Irish Breakfast Tea

Ahhh, my first tea in my little foray into the world of teas! I actually chose this one to be my first because I tend to feel connected to the bit of Irish blood running through my veins. I don't know what it is but it always happens.

Looks:

Now this little tea, looks like a bunch of little black leaves and stems dried and crushed.

How I made it ... should be the same for all teas :)

I made the tea like normal first - steeping a teaspoon in boiling water for 3 minutes. I always want to give the tea a chance by making it the way it is called for - then sweetening it and steeping it longer. I also tend to leave my tea bag in the water until the last couple of swallows.

Taste:

The first warm taste was mostly the taste of warm water but with a hint of something - something mild and soft, for lack of a better description. Far from unpleasant.

I added a teaspoon of sugar and the mild, soft taste increased.

The taste increased as I allowed it to steep longer.

Overall an enjoyable tea :)

Later I will have to research it to find out about it's make up.

The Journey Begins

This particular blog has come into existence due to my fascination with teas and other herbal drinks and infusions. I've always loved a multitude of teas, even though the tea of my heart will always remain the very particularly sweet tea of the South. One can't help the way they were raised :) Though, I have come to appreciate many different teas through my travels in the military. Many I had no idea what they were, I simply drank and enjoyed.

This past weekend though I was visiting my favorite little herb shop where one may buy dried herbs and such in bulk. I absolutely adore this little shop down in Little Five Points (or Little Five as it is commonly known in the Atlanta area). So many colorful people, such wonderful green choices, just a glorious little atmosphere I could definitely get lost in for hours if someone (DH ;-) ) would allow me to! Anyone who knows me knows I love to get lost in both book stores and libraries alike or could live in a theatre (not a movie theatre mind you!). Well, this little shop is a little combination of many of the things I love ... it is part grocery store, book store, cafe, herbal shop, community education, rallying, and outreach, and there are even speakers that come to speak on or demonstrate on a variety of health related topics.... all of that contained in one little bitty store. I so wish I lived closer to it. I would certainly take part in it's co-op.

But anyway, a bit off topic ... so I was visiting my favorite little herb shop when I noticed at the end of their bulk herb isle they had an entire section dedicated to a multitude of teas. It suddenly hit me, I needed to get a very small scoop of each (enough for several cups of each variety) and start trying each and learning about them. I am now in search of all the teas I really like and those I'd like to, perhaps, not try again. So I have decided to blog my tea journey. I want to remember all the little nuances about each tea, learn about their health benefits, learn about their origins, and so forth. Do I want to drink one on a regular basis? Is one better for at night than in the morning or vise versa? Did any of the children like or dislike them?

Not that anyone would want to go on this journey with me, it is here for the taking all the same :)

Happy sipping!