I Roll My Own

I grew up drinking what my mother called “sun tea.”  She had these huge pickle jars [think Sam's Club size] that she would fill with water, and then drop in half a dozen tea bags.  Left to sit in the sun and then mixed with copious amounts of sugar, sun-brewed sweet-tea was the result.

But New England is cold a lot of the year.  And sunlight isn’t always a guarantee.  So over the last few years, I’ve taken to brewing hot tea by the cup instead.  But honestly, you can only brew so many bags of standard Lipton before you go searching for greener pastures.  For a while, it was the Republic of Tea.  Flavored black tea bagged up and sold in tins.  Great quality, but the prices were a bit steep.  So I went looking for something new.

What I found was Adagio Tea, an internet tea provider that offers a unique tea-purchasing experience.  Rather than selling a dozen standard blends, pre-bagged and in tins, Adagio sells lose-leaf tea in tins, as well as empty tea bags.  There are dozens of individual flavors, like chocolate, hazelnut, vanilla, caramel, and strawberry [see their list for so many more though], and because you fill your own empty tea bag each time you brew a cup, you can mix flavors according to your daily desire.

So, today I’m drinking a blend of “chocolate covered strawberries” and “cream” flavored black tea leaves.  a pinch of each flavor in my empty tea bag, 2 minutes in boiling water, and I’m enjoying a customized tea-drinking experience.  A coupe days ago I enjoyed a cup of “raspberry vanilla” that I mixed up.  And I can even put together a few bags at a time and take them on trips or to a conference to brew when I find hot water.

It’s a true joy to have this freedom.  Tomorrow’s tea flavor does not have to be decided since I can purchase small 2oz tins of any flavor I want for only $2 a pop and have a dozen of them on hand at any given moment.  I might want a blend of “blueberry”, “strawberry” and “raspberry” tomorrow.  Or maybe “caramel” and “chocolate” with a hint of “cream”.  The options are countless, and the benefit is a tea-habit that does not get old or rote.  It’s simple and efficient.

All because I roll my own.