Tag: tea

Did Someone Say It Was Tea Time?

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

Yup, time to replenish my stock at work. This post is to remind me what I ordered.

From Franklin Tea, in Franklin TN:

  • 8 oz Caramel Tea (some is for home) @ $1.80/oz.
    Premium Black Tea with natural flavor.

  • 4 oz Buckingham Palace @ $1.80/oz.

From Stash Tea:

  • 100g Christmas Morning. ($6.75)
    Exquisite blend of Darjeeling First Flush, Indian Assam, China Keemun and Yunnan, southern Indian teas, Formosa Oolong and Jasmine Flower.

  • 100g Stash Bed and Breakfast Blend. ($7.50)
    A full-bodied blend of fine black teas including Kopili Estate Special Assam, Tiger Hill Estate Nilgiri, and Kenilworth Estate Ceylon. Very smooth finish.

  • 100g Stash Millenium Blend ($9.95)
    This blend of exquisite world-class teas include Kopili Estate Assam, Kenilworth Estate Ceylon, Green Darjeeling, Gunpowder Temple of Heaven, Dragonwell Special Grade, Formosa Oolong, Mutan White and Keemun Hao Ya. Each tea adds its distinctive flavor notes to this special blend.

  • 100g Stash House Blend ($7.50)
    This smooth, rich blend of Assam, Ceylon, Darjeeling, Oolong, Keemun and Jasmine teas has a delicate floral aftertaste and is good for everyday drinking.

  • 100g Vanilla Creme ($8.50)
    Madagascar and Tahitian vanilla beans are combined with premium black teas for a rich, smooth and sweet tea.

  • 100g Rosebud ($6.75)
    Romantic blend of black tea, rose petals, raspberry and other natural flavors. Delicate flavor and pleasing aroma.

  • 100g Darjeeling Okayti ($9.95)
    From the Okayti estate, this wonderful, more full-bodied Darjeeling brews a deep golden liquor.

  • 100g Ceylon Breakfast ($7.50)
    An ultra smooth version of English Breakfast with a beautiful golden color in the cup.

  • 100g FTC Organic Pinhead Gunpowder ($7.50)
    Tiny, tightly rolled leaves gently unfold when infused. Classic green tea flavor, lightly astringent. This tea is certified organic and certified Fair Trade.

  • 100g Yunnan Mountain Jasmine Green (closeout) ($7.50)
    A hint of jasmine complements this smooth green tea. The tea bud and top two leaves are attractively hand-twisted into a slim, cylindrical shape. Brews a clear golden in the cup.

(edited) Although I didn’t record it earlier, the following teas have been picked up (and mostly used up) since my last big Stash order in April 2007. Current dead soldiers are indicated with ¤:

From Franklin Tea in Franklin TN:

  • 4 oz Caramel Tea¤
    Premium Black Tea with natural flavor.

  • 4oz Monkey Plum¤
    Premium Black Tea with natural flavor.

  • 4oz Cherry Rose
    Premium Green Tea with natural flavor.

From Surfas:

From Lupicia Fresh Tea:

  • 50g 5519 Caramele ($5.50/50g)
    By adding the sweet caramel and almond essence, a sweet nostalgic aroma is created. Delicious both straight and with milk.

  • 50g 5500 English Caramel ($5.00/50g)
    Caramel’s aromatic bittersweet flavor emphasizing the sweetness of tea, makes this a caramel tea for adult tastes. Even more delicious when adding sugar and milk.

