Retired Teas

There is limited stock on hand (dryadtea.com only) and once it's gone, it's gone!

Retired teas: Dryad, Exodus, Firiel Neo-Valkyrie, Kelpie, Jonin, Riana Thorindal, and Shadow Grove.

Online only teas: Maid in Bedlam, Paradise Lost, and Requiem.

Finally, at the start of the Fall Equinox all Court teas will be cycled in and out corresponding with their seasons. 

The State of Dryad 2013 - Announcements

Just a few "announcements" for all of Dryad Tea's amazing fans and customers:

The following teas are going online only as of January 1st 2014: Dryad, Exodus, Kelpie, Maid in Bedlam, Paradise Lost and Shadow Grove. (If you make special arrangements we can always bring them for your order at a show.)

Also, as of January 1st, 2014 we will be raising our prices. This is something that we have fought against doing for the past year and a half, but supply costs are increasing and in order to keep the business in business (to get you the teas you love!) we are going to have to increase our prices as well. 1oz of tea will go to $6 and samples will be $2.50.

We will also be offering pre-orders of all of our SJ Tucker-inspired teas. After all of the Kickstarter rewards go out we will be announcing pre-orders on our facebook and newsletter. Pre-orders will include either an ounce or a sample (depend on which level you pick) of each of the teas. If you do not get in on the pre-order we are releasing in two volleys, so you will have to wait until February for all 19 of the blends to go live.  

Thank you all for your support through 2013, we are super excited for an amazing 2014!!!

Love,

Dryad Tea.

Inspiration: Count Cisco's Earl Grey Tea

Count Cisco's Earl Grey

Do you ever come across an Earl Grey and think to yourself that it smells... stale? I have too. A good Earl Grey seems to be something that's hard to find, which is weird considering it's one of the most popular black teas.

I spent a number of months researching, tasting, blending, banging my head against walls... and then I stumbled into this.

Named after the character of one Mr. M. Gomez, this is a super fresh Earl Grey blend that I am rather happy with. Have you tried it? What do you think?

On Etsy

On our Website

Tea Information: Brewing

Tea Information: Brewing

It has been brought to my attention that some people are not as fluent in loose leaf tea as others. So I have put together a small "cheat sheet" if you will, and it will lead you on the path to great tea!


First off, you need loose leaf tea, a tea spoon (tsp or one purchased from my Etsy), a tea ball (or steeping ball. Again, you can purchase one from me on Etsy if you can't find one locally), a mug and hot water.

Now the fun tidbits:
When making any tea, be sure you begin with good water, if your water tastes really good out of the tap chances are it will make good tea. If there is any noticeable unpleasant taste in the tap water, e.g. Metallic, chlorine, earthiness etc. that taste will come through in the tea.

Different teas require different steeping temperatures. Using the wrong steeping temperature is probably the most common error people make when preparing tea.
You can buy a thermometer to gauge temperature or you can look for visual clues.

Black tea generally should be made with water at a full, rolling boil, 200 - 212 degrees. 3-5 minutes.
Green and white teas should be made with slightly cooler water, between 160 and 180 degrees. The steam should be wafting or gently swirling out of the kettle. 1-3 minutes. If your green tea goes bitter it's either steeped too long or in water that is too hot.
Herbal teas are also typically be made with boiling water, roughly 200 to 212 degrees again. 5-8 minutes or to taste.

If you receive a blend that is a mix of two tea types, I suggest doing a bit of playing around with temps and times. To err on the side of caution I would suggest starting with the lower temperature and time of the two teas as a guide.
I hope that helps! If any of you have questions feel free to ask :)

Custom Blends

In the past, when I was first starting out with Dryad Tea I would often take custom blend requests and over time the demand increased to the point that I just don't have the time to do them for "free" anymore. Besides, a lot of the time I'd create a blend and the person it was for never bought any (I'll admit, that was very discouraging).

So I created the Custom Blend part of the Dryad Tea Website! Yes, there is now a cost but you get 4oz of tea no matter what.

Here I wanted to talk about custom blends and the way that I generally do things. When someone fills out the survey with a custom blend often times I'll then send a followup email asking further questions just so I have an idea of what the customer is looking for.

Then the blending starts.

