Last night I was heading into my bed to read before sleeping, when I absolutely had to have a cup of tea to take with me. Now, sometimes I thinking about it before hand and make a cup of tea to drink while I read while I’m getting ready to shut down for the night and head into the bedroom. But no, last night I already had the lights off, the heat lowered, the computers sleeping, book, cel phone, and water in hand, heading into the bedroom, when I realized I had to have tea, that I would be preoccupied wanting tea while I read if I did not make some. So I put down my stuff and headed back into the kitchen, prepared to out of bed a bit longer while I made tea.
This brings me to a problem I keeping meaning to query my fellow Steepsterians about. What do you drink when you want tea late at night?
I’m talking 9/10pm when you’ll likely only drink a cup or two. I don’t want to drink a black tea because even though I’ll occasionally have one while making dinner, with dinner, or right after dinner, it’s just too late to have one that late. I don’t want a green or white tea because I’m likely to drink only one cup and feel like I’m wasting the multiple steeps I could have had from those leaves and I personally am not comfortable leaving wet tea leaves over night. Which leaves me with herbals. I like rooibos but I’m low on it and often don’t feel like it that late at night. I tend not to like chamomile straight or in blends where it’s a dominate taste, but I don’t mind being able to taste it in blends so long as it isn’t the strongest flavor. I don’t mind hibiscus cause I like tart things so I wouldn’t avoid it but I wouldn’t go out of my way to find it either. So far I’ve had a hard time finding non-rooibos herbals that I like and want to drink, not just this is okay and I can finish the box/tin ones.
So part two of my query, Steepsterians, is to ask for your herbal recommendations. I will also take good rooibos recommendations, since not many of you drink it, and I’m open to them, but I’m looking for mainly herbals to consider.
Now back to my regularly scheduled late night tea story. Barbara, my mom, brought back a ton of teas from the Celestrial Seasonings plant in Denver, CO, when my dad, my sister, and she were visiting my sister’s boyfriend who was stationed there with the Air Force. One box that she gave me was a sampler of their fruity herbals.
As someone who also readings “junk food” romances, I’m also embarrassed to admit that I kind of like these teas. I enjoy fruity teas and herbals, when I’m in the mood for one. And while these aren’t as good as others I’ve had, they are decent and I don’t mind the tartness from the hibiscus.
I did steep this tea less than the recommended four to six minutes and with water below boiling. It could probably be steeped less time and with cooler water. It was still a dark purple-red. It tasted fruity and tart with a general berryness. It filled my late night need for tea.
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Question 1: I just take whatever. I typically don’t pay attention to caffeine content and the like so I just take whatever I’m in the mood for. I haven’t even developed any specific habits about preferrring a particular type at a particular time of day. Lately I’ve had difficulties getting to bed at a proper time which is a bad thing when you have to be out of the door by 6.10 in the morning, so I’ve tried to teach myself that tea is off limits after 8. Not going so well, though.
I’ll skip question 2, because I don’t drink herbals at all unless I’m ill. I’m just not that interested in them at all.
…How’s that for unhelpful answers?
1. I’m in an experimental tea period so I don’t have a particular night tea
however, 2. I find that I like Harney & son’s Lemon Herbal but at the risk of sounding redundant, you do have to like lemons. I’ve not had the chance to try many other herbals & tisanes, yet.
I like Strawberry Lemonade from Teavana – it’s a nice tisane with no caffiene. As far rooibos – I’m only a fan if it’s a background flavor, because I don’t like the woody-ness of it in the foreground. And two that I like are Carrot Cake by Tea Guys and the much vaunted Caramelized Pear by Art of Tea. both of these don’t have the rooibos coming out and grabbing you – which I consider a bonus.
I also like Sleepytime Vanilla by CC- because I don’t like chamomile, and the vanilla in that cuts it down and makes it creamy and smooth.
