STeaP: The Tea Vodcast

STeaP : Officially Retired

Thanks for stopping by the site! Despite my continued love of tea and my sadness that the show isn’t still a part of my weekly life, STeaP is officially being retired. It was a great run, with a lot of fun memories (both those created with the original co-host Joe, and those created with temporary co-hosts).

I still hope to review tea from time to time, but it will be an unscheduled part of my daily tea drinking journey. You can find an occasional review on my personal blog, or through my Steepster account. :)


STeaP Quickie – Muggswigz Orange Market Spice

Quick, in the car review of Muggwigz Orange Market Spice, which is a very spicy, cinnamon flavored black tea that is really quite tasty without any additives and is very reminiscent of the Boulder Tangerine tea (except the Boulder tea is a tisane) that STeaP reviewed in a previous video episode. This is a local tea/coffee shop, but you can order the tea online and I highly recommend it!



STeaP on the Go: Adagio Wild Strawberry

Sorry for the positioning of the camera in my phone mount in the car. Will be repositioning it a bit lower before doing another mobile review. This was a quick test and a bit rambly, but it was fun to do a bit of reviewing on the go. Let me know if you enjoy the quick review and I’ll try to do more of them!

See you Tuesday for STeaP Live! :)


STeaP #67 – Dog Interrupted

Host: Brandice Schnabel
Guest Co-Host: Cathy Schnabel

Teas: Teavana Silver Needle and Ocean of Tea Silver Needle

For discussion of this and other episodes, or to ask questions about STeaP or tea in general, check out our online community, or leave comments at STeaPtv.com!


STeaP #66 – Super Tea Plans?

Hey there! Let’s have a talk about the future of STeaP and where I’d like to take the show. I’m excited about the idea, and it’s actually already in the works (click the linkage below the player after watching the episode). Watch the video, give it some thought, and then give some feedback on the forum via the thread link below the player!

STeaP Live Discussion Thread – Tell me what you think, and learn more about the specifics of the plan!

STeaP Live on TalkShoe – First show on February 3rd at 8 pm EST.

And prior to the launch of the live portion of STeaP, next week will be video episode #67, co-hosted by my mother-in-law! :)


STeaP #65 – Intro to Loose Leaf

If you are a loose leaf tea veteran, this week’s show is probably not for you, because it is a very basic introduction to loose leaf tea, something that I’ve wanted to sit down and do for some time. All too often, I find someone who is interested in tea or already loves tea , and upon giving them a sample of loose leaf tea from my massive tea collection, I get this blank stare that clearly says I have NO idea what to do with this.

Leaving typical tea bags behind can seem daunting from the outside, but it’s much simpler than it looks, and very worth the transition, so this episode if for anyone who wants to know more about the basics of making loose leaf tea. If you’re already an expert and you receive that same blank stare from your friends and co-workers, share this video with the people who might benefit from a (hopefully) straightforward crash course on the basics.

Keep in mind that this is simply the talk that I typically give to a tea novice, and the advice is based largely on my own opinion and my own experiences. It’s also simplified for a tea beginner, and I sincerely apologize for the glare on my glasses, but it went so well on the first take that I simply balked at the idea of filming it again with better aligned lighting. This will have to do. :)

Host – Brandice

For further talk of tea and further advice on that tastiest beverages, please visit STeaPtv.com and browse our past episodes, or interact with other fans at our tea-chatty STeaP community.


STeaP #64 – A Rejected Christmas

This week’s episode was originally intended to be the 2008 Christmas episode, but filming went down such a bizarre and inexplicable path that it trailed off entirely (see the ending) and Dianah and I resolved to film another Christmas episode instead.

I decided to share the footage with you anyway, because while Dianah did not enjoy the tea (I can tell you that since we barely mention the tea in our bizarre and disjointed filming), I very much did enjoy the tea, and you all know how intensely critical I am of the Earl Grey category of black tea.

I don’t mention it enough during what became an ever-wandering conversation about Christmas, but the tea was a very respectable Earl Grey, and it is finally an Earl Grey (other than the one I had a hand in) that I feel comfortable recommending on the show, if you’re looking for something light.

Enjoy some post-holiday debauchery, and we’ll see you next week!

Host – Brandice
Guest Co-Host – Dianah

Tea – Ocean of Tea Earl Grey Premium, 3 minutes, boiling

For discussion of this and other episodes, or to ask questions about STeaP or tea in general, check out our online community, or leave comments at STeaPtv.com!


STeaP #63 – Happy Golden New Year

Happy New Year, STeaP viewers!! Hope that all of you are safe and with loved ones for New Year’s Eve, and don’t forget that a strong cup of tea the morning after the festivities will help you recuperate for New Year’s Day festivities. :)

Host – Brandice
Guest Co-Host – Dianah

Tea – Teavana Golden Monkey

For discussion of this and other episodes, or to ask questions about STeaP or tea in general, check out our online community, or leave comments at STeaPtv.com!


STeaP #62 – Know Your Santa!

Hosted by Brandice, with guest co-host Dianah.

Beverage – Tea Frog Assam Banaspaty, first in apple cider with Biltmore Estate Wassail Spice Blend, then steeped with just the Biltmore Wassail Blend added

Blog – http://steaptv.com
Community – http://steaptv.ning.com


STeaP #61 – Cloves on the New Couch

We’re back!! Apologies for the delay on this one… I had a computer malfunction that kept eating the final product, but I eventually started over with the editing and voila! Welcome to my couch!

Host – Brandice
Guest Co-Host – Dianah

Felicitea Vanilla Spice – 5 minutes, 212º
Tease Vanilla Chai Spice – 5 minutes, 212º, 1/2 warmed milk

http://steaptv.com