Tea Time at Reverie: Sweet Jane Bennet from Bingley’s Teas

December 15, 2015December 15, 2015 / saraletourneau / 3 Comments

It’s our last Tea Time of 2015! Today’s is also an appropriate choice for the holiday season, a black-and-green tea blend named after the kind yet reserved oldest daughter of the Bennet family from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Read more about Sweet Jane Bennet from Bingley’s Teas at A Bibliophile’s Reverie!

A Bibliophile's Reverie

“Oh! You are a great deal too apt, you know, to like people in general. You never see a fault in anybody. All the world are good and agreeable in your eyes. I never heard you speak ill of a human being in your life.”
Elizabeth Bennet to Jane Bennet, in Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”

No one can deny that Jane Bennet is a sweetheart. The eldest sister of the beloved Bennet family from Pride and Prejudice, she’s kind, soft-spoken, and patient, an optimist who sees the best in people. Maybe it’s no surprise that Jane caught Charles Bingley’s eye – she’s an angel, in both demeanor and physical beauty.

What would an angelic character’s tea taste like, then? If you ask Bingley’s Teas, their answer would most likely be Sweet Jane Bennet from their Jane Austen Tea Series. This blend of black and green tea combines…

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Time Flies!: October 2015

November 1, 2015November 1, 2015 / saraletourneau / 15 Comments

Welcome to the latest edition of Time Flies! It’s my version of a monthly update, where I recap the past month’s accomplishments and articles, share news and random things from my offline life, and hint at what may be coming in the month ahead.

As much as I enjoyed parts of October, I’m relieved it’s over. Between a hectic work schedule, my first head cold of the season, and being busy at home, the past month sent me spinning. All the craziness also cut into my blogging time. So if it seems like things have been less active than usual here recently, that’s why.

It’s OK, though. Sometimes life happens, and blogging (both writing and visiting other blogs) has to go on the backburner temporarily. But now things are slowing down and deadlines have been met, so I can *hopefully* start catching up. My biggest priorities right now are a) finishing the fourth Character Evolution File so it can go live during the first or second week of November, and b) taking care of myself by relaxing, reading, and remembering to “smell the roses.” Or, in this case, the orchids.

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Tea Time At Reverie: Inspired By Jane’s Pemberley Green & Herbal Tea

October 12, 2015October 12, 2015 / saraletourneau / 1 Comment

It’s tea review time again! And if you’re a fan of herbal tisanes and literary-themed teas, this one might tickle your tastebuds. Head over to A Bibliophile’s Reverie to learn more about Pemberley Green & Herbal Tea from Inspired By Jane – and find out why the timing for this particular review was impeccable from a health perspective.

A Bibliophile's Reverie

“Every disposition of the ground was good; and [Elizabeth] looked on the whole scene – the river, the trees scattered on its banks, and the winding of the valley, as far as she could trace it – with delight.”
– Jane Austen, “Pride and Prejudice”

It’s fall here in the Northern Hemisphere. That means cooling temperatures, leaves falling from the trees, scrumptious dishes featuring apples and pumpkin, and – unfortunately – the dreaded cold virus. I’m just getting over my first cold of the season, and my body’s been craving more tea than usual. Especially herbals. Anything with chamomile, spearmint, or lemongrass is my best friend right now.

Which means it’s the perfect time to introduce you to Inspired By Jane, which offers a line of five teas that pay tribute of the works of Jane Austen. (Yay, more literary-themed teas!) Three of its teas include herbal ingredients, and…

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Tea Time at Reverie: Teasenz’s Love At First Sight Blooming Tea

September 17, 2015September 17, 2015 / saraletourneau / Leave a comment

A number of readers enjoyed learning about blooming tea when I first reviewed it for A Bibliophile’s Reverie. So, how about another one? 😉 Teasenz was kind enough to send two blooming tea samples; and today I offer my thoughts on the second sample, the delicate and refined Love At First Sight Blooming Tea.

