I thought I’d take a few days off of work to relax. Unfortunately, all the “relaxing” I’ve been doing has cost me plenty in tea-drinking time. It’s finally hot outside. That means yard work! I haven’t even had time to start making iced tea. Hopefully the World Tea Expo will get me back on the right track.
marTEA
June 9th is getting closer and closer. I’ve never been to Atlanta or a WTE. So, I have a lot to look forward to in a couple of weeks. I’ve slowed my tea purchasing to save for the products at the show. I’ve gone to several trade shows over the years, but this is the first one I’ve ever gone to on my own “dime.” Tea is a passion of mine, and I feel that it is time to make an investment for the future. I have many ideas of how I want to contribute to the tea industry. That’s why this WTE is so important to me. marTEA.com is the “American Dream” in real-time or tea-time…
marTEA
One of my first blogs was titled: Bigelow Tea, a rare US family owned tea company
I still cannot wait to visit the tea plantation in Charleston, South Carolina. That said, as I suggested in my previous blog, I was going to try one of their loose leaf teas. I’ve had several of their bagged products, and for the most part I have enjoyed most of their selections. I ordered this tea online from bigelowtea.com. I had no problems with the online checkout process, and the delivery of the tea was very fast. I selected their signature tea “Constant Comment.” Again, this was one of Bigelow’s loose leaf teas. This was the first time I have ever tried a Bigelow loose leaf tea. In addition, it was the first time I have ever tried “Constant Comment.”
The tea absolutely exceeded my expectations. First off, the tea leaves looked large and fresh. There are orange rind pieces mixed throughout the tea. The pieces of orange rind 
add to the presentation of the dried product. The scent of the tea coming from the tin literally makes your mouth water. Now, I’ve tried several fruit flavored teas. I have even tried orange flavored teas. Bigelow’s “Constant Comment”® is by far the best flavored black tea I have ever tried. I’ve tried several cups, and I have yet to be disappointed. The orange flavor is authentic and fresh. If you are a fan of citrus flavored teas, this is a must. My only complaint about the tea is that I don’t know where the tea was grown. I’ll let that slide…
Click here to follow Bigelow Tea’s “Going Green” initiative.
marTEA
Sometimes we just need to kick back with a good flavored black tea. A mango flavored Ceylon is an excellent choice. Adagio’s mango flavored tea is highly rated on their website. I’ve ordered it a couple of times. Each time, I’ve enjoyed it. It has a fresh mango flavor that isn’t overpowering. The mango flavor makes me think of the Caribbean, which is where I was the first time I got to eat fresh mango. I plan on making some iced tea with the mango flavored black tea. I’ve read lots of reviews that recommend this tea iced. Besides, I’ve been looking for an excuse to use my new iced tea maker.
Just like a lot of other teas, you need to make sure you do not over-steep this tea. Let the water cool down from a boil. I recommend 3-4 minutes of a steeping time. If it’s not enough for you, just adjust to your liking. This is a good starter tea. If you are new to the tea scene, and you just want to see what loose leaf tea is about - try this one. Now, the obvious “catch” to this tea is, you need to like mango or sweet fruits. You can taste the tea in this blend; however, mango is the dominant flavor. Give it a try this summer. Pretend you’re sitting on a beach in St. Thomas and enjoy…
marTEA
“Son of a beach.” I turn my back for 2 minutes and my Rooibos is all over the kitchen floor. You want to talk about a mess. It’s bad enough what Rooibos does to my tea filters. Try cleaning Rooibos off of your kitchen floor and rugs. It’s like sawdust. It managed to sneak its way into every crack and crevice of the kitchen. It was either the cats or the kids, neither are talking. I’m thinking the kids…The good news is, it was Vanilla flavored so the place smells pretty good.
Note to self: keep tea out of the reach of children and pets. also, change sweeper bag.
marTEA
To the moms:
I hope you got to enjoy a nice cup of tea on your special day. If not, hopefully you had a relaxing time with your loved ones. If my mom is reading, happy mother’s day. I love you, and it was great to spend the afternoon with you. Lastly, I want to tell my wife how special she is for all her hard work day in and day out. You are a great mother, friend, and wife.
marTEA
My quest for knowledge regarding tea is leading me to the World Tea Expo. The expo is going to be held in Atlanta, GA, June 9-11. It’s an exciting opportunity to attend this massive trade show. I look forward to learning more about current tea trends and new products. I will be sure to blog about the exciting products and services I see at the event. The tea industry is, without question, one of the most exciting and challenging industries to be a part of during this time period.
marTEA
It has been a couple of months since my last cup of a quality Oolong loose leaf tea. The Oolong I’m drinking this week is made up of dark, silver-tipped tea leaves from Taiwan. This tea is absolutely delicious. I enjoy everything about this tea. It’s the kind of tea I can drink any time of the day. Unlike some strong black teas or “grassy” green teas, Oolong is well balanced. I don’t feel overwhelmed while drinking Oolong.
Now, I get a kick out of how Oolong is often called the “champagne of teas.” If Oolong had the same affects as champagne does on my wife, I’d be a lucky a man. However, the fact is you can safely drive after drinking Oolong, and your inhibitions will not be lost. So, the next wild party you’re at, don’t expect Cristal and Oolong to be flowing. The champagne reference simply relates Oolong as a fancy and exquisite tea selection. I highly recommend drinking Oolong tea. It really does deserve its own classification. You’ll enjoy the natural sweetness and relaxing characteristics.
marTEA
