Steeped in Tea

I discovered why I truly love tea.

It ferments. On its own. 

Do I need to say more?

If you know me . . . you know that I love tea (and fermenting). 

You might think that I like coffee more.  But then you would be wrong.

I heart tea. 

If it is steeped correctly.  Which I am horrible at.

Tea . . . has class to it.  Tradition.  Endless flavors.  Stories.  People. 

I am sure that coffee does too.  In fact, the art of making a great latte . . . could stand alone as a thick book.

But tea . . . it just has that special “je ne sais quoi.”

Maybe I’m drawn to it because I visited a real tea plantation when we lived in India.  And that momentary life we lived in India. . . was powerful. 

That is where my love of tea . . . of chai began.

Anyway . . .

We received an invitation.  A webite launch.  It MUST be celebrated!  We made a date.  We learned a lot.

Humboldt Tea Company

Seriously, this is good tea. 

(Hint . . . hint . . . this tea . . . Humboldt County Tea . . .  would make for a great Christmas present . . . stocking stuffer.   Let me know if you need some suggestions.  Because I have some opinions.)

Just sayin’.

Meet Dan. 

He is the man behind Humboldt Tea Company.  (By the way, Humboldt County is in California . . . not Indiana.  There isn’t a Humboldt County in Indiana.  But there is a tea company.) 

I’m so glad we didn’t have to travel to California for our tea date.

Nor do you.  You don’t even have to come to Indiana.

Dan will ship it to you.  I’m sad you may not meet him . . . because he knows a lot about tea . . . and he shares his knowledge without luring you to sleep, unlike Naptown Snoozer, a blend unique to Humboldt Tea Company.

When you receive your tea, here are some brewing guidelines – these temperatures will make it or break it . . . seriously.

• White Tea -- 160F
• Green Tea -- 175F
• Oolong Tea -- 195F
• Black Tea -- 208F
• Herbal Tea -- 212F

And then there is the steeping time.  That largely depends upon the tea. 

I’ve only touched the handle of your tea cup.  There is more tea learning to be had! 

But I must go to bed.

Please support my new tea company.  When you go to Dan’s website, shoot him an email about his Vortex Tea Mugs (I won one!) . . . he designed them.  Tell him to put them in stock! 

P.S.  I am blogging about this . . . because I like tea.  I don’t have ANY affiliate links.  I just had a fun date with The Engineer.  I wanted to share!

Country Mouse City Mouse

Over 2,000 years ago there lived a man named Aesop. He created fables that to this day provide a moral lesson. Aesop's fable, The Town Mouse and The Country Mouse, is a tale of two mice. They live opposite lives, one in the country and one in the city, under different living circumstances and experiencing distinct food palates.

Their tale really isn't that different than today's living arrangements and food cultures.

The city mouse visits his cousin only to turn his nose up at the paltry bland meal provided. He insists that his pauper cousin come visit the city and experience a broad spectrum of tasty delights. The country cousin takes this journey into the busy city and dines with his cousin, only to discover that eating in the city is dangerous. Eating a variety of tasty food could cost him his life. For when the mice venture out onto the kitchen table, they become vulnerable to the resident predator, be it a cat or dog.

Thus, the country mouse declares with wisdom,

"Better beans and bacon in peace, than cakes and ale in fear."

This tale is all too relevant in light of society's processed, prepackaged, and prepared foods; ease of quickly medicating pain instead of dealing with the root problem; and the toxic chemical concoctions we bring into our home with the goal of "being clean."

Often, I hear comments, "I don't have time to bake like you do," or "That is just too much work to cook from scratch." Sometimes people comment on my cloth diapering, "I couldn't stand to do all of that laundry!" or "Do you really have to dump the poop out in the potty? Disgusting!" There is a bit of curiosity as to how clean my home is since I make my cleaning products from common elements and essential oils. Many think I am nuts for choosing to deliver my children naturally without mysterious drugs. Or I am simply a bit freakish because I nurse past the one year mark of my child's life.

But like the country mouse, I say, "Better {sprouted} beans and {turkey} bacon in peace, than Fruit Loops and Diet Coke in fear {of cancer}."

I have modernized this fable only to let you know that we went to the farmer's market this weekend, in search of beans {Roma tomato plants} and bacon {local, seasonal fruit}. As you will recall, I have anxiously been looking forward to bumping shoulders with other local granola people.

Our taste buds were delighted with delicious strawberries and Mag's Pimiento Cheese Spread that my high school friend, Erin sold to us. She and her sister, Katy, are the proud owners of Country Mouse City Mouse. We happened upon Erin's booth and were greeted with the opportunity to sample many of Country Mouse City Mouse's culinary delights, of which you can do too! (More on that later.)

Now I probably wouldn't have read Aesop's Fable yesterday, had it not been for bumping into Erin. I like to read, but typically only have time for bedtime stories, parenting issues, and some other granola related topics.

