Hello, Tracey and Mags!
Excuse me being lazy and trying to reply to you both in one post.
No favouritism intended in picking Tracey’s to answer - I had to pick one, so just picked the top one!
Yes, I have now tried it, and it was (is) fascinating and exotic to watch the little posies “bloom” in the water.
I think it’s fun for that alone, and would make a nice present for somebody (I’m not saying I’m giving mine away!), but it hasn’t become my new favourite drink.
I do think the tea flavoured with flowers is slightly more palatable than plain green tea I’ve tried in the past. I still can’t drink it without sweetener, and have found honey the best, as it’s quite floral anyway, and goes with the taste of the tea. It also enhances the golden colour of the tea (despite being called “green tea”, it doesn’t really come out green, but a sort of straw colour).
I will persevere, but I must confess I made the mistake of buying a new little coffee pot and some speciality coffees at the same time, and I’m wild about the coffees in a way I’ll never be about the tea, even though they’re not as pretty. I don’t think I’ve ever drunk such great coffee at home before. It’s not a machine - just a dripper jug with a fine mesh filter.
Both the coffee and tea have needed experimentation to get the best brew. I think I’m pretty consistent in how I do it, but sometimes it comes out much better than others - I suppose just a slight difference in how hot you have the water (both are supposed to be just off boiling), or how long you let it steep are enough to change the taste. It’s annoying after you’ve done three good ones (not all at once) to suddenly do a lousy one, but not know what you did differently.
I’ve never been much of a cook, but you know how occasionally, you do something exactly the same as usual (you think!), but it just doesn’t turn out as well? The tea and coffee are exactly like that - every nth cup just doesn’t come out quite as expected, but you never know how you spoilt it.
None of it’s made much difference to being up in the night - in fact, it doesn’t seem closely related to what I’ve been drinking at all.
Occasionally, I’ve defied all commonsense, and had a strong coffee late at night, just because I really, really fancied one. I’ve said to myself: “I will pay for this later, and be up in the night”. But, to my surprise, slept right through 'til morning.
Other times, I think I’ve been really careful - no alcohol or caffeine past about 6 p.m, but still up in the night. So I haven’t really worked out what’s triggering it. All evening of clean living is no guarantee.
I think, on average, it’s happened less often recently, even though I haven’t been that diligent about switching to healthier drinks.
Sometimes I seem to get stuck in a pattern, that if I’ve been up in the night for a couple of nights, my body starts expecting to go at that time, and it persists for quite a few days - very annoyingly, as it does make me rough next day, if I’ve been up for the bathroom, and then not able to get back to sleep, because my meds are wearing off.
Anyway, if anyone’s looking for Chrissy pressy ideas, I do think the glass teapot and flowering teas are very pretty and unusual - especially for anyone who already drinks green tea.
I don’t think they’re going to convert anyone that hates the stuff, though. Overall verdict: nicer than some I’ve tried before, and the novelty value is high, but I’m not likely to get addicted. The coffee, I will easily get addicted!
But no surprises, really - I’ve always known I’m more of a coffee person. It’s like being a cat or dog person really, isn’t it? You know which you are!
I really can’t stand decaf coffee - to me it’s like a cup of hot water - or even worse, alcohol-free beer (which I also don’t understand).
I do tend to be looking for some bitterness in my coffee (albeit that I drink it white with sugar). I’m someone who’s actually put off if coffee is described as “mellow”. I look for descriptions like: “full bodied”, “robust”, and “dark roast”. Haha - I’m fancying a cup now! Not midday yet, so it shouldn’t have me up in the night. 
Good luck if you decide to get a glass teapot - or ask Santa nicely for one. It is pretty. I think it would be attractive even if you didn’t get the flowering teas, although teabags floating in it would probably not be a great look. Nice to be able to see the colour of your tea, though - helps to tell when it’s ready.
Tina
x
