Tea Thread

Airstud · Mon Apr 22, 2013 9:27 am

Mmmmmm... tea.

I always enjoyed tea; from that time in childhood when I was still too young to be drinking coffee but was not prohibited from imbibing a delicious cup of herbal tea, usually spearmint or peppermint flavored - and, since it was childhood, enhanced by about half a jar of honey and two tablespoons of sugar.

When I was 17, I overheard something about how caffeine stunts your growth; and knowing that males often aren't done growing at that age, I kiboshed coffee as well as caffeine-y tea. I have actually remained caffeine free ever since, and so this limits my tea selections of course.

Obviously no one wants to hear anything about my recent (well, current) flare-up of ulcerative colitis, from which I had been in remission since 2004; but I mention it solely because it has caused me to up my intake of chamomile tea, which is known for its demulcent yes DEMULCENT effect on colitis sufferers.

As a Twin Cities resident, I like to do my food shopping at shnazzy Lunds & Byerly's, which offers all the awesome foodstuffs you could want as well as a wide assortment of house-branded viands, sauces, dressings, breads, prepared dinners, soups, and sides, pizzas... you name it. I don't plan on living in the Twin for very long (much as I love Lunds...) so I score as many L&B-branded goodies as I can, including their recently introduced line of teas. When I take an L&B chamomile teabag out of its wrapper and sniff it, then sniff a Celestial Seasonings one, hooooo nelly there is no comparison. Lunds has ruined me for that nationally-distributed tripe.

Are you a tea drinker? Where do you go for premium, non-national tea? Do you take it with honey,sugar, cinnamon stick?

Do you only drink tea in certain circumstances, or for certain purposes - like its demulcent yes DEMULCENT effect on certain illnesses or emotions?

LH526 · Mon Apr 22, 2013 10:04 am

I don't like coffee (love the smell, hate the taste) but became a big fan of tea since I was about 20.
It started with Earl grey and now turned into a green tea obession (two cups a day). I'll prefer all my teas straight without any additives like sugar or milk ... I get bio/eco-quality sustainable tea at our local supermarket ...

Superfly · Mon Apr 22, 2013 10:43 am

My favorite tea is Long Island Iced Tea.

As far as the tea you guys are talking about, I only drink it when I'm sick. I like the taste of tea but I much prefer coffee because it has that kick I'm looking for in the morning. Tea is too light.

When I get a soar throat or just plain sick, I drink a hot tottie which is made from tea.

-hot tea (usually Chamomile)
-apple cider vinegar
-squeezed lemon
-brandy or whisky

Those knock me out, make me sweat in the night and I wake up feeling like a brand new person in the morning.

fr8mech · Mon Apr 22, 2013 11:49 am

Quoting Airstud (Thread starter):
Do you take it with honey,sugar, cinnamon stick?

If I'm feeling under the weather, at home, I take my piping hot, green or chamomile tea with bourbon and honey. When not at home. i.e. work, I take whatever green tea is available, steep it for about 10 minutes and enjoy.

I have green tea just about every morning...though ocaasionally, I will take a tea, Earl Grey, hot.

AviRaider · Mon Apr 22, 2013 1:56 pm

I'll take hot tea if I'm sick but I'm from Texas so I prefer iced tea. I think I'm the only one from the South that likes it unsweetened too.

flyingturtle · Mon Apr 22, 2013 2:21 pm

I like to make myself one quart of Earl Grey Tea in the morning. I drink it while I organize the day.

The tea I drink during the day is peppermint.

David

captaink · Mon Apr 22, 2013 2:39 pm

I like Earl Grey from Twinnings or Harrods and Green Tea (Sencha Style) from a local distributor where I live. Sometimes from the aforementioned distributor, I get different types of Green or Black tea with aromatic additions, like chai spices etc..

I buy loose leaf in both cases.

I am having a cup of Earl Grey right now as it is morning over here in Aztec Land.

Glad to Earl Grey fans here, Captain Jean-Luc Picard would be proud..

P.S. I like coffee as well, but I drink less of it now..

