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 July 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!

Sweet tea in the summer

Last Friday, Taylor Swift surprised everyone by dropping her eight album, folkore, which she wrote and recorded remotely in quarantine. What a fantastic record! This cardigan-loving and storytelling nerd LOVED the dreamy music--I listened to the tracks for countless hours over the weekend.

folklore listening T party: My brown betty serving Geek+Tea's Comfy cardigan--an apple cinnamon rooibos that matched the record's strong autumn mood!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Our province has been slowly re-opening businesses this month, including tearooms, this month. But I don't feel comfortable dining (indoors or outdoors) any time soon. So I've been enjoying tea time at home.

July Zoom Tea #1: Geek+Tea's Honey Bee rooibos with mini Chips Ahoy!

July Zoom Tea #2:  Ahmad Tea's Mango Lychee green tea

Social Circle Tea with my parents: Lemon Blueberry Earl Grey Cake (by La Rocca) and Honey Bee rooibos. 

Screenshot of Taylor Swift - seven (Official Lyric Video) 

Did July bring any happy surprises for you?

Matcha and Earl Grey Ice Cream

Did you know that July is National Ice Cream Month?

What's inside my freezer: Earl Grey and matcha ice cream by artisanal and supermarket brands.

Last Sunday was National Ice Cream Day (third Sunday of July) and I had the KitKat Matcha Green Tea ice cream. I liked the matcha green tea ice cream, but the chocolate pieces didn't taste like Kit Kat to me.

Matcha Green Tea by Haagen-Dasz

Meiji's tasty Matcha Latte Ice Bar (all the way from Taiwan!) contains with tiny mochi (rice cake) cubes.

Taken in 2018

My all-time favourite Matcha ice cream is by Foundry Ice Cream, a local small business that produces ice cream is small batches. I've been rationing my last pint because I don't know when the Matcha ice cream will be available again!

I was sad when I finished my last pint of Foundry Ice Cream's London Fog ice cream.

Fortunately, I can still satisfy my craving for Earl Grey ice cream with Righteous Gelato's Earl Grey Lavender London Fog. This yummy gelato is soooo creamy and tastes like a frozen London Fog!

What's your favourite ice cream flavour?