a remedy

Hello there.

If, like me, you are in a bit of a wintery haze, I may have a remedy for you.

Organic. Ginger. Herbal. Tea. Are you swooning yet?

After months of day-tripping between home and this venture, shoveling my way through ice and snow mounded high upon city streets, and wandering lost in thought about my next moves (on all fronts), well, quite frankly, I’m beat. Don’t tell The Bartender! The poor thing’s exhaustion has rendered him all means of out of sorts and I don’t want to burden him with my grievances. I’ll only tell you, fine readers. And, mostly because, you’ll listen kindly and I’ll reward you with a precious cup of tea. In photos that is…

After playing hostess at our bar every weekend, I cannot stomach my habitual morning cup of java. The taste is off. My stomach cringes. Yet, my body needs to wake and my mind to clear of sleepy dew. Tea it must be. I now begin the morning with a cup of something caffeinated. As the day shuffles on, I crave more. I thirst for the nurturing aroma, warmth and evolving taste revealed in a top-notch tea. Resisting jitters, I steep tisanes.

Rishi’s Tangerine Ginger is an organic herbal tea I requested months ago when in search of a ginger tea that would calm my stomach woes while also offering much more than ginger bite. One whiff of this tisane renders me relaxed. Remember how flintstones vitamins smelled? This herbal blend goes there. Here are the notes I scribed between sips:

tastes tart, citrusy
medium body
ginger sneaks in at end and lingers on tongue, warming
berries
tactile, not wimpy
orange, lemon, cranberry

The canister now rests on my desk at work. Next to the honey bear. At arm’s length. Simple gratification.

rishi raspberry green tea

As my thoughts begin to drift fondly toward notions of nuzzley scarves, tall boots and noisy corduroys, I seek teas that will serve pleasing sippers, both hot and iced. Something slightly mutable for the seasonal shift.  

Green teas are good for that. And, when I noticed that Rishi has quite a list of new tea offerings, I reached out to them for a few samples. This darling is their raspberry green tea. The dry aroma is of cubes of pink bubble gum. The likes of those I’d chomp on for hours as a kid, despite the fleeting flavor.

It’s light on the tongue. Tastes of tart hibiscus and fresh berries sweet.  

Green tea is a pleasing pick-me-up sipper for workday slumps. I also imagine this pretty pink tonic would impress poured from a large pitcher into glasses clinking with thick ice cubes, while lounging on the porch with friends. Taking in all that remains of this summer.