Hello friends!

I haven't posted in a while due to finals and moving out craziness. I am currently apartment searching, so my tea collection is still in this box. I think this is a great way to transport a whole collection of teas, especially if you have as many as I do. I tried putting Most of my tins on the bottom, because those have to be vertical, and to get a sense of how much height I have left over. Next, I filled the spaces with my boxed teas, combining as many tea packets into a single box as possible to have some more space. Last, Cover the box with either a lid if it fits, or wrap it with plastic wrap. And there ya go! Perfectly packed tea for moving and as storage for those in-between-moments.

I'll be in Europe for the next 2.5 weeks, so no new posts for a while! I'm sorry! I planned to write ahead a bunch of posts, but time didn't allow for that luxury. I'll be back beginning of June with more tea posts!

Have a wonderful end of May and beginning of June
Happy Tea Drinking
TTT <3

Tea takes a while to go through, especially when your collection is as obnoxiously large as mine. But here are the teas that I finished this semester.

Tea Forte Chest Sampler Collection: My roommate and I got this as a gift from a friend, so I wasn't able to try every single of the 40 flavors as we shared this set. However, I fell in love after the first tea I tried from this set and have all intentions of buying this set for myself one day. It is $45, which seems like a lot, but considering that you get 40 teas, it turns out to be a pretty good deal for such a delicious brand. There is a great variety of Green, Black, Oolong, White, and Herbal teas; crazy flavor combinations and more traditional flavors. A+.

Hickory Farms Ceylon Tea Collection (French Vanilla): I also got this set as a gift. So far, I have only finished the French Vanilla one, which is pretty good. It's not the best quality of tea base that I have had, but the flavor is nice and it's one of those tea bags that I can throw into my thermos and forget about without it tasting over brewed. I call this my "lazy day" tea option because it is so quick and simple and quite good. It's also great for entertaining! Having such a wide variety for guests is a good thing.

Lupicia Melon Oolong: This tea is fantastic! My roommate and I would go through this like it was nobody's business. When we had guests over (and we always have a lot because they want to drink some tea with us), they would always ask to try this one. The oolong base is great quality and the melon flavor sweetens it up and makes it taste slightly creamy. Definitely something I will repurchase.

Tazo Apricot Vanilla Creme & Tazo Berryblossom White (not pictured): These two white teas are phenomenal! The white tea is quite strong in both of these, perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up. The flavors are both a perfect blend along with the tea. The Apricot Vanilla Creme is creamy as the name suggests. The Apricot adds a touch of sweetness. The Blueberry Blossom is floral and sweet. I plan on buying both again!

David Rio Elephant Vanilla Chai: This is probably my favorite flavor of the David Rio Chais that I have tried. It is super creamy and rich, but no so much so that you feel stuffed after finishing a cup. I put 2-3 tablespoons of the powder into hot water and voila! A delicious treat for the morning or after a long day of running errands or work. As I said in a previous post, this is my favorite chai blend.

Disney Wonderland Tea (Pomegranate): I was initially attracted to this set of 12 teas not only because I am an Alice in Wonderland fanatic, but also because the price was great for the amount of tea and there are so many different flavors to try! The link is to Amazon, which is more expensive than in stores! This is similar to the Hickory farms set in that this is my "lazy day" tea. Just throw it into your thermos and you're good to go. This flavor in particular definitely had a fruity note, but I wasn't exactly able to associate this flavor with Pomegranate. Nonetheless, it's a pretty good tea and something I would recommend picking up whenever you're in Disneyland.

Happy Tea Drinking!
TTT <3

Since books and tea are naturally best friends, I wanted to share a book that I think everyone should read -- especially since the movie is coming out this Friday! The Fault In Our Stars is a beautifully written story following a few friends that are battling cancer, two of which go on an incredible adventure together. This book is heart-wrenching, comical, and whimsical, all at once. It makes you makes you laugh out loud at the same time that it makes you rethink the way you view the world and others. This book is not for those who wish to stay away from emotional books, as this one definitely made me tear up quite a few times.

Read this book while drinking a nice floral tea to bring to life the falling flowers on their adventure (once you get there, you'll understand, but I don't want to give anything away), or a nice buttery rooibos to comfort you as you follow these kids through their everyday struggles and triumphs.

Follow me on Goodreads to see what I'm currently reading (probably won't be updated until after finals end this Friday)

Happy Tea Drinking and Book Reading
TTT <3

With finals quickly approaching, I've been wanting nothing more than to pamper myself in an attempt to forget the inevitable doom I will face next week with 4 finals over the span of 72 hours. That being said, I have been extremely enjoying Lupicia's Yume tea, which my friend bought me for my birthday this past August with a matching Yume Tea Honey. The honey is absolutely delicious on a piece of a toast, perhaps alongside the Yume tea, but let's not get too crazy.

This tea is like drinking rose petals. It is so luxurious, yet light. You distinctly taste the rosebuds, sweetened by vanilla and strawberry flavors. What is so special about this tea is that there are actual tiny pink rosebuds in the tea, which make you feel like royalty. The flavor is absolutely great, doesn't need any sugar as the strawberry and vanilla add just the right amount of sweetness.  Perfect cup of tea to get your morning started.

Happy Tea Drinking and Good Luck on Finals!
TTT <3

This is the final installment of the Republic of Tea sample set reviews. Next Wednesday I will compile all of my thoughts into one post about the brand! I'm very pleased to say that this last set of four teas have all been delicious and all are decaf. Keep reading for the full reviews!

Pineapple Lychee Hibiscus: Wow! This one right here. Wow. You actually taste each and every single flavor described. You get the subtle tang of the pineapple, the sweetness of the lychee, and the tea flavor from the hibiscus. To me, this tastes exactly as if you brewed hibiscus tea and added in pineapple and lychee juices. Absolutely fantastic. And the smell is just as delicious as it tastes. I love for my fruit teas to still have the tea flavor and not just taste like straight up juice. Such a fan. 10/10. Bravo!

Organic Mint Fields: If you are not a fan of mint, stay away because this tea is super strong! In a good way, though, for you mint lovers. For me, it is just the right ratio of mint to tea flavors. It is decaf, but definitely has the full-bodied flavor of a green or black tea, so this is perfect for those of you affected by caffeine but still want to enjoy those flavors at night without the consequence of staying up late, or for those of you who don't like herbal teas, this is a great one to try. Big fan. 10/10.

Get Relaxed: This tasted just like liquid lavender. It is very relaxing, from the smell to the taste. If you are not a fan of lavender, stay away, because this is very strong. As with the Mint Fields tea above, this tea has the full-bodied flavor of a green of black tea, but is still decaf. I would rate this a 9/10, just because it taste a bit too strong when cold.

Red Velvet Chocolate: I thought I would end this brand review with a drinkable version of one of my favorite desserts, Red Velvet. I wasn't sure what to expect. I also wasn't sure of how a tea could capture the complexities of a red velvet cake without tasting just like chocolate. But, my friends, best believe, this tea does it. It tastes exactly like a red velvet cupcake without the full-carby feeling one feels when eating too much of a good thing. It's hard for me to pin down the difference between red velvet and chocolate, but I guess I would say it tastes like vanilla batter with cocoa powder? If you have a better description, let me know, but this tea is fantastic! 10/10

Click the links below for the first five parts:
Republic of Tea Review Pt. 1
Republic of Tea Review Pt. 2
Republic of Tea Review Pt. 3
Republic of Tea Review Pt. 4
Republic of Tea Review Pt. 5

Happy Tea Drinking!
TTT <3