Archive for Tea
November 5, 2011 at 11:38 pm · Filed under Tea
There is a Korean coffee shop that SK and I go to from time to time. It’ s called Cafe Bene. Personally, I don’t like the place. I think all the menu items are overpriced and not as delicious as they could be. Even the coffee doesn’t compare to indie coffee shops that we go to. For a chain coffee shop, the items suck. The one thing Cafe Bene has going for it is the atmosphere. It usually has wide open spaces, many chairs and tables, and free wi-fi. It’s good for sitting and relaxing with friends. But, again, it’s expensive. On two occasions, I went there alone, looked at the menu prices, and left empty handed. It wasn’t worth it.
Nonetheless, I do have a Cafe Bene stamp card. And if I go there, I might as well rack up my coffee points for that free coffee.
Today, SK and I were in Seoul and we were looking to kill time. There were many coffee shops around, but I thought “Let’s find a Cafe Bene over these other places. If we’re gonna drink coffee in a place that we don’t usually frequent, we might as well rack up some free coffee points.” And, we walk 15 minutes out of our way to a Cafe Bene.
I hand SK my coffee card. She buys the drinks and I find an open table. When she returns with the drinks, she sets them down and goes to the bathroom. As I’m looking at the tray, I see 2 Cafe Bene cards. I look at them and think, “Why did she get another card? She must have forgot about it. Oh well.” SK returns and we talk for a bit. As she is taking items off the try, she points at the card and the fine print at the bottom. The bottom of the card has the location printed at the bottom.
“Mother F%&$!!!” I was pissed.
We walked 15 minutes to go to this overpriced coffee shop so that I could get my card stamped, and they deny me because it’s not the same Cafe Bene location. And I got a new card to this location, which I’ll likely never come to again.
“Gosh Darnnit”
On top of that, the wi-fi was slow as molasses. The chair seat couldn’t fit between the table legs. I was trying to write in my notebook, and I had to sit on the edge of my seat, because the chair wouldn’t go in any further.
I hate you, Cafe Bene! The entire time I was there, I was pissed. Just stamp the f%&$ing card!
February 22, 2011 at 12:42 am · Filed under Lifestyle, Tea
12:40AM. Time for sleepy time.
I was getting really thirsty. But the cleaning lady stole my cup. So, I ate a yoghurt and used it as a water cup. As I went to the lounge for water. I met two goof balls in my class. They were goofing around and asked, “Why are you drinking out of a yoghurt cup?” The second guy asked, “Mers, tell us your definition of love in 30 seconds.” I dodged the love question, but sat down to listen to them. One of them was talking about how he wants to be free and goofy? I just kept listening. Then, the other guy said, “So, you should just get a divorce and be free?” I was like “Whoa. Shit just got real. Do you understand I’m still here? I think I need to go now.”
What have I become?
December 3, 2008 at 7:41 pm · Filed under Tea
OH YEAH!
Now, I just need to find a cool Korean ceramic pot. I didn’t want to buy the conventional gourd or ceramic pot. I want to find a Korean-esqe pot to drink from. I’ll have to hit up the markets in Seoul.
May 2, 2007 at 8:23 pm · Filed under Lifestyle, Tea
Over the weekend, I was visiting the Whole Foods store and making my rounds through the isles. I like to browse and see if anything catches my eye. I, normally, pass by the vitamins and herbal section, but something grabbed my attention this time. I saw a bunch of glass jars and thought, “Could those be full of tea. Question Mark” I got closer and yes! Loose Tea. Well…a few were full of tea. The majority were ground herbal stuff. I skimmed through the jar labels and found a couple of gems.
The first gem was a jar of yerba mate, which was priced around 1.25/oz or 1lb for $20. I’ve been wanting some of my own yerba mate ever since I tried my friends. I debated this opportunity awhile, and thought, “…Naw, I can probably find a better deal online” and passed it up. If I was going to buy yerba mate, I also wanted a bombilla, the straw which people use to drink it.
Gem number two was a jar of Valerian root. Valerian Root is used as a sedative. I’ve seen it in some rarer teas such as Extra Sleepytime Tea. Now, I don’t have insomnia or anxiety, but I thought it might be a neat thing to try. Many teas are already non-caffeinated and meant to relax the body. Why not add some natural sleeping powder, right? Right? Well,…I didn’t buy that either.
BUT, I did go home and bought some mate online from Yerba Mate Cafe. For $25, I got 2lbs of yerba mate, a steel bombilla, and received 1/4 lb of free Fruit Cobbler Special Blend Mate. Not too shabby. I’ve also got this old bowl which looks like a mate gourd. It was left in the apartment when I moved in. (It might have been an ashtray in a previous life, but I cleaned it.)
PS – I hope I can take all this tea to Korea with me.
March 8, 2007 at 5:16 pm · Filed under Tea
In the office I noticed a friend brewing his own tea. He had a coffee mug and a porous metal finger-like device clinging to the inside of the mug. I asked him about it and inquired as to what tea he was steeping.
Now, I’m no tea aficionado, nor do I claim to be one, but his answer made me raise an eyebrow…Yerba Maté? I’ve spent a fair share of time in Chinese stores and reading reviews, and I’ve never heard of this. I cant remember his full description, but it included “herbal, caffeine, and vitamins”. My initial thought was that an herbal tea cant have much or any caffeine in it. What’s he talking about?
Yerba Maté (tea) is made from the leaf of the plant Ilex paraguariensis. It contains caffeine, theophylline, theobromine, and related chemicals that are all stimulants.
This traditional Argentine beverage comes from the leaves of
a bushy South American tree. The thick, shiny leaves are very rich in
caffeine (to 2%) and vitamins. They have several volatile oils
present which give the tea part of its distinctive aroma and taste. The
best quality product comes from a process of fire roasting and curing
the fresh branches to develop the characteristic smoky flavor prized by
mate lovers. In Paraguay and Argentina it is the national beverage,
consumed in vast quantities daily.
Actually, wait. I have seen this stuff. It was in an episode of mariposaHD.tv
Yerba maté is among many cash crops native to South America. Social Argentines and Uruguayans can’t drink enough of the herbal tea derived from its leaves
People of the world should wakeup to the benefits of drinking mate. The smooth caffeine jolt yields a mental state of wakefulness, alertness, and focus. Drinkers are able to remain awake at will yet consumption does not prevent one from falling asleep. Americans will particularly benefit from drinking mate as their appetites will be suppressed.
The mate ritual is simple:
* pack a gourd full of yerba
* add hot water
* suck from a metal straw/filter or bombilla
* pass when empty for up to 10 h20 refills
On a hot day try Tereré. This refreshing beverage is simply mate prepared with cold water and orange or lime juice.
I’ll certainly have to try a cup next time.
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