tea review: mystery chamomile

Tea Month 2025: Tea 15

Tea Review
Name: unknown
Brand: unknown
Type: herbal
Loose tea

Notes:
I debated reviewing this one because I don't know it's details, but I drank it and I haven't reviewed it. So apparently my eldest sister buys dried chamomile flowers in giant bulk bags and after hearing from our mother that I'm not sleeping, she brought me a bulging sandwich bag of it for me to make tea with. It's made some of the better chamomile teas I've had. It smells amazing and tastes good. My tea has been a little weak, but I think that just because my water to flowers ratio has been off.

Rate
Appearance: 9
Aroma: 10
Flavor: 8

Overall Rating: 4 stars

post office stuff

I don't know who might need this info (which I meant to post the last week of November) and it only applies to USPS.

The current flat rate box prices are:
Large: $52
Medium: $22
Small: $13

Ship by dates for packages to arrive by Dec 25 (according to the USPS):
USPS Ground Advantage: 12/17/25
USPS Prority Mail: 12/18/25
USPS Priority Mail Express: 12/20/25

Postage rates are also scheduled to increase on January 18th. They are not increasing the rate for First class stamps, but instead it will be increased rates for shipping packages.

tea review: maple apple cider

Tea Month 2025: Tea 16

Tea Review
Name: Maple Apple Cider
Brand: Stash
Type: herbal
Tea bag

Notes:
This was really good, but a little disappointing. The hibiscus overpowers everything; the rooibos, cinnamon, maple flavor, nutmeg, apple flavor, and caramel flavor; all of it. When you open the bag, the hibiscus is all you smell. Once the hot water hits it, you do get the warm, spiced apple cider smell, but once it's brewed and you start drinking it, the hibiscus is the dominant flavor. I do like hibiscus and the tea does taste good. It just doesn't feel like you're getting the tea you've been told you're getting.

Rate
Appearance: 7
Aroma: 7
Flavor: 7

Overall Rating: 3 stars

Food Bank Donation Tips

Generally speaking, things you should avoid donating:
Expired items
Opened items or things with other package concerns
Things in glass or cellophane wrappers (they can damage easily in transport)
Things that require refrigeration
Leftovers/prepared foods and baked goods

Your best bet is dry, shelf stable foods.

That being said, always check with your local food bank (or wherever you are donating) on their specific guidelines. Some places have a list of specific expired items they will take and will also usually have strict guidelines as to how expired those items can be. Some food banks also accept baby items, like diapers. And some food banks have programs for accepting fresh produce from your garden or fruit trees. Most food banks also only accept monetary donations in certain formats. For an example, our local food bank actually does accept refrigerated food, frozen food, prepared food, food service items, personal care items, and cleaning products, but does not accept expired food and only accepts monetary donations in the form of gift cards for a specific local grocery store.

Also check your local food bank for a most needed items list. Most have them.

If that's not possible, here is a list of the most commonly requested items at food banks nationwide:
Peanut butter
Canned soups & stews
Boxed meals
Canned fruit
Canned vegetables
Canned proteins such as tuna, salmon, chicken, or SPAM
Canned beans
Pasta
Rice
Cereal
Shelf stable/powdered milk
Pantry stables & cooking essentials such as cooking oil, salt, pepper, spices, flour, sugar, condiments, pasta sauce
Fruit & vegetable juice
Baby formula & baby food
Complete snacks like crackers, apple sauce, dried fruit, nuts, granola bars
Culturally relevant items

I tried to list things by most mentioned to least mentioned, but I feel like pantry stables (and culturally relevant items) get really overlooked. And tuna was the most requested on lists that had canned proteins mentioned individually, that I could see.

A lot of advice sections at the few food bank websites I found that had them also asked that you consider trying to donate canned foods with pop tops/don't require a can opener and the healthiest versions of foods you can, when possible.

I hope this helps.

tea review: chamomile & lavender

Tea Month 2025: Tea 17

Tea Review
Name: Sleep Chamomile & Lavender Herbal Tea (Bigelow Benefits line)
Brand: Bigelow
Type: herbal
Tea bag

Notes:
My mother got this for me after the nighttime supplement I've been taking for 3 months clearly just wasn't working. It's a nice tea. (I've only had it once, so I don't know if it actually helps. ) The flavors meld well together and you get just a hint of the orange leaves. Just don't open the package directly under your nose, the lavender is extremely strong when you first open it. I believe the exact words I used when I opened it were, "my nose has been assaulted." I also had to pause for a few moments to see if the tingling was going to subside before I continued with the tea making process.

Rate
Appearance: 8
Aroma: 7
Flavor: 8

Overall Rating: 3.5 stars