A Bibliophile's Reverie

It’s blooming tea time again! Teasenz was generous enough to include two different blooming tea samples for our review. We’ve already covered their delightful Oriental Beauty Blooming Tea here. Today, we turn the spotlight to Love At First Sight Blooming Tea. This bouquet of green tea and flowers sounds similar to Oriental Beauty in terms of ingredients. So, will the infusion also taste similar? Let’s bring out the glass teapot and find out.

The Basics

Teasenz’s Description:“Sweet, smooth and delicate, this famous blooming tea from Fujian Province blossoms into beautiful flowers when infused. After enjoying the tea, preserve the enchanting view of Love at First Sight for up to five days in a glass of cold water. Refresh the water once a day.”

Ingredients: Green tea leaves, globe amaranth, jasmine, marigold, and calendula blossoms

Steeping Instructions: Use 1 blooming tea ball for every 8 oz of…

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Tea Time at Reverie: Yezi Tea’s Dragon Well High Grade Long Jing Green Tea

May 13, 2015May 13, 2015 / saraletourneau

Funny how I decided to review Yezi Tea’s High Grade Dragon Well Green Tea while reading George R.R. Martin’s A Dance With Dragons recently. (My review of ADwD is coming soon, btw.) And I think those fire-breathing wyrms and their brethren from other fantasy stories would approve of this prized Chinese tea. Read on to find out what makes Dragon Well so unique – in appearance, smell, and taste.

A Bibliophile's Reverie

If I had to pick a favorite green tea, Dragon Well would be my vote. I was fascinated by its unexpectedly full flavor and the distinct appearance of its leaves the first time I tried it. So, I was thrilled when Yezi Tea sent a sample for Tea Time.

Known as Long Jing (Chinese for “dragon well”) in its native China, Dragon Well is celebrated as an Imperial Tea and surrounded by all kinds of lore. Listing all of the legends would take a while; but after researching, it’s clear why emperors loved this tea. Dragon Well is harvested exclusively in Hangzhou’s lakes region, and is comprised of unopened leaf buds called “dragon sprouts” (a.k.a. water lily hearts). The leaves are plucked by hand during the first couple weeks of spring, then pressed in a hot wok until the ideal shape is achieved. As for the scent and taste… Well, that’s…

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Tea Time at Reverie: Sanctuary T’s Geisha Beauty

April 28, 2015April 28, 2015 / saraletourneau / 2 Comments

Sanctuary T’s Geisha Beauty promises a burst of peach against a backdrop of black and green teas. Do the aroma and the flavor profile live up to this promise? Find out at my newest tea review at A Bibliophile’s Reverie.

A Bibliophile's Reverie

After falling in love with fruity black/green tea blends last year, I’ve been on the lookout for similar teas that combine different types of leaves with a floral or fruity pizzazz. Our previous Sanctuary T sample, Spring Harvest, was a lovely example of green and white teas married with tropical flavors. Now it’s time for another choice from Sanctuary T: Geisha Beauty, a best-selling blend of black and green teas with a dash of peach flavoring. Just how peachy is this infusion? Keep reading to find out.

The Basics

Photo courtesy of Sanctuary T

Sanctuary T’s Description:“Geishas have traditionally been associated with beauty, subtlety, and sophistication, and those three ingredients are the inspiration behind this refined blend. We’ve combined black tea, green tea, sunflower leaves, rose petals, and other natural flavors to create a rich tea with strong undertones of peach. Try it iced or paired with…

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Time Flies!: February 2015

February 28, 2015November 11, 2015 / saraletourneau / 16 Comments

First of all, thanks to all the new visitors who came by this month for the Maria V. Snyder and #1000Speak articles! I hope you enjoyed what you read and will continue to visit as time goes on. And if you haven’t yet, make sure you enter the Shadow Study giveaway for a chance to win a signed copy of Maria’s new book. The giveaway ends on Wednesday, March 4th at midnight EST, and is international (i.e., open to everyone).

