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Barley Tea + Corn Tea = Coffee
Read it again, I think you missed it.
Ok, you can smooth your wrinkled foreheads and lower your raised eyebrows now.
I know it sounds ludicrous and almost insulting to the church of java beans. I apologize, but hear this — I’m on your camp, too. And as a lover of good black coffee, I’ll put my fussiness in matters of taste and gladly attach my Certified Coffee Substitute seal on this one.
I discovered this almost-perfect combination by accident. My friend Alice, my personal purveyor of ALL kinds of tea, made this for me one afternoon. I could smell it from the dining table as I waited so I asked if she was making coffee. Not a coffee drinker herself, I thought she was making an exception for me that one time. She emerged from her kitchen with a teapot and poured golden brown colored tea into the cups. I sniffed the sweet smelling coffee aroma, and was quietly wishing it would taste something close to coffee because I was already craving for it. And then…I took a sip. And fell in love. I love both coffee and tea, and I couldn’t have been on a higher caffeine cloud at that moment. It was REALLY good. It was like drinking coffee, but with the lightness of tea.
Barley and Corn tea are two of the most unusual, if not exotic, types of tea I’ve ever had. One that makes me all giddy, though, is the subtly sweet and fragrant blush-colored rose bud tea. Having a baroness of tea for a friend does have its own benefits. And I encourage you tea lovers to find one of your own! :-D
Do you like tea? What’s your favorite?
Mine is the Coconut Macadamia tea from Hawaii on the right. Alice got me hooked on it as well.
Aside from my dear friend, I learn and get to taste teas from around the world through my like-minded penpals who I exchange teas with. We love mail and we love tea!
Have you participated in a tea exchange before?
It’s so fun! Anyway, my enthusiasm is getting the best of me. But do let me know if you’re into that and I’ll get something going for us tea lovers!
Oh, and enjoy your weekend!
I’m fairly new to the tea world– I’ve only been trying teas for a year or so and nothing more exotic than Lapsang souchong or Papaya Mate (I love them both). My everyday tea preference falls into the Earl Grey category or a house blend I get from a tea store in Winston-Salem, NC called “Chief Judge Blend” (which is his take on Celestial Seasonings Morning Thunder, only a million times better). I probably wouldn’t have fallen into being a hot tea drinker at all if I hadn’t married a European! Until I met him, tea to me was Luzianne served very cold and very, very sweet (it’s a southern thing!!).
I used to drink black tea as a kid, very sweet but then grew to dislike it. After having kids I was reintroduced into the world of normal tea and herbal teas by a friend. I still don’t drink normal black tea but I do enjoy my herbal teas, especially rosehip & hibiscus, and chamomile.
I am actually going to a tea tasting ‘party’ this weekend!
I love the idea of Tea Exchange from around the world, how do I join?
Judiths last blog post..Thanks.nMy house is
I love the coffee taste & smell of barley tea too! I just love brewing them and my kitchen smell so nice and I don’t even have to drink coffee! :D
linas last blog post..Rice, Rice, Rice
I think I’ve been missing out on a lot of terrific teas! I’d love to take part in an exchange.
LuckyGirls last blog post..White Chocolate Wonderful
I’d love to take part in a tea exchange, but our quarantine laws are too strict, so it’d never get here. :( Have you ever tried blossoming tea? It’s a closed flower bud that infuses in hot water and opens to a beautiful bloom. Amazing to watch and taste!!
Sandys last blog post..may is the MONTH
How strange! I didn’t even know there were such things as corn and barley tea, frankly. And I NEVER would have guessed that a combination of the two would taste like coffee either. Thanks for sharing.
Hillarys last blog post..Bound in a book: Food the topic at Printer’s Row
Over here in Hawaii I’m often drinking green tea with dinner and Earl Grey with things like scones, etc. :)
Loris last blog post..Barbecue in Waikiki
Hello there :)
I would definitely enjoy participating in a tea exchange! What a great idea. I have never tried barley or corn tea – wow! You’re right, I did have to read it again, ha ha.
Have a great day!
Nicole — Ah, now your teas are ‘exotic’ to me. :) We’ll have to thank your hubs for getting you into tea. Btw, I don’t know Luzianne. You have me on a quest now.
Judith — How did the party go? That sounds awesome! I’ll email you for details.
Lina — Yay, another barley tea lover!
LuckyGirl — I’ll email you with details.
Lori — Earl Grey is a staple in my tea cabinet. I’m still wishing to make some scones…soon.
Emily — Oh, I should send you some, girl! I’ll email you about the tea exchange.