Tea appreciation thread

[Eschaton]

blah blah blah coffee is better blah blah


Currently sipping on a black tea, probably gonna have some green or jasmine later today

unsweetened

no milk unless its masala chai

[Beezy]

Fuck coffee.

I haven't started buying bag-less tea myself yet, but a friend always makes some of whatever she has when we go to her house. She always has some amazing flavors.

[nudemacusers]

i read this as teen appreciation and got excited but am now disappointed

[nudemacusers]

is bagless the next tier? my wife drinks tea every now and then and I want to give her the best

[Reb]

I'm mostly a green tea drinker. I've been drinking loose tea for a few years now, and these are my findings:

Green
BB Les Invités (green) - 9.5
SL Aloe Vera Green (green) - 9.5
KA Schatkamer van Shaolin (green) - 9
SL Sencha Silver Flower (green) - 9
SL Golden Mandarin (green) - 9
SL Earl Green (green) - 9
ER Chunmee (green) - 9
SL Chunmee Young Hyson (green) - 8
KA Himalaya's Witte Bergtop (white/green) - 8
KA Moment of Happiness (green) - 8
SL Lemongrass Green (green) - 8
SL Yen Bai (green) - 8
SL Jasmijn Chung Hao (green) - 8
LE Citroengras Gotukola (green) - 8
SL Lemon Myrtle Green (green) - 8
SL Gunpowder (green) - 8
SL Cactus Vanilla Green (green) - 8
PW Gentle Green (green) - 8
FT Purity (green) - 7.5
SL Fancy Osmanthus (green) - 7.5
SL Nilgiri Green (green) - 7.5
SL Lentedauw Mao Feng (green) - 7.5
SL Tropisch Green (green) - 7.5
LE Earl Grey Bergamot (green) -  7
SL Japanse Kers (green) - 7
SL The Marocain bio (green/munt) - 7

Black
SL Spicy Orange (black) - 8
SL Sweet Orange (black) - 7
SL Tropenvuur (black) - 7
SL Lotus (black) - 7
SL Granny's Applepie (black) - 7
SL Indian Chai bio (black) - 6

Various
China Pai Mu Tan std. 6901 (white) - 8.5
SL Sweetheart Melange - 8
SL Namiddag Melange (herbal) - 7.5
SL Huang da Cha (yellow) - 6


I swear this is the only thing I keep track of in this manner.

[Reb]

Green or black?

[Beezy]

Fuck coffee.

I haven't started buying bag-less tea myself yet, but a friend always makes some of whatever she has when we go to her house. She always has some amazing flavors.

Shit is on a completely different level right? I recently started brewing bag less and it's incredible.  You gotta get one of the smart pots with presets for each tea brand.

Definitely. I gave her a french press as a gift after reading that GAF tea thread. That's all she uses now. Should've got one for myself too.

[Momo]

I have 6 different flavours of tea at work alone

[Himu]

Lipton tea is worse than drinking mud.

Loose leaf is amazing.

Also, Americans do not know shit about tea. Every time I order tea, these people act like it's odd to steep a specific time. When I go to Vietnamese place to eat pho these dudes leave the leaves in for minutes at a time and the tea turns to shit. Then when I take the leaves out because I refuse to drink bitter tea, they act like I'm crazy.

[Himu]

I dare you to drink Lipton green tea. I fucking double dog dare you.

[Momo]

South African rooibos

Like I was showing wrath I have

spoiler (click to show/hide)

[close]

Honey, Lemon and Ginger Rooibos
Rooibos
Pomegranate Rooibos
Mint Rooibos
Cranberry, Apple and Cinnamon Rooibos.
Jasmine Green Tea
Green Tea
Vanilla Green Tea
Earl Grey
English Breakfast
Peach Rooibos Tea
Ginger Kick
Cinnamon Kick

and thats just at work

[Himu]

Worst thing about liking tea and living in the south is that people say you like weird tea. Anything not sweet tea that can give you diabetes and cavities equals weird. If it doesn't taste sweet, people don't understand the appeal. It's so odd.

[Mr. Gundam]

Tea isn't my thing, but my wife is a pretty hard core genmaicha drinker.

[tiesto]

I love tea, I buy boxes and boxes of it... sencha, rooibos, and masala chai (and lately guayusa) are my favorites. We have some real cute tea shops around here where I can get some loose leaf - cinnamon rooibos and almond tea are my favorites.

[Positive Touch]

 
look at this magic

[Steve Contra]

If you really want to step up your tea game

http://www.thephoenixcollection.com/

 

[Steve Contra]

I know the dude through a bunch of clients but we have zero business connections.  His stuff is some truly next level tea.

[a slime appears]

Warming up tea is for old ladies and the disabled. I'm a bench pressing fortune 500 breadwinner and I don't have time for that shit. That's why I stepped my tea game to the next level, son:

[Himu]

I'm saving money so I can't have to good stuff, but I love these Celestial teas so I don't mind.