February was much less stressful than the past couple months had been. (*whew*) It was also a super-busy month writing-wise, which is never a bad thing – especially given one of the milestones I reached recently. 😀 Some of you may already know what I’m talking about. If you don’t, no worries. That’s part of this month’s recap.

I’ve tweaked the format for Time Flies this month. If you’ve seen the past monthly updates, let me know you think this one’s an improvement over the last one.

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Tea Time at Reverie: Sanctuary T’s Spring Harvest Green Tea

February 6, 2015February 6, 2015 / saraletourneau / Leave a comment

Are you as weary of winter as I am? Then here’s a fruity green/white tea blend that will remind you of spring! Aptly called Spring Harvest, this bouquet from Sanctuary T combines Japanese sencha with delicate white tea and tropical fruits for a crisp, sweet cup that blooms like the first flowers of April. Read my complete review of Sanctuary T’s Spring Harvest – and find out which books I paired with it – at A Bibliophile’s Reverie!

A Bibliophile's Reverie

I’ve had enough of winter. It’s only the first week of February, but after a January full of bitter cold and slushy roads – and then being buried under 3+ feet of snow within the past 2 weeks – I’m already counting down to spring. If I just close my eyes, I can already feel warmer temperatures, see new leaves on the trees, and smell the fresh flowers and the sweet dampness of earth after a rainstorm. Of course, that’s all in my imagination.

Chasing away the winter blues was my priority for this Tea Time. Luckily, Sanctuary T has a remedy in the form of tea: Spring Harvest, a blend of green and white teas with passionfruit flavoring. Turns out it was a rather delectable choice!

The Basics

Photo courtesy of Sanctuary T

Sanctuary T’s Description:“It may be raining outside, but that doesn’t mean you can’t relax like…

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Freelance Article Round-Up: October 2014

October 31, 2014October 30, 2014 / saraletourneau / Leave a comment

Welcome to this month’s Freelance Article Round-Up – and Happy Halloween! October turned out to be a very busy month, so let’s get right to what’s happened since the previous update.

Tea Time at Reverie (Tea Reviews)

I’d totally forgotten that I could reblog my tea reviews from A Bibliophile’s Reverie here until just recently. *facepalm* Anyways, here are links to the Tea Time articles from the past month in case you missed them:

Grub Street

Grub Street posted my article “How Music Can Enhance Your Writing” at their blog yesterday! It talks about music can help with concentration and influence emotion, character development, and other aspects of your writing. This article was a joy to write, since I could share a few personal experiences. It was also fun to research and see how other writers have benefited from the same practice – and which songs and genres they listened to!

Click here to read “How Music Can Enhance Your Writing.”

What’s Coming in November

More tea reviews are on their way at A Bibliophile’s Reverie, as well as the column’s first review of a book on tea. I’ve also got some great news regarding another freelance venture – news I’m so excited for, I’m fidgeting in my seat! But I can’t share it until the site officially announces their new columnists. So, stay tuned! 😉

Other Happenings

Despite a hectic month, I managed to cross the 90K mark on my fantasy WIP. *whew!* I still doubt I’ll finish the first draft before year’s end (projected final word count is about 115,000), but I’m thrilled and proud of how I’ve been able to plow forward despite my offline commitments. Makes me want to go trick-or-treating just to celebrate! (Like I need the candy, though. *lol*)

The next Freelance Article Round-Up will post on Sunday, November 30^th. Until then, come back for more Recent Reads (book reviews), another installment of Chronicling The Craft (novel-writing progress series), and much more!

Freelance Article Round-Up: September 2014

September 30, 2014November 11, 2015 / saraletourneau / Leave a comment

Welcome to this month’s Freelance Article Round-Up! If you read last month’s, you might have noticed something different about today’s. See the logo above? 😀 What do you think?

Freelance Article Round-Up is a monthly series (or bimonthly, depending on my freelancing schedule) to keep you abreast of the articles I’ve written outside of this blog. I’ll also offer a glimpse into the coming month’s assignments and other exciting happenings.

Here’s what I’ve been up to since the July / August Round-Up. Continue reading →