Tea time

[TrojanSkyCop1]

Growing up, I wasn't a huge tea drinker--certainly not like my mother was--but I did enjoy jasmine tea whenever I went to a Chinese restaurant and green tea at the Japanese restaurants.

However, my recent stint in the UAE made a full-time tea drinker out of me, thanks to (1) the fact that my villa-mate and colleague would regularly serve me tea when I' drop by his room to chat, and (2) when I discovered that green and black tea (particularly Green Tea Lea Touareg and Black Tea Ceylon OP, and esepcially when served with honey) made it possible for me to defeat bronchitis and my other recurrent respiratory maladies without having to resort to immunte system-weakening antiobiotics. I pretty much had at leasat one cup of green and/or black tea every day of my last 2 or 3 months in the Emirates.

Now that I'm back in the Middle East, I once again drink at least 2 cups of green/black/antioxidant tea per day (preferably out of my Pirate coffee mug that some of y'all may have seen either here and/or on Facebook)....plus at least once or twice per week I indulge in some delightful local Iraqi chai (which is quite rich and flavorful).

So, any other tea connoisseurs here (I presume at least some of our resident Brits here will chime in)? What're your faves?

[bae]

My tea addictions are:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapsang_souchong

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genmaicha

[Pokeguyjai]

I like traditional teas. I don't know much about British tea but the stuff they sell at Starbucks makes me want to puke. No herby flower scented stuff, thank you very much.

Black tea, can't beat the Sri Lankan stuff. My friend is actually there on a religious mission and is staying at a tea farm / rubber plantation so I'm excited. Pu er (or as we cantonese say, Bo Lay) is decent but you need to get the aged stuff. Sri Lankan = great cold, ice tea and the Pu er is good for hot.

Green tea... meh. Over rated. There are some good Japanese green teas but they usually have no depth. Not very good for you either if you drink too much, according to Chinese tea lore.

I am a big milk and tea guy since I am cantonese, but for that Lipton tea will suffice generally since it's more about the milk and how you make it. I did have some ginger Chai (Indian version of milk and tea I guess?) made by my friends mom and it was amazing.


My tea addictions are:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapsang_souchong

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genmaicha

You have a braver pallet than I, good sir. :grin:

I am not a big rice tea guy but check out the Korean rice/barley teas. I hear they are quite good if you are looking for something more mellow/soft than a green tea.

[TrojanSkyCop1]

I am a big milk and tea guy since I am cantonese, but for that Lipton tea will suffice generally since it's more about the milk and how you make it. I did have some ginger Chai (Indian version of milk and tea I guess?) made by my friends mom and it was amazing.





Aahhh yes, thanks for reminding, I do rather like the Indian milk & tea combo as well. My Pakistani ex-roommate from college was the first to turn me onto it.

[bae]

I am not a big rice tea guy but check out the Korean rice/barley teas. I hear they are quite good if you are looking for something more mellow/soft than a green tea.

I've found these various roasted-grain/green tea mixes are great when I am trying to keep to a reduced calorie diet, they seem to activate the "I just ate something good" sensors.

[Pokeguyjai]

I've found these various roasted-grain/green tea mixes are great when I am trying to keep to a reduced calorie diet, they seem to activate the "I just ate something good" sensors.

I think green tea is a great way to end a meal. A nice cup of Japanese green tea after a fruity/light desert is very relaxing.

[TrojanSkyCop1]

I think green tea is a great way to end a meal. A nice cup of Japanese green tea after a fruity/light desert is very relaxing.

And green tea ice cream is a delish dessert.

[truenorth]

Ok, who will be Father?

[SheepDog68]

I enjoy tea!

I expect that I am pretty much a barbarian as far as what I know about it or how I fix it, but I do enjoy taking tea in the morning specially during the winter once the temps drop.

A Sri Lankan friend and his wife introduced me to the whole English style tea time. Taking tea with them a few times got me started down this road.

I enjoy several different teas as well as the chance to try new ones when I am in a good Chinese or Thai restaurant.

SD

[pangloss]

I'm a tea addict. I've had three cups today and will have one more before bed. Four cups is about my average consumption for a week day. On the weekends, I don't even keep count, but my guess is I probably drink about six cups a day on Saturday and Sunday. Currently I have perhaps 15 kinds of tea on hand. The China blacks are far and away my favorite. Among these, Imperial Keemun (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keemun_tea) is my favorite and the one I drink the most of. For breakfast, I make my on blend that is about 80% Keemun (three monkey), 15% oolong (Hunan Red at the moment, but sometimes other kinds), 5% Lapsang Souchong. This mixture and those similar to it are marketed as a Russian Caravan blend (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Caravan). Some of the blends I've bought have too much Lapsang Souchong for my taste, and by mixing my own, I can make sure that the Keemun and Oolong are high quiality teas.