From Teavana in the Sherman Oaks Mall:

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Sweetened Chicken and Tea Fingers

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

Today’s observations on the news are particularly timely in the sense that I’m writing them while my lunch digests, as they have to do with food:

  • From the “And Would You Like Fries With That” Department: The New York Times has an interesting piece on the effect of kid’s meals on kid’s palates. The article notes that kids meals seem to be independent of restaurant, and always seem to be the same: chicken fingers of some form (do chickens even have fingers?), mac and cheese, burgers, hot dogs, or pizza. The claim is that such bland uniformity discourages kids from trying the really great food that is out there, and learning to have a broad palate of food tastes and experimentation. It also, the article claims, encourages bad eating habits, being low on vegetables and high on fat. I would tend to agree — luckily, my daughter eschews kids meals, and even is insisting on a single menu for both kids and adults at her upcoming Bat Mitzvah.
  • From the “Tea, Earl Grey, Hot” Department: The Daily Breeze has an interesting article on the regional differences in Iced Tea. In the North and West, is it unsweetened, but in the South, it is sweetened. I remember this from growing up–my grandmother (from St. Louis) loved her iced tea sweet and strong. I did too… until as an adult I started drinking my tea black and unsweetened. I now cannot stand the sweetened stuff. I’m sure I’ll be innundated with sweet tea in Nashville, so I’ll need to remember to ask. I should note that in some places, iced tea is a completely foreign concept… and in Europe, it isn’t sweet or not, but whether you want your tea white or black. I’ve only found certain teas that are appropriate white, such as some of the real smokey ones… and to bring the discussion full circle, Thai Iced Tea, which is both sweet and white.

P.S.: Reminder: Nobel Middle School in Northridge (corner of Tampa and Lassen) will be presenting The Wizard of Oz… and Then Some on Thursday 5/31, Friday 6/1, and Saturday 6/2 at 6:30pm, with a 2:00pm Saturday matinee. This musical combines Arlen’s The Wizard of Oz, Small’s The Wiz, and Schwartz’ Wicked into an interesting amalgam. These 85+ kids have been working their little fannies off (as well as working Fanny’s fanny off), so if you’re in the area (or have friends in Southern California) come on out and support them. This is the first big show of the new Nobel Drama Department. Donations at the door.

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It’s Tea Time!

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

Yup, time for another Stash Tea order. What was it this time?

For Work

100g FTC Organic Pinhead Gunpowder
Tiny, tightly rolled leaves gently unfold when infused. Classic green tea flavor, lightly astringent.

100g Ceylon Breakfast
An ultra smooth version of English Breakfast with a beautiful golden color in the cup

100g Christmas Morning
Exquisite blend of Darjeeling First Flush, Indian Assam, China Keemun and Yunnan, southern Indian teas, Formosa Oolong and Jasmine Flower.

100g Stash Bed & Breakfast Blend
A full-bodied blend of fine black teas including Kopili Estate Special Assam, Tiger Hill Estate Nilgiri, and Kenilworth Estate Ceylon. Very smooth finish.

100g Stash House Blend
This smooth, rich blend of Assam, Ceylon, Darjeeling, Oolong, Keemun and Jasmine teas has a delicate floral aftertaste and is good for everyday drinking.

100g Stash Millennium Blend
This blend of exquisite world-class teas include Kopili Estate Assam, Kenilworth Estate Ceylon, Green Darjeeling, Gunpowder Temple of Heaven, Dragonwell Special Grade, Formosa Oolong, Mutan White and Keemun Hao Ya. Each tea adds its distinctive flavor notes to this special blend.

100g Darjeeling Okayti
From the Okayti estate, this wonderful, more full-bodied Darjeeling brews a deep golden liquor.

          
For Home

100g Ginger Peach
Delicious blend of black tea, sharp ginger, and juicy peach flavor. Very aromatic.

50g San Bei Xiang Green
In China, this tea’s name means ‘three fragrant cups,’ a reference to the main feature of the tea; namely, that it is good for three infusions. The brewed tea is clear yet has an especially full-bodied green tea taste.

100g Tea Of A Thousand Charms
Sublime blend of the finest China green teas – Huo Mountain, Young Hyson, Gunpowder, and Dragonwell.

100g YMY Genmai Green
A convivial drink in Japan shared at home with friends. This unique tea is made with green tea and brown rice. Light golden color and nut-like flavor and aroma.