I am glad that I have had a multi-sensory experience with Country Mouse City Mouse, through reading with my eyes (Aesop's Fable) and tasting with my tongue (Chimichurri Pesto). I am convinced in both body part locations that only the best ingredients must have entered Erin and Katy's culinary creations. I was able to eat their food knowing that the majority of the ingredients were grown locally and created without added unnatural substances. However, I must admit only now as I write have I begun to think about the contents of their recipes. At the time, I was swept away by the explosive tastes of their Chimichurri Pesto, Mama J's Romesco, and Nyona Lake Jezebel . (Yes, I am being dramatic. But I am excited by what good chef's Erin and Katy are and for their fun local business.)

Well, for being faithful to read my entire blog post, you have the opportunity to take home a 4 oz tub of Mama J's Romesco that will rock your taste buds off and make them beg for more. Simply, visit either the Broad Ripple or Carmel Farmer's Market and mention my blog post. Easy. Free. Multiple winners. I do have to add that Erin will hand out her tasty treat only while supplies last. Hurry to the Farmer's Market Saturday, May 30th, 2009!

On a personal note, I have known Erin since I first learned to cut paper with scissors. Crazy how time flies. Throughout the years, our paths keep crossing and it is always fun to catch up. Erin always welcomes me with arms wide open and a deliciously warm greeting. I am encouraged by her creativity to be at home with her son, yet use her talent of cooking to help provide for her family. Please support her and her sister's amazing, local talent and visit them at the Market this weekend!

On a more personal note, here is some of the fun that we had that Willow was able to capture. . .

Granola Mom's Unplanned Planned Farmers' Market Experience

I was a guest blogger on my friend's Book Club blog and decided to use the following ramblings as my post today:

My favorite summertime morning event is just around the corner. The Broad Ripple Farmer's Market opens May 2nd! In the summer, I usually plan to go the Farmer's Market starting on a Monday prior to the following Saturday. For some reason, I simply drop hints to the hubby that it sure would be fun to take Mr. Smackdown, Mr. Easy, and Mr. Smiley to a venue where we could support our local farmer. After all, the children need to know where their food comes from. I usually get a grunt and we go on to talk about how the hubby could squeeze a run in on the Monon. I don't mind this addition to my plan, just as long as I can see local produce.

Saturday morning arrives. And we have not prepared for our field trip. Unexpected deliberation ensues. What Farmer's Market will we visit? Do we have any cash? Do we take the Lion Hunter, our dog? Is there enough time before naps? What about yard work?

Even though I had planned all along to peruse the farmers market, our departure resembles poor lack of planning, much scrambling around, and an excess of items placed in the jogging stroller. Nevertheless, we scamper into the Loser Cruiser and plan our morning once road bound. Off to the market we go, with fresh smiles on our faces, windows down, and the sun beaming down on our forearms. In back, Mr. Smackdown and Mr. Easy giggle over what treat we will purchase.

For me, the best part about a farmer's market is the people watching. I love to see who comes, who belongs to whom, and what dogs people bring. A parking lot becomes a rich tent for an imaginative mind. My engineering husband wants to plan our path through the vendors canopies. I am happy to simply stroll through--often at a distance from the farmers, unless they have a free food to sample (like Trader's Point Creamery). For some reason, I am bashful to talk to our produce provider, because I feel guilty if we do not purchase their hard labor!

The patrolling commences. Me with no goal and my hubby thinking about what our refrigerator needs to eat. Typically, we take a lap around the market having purchased nothing. Remember, I have no goal in coming to the farmer's market. I simply want to experience the excitement of all these people traveling to one location for a local flavor. Brushing shoulders with people who grow my food and other fellow consumers is enough to make me happy.

But you can't leave the market without having purchased something! So that begins lap two, and sometimes lap three. We often end up with a muffin from Scholar's Inn, and the most recent addition to our food trials was Chimney Bread--hot bread cooked in front of you on a thick wood spindle. Our summer purchases result in locally grown blueberries and blackberries, of which are gone by the time we get home. In the fall, we usually purchase corn and apples. If we happen to go to the Carmel Farmer's Market, we savor a fruit slushie and munch on hot kettle corn.

However, this year, I am challenged by a recent re-reading of the book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, by Barbara Kingsolver. What would our trips to the Farmer's Market look like if we made a family commitment to eat only locally grown and raised produce, meat, honey and cheese? Our trips to the market would be much more intentional and we truly would get to know our local farmer if we purchase from them weekly. It would teach our children where their food comes from and who grew it, if it wasn't from our garden. It would give them a chance to interact with other like-minded individuals and an outing to look forward to each week. To make this easier to accomplish in the kitchen we could then cook from Deborah Madison's book, Local Flavors.

I think I am up for the challenge. If anything, it will provide candy for my imagination, organic candy, that is. Be sure to check out a Farmer's Market near you! (Thanks for the map, Sarah!)