Matcha in STL?

[Himu]

http://www.yelp.com/biz/nippan-daido-usa-inc-houston-2

[Himu]

omg

[lennedsay]

I'm mostly an herbal tea person, but my god I love tea. A friend got me the metal teavana tumbler with the steeper. My god I love that thing. I have made tea before I left work and forgot to take it with me. Shit was still hot the next morning.

I was thinking about planting an herbal tea garden. I have mint growing now that was from my grandma's house. It wouldn't be that difficult.

[Himu]

Tell me more about growing your own tea.

[benjipwns]

I've been to Celestial Seasonings 

They have a giant sealed vault for the Peppermint because otherwise the entire place and all the tea would smell like it. They let you go inside to see how long you can last.

Also, I like lots of different teas. I was drinking some Darjeeling my parents didn't want anymore earlier.

[Himu]

You son of a bitch, Benji.

[Brehvolution]

My favorite tea is T W A Tea.

[Phoenix Dark]

My mom is really into bag-less tea. I definitely prefer tea over coffee which I can't stand, but I'm not a big tea guy. There was a summer/fall/winter in high school where I was literally reading all night, and I'd drink some tea to go along with that. Since then I haven't really had much tea.

I used to put honey in my tea, since I'm not a sugar guy.

[Himu]

Honey > sugar when it comes to tea anyways

[Himu]

Honey + lemon is a good go to.

[a slime appears]

Why is this thread still going? I'm pretty sure I put you all to shame with my COLD-BREW action back up there.

[G The Resurrected]

I love tea and it's helped with getting me off of sodas entirely along with Pellegrino. I'm never without my favorite drink though.



There's a reason it's #1 in japan. That shit tastes so damn good, I love both the dark and hojicha as well. I have in my pantry easily 10 to 12 cases of this stuff.

I also like brewed tea and for that i'm exclusively a Lupicia loose tea person. Stuff is quality and you can taste it in every sip compared to Teavana and their sugar sneaking ways. But in a pinch I've also gotten Teavana and with them being bought by Starbucks i'm more likely going to be buying lots of cold ice drinks from them in the future.

[G The Resurrected]

That Breville is amazing we were given one by our neighbors. They are asian and I usually buy them tea when it's on sale since they don't normally get out due to being elderly. I think they have a raquette on kettles/rice cookers going on. There is something about that one touch that makes for better brewed tea than the electric kettle, I just can't put my tongue on it.

[Himu]

I have an electric kettle. You can set the temp to 140 degrees F or 210 F.  Setting it to 150 for green tea makes a perfect cup. While neat, I'm not going to spend 300 dollars on a kettle, especially since I already know how to make a perfect cup with a 70 dollar water boiler.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0013O8J6Y/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?qid=1402145896&sr=8-4

Alternatively:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0011528S0/ref=pd_aw_sbs_1

[Vertigo]

Any fans of redbush here?

[Rufus]

Any fans of redbush here?

:lenowned

[Momo]

my face when people say red bush

[TEEEPO]

i just ordered a new gaiwan to go with a large selection of 2014 spring high mountain oolongs from taiwan.

[TEEEPO]

I have an electric kettle. You can set the temp to 140 degrees F or 210 F.  Setting it to 150 for green tea makes a perfect cup. While neat, I'm not going to spend 300 dollars on a kettle, especially since I already know how to make a perfect cup with a 70 dollar water boiler.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0013O8J6Y/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?qid=1402145896&sr=8-4

Alternatively:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0011528S0/ref=pd_aw_sbs_1

This method of steeping isn't as good as the tea maker I linked earlier

http://www.amazon.com/Breville-BTM800XL-One-Touch-Tea-Maker/dp/B003LNOPSG

I seem to have a habit of posting on the bottom of the last page, but what the fuck ever.

It's better because if you steep the normal way, you get your water at the right temp, you start steeping, and the temperature starts dropping. Temp needs to stay constant. The drop in temp is lessened by warming up the pot in which you'll brew your glorious tea leaves. But that means I'd have to boil water twice and I'm too lazy for that shit.

Breville Tea Maker, yo. It's the only way.

Or some other thing you use to achieve the same goal. I've been thinking boiling water on the stove and steeping tea that way but it seems too much effort.

more serious tea drinkers have different styles of teapots ranging from thin to thick and they'll use whichever depending on whether containing or letting heat escape will result in a better brew. the latter is often preferred.


4real though

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=sr_1_8?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1402159895&sr=1-8&keywords=electric+kettle

this is a next level tea kettle

[Himu]

Also, I find that boiling green tea water makes for worse green tea. You boil your green tea?

[TEEEPO]

no more than 180f for the first steep

[Himu]

Wasn't talking about you, but to Ruzbeh. All this about boiling when not all teas taste good boiled.

