organic loose teas (my absolute favorite) from

India, Japan, China, and South Africa – Darjeeling, Genmaicha, White Rose, and Rooibis respectively. Eagerly, I anticipate my first cup of tea as I feel that each one was hand-picked especially for me.

Included in the set is a black ceramic teapot with matching cups all adorned with a floral design. A metal infuser (not shown in the picture) fits perfectly in the mouth of the pot for perfect straining every time.  It is simply not enough to describe this adorable set - the pictures speak for themselves. 

Simply stated this was one of the best tea gifts I’ve ever received. A mixture of tea bags, blooming teas, loose teas, and teaware – a tea lover’s dream.

So, in nutshell, how does Vivabox work?

1.  You Pick The Theme. Do you have an idea as to what type of gift someone would like?  Select the Vivabox theme  you think they would enjoy the most.  

2.  Upon Receipt, The Recipient Will Try The Samples. They open the box and enjoy the gift inside.  The gift relates to the theme of the box.  

3.  The Recipient Chooses The Gift.  After enjoying the first gift, the recipient visits the Vivabox website to enter their card number found in the initial gift.    

Result:  You have given the perfect gift!  Ensuring that you have given the recipient exactly what he or she will most enjoy. 

My Vivabox provided me with a wonderfully unique tea experience. Other Vivabox gift experiences include: The Gift of Indulgence – gourmet to your door (the choice of a three-course gourmet meal for two… delivered directly to your door); The Gift of Massage – spa (enjoy a full body massage or facial); The Gift of Beauty – spa (enjoy a manicure and pedicure). Check out the Vivabox website to see all of their products.

Vivabox has taken the gift of tea to another level. If you haven’t experienced Vivabox for yourself now’s your opportunity. Then return to tell me about it. Until then… Happy Tea Drinking!

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