Gem and Jo's Best Biscuits.

Happy Cookie Day!! What a beautiful holiday, everyone should get the day off work and school to eat cookies all day. If you're not able to get off work, your boss should supply 10 tons of biscuits to the workplace. We say so, therefore it must happen!

Sadly that probably won't happen but it would be very nice! So to make you even more hungry than you probably are, here are our favourite biscuits that deserve a day of celebration too.  

Lotus Biscoff: 

These are amazing dipped in tea! 

McVitie's Caramel Digestives

McVities Penguin Bars

we know, we know not a 'biscuit' per se, but could you imagine having a cup of tea without one of these? We didn't think so. 

Top Tip: Bite off both ends and suck tea up through the middle! Trust us, Just do it. 

Cadbury's Crunchie Biscuits

Cadbury's Chocolate Fingers 

And the white chocolate ones? Ugh so much delicious-ness and too little biscuits in a pack

Also Life Hack: if you go to Euro Giant, you can get a BAG of chocolate fingers for €1!!! A bag full of chocolate! For a euro!!! Good job Euro Giant, good job. 

Oreos!

Of course these were going to be on this list! They're delicious!

Maryland Big and Chunky White Chocolate Brownie Cookies

If you haven't tried these, you need to go to Tesco right now and eat them!! 

(Actually pay for them then eat them!)

Tesco Chunky Chocolate Cookies

What are your favourite biscuits? Do you dip in tea or bite and drink? These are the important questions!

Until next time,

*all images are from Tesco.ie! No copyright intended

Gem and Jo go to the Dublin Coffee and Tea Festival

Tea Anyone? Coffee? Well we had lots of both this weekend at the Dublin Coffee and Tea Festival in the RDS! Thanks to Jo's family friend Jerry, we got our hands on some complimentary tickets to go to this awesome, super hipster event that was only on for the weekend.
We had a absolute blast, and not just from the amount of coffee and green tea we drank!
We got to sample and taste tons of different brands of tea and coffee from some of the best baristas and coffee companies from not only Ireland but from around the world as well. 
Our favourite was Java Republic, and not because they were serving full sized, free tea! They had an amazing array of flavoured teas, which are all organic and their packaging is all fully biodegradable, even the really cute little silk teabags! We tried a ton of their teas but our favourites were:

Blood Orange Tea. 

You can buy it online Here

Peppermint Tea 

You can buy it online Here

Gunpowder and Mango (Surprisingly doesn't contain gunpowder!)

Buy it online Here

Now the great thing about the Java Republic tea is the teabags are reusable for up to 3 times! But we didn't take their word for it so when we went home we tested it and low and behold, it actually works! Any other teabag would have melted into icky-ness after the second time or so. 

What was really cool was that we also got to chat to Jerry about the coffee and tea industry and how it's growing and improving at a super crazy rate. We learned that coffee is the world's second biggest commodity after oil and that you can now even get a diploma in coffee. We also got to learn a lot about how many different teas and coffees are made and got to see some of the processes used in action. 

The exhibition also had prototypes of the latest coffee making technology including this amazing tap that you can have installed into your kitchen counter-top that makes coffee from a menu on your ipad. Everything is controlled from your ipad from the amount of milk you want right down to how much sugar and water!

We also got to try out a load of different exotic teas and coffees like this green matcha tea. Although this tea may look like gross green liquid, but this stuff is great for you. It is known to increase metabolism, energy and decrease stress. We have heard a lot of great things about matcha tea and we were so excited to try it out and have a taste 

Along with all the amazing teas and coffees on offer, the exhibition also had a chill out zone where you could have a bit of a rest and drink your yummy hot drink and just relax for a moment. 

There was also live music in an outside area where you could just chill and soak up the atmosphere.

After having spent the day immersing ourselves in tea and coffee, we decided to head out to Dun Laoghaire to round off the day. The weather was gorgeous and we went for a bit up a stroll around. We even managed to bump into author Lee Child!!! Don't believe us? Just check out the picture above, he's in it we swear!  

After all that busy excitement we finished off our day with dinner in the Real Gourmet Burger restaurant in Dun Laoghaire where we had some really tasty food. The chips were amazing. if you are in the area definitely check it out. 

We had such a super day out. Thanks so much to Jerry Hughes for giving us the chance to experience the amazingness that was the Dublin coffee and tea festival. We had so much fun. 
As always thanks for reading be sure to let us know what you think in the comments section below, we always love to hear from you. 
Until next time, 

Gem and Jo Take On Iced Green Tea

So while Jo was off sunning herself in Gran Canaria, she picked up some Horniman's Green Tea. Now to be honest the reason she bought it was because it was called Hornimans, which made her giggle, and because of our recent obsession with green tea! (Check out our post about that obsession Here). 

After working up the courage to try this Te Verde, which is pineapple and coconut flavour, here's our opinions on Horniman's products. 