[benjipwns]

I want to say that green is slightly less? Like 10% or something negligible.

I find that I prefer black teas usually, but I guess that depends more on the green tea's blend, most straight green tea is kinda like meh.

Of course, a lot of the regular store package tea's are real weak if you only steep them the suggested 3 minutes or whatever. So like always I reject their authority!

Had a roommate who liked similar teas, he would steep for like two minutes then throw the bag away. I was like nooooooo precious more cups to be had. So I got free tea for a while. 

[benjipwns]

If you trust Bigelow, on their boxes they have this chart:
CAFF-O-METER:
Coffee: 100-120mg
Black Tea: 30-60mg
Green Tea: 25-50mg
Decaf Tea: 1-8mg
Herbal Tea: 0mg

[Himu]

Black tea for mornings. Green, white, and oolong tea for any time after that, but herbal at night. Green is my go to though. One type of green people are too hard on are the ones that taste like grass. Dunno why but I find it soothing.

Jesus what a horribly written post. Phones :argh

[Himu]

I don't know why I order tea in restaurants hoping to recieve a decent cup much like how you can usually get a solid cup if coffee. Went to restaurant, REALLY wanted tea (I drink 4-5 cups a day) and stupidly ordered green. I get my tea it's a bitter, disgusting mess. WHY DO I BOTHER? aughhhh! All I want is a decent cup of tea.

[tiesto]

This is my tea kettle, very happy with it:
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/cuisinart-perfectemp-teakettle/s560731?a=1552&device=c&network=g&matchtype=&gclid=CKOBm8n_7L4CFehQOgodgjYAZg

[Kara]

TBH, I much prefer ط to T.

[HiResDes]

These are the very best teapots you can buy in my opinion. I've used plenty including really expensive cast iron ones and none are as good as the Bell for a couple of reasons.


1. The Metal Strainer is quite solid and will never break or become loose, because it's one solid piece with tinier better integrated holes that strain better than any other mesh thingy I've ever tried.
2. The Teapot itself is the most durable ceramic I've ever come into contact with, and you can wash it and accidentally leave tea in without worry of become rusted or leaving a metallic taste in the tea.
3. The strainer has a little handle, the lip of it comes off and fits flush with a rubber sealing making it easier to clean and each individual part really is made to last a lifetime, which is why it comes with a LIFETIME warranty.
4. They come in a shitload of colors
5. It's only like 30 bucks for a 26oz!

[tiesto]

I went to the NY Coffee and Tea Festival back in March and man did I spend way too much... mixture of matcha powder, looseleaf and bagged for when I just want to be lazy.

Esch - Liking the Lapsang Souchong? I can't seem to get into those, they taste like charcoal.

[seagrams hotsauce]

Lapsang Souchong
Russian Country

[zomgee]

I have tried my entire life to enjoy tea and I'm starting to think I'm broken. Every unsweetened tea tastes bitter to me. It gets to the point that I can't drink tea unless it is sugared water that has a hint of tea taste. I started with bags and recently have gotten to the point of some expensive loose leaf with exact temperatures and controlled times - still bitter. I've had it made at a tea house - bitter. One of my vacation goals is to go to the Tea Room in Victoria for afternoon tea and see if one of the premiere tea houses in the world can't cure it.

The    is real.

[thisismyusername]

I have tried my entire life to enjoy tea and I'm starting to think I'm broken. Every unsweetened tea tastes bitter to me. It gets to the point that I can't drink tea unless it is sugared water that has a hint of tea taste. I started with bags and recently have gotten to the point of some expensive loose leaf with exact temperatures and controlled times - still bitter. I've had it made at a tea house - bitter. One of my vacation goals is to go to the Tea Room in Victoria for afternoon tea and see if one of the premiere tea houses in the world can't cure it.

The    is real.

Outside of Southern Iced Tea and Thai tea which are sugar-y/sweet, I'm nearly in the same boat. But it isn't bitter for me, it's water. I can brew Ginger Tea and taste nothing of the Ginger. Cinnamon? Nothing of the Cinnamon. Just water. Hot hot water by the cupfull. 

[HiResDes]

Yeah I need a new teapot for steeping now that I'm getting my shit together.

Those look like shit though. I need something vastly more attractive. Not quite sure what yet.

They have like four different designs for people like you that care about stupid shit like that.

[Cerveza mas fina]

I got like 15/20 tea varieties at home.

All kinds of funky blends like rooibos rhubarb etc. but GOAT remains Earl Gray with a Lemon

[naff]

I'm big on lapsang souchong as an alternative to regular black tea.

Had KUNG FU tea the other day with a bowl of brisket noodle soup, tasted more or less like jasmine to me with a little extra KICK.

Best part was the show when serving it, p. much like this

[Kara]

Brehs, I got some anis tea. It's like I'm drinking absinthe at my the office.