The Perfect Tea(Maker)
One of my very favorite things to do at night (or any time of day really) is make myself a nice big mug of tea. I’ve loved tea ever since I was in college. I got into loose leaf tea when Bobby brought me back some Lupicia loose leaf tea from Hawaii just a few weeks after we started dating. This was back in the winter of 2005-2006. Can’t believe that cute college boy turned into my husband! Things certainly do change over the course of 5 years.
A lot of my friends know about my love of tea too; my one friend that I talk about a lot (a bridesmaid) actually got me the Perfect TeaMaker from Teavana as part of our wedding present. It really does make the perfect mug of tea.
I have been loving the Earl Grey Creme flavor the most – it’s actually replaced my morning coffee. I sweeten it with a few drops of NuNaturals Stevia and drink it up as I do my morning routine. Here is the fresh loose leaf tea (you might recognize this from my header):
Going in…
Ready to pour the near-boiling water!
Steeping.
After it steeps you just set the Perfect TeaMaker on a mug (it fits with just about any size), which pushes up the bottom and lets the tea drain out. If you just have it sitting on the table (or its base) it does not leak. It’s very well designed! Then add your NuNaturals stevia (I only say NuNaturals because it is my favorite brand of stevia) and let it cool enough to drink. Speaking of NuNaturals, you have until Thursday to order and get 15% off! Click for coupon.
Tea & Yoga/Health
One reason I like drinking hot tea is that I can’t gulp it down quickly. I have to savor it. Something it’s hard to sit down and really savor meals/drinks/life. So tea makes me slow down and appreciate the moment. It’s almost like yoga or meditation. Savoring tea teaches you to savor the moments when you’re not drinking tea, if that makes sense. It’s the same principle in yoga – when you learn to hold a challenging pose you are practicing for how to face challenging situations in life. You breathe and you get through it. Tea helps you learn to appreciate moments of pleasure even when you’re not drinking tea.
Project Food Blog Entries That I Like (and that you should vote for too, if you like ‘em)
- Yasai Yaki Soba (me!)
- Dinner @ Christina’s (blog here)
- My Bizzy Kitchen (blog here)
- What’s for Dinner? (blog here)
- Tri to Cook (blog here)
- Burp & Slurp (blog here)
- A Nutitionist Eats (blog here)
- Angie’s Appetite (blog here)
- Rhodey Girl (blog here)
- What Would Cathy Eat? (blog here)
- Liv Bites (blog here)
Whew. Long post. Lots to say.
Do you drink tea? What’s your favorite flavor?
My favorite flavor is “cookie tea” from Lupicia. It tastes just like a cookie, especially with milk and a touch of honey.
Don’t forget to enter to win $65 from CSN Stores! Deadline is tomorrow night.
September 28, 2010 at 8:15 am
Tea is my addiction, but it’s basically just one kind a couple times a day. It’s Eden Organic Kukicha tea and it’s in bags, so I don’t have to have a magic tea maker (although that looks fun!)
I do have my “Hot Shot” that I can’t live without though. It basically just heats up water in under a minute so I can pour my tea and enjoy! I’ve found tea to be very helpful with my stomach issues and “regular” stuff, if you know what I mean. Without it, I feel lost!
September 28, 2010 at 3:42 pm
Anything with Eden in the name is good
September 28, 2010 at 8:43 am
i am a tea junkie! i order my loose leaf from adagio.com holy mother of pearl is it pure. i have a bodom tea pot that i steep the leaves in and i love it. i make tea every.single.day. since i don’t drink coffee. i was stunned that i can still function haha. favorite flavor from adagio is Casablanca twist or peppermint
September 28, 2010 at 9:29 am
I’ve never seen a tea maker like that Looks very handy, indeed.
Damn, you have been hitting the gym like a crazy woman! :] Sounds like you’ve been getting a ton of variety in your workouts, which is awesome.
September 28, 2010 at 11:04 am
I’ve always been more of a coffee person, but I do love chai and a cup of Earl Grey with milk. I enjoyed your class descriptions–variety is the spice of life in so many ways!
September 28, 2010 at 11:31 am
I love the Bangkok blend from Harney & Sons. It has replaced my morning coffee too! It is green tea with note of coconut and lemongrass. It needs nothing: not lemon, no honey, just a mug. YUM!
Cute photo, by the way.
September 28, 2010 at 11:41 am
I have that exact tea make and I looooove it!
September 28, 2010 at 12:08 pm
I LOVE tea. My favorite tea is the Chai loose leaves from Coffee Bean, but I ran out a while ago and haven’t replenished my supply. I love it with a little vanilla soy milk. So delicious. I drink green tea first thing in the morning at work. It’s just in bags. I love loose leaf tea and the time it takes to make. It’s a fun, little ritual. And, like you said, it involves forced savoring
September 28, 2010 at 1:13 pm
Tea is my favorite! My mom drinks it every morning so she got me into it. My favorite is simple green tea or english breakfast, but I also love seasonal teas like Sugar Cookie. Mmm, now I must go make some! (:
September 28, 2010 at 2:04 pm
The tea maker is so cool to use with the clear tea mugs =-)
I’ve been using the nu naturals in my coffee (with soy creamer) and it tastes really good- no funky after taste! I’m going to get more and carry it around with me if I remember!
September 28, 2010 at 2:16 pm
@Melissa: I have everyone at the office addicted – I brought some in for them to try! I think I might buy more using my coupon code because I know I will want more after mine runs out.
September 28, 2010 at 2:18 pm
i love tea!
i don’t have one favourite, but i like fruity kinds of tea, especially with some honey in it <3
September 28, 2010 at 2:26 pm
My favorite tea is Choice Organic Green Moroccan Mint tea! I have it a few times a day!!
Thanks for the shout out! I loved your noodles!
September 28, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Wow, that tea thing is cool!!! I have a french press for coffee and saw on a blog (maybe yours?) to use it for tea, so sometimes I do that. Otherwise I’m lazy and microwave a mug of water and throw in a tea bag. hehehe Me and J like tea too, mostly in the fall and winter.
Thank you for the shout out Maggie!!!
September 28, 2010 at 6:26 pm
That tea maker looks awesome!! And, I love Earl Grey- it is one of my favorites!!
Thank you so much for the mention!! Your noodles rock!! They are going on my list to try for sure!
September 28, 2010 at 9:31 pm
I’m more of a coffee drinker but I do adore English Breakfast tea. I’ve been eager to try a ‘cookie’ flavored tea ever since I heard about Celestial Seasonings’ available-only-during-the-holidays ‘Sugar Cookie’ flavor.
I love little rituals like making tea.
September 29, 2010 at 7:34 am
i’m much more a coffee drink than tea, but i know how good green tea is for you so i have a cup on most days.
this reminds me, i should really get into yoga. i keep hearing about all the health benefits (mind AND body.) have fun with all your classes
September 29, 2010 at 5:03 pm
I love your paragraph here about the tea/yoga connection. I have been figuring that out lately too!
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December 13, 2011 at 5:28 pm
Funny. to see your review of my class. Online. I hope you came back and spent more time on your feet.
Warrior Flow Yoga with Adrian Molina; Friday morning 7:30-8:30a @ 63rd Street. This class was okay; I was actually feeling sick so I spent a decent amount of time in child’s pose. It was a nice morning flow though. Will probably be back to figure out if I like the instructor.
Adrian.