I have to return some videotapes - by hippyofdoom

Tea Review Friday: Canadian Icewine Tea

2008-12-26T17:57:00.003Z

Firstly, I hope everyone has had a nice holiday season :)

The tea I am reviewing is one that always strikes me as Christmassy... maybe because it has "ice" in the title, and being wine flavoured reminds me of mulled wine? But whatever the connection, that's the reason I am reviewing it in winter on Boxing Day.

Icewine (Eiswein) is a dessert wine made from grapes that have been frozen, most famously produced in Germany, but also in Canada. However I'm not aware of any German Icewine teas!

I first tried Icewine tea about two years ago, and is my absolute favourite! The blend of tea and wine works beautifully and makes me feel very sophisticated and grown up, as if by drinking it I suddenly become a tea sommelier hybrid.

It is the most perfect tea for this season, for cosy evenings indoors while the fire crackles (I don't have a real fire, but such is the power of Icewin tea I feel like I do as I drink it! Perhaps too much wine content?). Rather surprisingly, it is also the perfect tea for summer if you make an iced tea / sangria type thing (will review that in the summer!)

I recommend brewing for 7-10 minutes (stronger the better with this one!) and serving with two sugars. No milk!

Tea Review Friday: Bella Coola

2008-11-07T16:19:00.004Z

I have a really bad habit of over smelling food, but something that smells good is such a weakness to me! When I received all my tea samples, I couldn't resist opening each one for a quick sniff (I am truly disgusting, I know) but the one that had the most intriguing smell was Bella Coola.

Bella Coola somehow smelled fizzy, like sherbet and made me nostalgic of the Dib Dabs I used to eat at break times in school. I couldn't believe something could smell "fizzy". The blend of Bella Coola consists dried apple and orange pieces, as well as rosehip and hibiscus.

I used 1.5 tsp, and let it steep for about 7 minutes. The instructions said not to use sugar.

When pouring the tea, I was fascinated by the transparent magenta colour it had become. So bright and beautiful (much moreso than the colour in the picture). The taste was very fruity, and not flowery. It had a slight acidic bitter taste, but probably only because I have a horrendous sweet tooth.

So far, this has been my favourite of the ones I have reviewed!

Tea Review Friday: Night of the Iguana Chocolate Chai

2008-09-19T15:42:00.004+01:00

I have loved chocolate chai, ever since trying the loose blend at Whittards of Chelsea. It has so many of my favourite ingredients: chocolate, cardamom, ginger and coconut. While those may not be authentic chai flavours, I do love it. Given my adoration for chocolate chai, I was naturally thrilled at receiving a sample of Night of the Iguana Chocolate Chai.

Strange name, huh? It comes from the name of a Tennessee Williams' play and is meant to represent the complex themes found within the play. The ingredients in this blend include assam tea, white chocolate chips (can be seen in the above photo), caramel, ginger, cardamom, coriander, cinnamon, cloves and black pepper.

It says to leave to brew for 5-10 mins, and use with 20% milk and two teaspoons of sugar - just how I like my chai tea anyway!

On first taste, it was sweet, but not too different from any normal tea. The aftertaste was different however, with a lovely cardamom flavour. The other strong taste was cloves, which wasn't brilliant for me, as I don't really like them. This chocolate chai was enjoyable though - but it was pretty hard to beat my favourite from Whittard.

Tea Review Friday: Buttered Rum

2008-07-18T12:54:00.005+01:00

I've never had a hot buttered rum before. I'd heard it mentioned in Frasier, and it always sounded yummy due to the math of "butter + rum = must be good". When I got this tea, I was very pleased - I love rum flavoured things like rum truffles, and I get to feel sort of piratey in my tea drinking ways.

When the tea was brewing, it smelled buttery. One criteria met at least!

I added two sugars, and topped with cold water (I find it hard to drink anything hot), took my first sip, and drank and drank and drank. It was so gorgeous. You get the rum taste first, followed by a subtle clove taste, and then creamy butteriness to finish. I normally detest anything clove, but this flavour complemented the tea really well. I wanted to make another cup straight away!

If you come across a buttered rum tea blend, don't miss the opportunity to try it!

I couldn't resist using this mug, haha.

