At Christmas, I got a special gift from my sister Jean: Mennotea, a present guaranteed to warm my heart and recall my Mennonite childhood. Grandma Longenecker’s mint tea in china cups and Mother’s gallon jugs of summertime tea instantly came to mind.
Intrigued by the name and the images on the box, I wanted to know more.
These tea growers certainly look plain. Their tea is grown on farms in northeastern Ohio, but the business is based in Goshen, Indiana, the site of a large community of Mennonites, peace-loving people who enjoy tasting tea.
According to their website, the producers have a VW bus for transport and a very cute pup to attract viewers to their Facebook page.
Mennotea tastes wonderful, but beyond that, the growers have teamed up with Everence to contribute a portion of their sales to community members in need. (Everence is a group that offers a wide-array of banking, insurance, and other financial services.)
What’s in the picture? A cup of MennoTea garnished with the lone lime that appeared on a languishing lime tree in our back yard last December. You can also behold a flourishing fine fern, a great-great-great grand-daughter of Grandma Fannie Longenecker’s fern stock.
Recycling Specs
In December 2022, my blogger friend, Melodie Miller Davis, published a blogpost with the catchy title “To the Dump, To the Dump.” In it, she proposed ways to recycle and repurpose items we no longer use. Inspired by her example, I found a second life for glasses that do me no good.
Lenscrafters was happy to claim four pairs of eyeglasses with outdated prescriptions.
Feeling Happy
In case you thought I may be dispensing advice for living a happy life, you’d be wrong. Life experience and pop culture have probably given you enough tips. Lists on feeling happy often include advice on eating well, exercising regularly, meditating, counting your blessings, and doing for others. Hearty laughs also serve one’s health, for “a merry heart doeth good like a medicine.”
So, here is a short YouTube sketch from comedian Adam Sandler. Escape to Italy for a few moments and ponder the wisdom.
Have a happy week! Drink tea, recycle something, and enjoy a belly laugh or two!
Good morning, Marian! Good advice.
I’m drinking coffee now, but maybe tea later–without mint or lime. π
Good morning, Merril. I believe you work in your kitchen, so fixing tea should be a snap. It’s nice to see you, as always, bright an early. And FIRST! π
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What a great gift for you. The tea looks like something I would enjoy. Thanks for the Adam Sandler laugh. Have a super week. xo
Yes, I imagine you drinking tea as you work on your next Amanda book, which I anticipate. I’m glad you enjoyed that video clip too! π
The tea looks delicious!
Thank you, Jill! π
Good advice, Marian. I love the photo of the tea, fern, lime on the table. Great composition. When youβre finished with your writing pursuits, you could pick up photography! π
You know, Liesbet, I thought the same thing about you when I saw the neat photos on your last blog post–and on Facebook too. I must say iPhones take better photos, especially if you use filters to improve the exposure or definition. As always, thanks! π
Marian, every day I drink peppermint tea. It is often my evening dessert. πππ A friend here keeps me supply in other sorts of tea (salted caramel, chocolate/hazelnut).
Thanks for the tip on LensCrafters!
I like all sort of tea too, but peppermint hits the spot for a “sour” stomach. Yes, LensCrafters will gladly take your glasses and use them for new prescriptions. Thanks, L. Marie! π
I love that you have a lime tree, even if it’s not yet too productive. Such a thing would not be possible where I live. Chamomile tea in the evenings is my choice these days, but I go through phases. Who knows what will be next? Menno Tea is an interesting option.
Some bad “bug” has infested citrus all over the USA, and maybe beyond. Our grapefruit tree was infected, so no grapefruit this year. I’ll be thankful for the lone lime, and hope it bears more next year. Here’s to enjoying tea in cold days and nights, Arlene. π
Wow! That’s really sad!
I’m drinking my morning Lipton right now. The Menno Tea sounds perfect for my lunchtime tea. Thank you for posting the Adam Sandler video. I was laughing out loud!! To paraphrase the old nursury rhyme: when Adam Sandler is good, he is very, very good, but when he is bad, he is horrid.
