tea

[Magnulus]

OK, tea is not as uber-manly as coffee or *gasp* hard liquir, but anybody else like tea? I'm a big time caffeine junky so usually need some coffee or an energy drink in the morning but I often drink tea later in the day or at night.

There are basicly 3-4 different teas I like. English Breakfast/Assam, Earl Grey, any Oolong tea (Tae Kwan Yin is my favorite), and I like Dragon Well (Longjin) green tea. Once in a while gunpowder green with mint sweetened up is also nice, and makes a good ice tea too. I don't take milk in any of my teas, usually no sugar either.

I think straight gunpowder green, brewed for a good 5 minutes, takes the cake as the most manly beverage. If you can drink that straight, you can drink anything. And unlike most things in life, it's healthy for you too.

[gse123]

I drink coffee in the mornings, and tea for the rest of the day.... mostly!

[PZBarber]

Strong 'English' style tea.

In a pint mug.

With milk and 2 sugars please.

All day, every day.

Tea is my 'soft' drink of choice.

Cheers

Mat

[ScottS]

I like a good Dragon Pearl Jasmine. My grocery has some in bulk at $40 a pound, which makes this buyable in small quantities. It just makes every other Jasmine tea seem bitter by comparson

[F16WarBird]

Earl Grey, English breakfast, green tea (real w/o sweetener) are a few of my favs.

I am reluctant to classify it as actual tea, but I am hopelessly addicted to

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/414FENF40TL._AA280_PIbundle-4,TopRight,0,0_AA280_SH20_.jpg

I go through a pitcher of it every day.

[Flaxorca]

I drink coffee in the mornings, and tea for the rest of the day.... mostly!

Same here...

Started appreciating tea only a few years ago. Don't like black tea's much, but have way too many green and white and red tea's and some herbal infusions. I guess that tea was my first real AD :001_unsur. I drink all most of my tea's without milk or sugar, except for something like Chai. Green and white tea's are healthy because of all the anti oxidants, so it is not a bad habit to have :wink:.

[rsober]

Best teas I have come across have been from Rishi Tea.

Check them out...amazing stuff... http://www.rishi-tea.com/

[Patrick D]

My favorite morning tea is Celestial Seasonings Morning Thunder, it gets your motor running!

Morning Thunder® Tea


Our tea masters have always known the value of a great blend. Morning Thunder is no exception. This spirited and earthy combination of moutain-grown black tea and yerba maté, a South American herb, is sure to give you the lift you need to get in gear -- without the coffee jitters. After all, maté is the morning beverage of choice in Latin America. And with maté's antioxidant benefits, you're doing something good for yourself with each tasty sip. Pour a cup and charge your day!

About the Tea
100% Natural This product contains all-natural herbs and flavors, and no artificial colors or preservatives.
This product contains all-natural herbs and flavors, and no artificial colors or preservatives.

http://www.celestialseasonings.com/products/black-teas/morning-thunder.html

[doctorsimon]

Well, I am English so of course I'll have a cuppa.

Sadly very difficult to get a good sup of tea in the US ever since the Boston Tea Party. For most teas you need to use boiling water. Hot water just will not do. Pre-warming the mug or pot is essential. Milk for a strong black tea, lemon or mint for a weak black tea. Green tea just as it comes. White tea is the exception and should not be scalded with boiling water. No sugar for me, ever. I want to taste the tea and not the sugar.

My wife insists on the pyramid tea bags as the advertisers told us that it lets the tea infuse better!

I have a lovely hand-knitted tea cosy which comes out whenever we have guests. It's blue and yellow striped. :001_smile

[Stauff]

Well, I wish I were English, so I'll have a cuppa as well. :wink:

For me tea is basically strong pure Assam with milk. (I really like Whittards Assam blend, Taylors of Harrogate's is nice as well)

In the Afternoon Earl Grey is nice and on occasions I will also drink Darjeeling (without milk or sugar of course).

On hot summer days I'll have a big jar of sweet mint green.

[michaelskar]

I, too, enjoy tea (but I am drinking coffee more often). I like assam black tea, earl gray...

recently tried the PG tea (import section)...I'm sure it's the bottom of the list in the UK, but it sure beats bagged black teas here in the US (IMHO). Usually drink mine with just a little milk (but drink it black at work as all we have is the non-dairy powdered stuff, and I would rather not consume that stuff).

