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Post by WKRP Jimmy Drop on Jan 7, 2019 12:36:40 GMT -5
I forgot about this thread, but it is the perfect place to mention how the people at my local teashop judge the fuck out me when I ask for milk in my Oolong. Those people can go fuck themselves. Every single time, the tea-rista asks a version of , "Um...have you had it like that before?" with an expression of poorly-concealed horror. I know what I'm about, son. |
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Post by 🐍 cahusserole 🐍 on Jan 7, 2019 13:53:20 GMT -5
Those people can go fuck themselves. Every single time, the tea-rista asks a version of , "Um...have you had it like that before?" with an expression of poorly-concealed horror. I know what I'm about, son. "I've been drinking it with milk for oolong time." |
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Post by Pastafarian on Jun 5, 2019 16:58:34 GMT -5
I recently read an article extolling the virtues of this  so decided to see if we carried it. There is was, next to the Tim Tams and the Walkers Shortbread in the British section of the store. Looking forward to trying it. I tried finding the article to share here. I thought it was on Slate but can't seem to locate it now. Anyway the author pointed out it's good with milk, even better with cream, and that may have been enough to sell me right there. EDIT: And I found it. Google once again saving me from my own dementia, just took a couple of tries www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/british-tea-taylors-of-harrogate-article |
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patbat
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Post by patbat on Jul 25, 2019 9:05:43 GMT -5
My hippie coworker gave me some Traditional Medicinals lemon balm when she found out I take a medication for anxiety; don't think I believe in it therapeutically, but purely from a flavor perspective it's a top notch herbal tea in my book.
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Post by The Stuffingtacular She-Hulk on Jul 25, 2019 9:47:45 GMT -5
My hippie coworker gave me some Traditional Medicinals lemon balm when she found out I take a medication for anxiety; don't think I believe in it therapeutically, but purely from a flavor perspective it's a top notch herbal tea in my book. I grow lemon balm. It is the fucking Terminator of herbs. Literally no mistreatment will kill these plants. |
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Post by Pedantic Editor Type on Jul 25, 2019 9:50:04 GMT -5
I learned recently that you can, in fact, coldbrew tea much the same way you would coffee. And it's even easier if it's in teabags! The easiest iced tea I have ever made! I just put about 5-6 bags in a pitcher, make sure they're thoroughly soaked (because they will tend to float) and let it sit for 24 hours. I made simple syrup on the side so I could sweeten as much as I wanted by the glass, but you could certainly stir that in too.
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patbat
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Post by patbat on Jul 25, 2019 9:59:51 GMT -5
I learned recently that you can, in fact, coldbrew tea much the same way you would coffee. And it's even easier if it's in teabags! The easiest iced tea I have ever made! I just put about 5-6 bags in a pitcher, make sure they're thoroughly soaked (because they will tend to float) and let it sit for 24 hours. I made simple syrup on the side so I could sweeten as much as I wanted by the glass, but you could certainly stir that in too. This is the only way I make iced tea now. |
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Post by Liz n Dicksgiving on Jul 25, 2019 10:02:01 GMT -5
I learned recently that you can, in fact, coldbrew tea much the same way you would coffee. And it's even easier if it's in teabags! The easiest iced tea I have ever made! I just put about 5-6 bags in a pitcher, make sure they're thoroughly soaked (because they will tend to float) and let it sit for 24 hours. I made simple syrup on the side so I could sweeten as much as I wanted by the glass, but you could certainly stir that in too. Boomer and I like to drink sun tea all summer, and I realized exactly this last year. Like, just... let it sit for a long time. It'll steep! But Boomer is skeptical, and she's the one in charge of the sun tea, so when she calls the season over I just let it be. But seriously, we could be having iced tea year-round, dammit, made just as easily and in as large quantities as our summer tea! (We make it in gallon jars.) |
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Post by The Stuffingtacular She-Hulk on Jul 25, 2019 10:10:33 GMT -5
My mom used to cold-brew tea back when we were kids and it always worked well. We don't do it now because the pitcher she used to use won't fit in this fridge. However, in culinary school I learned a great way to get consistent results for iced tea, whether you make one cup or one gallon:
