Mint Medley

Backlog – I had a cup of this yesterday at my graduation! Yay I am finally done! It feels good but also weird..I don’t think reality has fully hit me yet either, so I imagine when it does, I will be freaked out that I’m not going back to school. But yes, it was a decent day, the weather cooperated and was sunny all day. Happy I could have at least one cup of this, I also took a tea bag of the green tea they had, but didn’t get a chance to make it. Oh well, I find mint bagged teas to be a safe bet at public events, and this one was not bad. Fresh and calming on a busy day. I steeped it for probably around 5 minutes or less, and carried it around campus until it was done haha.

Oh! I also had a random loose leaf rooibos at dinner in some authentic ‘blueberry tea’ as a dessert. They brewed it in the same gravity steeper I have, as my parents got mine at that restaurant for Christmas. So that was pretty neat, although I have no idea how long it steeped for and I think they massively overleafed. It still tasted good anyways, and I don’t feel like making a tasting note for an unknown rooibos, so I’ll put it in this note.

ETA – I also should add a thanks to everyone on Steepster and to tea in general. Tea was an integral part to my success this year, it kept me sane and healthier, and less stressed :) and reading all your tasting notes helped me discover more teas this year and as a result, I rarely drink alcohol anymore and just enjoy tea that much more. This really helped my studies as I wasn’t going out and instead would just relax at home when I could with a cup of tea. Thanks everyone for your contribution to me getting my degree, and I appreciate all your notes and support!!

The beginning of the semester always leaves me feeling like I was hit by a truck. The new students are so needy! When I got home, I actually said to my dog, “Let’s see how I can help you!” like I said to the students all day! Argh! It was definitely a lazy tea bag night. My throat hurts from so much talking and my stomach is in a knot, so I thought a mint tea with some honey would be super soothing. Ahhhh, it is.

I have no idea how old this is but I suspect several years. It was given to me. Steeped in a small cup to see if it survived. At first I thought it was too far gone but as it cooled the peppermint came through nicely. Really not getting the spearmint but I prefer it that way. The rosehips and hibiscus give the cup color and only the slightest touch of tart. It would be interesting to know how this tastes fresh. I probably would not buy a box but will definitely finish this one.

While at the movies I also got a small cup of the bagged tea they sell there. I used to drink this all the time when I worked at the theatre during opening; I’d load it with three or four of the prepackaged things of cream and sip at it to gently wake myself up.

This time, I had it plain – but it was still a good, solid straight mint tea regardless of the fact it’s bagged.

Wow, I haven’t logged this one in a really, really long time. The tea itself still tastes very fresh despite being so old. I have been feeling really terrible since yesterday and this is the first tea I’ve had in probably two days because I was worried about strong flavors. This is perfect for today though as I’m trying to get some more liquid in my system. It is minty, fresh, and very soothing.

Needed a quick cup of something minty and in a bag and this is what I found…yesterday…back logging…see other notes on this one

Hmm, this is pretty mediocre at best. I’m not a fan of spearmint in anything other than gum. So, this basically just tastes like liquid gum to me. The good news? I can’t detect any hibiscus!

It isn’t horrible for a bagged tea, but it’s not something that I really want to drink either. Oh well. I didn’t have high expectations for this one anyway.

I’m still feeling like crap, so excuse me while I rant for a second.

Why, in the name of all that is holy, are there ROSEHIPS AND HIBISCUS IN A MINT BLEND??!?!?! This makes me want to smash things. Instead of a nice refreshing mint tea I get a hint of mint followed by that ridiculously awful rosehips/hibiscus/red flavor. UGHHHHHH.

Is this a sophisticate’s dream tea; a connoisseur’s complicated cup? No. But the title is alliterative, and it’s damn easy to prepare. Both desired traits in a sniffly writer. This is my go-to “Sniffles Blend”. In fact, if I had a vote, I would call it Sniffles Blend. However, Mint Medley sounds much prettier. It has all the lemoniness, mintiness and awesomeness to help me BREATHE again. And it tastes good. I am forever a fan, snobbery be damned.

Mint teas always make me slow down…maybe it’s because I can’t help but stop and breathe the steam; deep cleansing breaths. I need to take several today for various and sundry reasons.

Dry bag smells just like a stick of Wrigley’s. It’s heavy on the spearmint side, no bitterness. Yep, chewing gum in a cup.