Page-A-Day Digital Calendar

In a previous post I told you about my Downton Abbey Page-A-Day calendar.  Since then I’ve been thoroughly enjoying all the Downton photos, quotes and 1920s trivia. 

My favorites are quotes from the Dowager Countess.  I particularly like this one from the new season (not the calendar) “A lack of compassion can be as vulgar as an excess of tears”.  Mary really deserved that piece of advice.   ☺

My Downton Abbey desk calendar came with a perk, a free digital calendar.  I chose 365 Days in France.  I look forward to seeing some wonderful scenery, architecture or foods of France each day. 

After seeing todays photo of the lovely pink macarons, I’m more determined than ever to find a baker in my area that makes these delicious treats. 

The calendar page today stated “Traditional French macarons are made from almond flour and whipped egg whites—plus an array of delicious flavorings like rose and coconut. The delicate treats were created in the town of Nancy.” 

If you’d like to check out what subjects are available in Page-A-Day calendars you can visit their website here - (and they’re on sale!). 

 

Teavivre–Tea For Life

I’m always excited when my mail includes a box of tea from Teavivre.  I know that there will be some excellent new teas to sample.  I really like how the tea is packaged for optimum freshness.  The detailed information on where the tea is grown, processed and the proper water temperature and steep time is great. 

This shipment included some Pu-erh and black teas. 

The company website contains so much valuable information on the different types of tea, as well as interesting pictures and videos.  If you look under Pu-erh tea, you will see: 

“ A unique form of tea, named after the town of Pu Er in
Yunnan province, that has a completely different processing
method,and usually taste, to other teas. Made from a broadleaf
variety of the tea grown in Yunnan, it is initially processed like a
green tea. However things then change radically! The dried tea is
then aged in a dark location – often for many years. During this time
the tea undergoes a form oxidation caused by the growth of yeast on the tea – in just the same way that wine is produced. Though the tea appears like a black tea, this secondary oxidation produces a tea
that has an absolutely unique taste. When done right – again just
like wines – it results in a tea that has an amazing bold, strong
taste and aroma!”

I sampled the Yunnan Palace Ripened Pu-erh Loose Tea 2005 first.  It is made from Yunnan large leaf tea trees.  It is mentioned that these trees are up to 100 years old!  I’m a Pu-erh newbie and have not tasted very many of these teas, but I found this particular one to be very smooth and it had a rich dark liquor.  I appreciated that the flavor was not extremely earthy, which is a characteristic that, for me, is an acquired taste.

For my morning tea, I sampled Superfine Tan Yang Gong Fu Black Tea.

Look at all those lovely golden tips.  The brew was refreshing and mellow, with just a little astringency.  I added a splash of milk, but I will try it without next time.  This was a very nice tea to start off a day of tea drinking.

I’m definitely looking forward to tasting the other tea samples, including Superfine Keemun Mao Feng Black Tea, Fengquing Ripened Tribute Pu-erh Cake Tea 2013 and Nonpareil Yunnan Dian Hong Ancient Wild Tree Black Tea. 

Check out this terrific tea retailer website for yourself here.