Saturday, May 22, 2010

Kalahari’s Highlands Honey Review

Type: Rooibos
Origin: South Africa
Price: Free Sample (regular price - $3.50 for 16 Pouches)
Vendor: Kalahari
Brewing Method: 1 teabag, 1 cup of filtered water, heated to 180°F, steeped for 4 - 5 minutes
Overall Score: 4.8 out of 5

Highlands Honey is a rooibos base with natural honey vanilla flavor. I can smell and identify the honey and vanilla right away – more so the vanilla. The dry ingredients give off an overall sweet aroma. I cannot say much about the appearance of the blend because it is in an opaque paper filter bag, hence the lack of the dry leaf picture that I normally take.

The aroma of the brew is of sweet vanilla with the woody rooibos in the background. The liquor is an orangish copper color.




The taste is super sweet. I cannot taste any honey notes, but I can taste the vanilla up front, then the rooibos in the after taste. The tea has a cooling effect in my mouth – similar to mint. Because of that, I can see how this would be great iced.


There is absolutely no bitterness or astringency in this cup. I will have to call you crazy if you think this needs any type of sweetener added to it.


I will admit, “red tea” (even though it isn’t really tea) or rooibos is not my favorite cuppa, however, I cannot stop drinking this. I am not sure why. It could be because the normally strong woody flavor of the rooibos is not that strong with this blend. It is more about the vanilla flavor. Although, vanilla is definitely not one of my favorite flavors either. I am still baffled, but whatever it is, it won’t let me put my cup down.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Finally A Grad

Finally!

It has been a long six years, but I finally know what it feels like to NOT have to enroll in another semester of classes come August. I finally know what it feels like to have zero homework assignments due. I finally know what it feels like to have more free time than I know what to do with.

Above all, I finally know what it feels like to have two degrees in one hand and a part time job that doesn't pertain to either of them in the other. Yes, the real career search starts now. Ok, well, it actually started a couple of weeks ago, but I can already tell that landing a great job in today's market is going to require some serious effort... and I'm ready for a fight!

These past six years have definitely let me know what I want to do for a career. The first two years after High School led me to an Associates of Science degree in Electrical Engineering Technology, but I soon realized that is not the path I want to take. I am grateful for that degree because of the "college life" experience and study skills that I gained from it as well as knowing what I don't want to do for a living.

It took the next four years for me to obtain a Bachelors of Science degree in Business with a major in Marketing... but it only took one marketing class for me to fall in love with the subject.

As for a career, I hope to stay away from "push" sales and go into more of a research position. It amazes me how many businesses DO NOT ask their customers what they want and then wonder why they lack good customer service.

Of course, my dream job would be marketing for a tea company, but I am not limiting myself. I am hoping to stay in Indiana, but if I have to relocate in order to seize an opportunity, I will do so.

For now, I am enjoying the copious amounts of time I have to spend with this blog. Expect more posts as soon as my wounds completely heal from having all four wisdom teeth removed recently.

It’s good to be back… finally!