The Utlimate Tea Storage Device: The TeaBook #Review #TheTeaBook

DSC_1173

Being a coffee and tea drinker, I always found it kind of humorous when looking at kitchen canisters, and the set came with one that was labeled tea, one coffee container, one flour and so forth. I use 4 different types of flours alone, so I usually stick my bread flour in the container because it’s the one most used. I would not be able to do this with my tea or coffee selections. Impossible! We use too many varieties, seasonal flavors and the 3 to 4 stand-bys alone.

In comes a solution for tea drinkers, the TeaBook. I had my teas in boxes, canisters (mini metal ones) to them sort of filed in one of those keepsake photo boxes. Take one out now and it could mess up my “organization”, and worse if you pulled an index card out with it. My process was not working and creating a headache. I even tried having one box for floral and fruity teas, and another for chocolate and spice flavors. No sooner I outgrew one box, I then added a let’s just throw what does not fit in the other boxes in this box….box. Get where I am going? For a person that dislikes clutter and mess, this was an ongoing nightmare for me. I have to admit, I sometimes skipped on tea some nights because I did not want to deal with the boxes. Love the huge collection I have but oh’ my goodness, I am drowning in tea and not in a good way.

DSC_1172

Retail Price Point: $21.oo Early Bird Special or $25.00 regular price.  The early bird special ends on May 18th!

DSC_1170

Verdict:

The Teabook was created via a Kickstarter campaign. I love when companies actually succeeded in not only creating a campaign, getting support, and yielding an actual final product. The books are simple as can be. You get pages with plastic inserts, each insert holds a tea bag that you can easily see, access, and use. No other tea bags tumbling and the entire book holds a generous 144 individual bags. I don’t like my flavors mixing and this again fixes that. You can create one page for floral notes, another for fruit blends, spicy varieties, black teas and so forth. No rules and you organize to fit your needs and I call that self customization there! The binder has a smooth finish and made of partially recycled and recyclable materials. Environmentally friendly and the cover feels smooth and soft, sort of like leather even though it is not. No dyes that smell off either because the materials are non-toxic and BPA free. Just a clean finish and the book comes in 5 different colors. Again, as your collection and tastes grow, the binders grow along with you. The binder also weighs only 2 pounds when filled. So much lighter than my box method, which failed and was not exactly organized. Now, if you buy teas in bulk or tins, the binder method does not work but those come labeled (or you label the container if you purchase in bulk bags). That is the only flaw if you really want to find one but 65% of my collection is in bags and this is a real solution to the most messiest problem, of keeping them in order and still being able to see each individual bag. Never lose a tea bag in a stack again!

DSC_1171

Checkout the TeaBook at:

I received the above product(s) free of charge from The TeaBook. I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion. My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

 

Advertisement

iCoffee Opus Single Serve Brewer Review

cropped-icoffee-brown_background_284-x-123

Last year I had the good fortune of being offered a chance to try out Remington’s iCoffee’s SteamBrew multi-cup brewer. At the time, I thought I had found nirvana, bliss in a cup. I have used everything from a $500 German-engineered machine to a $10 French press, and nothing compared to iCoffee’s SteamBrewed cup of goodness. I did not think I would ever find anything to top it.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I was wrong.

Because iCoffee sent me their newest creation, the Opus Single Serve Brewer. There’s a new sheriff in town, folks. And his name is Opus.

Everything I loved about the iCoffee SteamBrew machine has been miniaturized and put into Opus. It steams, spins and stirs the coffee right in the cup! Everything I dreaded about single-cup brewers was crumpled up and thrown right in the trash. Because iCoffee has the good grace and sense to include a reusable single-serve cup to add your favorite coffee, one amazingly, impossibly smooth cup at a time. IMAG2611The cup will accept all grinds (except maybe powder fine, I don’t grind my coffee that fine so I can’t say for certain), so you can adjust your grind to match the flavor profile and strength you desire. You want loose-leaf tea? The cup will accept any tea from any maker and flavor you desire. Or just heat one cup of water at a time and steep your bagged tea as you please. Iced coffee? Please, that’s not even a challenge. Just add ice and dial down the ounces. Don’t want to bother grinding, measuring or weighing out your coffee? iCoffee’s Opus IMAG2624accepts every K-Cup®, OneCup™, RealCup™ capsule, and all private label cups. Because only an insecure, inferior machine will limit your experience to just their brand of cups. And Remington’s iCoffee Opus let’s you experience every and anything you want to taste. Opus is packing a 75 ounce water reservoir, a removable drip tray to accommodate just about any size mug or travel cup you can find. Energy saver mode, auto shut off, and a precise Dial-a-Brew system that let’s you dialIMAG2635 in your drink size from 4 ounces all the way up to 12, one half ounce at a time. Remington Even includes a six pack of single serve coffees from Tim Horton and Marley coffees, and even an herbal tea! I think it’s the perfect machine for any household. And cleanup? Throw the used cup IMAG2614away, or just wash out the included (Seriously, how awesome is Remington for that?!) reusable cup!

