The Cheap Gourmet

Introducing Teavana "Gifts with Meaning"

As we head into the final days of holiday shopping, I'd like to introduce you to Teavana "Gifts with Meaning". If you are still searching for great holidays gifts, Tevana could very well be the last place you'll need to shop!

Teavana provides fresh, high quality premium loose leaf teas and exceptionally unique gifts. Tea selections include: white, black, green, oolong, herbal, rooibos, mate, blooming, decaf and organic. My personal favorites include blooming, oolong and rooibos.

If you've never experienced blooming teas, you MUST check these out. Blooming teas are round balls of tea which "bloom" as they steep. Most of Teavana's blooming teas include Jasmine blossoms, which can aid in relieving stress, anxiety and headaches. Aren't we all suffering from that about now?

TEAVANA "GIFTS WITH MEANING" COLLECTIONS:

Teavana Gifts with Meaning are theme gifts and include: Love, Friendship, Beauty, Happiness, Strength, Hope, Wisdom, Good Fortune and Longevity.

Love gifts include teapot sets, coasters and trivets adorned with Eastern symbols of Love such as a butterfly, dragonfly or lotus root. Love gifts range in price from $6.00 for Azteca Fire Herbal Tea (a blend of chocolate and strawberries blended with chili peppers) to $189.95 for an exquisite Butterfly Garden Bone China Tea Set.

Friendship gifts are adorned with pine needles, the Eastern symbol for friendship. Friendship gift prices start at $12.95 for a pine needle tea cup to $220 for a one-year subscription to the Classic Tea of the Month Club (six month subscriptions are available for $120). My personal favorite Teavana Friendship gift is the Heavenly Birds Bone China Tea Tumbler; a tumbler that includes a stainless steel strainer; allowing your friends to steep tea while on-the-go. It's ingenious!

Beauty gifts feature Eastern symbols of beauty including elegant cherry, plum and magnolia blossoms or the graceful swan. Beauty gifts include Eastern Beauty Oolong Tea, Queen of Babylon White Tea, Green Cherry Blossom Sushi Set, Bella Luna Tea Gift Collection, a gorgeous Grand Peacock Infuser Tea Mug and much more!

Good Fortune gifts are a great way to give loved ones wishes for a prosperous New Year. Decorated with Eastern symbols of good fortune and prosperity such as koi fish, peony flowers, grapevine and coins. Good fortune gift selections include a coins cast iron tea cup, Abundance teapot set, monkey picked Oolong tea, Magnolia blue bone china set, Prosperity Koi cast iron teapot and more.

These are just a few of my favorite things at Teavana. There are plenty more, but it's best if you visit their website and spend time browsing around. That's where I'm heading to finish my holiday shopping. Maybe I'll see you there?

Take a moment to leave a comment  on any blog post and you will automatically be entered into our December giveaway. One lucky winner will receive a one year subscription to Real Simple magazine. Find more holiday gift ideas at www.RealSimple.com.

Happy Holidays!

The Cheap Gourmet

SBS Teas Birthday Celebration - Save 15% on May 15th

SBS Teas owner, Lady Babs, is celebrating her 65th birthday on Thursday, May 15th. She invites you to celebrate in her joy of being eligible for "Senior Discounts" and is offering everyone a whopping 15% discount on their entire purchase.

If you've never tried SBS Teas, now would be an excellent time to order. Be careful though... once you try these high-quality loose leaf teas you'll never settle for anything less. SBS Teas offers a wonderful selection of custom-blended teas including black, green, white, chai, oolong, organic, iced teas and more.

Not a fan of tea? No worries...SBS Teas also has an amazing selection of coffees and cocoas. My favorite coffees include Bird Friendly Organic, Black Forest Cake and Rainforest Crunch. My favorite cocoa selections include Belgian Dark Chocolate, Raspberry Chocolate and Triple Fudge Hot Cocoa.

If you're like me and can't get enough coffee, tea or cocoa on the inside, you'll flip over the amazing SBS Teas body products. These all-natural products include body wash, body lotion, body scrubs and bath perfumes. These delightful bath and body products are available in a variety of scents including: Chocolate Decadence, Blackberry Sage, London Lemon Curd, Vanilla Grapefruit and Zen Tea.

Mark your calendar to join Lady Babs in her 65th Birthday Celebration on May 15th and save 15% on your ENTIRE ORDER! The discount will automatically be deducted from your order at check-out.

While you're waiting for Lady Babs birthday to arrive, take a moment to download The Cheap Gourmet's FREE Tea Report -- "Think Outside the Cup - Cooking with Tea". This 16-page report focuses on the many ways to combine tea with cooking. You'll learn how to use tea as a spice, meat and vegetable marinade, meat tenderizer and more.

