A Brief Ode to Trader Joe’s Harvest Blend Herbal Tea
I’ve been accused, for good reason, of getting obsessively stuck on certain topics. In this case, the culprit was Candy Crush*. I’m obviously talking about it again, but that’s sort of a trick. I mean, how can I talk about my obsessive tendencies without talking about the recent objects of my obsessive tendencies?
Anyway, I’ve been very anxious lately, my monkey mind jumping about and not allowing me to concentrate. Or sleep. And I think it’s tied to some of my obsessions. So I cut back on caffeine and I’ve made some rules for myself concerning Candy Crush: never during the work day (not even one game while I’m thinking since that always turns into using all five lives), never last thing before bed, and trying to limit it to five games total vs. switching devices, resetting the clock, or begging for lives.
I decided last week that I need a treat; something on which to build a new ritual since I was partially removing two things that brought me great joy from my day: coffee and Candy Crush. On a whim, I purchased a box of Trader Joe’s Harvest Blend Herbal Tea. I should add that I almost never enter Trader Joe’s. I was sort of amazed and confused by their vast quantities of pumpkin-flavoured products. Do people really enjoy pumpkin that much?
Anyway, back to the tea.
It has become the new object of my obsession. Every day I look forward to my tea time, moving it earlier and earlier, making up reasons for why I need a second or third cup. It seems to be a seasonal product, which means that it may stop being sold at some point. I can’t imagine they have Harvest Blend tea on the shelves in the spring. What do I do? I try to never allow this to happen: getting attached emotionally to products that will be removed from shelves at some point. I know it isn’t really fair, saying I can grow bored with a product and stop purchasing it, but a store isn’t allowed to pull a product from me. But that’s how I feel.
So I’m going tea hoarding this week. Buying up boxes of Harvest Blend to get me through the long winter.
Here’s the thing though, I’ve never obsessively written about tea. At least, in almost 2500 posts, I have no memory of obsessively writing about tea. So I offer up this post as a mental palate cleanser. For the first time ever, you’re getting my thoughts on a box of tea.
I love this tea. I know that I haven’t told you anything actually about the tea. If you really need to know to judge for yourself, it has cinnamon and apple and a bunch of other stuff in it. Ginger. Orange peel. Chamomile (which I normally dislike and somehow missed was in it). It has a fox with a wan smile on the cover, balancing a steaming hot cup of tea on his misshapen paws. His paws are like the fox equivalent to Barbie feet.
I don’t promise that there won’t be several more posts about this tea, in the same way that I can’t promise that there won’t be future posts about Candy Crush, crickets, Harry Potter, TOS, or Green Day. Especially that last one because I get to see Broadway Idiot this weekend. And I am practically peeing in my pants at the thought of that. I could not be more excited to see that movie and then blab about that movie.
Wait, no, this post was about tea. Bringing it back to the tea.
These are the things on the forefront of my mind, that tip out and into my blog.
* I’m on level 254.
14 comments
So jealous that you get to see Broadway Idiot. Did you see the actual play? I’m trying to convince my husband to drive the 9 hours back to my hometown to see it in January or the 5 hours to Atlanta to see it in May, but so far, he’s not having it.
Lady Grey Tea by Twinings is my tea obsession. Thankfully it’s not seasonal but it can be hard to find, the local WalMart doesn’t sell for example…I have trained my family to give it to me for Christmas. I get very anxious when I notice I’m down to my last 2 or 3 boxes & start hunting!
Obsessors Unite!!
Yes there are people that into pumpkin. Last year I hit Trader Joes and bought almost all of the different pumpkin things they had. There were a few I didn’t care for but mostly I love pumpkin.
I haven’t tried that tea but a couple of years ago when I went to Denver I toured the celestial seasonings tea factory and they were processing a winter blend of tea for trader joes. Apparently they occasionally let TJs use their equipment or something along those lines.
I’m obsessed with tea right now, too. While we were back in the US I found my favorite British tea, and I stocked up on peppermint, which I can’t find here. I’m drinking loads.
I’m currently having this problem with tea. Tim Hortons (a Canadian coffee shop) just released a pumpkin spice tea and I’ve fallen madly in love (seriously, I’ve had 3 today alone). Because its pumpkin, its seasonal. So now I have to try to stock up, if possible, to hold me over til next fall, or as close to fall as possible. I might cry when they stop serving it.
Wow, new heights: obsessing about obsessing.
Your fox theme starts (love that happy Ylvis song and must give a nod to Ellen DeGeneres who had them on her show in early September before the craze caught on).
I only drink cold beverages (have we had this discussion?), nothing hot (and, while I like the idea of soup, I have issue with their essentially being hot liquid) and I made it 47 yrs without a coffee addiction. But, post baby #2 (and perhaps because of him and those throughout the night wakings), I have developed an affinity for Starbucks VIA (which 8 pouches, on sale, can be $6.99, so, with creamer, about $1/glass which is far less than the $2.50 an iced coffee at a store would cost). Their regular price is $8, which I refuse to pay, so I hoard them when they are on sale.
I’m obsessed with a seasonal tea from Celestial Seasonings. It’s called Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride and I buy 4-5 boxes when the store puts it out in November. That has been enough to last me the majority of the year, since I don’t have it every day .
I’ve heard so much about Trader Joe’s – all good, I think – but we don’t have them in Canada. Boo! Oh well, you inspired me to brew up a mug of Celestial Seasonings Bengal Spice tea, which is warm and wonderful and tastes like fall. So I’m happy. 🙂
I love pumpkin that much. 🙂 We don’t have a TJ’s nearby but I was recently in one with my mom and did not check out their tea. Now I’m really sad I missed it because your tea sounds delicious. I may have to send her back to pick some up….
Where can I buy the Trader Joe’s Harvest Blend Herbal tea online?
I am sitting here wondering why I didn’t stash up on this tea as I am on my last box and panicking!!!!
I call it my foxy tea and I have run out. Life is NOT the same.
FYI, I’m pretty sure that the Harvest Tea is actually Celestial Seasonings Cinnamon Apple Spice Herbal tea which is available year round on their website and possibly in stores like Target. TJs Candy Cane green tea is definitely CS’s Candy Cane Lane. Enjoy!
I LOVE this tea and wish I would have stocked up a years worth! Now….I’m stuck on MY last box of it and I’m running around trying to find a decent substitute until October. I may just have to brew up a few different teas together to get the same warmth of flavors….YUM…!