Culinary travel treasures

November 7, 8:47 PMBaltimore Culinary Travel ExaminerReed Hellman

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New Zealand's tleaft, worth the postage!
tleaft

I find treasures on my culinary expeditions; gustatory gems, gastronomic surprises, lifestyle enhancers, and all-around cool stuff. Periodically, I’ll share a few. If you have suggestions, e-mail them to me at rhway2go@yahoo.com.

NZ tea
The bulk teas from TleafT are so good that they are worth the extra postage from New Zealand.  And, given the exchange rate between the New Zealand and American dollars, you might not even notice the premium. Their Lapsang Souchong is redolent with pine smoke, offering mounds of flavor and a deep, malty finish. The Earl Grey Blue Flower has the classic bergamot flavor and a sprinkling of blue mallow blossoms and cornflower petals.

For something different, try the Puerh. Aging and double fermentation produce a rich, earthy flavor. This tea is said to be very healthy and good for your digestion.

TleafT claims to carry “New Zealand’s most extensive and adventurous range of quality loose leaf teas, infusions, accessories, and related gifts.” Their two stores in Wellington present their full inventory. Most TleafT teas come in 100 and 250 gram pouches or tins, and shipping to the USA does not seem to be a problem.

Flame-orange jerky
From the Sublime to…beef jerky? Jack Link’s Beef Jerky, to be exact. Thirteen different flavors ranging from original to carne seca with jalapeno. They even make organic beef jerky, turkey jerky, buffalo jerky, and ham jerky.

I have dried a considerable amount of jerky, using both my own and commercially prepared marinades and the lowest setting on my oven. Jack Link’s is simply good jerky--tasty, flavorful, and great fun to chew and chew and chew. For the hunters in the crowd, Jack Link’s packages their jerky in flame-orange, resealable bags. You can snack and stand out in the forest.

Our next posts take us on a foodie’s perambulations through the heart of New Zealand. Kiwis pride themselves on their native cuisine. Our culinary travel blog explore the island country’s culinary treasures, a true Recipe for Adventure.

Reed Hellman is a freelance writer living in Alberton, Maryland. For more of his signature culinary escapades, visit his Recipe for Adventure Website at www.reedhellmanwordsmith.com, or e-mail your questions and comments to RHWay2Go@yahoo.com. You can find more recipes in The Recipe Box on his Website.