Escape to...Strawberry Island!

There are new tea things popping up at Rachel Carter’s tea site: iHeartTeas.com – including her first, exclusive blend Strawberry Island.

           Rachel recently took a trip to Maine, bringing back memories – and sample sets of teas from Maine-based tea shops. Dobrá, Jacqueline’s Tea Room (with two sample packs), Bar Harbor Tea Company, Homegrown Herb & Tea all have selections available in her new shop. Plus she’s expanding her site to include teaware – coming soon she’ll have a cute set of small black and white tea cups.

            She’s taking on new ventures, too, such as offering a new feature on brewing methods – including a must-read article on how she made her Matcha – and Rachel said she’s focusing her time on many, many new reviews.

            But the most exciting news at iHeartTeas is Rachel’s new tea blend – created exclusively for and by Rachel herself! She mixed strawberry, coconut and vanilla black teas to create a tropical escape, Strawberry Island.

            Stay tuned as Strawberry Island is bound to be just the first in a whole slew of iHeartTeas blends, created by one of the tea community’s top tea tasters.

            “I am so happy I am able to do this…and it comes so naturally,” Rachel explained.

            Top on her list of Tea Priorities is a possible grand re-opening of her site (keep Keen Tea Thyme bookmarked as we’ll have the latest news). Rachel is also selling teas on Zibbet.com.

            Family always comes first for Rachel and iHeartTeas, but that’s one thing she loves about her tea business – that she can be a full-time Mom and a full-time Teaist, at the same time.

Find Rachel & iHeartTeas by visiting one of the links below:

www.iHeartTeas.com - Tea Shop & Blog

www.RachelsTeaCupboard.teatra.de - Tea Review Blog

www.Twitter.com/RachelKCarter

www.Twitter.com/iHeartTeas 

Exciting Things Happening Here - Stay in the Know

With May upon us and good news around the world - spring in the air, and a certain terrorist no longer among us - I am also happy to report that I am (almost) all better. I'm back to my working self, which means Keen Tea Thyme is back in business!

First, we've got a new company profile - Mad Pots of Tea. Check out the story by clicking on the company profile tab on the main page, or here: http://keenteathyme.blogspot.com/p/company-profile.html

Next, we've featured our first CelebriTEA, Rachel Carter - the voice behind www.iHeartTeas.com. Check out her story and learn more about this fave tea blogger and her new endeavors: http://keenteathyme.blogspot.com/p/celebritea.html

Stop by Tea Stain Art to see what's new with Dara Gold, and purchase one of your very own, limited run tea stain artwork: http://keenteathyme.blogspot.com/p/golds-tea-stain-art.html Send in your questions to this unique and talented artist!

May will feature more adventures of Ally, our Teaist Apprentice (check back on Fri., May 13 - oh no! Friday the 13th!) to see what she's been up to during the hiatus.

Also, I have a very special post I'm working on for Mother's Day. Don't forget, Mother's Day is this weekend!

And in between everything, we'll review and enjoy tea!

Got suggestions? Comments on my blog? Drop me a line at: keenteathyme@gmail.com

Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy your stay; have a great "thyme" being "keen" on tea!

Teaist Apprentice - on hiatus

Dear Readers - 

One of my favorite features about this blog is the story of Ally - a fictional character embarking on a journey to become a Teaist Apprentice. I have been posting updates on her adventures weekly, but have to take a break due to health reasons.

Many of you know I suffer from migraines, and had a recent spinal injury. Consequently I am in a lot of pain lately. I am seeing a doctor next week to discuss surgery options.

In the meantime, I have to take it easy. I will still be posting and updating, but I am not feeling as creative as usual so I'm putting the Teaist Apprentice on hold. (Plus I'm on lots of medication for the pain.)

Ally will return in May. Look forward to the following posts, and much more:

• participating in an authentic Japanese tea ceremony
• discussing how the earthquake affected Japan's tea market
• traveling to China to harvest tea crops 
• learning India's tea culture
• answering your questions 

Please continue to send questions for Ally to discuss in her adventures: keenteathyme@gmail.com, as well as suggestions for her travels. I appreciate all the feedback I've gotten so far! Thanks!

OK, that's a wrap. We'll see Ally in May! :)

1st Interview with Ally

Reader Question 1) What is it about tea that you're hoping to learn more about? Origin? Processing? Interesting legends? What's drawing you in? 

Where Ally is taking classes

Ally sits with us for a moment during her training and discovery of what it means to be a Teaist. She's dressed comfortably in yoga attire, and holds a cup of plain green tea.


KiTT: How is your training so far?


Ally: It's been great. I'm learning a lot of things about tea I never knew.


KiTT: Readers are wondering: what is it about tea you are hoping to learn? 


Ally: There's a whole different perspective on tea in different cultures. We Americans just consider it another beverage, but tea in Japan involves an entire ceremony. I want to learn about the ceremony and participate in an authentic one. I'd love to learn about the history of tea; one time it was used as currency. 


KiTT: Are there any legends you'd like to learn about?


Ally: I'm big into the paranormal, so I'm always looking for ghost tales and legends. I'm reading "Green Tea and other ghost stories" so I'll let you know if I come across anything of interest. Also a book about ghosts and Tea Tables in WV. Not sure what it's about, but I'm looking into it. If you or your readers have any legends for me to investigate, let me know.


