The Spice Must Flow

Tea: Blood Orange (herbal) with cloves

Music: Kimberli Kircher, "Baby It's Cold Outside"

Time: Night.

After drinking a quart and a half of free coffee today at Morning Glory Espresso (where a local electrician pays for everyone's house brew on Mondays), I've had quite enough caffeine, thank you.

Besides, I feel inspired to try a little seasonal sipping tonight -- and the combination of blood orange and cloves sounds intriguing. (It's still steeping as I type this part.)

And ... the first steeping's done. Time for a sniff.

The spice (a generous pinch, six whole cloves) is noticeable, warm against the sharpness of the blood orange.

Sipping ...

I could have used more cloves, perhaps -- but it's not half bad at first taste, and it gets better after that. The spice comes up through the mix as the tea cools, warming the back of the throat. The sensation continues down into the chest (Pleasant, that.), and the aroma of the cloves lingers well beyond each sip.

Second steeping coming up.

Lots more clove at first sniff this time. First sip, too. And as before, it grows as the tea cools -- but still plays nicely against the citrus.

All this warmth is making me sleepy, though. So I'm going to finish this cup, read a little Merwin as I do so and then turn in.

Orange tea, Green Knight ... good night.