[Edited 2013-04-22 07:40:31]

jetblueguy22 · Mon Apr 22, 2013 4:28 pm

I've become more of a tea person as I get older. When I was young my mom would make me a cup every morning with breakfast. As I entered my high school "tough guy" years I kind of got away from it. Coffee is the cool thing to drink in high school it seems. I started having a cup every morning. But I actually do love my morning cup of coffee. But recently I've gone back to drinking more tea. After my morning class I'll run over and grab a cup of English Breakfast. As it gets warmer I'll switch over to sweetened Black tea from Starbucks. It's my downfall in the summer. The newest tea addiction within the last couple of weeks though has been Sweet Tea. I can't get enough of that stuff. It's just so good.
Pat

fr8mech · Mon Apr 22, 2013 4:58 pm

Quoting jetblueguy22 (Reply 7):
. I started having a cup every morning. But I actually do love my morning cup of coffee.

So, have both. I always get started with a cup of coffee out of the Keurig. When I get to work or after my workout, as the case may be, I brew up a cup of tea and settle down for the day. A cup of either in the afternoon gets me through a conference call.

Quoting jetblueguy22 (Reply 7):
Sweet Tea. I can't get enough of that stuff. It's just so good.

McDonald's Sweet Tea is "crack". They must use a cup of sugar in their 32oz serving.

captaink · Mon Apr 22, 2013 5:10 pm

Quoting fr8mech (Reply 8):
McDonald's Sweet Tea is "crack". They must use a cup of sugar in their 32oz serving.

Most if not all teas and coffee for that matter tastes better without sugar. But it is a personal preference of course. I have found that sugar masks bad tasting coffee, so now I drink both tea and coffee without sugar so as to not fall in the trap of poor quality.

faddypainter · Mon Apr 22, 2013 5:12 pm

Only drink black tea with milk with 2 teaspoons of sugar. Anywhere from 3 to 10 cups a day depending.

What types of that sort of tea can you get in the US? I will be moving there later this year and it's one of my greatest worries that I won't be able to find decent tea bags!

SOBHI51 · Mon Apr 22, 2013 5:14 pm

I love Tea. Whenever i am travelling i always try the local brews. My last discovery was in KL BOH Cameronian gold blend black Tea. Really good. I must add i like my Tea strong, black and sweet.

jetblueguy22 · Mon Apr 22, 2013 5:35 pm

Quoting fr8mech (Reply 8):
McDonald's Sweet Tea is "crack". They must use a cup of sugar in their 32oz serving.

! I couldn't agree more. I typically stay away from the McDonalds sweet tea. I'm too jumpy after it and I feel like I have to brush my teeth after every sip.

Quoting FaddyPainter (Reply 10):
What types of that sort of tea can you get in the US? I will be moving there later this year and it's one of my greatest worries that I won't be able to find decent tea bags!

It really depends on where you are going to live. I know where I come from in Connecticut there are stores where they have all sorts of different teas. But where I am now you're pretty limited in your selection.
Pat

fr8mech · Mon Apr 22, 2013 5:43 pm

Quoting captaink (Reply 9):
Most if not all teas and coffee for that matter tastes better without sugar. But it is a personal preference of course. I have found that sugar masks bad tasting coffee, so now I drink both tea and coffee without sugar so as to not fall in the trap of poor quality.

Oh, don't get me wrong, I prefer my coffee, black (like my men

)and I also prefer undoctored tea, unless I'm having a hot tottee.

But, when I'm in need of sugar and caffeine, fast, (say, after a long run, where I didn't bring water and/or gel along) I opt for sweet tea from McDonald's. I can have 32oz for $1.06.

IH8BY · Mon Apr 22, 2013 6:36 pm

I like a nice cup of tea, but my daily drinker tends to be strong black tea with milk (half fat) and no sugar. Usual blend is Yorkshire Gold, particularly partial to the Kenyan seasonal blend, but at the moment I'm drinking either standard Yorkshire Tea or the fairtrade everyday tea by Jacksons of Piccadilly.

Otherwise, I have a number of teapots and various loose leaf teas. Despite my love of a brutally strong cup of tea, I'm quite a fan of Darjeeling, and I have a couple of those at home at any time.

RussianJet · Mon Apr 22, 2013 7:02 pm

A strong, malty Assam tea is the way forward. I like it milky but still strong, and nicely sweetened. It's delicious.

rabenschlag · Mon Apr 22, 2013 7:49 pm

Tea all day!

