My Latest Obsession: Tea – Things You Should Know

Obsession. Honestly? There is no better word for it. Whenever I discover something new that I love, I have to have it ALL right away. Right now. Immediately.

It has been this way my entire adult life. I dive in, feet first. Almost ten years ago I took up knitting. (Wow, has it really been ten years already?!?) When you come to visit me, feel free to admire my lovely yarn stash. Or check out all the projects I have saved over on Ravelry. For awhile, I even had a knitting podcast.

Last year it was camping on the road trip. I kept that mostly in check because camping gear is expensive (not that wool yarn isn’t), and I was in a Mini Cooper. I couldn’t fit much more than the tent and two sleeping bags in the car. I still can’t pass a camping store without wandering in and seeing what cool gadgets and things they have though.

This year? It is tea.

It started innocently enough. While Stephanie & I were in Atlanta, I commented to her a few times, “I wonder if I would like tea?” She drinks Earl Grey, and … well, it smells like black tea. A little too close to coffee for me. I didn’t try it. (For the record – I’ve never liked ice tea. At least not the type normally served in a restaurant in Texas.)

Later in May, while Mike, Jason & I were in Kentucky, I ended up super sick. Fever for four days, congestion, sore throat – just miserable. Mike & I stopped at the grocery store one night and I said it again. “I wonder if I would like tea?” I like chicken bouillon when I’m sick normally, so I thought I’d probably like tea as a different hot water soothing option. We picked out an herbal tea or two for me to try.

I was hooked. It was the beginning of a whirlwind tea journey.

Sakura Allure Tea from Teavana #todaysteaI now know more about tea than I ever expected to know just a month ago. I know what temperature (both in Fahrenheit & Celsius) you should steep Green Tea at, and for how long. I own three different tea mugs. I own 3 tea steeper basket options, plus a tea maker. (The Teavana PerfecTea Tea Maker, shown in the photo.) I own a kettle for boiling water in the hotel, even though we own a better kettle at home.

I own over 20 different types of tea. White, Green, Oolong, Black, Roobios, and Herbal.

It has only been a month. It was more than that, but I’ve learned now that I’m allergic to chamomile, so I gave all of those to Stephanie.

The fact that I’m in the Mini Cooper again right now is stopping me from buying any more. Well, that and the fact that I need to try the ones I have already to make sure I know what I like. I’m grateful that David’s Tea and Teavana both sell small “taster” options. Since I’m sharing all of this, I may as well admit that it took a little restraint not to walk to David’s Tea or Teavana today in downtown Calgary to see what they have that I haven’t tried yet.

I’ve even started using a hashtag on Instagram of #todaystea so you can see what I’ve decided to brew and try next. Feel free to follow me on Instagram if you want to follow along.

I jokingly (I swear, it was a joke!) quipped that I should start a tea blog. Mike suggested I could name it ChrisTEAne.

Some may say it is out of control. I recognize by now that this is how I work. I jump in. Every time I discover something new that I love, I do this.

At least now I can sit at the campground, knit a sock, and drink a lovely cup of tea. Want to join me?

Today’s Tea: In the photo is the Teavana PerfecTea Tea Maker where I am brewing Sakura Allure Loose-Leaf Green Tea. When it was done steeping, I put it in my Tea tumbler (in purple) to keep it hot while I drank it out of a plain white mug — while writing this post!


Things You Should Know Thursdays was inspired by a Vivid & Brave journaling prompt that our Business coaching clients do – “Things you should know if we’re going to be BFFs”. If you share a thing I should know about you, be sure to come back here and leave a comment so I can link to you too! The hashtag for social media is #TYSKT.

Christine Tremoulet

Online Social Marketing Strategist at Christine Tremoulet
Christine Tremoulet is an author, a social marketing strategist, and a speaker. She uses her 15 years of blogging experience (she actually named WordPress!) to help others with Blogging Brilliantly so they can use their blog and social media to share their story with the world and build their own successful business. She is the original Avenger of Sexiness. She truly believes that You Are Enough. She lives in Houston, Texas with her husband & her college-age son, when not out on an adventure. (You can follow those at Have Gear, Will Travel.) Mini Cooper is her spirit animal.

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