My wife and I lived in Winston-Salem, NC for five years, and there's a tea shop there (Angelina's Teas) that has hundreds of teas in stock. I could stop off on my way home from work and buy a couple of ounces of whatever caught my eye. After doing this for a few years, I was absolutely certain of what teas appeal the most to me. I enjoy a cup of Darjeeling from time to time, but I'm not such a fan of the Assam or Sri Lanka teas. I also stay away from the African teas. Angelina's had a very wide selection of Pu'erh teas (current stock appears close to 90 teas), but for some reason, they just don't appeal to me. I have one disc of Pu'erh, but I've yet to try it. Hopefully aging it for a few extra years will make it better.

[Pokeguyjai]

I'm a tea addict. I've had three cups today and will have one more before bed. Four cups is about my average consumption for a week day. On the weekends, I don't even keep count, but my guess is I probably drink about six cups a day on Saturday and Sunday. Currently I have perhaps 15 kinds of tea on hand. The China blacks are far and away my favorite. Among these, Imperial Keemun (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keemun_tea) is my favorite and the one I drink the most of. For breakfast, I make my on blend that is about 80% Keemun (three monkey), 15% oolong (Hunan Red at the moment, but sometimes other kinds), 5% Lapsang Souchong. This mixture and those similar to it are marketed as a Russian Caravan blend (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Caravan). Some of the blends I've bought have too much Lapsang Souchong for my taste, and by mixing my own, I can make sure that the Keemun and Oolong are high quiality teas.

My wife and I lived in Winston-Salem, NC for five years, and there's a tea shop there (Angelina's Teas) that has hundreds of teas in stock. I could stop off on my way home from work and buy a couple of ounces of whatever caught my eye. After doing this for a few years, I was absolutely certain of what teas appeal the most to me. I enjoy a cup of Darjeeling from time to time, but I'm not such a fan of the Assam or Sri Lanka teas. I also stay away from the African teas. Angelina's had a very wide selection of Pu'erh teas (current stock appears close to 90 teas), but for some reason, they just don't appeal to me. I have one disc of Pu'erh, but I've yet to try it. Hopefully aging it for a few extra years will make it better.

99% of Pu Er out there is cheap. It is generally flavorless and almost like flavored water, which is not necessarily a bad thing since a lot of Chinese people I know drink 95% tea, literally.

You really have to get some aged stuff (at least 50 years or more IIRC. They have stuff that has been aged 100 years) which they sell in huge wafers (http://www.puerh.fr/dynamic//files/system/articles/12/9.jpg) in order to KNOW you're getting something authentic. It is supposed to be an easy drinking tea that has zero depth, like a Corona. The aging process just takes out the "bite" and makes it smoother.

[AlexSpartan]

I love tea. Lapsang Souchong. Earl Grey. Oolong. Rooibos. Green. I occasionally like Herbal, but mostly stick to real tea.

"When I say 'herbal', you say 'no thanks'
Herbal
-No Thanks
Herbal
-No Thanks"


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eELH0ivexKA

[pangloss]

99% of Pu Er out there is cheap. It is generally flavorless and almost like flavored water, which is not necessarily a bad thing since a lot of Chinese people I know drink 95% tea, literally.

You really have to get some aged stuff (at least 50 years or more IIRC. They have stuff that has been aged 100 years) which they sell in huge wafers (http://www.puerh.fr/dynamic//files/system/articles/12/9.jpg) in order to KNOW you're getting something authentic. It is supposed to be an easy drinking tea that has zero depth, like a Corona. The aging process just takes out the "bite" and makes it smoother.

"Wafer." That's the word I couldn't think of. The one I have is about 8-10 inches in diameter. It's a spring 2006 vintage, so I'll let it age a while longer. I probably won't let it get to 50 though. It's definitely real Pu Er, but for all I know, it's absolute bottom of the barrel stuff. The English description taped to it is very nice though. It makes me want to try it right now.

Alex, I agree with you 100% on the Herbal tea. I call them "stink teas" (no offense to any one who enjoys the perfumed teas). I usually say "Stink tea. Blaaagghh!"

[P.D.]