100g Green Chai Spice
A green tea version of our rich, delicious Chai Spice with cinnamon, sarsaparilla, ginger root, and cloves.

Although some is for the house (most of the green tea), the rest should last me about six months at work.

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Tea Time Again

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

Well, I was running low on some of my favorite blends, and so it was time to place another tea order. What was it today? Well, if you must ask:

Ceylon Breakfast (100g)
(An ultra smooth version of English Breakfast with a beautiful golden color in the cup)		 $6.75
Christmas Morning (100g)
(blend of Darjeeling First Flush, Indian Assam, China Keemun and Yunnan, southern Indian teas, Formosa Oolong and Jasmine Flower)		 $5.95
Darjeeling Okayti (100g)
(from the Okayti estate, this wonderful, more full-bodied Darjeeling brews a deep golden liquor.)		 $9.95
Stash House Blend (100g)
(blend of Assam, Ceylon, Darjeeling, Oolong, Keemun and Jasmine)		 $6.95
Stash Millenium Blend (100g)
(blend of Kopili Estate Assam, Kenilworth Estate Ceylon, Green Darjeeling, Gunpowder Temple of Heaven, Dragonwell Special Grade, Formosa Oolong, Mutan White and Keemun Hao Ya)		 $9.95
Stash Bread and Breakfast Blend (100g)
(A full-bodied blend of fine black teas including Kopili Estate Special Assam, Tiger Hill Estate Nilgiri, and Kenilworth Estate Ceylon. Very smooth finish)		 $5.95
Double-Spiced Chai (100g)
(For Chai lovers, more spice than our Chai Spice, and coriander and whole cardamom for an even more flavorful drink.)		 $5.95

The last item is for home. The rest will be added to what is already on my shelf at work: Stash Organic Ambootia Darjeeling, Stash English Breakfast, Stash Lemon Myrtle Black, Stash Pomegranate Black, Stash Millenium Blend, Stash Fusion Green and White, Stash Premium Green, and Peets Anniversary Breakfast Blend (which they don’t make anymore)

Now, to have some tea with lunch…

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Resistance is Futile

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

Well, Starborg has just assimilated another civilization. The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Orange County-based Diedrich Coffee Inc. said Thursday that it would sell its company-owned stores to Starbucks Corp. in order to focus on wholesaling coffee to restaurant chains, specialty stores and offices. Starbucks plans to convert the coffeehouses to its own brand. Diedrich will continue to franchise and supply coffeehouses under its Gloria Jean’s and Diedrich Coffee brands. Diedrich’s restaurant customers include Marie Callender’s, Ruby’s and Islands locations in California.

Diedrich began operations in California in 1972 as an importer of roasted coffee grown on a family-owned plantation in Guatemala. The first Diedrich store was opened in Newport Beach almost 25 years ago. In 1999 the company hired a former Taco Bell executive who snapped up such chains as Coffee Plantation, Coffee People and Gloria Jean’s Coffees. This boosted the retail outlets to nearly 400, the majority of which were franchised. However, the company was unable to manage such a large network, and currently has 153 Diedrich and Gloria Jean‘s franchises.

As long as Starborg doesn’t go after the purveyors of decent teas (i.e., Peets, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, or our local Barclay’s), I’ll be happy.

In good news, there is now a Daily Grind in Granda Hills/Northridge, in the northern shopping center at Zelzah and Chatsworth (right near the corner of Lindley and Chatsworth). [Whoops, I thought it was an “It’s a Grind”, but saw it was something else as I drove the van home.]

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Shopping for Tea…

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

Well, it’s getting near that time again. This year, I’m trying to decide between an order from Adagio Teas or an order from Stash Tea. The following is my thinking on the order. What’s yours?

