Review: Choice Organic Teas

I primarily stick to writing reviews about books, but occasionally I write one about a product I love. In this case, it's Choice Organic Teas. Teas and books are a staple in my house and didn't C.S. Lewis say, "You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me."?

A few weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to receive a box of Choice Organic Teas. Here's what I've been sampling:

Lift your spirits with this traditional tea that's aromatic and full of flavor. We blend brisk Ceylon and Indian black teas from select mountain gardens with essential oil of Italian bergamot from Calabria. The medium body and clean flavor of this popular classic will have you feeling revived and ready to go.

Treat yourself to a cup of peace and quiet. Treasured through the ages for its soothing effects, this flower holds an honored place in herbal remedy folklore. Our select Egyptian chamomile has a round, deep body and lingering sweetness with an elegant, floral flavor. It's free of caffeine to create an oasis of calm. (Caffeine Free)







Thrill your senses with this naturally caffeine-free twist on traditional chai. We blend rich South African rooibos with the finest masala spices for a cup that's warming, robust and subtly sweet. It's a luscious treat that pairs wonderfully with milk and sweetener. (Caffeine Free)

Breathe deep and help maintain healthy airways with this refreshing blend.** Echinacea, one of the most popular immunity-supporting herbs, is paired with elder flower, trusted by herbalists to support healthy sinuses, ears, and throats.** Eucalyptus, known for thousands of years to help support normal respiratory function for healthy breathing, completes the blend.** Enjoy this amber cup with a bright, minty taste. (Caffeine Free)

Support throat comfort with this cooling brew that combines trusted elements of traditional Egyptian and Chinese herbal formulas.** Smooth, slippery marshmallow root coats and caresses while sweet licorice root cools and soothes.** Anise, Europe’s most popular herb to calm the occasional cough**, lends an irresistible licorice flavor. It’s a slightly sweet, velvety blend sure to please and ease your throat.** (Caffeine Free)

Since the weather has been cold and life has been crazy, it's been nice to sit down with the various tea blends although I admit I haven't tried the Breathing Space or Throat Cozy yet. I'm sure by the end of the holiday season, I will contract a cold or feel a bit under the weather; and I'm confident I will be enjoying those teas as well.

Choice Organic Teas is the original organic tea company and has a wide variety of teas that are perfect for the holiday season. There are teas that are perfect for tea/food pairings as well as teas that can help support digestion in case you overindulge! There are black, white, oolong, and green teas along with herbal and wellness teas to name a few. I was truly impressed by the number of different teas that Choice Organic Teas offer.

Here are some great holiday ideas for using Choice Organic Teas:

1. Soothe Your Stomach… After Your Holiday Dinner, try Easy Digest Wellness Tea
Instead of grabbing a cup of coffee at the end of a heavy meal, try the Choice Organic Teas Easy Digest tea. This warming tonic was formulated to aid digestion and relieve occasional indigestion, which often happens after a big Thanksgiving dinner!

2. Energize Yourself for Holiday Parties or Post-Dinner Game Night
The party is often just starting up after dinner, and with a belly full of turkey, one sometimes needs a little boost to go the extra mile! The Choice Organic Teas Energy Boost Tea is a fantastic compliment to a busy schedule--this crisp, lively blend supports healthy energy levels and vitality with energizing green tea.

3. Pair Sweet Cookies with an Earthy Oolong Tea
A delicious Oolong tea pairs well with homemade Christmas cookies or gingerbread treats. The complexity and gentle earthiness of this sophisticated tea makes it the perfect compliment to sweets.

4. Bake with Tea! Try Chai Pumpkin Bread
Consider making a delicious pumpkin bread for a Thanksgiving morning brunch item or a hostess gift for all of those holiday parties. This Chai Pumpkin Bread blends warm and spicy chai tea with yummy pumpkin for a fantastic holiday treat.

1/2 c sugar
1/2 c butter, at room temperature
1 c canned pumpkin
2 large eggs
2 bags of Choice Organic Teas Chai Spice Black Tea, steeped in 1/2 c boiling water
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/3 c all-purpose flour
2/3 c whole-wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp each cardamom, ginger, and black pepper
1/4 tsp each cloves, nutmeg, and allspice

Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl, use a mixer to beat together sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add pumpkin, eggs, chai tea liquid, and vanilla and stir until well combined. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices and stir just until evenly moistened. Pour into prepared 8" loaf pan. Bake 45-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool at least 20 minutes before serving. Original recipe from 28 Cooks (adapted with chai tea addition)

5. Offer Your Guests a Signature “spirited” Tea Recipe--Hot Tea Grog
Warm your guests up with Hot Tea Grog, a spicy tea drink with cloves, rum and cognac. The clove flavor and dark run make this a bit of an exotic tasting brew for a festive variation on traditional holiday spirits (serves 4).

4 cups brewed tea (using Choice Organic Teas Wild Forest Black, Classic Black, or English Breakfast Tea)
4 oz cognac
4oz dark rum
Several cloves
2 tsp honey
2 Pinches of nutmeg
Brew four cups of tea using the black tea of your choice. Remove tea bags or tea leaves and pour into saucepan. Add other ingredients to saucepan and heat thoroughly over medium heat. Serve hot with a cinnamon stick in each mug.

You can have Choice Organic Teas delivered to your home or you can find them at a store near you. Right now they have free shipping on orders over $29!