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Wanted something quick and different, so I grabbed this bag out of the ancient random leftovers I save to spring on my Sunday kids. By ancient, we’re talking several years, so I wasn’t expecting much. The fact that the flavoring hasn’t turned to pure chemicals is notable. None of the three fruits stands out singularly, but together, it’s a nice little fruit punch blend for a spring evening watching the cottonwood snow on the back yard.

My infatuation with GLL has worn off a little since the blend was new, but I’m the fickle one, not the tea. Still right on target with the pastry flavor, but I’ve been pastry-ing for a month (birthday, end-of-year celebrations at work, Mothers’ Day goodies). Something a little less desserty and more citrusy may be what my oversaturated tastebuds need…any suggestions?

Mother’s Day morning started early—woke at 5:00 a.m. for no discernible reason, but it was worth the early start. A basket of goodies was beside my chair, containing a t-shirt bearing the Royal Warrant, cat socks and stickers, and what is likely to be a five-year-supply of Congou.

But that’s OK. I love this stuff.

I stuck my nose in the packet and left it there for a while. Then I made a rich cup, redolent of dark cherries and dried apple, and drank it leisurely in the backyard glider in my old flannel robe watching the birds wake up. Delicious. All of it.

Mamas, happy Mother’s Day. You’re doing just fine and your children are beautiful.

Shared by a coworker and regarded more favorably than when I reviewed it 13 years ago. More mango than Ceylon in this cup, but it’s a pleasant, mindless office-sippy. Wouldn’t be bad on ice.

A well-deserved and long, long, overdue sipdown. There are only hints of lemon left and the rooibos has started to taste barky. But what flavor’s left is in keeping with my Granny’s-tonic-and-detox theme for the week, and I can pretend it’s helping me feel more sprightly.

Tried to do my good deed for the day and update this, and I can’t get the new picture to stick. I realize the company wanted to freshen up the name for marketing purposes, but (sorry) this will always be Pappy’s as far as I’m concerned. Just like your parents who insist on calling a restaurant (hospital, theatrical venue) by its old name, even though it was changed 15 years ago.

The atmospheric adventures are continuing in our neck of the woods…today was our fourth(?) adventure in the tornado shelter in about two weeks. Today’s storm has passed, but the air is still soupy, which kicks up my craving for something cold. A goodly stretch of stress eating has kicked up the need to detox a little, which is where this comes in. There is absolutely no hard science to back it up, says the Internet, but a good dose of sassafras almost always helps me feel less clogged and more perky.

There’s spring rain and then there’s wet, damp, chill-you-inside-out spring rain. The latter was the order of the day. I had to go back out in it after church (volunteer day: kids made a Cinco De Mayo meal at our local Ronald McDonald House) and needed to preheat myself a little.

This fit the bill nicely. Could drink a bathtub-sized mug without a caffeine buzz that will keep me up tonight. Usually with genmaicha, the only thing I notice is the “popcorn,” but this has a nice toasty, grassy green tea base as well. (My first review of the same tea added “spinachy” to the description, but it’s getting a little old; the edge must have worn off a bit.)

(This tea break sponsored by our friend Martin.)There are so many different fruit flavors happening here—papaya, pineapple, strawberry, apricot—it’s a little hard to pick a single one out, but together, they make a cheerful little fruit punch blend. Fruity “mishmash” teas are generally very good iced down. I think I’ll try the rest of the sample that way.

Over the years, I’ve had a few neverending tea tins…leaves that, no matter how much you remove from the tin, seem to replenish themselves in equal measure. This is one of those; no doubt it is nearly as old as a few of you, or was at least around while you were watching the Fairly Oddparents and Kablam. And yet, it remains a decent, if not stellar, Darjeeling. Has lost a little strength, but is still gently fruity. It’s a good office companion—something pleasant to drink when you’re otherwise focused.

Don’t know if you’ve noticed the great big blobs of storms and tornados on national radar this weekend, but said blobs have kept us in clench mode since Friday, with a nice case of Stormus Interruptus about 1 a.m. (All is well; the bad stuff fizzled before it reached us.)

But lack of sleep and need for energy drove me straight to the chocolate this morning—cookie dough protein bar and this decent strawberry tea. The chocolate appears to come from artificial flavoring, which always tastes a little thin and chemically, but the strawberry is just about right. Not a fussy steeper, either, which, given my groggy morning state, was helpful.

Next time, I’ll see if a spoonful of cocoa nibs beefs it up a little.