Tea Review Friday: Maple Cream Tea

2008-07-11T19:20:00.003+01:00

Maple Cream Tea
Originally uploaded by Hippy of Doom

I've been a fan of the Giant Jeans Parlor blog for aaaages, in particular the Japanese Candy Friday part, so I've decided to do my own version, but with different blends of tea instead.

For the debut installment, I am going to review something that holds high expectations for me: Maple Cream Tea.

Maple syrup has become such an obsession with me and I don't really know how it started. I think I love how it can go scrummy with bacon, and yet equally delicious in desserts. As someone who detests honey, maple syrup is the perfect alternative.

The tea was loose, and was mainly black tea, but with a few leaves that were white. I decided not to add sugar, but instead taste how mapley it was and sweeten with maple syrup if it wasn't very strong.

On first taste, it was really strong, but not of maple syrup as such. It was sort of like burnt wood, which disappeared and then in came a creamy vanilla taste that was a lot like Tetley's Redbush and Vanilla. Maybe it did taste of maple syrup but I'm immune to small doses now?

I added two teaspoons of maple syrup, and then started dunking a maple iced biscuit (seen in picture) Mmmmm... now this was mapley enough for me.

Shoes In Stock!

2008-03-26T16:52:00.001Z

These are the shoes I currently have in stock, ready for customising. I will continue to update and edit this list, and maybe add pictures, so keep checking in case anything grabs you :)

All shoes can be customised for $100 (£50). More detailed designs, (so far only my Hokusai design) will be $120 (£60) instead, due to the detail.

The Shoes:

Size UK 1 / US 2.5 / EU 33

Faux leather black boots

Size UK 3 / US 5.5 / EU 35.5

Faux leather black pointy ballet pumps

Size UK 4 / US 6.5 / EU 37

Faux leather reddish brown ballet pumps

Size UK 5 / US 7.5 / EU 38

Faux leather brown ballet pumps

Size UK 6 / US 8.5 / EU 39

Grey leather court shoes
Black patent, peeptoe, high wedges
Black leather lined ballet pumps
Faux leather brown wedge mary janes
Faux leather brown court shoes with medium heel (wide fit)
Faux leather brown ballet pumps (x2)
Faux leather black pointy toed ballet pumps
Faux leather gold pointy toed ballet pumps

Size UK 7 / US 9.5 / EU 41

Faux leather black peeptoe high heels
Faux leather brown ballet pumps

If you are interested in any, just let me know via Etsy (or note on DeviantArt, or Flickrmail, etc) and I will take a picture for you to see if you like, asap :)

My Etsy Wishlist!

2008-02-24T20:28:00.000Z

This is a list of stuff I have wanted since I joined Etsy... I would like to own this stuff by the end of 2008. I won't be able to afford food, but I'll have bloody lovely stuffs.

Citrus SaltyDawg Shampoo Creme by Gudonyatoo

(doesn't it look like a green pea sorbet?!)

Sweetheart Cake Pendant by pukashell

Russian Nesting Doll Ponies by nightowlstudios

Bought! Are very lovely :D

Little Ron Burgundy by kezzaroo

Tea Tree Solid Shampoo by bluemarmalade Mr Fox Ring by soop

Maple and Walnut Tea by TeaNoir

MacBeth Journal by immortallongings. I also want this listing for 6 of her cards, and this necklace with her Winter's Tale Design:

by JenniferRydinDesigns

Sake Deodorant by aromaticbodyoils

Orchid Necklace by hanami

Rising Sun Wallet by QuietDoing

Hawaiian Black Sea Salt Soap by savor. I also want her Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Chocolate Cardomom, Creme Brulee, Black Mission Fig, and Earl Grey Tea with Lemon.

Clyde Top by MissBrache

Satin Eye Mask by greygoat. I really can't sleep during the day :(

Tokyo Underground Necklace by LePhotique

I am obsessed with subways and the Tube because I live somewhere with rubbish public transport, so efficient transport really fascinates me.

Tentacle Earrings by OctopusMe

Jewelled Ribbon Headband by loobyloucrafts (in red and green hopefully)

Customised Lantern by wispofwhimsy

King George Collar by miruku78 (for my cat obviously)

Stripy Corset by DesertOrchid87

I also want some stuff (that's not in their shop or sold items) by PreciousMeshes and SugarRoxx.