What is in your cup?

[CRussel]

So glad your tea made it, even if it's causing you to make so many hard decisions.

My order from Murchie's arrived yesterday (commendable service). So far I've tried their basic "English Breakfast" and their "Prince Charles" blend. The English Breakfast is just too much. Really needs milk. The Prince Charles might just work. It will take a second steep, but only just. And I need to play around with water temperatures to see how tolerant it is. (I brewed the initial test at 208, but I'd really prefer to keep my hot water dispenser at 195 if I can.)

Next up, the "O'Reilly" blend. And the Russian Caravan, which I'm hoping is a bit better than the Scottish Breakfast blend I've tended towards on rainy blustery days.

[dreams]

orlok - ouch. I hope your back is a little better now.

ProfCrash - I hope BB is feeling better.

Stitchawl - I'm doing a happy dance for you and your tea.

Fresh coffee in my cup and munching on some mini biscotti.

[VydorScope]

Originally Posted by dreams

Stitchawl - I'm doing a happy dance for you and your tea.

I am calling you out. I do not think that you are. We need some video proof!

[orlok]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

Maybe it's time to contact Dr. Jolie Bookspan? I've recommended her to you before. There is no reason to continue to have pain. Unless you like it, of course.



Stitchawl

Only when a special someone is administering the pain . Actually, I don't get masochists at all, but that's just me. Maybe I will contact her, though I feel it's a bit cheeky... Anyway, the pain has now moved into my leg, like a bad sciatic pain, though it is not sciatica.

Black coffee, even though it is the hottest weekend of the year so far.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Next up, the "O'Reilly" blend. And the Russian Caravan, which I'm hoping is a bit better than the Scottish Breakfast blend I've tended towards on rainy blustery days.

Not bad! The O'Reilly has a bit more bite than the Prince Charles blend, but still quite smooth and certainly acceptable without milk. And it's held up well to a second steeping, no significant drop off at all. There's a bit of something in the nose that makes me think that the description of "Ceylon and China Blacks" includes a significant amount of Yunnan in that China Black part. I'm not a huge fan of Yunnan on its own, but it does well in a blend.

So far I have two possibles for a primary breakfast blend. I bought 2 ozs of each, so now I'll live with them a bit and see what I think after a couple of weeks of drinking them. I'll also be trying them out at different temperatures and steep times to see what difference that makes.

[dreams]

Originally Posted by dreams

Stitchawl - I'm doing a happy dance for you and your tea.

Originally Posted by VydorScope

I am calling you out. I do not think that you are. We need some video proof!

No video, but a very good pic of the happy dance in progress.


A slice of apple pie and a fresh cup of coffee.

[VydorScope]

So me, the nerd from the back woods of NJ is chilling the Four Seasons Hotel, in Philly. A fruit dish cost.... $15, a soda? $5. Yea. I think I a bit out classed here. Esply when the valet saw me walking in with McDs and laughed. OH a 21% gratuity and $4.50 delivery charge will be add to the order... plus applicable taxes.

[cromag]

Originally Posted by VydorScope

I am calling you out. I do not think that you are. We need some video proof!

Photos and videos of meals and cups of tea do not belong on MobileRead! That's what we have Facebook for!

Late start to the day. First mug o' tea of the day, here.

[poohbear_nc]

Ice cubes & water! Recovering from a brutal bout of lawn mowing!

[wannabee]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Ice cubes & water! Recovering from a brutal bout of lawn mowing!

I think you should stick to chicken scratching

[Stitchawl]

Slow down, you move too fast.
You got to make the morning last.
Just kicking down the cobble stones.
Looking for fun and feelin' groovy.

Ba da, Ba da, Ba da, Ba da...Feelin' Groovy.

( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMDjIbfKcXE )

Good morning, world! It's another beautiful day, especially cuz it started out with a big mug of East India Company's "Royal Breakfast " tea and food from the Food Lady. I finally learned the name of one of the foods that she makes that I love... Pad Pet Kaeng but she calls it Pad Prik Tua. Same dish, different name. Translates in my mind to: really, really delicious!

Unpacking more boxes today. Finally found my computer so I can take it in for some upgrading. I want to put in one of the new 4th generation Intel processors, a new motherboard with USB3, and double the RAM. The shop told me that they just got the new processors last week so my timing is spot on!

Then it's off to find some shelving units. No place to put all the stuff from the boxes. And we need to find someone who will come to measure for slipcovers for the sofas and arm chairs. They look fine, but are covered with genuine simulated naugahyde which feels really rotten in Thailand's heat. We want cotton or silk. Either is cheap enough here, as is getting them sewn up. The problem is finding someone who can come over to measure and cut the fabric. If I do it, it will work, but look really bad....


Stitchawl

[kindlekitten]

But...bbbbbut...but! I thought you stitched awl!?��

[CRussel]

Good morning, everyone. This morning I'm drinking Murchie's Russian Caravan as a possible replacement for my winter time Peet's Scottish Breakfast tea. While I like the Scottish Breakfast tea, it's just not quite what I want out of a breakfast blend that includes Lapsang Souchong. So, I've been looking for alternatives. And so far, this Russian Caravan is promising. It's a blend of Lapsang Souchong, Darjeeling, and China Black teas. From the taste, I'd have to say that at while some of that China Black is Keemun, there's got to be some other stuff going on there. The overall effect is a smooth, fairly smoky, and quite bright tea with no trace of bitterness. Not a tea for milk, but a good way to start the day. (This initial taste test done at 208F and a 5 minute steep. )

[cromag]

Tea #3 is waiting for me on the kitchen counter. But I got a miserable night's sleep and I may be going past my normal 4 mugs today.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by cromag

Tea #3 is waiting for me on the kitchen counter. But I got a miserable night's sleep and I may be going past my normal 4 mugs today.

Sorry to hear it, cromag. I hate when that happens. I'm drinking Murchie's Keemun XS this afternoon. A perfectly respectable Keemun, at a reasonable price. So far I'm quite pleased with what I've gotten from them. Their selection of Oolongs is pretty thin, and only a single pu-ehr, but what they do have is well described, reasonably priced, and of good quality. Plus they're local to me and their shipping is quick.