When Aries are born, the Earth is awakening from winter slumber. As the fresh buds push toward the sun through thawing soil, the scents of spring and new life begin to color the air. As I meditated on how to embody this optimistic time of year into the Aries tea, I was beckoned by rebirth. Along with the traits of the creative, charisma known to Aries, my quest was to harness the intoxicating mood of the season which would be heady and uplifting yet also helpful for the health concerns of the sign of Aries (headaches, allergies) as well as for all of us seeking the energy of renewal and rebirth.
One of my favorite and wildly rare teas is GABA oolong from Taiwan. It is oxidized in a chamber without oxygen, which increases the GABA (Gamma Aminobutyric Acid) levels in the tea exponentially. GABA is known to alleviate excitability and calm the nervous system. This is also a delicious tea of impeccable smooth character.
Then I sought to blend the oolong with a floral green tea from high altitude--one that would express the mist-strewn regions of wild-grown spring harvest tea leaves, and thus Cloud Mist Supreme-a very rare high mountain tea piqued my palate and lent an air of innocence and youth to the more wise GABA oolong. I sprinkled Mao Feng into it--another favorite spring green and voila the base of the blend was harmonized. Remembering my grandmother's garden, where I'd harvest Blackberries for her during spring, this brought the heart to the blend. Memories of spring inspire all of us, don't they? I would eat more than I delivered to her, with black-stained fingers and face, she would laugh with me as she took my little hand and taught me how to make sweet Blackberry Jam. Aha, blackberries had to be a part of this magical potion!
Bergamot is a small tangerine-like citrus from Italy, I added the essential oil as in aromatherapy it's a natural mood lifter, when it married the blackberry, the perfume became iconic. But first a Madagascar Double-Fold Vanilla Extract had to be added to the oolong, cured, and then these essences added--from here alchemy was born.
Fine rosebuds tightly bound then called to be added--as they open while steeped, reminding us of our blooming potential, and give the promise of a romantic, lovely summer ahead. Roses are the highest vibration flower in the world and known to support glowing skin, digestion, and mood.
Reishi Mushroom gently dusts the tea leaves for calm, sustained energy levels, and to protect our precious immune systems during the warming of the longer days. All in all, this blend is a promise of youthful vivacity, an energizing bliss-inducing steep. I find myself craving it's energy and perfumes when looking for respite and relief from the weight of the world.
Double fold Vanilla Extract grounds this tea to round each element within it for a perfectly balanced blend.
