#60 - Tazo Apple Tea + Cinnamon + Honey = Heaven

I'm kinda obsessed with tea. It might be an addiction. But I've had a box of Tazo Organic Red Apple Tea for a long time that I just haven't drank. I found the tea to be somewhat bland. Today I doctored it and created a taste of heaven. I can't believe I didn't do this before!!

 

I boiled a stick of cinnamon in a saucepan with 1 cup of water. Then I poured that over the tea bag and let the cinnamon stick stay in the mug with while the tea seeped. The I added about a teaspoon of honey to the drink and sprinkled a little more cinnamon (this time ground) on top before stirring it up. It is delicious! It could be my new favorite chill-out-in-the-evening tea. I was relieved to find out it's caffeine free because it's getting late and I already drank it so there's nothing I could have done about it now! haha! I didn't even think to check that before I started creating heaven in the kitchen.

Not only is this drink delicious, both cinnamon and honey are so good for you. I'll do a blog about the benefits of each of these foods soon. :)

It's so yummy that I just had to make a second cup for my husband who thought about stealing mine!

There's more to this story! As I was typing up this blog, my husband apparently discovered Whole Foods' 365 Organic Wildflower Honey and I heard him eating spoonfuls straight from the jar (such a guy!)...then between bites he says "Oh my gosh! Winnie-the-Pooh had it right!" Hilarious! How can I be mad at him for eating from the jar when he says something like that?!

#43 - Yogi Licorice Mint Tea

Recently I've been having trouble staying asleep at night. I've cut back  my coffee and cut out the soda but still can't seem to stay asleep. Thanks to my FitBit, I know how many times I wake up a night and it's between 20-35 most nights. The average person wakes up only 5-11 times a night, apparently. So I've really been trying to track down things that might affect my sleep.

Yesterday I noticed my current favorite tea (Yogi Mint Vital Energy) has nearly as much caffeine as a cup of coffee. :( So, yeah, that tea is going to become a morning drink only.

 

I picked up a new mint tea to try. This afternoon, I had Yogi Egyptian Licorice Mint tea which is caffeine free. As soon as I opened the package I knew I was going to love this tea. It smells like a Girl Scout Thin Mint cookie!

It doesn't taste like a girl scout cookie but it's still pretty yummy. It's minty with a warm peppery licorice feeling afterwards. :) I have to admit it's not quite as awesome as the Mint Vital Energy but it will do for now since it won't keep me up all night!

#10 - Numi Toasted Rice Green Tea

I forgot to post last night before I went to bed so here's the new thing I tried yesterday. :)

 

January is National Hot Tea Month!

My lovely labmate brought me a new tea to try. I don't generally drink green tea though I know it's so healthy! I just don't like the taste of it. I'm more of an herbal tea girl. Yesterday I tried Numi Toasted Rice Green Tea. For a green tea, it was pretty good. If you actually like green tea a lot you would probably love this tea. It was a nutty tea and definitely smelled of rice. I think I would have enjoyed the tea much more had I drank it with a meal instead of by itself. I still don't like green tea but it this one was drinkable and it was definitely worth trying. :)

#4 - January is National Tea Month and Numi Chocolate Tea

Why is January National Tea Month? Because it's stinking cold outside?! Actually I couldn't find the true reason January is national tea month but being so cold outside is good enough reason for me. I decided it would be more fun to try new teas rather than read about tea.

This one is a chocolate tea from Numi that happened to have a coupon next to it at Whole Foods. Chocolate plus a coupon to try it...need I say more? Here's what Numi has to say about their Chocolate pu-erh tea: "This velvety infusion combines black Pu-erh tea and organic cocoa. Accented by whole vanilla beans and sweet orange peel, this decadent blend is rounded off with nutmeg and cinnamon for a spicy finish."  For more about Numi teas, click here.

This tea was pretty good even without the addition of sugar or milk. However, it wasn't as chocolatey as I was hoping. I might add some cocoa and warm milk to my cup next time I brew it. :) Anyone love this tea prepared a certain way? What's your favorite way to prepare this tea?

P.S. Check out my favorite mug above which is beginning to show some wear but has been with me for over 10 years now!...Here's a little shout out to my alma mater Berea College!) Someday when I replace my beloved Berea College mug, this would be an adorable replacement. :) I love this little leather wrapped mason jar mug from MSTRCKLN on Etsy and then of course, I love supporting other Etsy shops. (click the photo to go to the shop where it's for sale)