tea time

candy cane lane, one of my
favorite Celestial holiday flavors
and it's made with peppermint!!!

I love the taste of coffee, but the caffeine doesn't agree with me.  I only make exceptions for it on holidays and at fancy dinners out.  I prefer mine with cream, no sugar.  I was on the tea for a long period of time, but for some reason, one day I woke up and it disgusted me.  Nothing specific happened, but for the last few years, the thought of tea made me nauseous (except when I was dying fabric).

At some point during the last two weeks, I purchased a box of Celestial Seasonings Honey Vanilla Chamomile.  I made a cup, drank it, and was thrilled to learn that I was back to enjoying a cup or two of tea.  (That's the romanticized version.  I really caught a small cold and was craving Celestial Seasonings Lemon or Red Zinger because that is what we had at home when we were sick as children.)

Tea holds a special place in my heart.  It made an important appearance in my younger days, in high school, and then came back into my world when I was out at school in Colorado.  To be frank, Celestial Seasonings tea company was started in Boulder, CO.  (I went to school in Fort Collins.)

my thermos, not sure what
the yellow paper is doing
inside of it (maybe highlighting
the cherries?) - it is clear

The factory is an amazing place to visit.  I talked each visitor I had into heading down to Boulder to take a tour and experience the tea magic.  My favorite place in the factory was the peppermint room.  Most of the tea ingredients live in one large space in the factory, but because the peppermint was so strong, it had to be kept separate, otherwise it would contaminate all the other teas and everything Celestial Seasonings produced would taste like mint.  If you took the tour, you were allowed to walk inside the peppermint room and at first, your nasal passages feel cleansed and minty and wonderful, and then it starts affecting your eyes.  It actually begins to burn, but it is the cleanest, most wonderful sensation you will ever feel.  I think John Cougar Mellencamp said it best - "it hurts so good".  It is one intense feeling, and if I had the chance to walk in again right now, I totally would.

I also purchased this snazzy hot drink mug to help foster the continuation of my tea drinking.  I couldn't take the plastic to-go mugs anymore.  Plastic + hot drinks/food = not good.  I chose one with cherries.  I like it thus far and love how I can throw it in my bag because the seal is rather tight.  The brand is Kerplunk Klear.  I recommend.  I also suggest filling your kettle and turning on the stove.  It is tea time people.