2020 Wrap-up

 We've made it to the end of this loooong and difficult year!

Thank you for your visits and comments throughout 2020! The pandemic would have been much harder without your friendships.

 

Drink What You Own Advent Calendar: Days 21-24

One of my 2020 tea goals was to support small Canadian tea businesses. Nearly all of my tea hauls this year were from my favourite local tea companies.

Spring: Tea at the White House, Geek+Tea, Dessert by Deb, Monarch Tea Co.

Summer: Blair Elements, Blue Mountain Tea Co., Tea Amo, DavidsTea, Tealise

Fall: Monarch Tea Co., Tea Sante, Tea at the White House, Dessert by Deb, DavidsTea

Holidays: Celestial Seasonings, Plan de Vida, Geek+Tea

Other seasonal hauls (not featured): Clearview Tea Co., Tea Amo, T by Daniel, DavidsTea, Dessert by Deb 

My primary pandemic coping strategy was drinking lots of TEA!

 

Tea empties: January to June

 

 

Tea empties: July to November

 

 

May 2021 bring better days!

Please join me next week when I celebrate my 6-year-blogiversary. You don't want to miss out on my fun giveaway!

Festive teawares and teas

Only 4 sleeps left until Christmas!

Christmas celebrations are different this year, but at least I can still enjoy my Advent and other seasonal teas this month.

 

Some holiday whimsy: Teapots with Santas, Christmas trees, ornaments, and foxes.

 

 

My vintage poinsettia teawares.

 

One of my favourite holiday teas: Gingerbread Pear Cake green tea by Clearview Tea Co. I love this blend so much that I bought two (2) 80g bags!

Drink what you own Advent calendar: Days 13-20

 

My last tea haul before Christmas: Geek+Tea's delicious holiday teas (I love the beautiful labels!).

 

Wishing you joy and hope this Christmas!

Holiday Teas: Peppermint Edition

 'Tis the season for peppermint teas!

This week, I'm sharing the delicious candy cane and chocolate mint teas that I've been enjoying this month.

Celestial Seasonings' Candy Cane Lane is one of my all-time favourite holiday teas. A friend surprised me with a case (6 boxes!!!) so I now have a Candy Cane WALL!

 

 

Dessert by Deb: Minty Matcha Meringues green tea.

 

Tea at the White House: Candy Cane black tea.

DavidsTea: Santa's Secret black tea (top) and Candy Cane Crush black tea (bottom).

Maisonette: Mint Chocolate black tea.

Dessert by Deb: Peppermint Patty black tea (top) and Mint Chip Cookie rooibos (bottom).

T by Daniel: Cocoa Mint Mirage rooibos.

My latest haul included Candy Cane Hot Chocolate and Evergreen (chocolate peppermint green tea) from Plan de Vida.

No matter how cold it gets outside, I must have my Candy Cane with Chocolate Fudge Crackle ice cream!

 

Days 1-12 of my drink what you own tea Advent calendar.

 

Do you have a favourite peppermint tea or treat?

2020 Tea-Themed Trees

Raise your hand if you put up your Christmas decorations super early this year.

My tea-themed tree was up by mid-November.

 

The festive ornaments boost the happy hormones!

2019 Hallmark ornaments scored at post-holiday sales (another lifetime ago!).

 

2020 Hallmark Ornaments

I don't like paying full price for pricey ornaments. But there are no rules in 2020 so I got these ornaments back in October.

Tea mugs with rustic vibes from Canadian Tire.

"You're my cup of tea" porcelain ornament from Tea with Tracie.

When you can't hug your loved ones during a global pandemic: 

"A cup of tea is like a warm hug from your family".

 

I also have a tabletop tree decorated with old teabags.

 

Staying snug and cozy inside.

"Everything will be all right. We have tea."

Five on November

We made it to the end of November!

 

1. I was delighted when my African violets bloomed again this month.

 

 

2. My haul from my first visit to the Dollar Tree since March.

  

3. I've been watching as many Hallmark Christmas movies as possible during my free preview of the W Network. So these cute socks from my friend are perfect!