Here’s to enjoying sipping tea and only the truly funny Adam Sandler comedies. Thanks, Liz. π
You’re welcome, Marian. π
As I drink my mandarine orange morning tea, I smiled all the way through this post, Marian. I, of course, am familiar with meadow tea, since we made gallons of it every summer, literally, from the wild mint growing along the creek in our meadow. And I know the families of both of the co-founders, one of whom is a Goshen College graduate and the other an EMU graduate. On recycling glasses: Costco will take our old ones too. Whether or not you promise to make us happier, you generally do. Your loyal readers attest to that.
I predicted MennoTea would hit a sweet spot for you, and I’m guessing they may have been in business when you served at Goshen College. Here’s to drinking MennoTea with good Mennonite roots, Shirley! π
Who knew my gift would end up in a blog?
I did!!
Thanks for the Sandler Laughs.
You know me well. Any gift you give me is a potential fodder for the blog mill. The tea is delicious and brings back sweet memories. Thank you, Jean! π
You are very welcome.
I am drinking my decaffeinated Bigelow Constant Comment Black Tea right now. I would love to try the Mennotea, but only if it comes in a decaf version. Caffeine makes me jittery.
We have a dog with eyes just like the cute puppy: one blue eye and one brown. It’s a condition called heterochromia. I know this, because I have a granddaughter with heterochromia. She has one blue eye and one green eye. Beautiful and rare! <3
Linda Lee, I can’t guarantee it, but I suspect that this company also produces decaf. Certainly others would agree with you. Here is the website. https://-.com/
What a rare and beautiful sight your grand-daughter must be. I do think blue and green match better than a blue & brown eye combination. Thanks for joining the chat here! π
Love this! And always happy to hear about responsible budding tea companies! I don’t suppose you’d consider letting me sharing this on Monday’s “what’s in my cup” next month (or this month. I really haven’t been planning ahead which is uncharacteristic of me)? Either way, enjoy!!
Jenn, I’d be honored with a share, no hesitation. We would both be promoting their company. Thanks! π
I love how you set up the photo with the fern. Beautiful color coordination! But…where did you get that woven mat? Looks just like what people make in Congo. We have several from our time there. Maybe from Ten Thousand Villages? Lovely post!!
Yes, scattered around my house are gifts from Aunt Ruthie, who always supported handcrafts from other countries. She may have gotten this and several others from Ten Thousand Villages or from the Gift and Thrift Shop in Mt. Joy, close to her home in Rheems, Pennsylvania.
Thanks for chiming in, Elfrieda! π
I learned two new things here: tea is grown on farms in northeastern Ohio [huh] AND Lenscrafters takes old glasses [yay]. I feel I am better off for knowing both of these facts. Thanks, Marian
Ally, I like to educate and entertain on my blog, just as you do on yours. Huge thanks! π
Yummm, that tea looks so good. I’m typing with cold fingers this Wednesday early evening in New England, and excuse me a minute while I brew some chamomile….. okay, I’ve returned. Seriously, with a hot cuppa in front of me now. I need decaf after 1 p.m. but your Menno tea sounds delicious for a morning brew!
That lush green fern is eye catching. I love experimenting with new teas – but invariably I land up with tooooo many unused packets of tea, which donβt quite lend themselves to re-cycling like specs do. The menno tea does sound rather delicious though with its touch of lemongrass. Refreshing! Like your posts Marian –
Susan, your comments are always refreshing. Thank you!
Like you, I have toooo many unused tea packets of various herbal flavors. I guess I need to drink more tea. It’s good to hear from you, so encouraging! π
You are so smart to drink the sleepy-time tea in the afternoon, Pam–all those flavonoids and herbs are bound to help you unwind before sleep. I can fall asleep at the drop of a hat, but staying asleep is an different matter. Maybe chamomile would help. If so, it would suit me to a tee! (Sorry, I couldn’t resist!) π
I smell the fragrance of your tea through the WIFI
You have magical powers, Rebecca. Thank you! π
Love your photo of the fern and teacup, Marian. Beautiful composition. I also really enjoyed that Sandler clip. I’ve been reading everyone’s comments about teas, and I’m ready for some Chamomile. The Mennotea sounds delicious. I always enjoy your posts. Blessings!