I have some of the same concerns as you!! I’ve been enjoying this late at night:
http://steepster.com/teas/tazo/1926-vanilla-rooibos
It’s not super rooibos-y – the rooibos just lends it some depth. I think it tastes like an herbal apple pie :)
…but I would like some variety so I’ll be watching the answers you get closely :)
I tend to go for herbals, or at least try to. I’m working on expanding that section of my tea collection so I have more choice. Right now I have green rooibos (which I enjoy) and a decaf muscat black tea (also good), both from Lupicia. It’s hard for me to find good herbals that I like, so I am still on the hunt. The MF Rouge Ruschka I had at lunch I think is a good one, too.
I know teaplz is conscious of caffeine consumption so maybe she’ll chime in with some good ideas.
(I would just like to clarify that I mean Mariage Freres Rouge Ruschka…)
1) I don’t do anything with caffeine after dinner, so I’m limited to herbals.
2) The ones I reach for most often are Adagio’s Chamomile (sorry, can’t be a help there!), Celestial Seasonings’ Sweet Apple Chamomile and Tension Tamer, and herb + ginger’s Bollywood Star. I also echo wombatgirl on Teavana’s Strawberry Lemonade, and I hate rooibos but Rishi’s Blueberry Rooibos is AWESOME.
1) I’ve been trying to stick to greens and herbals after dinner, but with all the new black flavored teas I’ve been picking up I don’t always follow this.
2) I love orange herbals at night. Two I’ve tried lately are both from Teavana (only store near me that has loose leaf): Tarocco Ruby Orange and Wild Orange Blossom. The tarocco Ruby Orange is more hibiscus-y and has a bit more bite to it, where the blossom is calm and less tangy. I don’t enjoy chamomile either, unless I’m really sick but then I’d rather grab mint tea.
1. after 6 pm i switch to herbal or red 2. Azteca Fire-Teavana, Passion-Tazo, Vanilla Rooibos-Tazo,
I’m usually up late anyway doing homework, so I tend to drink just about anything. I don’t have many herbal teas on hand, so if I really want to get some sleep, I just have to sit through my tea cravings. Sad.
However, I do have one herbal tea that I love and is perfect before sleeping…Comforting Tea by Aveda. Ohmahgaw, so yummy.
Whoa! Comments! The Steepsterians have come through.
Angrboda ~ Suitably unhelpful.
Lauren ~ I do like lemons. I’ve noted it on my Shopping List.
wombatgirl ~ Strawberry Lemonade and Carrot Cake noted on the Shopping List. Carmelized Pear was already on there. Lemonade I have to be in the mood for. The husband is a big fan though. I like carrot cake but have a hard time imagining how it translates into a tea. Barbara also brought back Extra Vanilla Sleepytime from the Celestial Seasonings plant so I’ve had it at her place in the evening. Good enough, but not anything I’d crave drinking.
JacquelineM ~ I guess I’m not the only one. =) I’ve had a Tazo sampler pack but I can’t remember the Vanilla Rooibos though I’ve had vanilla rooibos from other companies and enjoyed them.
Auggy ~ I’ll be keeping a closer eye on your tealogs for herbals. The Rouge Ruschka sounds yum and has also been Shopping Listed.
teaplz, please chime in with your herbally knowledge!
Bethany ~ Barbara also gave me an apple chamomile tea recently, I think it’s Twinings though. Neither the husband or I liked it but I will give it one more try. Then it’s going back to Barbara’s. Not sure about the Tension Tamer, lots of ingredients, including catnip! Might also prove too irresistible to the cats. I can’t imagine what the Bollywood Star would taste like from the ingredient list but I added it to the Shopping List cause I liked the company’s name. I love blueberries so you know that one got added!
Meghann ~ I used to love Wild Orange Blossom, back before I drank mostly loose teas. I remember taking a box of it to leave at the husband’s when we were dating long distance. Good nostalgia, thanks. Ruby Orange went right on the Shopping List cause I love oranges too. Oddly chamomile can sometimes make my stomach feel sick, not better. Mint teas are growing on me, I used to hate them.
Amazon ~ I remember liking Passion too. I’m going to say that I don’t think the Azteca Fire sounds like my cup of tea.
Shanti ~ As in Aveda, of Rosemary Mint shampoo fame? Neat. It is! I can tell from the labeling. On to the Shopping List.
