So, here we are, what, 9 days away from the big day? If you have given absolutely no thought to what you want to get for the love of your life you could end up getting something that is unimaginative, boring, and uninspired. Do you really want to do that?

Nope, you don’t. Why? Because you want to be known as the most romantic person ever. You want your Love to write about you on the walls of every public restroom in the state…you want them to gaze at you adoringly, you want them to …

Well, you know. So…you need a great idea.

Being somewhat of a romantic myself, I have lots of great ideas. These apply to tea drinkers. And mostly this post is written for men, because women usually have great ideas. If you are a woman and you don’t know what to get for the love of YOUR life then check out nearly anything on Love Fifi ..Disclaimer: That site has lingerie, so if you are thinking of getting your guy a necktie for Valentines Day, you won’t find what you are looking for there.

First of all, guys, presentation is everything. Handing her a Walmart bag with a box of Lipton in it will not be impressive. Use a Fair Trade Native Leaf gift bag, or a gift wrap made of sustainable materials or recycled paper. A cool idea is to use a vintage tea cloth, or table cloth to wrap in, or create a basket.

• Valentine’s Tea from Adagio-Chocolate, strawberries, and black Ceylon tea. Yum.
• Tea, Chocolate, Love, and Whimsy from Serendipitea comes with three teas and a heart tea infuser. Best of all the company is socially and environmentally responsible.
• Harney & Sons Silk Purse and Valentines Tea-The tea is chocolate and rose. Enough said.
• Silver Tips Tea StValentine is described as black tea flavored with red fruits, rose and vanilla.
• Numi Flowering tea- If you haven’t seent hese they are beautiful. You put the tea bud in a glass teapot, pour in the boiling water, and as the tea steeps a flower blooms.
• Teavana Rooibus Sweet Amore- rooibus tea is red. Great color for Valentine’s Day.. This one is also flavored with vanilla, cinnamon, almonds, apples, peach, and pear.

• The Teapot Shop is absolutely fantastic. I fell in love with this Summer Rose Tea for Two Set.

• Again, from the Teapot Shop, this Tea and Toast Set. I would feel like a character from a Jane Austin novel.

Vintage tea things are always awesome, to me. I love antiques, and I think that alot of women that are into tea (although not all, obviously) do love vintage tea items. eBay is a great place to find the vintage things. Check some of these out that I found today:

• This cup is incredible! It was just listed so you could actually bid on it.

• This early 20th century cup and saucer set is beautiful as well, in a soft green and rose floral.

Are you inspired? If coffee is your thing, tomorrow is coffee gift day… Check back.

And don’t forget, please Vote for me in the Death by Chocolate contest!

top image courtesy of morguefile.com, photographer: digiology99@gmail.com

Post from: Kettle and Cup

I really need a snappier title. Hey, it’s late.

Tea Avenue is a tea website that I have recently been introduced to. They have numerous teas, teapots, and even herbal soap…you have to love diversity.

I liked the site alot, it was easy to manage and navigate and I will tell you, I liked the two teas that I got in the mail even better.

The shipping was fast…and that is good because the nearest tea shop is about 35 minutes away and I would have to drive on Central Distressway..and if you have ever been in Dallas you know what I mean. Fast shipping can mean life and death for me.

Anyway..I got two different teas that I was interested in because of the names. Names are big for me.. with Valentine’s Day coming up I got the Summer of Love and Romantic Time.

Aren’t both of those names very Valentines-y? Before I go any further, if you happen to be a guy reading this and the love of your life likes tea, I don’t think you could go wrong with a couple of ounces of the Romantic Time or Summer of Love (or both), a vintage tea cup, and a few Godiva Truffles. Maybe toss in a LUSH massage bar..the chocolate one… In fact, pop that combo in a pretty pink bag and I am thinking that Valentine’s Day will be very good to you this year…Just a thought.

Anyway. The tea. Summer of Love is based in a high grown Ceylon tea. Very mellow and almost average when you take that first sip but then something happens. And this is what I like..

This tea is like a 45 year old woman.

Stay with me…I am 48 so I am not fishing for compliments. Promise.

At first glance it seems to be a nice enough tea, mature, mellow…but as the flavor develops it is rich and fruity… deep and passionate. I think I am tasting black currant and maybe some citrus notes and rose but honestly I am not sure. It is an intriguing flavor in any case, and would seem to be as wonderful iced as it is hot. I suggest a bit of sweetening..honey, stevia, or sugar…just a touch.

A perfect cookie to go with the complex fruitiness of this tea would be, in my opinion, these Orange Dark Chocolate Chip cookies I published on Baking Delights last summer. The images stink but the cookies are awesome…and the combination of the citrus/chocolate and this tea would be amazing.

Check it out. I think you will like it..and hey, have I ever lied to you before?

Post from: Kettle and Cup