* Morning: Assam, broken, with milk and sugar
* While working: Green tea (kabuse cha, gyokuro), plain
* At tea time: Assam, broken, with milk and sugar or Darjeeling with a bit of sugar
* Evening: Herbal tea

captaink · Mon Apr 22, 2013 8:58 pm

Quoting IH8BY (Reply 14):
I like a nice cup of tea, but my daily drinker tends to be strong black tea with milk (half fat) and no sugar. Usual blend is Yorkshire Gold, particularly partial to the Kenyan seasonal blend, but at the moment I'm drinking either standard Yorkshire Tea or the fairtrade everyday tea by Jacksons of Piccadilly.

Hey my mother in law is off the England, and being from an ex English colony I have come to look up to England as connoisseurs of tea. Which in your opinion is the best not so expensive brand of loose leaf Earl Grey tea? Currently she buys Twinnings and Harrods for me when she goes, but I have no idea what "real" English folk drink...?

Quoting fr8mech (Reply 13):
I prefer my coffee, black (like my men )

I see you like uniformity then.. HAHA

texan · Mon Apr 22, 2013 9:28 pm

No day has officially begun until the first cup of has been consumed. Making tea requires one to step back from the day for a few minutes, wait for the tea to brew, inhale the aromas, and lust for that first, magnificent sip. When in a rush, I will use bagged tea, but it is not my preference. Whenever possible, I open up a tin of loose tea leaves, put them in a strainer, and pour boiling water on top of them, opening the leaves up and releasing their texture and aroma. I leave them to brew for 3-4 minutes, depending on the leaves I'm using. I don't add milk and only add sugar when drinking bagged teas.

Favourite teas (from Townshend's Tea House on Alberta Street in Portland, Oregon--end up ordering from them a lot):
Single Estate Ceylon
Yunnan Hong Cha (the most delicious black tea around, in my opinion)
Lapsang Souchong
Iron Goddess of Mercy (oolong)

Texan

AeroWesty · Mon Apr 22, 2013 9:45 pm

Quoting Airstud (Thread starter):
Are you a tea drinker? Where do you go for premium, non-national tea?

This is a sad thread to post in. My family has bought coffee and tea from Freed, Teller & Freed in San Francisco since at least the 1930s. After losing their storefront to the Loma Prieta quake, Freed's was never able to relocate and revive the business in the face of new competitors such as Peet's and Starbucks, and have now announced that their online store will close next month.

In the next few days I'll make my last ever order from Freed's, which has been in business since 1899. A wee little bit of me will die when I open up the box. Another part of my history and attachment to Baghdad-by-the-Bay will go off into the sunset. Like a twitch upon a thread, I was always able to bring a bit of it back with an order from Freed, Teller & Freed.

http://freedscoffeetea.com/

oldeuropean · Tue Apr 23, 2013 11:43 am

I'm an avid tea drinker for decades and indeed prefer loose tea.

Two years ago I changed from black to green tea. My current choice is green Darjeeling from organic quality and fair trade.

[Edited 2013-04-23 04:46:49]

bristolflyer · Tue Apr 23, 2013 12:22 pm

Quoting FaddyPainter (Reply 10):
What types of that sort of tea can you get in the US? I will be moving there later this year and it's one of my greatest worries that I won't be able to find decent tea bags!

I'm in Colorado and there is plenty of tea available. Whole Foods (a premium supermarket) has PG Tips, as does Cost Plus World Market (which has quite a few other offerings such as Yorkshire Gold). Lots of supermarkets have Twinings as well as some others like Tetley. Of course, you can also buy via Amazon.

As jetblueguy22 says it's all about where you're going to be; if you're moving to Florida there are many English shops that will have everything you could want/need. If you're moving to the deep south then you're selection is probably limited. Most big cities will have an independent English food store. Fear not!

Aaron747 · Tue Apr 23, 2013 12:36 pm

Despite all my time on this side of the world, I am rather unqualified to comment on the cornucopia of teas available in various Asian countries. I have probably tried 50 or more Japanese varieties alone, and couldn't begin to tell anyone what's what.

