Friday, August 21, 2009

coffee, tea and a little contest sponsored by me!

well, i was at the market today and ran across one of my all time and difficult to find, favorite teas, celestial seasonings bengal spice. this is such a tasty, spicy herbal tea and although it is in the 90's outside today, it got me thinking. what are your favorite cold weather drinks? as for me, i am a late comer in life to drinking both hot coffee and hot tea, of course, being a southern gal, both coffee and tea(mostly iced) were a constant. i grew up in a household of coffee drinkers, perked, instant and then mr. coffee, but i never liked any of it. i tried to doctor it up, but i still couldn't see what the fuss was about until i hit forty. then something awoke inside me craving hot coffee and hot tea(sushi too, but we won't go there) and i have been on a trip of enlightenment ever since. i thought it would be fun to share we you my readers, all three of you, a few of my favorites. i was thinking if you would leave a comment about what you love to drink when the weather is cool, i would randomly select someone to receive a little package. now, it won't be no honking size package, just a little gift from me to you. it won't be a box of gourmet stuff. i don't drink gourmet stuff, just things i have found and enjoy. also, it won't be some of my stuff. i'll send you new stuff. it may be tea, coffee, cocoa, who knows? let's say we will run this contest for a week, next Friday, the 28th with the winners Saturday morning. make sure there is a way i can contact you in your post. also, i need to keep it confined to the states, 'cause i hate to ship someplace where is might get confiscated. some countries are so picky. i don't want to be responsible for causing the extinction of some rare bird or something. okay, let's do this. enjoy.

p.s. i would like to also thank lauri, my tea sommelier, without her i wouldn't have any favorites.

15 comments:

TeaLady said...

I learned to drink Hot tea living overseas and have never stopped loving it. Today my favorite is Masala Chai, but I love just about every hot tea.

jezinthekitchen said...

I love both coffee and tea, and usually drink both every day. My favorite when it's cold out is a steamy chai latte. I love Celestial Seasonings, but I've never found the Bengal spice in our local grocery stores. Is it like chai? Curious now!

lauri said...

Heh, tea sommelier? I'm not entering the contest, but just chiming in on the love for Bengal Spice! (David Rio Green Passion and my mom's Russian Tea are two other favorite hot drinks.)

Pam said...

I've never tried this brand of tea but it sounds tasty.

I love chai tea, Good Earth Original hot tea and I LOVE a non fat latte with cinnamon and sugar sprinkled on top. It is heavenly!

noble pig said...

I've never seen this blend, sounds good!

Kim said...

I try to avoid using tea bags, but I think that Celestial Seasonings has some good flavors. Herbal tea always tastes too watery to me, though--I'd have to blend it with something like Irish Breakfast.

I've been drinking black tea for about four years now, and absolutely nothing beats it. Made strong with sugar and milk, it's wonderfully warming and makes me feel alert.

But how can I fail to mention creamy, dark hot chocolate and freshly made eggnog, still hot? And I have a special fondness for sahlab--sweetened, spiced milk thickened with corn starch--when it's really frigid outside. All good stuff.

kas1@williams.edu

pieceofmind said...

My favorite cool summer drink is tonic water-by itself (vodka if necessary). And the limonatta canned sparkling lemon water drinks are yummy and refreshing. They're my sodie pop. And when you'e hot and tired and have been outside doing something sweaty, nothing, nothing beats a coconut water. It's nice that now you can buy it in a small carton and actually refrigerate it. But out of the green coconut might be the best of all. AP

Temperance said...

Bengal Spice is my favorite hot tea, honestly pretty much any tea is good, though I have to aquired a taste for the herbal ones. Hot Coco is the best hot drink, even better when I make my own, most mixes are anemic.

For hot weather though you can not beat pink lemonaid.

Dyane said...

Oh, so many! I love Morning Thunder, chai tea, Sleepytime & good old-fashioned coffee with cream & sugar. I never drink more than one or two cups of any of it, but it's the only thing that warms me up on cold winter mornings!

Heidimarie Angulo said...

I like to drink tea-- mostly fruity ones. I'm not a fan of green or black teas, but love white teas. I just got a new teapot and have been waiting for colder weather to start using it!

-Heidi Angulo
h-angulo@hotmail.com

Angie said...

I also love Bengal Spice and have to search it out. Only a few stores in town carry it. Celestial Seasoning Apple Cinnamon is a nice change as well.

Elena C. Wilson said...

Two things: Hot mulled apple cider & pumpkin lattes in a coffee shop when it is cold outside. Even just a little cold.
Elena

mclorijo said...

In the fall I love hot cider. On snowy days hot chocolate ,but I drink coffee daily and hot teas before bed.

Erin said...

I've always been a tea drinker, ever since I was a little girl. I now work in a little tea/coffee shop and have a huge variety of loose-leaf teas to choose from. On a cold day, I really love our pumpkin spice black tea. It doesn't quite taste like pumpkin, but it has subtle hints of spice and a smoothness to it that I absolutely love.
A year ago, when I could still handle the caffeine content of espresso, I fell in love with what I've dubbed the Java Chai Latte. You use chai tea concentrate [about 4 oz.], a shot of espresso, a shot of almond syrup [or vanilla, or honey], and [in my case, since I'm lactose intolerant] steamed almond milk. It is sooo delicious and really perks you up!

Emily said...

In the morning, whether hot or cold, I love a good cup of coffee! But on a hot summer's day, I really crave some iced sun tea made with Red Rose brand tea. It's the best! Especially with lots of ice and lemon. In the winter or when I have a cold, I crave Bigelow brand Constant Comment tea with a little bit of honey. Sounds like Bengal Spice might be similar to that.