Time for Tea

Maybe it's because it's the middle of the week, or maybe it's because it's cloudy and soon to be raining outside, but I have to admit, I'm feeling a bit 'blah' today. Well, as my mother always says, "There's nothing that a cup of tea can't fix"! In that spirit, I would like to share with you some of my favorite teas! 

There are many different varieties of tea in the world, and many ways to drink them. To keep things simple, I'm going to be focusing exclusively on David's Tea (a Canadian tea company that started in 2008) in this post. David's Tea classifies tea into the following categories:

*White Tea          *Green Tea

*Oolong Tea        *Black Tea

*Pu'erh               *Maté

*Rooibos             *Herbal 

I have a fairly extensive collection of David's Tea in my cupboards, which I got as a Christmas gift and have been thoroughly enjoying. I particularly enjoy being able to see all of the ingredients in the loose leaf packages that make the flavors so tasty. My current favorites are Love Tea #7 (Black Tea), Three Wishes (Black Tea), Genmaicha (Green Tea), Toasted Walnut (Green Tea), and Forever Nuts (Herbal). 

Each tea has it's own distinct flavor, and all taste delicious even without sugar! If I'm in the mood for something sweet and rich, I tend to go for either Love Tea #7 (which has chocolate it in!), or Three Wishes. If I want something sweet but more refreshing, I would suggest either Toasted Walnut (which tastes like a tropical vacation to me!), or Forever Nuts (which is caffeine free!). Every now and then, I crave something more mild, and Genmaicha perfectly fits the bill! It's made from roasted grains of brown rice and has a sweet, yet earthy taste. 

One of the best parts about tea, is that it tastes good when it's served hot, as well as when it's served cold! As summer approaches, I know I'm certainly looking forward to making some refreshing homemade iced teas! 

Happy tea drinking! 

Feature Destination: Prince Edward Island

It won't be long until summer is finally here, and along with it, sunny days and warm weather! For some families, summer also means vacation time, as kids aren't in classes all day long. Since my mother is a teacher, we were very fortunate to be able to take a number of lovely trips most summers. One of my favorite trips, was when my parents rented out a beach-front cottage in Prince Edward Island.

We actually visited PEI on two separate occasions, the first time being in August 1999, and then again four years later in 2003. The first year we were there, we stayed in French River. I remember we took the scenic route by taking the train to Moncton, and then renting a car the rest of the way. My brother and I were amazed at how incredible Confederation Bridge was! While in PEI, we visited Kensington, Cavendish, Summerside, Tignish, and Charlottetown. One of my favorite memories from our trip was when we happened upon Rainbow Valley, in Cavendish. Unfortunately, it's since been closed, but I still remember how much fun we had at the family theme park. 

My parents took us to Dalvay By the Sea, the hotel where Road to Avonleigh was shot. The hotel is a beautiful Queen Anne-style Victorian, with a grand tea room that overlooks the water. We also went to a smaller, but quite charming tea room called The Blue Winds, as well as the Kitchen Witch Tea Room, where my parents had their tea leaves read. 

While we were staying in Summerside, my parents bought both me and my brothers "PEI Dirt Shirts", which have a distinct color from the red earth soil of Prince Edward Island. Having never seen anything quite like it, I remember being fascinated by the red earth! I think my brother and I thought we had gone to Mars! 

Aside from the various attractions (Anne of Green Gables being a major one that I really couldn't leave out!), PEI is a natural beauty with lovely scenery and quiet beaches. The people are kind and friendly, and the atmosphere is welcoming. It's been quite some time since I've last been, but I certainly hope to visit again!