I have to declare that I'm a coffee girl, I don't do tea, and if forced to drink it, it leaves me feeling sick. So I may not have many credentials as a tea reviewer but I have to say these teas are special with a capital *S*.
My first thoughts on receiving my tea packet were that someone had sent perfume to me.  Even before the packet opened the fragrance was wonderful, sublimely and seductively seeping through the packaging, I
nuzzled my nose in; Jasmine greeted me, with hints of chamomile, possibly fennel, some citrus, a touch of anis, all mixing with undertones of mysterious spice and - is that rose I smell?  Is this really tea?
The kettle was put to boil without delay. The Jasmine Dragon Pearls were first into the pot. Then something strange happened to me – I stopped to smell the flowers, or in this case, tea. Now when I take a break - I don't - if you see what I mean. I splash boiling water on my instant coffee grab up the mug and head back to my desk, sipping coffee as I work, or more often taking the half drunk mug back to the kitchen.
This tea drinking experience was different, very different;

Jasmine Dragon Pearls Tea
First I had to wait whilst the tea pearls danced their magic, slowly evolving into a fragrant soft greeny liquid that invites the nose in. Fascinated, I held the cup (I don't have a tea pot) and watched and smelt as the pearls unfold, inhaling the different stages of development. Finally I sipped and felt as though my whole body
unwound, my shoulder dropped their tension, and my head lifted high as I got lost in this new smell- taste-sight experience. The flavour was wonderful but, to my uneducated tea palette it was strong and a little
bitter.  Of course I had used too many pearls! So I simply topped up the cup with more hot water. This time the taste was soft, subtle, and sensuous. After my – somewhat enforced – break, I actually felt energised, as though I had had an after dinner nap and woken refreshed.
10/10

Organic White Tea Chai
That evening I reached for the Organic White Tea Chai. Teapot-less, I just placed a spoonful directly into my cup and poured water on to it. Unlike their sedate cousin, the jasmine pearls, these free leaves danced and dived and swirled around the cup, finally settling in a dark green mass at the bottom. I find it's the Organic White Tea Chai that holds the fragrant spice and citrus I detected earlier. They blend wonderfully with the White Peony tea, creating a warm comforting, almost oriental taste that must surely come from the Anis.
I sip again, fall in love, and feel like someone has wrapped me in a warm quilt and tucked a hot water bottle under my feet. I'm in heaven.
10/10

Mogli (Children's Tea)
I put off trying Mogli for a day or so, because I was so entranced with my other two teas I couldn't stop drinking them. Mogli felt like it was going to be an intruder on new friendships. That is until I had a really heavy meal and felt sort of icky. Looking for something to ease my discomfort I thought of Mogli as I knew it contained Fennel, Oat straw, Chamomile, and Linden Flower which are all digestive aids.
Out came my mug (still teapot-less!) and in went a spoon of fragrant herbs followed swiftly by hot water. This time my visual enjoyment involved watching as leaf, flower and seeds bobbed and dived - but merrily refused to sink. The aroma was gentle and soothing, with the fennel just taking the lead role. Rose peeped in as I took my first sip, and I knew it had been a mistake not to have met Mogli sooner. Because I hadn't strained the tea there were delightful bits floating on the top which (for me) added to my enjoyment as I bit into the odd captured fennel seed.
Was it the tea that eased my icky tummy or the ritualised distraction of making, observing, smelling, and finally tasting this charming blend? Perhaps I'll never know – but something worked.
I really must get a tea pot and strainer to enjoy these teas at their very best. They are artworks, they are perfume, and they are divine. They have taught me, a confirmed coffee girl, to appreciate the fine art of a master tea blender - and they deserved more revered treatment than simply floating in a mug.
10/10

Chana Dal Vadai (Deep-Fried Dumplings Made with Yellow Split Peas and Fresh Dill)
Recipe courtesy CUISINES OF INDIA (Ecco Press, 2001) by Smita Chandra and Sanjeev Chandra

This recipe was submitted after another member needed some ideas for what to do with a big sack of peas her husband brought home. There were some other interesting ideas suggested as well, for example "make a pea shooter and shoot peas at him all night". I decided to give the recipe a go because it sounded like something that the kids would love. I couldn't wait long enough for Donna to send me some of her peas so I just bought my own.