I'm late, I know, but finally, at last, (it's about time, Kitchen Chick!), I'm posting the answer to Name That Food from June. I always find the range of guesses fascinating, and this one was no exception. In the interest of not spoiling it for others who might just be coming upon this, I am putting the answer behind the cut.
Congrats to kmc for correctly identifying Basil Seed Green Tea and to kittminx for getting it in more general terms, and an honorable mention to sam for coming close.
We found this at Tsai Grocery in Ann Arbor. The seeds suspended in the tea were both alien-looking and beautiful, and I couldn't resist buying it. The original photo is an edge of the bottle back-lit by sunlight.
The tea has a very sweet scent, fruity-floral with a faint hint of green tea. My first attempt to pour a glass resulted only in tea and no seeds, so I poured it back into the bottle and shook it up. Success. The tea itself is quite sweet, and the basil seeds feel like very small tapioca beads on the tongue until crushed between the teeth, then they feel simply like small crushed seeds.
Wow. That looks really interesting. I'll have to run down to my nearest Asian/Indian grocer and check it out. Thanks for posting. :)
Posted by: sprittibee | July 14, 2006 at 01:12 AM