Valentine's Week Giveaway #6

Happy Valentine's Day, friends! Today I conclude my week of Valentine's giveaways with my final vintage Valentine of the week, a cute dog-turned-waiter sporting a giant cup of tea overhead. This card is unsigned, but I love it anyway because it's one I've never seen before this year, when I found it on eBay. But today, I'm quite eager to get on to the giveaway, because it's a doozy!

A while back I was contacted by a new tea company, Tea Ave in Vancouver, which is going to launch on March 1. They asked if they could send me some samples, and of course I said sure. Still, I was surprised when I got a text message from a courier this week telling me he was about to drop off a package. I happened to be at home, so I was eager to see who had sent me a package. It was Tea Ave, and the box was quite heavy, much heavier than a usual package of tea samples. Inside were these two things that said "Tea Ave." Hmmm …

Ah, it's a tote bag! Actually, I read the enclosed note and learned they had sent me "two exact gift sets" and said I could share the second set with a fellow tea-lover or in a giveaway. It seemed quite fitting that this rather extravagant gift should be shared with one of you as the grand finale Valentine's giveaway on the blog this year. What's inside?

First, there are three packages of oolong tea. I like that you can see the tea leaves through the package!

These Taiwanese oolong samples include Magnolia Oolong, Jasmine Oolong and Wenshan Baochong Oolong. But what's in that nice box behind the samples? Are you just dying to open it? I was!

And my goodness, two porcelain cups of some sort. Now what do you suppose these are for? I was intrigued. They looked to be some sort of tea tasting set. Could that be it? Turns out there was another piece in the box as well …

So, I read the letter that Tea Ave included with the goodies and learned this is actually called an "aroma cup set," and there are instructions on how to use it. I haven't had time to test drive mine yet, but I will do so in the next couple of days, Lord willing, and report back to you!

"But wait," as they say on the TV commercials. "There's more!" The winner also gets a $15 gift card to use on the teaave.com website once it opens for business. Now, how special is that? I am so thrilled with my lovely gift from Tea Ave, but I am even more thrilled that I get to share the love with one of you here on Valentine's Day! This is such a special gift, I'm going to let this giveaway run through Tuesday morning, February 17, to give everyone plenty of time to enter. All you have to do is simply leave an "Enter me" comment to this post between now and 7 a.m. EST February 17. (U.S. residents only.) As always, please make sure I have a way to identify you or get in touch with you if you're the winner! I've greatly enjoyed celebrating Valentine's Week with you all, and I'm grateful Tea Ave had such awesome timing in sharing these terrific gift bags of tea treats!