 

 

4. My November empties

 

Oldest (2017?): The Michigana and Magical Motown teabags by The Rendezvous with Tea.

Newest (November 2020): Strawberry Rhubarb Parfait herbal tea by DavidsTea.

5. My DIY Tea Advent Calendar. 

I found the HUGE stocking at HomeSense a few years ago and filled the pockets with teas that I already own.

It seems like every tea company has their own 12 or 24 Days of Tea calendars. Tea with Jann did a 25-minute video listing all the tea Advent calendars that she found online.

 

Let the countdown to Christmas begin!

In search of holiday teas

Christmas won't be Christmas without any Celestial Seasonings holiday teas.

When my local Bulk Barn store didn't get the Celestial Seasonings holiday teas this year, I scoured the internet to find a Canadian company that sold them online. 

In September (!), I bought one (1) box of Candy Cane Lane at Well.ca. 

Then last month, I found Sugar Plum Spice, Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride, and Candy Cane Lane at London Drugs. I was worried that they'd sell out so I paid full price ($4.49 CDN - NO REGRETS!), and purchased two (2) boxes each to maximize the shipping costs. They're currently on sale: $3.49 CDN each or Buy 2 or more for $3 each.

I'm now well-stocked on these classic holiday teas for two (2) Christmas seasons!

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I've been preparing for the looooong pandemic winter by stocking up on teas from my favourite local tea companies. I'll be sharing these teas throughout the holiday and winter season.

Dessert By Deb specializes in dessert-themed teas. My friend Deb recently released her Holiday Cookie Party Collection, as well as some super cute tea tins and gift sets. 

If you subscribe to her weekly e-newsletters, you'll receive promo offers and deals (e.g., free shipping with $50 purchase + bonus goodies). I can't wait to receive my sticker-adorned package!

Geek + Tea specializes in geeky and fandom teas. Aly grows and blends the organic teas on her herb and flower farm called Holly Frost Farm.

Monarch Tea Co.'s holiday tea line includes teas, tea-infused candles, gift sets, and a cozy crew neck sweater.

T by Daniel recently released a limited edition luxury teabag collection. The black and gold tea canisters are beautiful and the pyramid sachets are 100% biodegradable. I'm excited to try the new teas, and restock on a fave--the Almond Cookie Crumble black tea.

Three of the teabags sold out quickly on T by Daniel's website, but you can still get them on Well.ca (which offers free shipping with $35+ purchase).

Tea Amo has gifts for all tea lovers: teas, teapots, teacups, infusers, treats, earrings, and tea-infused perfume oil. If you're lucky enough to live in the Greater Hamilton Area, Heather and Marian will hand deliver At Home Tea Afternoon Boxes to your house!

Tea at the White House (TWH) offers teas (loose or tea bags), teawares, teapot masks, tea-inspired candles, and treats (e.g., Buckingham Palace Collection biscuits). 

TWH recently won the well-deserved Readers' Choice Platinum Award for: Atmosphere, Desserts, Business that Gives Back to the Community, and Grocery Pick-up and Delivery.

TWH's tearoom is currently closed, but the tea shop is opened for retail sales with extended holiday hours (11 am to 7 pm, Friday & Saturday).

 

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This post is not sponsored. I work hard for my money and like to support small tea businesses that offer unique and delicious teas, and exceptional customer service!

Cozy tea-inspired candles

We're heading into the dark days of winter. Fortunately, I'm well equipped with my cache of cozy tea-inspired candles which I've accumulated over the last several years!

Bath and Body Works candles (left to right): London Calling (smells like lemon tea!); White Tea & Ginger; and Blackberry Tea Leaf (doesn't really smell like tea, but the bear holding a cup is cute!).

Yankee Candle's White Tea

Clintons' Green Tea & Bergamot tinned candle

 

Tea at the White House: Cream Earl Grey and Scones & Jam candles

Crown Point tea-infused candles: Monarch Tea Co.'s Cream Earl Grey and Chai.

  

“All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.” - St. Francis Of Assisi