CHRISTMAS TEA SAMPLER

 

December 15th is International Tea Day and it inspired me to choose a variety of international teas to bless a tea-loving friend this year with a "12 Days of Christmas" Sampler!  You could use teabags or your own packaging of loose leaf tea or even a combination for each day from December 26th to January 6th including the following representation for each day according to the song:

A partridge in a pear tree
Two turtle doves
Three French hens
Four calling  birds
Five gold rings
Six geese a-laying
Seven swans a-swimming
Eight maids a-milking
Nine ladies dancing
Ten lords a-leaping
Eleven pipers piping
Twelve drummers drumming  

Here are my choices for teas and the international countries they represent:

Blooming Tea (CHINA) – a hand tied combination of tea and edible flowers

Genmaicha (JAPAN) - a bit of a novelty as the green tea leaves are blended with roasted brown rice giving this a nutty, roasted full bodied taste

Formosa Oolong (TAIWAN) – a wonderful, light-bodied tea known by Taiwan’s ancient name, Formosa.  

Lapsang Souchong (RUSSIA) - a strong tea with a smoky, tarry aroma and flavor due to its smoking over pine fires. 

Earl Grey (ENGLAND)– black tea flavored with oil of the bergamot orange

Masala Chai (INDIA) - The word ‘chai’ literally means tea and ‘masala’ is the word for the mixture of the various spices

Ceylon (SRI LANKA) - Its beautiful long, thin black tea leaves steep to make a mellow tea that is a favorite the world over.

Aussie Tea (AUSTRALIA) – a hearty black tea produced from the twelve commercial tea growing operations in Australia

Moroccan Mint (MOROCCO) - blend of Chinese gunpowder green tea with spearmint and lemongrass plus add ample amounts of sugar to create a delightfully sweet and refreshing beverage.

Rooibos (SOUTH AFRICA) - Caffeine free herbal known for its cool, sweet, refreshing flavor, it’s compared to a fine Ceylon tea. 

Yerba Mate (ARGENTINA) – an herbal that contains a form of caffeine and has an unusual flavor, but it is a haunting taste that brings you back for more as if your body knows it is good for you

American Classic Tea (UNITED STATES) – described as “a high-quality black tea with a mild tone & sweet flavor,” & in 1987 became the official White House tea.

 

 

“Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.”

Psalm 34:8