Okay, that was totally fun browsing all the teas you guys suggested. I should add that I use my Shopping List more of as a ‘hmm, that one sounds good, I’d consider trying it’ then a literal To Buy list.
Crap @ no edit. I meant to bold.
That may have just won the record for longest comment on a log ever. Well done!
Late to this party, but my current night herbal/rooibos rotation includes:
Samovar | Ocean of Wisdom, Orange Ginger, Wei Chi Cha and Cinnamon Stonefruit [the last two contain hibiscus, though you did mention you don’t mind it]
Art of Tea | Caramelized Pear
And I do enjoy Rishi’s Blueberry Rooibos every now and then, though it’s very heavy on the blueberry and I can’t drink it too often because of that. I may be forgetting some, but those are what come to mind.
Yeah. lol It is long. I commented as I browse the teas. Yours will be short. =)
Ocean on Wisdom – already on SL. Orange Ginger – added to SL. Wei Chi Cha – not sure about that one. Cinnamon Stonefruit – added to SL.
See? Short. But special. =) (Or I’m loopy at night.)
I honestly like black teas late into my evening. I am a sort of night owl when at home dreading that the night will end and I am forced to face my job at the end of a cold pier… all good coffee and tea a fond memory. LOL
Question 1: I just take whatever. I typically don’t pay attention to caffeine content and the like so I just take whatever I’m in the mood for. I haven’t even developed any specific habits about preferrring a particular type at a particular time of day. Lately I’ve had difficulties getting to bed at a proper time which is a bad thing when you have to be out of the door by 6.10 in the morning, so I’ve tried to teach myself that tea is off limits after 8. Not going so well, though.
I’ll skip question 2, because I don’t drink herbals at all unless I’m ill. I’m just not that interested in them at all.
…How’s that for unhelpful answers?
1. I’m in an experimental tea period so I don’t have a particular night tea
however, 2. I find that I like Harney & son’s Lemon Herbal but at the risk of sounding redundant, you do have to like lemons. I’ve not had the chance to try many other herbals & tisanes, yet.
I like Strawberry Lemonade from Teavana – it’s a nice tisane with no caffiene. As far rooibos – I’m only a fan if it’s a background flavor, because I don’t like the woody-ness of it in the foreground. And two that I like are Carrot Cake by Tea Guys and the much vaunted Caramelized Pear by Art of Tea. both of these don’t have the rooibos coming out and grabbing you – which I consider a bonus.
I also like Sleepytime Vanilla by CC- because I don’t like chamomile, and the vanilla in that cuts it down and makes it creamy and smooth.
I have some of the same concerns as you!! I’ve been enjoying this late at night:
http://steepster.com/teas/tazo/1926-vanilla-rooibos
It’s not super rooibos-y – the rooibos just lends it some depth. I think it tastes like an herbal apple pie :)
…but I would like some variety so I’ll be watching the answers you get closely :)
I tend to go for herbals, or at least try to. I’m working on expanding that section of my tea collection so I have more choice. Right now I have green rooibos (which I enjoy) and a decaf muscat black tea (also good), both from Lupicia. It’s hard for me to find good herbals that I like, so I am still on the hunt. The MF Rouge Ruschka I had at lunch I think is a good one, too.
I know teaplz is conscious of caffeine consumption so maybe she’ll chime in with some good ideas.
(I would just like to clarify that I mean Mariage Freres Rouge Ruschka…)
1) I don’t do anything with caffeine after dinner, so I’m limited to herbals.
2) The ones I reach for most often are Adagio’s Chamomile (sorry, can’t be a help there!), Celestial Seasonings’ Sweet Apple Chamomile and Tension Tamer, and herb + ginger’s Bollywood Star. I also echo wombatgirl on Teavana’s Strawberry Lemonade, and I hate rooibos but Rishi’s Blueberry Rooibos is AWESOME.
1) I’ve been trying to stick to greens and herbals after dinner, but with all the new black flavored teas I’ve been picking up I don’t always follow this.
