Becoming a tea drinker.

[Arethusa]

I know you don't get high, but what does it actually taste like?

 

[c3cubed]

Originally Posted by Get Smart

I prefer tea over coffee, with a good spot of milk/creme

You can't ever go wrong with earl grey....but to the OP, get one of those variety packs that comes with a few different flavors and see what floats your boat.

I found real Japanese green tea to be kind of sweet (I took a tea ceremony class many years ago) and very different from the sort you are usually served

Yes, the powdered green tea when whisked is like a creamy broth - and you can control the potency so that it is almost like a soup. Very tasty. Yes, a minimal sweetness with the high quality teas, and a mild hint of [dare I say] - spinach & peat. One does receive a good bit of zap. Much more alert than a dose of any energy drink or "Jolt Cola".

Drink copious amounts of this stuff and you might expect to live over 100.
Enjoy it with a Geisha [or two] and you are guaranteed to live well over the normal life-expectancy.

If one has the stamina for the long duration, the classic Japanese tea ceremony can be one of the most enjoyable ways to spend a day.

 

[texas_jack]

Originally Posted by Arethusa

I know you don't get high, but what does it actually taste like?

A little bitter. When I was in Peru I just chewed the leaves like the indians did.

 

[LabelKing]

I prefer strong Chinese tea. I wouldn't be able to tell you the details, or even precise names, but that's what I like, and usually I can tell what is quality by the taste.

 

[texas_jack]

Originally Posted by LabelKing

I prefer strong Chinese tea. I wouldn't be able to tell you the details, or even precise names, but that's what I like, and usually I can tell what is quality by the taste.

I buy my tea from a store called Ten Ren. They have lots of teas in large crocks and sell it by the pound. I wish I knew what the one I drink is called in Chinese. They just call it black tea when I ask.

 

[LabelKing]

Originally Posted by texas_jack

I buy my tea from a store called Ten Ren. They have lots of teas in large crocks and sell it by the pound. I wish I knew what the one I drink is called in Chinese. They just call it black tea when I ask.

I know that store; I think it's a chain from Taiwan. They even have it in the P.R.C.

Some of the tea tins have English names, or at least Anglicized Chinese names, I recall.

 

[Mandrake9072]

After drinking for a few days, I'm really liking Black tea more. I've tried Black, Green, and White (Rishi Tea).

 

[Mandrake9072]

Also, since Caffeine never really had an effect on me, it's nice to be able to drink black tea (more caffeine in it) in the evening time.

 

[speedster.8]

Originally Posted by Mandrake9072

Oh yes, coming from an Indian family, I'm not completely new to tea. My parents drink tea at least twice a day. I was actually shocked at the fact that people drank tea w/o milk, since I was always used to seeing family members drink with milk.
As per your herritage you have acces to a vast array of teas, Masala Chai(cinnamon, cloves etc) is drunk a lott in India, mostly with milk I think. I enjoy it without, for the spiciness.

Originally Posted by fatherseanfan

Anything but Lipton.
+1 My british teas are: EarlGray (with bergamotte OIL not flavor) LadyGray (on occation for a more sitrucy flavor) Prince of Wales (more towards a Chinese black, more punch than Breakfast) Lapsang Souchong (more like a lightly peaty malt

mostly in gunpowder form) The Chinese have a vast variety of teas that are quite interesting, as do the Russian The expanding flower is usualy a hitt with the ladies

I also drink infucions like: Peppermint Parsley Cardemom Lemon Ginger All for their unique flavours, to add some varity. I find brown suggar ads a roudnes to the sweet, but mostly I use honey if anny swetening at all My2c

 

[unpainted huffheinz]

Tea is my favorite drink other than beer. I find really high grade loose tea so far from what comes in bags that I haven't bought bagged tea in many years. The Taiwanese Oolong teas are perhaps the best I have found with the 'Monkey Picked' being especially nice.

If anyone in Chicago wants to buy really fantastic tea, I recommend My Place for Tea on Sheffield just north of Belmont (across from Leona's). I am friends with the couple that owns the shop (Rico and Min) who have immense knowledge of teas and blend their own. The teas are superior to Argo, and they have a website for orders too: http://www.myplacefortea.com/

I have no financial interest in the shop apart from wanting to see them succeed so I can continue to buy exquisite tea locally.

 

[yerfdog]

I like green tea.

Earl Grey tastes a little too citrusy I think.

I've had some peruvian coca and chamomile tea that is decent. The coca content may make it grey area legality in the US though, not sure.

 

[Mandrake9072]

Btw, I forgot to mention that the tea I purchased from Whole Foods was this brand: http://www.rishi-tea.com/ I'm not too fond of the green tea (jasmine variety). The smell isn't very pleasing nor is the taste. The black tea (china breakfast) and white tea, I have been enjoying. I will have to give the jasime green tea more taste, and maybe it'll grow on me.

 

[Arethusa]

Rishi's pretty good.

 

[LabelKing]

I like Pu'erh tea.

 

[totally epic]

A friend brought some tie guan yin back from China. I really enjoy it.