KiTT: What's drawing you in?


Ally: Tea is such a big part of this world in so many different ways. It's a beverage, it's a lifestyle, it's currency, it's calming. There are so many attributes. I want to learn as much as I can so I can open up my own tea house.


KiTT: Is that your goal, then?


Ally: Yes. My own tea house. Wouldn't that rock? *checks her watch* OK, gotta split. Lessons are starting back up.


KiTT: Thanks for taking a moment. Talk to you later and good luck!


Submit your questions for Ally to answer during her breaks by posting below or e-mailing me at keenteathyme@gmail.com. 

Teaist Apprentice - Part Two

...The field surrounding Ally is beautiful and lush. The breeze swirling about her is fresh and light, while the air smells faintly of summer rain - a refreshing and cleansing smell. She sips her tea, which magically stayed warm and in the cup. Bits of the air slip into her tea so that it tastes even more refreshing. "It's been a long day," she murmurs. "I must be hallucinating. Well, I'm talking to myself. That's the first step of insanity."

Ally walks through the field with flowers and grass brushing up against her legs. She finds herself on a path and looks ahead in the distance. There, sitting regally, is a bright red structure - a pagoda. It's a bit up the road, but she reaches it quickly. Time exists but bends.

Ally, cup still in hand, approaches the pagoda and stares into the eyes of what appears to be a statue of a man, clothed in silky garments and sporting a conical hat. Suddenly, the eyes blink and Ally jumps. "You scared me!" She blurts out, almost spilling the mug of tea.

"You scared me," the old man says in tattered English, speaking slowly. "What are you doing wondering around here?" He seizes up her clothes - her "study" clothes: yoga pants, a comfy slub tee and a zip-up hoodie.

How can I explain I just poured a cup of tea and appeared in Japan? Ally asks herself - without speaking aloud. "I'm trying to find my way to the tea," she says vaguely, not understanding that tea isn't just a singular object.

"The tea? I do not understand," the old man says. He shakes his head. "Nevermind that. I could use your help in the farming." He holds out his hand and Ally shakes it, surprised at how soft his hand is. "My name is Yamato."

"My name is Ally; nice to meet you," Ally says politely.

"Come with me, Ally-son. We will harvest tea and prepare for the royal tea ceremony!"
_______________________________________

Reader Question 1) What is it about tea that you're hoping to learn more about? Origin? Processing? Interesting legends? What's drawing you in? Ally will answer this question next week in ths 3rd installment of the Teaist Apprentice: Wed., April 13, 2011.

Reader Question 2) I want to know more about the Japanese tea ceremony. Ally will learn to harvest tea leaves, prep them for the ceremony and how the ceremony takes place in the 4th Installment of the Teaist Apprentice: Wed., April 20, 2011.


Send in your questions: keenteathyme@gmail.com

Results of the Brewing Question

The results are in on my poll... thanks to all who voted! Please check out the latest poll - what sweetener do you add to your tea?

The results are posted below; remember, you could vote for multiple items. I will do my best to get as much info as you guys wanted here. I'm not in debt with student loans for an investigative journalism degree for nothing! :)

The results:

• 50% of you said you wanted to see tea reviews. I do a lot of reviews on steepster.com, and I don't want to compete with the lovely SororiTEA sisters, but I'll post some reviews. 
• 25% of you said you wanted fun stuff - puzzles, games, etc. I've got a tea crossword I will be posting in the month of April, and a few more puzzles/riddles. 
• And 62% each wanted histories of tea, interviews with master blenders and shop owners, and recipes.
• I've got plenty of interviews lined up. I love talking to people about their companies...and for some odd reason they like talking about them too! As for the histories of tea, stay tuned to the weekly installment of Teaist Apprentice, my fictional adventure into the world of tea.

If there's anything else you think my blog needs, e-mail me. I will be better about updating it daily, I blame my evil spine for getting hurt somehow and the muscle relaxers that bend reality...

Tea-ku Contest - Haiku about tea

This contest is in full swing - but you still have time to post or e-mail me your tea haiku. We'll vote on the favorites here. So post away! This contest runs from now through May 31. We'll vote on the favorites in June. Winner will receive a grand prize related to tea... (of course)

Need help on the rules & all that jazz? Refresh your memory here.

Get crackin', teaists! :)

SerendipiTEA - Tea Mantras

While working on my "tea calming" post, I came across some fun phrases re: tea. Here are some of the photos. I'm taking the easy way out on this post, guys, sorry. But feel free to add your personal tea mantras below.

http://simonemesham.wordpress.com/
The blog I found this pic from has some other great items. Check out the felt tea cups. I love it! :)

Next:

I sincerely hope there was more tea in the cup... but I'm a pessimist; it's half empty.

I typed "tea mantras" into Google images...as a teaist can I say how sick I am of the Tea Party? I don't mean any cute little girls' b-day parties, or ladies dressed for high tea. I don't mean us - fellow teaists swapping thoughts and discussions on tea. I mean the stupid political part. UGH.

Got any other pics of your tea mantras? Share below.