T STOP

It’s Tuesday. I’ve been awake since 7 a.m. running on 4 hours of sleep and running around in shoes I probably shouldn’t be running in. I could go home but my last stop of the morning is Espresso Royale Café. I get it—it’s a chain, and nearly all the table are occupied by flannel-sporting hipsters. But I’m not here to admire their beards or scoff at their thick-framed glasses (likely non-prescription).

The décor is pleasant, the place is toasty as hell, and they also serve loose leaf tea. I’m very loyal to my organic green tea that I brew at home, but I’m feeling a bit adventurous. So I took a look at the tea menu and decided to try something new.

Today’s pick is Crimson BerryPicture quality is not the best, because people in my immediate surroundings were beginning to glare at me in annoyance and I got scared.

Crimson Berry is an herbal tea, which means it’s an herbal infusion made from anything but than leaves of the tea bush. Herbal teas are also very low on caffeine, if they have it at all.

This variety happens to taste like passion fruit and pomegranate if you’ve ever had it. It’s pretty thirst-quenching and tangy, so today I’m having mine with a bit of honey.