[gse123]

I, too, enjoy tea (but I am drinking coffee more often). I like assam black tea, earl gray...

recently tried the PG tea (import section)...I'm sure it's the bottom of the list in the UK, but it sure beats bagged black teas here in the US (IMHO). Usually drink mine with just a little milk (but drink it black at work as all we have is the non-dairy powdered stuff, and I would rather not consume that stuff).

PG Tips is big brand mainstream tea in the UK - one of the most popular. Tea connoisseurs will probably turn their nose up at it, but to be honest it is what i drink on a daily basis. One sugar, milk. Job done.

[william]

Hi

The best tea comes from Ceylon IMHO. My favourite at the moment is Dilmah Breakfast Leaf Tea. It is Rich, strong and full bodied. Tea bags are ok if you are in a hurry, but if you want to spend the time doing a proper job, leaf tea is the way to go. I was given my first box of Dilmah by a friend and once I had danced around the devils goblet there is no going back. Nothing else seams to taste quite the same.

Once more you can drink Dilmar with a clear conscience as the tea is produced free from exploitation enabling the fruits of the growers labour to be reinvested benefiting the workers and the economy of Sri Lanka.

It is available on line in the UK and the States and here is a link to how to make the perfect cuppa tea http://www.dilmah.com/teaism/ord_cuppa.html

Chin chin.

[ouch]

http://www.necessiteas.com/

There is only one way to brew tea. :chinese:

[doctorsimon]

PG brews a decent cuppa, but I do prefer Tetley or Yorkshire tea personally. Yes, the contents are just dust off the factory floor but it still brews a decent cuppa.

Not all tea bags are dust though, some do contain recognisable leaves. I once saw a nylon mesh tea bag containing great big chunks of tea leaf.

Cheers!

[DaveF]

I love coffee. Love the taste, love the smell, love it hot or iced...I would drink coffee all day if I could. But it tears my stomach up something fierce, and gives me heart palpitations to boot. So for the past few years I have been a tea person myself. For everyday drinking I stick to basic English Breakfast or Earl Grey from Trader Joe's, but I have been meaning to track down some of the more, er, specialized teas that frequently get mentioned in threads like these.

I'm also experimenting with sun tea...iced tea made by putting tea bags in a pitcher of water and letting it sit in the sun for a few hours to steep. For that, I am using cheap Lipton tea for two reasons: you lose a lot of the delicate flavor of the finer teas when you drink it cold, and I don't mind dumping a botched pitcher when the bags cost only a few pennies each. :smile: So far I have found that twelve tea bags in a gallon pitcher of cool water to start, steeped for about 2-3 hours in the sun seems to work pretty well. I am also discovering that it's better to use more bags and steep for shorter periods of time, than to use fewer bags and steep for longer. The first pitcher I made I used six bags and steeped for about six hours and it was very, very bitter.

[CapeCodJay]

I too am a tea nut!

Consider www.uptontea.com - Great selection, good prices, and great people.

I am cafine sensitive, and find drinking tea doesn't effect me the same way as many sodas and coffees do.

Enjoy!

[FloppyShoes]

I went through a tea phase a while back where I'd drink about 6 cups a day and amassed a collection. Now I have about 5 cups a week, still enjoying every drop. I find it's something nice to sit and enjoy with SWMBO (I'm not married, but might as well be). We are both beer enthusiasts, but that's not always an appropriate beverage. A little cha out on the deck is nice, hot or cold.

[CapeCodJay]

IWe are both beer enthusiasts, but that's not always an appropriate beverage.



Haven't met a frenchman yet that isn't :thumbup1:

[DaveF]

Great link, Jason. I spent an enjoyable hour or so perusing that Upton site. When my self-imposed online commerce ban lifts next month, I would like to order one of their sampler packs to get started on upgrading from tea dust. :smile:

[TimmyBoston]

Big tea fan myself, I usually order my tea from www.specialteas.com, an online shop I got a recommendation from Ouch and Scotto. I've found this retailer to be a great combination of quality and price.