I take the base ingredients and work out a good tasting ratio. Sometimes this is the hardest part, and there are blends that I will take upwards of a week just to get the ratio perfect. I let the blend sit and mellow for a few days and do the final tasting. If I feel the blend is what the customer is looking for I send another email. If I feel it's off then I start over.

I take custom blends very very seriously, and it is my ultimate goal to make the custom blend requester, the customer happy. 

Inspiration: Blueberry Imp

Blueberry Imp

This tea is very, very blueberry. When I blended it I honestly had no idea what to call it, just that it smelled amazing and I simply had to make a tea out of it. There's a touch of vanilla in the blend as well.

When the magical Imp was brought up to me in conversation the idea just clicked. What about a line of fruit teas named after imps? Well, they are coming. This is only the first!

On Etsy

Tea Duelling 101

Dryad Tea Presents:

Tea Duelling 101

First: Select your favourite tea.  Loose leaf tea is encouraged (Especially Dryad Tea) but we will not mock you  (too much) for opting for bagged tea.

Gather your supplies.  Necessary supplies include: Tea pot, Two Cups, known as Kegs (extra points for saucers, matching or otherwise) and Biscuits (American Tea Duelling Rules strongly suggest use of Pepperidge Farm Chessmen.)

While non-standard Kegs may be allowed under certain "House Rules" the pair of  Kegs must maintain similar volume and depth.  Even though the depth may seem similar, if a Keg is Bigger on the Inside, it shall be (sadly) disallowed.

Kegs may, however, be made of differing material, provided reasonable consistency in size and volume is maintained.

Approved additions to the tea (hereafter known as the Martial Brew) include: Dairy-like substance of choice, Sweetener (Honey is discouraged) and if agreed to by all parties, a judicious nip of alcohol, which makes the Martial Brew to be considered a Toddy.  All aforementioned additions are applied on the basis that they do not overly alter the temperature of the Martial Brew.

The preparation of the Martial Brew is done by the Pot Master.  Likewise, the overseeing of the Duel itself is done by the Tiffin Master.  For reasons of time and personnel, these duties may reside with the same person.

We now await the readiness of the Martial Brew.  
Today we are using the "Rubiee" blend, kindly supplied by our host and sponsor, Dryad Tea.  

Removal of the tea dregs, for presentation of the Martial Brew.

Presentation of the Weapons.
Six biscuits on a charger.  No more.  No less.
The number thou shalt have is six.  Eight is WAY out.

   

Preparation by the Duellists of their Martial Brew.
Tails not required, but encouraged.

Choose your destiny.  Each Duellist selects one biscuit.  Once you touch a biscuit, you must use it.
No give-backs.  That's just icky.

Prepare thine Weapon for the Dunk.
 Firmly grasp your biscuit between thumb and forefinger only, with the biscuit pointing downward toward the Keg.
This is a proper duel, and the rules of polite biscuit-handling MUST be observed.
Never point a loaded Weapon at your opponent.

Upon the count of three (No more, no less) as issued by the Tiffin Master, Dunk your weapon into your Martial Brew for the count of five.

On successful completion of the five-count, each Duellist shall remove their Weapon from their Keg and, holding it at an angle of your choosing, the combatants proceed into the battle of wits, will, and nerve.
Note that experienced duellists recommend an upright hold for your weapon, though this is not required.  

And now, we wait...

...and wait...

......aaaannnnnddd wait.....
(Read further for acceptable -and not- behaviour during the waiting.) 

...Until finally...

The waiting is done, and the biscuit is Snarfed.  This is known as a Nom.

In order to be declared the victor, you must be the last duellist to CLEANLY Nom your biscuit.

Despite the Clean Nom by our Duellist on the left, the Duellist on the right was the last to cleanly Nom her biscuit, hence she is declared the Victor.

HOWEVER: In a tournament setting, a Clean Nom allows a defeated Duellist to return as a "Wild Card" competitor later in the tournament.

Remember that Manners Always Matter.  Accept your defeat with grace and poise - at least you still have tea.

Devilish Duelling Details

The Many Ways the Cookie Crumbles

During a duel, sometimes tough choices need to be made.
To Nom or Wait to Nom.  That is the Question.

