This Blog's for you, Moms!

There is nothing better than a mug of hot tea in the afternoon or a cold winter's night! Lately we have been into the art of drinking specialty tea. When aromas like citrus, jasmine and lavender intensify as hot water hits the tea leaves, preparing a well-crafted tea is a pleasure and drinking it is a divine experience.  We have even started to blend our own teas and wanted to share one of our favorite custom blends with you.

But first more on one of our favorite specialty tea companies. Spoiled here in SF, we enjoy tea shopping/tasting in Chinatown. It's quite an experience in person, but luckily, our favorite stop on the Grant St. tea train,  Red Blossom Tea Company, has an online store! Favorites from Red Blossom include their Silver Needle (white tea), Jasmine Pearls, and Peppermint Rose (herbal tea).

(photo credit: citrus oolong from rishi-tea.com)

Come to think of it, teas like these would make great Valentine's gifts for even a casual tea drinker. There's still plenty of time to drop hints for (or be forthright with) your sweetheart! Teas make for a much healthier, feel-good gift than a box of candy!

Beyond our favorite teas on the market, we love to experiment with our own tea blends. :)

A simple blend of chamomile and lavender is a perfectly soothing herbal tea:

Chamomile Lavender Tea

• 1 teaspoon chamomile flowers
• 1/2 teaspoon lavender flowers

• Steep: in 8 oz boiling hot water for 5 minutes.

Our current favorite is a blend of citrus and herb aromas and is quite invigorating for an herbal tea! It's perfect for a full-flavored, no calorie, caffeine-free, afternoon pick-me-up. Here's our working recipe:

 Lemon Herb Tea

• 4 tablespoons lemon verbena
• 2 tablespoon lemon thyme (or 1 teaspoon thyme leaves and 1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest)
• 1 tablespoon lavender
• 1 tablespoon tarragon
• 1 tablespoon rose hips
• 1 teaspoon licorice root
• 2 dried apricots, chopped (optional)

• Mix gently but thoroughly and store in an airtight container in a dark place.
• Steep: 1 tablespoon in 8 oz boiling hot water for 5 minutes.

Note: If you're pregnant, you may want to avoid certain ingredients in your tea. Here's a post on Herbal Teas During Pregnancy from babycenter.com. Definitely consult your doctor with questions.