Tea How To
Start Your Day Right With a Cool Black Tea Smoothie
Sometimes, the best thing for a summer morning boost is a power-packed, refreshing smoothie. You don’t need to abandon your daily tea routine just because you’re craving a smoothie, though. Enjoy the best of both worlds by whipping up a black tea smoothie! What Is a Black Tea Smoothie? There are two routes you can […]
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Chill Out: Four Ways to Enjoy Frozen Iced Tea
Sometimes, iced tea just doesn’t cut it. As we get into the hottest of summer days, you may find yourself looking for something even colder than iced tea. May we recommend frozen iced tea? Frozen iced tea can come in several forms, but when made correctly, still carries that burst of flavor and energy you’ve […]
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Boba Shop Delights: How to Make Bubble Tea at Home
Have you ever wished you knew how to make bubble tea so you could enjoy it at home? With this bubble tea recipe, you’ll be able to make endless flavor combinations with all your favorite tastes. What is Boba or Bubble Tea? Bubble tea is a Taiwanese drink usually made of black or green tea, […]
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How To Make Sun Brewed Iced Tea
There’s nothing quite as satisfying in summertime as a refreshing glass of iced tea. When you have a sunny afternoon in front of you and some strong, fruity black tea in your tea cupboard, you can make the weather work for you, and make yourself some sun brewed iced tea! Best Teas for Sun Tea […]
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Bulletproof Tea Recipe
Do you ever wish you had a tea that could give you all the powers of a superhero like Superman or Captain Marvel? A bulletproof tea recipe that made you impervious to all man made weapons? Me too, honestly. Unfortunately, this is not that recipe. If I ever find one, I promise I’ll share it […]
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Does Tea Need to be Refrigerated
Maybe you started a warm cup of tea too late at night. You know it’s going to keep you up if you drink it, but it’s so good! You can’t just let it go to waste! You can save it for the morning, but does tea need to be refrigerated? The good news is that […]
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The Fastest Way to Ruin Loose Tea: Storing Tea in Freezer
You’ve found it: Your absolute favorite blend of tea. The temptation to stockpile as much as you can is strong. The first solution that comes to mind may be storing tea in freezer bags and packing it away in the back of your icebox. However, when you come back to finish your frozen tea, you […]
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The Best Way to Boil Water for Tea
Maybe you’re just starting out with loose leaf tea. Maybe you’ve had the same routine around your daily cuppa for years. Either way, you may start to wonder how you can get the best water for tea. The world of tea is vast and diverse. There are so many ways to make a good cup […]
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The Best Snacks With Tea
Right now, I’m having some gluten free toast with a cup of Strawberries and Cream tea. I love having tea and toast together. Tea and snacks come in infinite combinations, and every tea drinker seems to have that one tea-and-food combination that we pull out when we need a self-care afternoon. Here are some of […]
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What to Make with Matcha Powder
Matcha has recently become a bit of a trend in the foodie world. Matcha ice cream, cookies, and cakes are popping up left and right. Want to get equipped for the upcoming matchapocalypse? Here are a few ideas of what to make with matcha powder. While it has become popular in the west in the […]
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What Does it Mean to Steep Tea?
If you’re a regular tea drinker, you probably do a lot of steeping on a daily basis. But what is that magical process that turns some hot water and dry leaves into a steaming, delicious beverage? And how can you make it work to give you the best possible cup of tea? At first glance […]
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How to Make a Tasty Tea Steamer
I rarely like to add any extras to my daily cups of tea, but there’s something magical and soul warming about a well-balanced, warm, creamy tea beverage. Tea lattes are a popular option that can be found at most coffee shops. However, another decadent tea-based treat, the tea steamer, is just as warm and cozy […]
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Everything You Ever Needed to Know About Re-Steeping Tea
You just finished a delicious cup of tea. It seems like such a waste to throw away the leaves… but will the flavors still hold up if you steep them again? How can you ensure that the tea doesn’t taste too watery, or too bitter? Re-steeping tea can be a bit of a delicate art […]
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What’s the Best Way to Drink Tea?