[CapeCodJay]

Great link, Jason. I spent an enjoyable hour or so perusing that Upton site. When my self-imposed online commerce ban lifts next month, I would like to order one of their sampler packs to get started on upgrading from tea dust. :smile:


You'll be very happy with Upton Dave!
Where in CT you from? I am a nutmegger too.

[DaveF]

You'll be very happy with Upton Dave!
Where in CT you from? I am a nutmegger too.

Right around the middle...North Haven. And you?

[CapeCodJay]

Right around the middle...North Haven. And you?


My dad has 2 boats he keeps in New London. I grew up in Eastern CT - now live on the Cape.

[jswilki24]

I love tea. I have several different pu erh tea cakes that will be enjoyed at a later time (se aside for ageing). Some of the puerhs have a good smoky flavor to the liquor which I really enjoy and its my favorite because if the multiple infusions that can come from just a few leaves. Gen mai cha is also another favorite and I have noticed that after going into a number of sushi bars, alot of them serve it with their meals. It consists of sencha, roasted rice, and some popcorn kernals and it has an enjoyably smooth, nutty flavor to it that I enjoy. Theres one good oolong that I found at a tea store near me called a milk oolong and it produced some good quality floral notes to the flavor. All in all, I drink tea on a daily basis and usually have a couple in the morning too. Thanks for the post as there are tea drinkers here.

James

[Roman414]

My current favorite is a Ceylon tea (Kenilworth) that I discovered in a sampler packet from www.specialteas.com. It is an orange pekoe, I think. I also like English and Irish breakfast blends.

[ouch]

I love tea. I have several different pu erh tea cakes that will be enjoyed at a later time (se aside for ageing). Some of the puerhs have a good smoky flavor to the liquor which I really enjoy and its my favorite because if the multiple infusions that can come from just a few leaves. Gen mai cha is also another favorite and I have noticed that after going into a number of sushi bars, alot of them serve it with their meals. It consists of sencha, roasted rice, and some popcorn kernals and it has an enjoyably smooth, nutty flavor to it that I enjoy. Theres one good oolong that I found at a tea store near me called a milk oolong and it produced some good quality floral notes to the flavor. All in all, I drink tea on a daily basis and usually have a couple in the morning too. Thanks for the post as there are tea drinkers here.

James

Pu-erhs are definately an acquired taste. I recall a particularly contentious thread about them around a year ago. It got nasty. :thumbup1:

[Suzuki]

Big tea fan myself, I usually order my tea from www.specialteas.com, an online shop I got a recommendation from Ouch and Scotto. I've found this retailer to be a great combination of quality and price.

Tim - which teas have you tried and how were they.

I drink a lot of tea - both at home and work - green, black and everything in between.

I tend to drink some nice green tea in the morning (good jasmine, yunan, etc) and strong black tea in the afternoon - I really like the Earl Gray and "Afternoon Blend" from the Tea House in Covent Garden - I stock up whenever I can, but am running dangerously low and need to find a local supplier that sells good tea at a fair price - I'm not interested in the gourmet tea shops that sell very ordinary teas at extrordinary prices - especially since they don't necessarily move their tea quickly enough to guarantee freshness.

I also have a TenRen nearby - anyone have any recommendations for thier teas?

[DaveF]

I was so impressed with the Fine Tea sampler from specialteas that I just placed my second order. Grabbed a few more samplers because I want to get a feel for several different varieties before I start getting more in depth with one particular type. I grabbed the green tea sampler, the oolong sampler, and something they call the Best Seller sampler, which has that Celyon Kenilworth that Roman414 mentioned liking (I like it as well; it came in the Fine tea sampler), as well as an Earl Grey (my favorite tea when I drank bagged teas), a chai (not a fan generally but I am keeping an open mind), and a few others. I still haven't tried any Darjeeling so I bought a 1/4 lb of their best-selling version (called Margarets Hope FTGFOP1). Finally, I picked up a sample of lapsang souchong, as I've always wanted to try that.

All-in-all, it was a pretty sizable order for me, and I'm excited to try them.

[DMac]

I'm a big tea fan, too, and like everything - black, green, white, even red (I know, I know, not really "tea", per se, but I had a roommate from Botswana that got me hooked on it - caffeine free and really good for you!).

