tea – Naturally Lindsay

My Go To Matcha Latte

November 13, 2017 by Lindsay Ingalls 7 Comments

With three kids and a baby who is protesting sleep I depend on my coffee in the morning to get me going. When it comes to the afternoon however I like to make the switch to tea because I find it gives me a boost without giving me the jitters, anxious feelings and doesn’t keep me up all night. Lately, I have been going for a creamy matcha latte. I love how green and earthy it tastes and I find that it gives me an energy boost while also helping me to feel calm and focused.

So what makes my matcha latte so special? I say the cinnamon! Who knew matcha and cinnamon could taste so good together?

1 tsp matcha
1 tsp maple syrup
1 spoonful artisana organics coconut butter
4 oz homemade plant milk
4 oz hot water
Big dash of cinnamon

I blend mine straight in my breville frother but you could use a handheld frother or add to blender.

What is your go to afternoon beverage? have you tried matcha?

This post contains affiliate links. Purchases you make through these links will help fund the work I do here on Running With Tongs at no extra cost to you. Thank you sincerely for your constant support.

PDX Sites & Eats | Tea Flight Tasting at Smith Teamaker

June 28, 2016 by Lindsay Ingalls 4 Comments

Neil and I have been trying to get a little more creative with our date nights instead of the same old dinner and drinks. On our most recent date we (finally) visited the Smith Teamaker Southeast Tasting Room. The space is bright with a modern industrial feel – I’m terrible at explaining interiors so just look here.

The tea list is pretty extensive so we decided to go share a tasting flight of four teas of our choice. We had a hard time narrowing down four but eventually we did. We chose a oolong tea, two black teas and an herbal tea.

For the tasting you are presented with a tray of teas, a spoon each, a cup of water to rinse your spoon, a few little cookies and info cards for each tea along with the teas in their un-steeped form. From there it works a lot like a coffee cupping but instead of spitting the tea out after tasting you just drink it all down.

While we peacefully sipped our teas we read through The Teamaker’s Almanac that had been left at our table. It was filled with a variety of little stories about tea, how to taste tea and what do all those numbers really mean on Smith Teamaker teas. It was pretty comical at times as well.

Overall this is has become one of my must visit spots in Portland. Stop in and try the flight if you have time but make sure to bring a friend or you’ll be downing 4 full cups of tea on your own. If you’re in a rush grab one of their cold teas they have on draft. We sampled the chai but were too full of tea to grab one to go but you know where I’ll be next time a chai craving comes on.

Tea Time | Springtime Teas with Numi Organic Tea

May 3, 2015 by Lindsay Ingalls 11 Comments

I have become obsessed with tea lately. Seriously obsessed. I blame it all on Neil because two mornings per week he does an early morning workout class which means no one is home to make me my own coffee. I know, I know I could just make my own and sometimes I do but Neil just makes it so much better (most of the time). So when I’m feeling to lazy to make my own coffee I turn to tea

Numi -

First thing in the morning I want a cup of tea that is higher in caffeine and most of the time something super dark and rich. I tend to go for an English Breakfast or an Irish Breakfast, however I was just introduced to Numi‘s Breakfast Blend and it is amazing and the Aged Earl Grey is pretty amazing too. For something a bit lighter for the Spring I have been trying out various green teas and Numi’s Mate Lemon is just wonderful for a caffeine boost while being light and refreshing.

In the afternoon you can usually find me sipping on a cup of tea. the type of tea I go for depends on how my day is going another high caffeine if it’s been particularly rough day but usually I go for something that is a bit of a lower caffeine. I often like to have a chai with almond milk and coconut sugar or lately, since it’s been so warm, I have been going for an iced green.

Finally, at the end of the day I like to unwind with a cup of tea. Usually something herbal but sometimes I go for a decaf tea. I like mint for digestion, chamomile to relax and in the winter I enjoy a rooibos chai or the indulgent chocolate if I am craving something sweet. For a Spring/Summer sweet treat I really enjoy the White Rose which is light and both sweet and floral.

I have been loving the Numi’s Collection box because as you can see from the photos above it has such a wide variety of flavors. I often find myself picking up the same types of tea over and over again because I’m too scared to go outside my comfort zone and try a new flavor or variety. This assorted box has really helped me narrow down my favorites and has introduced me to so many new teas. What are your favorite teas? Do you drink different teas depending on the season?

Disclaimer: This post contains no sponsored content. Occasionally I am sent products for review but they will only be featured if I truly like them and use them regularly (and in this case I buy them regularly too).

Pregnancy Cravings & Pure Leaf Iced Tea

March 31, 2014 by Lindsay Ingalls 3 Comments

Current pregnancy cravings: berries, doughnuts, raspberry jam and crackers, lemonade, and iced tea.

While I avoided caffeine almost completely during my first 15 weeks of pregnancy I have been enjoying small amounts (8-12oz cup; 4-5 days per week) in the form of coffee or tea during my second trimester. While I usually enjoy hot coffee or tea I have been craving iced beverages specifically sweet iced tea. While I try to go unsweetened for the most part I have been enjoying a cup or two of Pure Leaf Lemon Iced Tea which is lightly sweetened.

One of the benefits of tea is that calms me down especially when the stresses of raging pregnancy hormones and a teething toddler takes over. I also like knowing that while I’m sipping on tea I am also taking in antioxidants and helping to fight free radicals in my body.

Like I said I prefer an unsweetened tea but have really been enjoying the fresh brewed taste and light sweetness of the Pure Leaf Lemon. It’s super refreshing and an 8oz glass satisfies my pregnancy iced tea cravings, plus I can pretend that it’s sunny and 80F while I sip on it rather than 55F and raining.