At this point, you’ve probably been bombarded with ideas and opinions about how tea is best made and served. Advice from tea-loving friends on what sweetener to use. Pinterest graphs on the ten best tea infusers to buy. Amazon reviews for this tea pot or that. Arguments between cream enthusiasts, and tea purists. But what […]
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How Do You Use a Tea Infuser?
If you are curious about the world of loose leaf teas, you have probably asked yourself: How do you use a tea infuser? The answer is easier than you think, so read on and get your mug ready for some loose leaf brewing. What Is a Tea Infuser? An infuser is a tool that allows […]
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How To Make Good Chai Tea
Is there a more well-known tea beverage around the world than chai? Whether you’re sipping a frothy chai latte in your local cafe or a spicy traditional cup in India, chai is known all over for its signature warm, soothing spices and its dark and hearty brew. Today, we’re going to take you one step […]
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How To Make Tea Taste Better Without Sugar
Life has enough dessert-like temptations without you adding sugar to your teacup as well. If you have a sugary habit in your mug, you might be wondering how to make tea taste better without sugar. There are lots of ways to switch up your favorite cup to taste delicious without added sugar. Leaves and Infusion […]
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How To Make Strong Tea
Sometimes there is no better feeling than having a mug of bold and flavorful tea in hand. That cup of tea can be essential to waking up, feeling good, or rewarding yourself. But if your cup of tea is leaving you unfulfilled, perhaps you could benefit from some of our suggestions on how to make […]
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How To Make Herbal Tea Taste Better
Your favorite everyday tea doesn’t always have to be a typical breakfast black tea. Herbal teas can be a great change of pace in both caffeine levels and flavor. But if you’ve ever asked yourself how to make herbal tea taste better, maybe your mug is in need of a little experimentation. Unlike other teas, […]
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How To Make a Tea Care Package
Let’s face it, friends — we are living in the era of the subscription box. Now, while some of these are just lovely (Tea! In my mailbox! In a purple pouch! Every month!), I can’t help but notice that the abundance of prefab options has taken some of my own care-package-creation creativity down a notch […]
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Thank You Tea: How to Express Your Gratitude by Gifting Tea
I am grateful for tea every morning when I brew my favorite cup, but tea can also be used to express a deeper sense of thanks to a friend. Use these ideas to send some thank you tea to someone who’s meant a lot to you. If you need to get started right away, Plum […]
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Carbonated Tea Recipe: How To Make Sparkling Iced Tea
As far as drinks go, iced tea is a pretty classic choice that we love — but as you know we sometimes we like to add a little something special to standard recipes. In this case we are opting for a carbonated tea recipe for our little something special. We will show you how to […]
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Gift Guide: What To Get a Tea Lover
Looking for ideas about what to get for someone who loves tea? You’ve come to the right place. There are lots of ways to answer the question of what to get a tea lover, from something simple like loose leaf tea or a mug, to fancy infusers and accessories. One, Two, Tea! You would be […]
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How To Make Thai Tea from Scratch
Thai iced tea, which originates in Thailand, has become an incredibly popular drink here in the U.S. First introduced in Thai restaurants across the country, its deep color and sweet, creamy flavor make it an easy drink to enjoy. But don’t think you have to venture to one of these establishments just for a glass […]
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Communi-tea Roundup: Favorite Tea Mix-Ins
One of the loveliest, most fun things about tea is simply how customizable it can be — for every unique tea drinker out there, there is a tea blend to match. But what about when you start feeling the itch to get creative in your tea corner? Mix-ins can be an inspired way to doctor […]
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How to Start Liking Tea
Today we delve into a question about personal taste, namely, how to start liking tea. There are so many different types of tea and so many different ways to brew and experience tea, you are bound to connect with at least one of them. Tea Types and Flavors When most people think of tea, they […]
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How Long Does Tea Last In the Fridge?