Anyway, I made the mistake of going to a health food store today and proceeded to drop too much money on tea (shave soap order will have to wait a few weeks, grr), then went to a cooking store next door, and lo and behold, they had loose-leaf tea by the ounce. So I got a couple that looked interesting - a Russion Samovar (any info on this one? it smells great), some English garden variety because it just looked too darn interesting (flowers and all that), and some Lapsang Souchong because I've heard good things about it (man this stuff smells loud! exactly like Frog Morton pipe tobacco, I think). Anyway, I haven't tried any of it yet, but it sure smells good.

Now I want to try these sites you guys have been mentioning. I already have a cabinet full of tea. It has been an AD of mine since before wetshaving. You guys are all just no-good enablers. :biggrin:

[OCDshaver]

I love a good strong Assam. I am English, along with some others on this thread, so tea is a great favourite!

I don't know if anyone has discovered this, but if you live in a place where there is an Indian grocery store, you can often find a great selection of loose Assam and Darjeeling teas at very reasonable prices.

A real treat for me is dunking McVities Digestive biscuits into a cup of hot sweet tea. Reminds me of my school days!

Enjoy your cuppa!

Jim

[DaveF]

It sounds as if most people on this thread are already experienced tea-drinkers, but I wanted to say a few words to the "tea-curious" who might be browsing. I used to drink bagged Earl Grey and English Breakfast teas with a little milk and sugar because it was the closest I could get to my beloved coffee that my stomach issues prevent me enjoying anymore. Over the years, I got very accustomed to the kind of smooth sweetness that those teas have when drunk with milk and sugar.

I was inspired by this thread and another like it to try some leaf teas, and my initial experiences with Assams, Ceylons, Oolongs, and green tea were not immediately gratifying. I found the teas to be almost universally bitter, and with the exception of the Assam, their flavors were not enhanced in the slightest by adding milk and sugar; rather they actually tasted worse. (I actually loved the Assam with milk and sugar). This was quite discouraging, but I kept drinking the teas, gradually adding less and less sugar and phasing out the milk entirely until I was drinking the teas straight. It was then that I discovered that what I had perceived as "bitterness" wasn't just bitter, it was a complexity of flavor that I just hadn't been prepared for.

I suppose objectively I would still describe most of the tea as bitter, especially the green tea, but to my great surprise I actually value that attribute. These are not milk-and-honey easy drinkers, as my previous tea had been. These are strong, complex drinks that take time to grow to appreciate if you haven't been exposed to real tea before. I suppose one could liken the experience to drinking good scotch...rarely is it love at first sip, but after a while you grow to love the product and you can't imagine life without it.

I just wanted to set the expectations of anyone who may be new to the world of fine teas in the hopes of possibly offsetting some of the initial disappointment that I had when I first imbibed a true cuppa. It may take some time to appreciate what's going on in your mug, but once you do you will never look back.

[Flaxorca]

It sounds as if most people on this thread are already experienced tea-drinkers, but I wanted to say a few words to the "tea-curious" who might be browsing. I used to drink bagged Earl Grey and English Breakfast teas with a little milk and sugar because it was the closest I could get to my beloved coffee that my stomach issues prevent me enjoying anymore. Over the years, I got very accustomed to the kind of smooth sweetness that those teas have when drunk with milk and sugar.

I was inspired by this thread and another like it to try some leaf teas, and my initial experiences with Assams, Ceylons, Oolongs, and green tea were not immediately gratifying. I found the teas to be almost universally bitter, and with the exception of the Assam, their flavors were not enhanced in the slightest by adding milk and sugar; rather they actually tasted worse. (I actually loved the Assam with milk and sugar). This was quite discouraging, but I kept drinking the teas, gradually adding less and less sugar and phasing out the milk entirely until I was drinking the teas straight. It was then that I discovered that what I had perceived as "bitterness" wasn't just bitter, it was a complexity of flavor that I just hadn't been prepared for.

