Playing in the leaves

To clarify, I spent some pleasant time today playing in the tea leaves, not autumn leaves.  : )

Yesterday I blended up fresh batches of two popular blends, Mutiny Bay Blend and Summer in Provence.  I always enjoy the scooping and measuring, the sniffing and tasting. There is something so soothing and old-fashioned about the blending process. It takes time and care, and always makes me think of one of my ancestors, an apothecary’s daughter.    As I was putting the newly refilled jars back on the shelf, I thought how nice it would be to blend something new, perhaps something with floral notes…. something spring-like.

Many are already so winter weary.  I wanted the fragrance of this new tea to bring back memories of a cottage garden on a warm June afternoon. This afternoon jars of a few favorite black teas, joined a jar of green jasmine and bowls of lavender and rose petals on my workbench.  Taking care to write down weights of each, I added a touch of Jasmine and a little Earl Grey to a smooth blend of black teas.   To this I sprinkled in rose petals and lavender buds, not too much…just enough to add delicate floral notes.

Mmmmmmm…….yes….just about right.   Now for the first taste test.  Nice, very nice.  It is smooth, the taste delicately floral, and the fragrance is lovely!  I’ll sip it again tomorrow and most likely do a little adjusting, but Cottage Garden Blend should be available on Green Willow’s website by the end of the week.

A most satisfying afternoon’s work.