Iced tea: It’s cold, it’s refreshing, and it’s what everyone looks forward to on a warm day. Many folks like to make big batches of tea ahead of time, for easier as-needed sipping. But just how long will it stay good? Today, let’s answer the question of how long does tea last in the fridge. […]
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Tea Gifts for Birthdays
Do you have someone’s special day circled on your calendar? Share some marvelous tea gifts for birthdays during your next celebration. Tea-Infused Birthday Cake Cake is almost synonymous with birthday celebrations. If you are looking for great tea gifts for birthdays, bake a tea-infused cake for the person. For a cake that pairs sweet honey […]
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Gifts for People Who Like Tea
Whether you’re shopping for a celebration or just a thoughtful surprise, pulling together the right present can seem daunting. No matter if your giftee is a seasoned tea enthusiast or a first-time sipper, today we’ve got countless ideas for gifts for people who like tea. First, let’s decipher who you’re shopping for. If your recipient […]
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How to Infuse Tea with Fruit
As winter winds whip around the eaves, it’s lovely to make something that remind us of summer, like infusing tea with luscious fruits that hark back to days of endless sunshine and brilliant blue skies. Here’s our easy guide on how to make fruit infused tea, for your comfort and sipping pleasure all year long. […]
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Sniffle Supporters: The Best Tea to Drink for a Cold
For those of us who love tea, a hot cuppa on a daily basis is just a part of our routine. But there’s nothing that better unifies the tea lovers with less habitual tea drinkers than feeling under the weather. Something about a case of the sniffles brings out our innate desire for a warm, […]
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Health and Cheer: The Best Tea for Winter
The winter season is known for its snowy weather, sparse landscape, and the busy holiday season. Some people find the season to be pleasantly crisp and peaceful, while others might feel a bit glum and chilled. The good news is that we have found the best tea for winter to warm up, heal up, and […]
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Where to Find Tea Like Teavana
It is a specific kind of disappointment when a product you like gets discontinued and you can no longer find it on the shelves or in stock. When that happens, you have to embark on a trial basis with similar products, hoping one of them is the right fit for you. Maybe this is all […]
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What Liquor Goes With Tea
Here at Plum Deluxe we think tea can pretty much go with anything. This is because there are so many varieties of tea and an infinite number of tea blends that it’s pretty easy to find a pairing that works. We have paired tea with cheeses and tea with soups, and now we are talking […]
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How to Make a Chai Tea Latte at Home
Long ago, before the days of my super-stocked tea cabinet and desire for encyclopedic knowledge about every loose leaf tea that crossed my path — er, cup — there were the days of the chai. All I knew was that it was creamy, spicy, sweet, warming, and autumnal, and with $4, I could pick one […]
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Tea Time Etiquette with Julia Livingston (Tea Time Podcast Episode 13)
What a lucky treat for you today! Our Plum Deluxe tea time podcast is back from hiatus for a special episode with community member Julia Livingston. Today’s topic is Tea Time Etiquette – specifically the tea etiquette certification that Julia recently completed. Julia is more well known as the Happy Tea Time Lady where she is […]
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What to Mix with Green Tea
I know most days, I reach for my tried-and-true black tea, but sometimes I need to take a break from all that robust flavor and caffeine. The lush flavors of green tea are just the right alternative. Green tea can be in loose leaf form, ground into powder, or even rolled into little tea pellets. […]
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Best Hot Teas to Drink
Something happens to me every year around Labor Day. The leaves start changing, I start sneaking sweaters and scarves out of the back of my closet (even if I may be sweating while wearing them for a few more weeks), and all of the mason jars full of cold-brewed tea sit, abandoned, in my fridge. […]
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Best Tea for Sweet Tea
In the movie “Steel Magnolias,” Dolly Parton’s character proclaimed that sweet tea was, “the house wine of the south.” We’re here to affirm that yes, Dolly was onto something. Summer just doesn’t feel complete to me without jar upon jar of cold-brewed, loose leaf tea clinking into one another on my refrigerator shelf. But while […]
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What Tea is Good for You?
