Oh man this stuff is good. True it is not for everyone, but I love it. It makes you feel so good with all the digestive action, enzymes, probiotics and detoxification.

It is mildly addictive in that even if you didn’t love it a few days later you are craving some more Kombucha: Your body loved it even if your taste buds didn’t.

Oh and it’s alive; a tasty treat and a new friend who’s a good listener! What a treat.

Iron Goddess of Mercy is a wonderful tea with a strong baked aroma; the leaves brew into a lovely golden hue. Iron Goddess tea is toasted, which brings out a sweet and fruity flavor. While it does have caffeine (more than green, less than black) it is the perfect amount for a little zing in your morning without stressing out your adrenals.

Currently I am buying this from Foxfire Teas in Portland or Samovar in San Francisco. I wonder if the Panama Hotel offers it here in Seattle, I’ll have to find out.

Oh and I really connect to the whole “Iron Goddess of Mercy” thing.

I highly recommend reading the short story “Eisenheim the Illusionist” by Steven Millhauser, that was printed in the Spring 2006 Zoetrope; wonderfully written and terribly engaging.

Having read this short story I was excited to see the movie. The short story reads like an outline for a screenplay and has all the juicy visual elements spelled out so I suppose my expectations were high. I was very disappointed with the screenwriter’s boring injection of the trite love interest and the evil prince (though that part was acted very well).

The original story was exciting and enticing without the need for the typically Hollywood thwarted love aspect and quite honestly it ruined the story. The dialogue in those scenes was predictable, and for me every diversion from the original concept was obvious as all the new elements fell flat. As an audience our collective attention was only held by the well placed and timed illusions and expansion on the mysterious character of Eisenheim (in other words all of Millhauser’s handiwork, none of the screenwriter’s).

Clearly I suggest that you read the short story, but only after you see the movie (if you choose to see the movie at all). You might possibly enjoy the movie if you aren’t painfully aware of how badly they screwed up the story.