For my money, hoji-cha (ほうじ茶) cannot be beat. There are various leaves they make it from depending on the region, but the taste is defined by the fact that the tea is fired over charcoal before being packed. It's seen as a wonderful after dinner drink here, but I tend to take it in the morning when I'm not up for coffee. At AEON and other markets, I can get a box of 20 bags for about $3, and that sure keeps me happy.

faddypainter · Tue Apr 23, 2013 1:36 pm

Quoting bristolflyer (Reply 21):
As jetblueguy22 says it's all about where you're going to be; if you're moving to Florida there are many English shops that will have everything you could want/need. If you're moving to the deep south then you're selection is probably limited. Most big cities will have an independent English food store. Fear not!

My fears are somewhat abated then. I will in fact be in Florida (Ft Pierce), not a overly tourist part, but it's hard to escape tourist parts anywhere on the coast. Failing that I will take a large stash with me.

ACDC8 · Tue Apr 23, 2013 5:31 pm

I've been getting more into teas over the last couple of years (still love my coffee though) ... I'm still just using standard tea bags for their ease of use though, but am quite interested in getting more into loose leaf tea's as there is much more variety of tastes I'm wanting to try. Can anyone recommend a good guideline on how much loose leaf tea to put into the strainer for a cup?

AeroWesty · Tue Apr 23, 2013 5:36 pm

Quoting ACDC8 (Reply 24):
Can anyone recommend a good guideline on how much loose leaf tea to put into the strainer for a cup?

None. You put the loose leaf tea loose into the teapot. One teaspoon per cup, or to taste.

cgnnrw · Tue Apr 23, 2013 5:57 pm

Nothing tops going into a bar in Milan, Turin, Venice or Rome and ordering a real Italian espresso. However, in the past couple of years I've taken to drinking tea in the winter time. I'm no expect on brands, mixes, etc but I like Earl Grey and English Breakfast. Usually a drop or two of honey or algave sirup and I'm usually a happy camper afterwards.

captaink · Tue Apr 23, 2013 9:52 pm

Quoting cgnnrw (Reply 26):
Nothing tops going into a bar in Milan, Turin, Venice or Rome and ordering a real Italian espresso.

I heard the best coffee can be found in Istanbul or Athens..

OA260 · Tue Apr 23, 2013 10:21 pm

Quoting captaink (Reply 27):
I heard the best coffee can be found in Istanbul or Athens..

It depends on what way you like it. The traditional Greek/Turkish coffee which is basically the same thing is very nice but I rarely drink it these days . I prefer a Nespresso Cappuchino made with two expresso capsules number 11 strength. I have that every morning using my Lattissimo machine.

Now for tea I only drink it on two occassions.

1: When I go for traditional afternoon tea which I love.

2: When Im sick and have a sore throat. I actually cant drink coffee when Im sick and only drink tea.

The brands of tea I like are English Tetley when Im sick . For afternoon tea I like English afternoon blend.

I love Whittard :

http://www.whittard.co.uk/?change_site=uk#

Superfly · Wed Apr 24, 2013 2:38 am

Quoting captaink (Reply 27):
I heard the best coffee can be found in Istanbul or Athens..

I don't know about that. That stuff made me run to the toilet and stay on if for a long time.

However I did appreciate the strong flavor but I didn't care for the soot particles that sift to the bottom of the cup.
I would assume the best coffee is in Ireland...

Quoting OA260 (Reply 28):
The traditional Greek/Turkish coffee which is basically the same thing

That is true but I didn't want to say that when I was there. I understand the Greeks and Turks don't like being compared to one another. I also think Ouzo & Raki is the same thing too.

Type-Rated · Wed Apr 24, 2013 5:02 am

Quoting FaddyPainter (Reply 10):
What types of that sort of tea can you get in the US? I will be moving there later this year and it's one of my greatest worries that I won't be able to find decent tea bags!

Most large cities have good British import stores. You can find most anything sold in the UK except for Fortnum & Mason teas.
My personal favorite tea was their Royal Blend tea. But according to the proprietor of our local British shop F&M decided to become a UK only seller. No more exports. He tried to find it again, but no more.

I drink a nice strong green tea (I like a serious cup of tea) in the evenings and sometimes in the morning I'll have coffee or just wade through a pot (I do have a proper English teapot) of Jackson's or Twinings English Breakfast tea. Two lumps only, no milk and NEVER any ice.

A320ajm · Wed Apr 24, 2013 5:56 am

I feel rather boring commenting on this thread after some of the more interesting answers, but being a northerner I avoid all fancy tea and drink 4-5 cups of gold old Yorkshire Tea every day!

A320ajm

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