What tea is good for you? In one sense, all of them! Many people consider tea to only be blends derived from the camellia sinensis plant. This includes tea that we label black, pu erh, oolong, green, yellow, and white. All of these have natural antioxidants which may offer a variety of health benefits such […]
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What Goes Well With Tea
Tea-lovers know there are plenty of things that pair well with tea, like honey and lemon, or milk and sugar. But let’s explore some less-expected accompaniments and look at what goes well with tea. Teaware A cup of tea always tastes a little better from your favorite mug or brewed with your best kettle. The […]
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Oh Sugar: The Best Sweeteners for Tea
Hand a cup of tea to any tea-drinker, and you’re likely to see them doctor it up in a whole variety of ways. Cream? Black? Sweet? Even within those categories, the customization choices are endless. One of the most impactful ways that you can change the flavor profile of your tea to suit your liking […]
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How to Keep Tea Fresh
It’s a conundrum most tea lovers have in common as their stash begins to grow: How on earth am I supposed to keep tea fresh? Tea leaves are delicate creatures, and storing tea improperly can quickly cause it to lose its flavor and freshness, which can make for one disappointing cuppa. When stored properly, however, […]
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How to Make Tea for Kids
Kids can be picky eaters, there’s no doubt about that, but like any parent we all want our kids to be both happy and healthy. Learning how to make tea for kids can be an easy way to introduce them to a healthy and satisfying drink that they can love. Sometimes it feels like trying […]
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Iced is Nice: How to Brew Tea In Cold Water
As soon as springtime temperatures start to creep past winter-coat-required levels, my thoughts and tastes immediately turn to iced tea over my usual hot cuppa in the mornings. I’ve become known around my office as the iced tea lady (a title I’ll proudly accept), strolling into work with an impressively-sized 32 ounces of freshly made […]
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3 of the Best Tea Flavors for Sun Tea
Whenever the sun is shining and the temperature is even moderately warm, we almost always want to tear outside and get a pitcher of sun tea going. For me, it reminds me of those thoughtful moments with mom or grandma — all that’s missing is some clothes drying on the line and a pile of […]
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Things to Know Before Baking With Tea
Tea and baked goods are one of those time-honored combinations that we can’t help but love. Tea parties have, for centuries, been synonymous with everything from scones to specialty breads, cookies, and pastries. However, the idea of incorporating tea into the baked good itself is a newer trend that results in numerous delightful combinations of […]
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10 of the Best Herbal Teas
The right cup of tea can do wonders to help your mood, health, or state of mind. Let’s take a look at the best herbal tea to help you with ten different daily-life scenarios. Just as an aside: This article will focus on naturally caffeine-free blends. If you’re feeling adventurous and want an herbal tea […]
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How to Create a Tea Ritual to Practice Presence
We all need ways to come back to center! For me (and I’m guessing you, too, since you’re reading this), one of my mainstays is the everyday ritual of tea. Anytime I make and settle in with a cuppa, I feel more present. Sometimes, I like to create more space around my tea time and […]
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Guide to Loose Leaf Tea for Beginners
Loose leaf tea is gaining in popularity, with many people trying it for the first time. Not sure what to buy or how to brew it? Here’s our guide to loose leaf tea for beginners. Choosing Loose Leaf Tea While tea bags are convenient, most of the flavor is lost, which is why loose leaf […]
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How to Set Up the Perfect Iced Tea Bar
When the first hot sunshine of spring hits, that’s the time to head outside with friends and family for a fabulous iced tea bar under the trees. While simple black iced tea, especially sweet, always refreshes on a hot day, there’s so much more you can do to iced tea to make it extra special […]
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How to Interpret Tea Leaf Reading Symbols
