seasonal products: tea!

[k.s.e.live]

here is an official review on two new teas from Bigelow

gingery snappish (their take on a gingerbread cookie in a cup): DELICIOUS--MUST HAVE---BUY IT!

eggnog tea (self explanatory) this to me is the lessor of the two holiday teas. The flavor is kind of flat. I'm still enjoying it, but it doesn't have the fresh taste of the gingerbread tea

on a side note: i like a packet of splenda in my tea most of the time. but i'm also someone who will use stevia. it is a non sugar sweetner that isn't artificial. it has the added benefit of being fibrous. I hope it is acceptable on south beach--i'm just "assuming" it is.

i really miss having honey in my tea

[paintedbliss]

I am a tea person too. I never could get into drinking coffee but love my tea. The holidays always bring out the special teas and that gingerbread sounds awesome. There is a hot cinnamon tea not sure who makes it that tastes like red hots(those lil cinnamon jimmies) in tea. I will being looking for the gingerbread tea though.

[k.s.e.live]

I will try the bigelow green tea! I like the stash green teas (zen and china green tips)--i add sugar free vanilla to the green tips, zen doesn't need anything though.

my favorite teas to try in a tea shop are always the green tea with tropical flavors. there are a couple locally here, one is green tea with coconut and one is green tea with pineapple and mango---so good!:Love3:

thanks for the tip about cinnamon tea--My coffee order (i'm from seattle, i HAVE to love coffee), my coffee order is 16 oz, double shot, non fat, sugar free cinnamon latte. I am a cinnamon nut.

[RedRox]

On stevia: There is no official SB stance on this since it isn't GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) by the FDA as a food additive. Which is why it is sold as an herbal suppement. I think it might have been on a very early food list but was later removed. Those with ragweed allergies should be cautious of it though as they are in the same family and it can cause severe allergic reactions to those who are very sensitive.
????: South Beach Diet Forums http://www.southbeachdietbulletinboard.com/south-beach-diet-forums/2265-seasonal-products-tea.html

For those who want to read more of a scientific nature about stevia, I recommend these pages:

Stevia - Drugs & Vitamins - Drug Library - DrugDigest

Food Additives ~ CSPI’s Food Safety -- This is a large list of all sorts of food additives. You have to scroll down to find the info on stevia. I think this is a great resource to have about any questions about any of the food additives listed, of which there are many, as it is based on non-partial scientific studies and analysis.

Finally, I might look into agave nectar as a substitute for honey, or even consider honey in small amounts. Agave is lower GI than honey and never crystallizes and is sweeter than sugar, so you need less. Again here is a site that compares the two and they produce/sell both so they are not trying to tip anyone one way or the other. (They are also a local company so it is the brand of agave I use as well.) Madhava Agave Nectar - Qualities of Agave Nectar compared to Honey

Lately we've been enjoying celestial seasonings chai tea with heated milk and a little agave ourselves!!

[Jilly_Bean]

My favorite tea is Constant Comment. I've always loved it. It has an even more special place for me now as it brings back fond memories of talks at the kitchen table with my Mom.

The gingerbread tea sounds wonderful, but I made a promise to myself not to buy any more teas until I have room in the cupboard!

Maybe just one more box??

[RedRox]

Had a free sample of the English Toffee from Celestial Seasonings yesterday at my local health food emporium while picking up a few things and thought it was pretty tasty, although not necessarily seasonal.