I suppose objectively I would still describe most of the tea as bitter, especially the green tea, but to my great surprise I actually value that attribute. These are not milk-and-honey easy drinkers, as my previous tea had been. These are strong, complex drinks that take time to grow to appreciate if you haven't been exposed to real tea before. I suppose one could liken the experience to drinking good scotch...rarely is it love at first sip, but after a while you grow to love the product and you can't imagine life without it.

I just wanted to set the expectations of anyone who may be new to the world of fine teas in the hopes of possibly offsetting some of the initial disappointment that I had when I first imbibed a true cuppa. It may take some time to appreciate what's going on in your mug, but once you do you will never look back.
I agree that drinking such teas with milk and sugar is usually a waste, although there are some exceptions. If you think green tea is a little bitter, maybe you should try a good white tea. Usually a little more expensive, but IMO smoother than green tea and an absolute treat (remember not to use boiling water though). Also so called red tea's are worth a try, although they are technically not really tea. Rooibos has a very characteristic taste, which is not for everybody. However if you think Rooibos is too strong, try Honeybush tea (or a mixture) which is somewhat smoother and sweeter. Personally I have never cared much for black teas and grew up drinking those with milk and sugar. It has only been the last few years that I discovered the pleasures of green, red and white teas and I have gotten somewhat of a TAD... I am no longer allowed anywhere near tea shops and I think SWMBO might actually have spread my picture around with a warning not to sell me anything :blushing: :001_cool:.

[Stauff]

My current favorite are the Assam/Keemun blends.

Whittard's 1886 blend is very good for breakfast.

Palais des thés 'Big Ben' is lighter, nice in the afternoon. (For my Belgian/Dutch friends: they serve this at Exki.)

[TimmyBoston]

Tim - which teas have you tried and how were they.



I picked up most of their sampler packs, the oolong, fine tea, green and darjeeling and blended tea sampler. I like nearly all of them. I've also gotten packs English and Irish Breakfast teas as well Freisian, they were all very good as well.

[steveo]

I love green tea also.My favourite being Jacksons of Piccadilly.For a "cuppa" cup of tea Tetley Organic.:thumbup:

[jncc]

Tim - which teas have you tried and how were they.

I drink a lot of tea - both at home and work - green, black and everything in between.

I tend to drink some nice green tea in the morning (good jasmine, yunan, etc) and strong black tea in the afternoon - I really like the Earl Gray and "Afternoon Blend" from the Tea House in Covent Garden - I stock up whenever I can, but am running dangerously low and need to find a local supplier that sells good tea at a fair price - I'm not interested in the gourmet tea shops that sell very ordinary teas at extrordinary prices - especially since they don't necessarily move their tea quickly enough to guarantee freshness.

I also have a TenRen nearby - anyone have any recommendations for thier teas?

TenRen has some very good and very reasonably priced Dragonwell. Even the two cheapest varieties of Dragonwell they sell are exellent

[jncc]

It sounds as if most people on this thread are already experienced tea-drinkers, but I wanted to say a few words to the "tea-curious" who might be browsing. I used to drink bagged Earl Grey and English Breakfast teas with a little milk and sugar because it was the closest I could get to my beloved coffee that my stomach issues prevent me enjoying anymore. Over the years, I got very accustomed to the kind of smooth sweetness that those teas have when drunk with milk and sugar.

I was inspired by this thread and another like it to try some leaf teas, and my initial experiences with Assams, Ceylons, Oolongs, and green tea were not immediately gratifying. I found the teas to be almost universally bitter, and with the exception of the Assam, their flavors were not enhanced in the slightest by adding milk and sugar; rather they actually tasted worse. (I actually loved the Assam with milk and sugar). This was quite discouraging, but I kept drinking the teas, gradually adding less and less sugar and phasing out the milk entirely until I was drinking the teas straight. It was then that I discovered that what I had perceived as "bitterness" wasn't just bitter, it was a complexity of flavor that I just hadn't been prepared for.

I suppose objectively I would still describe most of the tea as bitter, especially the green tea, but to my great surprise I actually value that attribute. These are not milk-and-honey easy drinkers, as my previous tea had been. These are strong, complex drinks that take time to grow to appreciate if you haven't been exposed to real tea before. I suppose one could liken the experience to drinking good scotch...rarely is it love at first sip, but after a while you grow to love the product and you can't imagine life without it.