As a tea leaf reader, I often get asked what, exactly, reading tea leaves is and how it works — and how on earth I go about interpreting those tea leaf reading symbols. So I thought I’d share the basics of this fun and relatively simple form of divination. Pop the kettle on and let’s […]
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Tea for Two: Darling Dates for You and Your Sweetie
Want to do something unexpected with your date? Forget the tired old “dinner and a movie” cliché. Whether you’ve been together a long time or have just met, these tea for two date ideas are great ways to have fun and get to know your partner a little better. Be Romantic Light some candles, snuggle […]
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The Right Way to Brew Tea
When it comes to making tea “the right way,” everyone has their own opinion. What kind of tea is best, how much to use, water temperature, brewing vessel — these and more are all factors when it comes time to brew a cuppa. The British even have an ongoing argument over whether the milk or […]
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Cocoa and Tea: The Perfect Combo for Cool-Weather Sipping
This time of year, one of the biggest, most important questions we hot beverage lovers face is: cocoa or tea? Well, we have a solution for that. Instead of using hot water or milk to make your cocoa, you can use freshly brewed hot tea! Trust us, tea and cocoa are not as strange a […]
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Best Tasting Tea for Beginners
One of the most common questions we get here at Plum Deluxe is what is the best tasting tea for beginners? It’s a good one – especially if you grew up drinking inexpensive supermarket teas that might not be quite what you are hoping for in a hot beverage. Below, we’ll explore first some of the […]
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Three Horror Movie & Tea Pairings for a Spooky Evening
Fall is the perfect time for horror. The evenings are cool and it starts getting darker sooner; all the trees are changing into gorgeous colors. Since Halloween is on the horizon, what better way to get you in the Halloween mood than holding a horror movie night? I have chosen three horror movies with tea […]
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You’ve got Tea Mail! 5 Tips When Buying Mail Order Tea Online
Remember the old AOL message, you’ve got mail? (Yes, the one they made the movie about.) First we were excited about getting email, then it became a deluge of spam offers and email became a drag. These days, mail is back – the physical kind. Subscription boxes and eCommerce are growing fast, but the mail that […]
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Tea Before Bed, and 5 Other Bedtime Rituals for Mindful Sleeping
Everywhere I turn, I seem to find someone talking about their morning rituals — miracle mornings, mindful mornings, how to be a morning person… the drumbeat of the sunrise power hour is strong! I think mornings are important. But, being happily not a morning person, I am more focused on my bedtime evening rituals. Tea […]
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How to Make Infused Lemonade
When the hot days roll around, my interest piques for lemonades and Arnold Palmers. Even on a cooler, grey day, there’s something about an infused lemonade that brightens the mood — and even better if you can share with a friend. I have a slight serious obsession with lavender lemonade. And I have opinions on […]
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Tea and Toast: The Best Recipe for Comfort
There are few things more comforting in this world than a cup of tea and buttered toast — especially when the tea is hot and the toast is fresh and spread with delectable toast toppings. I adore toast. I love it plain with butter or topped with tuna, a slice of tomato, and a slice […]
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The Best Loose Leaf Iced Tea Makers for Your Summer Sipping
So you want to make some iced tea, huh? Awesome! Iced tea is lovely any time of the year, but it really shines during the warmer spring and summer months. Iced sweet tea has been popular down South for generations, and the craze is finally catching on. Nowadays — just as with automatic hot tea […]
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How to Gift Tea: 5 Tips for Gift Giving Ease
Whether it’s a birthday, a holiday, or a pick-me-up treat, giving the tea lover in your life something yummy and comforting feels good. But, sometimes tea lovers are hard to buy for. Don’t fret, my friend. After years of experience, listening to questions and comments from both sides (and watching interactions with our own line […]
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The 4 Most Popular Tea Flavors, Explained (What are the Best Tea Flavors?)
