How well do you know your teas? Can you identify them by only the appearance and aroma? Test your skills in part four of this series and, if you're right, win bragging rights on Coffee / Tea and with your friends and family!

This lightweight tea has pale, fuzzy leaves that are usually green or black at their core. It has a delicate dry aroma that may include notes of flowers, honey, grasses/hay, nuts and/or cocoa.

The last three answers were Dragonwell/Long Jing, rooibos/"red bush tea" and Houjicha Japanese green tea. Do you know the what this mystery tealeaf is? Let the naming begin!

Photo (c) Marko Goodwin

Whether it's a New Year's party or a holiday dinner, there are many winter occasions that traditionally call for champagne or sparkling wine. However, alcohol sensitivities, work events, younger guests and other factors often call for suitable alternatives to champagne. Factors to consider when selecting an alternative to sparkling wine include:

• Whether or not you will pair the beverage with food
• If trace amounts of alcohol are acceptable
• What kind of packaging is appropriate
• Whether the drink should be ready to consume or made from scratch

Once you've figured out what you're looking for in a sparkling wine alternative, check out these elegant ready-to-drink sparkling teas and non-alcoholic sparkling beverage recipes.

Do you have questions about a sparkling wine alternative for your holiday event? Or do you have a holiday favorite to share? Post it here!

Photo (c) Marko Goodwin

How well do you know your teas? Can you identify them by only the appearance and aroma? Test your skills in part three of this series and, if you're right, win bragging rights on Coffee / Tea and with your friends and family! Let's begin...

These green leaves are flat and ovoid (oval-shaped) with slightly pointy ends. If they're good quality and fresh, they have a shine to them. Otherwise, they are dull in appearance.

The dry aroma is sweetly vegetal and with a strong chestnut note. Sometimes, it has a hint of vanilla in its sweetness.

This one's a little more difficult than the last two (which were rooibos/"red bush tea" and Houjicha Japanese green tea), so it's a chance for more slightly experienced tea drinkers to show their skills. (Later, I'll post even more challenging teas.) If you know the answer, "leave" it here. Let the naming begin!

Photo (c) Marko Goodwin

Looking for cheap (or even free) coffee? Check out these offers from popular chains:

Dunkin' Donuts is "helping Americans keep themselves running" this holiday season with small (10-ounce) hot lattes priced at $1.99. They also introduced the new Peppermint Mocha Latte, which is topped with whipped cream and a mocha drizzle and is available through December at many Dunkin' Doughnuts locations. Calorie counters will be glad to know that their small "Latte Light" has only 70 calories thanks to steamed skim milk and a sugar substitute.

Meanwhile, McDonalds is offering a free taste of their new McCafé Frappés to residents of Western Washington through December 14, 2009. Click "print coupon" for a free McCafé Frappé at participating locations. For those who live in areas where the new line (which is intended to compete with Starbucks' drinks) hasn't been unveiled, you can still check out the rest of their new McCafé offerings.

Do you know of any free/cheap coffee finds? Share them in the blog comments or on the Coffee/Tea Forum.

Photo (c) Dunkin' Donuts, 2009