I grew up drinking tea. My day begins and ends with a cuppa with morning and afternoon tea in between. Given my family and heritage it is "white tea" - meaning English loose tea brew in a ceramic pot and served with small amount of milk in the cup first.

[mountaineer]

Yinz are pretty upscale tea drinkers. Here at the mobile home park, we go for the Lipton's. Sqeeze out some of that good "Real Lemon" stuff out of the yellow plastic bottle with the green cap and throw a packet of Domino's white sugar or Sweet and Low and you got it goin' on. All you need to top it off is a slow drag from a Swisher Sweet and that's livin'!

[Mr. Anthony]

I have a great boutique loose-leaf tea store within walking distance--they have something like 100 different teas you can buy in bulk. I'm working my way through the ones I like. Lots of good green teas, Moroccan Mint, etc etc. Brewing it yourself is the way to go. Look at the temperature it should be brewed, get your water there, and bam. I only drink stuff that doesn't have any weird additives--just tea leaves and maybe some herbs or mint or whatever. I'll never go back to tea bags or anything.

[pangloss]

I have a great boutique loose-leaf tea store within walking distance--they have something like 100 different teas you can buy in bulk. I'm working my way through the ones I like. Lots of good green teas, Moroccan Mint, etc etc. Brewing it yourself is the way to go. Look at the temperature it should be brewed, get your water there, and bam. I only drink stuff that doesn't have any weird additives--just tea leaves and maybe some herbs or mint or whatever. I'll never go back to tea bags or anything.

I'm with you on the tea bags. They are a last resort for me. Te Teas has the best I've come across. I really like their Imperial Breakfast Blend, but it's too expensive for what it is. Lately, I've been buying empty tea bags to use at work with the loose tea I keep there since I don't have a good place to store an infusion basket.

[Pokeguyjai]

Sorry guys, I will disagree with you there. You can't beat Lipton for what mountaineer was talking about. Tea is tea, it can be bon vivant but it's also just tea.

It's like tequila. Sometimes you just need something to mix drinks with, other times you want something you can enjoy.

[mountaineer]

Sorry guys, I will disagree with you there. You can't beat Lipton for what mountaineer was talking about. Tea is tea, it can be bon vivant but it's also just tea.

It's like tequila. Sometimes you just need something to mix drinks with, other times you want something you can enjoy.

Just kidding about the Real Lemon and Swisher but I do enjoy my tea with the wife whether it is a special blend or just plain Lipton's.

[Stoic]

I couldn't stand tea growing up. That all changed a few years ago when my wife discovered chai. I also agree with the OP--they do tea right in the middle east.

Now...well, usually 1 or 2 cups a night after work. My wife has so much loose tea on hand it's ridiculous...100+ varieties, probably over 20 lbs of the stuff. Awesome bon vivant stuff.

[TrojanSkyCop1]

I couldn't stand tea growing up. That all changed a few years ago when my wife discovered chai. I also agree with the OP--they do tea right in the middle east.

Now...well, usually 1 or 2 cups a night after work. My wife has so much loose tea on hand it's ridiculous...100+ varieties, probably over 20 lbs of the stuff. Awesome bon vivant stuff.

Cheers to you, good sir! :cool:

[Heywood]

I wasn't so big on tea until I recently had a bad cold and made some kind of black tea my wife always has around ( she drinks it everyday) and put in some crystallized ginger while brewing and sweetened with a little honey. It immediately made me feel better and was something I could actually taste and enjoy.

[TheGrayMan214]

Love tea. Drink a lot of it, probably too much.

My particular favorite is a hot Earl Grey with a touch of milk. Though I'm just as content drinking some of grandma's iced-down Lipton, to be honest.

[Al Lipscomb]

Half the enjoyment of tea is in the brewing.

A half hour show that changed my life: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npFAFX04ROE

[Al Lipscomb]

Ok, who will be Father?

????
I have heard of "I'll be mother", but not Father.

[Stoic]

Cheers to you, good sir! :cool:

Likewise, to a fellow warrior! :thumbsup:

[TrojanSkyCop1]

Rooibos.

Aaahhh, Rooibos; I discovered the joys of it here in Iraq a few months ago thanks to some South African chaps, and it has quickly become one of my favorite teas.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rooibos

[azerious85]

Lipton Cold Brew works for me

[TrojanSkyCop1]

Jolly good news, mates: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2739310/Drinking-tea-cuts-risk-dying-early-quarter-Antioxidant-ingredients-drink-good-heart.html