One of the questions I get all the time: what are the best tea flavors? I think ‘best’ is relative – what is delicious decadence to one person might be too sweet to another. But there are many popular tea flavors that are perennial favorites – there must be something to their long term standing. I’d like to walk […]
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The Best High-End Tea Making Machines for the Perfect Morning Cuppa
Do you ever wish you could wake up in the morning to a preprogrammed machine making your tea for you? You know, kind of like all those coffee drinkers do? Well, you can! It’s rather funny how I, as a self-proclaimed tea snob, didn’t realize until recently that automatic loose tea makers do exist. All […]
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Tea and Soup Pairings to Ward Off the Winter Blues
Nothing says “comfort” on a winter day quite like a bowl of soup or a cup of hot tea. So why choose between the two when you can have both? Here are some of our favorite tea and soup combos. Perfect Partners When it comes to pairing soups and tea, the usual convention of matching […]
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Keepin’ It Real Hot: How to Prevent Your Tea from Cooling Down
You’ve finally settled down with a nice, big cup of tea and you’re ready for an evening of sipping and reading. Or maybe this mug is going to get you through the next phase of that project you’re working on. Either way, it’s almost guaranteed that — unless you guzzle it without consideration for burning […]
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How to Create Your Own (Tea Time) Rituals
Here at Plum Deluxe, you know that we’re really into tea. And we’re really into mindfulness practices and ritual. There is a proven positive emotional impact of rituals and traditions. Carrie has shared with us the most traditional of tea time rituals: the tea ceremony. But, the best rituals are personal; they’re customized to suit […]
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Ways to Use Loose Leaf Tea
Here at Plum Deluxe, any time is tea time! But did you realize there’s more to it than just the beverage? As our resident tea fanatic, I am happy to provide you with a bazillion (okay, 42) ways to use loose leaf tea, arranged in alphabetical order for your pleasure. Some are for drinking, some […]
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How to Build the Perfect Tea Station
Every bed and breakfast I’ve ever stayed at has had some kind of tea station for guests, and it’s always such a lovely, luxurious touch that I’m sad to leave behind. The good news is that it’s actually quite easy to appropriate this idea for your own space. Find Places Okay, first you’ll need to […]
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Fancy Tea Ice Cubes to Chill You Out
Welcome back to summer! Or, as we like to call it, iced tea season. This year, we’re taking our iced tea (and other chilly drinks) to a whole new level, and we’re inviting you along for the ride. So let’s talk details. Let’s talk about your ice cubes. Fancy Ice Trays First things first, you’ll […]
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Just Brew It: 4 Ways to Make Loose Leaf Tea Without an Infuser
Alright, you just brought home some loose leaf tea (or maybe received your first Plum Deluxe tea club order) and you can’t wait to make a cup! But hold up — you totally forgot to pick up a tea ball at the store. Or maybe you’ve lost all your mesh infusers. What to do? Don’t […]
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Tea and Cheese Pairings for Party Perfection
We humans are a little obsessed with pairs; from watching celebrity power couples to setting up our friends on dates to shipping fictional pairings in television shows and books, we like nothing more than a good romance. Unsurprisingly, we’re not much different when it comes to our food. Wine and cheese, wine and chocolate, and […]
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Creme de la Creme: Flavored Creams to Heighten Your Tea-Drinking Delight
Here at Plum Deluxe, we’re kind of obsessed with infusing things: vodka, sugar, salt. That’s because infusions are one of the easiest ways to put your personal stamp on your culinary masterpieces. So it should come as no surprise that today we’re sharing a new twist on our old favorite: infused creams! Making infused creams […]
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Four Movies for Teatime Entertainment
It’s amazing how many movies use tea as a plot device or to set a scene. From love stories and rivalries to grand poetry and murder, many things have happened over a cup. With that in mind, we’ve chosen four films you might like to show during your next tea party, along with pairing suggestions. […]
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The 3 Best Ways to Brew Loose Leaf Tea
Wondering how to brew loose leaf tea? Making and steeping loose leaf tea is one of the most common questions we get. And here’s the thing: there are lots of ways to do it, each with its own time and place. Here are, in my opinion, the three best ways to make and steep a […]
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