Thanks for reading both posts and comments. You are gracious to do so because I know you are participating in the RRBC daily blogpost challenge this month also.
Blessings on your day, and do enjoy a cuppa Chamomile this evening, Patty! π
Born and raised in Northeast Ohio, I love the simplicity and goodness Menno Tea stands for, it sounds wonderful. I also got a kick out of that VW bus, that’s awesome. I have to admit that I’m a coffee drinker, but that doesn’t mean I can’t buy some for guests as a way to support the business. π We had a PTA drive many, many years ago where we collected old glasses. It’s such a good feeling inside to know that you are helping someone. Thanks for the reminder Marian that I should do it again!
Yes, I too am a coffee drinker, but sometimes tea hits the spot, as it does on cool, Florida mornings. You can see by the number of eyeglasses accumulated that I am slow on the uptake to give away my old ones. Lenscrafters is less than a mile away, so I’ll act sooner next time.
Yes, it is a good feeling: getting rid of old glasses means someone else will benefit. Thanks for checking in, Melanie! π
Hi Marian, this tea sounds quite delicious and I like the community minded attitude of the farmers.
It is, Robbie! Thank you for noticing.
Hi Marian, Iβm cracking up over the video you posted. Fantastic!
What does the tea taste like? It looks like it has a peppermint flavor. Does it?
Shalom aleichem
Excuse me, Pat, while I brew myself another cup of tea…
Ahhh! I taste spearmint, lemongrass and maybe some black tea as the label suggests. Not sure about peppermint though. Of course, I have to add a dollop of honey and a thin lemon slice. It’s mid-afternoon in Florida, time when I fall into a slump.
Blessings to you, sipping tea or something stronger in your writing and relaxing life. π
Wow Marian; it’s been too long!!! So sorry I haven’t been participating for a while. I blame covid on everything….but anyway, I hope to do much better! This year is a new year full of promise and adventure. My health has greatly improved and my energy, hair and just about everything is better. Through the Lord’s healing and Dr. Livingood’s great advice and help online I have gone from 120lbs. to 108, gotten my energy and hair back! If I was a Tea drinker I would surely try this one. It sounds like it wouldn’t be boring to drink it…LOL! Love your picture Marian and your smile! Thanks for sharing!!!
You are welcome any time. I’m happy to hear your health has improved. I envy your ability to lose weight. Brava to you for that! All the very best to you in 2023, Char! π
Marian β How did I miss this wonderful post? We were traveling, that’s how. Thank you for sending me a link!!
Laurie, we have a strong bond with our blogs and books. No Worries!
When I saw the tea shelving on your Facebook page, I knew you may want to know about MennoTea.
Here’s to happy travels on the road, in the air, and through the pages of our books. Thanks! π
That is so funny Marian itβs exactly what we all need at the moment .. Iβm not a mint tea fan I rather like lemon and ginger or good old Yorkshire tea . Could you send those glasses here because my husband is always loosing his π€£
Cherryx
Cherry, I love the lemon and ginger taste combination. Also, you reminded me that I may like Yorkshire tea. I looked it up, and I see this tea blends leaves from Africa and India. I wonder if it tastes like English Breakfast Tea, which I have in my cupboard.
About losing glasses. . . oh, my. I have a whole chapter in my new memoir dedicated to the multiple times I’ve lost or mislaid glasses. My dear, Cherry, I don’t think there is a cure! :-/
Lol, I’m still listening and laughing at Adam Sandler. The Menno tea looks refreshing. Although, I have to say, the title first made me think of a tea for menopause. π xx
Of course you would think of menopause, Debby. After all, you’ve written a book titled Meno-What? Ha!
Adam Sandler doesn’t always come across as funny, but I think he hit the mark with this sketch. I’m glad you enjoyed it! π
Lol. And I agree with you, sometimes Adam Sandler doesn’t make me laugh. π