Weather 'tis nobler in the mind, to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous messiness... 

Or by Nomming, end them.

Should you be forced by circumstance into a Dirty Nom, when your biscuit is more on your face and/or person, rather than in your mouth...

Oh the HUMANITY!

BUT! All is not lost.
While you may still be defeated by a Clean Nom, a Dirty Nom is still far superior to the following Biscuit Offences:

The Splash - Whereupon the Biscuit falls into your Keg of Martial Brew.

The Splatter - When the table catches your fallen Biscuit.
Note your opponents look of disdain.

The Splodge - When your Significant Other finds crumbs later because you had a Bodice Biscuit.

The Splash, Splatter or Splodge may be awarded points at the discretion of the Tiffin Master, based on style, reaction, and overall mood of the official.  These points may be used later on to determine placement in Wild Card rounds.
Most Tiffin Masters accept bribes.

Should a competitor suffer an attack of nerves, they my surrender by upending their EMPTY teacup onto their saucer or the table.
Note that in the event of a surrender, the duellist may nominate a Second to take their place on the Table of Honour, or, at the discretion of the Tiffin Master, allow their opponent a hollow victory.
Surrendering duellists may offer a donation to dry cleaning the table covering as a show of good form.

When Tea Duelling Goes Bad

The seedy underbelly of the Tea Duelling world

  

Bagging - When one Duellist clearly and intentionally delays their Dunk.
If you are found to be a Bagger, the round must begin again.
If you are caught being a Recurrent Bagger, you will forfeit your place at the Table of Honour.
And be denied any more biscuits. 

There shall be no physical interference or tampering with the weapon of  your opponent.
Keep your hands and spoons to yourself.
Don't make me tell your mother.

Utilising ballistic projectiles is a strictly prohibited practise. 

However....

Intimidation of your opponent is most assuredly permitted, provided that no projectiles are ACTUALLY utilised. 

  

Pouting...

...Menacing...

...And poor behaviours are considered high offences against good manners, and are the final word in Bad Form.

 A Note On Coffee and Other Beverages

But Mostly Coffee

Coffee, while a delicious and invigorating beverage similar to tea, is STRICTLY FORBIDDEN from use as the Brew Martial.  
Other prohibited beverages include, but are not limited to: Cocoa, Warm Milk, Ovaltine, Iced Tea, or Water lacking the addition of Tea Leaves.
Chai may be permitted with the approval of all parties.  But you will be mocked.

The consumption of coffee, while no offence offered to the drinker, does not compliment the flavour of the biscuits, and would be more suited to be paired with pirouettes.
Of note, coffee is not a recommended way to ingratiate oneself with "The Ladies".

With the offending beverage removed, the duelling may now commence...

Inspiration: Keeper Tea

Keeper

This tea is inspired mainly by the song that Pandora Celtica sings called "The Keeper". The band jokes that this is the only happy song they sing, and that they often send it to festivals to prove that they aren't always singing about death and destruction.
Some of the lyrics: 
The keeper did a hunting go

And under his cloak he carried a bow

All for to shoot a merry little doe

Among the leaves so green-o.

Chorus:

Jackie boy (Master) Sing ye well (Very well)

Hey down (Ho down) Derry derry down

Among the leaves so green-o

To my hey down down (To my ho down down )

Hey down (Ho down) Derry derry down

Among the leaves so green-o

(Thanks to this site for the lyrics)

When I blended this tea I was thinking of green, and fresh and bright. Apple paired with mint just happened to be the perfect pairing, and I have to say that this is one of our best sellers! It's really great both hot and cold, with nothing added in.

Find it on Etsy. 

Up and Coming

Hello everyone!

What a whirlwind it's been! Friday we launched our NEW Kickstarter (Inspired by SJ Tucker), and then we were vendors all weekend at the Bizarre Bazaar. That was a ton of fun and thank you to everyone that came out to see us!





Next weekend is Denver Comic Con, and we are so happy to be sharing a space with Kalijor Press! You can find us both at Booth 1131! Come by and say hi, get your book and tea fix all in one place!

And THEN! June 15, Dryad Tea is happy to be sponsoring a Tea Dueling Event. It's very very exciting for us! Don't know what tea dueling is? You can find the rules here.