Side Story: Pure Leaf Lemon reminds me of the instant Lipton’s Lemon Iced Tea that my grandmother used to make in huge batches during the summer. Every sip is like being at grandma’s however rather than instant this tea is fresh brewed.

What is your favorite flavor of tea? Do you prefer hot or cold?

Pure Leaf is real brewed iced tea, which means it’s brewed from REAL tea leaves picked at their freshest, never from powder or concentrate. The result is a refreshing iced tea with perfectly balanced aroma, body, and flavor. Learn more at http://www.facebook.com/pureleaf

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Pepsico via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Pepsico.

{Closed} 12 Days of Giveaways: Mighty Leaf

December 10, 2011 by Lindsay Ingalls

I am and have been a Mighty Leaf tea lover for many years. The first time I ever tried Mighty Leaf was actually on vacation and it was the tea in our hotel room. Ever since then I have become addicted to their teas, especially the orange dulce.

For this giveaway Mighty Leaf is providing a TeaTop Brew Mug & Variety Tea Gift Set perfect for enjoying tea throughout the day, our TeaTop Brew Mug and Mighty Leaf Variety tin of Tea Pouches come enclosed in a gift box. Our double walled stainless steel brew mug features the patented Tea Top lid, enabling you from ever drinking overbrewed tea again.

Fifteen tea pouches of varying caffeine levels comprise the Mighty Leaf Tea Variety in a stylish black tin including the following flavors: Green Tea Tropical, Organic Spring Jasmine, Chamomile Citrus, Organic African Nectar <–Hubz Favorite, Organic Earl Grey, Organic Breakfast and Orange Dulce <–my favorite. Click on “Brew” for TeaTop Brew Mug instructions.

Tea Top Brew Mug has 12 oz. capacity

GIVEAWAY:

Mighty Leaf is generously providing the winner with a TeaTop Brew Mug & Variety Tea Gift Set. The giveaway is open to US Residents ONLY. Giveaway Open Until 12p EST on 12/12

To Enter: (please leave a separate comment for each entry)

Answer this question: What is your favorite chip flavor that you would like to see as a kale or sweet potato chip?
Follow Mighty Leaf on Twitter
Follow @RunWithTongs on Twitter
Tweet: “I want to win @mightyleaf giveaway http://wp.me/pFVWo-2O3 @runwithtongs #12daysofgiveaways”
‘Like’ Mighty Leaf on FB
‘Like’ Running With Tongs of FB

Winner:

{Review}: Third Street Chai

October 27, 2011 by Lindsay Ingalls Leave a Comment

Third Street Chai, located in Boulder, CO, microbrews organic chai, iced tea, yerba mate and lemonade concentrates. Third Street creates their delicious tea/lemonade concentrates in their eco-friendly facilities that are 100% wind-powered. Additionally Third Street composts 100% of their ingredients with the help of local farmers in Boulder County. Third Street also uses high quality Organic and Fair Trade Certified ingredients to produce all of their products.

Third Street Chai was kind enough to send me a variety of samples of their products to review.

The samples included:

Ginger Lemonade
Authentic Chai
Spicy Ginger Chai
Pomegranate Green Tea
Peach Black Tea

All of Third Street’s concentrates are lightly sweetened and are easy to prepare; all you need for the chai is some tasty almond milk (or your favorite milk) and for the iced teas and lemonade water! I quickly became obsessed with the ginger lemonade and it was the first to go (and far to quickly I must say). I loved that it wasn’t too sweet like most lemonades and had a nice gingery bite.

As for the chai I have only tried them hot, since it is getting to be winter here, and I enjoyed both of the flavors. Of the two chai’s the Authentic was my favorite and the Spicy Ginger the Hubz favorite. I found the Spicy Ginger a little too peppery for me. To make the chai latte I heated half chai and half almond milk in a pot on the stove and served. I attempted to make a foam with a whisk but failed; I really need an a frother to make some good foam.

Lastly the iced teas- these were my least favorite. I am lover of iced tea but I like mine strong and unsweetened. The fruit plus the added sweetener made these a little too overpowering for me. My dad who tried the peach black tea agreed that it was good but a little too sweet.

Overall my husband and I were huge fans and Neil is now on a search for a 64oz super concentrate so he can have chai lattes all the time (within reason).

Have you tried Third St Chai? What is your favorite beverage?

Disclaimer: Third Street Chai provided me with a sample of their products to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway.

Weekend Wrap Up

April 17, 2011 by Lindsay Ingalls Leave a Comment

Gosh I’m pooped! This weekend has been crazy busy for the us between the massive load of laundry we had to do, blog updates/upgrades and visiting my parents where I had an awful nights sleep. I am about ready to pass out on the couch right now but instead I’m going to finish this post and get my workout in because I know I will regret not doing it even though i’d rather go sleep. Enjoy our weekend in photos (yes it’s all food- what can I say it was that kind of weekend).

Delicious tea at Patra

Hummus, pita chips and veggies (that tasted like onions) at Patra

Late lunch with the Hubz at The Farm House Tap & Grill

Oh and of course and afternoon brew

or two! (we both had 2 halves - so one full beer)

Sunday Breakfast Broiled Grape Fruit aka "Royal Grapefruit" (the Hubz thought I said royal when I really said BROILED so now it's Royal Grapefruit)

Yields 4 servings- mix 2T agave, 1t vanilla, 1/2t cinnamon & 1/4t ginger powder together and brush on 2 halved grapefruits- broil on high for 5-10 minutes

Breakfast Frittata with Tomato-Mushroom Gravy

Blog Updates:

Thanks to the Hubz my blog has received a facelift! In addition to a new look I also updated my ‘About Me‘ page so check it out! Stay tuned for more upgrades in the future!

Disclaimer

Networks