2) I love orange herbals at night. Two I’ve tried lately are both from Teavana (only store near me that has loose leaf): Tarocco Ruby Orange and Wild Orange Blossom. The tarocco Ruby Orange is more hibiscus-y and has a bit more bite to it, where the blossom is calm and less tangy. I don’t enjoy chamomile either, unless I’m really sick but then I’d rather grab mint tea.
1. after 6 pm i switch to herbal or red 2. Azteca Fire-Teavana, Passion-Tazo, Vanilla Rooibos-Tazo,
I’m usually up late anyway doing homework, so I tend to drink just about anything. I don’t have many herbal teas on hand, so if I really want to get some sleep, I just have to sit through my tea cravings. Sad.
However, I do have one herbal tea that I love and is perfect before sleeping…Comforting Tea by Aveda. Ohmahgaw, so yummy.
Whoa! Comments! The Steepsterians have come through.
Angrboda ~ Suitably unhelpful.
Lauren ~ I do like lemons. I’ve noted it on my Shopping List.
wombatgirl ~ Strawberry Lemonade and Carrot Cake noted on the Shopping List. Carmelized Pear was already on there. Lemonade I have to be in the mood for. The husband is a big fan though. I like carrot cake but have a hard time imagining how it translates into a tea. Barbara also brought back Extra Vanilla Sleepytime from the Celestial Seasonings plant so I’ve had it at her place in the evening. Good enough, but not anything I’d crave drinking.
JacquelineM ~ I guess I’m not the only one. =) I’ve had a Tazo sampler pack but I can’t remember the Vanilla Rooibos though I’ve had vanilla rooibos from other companies and enjoyed them.
Auggy ~ I’ll be keeping a closer eye on your tealogs for herbals. The Rouge Ruschka sounds yum and has also been Shopping Listed.
teaplz, please chime in with your herbally knowledge!
Bethany ~ Barbara also gave me an apple chamomile tea recently, I think it’s Twinings though. Neither the husband or I liked it but I will give it one more try. Then it’s going back to Barbara’s. Not sure about the Tension Tamer, lots of ingredients, including catnip! Might also prove too irresistible to the cats. I can’t imagine what the Bollywood Star would taste like from the ingredient list but I added it to the Shopping List cause I liked the company’s name. I love blueberries so you know that one got added!
Meghann ~ I used to love Wild Orange Blossom, back before I drank mostly loose teas. I remember taking a box of it to leave at the husband’s when we were dating long distance. Good nostalgia, thanks. Ruby Orange went right on the Shopping List cause I love oranges too. Oddly chamomile can sometimes make my stomach feel sick, not better. Mint teas are growing on me, I used to hate them.
Amazon ~ I remember liking Passion too. I’m going to say that I don’t think the Azteca Fire sounds like my cup of tea.
Shanti ~ As in Aveda, of Rosemary Mint shampoo fame? Neat. It is! I can tell from the labeling. On to the Shopping List.
Okay, that was totally fun browsing all the teas you guys suggested. I should add that I use my Shopping List more of as a ‘hmm, that one sounds good, I’d consider trying it’ then a literal To Buy list.
Crap @ no edit. I meant to bold.
That may have just won the record for longest comment on a log ever. Well done!
Late to this party, but my current night herbal/rooibos rotation includes:
Samovar | Ocean of Wisdom, Orange Ginger, Wei Chi Cha and Cinnamon Stonefruit [the last two contain hibiscus, though you did mention you don’t mind it]
Art of Tea | Caramelized Pear
And I do enjoy Rishi’s Blueberry Rooibos every now and then, though it’s very heavy on the blueberry and I can’t drink it too often because of that. I may be forgetting some, but those are what come to mind.
Yeah. lol It is long. I commented as I browse the teas. Yours will be short. =)
Ocean on Wisdom – already on SL. Orange Ginger – added to SL. Wei Chi Cha – not sure about that one. Cinnamon Stonefruit – added to SL.
See? Short. But special. =) (Or I’m loopy at night.)
I honestly like black teas late into my evening. I am a sort of night owl when at home dreading that the night will end and I am forced to face my job at the end of a cold pier… all good coffee and tea a fond memory. LOL