1. Figure out how much iced tea you want to make.
2. Heat up half as much water as you need for the full volume of what you want to make.
3. Measure out the other half of water as ice cubes.
4. Measure out as much tea leaves or as many tea bags as you need for the full volume of what you want to make.
5. Steep the tea for the usual amount of time.
6. Remove the tea bags, without squeezing them. (This releases more tannins and makes tea bitter.)
7. Stir in the ice.
8. Drink!
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Post by Pastafarian on Jul 25, 2019 10:47:10 GMT -5
My hippie coworker gave me some Traditional Medicinals lemon balm when she found out I take a medication for anxiety; don't think I believe in it therapeutically, but purely from a flavor perspective it's a top notch herbal tea in my book. I grow lemon balm. It is the fucking Terminator of herbs. Literally no mistreatment will kill these plants. I think I've finally found the plant we can grow and not kill. There have been many casualties. |
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Post by The Stuffingtacular She-Hulk on Jul 25, 2019 13:28:01 GMT -5
I grow lemon balm. It is the fucking Terminator of herbs. Literally no mistreatment will kill these plants. I think I've finally found the plant we can grow and not kill. There have been many casualties. It's 100 degrees outside? They might wilt a little but perk right back up after a drink of water. It's been raining for four days straight? No problem! You decide to separate your huge mass of lemon balm plants into two pots to bring inside for the winter? No trouble at all, my friend. I honestly thought I'd killed them sometime around February, because they were all dry and brown despite my best efforts to give them sun and the right amount of water, but putting them back outside as soon as the weather got warmer proved that they were essentially just hibernating. I...do not have the best luck with edible plants, so I was very surprised. I'm not a gardening genius; lemon balm really is just the Terminator of herbs. I've been told that this is because it is related to mint, which is like whatever can beat the Terminator. (Full disclosure: I've never seen a Terminator movie.) I just had to prune them back because they were so huge they were blocking the light my pepper plant needed. The leaves were as big as basil leaves, I swear. They do make a very nice tisane! |
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Post by Hachiman on Jul 28, 2019 19:39:18 GMT -5
I think I've finally found the plant we can grow and not kill. There have been many casualties. It's 100 degrees outside? They might wilt a little but perk right back up after a drink of water. It's been raining for four days straight? No problem! You decide to separate your huge mass of lemon balm plants into two pots to bring inside for the winter? No trouble at all, my friend. I honestly thought I'd killed them sometime around February, because they were all dry and brown despite my best efforts to give them sun and the right amount of water, but putting them back outside as soon as the weather got warmer proved that they were essentially just hibernating. I...do not have the best luck with edible plants, so I was very surprised. I'm not a gardening genius; lemon balm really is just the Terminator of herbs. I've been told that this is because it is related to mint, which is like whatever can beat the Terminator. (Full disclosure: I've never seen a Terminator movie.) I just had to prune them back because they were so huge they were blocking the light my pepper plant needed. The leaves were as big as basil leaves, I swear. They do make a very nice tisane! Mint is super hardy. So is lemon balm, but mint likes to spread out and conquer a garden whereas lemon balm prefers to fortify its space. My wife currently refuses to let me grow mint because it is so hardy. "I don't want to have another mint plant forever like that last one we had to leave in America" |
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Ice Cream Planet
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Post by Ice Cream Planet on Aug 19, 2019 21:57:56 GMT -5
I really want chai. I miss it so.
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Post by 🔪 silly buns on Oct 19, 2019 22:00:00 GMT -5
Tazo's Juniper Mint Honey tea. I just bought some at Target and it is really good, specially with added honey. I was just going to get Bigelow's Mint Medley, but saw this and decided to try a new tea flavor.
ETA: it tastes like drinking a fruity evergreen tree
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Post by Trurl on Oct 27, 2019 9:22:26 GMT -5
I'm drinking some tea right now that the purveyor said was "smokey", and I assumed it was a lapsang souchong type thing but it isn't - it's not resiny, it has a hardwood smoke flavour. It's very yummy.
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on Sept 17, 2020 10:10:38 GMT -5
Looks like it's been 5 years so here's a tea update:
My current regimen includes daily green tea from roughly April - September and black tea with honey from October - March. Ahmad is my go-to brand for bagged tea. Not only do they lack the stink of colonialism, but the company is socially conscious and they don't use those terribly wasteful plastic mesh bags like more 'upscale' teas. Their Apricot Sunrise black tea is one of the best I've ever tasted. I also like their jasmine green tea blend and their Special Blend (which mixes my favorite varieties - Earl Grey and Assam) is my winter staple.