                                 

First off, this isn't like your ordinary green teas, this is made with cold water (or agua fría as it says on the packet). You're supposed to leave the tea bag in 250ml of cold water for 5 minutes (We used Tesco Irish Spring water! Find it Here for just 69c!). 

At first it doesn't look like it's going to blend very well but after a few seconds the sweet smell of pineapple is apparent! Yum! 

                                         

After waiting 5 excruciating minutes with the smell of pineapple and coconut in the air teasing us, we finally tasted it. 

It is like an explosion of beautiful, delicious awesomeness! No, seriously, this stuff is amazing and it really pains us that Jo only brought one bag back! 15 tea bags isn't enough!!! We will have to ration it out until we find a way back to Gran Canaria!! 

This is what it looks like when you first put the tea bag in!

Check out Horniman's website Here
If you have ever tried Horniman's Te Verde or know where it can be bought in Ireland, let us know in the comments and we will be eternally grateful!

Thanks for reading!

Until Next Time! 

Gem and Jo's Tea Time

Well hello there, today we are going to be super sophisticated and show you guys our favourite teas! Yum!
Since about January, both of us have been really into tea, from green teas to black teas. We love all sorts of flavours and brands!
Here are some of our favourites! (these are not in any order).

Gem's Picks    
1. Tetleys Original blend

I love me some black tea and ever since I was a child my mam has always bought Tetleys! I like to make it with boiling water, stir for 1-2 mins, add 2 spoons of sugar (it's where I get my sweetness from) and a good heap of milk! 

I usually buy mine from Tesco and they nearly always have extra free packs!









2. Twinings Mint Green Tea

My recent discovery of green tea slowly turned into an obsession! I absolutely love this tea, the mint makes everything feels so fresh!! And if you have a cold it works really well to open your chest up and makes it easier to breath! Perfect for this coming winter! 

I make mine with boiling water and a dollop of cold water to cool it a little, then I leave the bag in for 2-3 mins, take it out and enjoy! 

I buy mine from Tesco (They even have it on 2 for €3.00!!)








3. Earl Grey Green Tea.

This green tea is just lovely! The slight hint of lemon makes it so refreshing to drink and is made the same way as the mint one above! (A spoon of sugar or honey helps to dull the strong aftertaste!) I buy this brand from Aldi which means its really inexpensive!

4. Twinings Fruit Blend in Strawberry and Raspberry.

This is my ultimate summer tea! It is so refreshing, hot or cold! 

I make my iced strawberry tea using:

• 5 tea bags (made using a mixture of boiled water and cold water)
• a lot puréed strawberrys (no pips)
• caster sugar (sweetened to your preference)!

Leave it in the fridge for a couple of hours, stir and enjoy with one of those fancy little umbrellas!
Perfect for garden parties!
I buy mine from Tesco (These are on 2 for €3.00 too!!)








Jo's Picks 

1. Heath & Heather, Green tea and lemongrass. 

This tea not only tastes great with a light citrus flavour, it also combines the benefits of both green tea and lemongrass.
I brew this tea with boiling water and steep for about 1-2 minutes. I then add a bit of cold water so that I can drink it without scalding the mouth off myself.
Find it here
                                                                                    Buy it here


2. Twinings Cranberry Green tea. 

This tea is great if you want green tea but are in the mood for something a bit sweeter. This is also great if you want to start drinking green tea but are finding plain green tea a bit sharp. It's super yummy!
I brew this tea with boiling water and steep for about 1-2 minutes, and then add a little cold water.
Find it here
Buy it here
                                                                                    I bought mine from Tesco here 





3. Twinings Pineapple & Grapefruit Green Tea

 This tea just tastes like a tropical island. If you like citrus(y) flavours and feeling like you're lying  in the sun listening to the waves as tropical birds fly through the air, then this tea is for you. It does all that and even has the benefits of green tea. Can't get much better than that! And trust me, living in Ireland, you can do with a bit of tropical every now and again.
I brew this tea with freshly boiled water and steep for about 1-2  minutes (while wearing a sun hat and sunglasses!!).I then add a bit of cold water (seeing a trend here?).
Find it here
Buy it here
I bought mine from Tesco here



4. Barry's Tea Gold Blend. 

If you didn't know it already tea is huge in Ireland, especially black teas like this one. This one is without a doubt my favourite black tea.
I brew this with boiling water and steep for about 1-2 minutes giving it a stir. Add a bit of milk and you have a warm hug in a mug. Seriously nothing beats it for comfort. Dip in a chocolate digestive or a Kitkat and it's heavenly!
Find it here
Buy it here
I bought mine from Tesco here

Thanks for reading and we hope you enjoy these teas as much as we do!! If you have a favourite tea let us know in the comments and don't forget to tell us how you like to brew it! That's the fun part!
Until Next Time!