Click on the banner below and place your order on May 15th to save 15%. You're going to love the massive collection of custom-blended loose leaf teas, exotic and flavorful coffees and rich, decadent coffees and soothing body products. Enjoy! and be sure to wish Lady Babs a Happy Birthday!

Ten Ways to Recycle Coffee Grounds

Recycled coffee grounds can save you time, money and help you avoid toxic fumes from commercial cleaning products. Below are ten ways to recycle coffee grounds and protect the environment. 

1. Mix the grounds with water to provide your houseplants with an "energized" drink. Plants need the nutrients found in coffee grounds, including nitrogen and potassium, both common ingredients in store-bought fertilizer. Using organic grounds will provide a healthier and happier plant environment!
2. Sprinkle used grounds on your outdoor plants.
3. Sprinkle a ring of used grounds around a tree or plantings to deter ants.
4. Use slightly damp grounds on icy steps and sidewalks. The grounds stick to the ice, creating a safer walking surface.
5. Pour a few grounds down your drains to gently scrape the sides of the pipes. Do not use if pipes are already slow draining or clogged.
6. Use to scrub gunk off surfaces such as grills and greasy pans. Use wet or dry grounds.
7. Keep a container of dried coffee grounds in a shaker near the kitchen sink. Use to scrub strong odors such as fish, garlic and onion, from your hands.
8. Wet your face and scrub with one tablespoon coffee grounds. This is a gentle exfoliating wash for your face.
9. Use steeped grounds and a cotton swab to touch up furniture scratches.
10. Coffee grounds are a great addition to any compost pile. Just throw them into your compost bin, filter and all.

Be sure to check out the JavaLog ~ Voted "One of the Coolest Inventions" by TIME Magazine. Rumor has it you can make these yourself by mixing coffee grounds with candle wax and forming it into a log. If you attempt it, let me know how it works out!

Feel free to add your tips on Recycling Coffee Grounds in the Comments section. 

Tea Trivia

For as long as I can remember my mom has consumed large quantities of tea on a daily basis. She's an avid iced tea drinker now, but when she drank hot tea she always added a splash of cream to it.

In the early 80s, I visited London as part of a group tour. The hotel we stayed at served coffee and tea in a quaint room located in the lobby. I'm not one who likes to intentionally embarrass myself, so I watched how the English prepared their tea, how they held their cup, and how they sipped.

I thought I had everything figured out until I asked if there was any cream. It was if I had just said a vulgar 4-letter word at a daycare center, because the room became silent and all eyes were upon me. Our tour guide pulled me aside and explained the following to me...

The custom of drinking tea with milk has its roots not in taste but with economics. The long journey from the Orient made tea prohibitively expensive. Milk, on the other hand, was cheap and became the condiment of choice among the lower classes. The amount of milk added became a telltale of one's social standing. The wealthy took their tea undiluted. The middle class poured the expensive tea and then diluted it with milk. The lower class filled the cup with cheap milk and then added a splash of the costly tea.

Although I had been taught to add a splash, which placed me in the middle class, I prefer to be in the wealthy class. From that day forward I have never added milk to my tea again ;-)

Teas for a Cause - Fighting Breast Cancer One Sip at a Time

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and The Cheap Gourmet has partnered with SBS Teas to help support the cause. Throughout the month of October, SBS Teas will be donating 10% of all "Teas for a Cause" sales to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

SBS Teas is a small woman-owned business located in Raleigh, NC. This eco-friendly business sells organic products, uses recycled packaging and doesn't engage in animal testing. The product line includes tea, coffee, gourmet cocoa, instant chai, mouth-watering, wipe-the-drool-off-your-face desserts and a wide variety of coffee and tea accessories.

One of my favorite Teas for a Cause blend is "Remembering Betty." My mother-in-law, Betty, lost her battle to breast cancer in November 1999. Whenever I sip this tea, I toast my cup in the air and send my love to the heavens. Remembering Betty is a special blend of green tea and rosebuds. It is symbolic of the loving, caring, friendship and tenderness in the fight against breast cancer.

"Hope for Tomorrow" is another SBS Teas specialty. A lovely combination of green tea, ginger and orange pieces, Hope for Tomorrow offers a refreshing flavor and a calming affect. This tea blend goes well with shortbread cookies, lady fingers, watercress sandwiches and other light foods.

"Sisters Secrets" is a robust and invigorating blend of Wulong tea and raspberries. Also known as Oolong tea, Wulong possesses qualities of both black and green teas. It presents the aroma of black tea and the freshness of green tea. Sisters Secret is the perfect blend for sisters, mothers, daughters and best friends.

