Tea Hauls: Monarch Tea Co. and Tea Sante

Last week's happy mail brought in some fall teas. Hooray!

It was Monarch Tea Co.'s super cute sweatshirt that made me break my 70-day tea buying ban streak! My purchase also included 2 black teas (1 maple, 1 pumpkin), and a free sample of a Cream Earl Grey. 

I took advantage of Tea Sante's Labour Day Sale (the 20% discount covered most of the shipping) to try some of their teas (left to right): Citrus Green Apple green tea; Pomegranate Vanilla black tea; Cardamom black tea; Vanilla Cream black tea.

I don't go out much, and yet I keep buying online these adorable tea-themed cloth masks!

Fall has arrived in my corner of the valley

It's September so my orangy-yellow and brown teawares are now on display!

This adorable Kaldun & Bogle pumpkin teapot was gifted to me years ago.

My brown betty with vintage Johnson Brothers brown transferwares and a Windsor China teacup.

My lusterwares: The peach teacups are Fire King, while the teapot and and sugar were Made in Japan.

Updated August sipdown

After last week's post was published, I realized that I forgot to include the Mango & Lychee Souffle green tea in my August sipdown.

On Day 70, I broke my tea buying ban. So I now have 6 fall teas (from 2 different companies) heading my way!

Summer Teas: Oranges and Peaches Edition

August just slipped away, so it's time to wrap up my summer teas series! 

At the beginning of the summer, I was obsessed with the orange creamsicle flavour profile.

Orange Tea #1: Dessert by Deb's Orange Ginger Shortbread Rooibos Tea (cold and hot)

Orange Tea #2: Dessert by Deb's Orange Creamsicle Mousse Rooibos Tea (hot and cold)

Orange Tea #3: Løv is Zen is a lovely rooibos blend of orange and caramel.

This month, I also leaned into my favourite summer fruit tea: PEACH!

Peach Tea #1: Tealise's Peach Melba herbal tea made a great iced tea!

Peach Tea #2: Stay Young, Go Dancing with Monarch Tea Co.'s peach ginger black tea.

Peach Tea #3: Tea at the White House's Peaches and Cream Oolong (hot and cold)

August sipdowns

 My tea empties for this month.

Oldest (2017?): Taylor's of Harrogate's Rose Lemonade herbal infusion (pink teabag wrapper)

Newest (June 2020): Tealise's Pina Colada black tea

***Tea Buying Ban Update***

I've gone over 2 months without purchasing a new tea. Woo-hoo! Now that there's space again in my tea cabinet, I can treat myself to some fall teas that are being launching in September. Bring on the cozy fall season!

A yellow Paragon teacup

I guess that one of the upsides of spending so much time at home this year is that I got to use my tea pretties more often!

This stunning yellow teacup was given to me by a work acquaintance many years ago.

I LOVE the gold filigree and red rose inside the cup and saucer.

The backstamp: Paragon is one of my favourite teacup makers.

What's your favourite china maker?

Summer Teas: Tropical Edition

The closest that I'll get to a tropical vacation these days is by sipping some refreshing mango or coconut teas!

Left: Organic Mango Green Tea by Touch Organic

Right: Summerhill is a mango black tea blend by Clearview Tea.

Ahmad Tea's delicious Mango & Lychee Souffle green tea served hot (left) and cold (right).

Dessert by Deb's Matcha Cream Puff green tea had a nice light coconut flavour.

Left: Coconut Crunch Oolong by Tea at the White House

Right: Coconut Milk Oolong by Blue Mountain Tea Co

 

Tealise's Pina Colada black tea

 Blair Elements' Coconut Almond black tea

Coconut ice cream topped with crushed pineapple.

Thank you, Maristella, for the suggestion!

Pandemic fashion: Tea shirts & masks

I can't believe that I've been working from home for nearly half the year! When every day is casual Friday, you dress up in comfy tea shirts for work.

I scored this super cute purple Tea Rex shirt for only $5 at Bluenotes years ago.

Tea Time by Tea Life Brand

Flower Cup by Tea Life Brand

Both these shirts were purchased at the 2017 RBG Tea Festival.

I found this Feet up, Kettle On shirt at Mountain Warehouse's end-of-the-summer clearance sale last year. It's quick drying and provides sun protection (UPF50+).

My latest tee acquisition (June 2020 online purchase): This Matcha tee was part of Uniqlo's The Brands Tea Time UT graphic tee.

I also couldn't resist buying this fun Tea by Laduree from Uniqlo.

Of course, I have to mask up tea-themed style!
I ordered these tea-lightful masks from Prim Pickins' Etsy store.

What's your fashion style these days?

Summer Teas: Cherries & Berries Edition

It's August which means it's peak season for sipping fruit teas!

Top: Cherry Bomb black tea (Geek+Tea)

Bottom: Sakura Blossom Jelly green tea (Dessert by Deb)

Tea at the White House's Hope Blend is a delicious Earl Grey with strawberries.

Clearview Tea's Martha's Vineyard black tea is a tasty blend of strawberries and peaches.

The Peddlar's Strawberry Oolong made a great hot and iced tea!

Clearview Tea's Garden of Eden Oolong is a lovely blend of berries and mango.

Look at the size of the raspberries and strawberries in Tea at the White House's Very Berry White Tea!

My June tea empties

Oldest (from 2013; yellow post-it note): Jasmine Dragon Pearl Tea that my cousin brought back from China in 2013 (I only opened the package this year though so it was still fresh).

Newest (June 2020): Tealise's Peach Melba herbal tea

I'm also proud to share that I haven't purchased any new teas in nearly 6 weeks. Woo-hoo!