Flavor Trip - Four O´ Clock Organics

Owies! Tea is expensive now that I`m back home. Since I recently worked from 5PM to 4AM Photoshopping some of my artwork for a contest deadline the next day, however, I decided to splurge on $6 worth of Fair Trade Pomegranate Echinacea from the Four O´Clock series by Trans-herbe. It was a deliciously unusual blend, and I think I´m going to stick with Four O´Clock no matter the cost, because Ginkgo Ginger and Licorice Spice are also some pretty badass-sounding herb teas. Something about drinking something both Fair Trade, Organic, and yummy makes you feel awesome.

Completely Off-Topic - Parkour and Free Running

Yes, this is a complete lapse in topic consistency. Forgive me. But tea is a thing in a world of things, and two of those things are so awesome I have to give them some space alongside the hot mug that usually graces this blog. Those things are Parkour and Free Running.

Some people use the terms interchangeably; both, after all, can be found on Youtube as clips of incredibly brave individuals doing gymnastics in an urban environment. However, closer inspection shows a difference in style; Free Running is when they leap from roof to second-story-balcony-across-the-street, do triple wall-breakdance flips, and generally look scarily amazing. Parkour comes from the French term for 'obstacle course' and can be defined best as a training method to move efficiently and naturally and overcome obstacles; rolls, vaults, and rhythm are key points in the discipline. Both stemmed from what these two guys named Sabastien Foucan and David Belle did in Paris a while ago for fun with a couple of friends. However, I've been watching about a million videos, and then did some reading, and then watched some more videos, but tutorials this time--and I WANT TO DO THIS.

I'm a wimp though, so I'm just building up my stamina and reflexes for now, and practicing rolling on the soccer pitch because it's the most harmless move you can learn. I guess I caught the bug--or just poured another new cup of tea. We now return to your previously scheduled topic.

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Tonic Tea - Organic India

Is it any surprise that India--birthplace of yoga and, in a sense, vegetarianism--takes health benefits into consideration with its most popular drink? Today I got two freebies from Organic India at the local Co-Op; Red Mango and Sweet Rose, both caffeine free and containing Tulsi, a medicinal herb revered as "The Holy Basil" by the Hindus. (Tulsi is an adaptogenic herb, proven to support the body's immune system and relieve the negative effects of stress.) Sweet Rose had a strong sense of chamomile, but was just a tad sweeter. However,what really got me was the smell of the tea--a pleasant aroma of roses that lingered after I was done with tea for the night.
I'm really looking forward to Red Mango now!

For the Tea-Time Zone - Traveler's Tins

The Republic of Tea might package their yummy blends in cans, but don't fret; they're just an efficient way to package circular bags. But they also make Traveler's Tins--sleek six-packs of tea bags just right for a jean jacket pocket and only about $4 a pop. As for blends, they're all great, but I recommend the soothing Dancing Leaves green tea.

Since there's room, I'd like to share a travel-related tea anecdote. Once I was sitting next to my brother on a coast-to-coast flight, and I'd swiped some Orange Pekoe from last night's hotel or something. I asked the flight attendant for hot water, all right, and I took the tea out of the wrapper. Then--get this--my brother took the teensy weensy Orange Pekoe wrapper, and folded it into an origami crane. AWESOME. I still have it in my wallet somewhere.

After-Dinner Awesome - Green Tea Mints

Imagine a perfect world -- Bush impeached, root beer flavored Pez, and green tea Altoids. Fortunately, at least one out of the three isn't hopeless; Sencha Naturals put out these cute leaf-shaped lozenges infused with jasmine, and apparently just three of them give you the benefits of a steaming cup. But come on people, he's our president after all...we're responsible for this...

Pocket Healthy - The Sencha Shot

Say you're going for a ride. A bus ride. a no-legroom, snoring-Homer-Simpson-double-next-to-you, dead-iPod-battery ride. How about packing a shot--a Sencha Shot? Packed with 152 mgs of catechin antioxidants, this thing seriously fits in your iPod case. It's tiny. And I don't know how they do it, but I could even detect hints of toasted rice.

Pop-culture Cupcakes - Just Don't Eat 'em

Taking a breather from our 3-beverage brawl, we explore a topic only marginally related to a tea-suited dessert. Enter Johnny Cupcakes, a chic clothing store on Boston's hot Newbury Street, and its sweet gear. In witty illustrations plastered over everything from sleek belts to bling to reversible hoodies, cupcakes are given a street-smart edge. Even Johnny's whimsical website, where clothing sizes are listed as 'Nutrition Information', is designed to appeal to the Ipodist urbane.I just wish they still had the skateboard deck in stock.