hand blended tea for your mom

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my eddie haskell moment

Okay. A few things you need to know about me: I love tea. I love dried spices. I try to find someone/something or something about someone to compliment every day. If I see something I think is pretty, the words "thats pretty!" practically leap from my mouth. Uncontrollable. I think a year full of small gifts is better than one big snow-bound, travel-rage suffused stampede of gifts. I love parents. They love me. They think I am hilarious. If I had a career as an entertainer, I could pack a house with the parent set. I love drinking teas. I love blending teas. I'd probably rather a plain cup of sencha over anything else most days, but I can't resist tinkering & blending with dried flowers, spices & a range of teas. Mostly what gets me every time is just how damned pretty it looks when its finished. Its the simplest balance of textures. Highlights of the dried mum petals & low lights of little rolled up balls of Chinese green tea, so good looking. The roses are classic & warm with the secret sweet of dried Stevia leaves, so tasty.

So pretty = So delicious.

I made this tea for Whitney's mom's visit to LA this summer. Yeah, I'm a little bit of a kiss-up sometimes, I know. it's not entirely a bad thing though, maybe just a little awkward to witness, but only quickly. The pangs subside, I just like to say thank you: for being alive, thank you for visiting. My you're a cute little pistol, have a bag of tea! I believe that more people should give little gifts like these. It is something I so appreciate about polite culture, truly. So, I mean it when I say, "Hi Mrs. Issaac, its so nice to meet you! Your daughter is one of my favorite people ever, so here's a little packet of tea I blended just for you. Thanks for visiting our fine city!"