I still keep some loose tea for green tea in the pot and chai-making at home. I'm also going to try some pu erh to see if it aids in digestion. I've come around on kombucha and I usually try to have some in the house, along with cans of my beloved Royal Milk Tea, which is now available at Fresh Farms (local international grocery chain). What I've missed the most over the pandemic is bubble/boba tea, since I don't have any cafes near me and mask-wearing prohibits their enjoyment outside of the home/car. I tried a 40 oz. can of bubble tea from Fresh Farms, but it was stale and unsatisfying. At least I have access to sugary treats in the form of a jamaica (hibiscus tea) or Thai iced tea from local ethnic restaurants.
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Post by 🔪 silly buns on Sept 17, 2020 14:41:38 GMT -5
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on Sept 17, 2020 14:44:01 GMT -5
I've never tried it, but based on the ingredients, I'm guessing it tastes pretty bitter, even with coconut milk. Perhaps the grassyness of the ashwagandha and hemp tempers the bitterness of the turmeric, though? |
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Post by WKRP Jimmy Drop on Sept 17, 2020 17:27:02 GMT -5
I found some Barry’s Tea at a local remainders store, and every time, I forget how things like Twinings or your generic “(Country) breakfast tea” are not actually the same until I have a tea like that. I don’t understand; Twinings should theoretically be the same, right? idk are the ones made for US distribution actually a different blend than the ones for the SRS BIZNIZ tea drinkers?
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Post by moimoi on Sept 17, 2020 17:33:24 GMT -5
I found some Barry’s Tea at a local remainders store, and every time, I forget how things like Twinings or your generic “(Country) breakfast tea” are not actually the same until I have a tea like that. I don’t understand; Twinings should theoretically be the same, right? idk are the ones made for US distribution actually a different blend than the ones for the SRS BIZNIZ tea drinkers? British people can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's just marketing - the whole royal seal and everything. No "serious" tea emporium I've ever been to stocks Twinings. |
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Post by Pastafarian on Sept 18, 2020 18:25:15 GMT -5
Turmeric is having a moment, similar to acai a few years back and pomegranate juice before then. Thus (I assume) the explosion of turmeric based products, and the increasing popularity of "golden milk". I've had it, it's good in a warming cozy kinda way. Although you'd think the tumeric would overpower it but (in the one I had anyway) it was there but not unpleasant and the other flavours melded well with it. I don't think it's going to make you live to 120 or anything like that but if you think you might like it give it a shot. If you don't want to commit to buying it I bet there's a thousand recipes for it online and you could try making your own. The one I had reminded me of masala chai, but it also had vanilla, cinnamon, ginger and black pepper in the mix. |
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Post by WKRP Jimmy Drop on Sept 18, 2020 20:57:21 GMT -5
I found some Barry’s Tea at a local remainders store, and every time, I forget how things like Twinings or your generic “(Country) breakfast tea” are not actually the same until I have a tea like that. I don’t understand; Twinings should theoretically be the same, right? idk are the ones made for US distribution actually a different blend than the ones for the SRS BIZNIZ tea drinkers? British people can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's just marketing - the whole royal seal and everything. No "serious" tea emporium I've ever been to stocks Twinings. I did mean “serious” more as “countries that consider tea to be their national identity”, rather than “serious tea”, if you get me. And Twinings is an English company, but maybe I’m just expecting a taste consistency from “English Tea companies” that doesn’t exist. I am no good at describing taste tho so I don’t know how to articulate it.  (and tbh the Barry’s box just looks likes something that would cost like four bucks for 100 bags, definitely not fancy or anything) |
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Post by 🐍 cahusserole 🐍 on Sept 23, 2020 12:48:40 GMT -5
I'm on my third box of Trader Joe's Irish breakfast. 80 bags for 3 dollars. It's... fine. I have all this nice loose tea but with quarantine brain I am too bleurgh to do anything more than cup-bag-water. And I'm drinking so much, even though it's still summer weather here.
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Post by Pastafarian on Sept 26, 2020 11:44:33 GMT -5
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on Oct 10, 2020 10:18:01 GMT -5
I finally got to go downtown and pack up my office while my floor is being renovated, which means I have tons of tea samples to work through at home. So far I've tried:
Ahmad Blackcurrant Burst (black tea w/fruit): Smells funky and it's a bit tart. Not terrible enough to pour down the sink, but not good enough to finish more than one cup either.
Russian Caravan (black tea): This smells meaty, which put me off at first, but tastes pretty good. Bright and nourishing. I could see this going over well with campfire or bbq food.
