Monthly Archives: August 2014

Tea Party Tuesday: Lingonberry Green

Confession time: I have a lifestyle crush on Marcus Samuelsson. He is nice-looking, has a neat restaurant, seems to genuinely like his super-hot wife, and exudes competence on Top Chef. The guy just seems to have his life together. This weekend, I took a knife skills class and got to the cooking school a little bit early, giving me just enough time to wander around and spend more money. When I saw that he had a beautifully packaged new tea line, there was no outcome where I didn’t purchase it.

I mean LOOK at that tin. It's so pretty.

I mean LOOK at that tin. It’s so pretty.

After an agonizing ten minutes deciding which of the four offerings I would select, I left the shop with the Ambessa Lingonberry Green. Let’s start with the downsides before I go on to the fun stuff. Bad part one: it’s a sachet, which I didn’t realize. Bad part two: I did not suddenly become a Beard award winner OR the partner of a model after drinking a big cup of this tea.

Now, on to the fun part. I love lingonberries. They’re somewhat uncommon in the United States (though if you live up north, you can grow them), but they’re a staple in Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and other consistently cold European nations. They’re tart and sweet, and boast a host of nutritional and medicinal properties that make me wonder what all the fuss about acai berries is. The green tea they’re blended with here is a Japanese sencha, and it’s very delicate. We’ve covered how great green tea is for you in the past, so no need to rehash here.

The nose on the leaves was just slightly fruity- enough that you knew there was cowberry in your future, but not enough to remind you of Celestial Seasonings Peach Whatever Whatever. I steeped it for threeish minutes and took the bag out and this is what I got:

Incredibly pale, yes?

Incredibly pale, yes?

It’s subtler than I expected- the lingonberries are there if you’re looking for them, but they don’t knock you out. That’s a drawback of some teas that come blended with fruit, and I was glad we sidestepped that particular pitfall. This would make a really nice iced green tea for a hot day, but I enjoyed it in its intended form, too. Definitely recommend, despite the fact that it did not come with complimentary Michelin stars. Ugh.

The lingonberry green runs about $8 for 40 sachets, and is available here.

Anyone tried any of the other Ambessa teas? I’m curious about the Earl of Harlem!

Lazy Sunday: 10 August 2014

Y’all, I had a rough. week. I’m treating myself to some day drinks, a new dress, and an afternoon at the Gibbes. Enjoy these reads!

  • Let’s start with a buzzkill: Practice good password hygiene. (via Pableaux Johnson)
  • Casey Cep tries to quantify her soul with some ungodly Fitbit for mindfulness.
  • Fun fact: I will take your throat out with my teeth if you tell me to “smile” on the street. I guess there’s a solution now! The Smile Bitch Training Camp!
  • There is nothing, nothing, I love better than a charming man. Is there anything better than being dazzled? But what is charm? Benjamin Schwartz talks the rise and fall of charming men over at the Atlantic.
  • I have never watched a single episode of Seinfeld, and Chuck Klosterman is making me feel better about that.
  • If watching this compilation of dogs fighting boots doesn’t cheer you up, it’s over for you.
  • You probably heard that the New Yorker’s archives are free for the summer, but they’ve been around awhile and just thinking about all the stuff you want to read is dizzying. Here’s a great roundup from The Awl of some do-not-miss pieces.
  • The mysterious case of the Sherlock pilgrims, a group of people who travel to Switzerland and dress in costume to recreate the last hours of the detective’s life.
  • You’re bad at multitasking.
  • “Would you say she is your BFF?” “For your purposes, yes.” This is a great interview and I’m not sure who either of these actresses are. Solid work, Eric Spitznagel!