I just wanted to set the expectations of anyone who may be new to the world of fine teas in the hopes of possibly offsetting some of the initial disappointment that I had when I first imbibed a true cuppa. It may take some time to appreciate what's going on in your mug, but once you do you will never look back.

One thing to do for those who don't like the bitterness of, especially, green tea, is to "wash" the leaves. Use a quick (10 seconds) steep of hot water and the bitterness (much of which comes from the caffine--the most soluable part of the tea) will go.

With many green teas (especially dragon pearl) you can get several steepings and the 2nd and 3rd are often better (more balanced) to my taste than the first.

[Suzuki]

The other tip I would offer is to make sure you don't over-steep your teas - doing so will guarantee a bitter cupa.

Good leaf teas should not be bitter - and this could be the result of too much tea and/or over-steeping.

[DaveF]

The other tip I would offer is to make sure you don't over-steep your teas - doing so will guarantee a bitter cupa.

Good leaf teas should not be bitter - and this could be the result of too much tea and/or over-steeping.

Good point, and this is something I have been trying to pay attention to. There are brewing recommendations on the packages, and I have been experimenting with the brewing times. I find that brewing right in the middle seems to do the trick; i.e. if the package recommends 2-3 mins, I brew for 2:40. However, one thing I have not experimented with is the amount of tea leaves...I pretty much use a rounded teaspoon at all times. I will try reducing the amount of leaves to see how that affects the flavor.

[michaelskar]

I ahve been exploring teas lately. I made a nice order from specialteas...a great Assam, green, oolong, and a black tea. they were all quite nice (and you can order sample-sized amounts for like 2 dollars, so you can try a bunch).

I would have to say that the Rishi Oolong is my current favorite...I never knew how good oolong teas were!

In general, I find the effects of tea are quite different than those of coffee. I know they have less caffeine, but they seem to react differently in general (not just potency). Hard to describe...but very nice.

[Scotto]

Bitterness should certainly not be an issue with most higher-end teas, especially greens. Pay attention to water temperature - the less oxidized the tea, the cooler the water needs to be. Black teas can take boiling water, but most greens should be more like 180 degrees. Just get the water steaming and you should be ok.

[DaveF]

Thanks, Scotto; another variable that I had been monitoring but not terribly closely. At home I use a little "hot shot" water heater that heats up single cups of water very quickly, and for green teas I stick a thermo-pen in the water and start dispensing when the temp hits 160 (it climbs to about 175 by the time I am done dispensing, so it probably averages in the high 160s for the whole cup). For black teas I let the thing heat up all the way, at which point the water is just starting to boil nicely. The hot shot doesn't really allow for true rolling boils, as it cuts out just as the water gets going.

However, at work I am at the mercy of the water cooler/heater device. I have no idea what temp that kicks out water at, but I should bring my thermo-pen in to see. I drink most of my green tea at work, so if the water here is too hot that might explain the bitterness. Although I should say, I am not very experienced with describing flavors and I'm not sure that "bitter" is the right word. Certainly the tea has a strong flavor that is neither sweet nor sour, so I'm not sure what other word applies. :)

BTW, got my big tea order in yesterday from specialteas, and I noticed two things: 1) My first order (Fine Tea sampler) all came in resealable foil-lined bags, but for this order most of the bags are not resealable (Green Tea sampler, Oolong sampler, Best Seller sampler). I will have to come up with a way to store them on my own, I guess. 2) As I sorted out the 18(!) bags of tea that shipped in the box, I came to the conclusion I may have overbought just a bit...:redface:

[Roman414]

Pick up an airtight tea container or two...Specialteas sells those too. If you get a square one you can just drop the sample packs into it after you open them. Then reach in and grab one when you want it.

[DaveF]

Tried the Temple of Heaven Gunpowder green tea yesterday, and a nice second flush Darjeeling this morning. The green tea was pretty intense...smoky and almost peppery, but very good. The Darjeeling I am enjoying right now and it is absolutely terrific...very mellow and flavorful, and probably the most "drinkable" tea I've tried yet. If I were going to start a tea newbie off in the world of fine teas, this would likely be the tea I would recommend. I can't wait to see how it tastes iced.