Nepal Autumnal (black tea): This smells rich - like approaching Earl Grey or Darjeeling - and tastes weak, but that could just be because it's old. I steeped it for 3 minutes, but next time I'll try 5. Or it could just be that the blend includes white or oolong teas, which are not as toasty.
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patbat
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Post by patbat on Oct 10, 2020 10:50:48 GMT -5
I finally got to go downtown and pack up my office while my floor is being renovated, which means I have tons of tea samples to work through at home. So far I've tried: Ahmad Blackcurrant Burst (black tea w/fruit): Smells funky and it's a bit tart. Not terrible enough to pour down the sink, but not good enough to finish more than one cup either. Russian Caravan (black tea): This smells meaty, which put me off at first, but tastes pretty good. Bright and nourishing. I could see this going over well with campfire or bbq food. Nepal Autumnal (black tea): This smells rich - like approaching Earl Grey or Darjeeling - and tastes weak, but that could just be because it's old. I steeped it for 3 minutes, but next time I'll try 5. Or it could just be that the blend includes white or oolong teas, which are not as toasty. Who makes the Russian Caravan? I've tried versions from Kusmi, Stash, and a local tea and spice blender and really have acquired a taste for it. I really need to check out some of those Ahmad fruit teas you've mentioned--Ahmad makes my wife's all-time favorite Earl Grey, and their Cardamom black tea is probably tied (three ways, with Ito En's Oi Ocha and Bigelow's Constant Comment) for my favorite daily-drinking tea. |
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on Oct 10, 2020 11:11:10 GMT -5
I finally got to go downtown and pack up my office while my floor is being renovated, which means I have tons of tea samples to work through at home. So far I've tried: Ahmad Blackcurrant Burst (black tea w/fruit): Smells funky and it's a bit tart. Not terrible enough to pour down the sink, but not good enough to finish more than one cup either. Russian Caravan (black tea): This smells meaty, which put me off at first, but tastes pretty good. Bright and nourishing. I could see this going over well with campfire or bbq food. Nepal Autumnal (black tea): This smells rich - like approaching Earl Grey or Darjeeling - and tastes weak, but that could just be because it's old. I steeped it for 3 minutes, but next time I'll try 5. Or it could just be that the blend includes white or oolong teas, which are not as toasty. Who makes the Russian Caravan? I've tried versions from Kusmi, Stash, and a local tea and spice blender and really have acquired a taste for it. I really need to check out some of those Ahmad fruit teas you've mentioned--Ahmad makes my wife's all-time favorite Earl Grey, and their Cardamom black tea is probably tied (three ways, with Ito En's Oi Ocha and Bigelow's Constant Comment) for my favorite daily-drinking tea. The Russian Caravan I tried was from a local brand called Culinary Teas. They have a good selection and the sample sizes are affordable. I also used to be a big fan of Bigelow's Constant Comment, which I drank all through college, but I feel like the blend has changed somewhat since they stopped putting Orange Pekoe on the packaging. Alas, my memories of Ito En o-cha cannot be untangled from long, meandering car trips in the Japanese countryside wherein I would get carsick from the combination of caffeine, bean paste, and black sesame. With Ahmad I still have to try the mango and the peach passionfruit, which appear to be more popular than my beloved apricot, though I cannot imagine how they could be better. I agree that the Earl Grey and Cardamom are pretty strong - better than Twinings at any rate. I keep both of those at work since they come in smaller boxes than the Special Blend. |
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Post by moimoi on Oct 17, 2020 10:05:01 GMT -5
This week I tried Monk's Blend and it was so disappointing! It tastes like nothing – just a vaguely malty sweetness, like Sweethearts Valentine candy. I steeped this for over five minutes and it was plenty dark in the cup, so I’m pretty sure there’s no flavor I’m missing. I knew I’d have to steep it a while because it smelled lightly fruity (i.e. weak) but this may be the weakest tea I’ve ever had outside of a chain hotel conference room. Tea for people who don't like tea. Absolute swill.
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Post by The Stuffingtacular She-Hulk on Dec 17, 2020 12:52:15 GMT -5
Does anyone have a favorite brand of Thai tea they could recommend to me? I love it both hot and iced when I go to Thai restaurants, but I can't do that every time I want some.
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Post by 🔪 silly buns on Dec 21, 2020 15:43:21 GMT -5
Just made a glaze/syrup for cake using Kusmi's Anastasia tea. Pretty dang good! May want to use more tea or make it a bit strong next time.
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