Tea Tuesday: tea on my back patio

The weather has been pretty nasty around my place, so when the rain subsided today, I decided to have tea on what I laughingly call my back patio. It's just a slab of concrete off the garage, but it's where my chiminea sits, along with some very old used patio furniture. So to start the day, I lit a fire in my chiminea and prepared to brew some tea.

Regardless of my meager hand-me-down surroundings, I wanted something that would soothe this upset stomach I've had for nearly a week. That's when I grabbed some Senok brand (whose motto is "tea for the senses") chamomile tea. Now I'm NOT a fan of chamomile, and even less of a fan of tea bags, but this chamomile had a much different taste than "Sleepy time," the other brand I've tried.

According to the back of the package, this hand picked blend is supposed "to simultaneously soothe the body and stir your soul." I sure hope it does both to mine (and doesn't "stir" something else). Just drinking this aromatic tea out of my Taylor and Ng mug, one of a set of 10, this one Le Cheval, certainly brings a smile to my face. Sadly, Taylor and Ng are no longer selling these mugs and other wares that were designed by Win Ng back in the late 70s and early 80s, having sold their company to an online retailer which still uses their names.

Be sure to visit Kimmie for links to other Tea Tuesday participants. They'll put a smile on your face and are sure to stir your soul.

Today I'm featuring another tea blog. The owner is Carol Sill, who lives in Vancouver, Canada, and has a very eclectic tea blog. Her notes on teas are generous, informative, and complete. If you are a tea participant, you will definitely want to check out her site.