If I Order from Adagio…
(4 ounces = 113.398093 grams)		     If I Order from Stash…
(100 grams = 3.52739619 ounces)
Ceylon Sonata (4oz) $7.00 Ceylon Breakfast (100g) $6.75
Darjeeling #22 (8oz) $17.00   Christmas Morning (100g)
(blend of Darjeeling First Flush, Indian Assam, China Keemun and Yunnan, southern Indian teas, Formosa Oolong and Jasmine Flower)		 $5.95
English Breakfast (4oz) $12.00   Organic Ambootia Darjeeling (100g) $9.95
Dragonwell Green (4oz) $12.00   English Breakfast (100g) $5.95
Apricot Green (4oz) $6.00   Lemon Myrtle Black (100g) $7.50
Ceylon – Cherry Flavored (4oz) $6.00   Orange Pekoe VSOP (100g) $5.95
Jasmine #5 (4oz) $9.00   Pomegranate Black (100g) $6.75
Yunnan Jig (4oz) $7.00   Stash House Blend (100g)
(blend of Assam, Ceylon, Darjeeling, Oolong, Keemun and Jasmine)		 $6.95
Currant – Black (4oz) $6.00   Stash Millenium Blend (100g)
(blend of Kopili Estate Assam, Kenilworth Estate Ceylon, Green Darjeeling, Gunpowder Temple of Heaven, Dragonwell Special Grade, Formosa Oolong, Mutan White and Keemun Hao Ya)		 $9.95
      Fusion Green and White (100g) $5.95
      Premium Green (100g) $5.95
      Fusion Red and White (100g) $5.95
============================= =======   ============================= =======
TOTAL (10×4oz ~~ 1134g) $82.00   TOTAL (12×100g ~~ 42.3 oz) $83.55

Shipping (based on the amount) would be free with Adagio. Shipping would be just about $10 with Stash, but there would be a free gift (last time it was a mug). I think, even with the shipping, Stash is the better value, and seems to have the wider selection. Adagio has cooler containers.

Decisions, Decisions…

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We’re Number 2. We Try Harder.

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

No, this isn’t about Avis.

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that a battle is (ahem) brewing for the Number 2 position behind Starborg, oops, Starbucks, which has 11,000 stores. Battling for 2nd place are Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, with over 400 stores; Peet’s Coffee & Tea Inc. of Emeryville, Calif.; Caribou Coffee Co. of Minneapolis; Diedrich Coffee Inc. of Irvine; and franchiser It’s a Grind Inc. of Long Beach.

Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf is working to get its products in Ralphs (owned by Kroger) stores, to battle Starbucks which is in Vons (owned by Safeway). According to the CB&TL Chief Executive Sunny Sassoon (who names their kid “Sunny?”), Coffee Bean is winning customers, even in areas where it is in proximity to Starbucks and other competitors, because the chain’s coffees and teas taste better and its baked goods are fresh. Starbucks sells a mixture of fresh and defrosted baked products.

The article notes that decades ago, Americans gravitated to lightly roasted — often under-roasted — coffee sold primarily under the big labels found in supermarkets such as Folgers and Maxwell House. Starting in the 1970s, chains such as Peet’s and Starbucks popularized dark roast coffee, with a heavy, often burned or toasted flavor that included hints of caramelized sugar. Americans started to associate dark roast with high-quality coffee. However, dark roasting also masks a lot of flaws. Ask anyone who drinks Starbucks 🙂 CB&TL roasts lighter.

M’self, I don’t like Starbucks because their tea selection is limited to the Tazo stuff, and they don’t have Darjeeling. CB&TL, as well as Peet’s both have decent selections of tea and don’t make tea drinkers into second class citizens.

You’re probably asking yourself: So where does cahwyguy go when he buys tea out. The answer is simple: Barclays Coffee and Tea in Northridge, a few blocks from my house. Individual owned, and caring about their customers. For mail order, Stash and Adagio.

And with that, lunch is over, and so I shall turn to my mug of Adagio Darjeeling #22.

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