Thinking of the Holidays

The weather has been playing games on us here in the Midwest jumping back and forth from hot muggy weather to down right cold and nasty weather. The cold just reminds me that the holidays are coming up way faster than I want to think about. After Halloween, Thanksgiving will be here before I know it and then Christmas sneaks up on me before I have a chance to get ready. I am trying to force myself to think about it early this year and start thinking now about gifts and making sure that family traditions are preserved and celebrated during this busy time of the year. Last year we didn’t get to bake our Christmas cookies and this year I am planning to make a little family get together out of it. It is funny how many of my family members ask for tea for Christmas presents. I tend to discount it because I am surrounded by it almost every day. I know that every year one of our most given gifts is our Tea of the Month Clubs. They offer a chance to try teas that you may not have thought you would like but now you have come love and we make sure every months selections are memorable. Tea sets and teapots are also very popular for Christmas and general holiday gifts. This year when you are looking for the perfect yet budget healthy gifts keep tea in mind. This weeks featured tea Sugar Plum Cinnamon Spice is a tea that screams “Is it Christmas yet?”. Sugar Plum Cinnamon Spice tea has that fruity plum flavor and nicely spiced with cinnamon, allspice and clove which give it that warm and comforting tones. Personally I love this tea as a afternoon tea when your trying to relax and brush off the day. Save 20% on Sugar Plum Cinnamon Spice Tea this week only. 

Save 15% This Week!
Coupon Code: OCT112011
Expires: 10/18/11

http://www.culinaryteas.com

Hot Toddy Recipe with Brandy & Winter Peppermint Tea

This weeks warm up was kinda nice after that nasty wet cold week we had. I would have been fine with the cool wet weather had I not had to sit out in it and watch my daughters marching band. Those poor kids marched in pouring rain in chilling temperatures and still managed to get top scores. I made her day by bringing her a piping hot mug of our Sleepy Hollow Pumpkin Chai. I personally was dying to get home and make a myself a hot toddy with our one of our new teas instead of just water. Well I could not make just one because my husband would disown me if I didn’t make him one also. Between the chai and the toddies we all recovered nicely and we were rewarded with this beautiful weather. I am hoping this weather holds out a bit longer for our next few weeks of competition. My daughter has been sharing her giant mugs of chai with her friends and fellow band members and I am starting to become inundated with requests for chai from the kids. I bet if I brought giant mugs of hot toddy I would get the same requests from the parents. My featured tea this week, Brandy & Peppermint Tea, is my current tea of choice for my hot toddies. The lovely spicy fruitiness from the brandy and the hot/coldness from the peppermint brandy manages to warm you up from the inside out. Other teas that are incredible in my hot toddy recipe are Orange Spice, Cinnamon Spice, Russian Earl Grey and Mulled Spice tea. This week our Brandy and Winter Peppermint tea is our featured tea of the week so you wave 20% if you purchase it this week!

Hot Toddy
1 ounce Brandy or Whiskey
1 tbsp honey
6 ounces hot tea
3 whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick
pinch of nutmeg
slice of lemon

Brew up your tea of choice. Stir together your your tea, honey, spices and brandy or whiskey. Let the flavors sit and meld for 5 minutes before you add your lemon slice and serve.

Save 15% This Week!
Coupon Code: OCT112011
Expires: 10/18/11

http://www.culinaryteas.com

Sleepy Hollow Pumpkin Chai & New Chai Sampler

I live in a part of the country where I regularly see fields covered in beautiful pumpkins at this time of year. So when I start craving pumpkin it is not surprising. Not to mention suddenly everyone has pumpkin flavored everything. They all sound so good but I am trying my hardest to work on my waistline so I avoid them. This week we are introducing something that I will be enjoying the whole season, Sleepy Hollow Pumpkin Chai. What I love the most about our chai teas is that they are whole leaf tea and natural spices and flavors with no sweeteners so I can add my stevia and drink as much of them as I like. If your not afraid of a few extra calories I suggest you try brewing your chai with milk instead of water because it adds a very luxurious creamy and rich texture to the chai. Our Sleepy Hollow Pumpkin Chai contains a mildly spicy mix of chai spices that go so well with that hint of pumpkin. This morning I brewed this chai with milk then topped with some whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel and it was like heaven. If you enjoy chai at all I highly suggest you give this chai a try and you can now try it as part of our Chai Tea Sampler. Save 20% off Sleepy Hollow Pumpkin Chai this week!

Save 10% This Week
Use coupon code: OCT0411
Expires: 10/11/11

Chai Tea Sampler

Do you enjoy real chai? Not the artificial stuff that you get at starbucks or most restaurants. Real chai is loose leaf tea with spices and natural flavorings. The word Chai means spiced tea and we celebrate traditional chai the way it used to be with a top quality tea base and chunks of fresh spices that really make them something special. Our new Chai Tea Sampler includes Cochin Masala Chai, Indian Spiced Chai, Sleepy Hollow Pumpkin Chai, White Chocolate Chai and Vanilla Chai. This week 10% off!