"Tickled Pink" is a delicate green tea layered with rose petals. If you're like me, you might be thinking rose petals?? I was hesitant to try this blend, thinking it would be too floral tasting. I was pleasantly surprised at the delicate, yet refreshing flavor. Tickled Pink is the perfect blend for afternoon gatherings with friends or sharing an evening dessert.

If you enjoy high-quality teas, do yourself a favor and check out SBS Teas. Not only will you receive deliciously delightful gourmet teas, you'll also be helping a good cause. To learn more about SBS Teas and "Teas for a Cause" click on the banner below.

EXTRA! EXTRA! HERE'S A BONUS!

Today, I'd like to offer you a free bonus - "Think Outside the Cup ~ Cooking with Tea". This free PDF report includes tips for cooking with tea and several mouth-watering, easy-to-prepare recipes. It's my way of saying "Thanks! for stopping by!"

Download "Think Outside the Cup ~ Cooking with Tea"

Please note Adobe Reader is required to view this document. If you do not have Adobe Reader installed on your computer you can download it for free at www.Adobe.com.

Home Delivery Coffee Services Review

Home delivery coffee services are becoming a popular choice amongst coffee connoisseurs. Home delivery coffee services allow consumers to try coffees and teas from around the globe. Oftentimes, personal coffee delivery companies provide customers with a free gift when they subscribe. Typically, these gifts include a coffee maker, coffee grinder, or canister set.

The cost of home delivery coffee services is usually not any more expensive than high-quality coffee found in grocery stores. Oftentimes, you can save money while indulging in your favorite cup of Joe.

If you've ever considered using a home delivery coffee service, but were uncertain where to start, you'll find Home Delivery Coffee Services Review a helpful resource. If you find it useful, please take a moment to rate it and feel free to post a comment. Thank you!

Peet's Coffee & Tea
www.Peets.com

A Guide to Coffee and Tea Condiments

If you like to alter the flavor of your coffee or tea through the use of sweeteners, creamers, or flavored syrups, check out "A Guide to Coffee and Tea Condiments"; an article I wrote for Associated Content.

A Guide to Coffee and Tea Condiments discusses the various types of sugar, honey, artificial sweeteners, natural sweeteners including stevia and agave syrup, creamers and flavored syrups.

I hope you enjoy A Guide to Coffee and Tea Condiments, and invite you to peruse my entire writing portfolio consisting of recipes, cooking tips, kitchen gadget product reviews, coffee and tea product reviews and much more. 

My writing portfolio is located at www.KathyBrowning.com. I hope you benefit from the information presented there. If you enjoy writing and would like to be paid for your work, sign-up to be an AC Contributor at AssociatedContent.com.

Gift Ideas for Coffee and Tea Lovers

Buying gifts can oftentimes be challenging, but when it comes to purchasing items for coffee and tea lovers, there is an abundance of choices. You'll find seven unique gift ideas to suit every budget in the "Gift Ideas for Coffee and Tea Lovers" article. The tips will help you choose the perfect gift for loved ones who are passionate about their brewed beverages. Click here to read Gift Ideas for Coffee and Tea Lovers.

Image Copyright Starbucks Coffee

Coffee and Tea Making Essentials

Coffee and Tea Making Essentials: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know to Brew the Perfect Cup of Coffee or Tea

In order to brew coffee you need coffee and a coffee machine. But did you know there are many gadgets and accessories that can make your life easier, while helping you brew the perfect cup? If your passion is tea, there are numerous gizmos and widgets that can help you brew a tantalizing cup.

In the article, Coffee and Tea Making Essentials, you'll learn about the various tricks of coffee and tea brewing. Discover what tools are available, how they are used, and why you need them.

Click here to read Coffee and Tea Making Essentials.

All-Foods-Natural.com Review

All-Foods-Natural.com Review

One of the best things about writing this blog is conducting research and locating gourmet food resources. I don't know which I love more -- cooking or researching about cooking ;-) Today, I stumbled across All Foods Natural at www.all-foods-natural.com.

Their slogan is, "Gourmet meals using natural herbs, spices, condiments and flavorings". Caught my interest, so I spent time digging around. It's a fabulous website. You should check it out.

They offer a free newsletter and when you subscribe you receive a free copy of "Tea Tips and Advice". If you're a writer, you can submit food articles which might be selected for publication in their newsletter or on their website. They invite readers to submit their favorite recipe. If your recipe is selected for publication, you win a prize.

In addition to all the free goodies, you'll find sensational recipes, practical cooking tips, and sound nutrition advice. They have an article library and newsletter archive where you can find valuable information. For instance, here is one article I found of particular interest...

Six Essential Points to Improve Your Brain Power Through Diet.

If you don't have much time right now, visit their site and subscribe to their newsletter. The Tea Tips freebie is quite enjoyable!