So, let’s address the elephant in the room: How does iCoffee’s Opus stack up to the market leaders with single serve machines? Well, I could go on and on about how superior the flavor is from Opus (and believe me, it is!), and it’s still  just one person’s opinion. But why do that when Remington went to the flavor professionals at Ohio State University. Read the full report here, but with all variables being equal, iCoffee Opus beat Keurig’s best machine in every category, from aroma, to taste, to aftertaste. Spanked them, actually. In fact, almost everyone who tries iCoffee’s Opus agrees. So, then what about that website that claimed the coffee made by Opus was weaker than from another brand of brewer? Poppycock, says I. If you want a stronger brew, grind your beans a little bigger. Here’s another pro tip: Remember iCoffee Opus’s patented Dial-a-Brew system? IMAG2637A little trick I learned is to fill mug 4 ounces at a time. Just pop the top after you dispense your 4 ounces of love, close and repeat until full. What that does is let the grounds steep just a few more seconds each time and be super-saturated by ounce 12. I got so much flavor from my coffees and teas this way, I get to tailor my cup each time I turn it on. I’m not exaggerating when I tell you this is the best cup of coffee I’ve ever brewed at home.

iCoffee’s Opus Brewer is a treat to smell, makes treats to taste, and looks damn fine doing it too. Shiny chrome,IMAG2639 bright blue LED lights…the only thing I miss is my iCoffee’s little tune it sung when my brew was done. It doesn’t take up the whole counter, it doesn’t suck up a bunch of electricity while idle, an it goes from cold to piping hot and ready to drink in about 5 minutes (our non-contact IMAG2704 (1)thermometer registered 147 degrees and climbing fresh from the brewer!). There is quite literally nothing to dislike about the iCoffee Opus. If you forced me to pick one quibble, it would be the vacuum-metalized plastic cover on the drip tray. Because it will be used so much, the chrome paint will be scratched or worn away quickly, so I may have hubby fabricate a version out of stainless steel. And that’s me being picky. I usually try not to gush over the things I test and review, but I just love this machine. I’ve used it every day since it arrived, and my teapot on the stovetop is turning green from envy. Once the belle of the ball, iCoffee’s Opus just kicked him to the curb. iCoffee’s Opus Single Serve Brewer is available exclusively at Bed, Bath & Beyond (and if you don’t get promos from them already, you really should start here now). I cannot recommend this brewer highly enough, I can’t say enough good things about Remington’s iCoffee Opus. You really owe it to yourself to try the cup of coffee Opus can make for you.

IMAG2638

 

Connect with Remington:

I received the above product free of charge from Remington.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

Mighty Leaf Tea : TeaTop Brew Mug and Vanilla Bean, Organic African Nectar and Green Tea Tropical #Review and #Giveaway

IMAG1872

I have a coffee travel mug and even a tea mug, but I have never tried a TeaTop Brew Mug until now. Like with coffee, I feel a fresh cup of tea is as desirable and even though tea holds it’s flavors and quality better than it’s counterpart, I still would like the option to brew as I go. The Mighty Leaf Tea Company not only makes this happen but the mug works perfectly with no mess or fuss. The tea bag hangs freely but you won’t lose the string, as there is a nice notch that holds it in place. When you have achieved the strength desired in your cup of tea, you simply just pull the tea bag up and the cup does the rest.  You even have a place to rest the bag away from your ready to drink tea. The insulated cup allows you to just sip and enjoy!.

Retail Price Point: $16.95 for a cup that let’s you make sure ever cup steeps perfectly every time, plus it’s snazzy looking.

When it comes to enjoyment, Mighty Leaf Tea sent a trio for me to try:

Mighty Leaf Taste of the Tropics Gift Sampler-

IMAG1980

  • Vanilla Bean
    A black tea base with a deep infusion of Vanilla Beans from Madagascar. This tea tastes as good as it smells and even though vanilla has warm notes, this tea’s flavor is so clean that you get a light and almost crisp notes. As much as I love Vanilla, it can overpower if not used wisely but that is something that Mighty Leaf tea was able to balance out with true perfection. Simple but left me craving for a second cup in no time!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

IMAG1979

  • Organic African Nectar
    This variety is tropical and almost fruity in flavor. You get nice herbal notes and a kiss of sweetness that makes you believe there is honey in your cup already. This tea uses a blend of rooibos leaves, organic hibiscus and dried blossoms. I enjoyed this blend cold by brewing a cup, allowing it to cool, and then letting it rest in the fridge to get ice cold. It went well with dinner and because it’s caffeine free, I did not have to worry on those late dinner nights either.

IMAG1978

  • Green Tea Tropical
    You have a green tea base that is accompanied by dried fruits and flowers. The blossoms are marigold petals and cornflowers.  The fruits are also not your usual citrus mixes like with other teas. Think pineapple sweetness with even notes of guava. This variety pushed all my other green teas a notch down and became my favorite. I love adding just a touch of honey to not take anything away from it but most times I just enjoy it as-is.

IMAG1872

Retail Price Point: The above trio retails for $30.00 and you get a generous amount of tea bags. Each box has 15 whole leaf pouches…..that’s 45 cups of happiness!

Like what you saw?

IMAG1871

Well, it’s GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

One lucky winner will be able to win the above items and Mighty Leaf Tea will send them directly to your home. It’s their nice way to share and play Santa for us! All you have to do is:

  1. Sign-up to their Newsletter and you already are rewarded with a 15% off coupon towards their artisan teas
  2. Follow them on Twitter
  3. Follow “Like” them on Facebook
  4. and please leave a comment on this blog post below

Four easy steps and it could be yours. #Giveaway starts today 12/01 and ends on 12/14. I will announce the winner on the 15th and then ask for your information, which I will forward to the company. Good Luck!!!

Connect with Mighty Leaf Tea and find your favorite tea at:

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Mighty Leaf Tea.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.  The Giveaway prize will be supplied by the manufacture and items/product package may change if items above are out of stock.

%d bloggers like this: