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ProfCrash · 01-13-2011, 10:45 AM

The short post (skip the rambling) I love tea but I am no expert. I am outspoken about what I like and that might come off with more authority then I mean it to. I am still experimenting but have spent 11 years discovering what teas I love. It has been a fun journey and I love that it continues. I love seeing other people experiment and play with tea because there is so much out there and so many folks ignore that.

OK rambling follows, feel free to skip.

I started experimenting with tea in 1998. I was using tea bags at the time and thought that Bigelow was awesome. Then I found World Market and Republic of Tea and loved Republic of Tea. I drank about 10-12 varieties of their tea (loved the Blackberry Sage). One day I saw some loose leaf teas, one being an Earl Grey, and tried that. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed those. I started drinking some bags and some loose leaf.

I have no idea when I discovered Teavana. I know it was before I started dating my Husband, July 2003, because I brought his mother a Teavana infuser and a couple of bags of tea when I joined him for his family vacation. I don't think it was too much earlier then that.

In 2004 his Sister sent me a sample pack from Tea Gschwendner for Christmas. That is where I tried Arabian Nights, Anna's, and one other tea. The set came with a great book about tea and a listing of all of their teas. I loved the Anna's and Arabian Nights, they are a regular part of my rotation, and went to the website. My head exploded and the real experimentation began.

It took forever for me to realize why I was drinking more TG tea then Teavana, I like the various taste of tea and not the infused tastes. I found myself throwing away teas from Teavana and buying more from TG.

I would not say I am an expert, that would mean I could actually figure out what type of tea I was drinking without reading a lable. I doubt that I could honestly tell an Assam from a Darjeeling although I can pick out a Chinese Green Tea from a Japanese Green tea. I can tell you what I like and why but I don't have the experience or desire to be able to complete taste test exams.

Teavana and Lupicia do a great business because there are people who love their teas. You get the smae health benefits from their teas as you do from TG or any other store. There are folks who love plain black coffee or straight up espresso and others who only drink the flavored coffess. Different tastes for different folks.

I am going to be throwing away 4-5 teas I bought from TG in a few days. They have been on my shelf for ages and I just don't drink them. I tossed a ton of tea from Lupicia last year although I am finding more that I like from them this year.

I would love to say that one day there are 3 green teas that I like but that is not going to happen. I have 6 that I enjoy a great deal. I have 7 Rooibos, 2 Darjeelings, One Assam, 4 Oolongs, and one White tea that are my go to teas. I drink 3-4 liters of tea a day so I can work through that rotation pretty nicely.

I am rambling arn't I?

01-13-2011, 10:45 AM	#6542
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	The short post (skip the rambling) I love tea but I am no expert. I am outspoken about what I like and that might come off with more authority then I mean it to. I am still experimenting but have spent 11 years discovering what teas I love. It has been a fun journey and I love that it continues. I love seeing other people experiment and play with tea because there is so much out there and so many folks ignore that. OK rambling follows, feel free to skip. I started experimenting with tea in 1998. I was using tea bags at the time and thought that Bigelow was awesome. Then I found World Market and Republic of Tea and loved Republic of Tea. I drank about 10-12 varieties of their tea (loved the Blackberry Sage). One day I saw some loose leaf teas, one being an Earl Grey, and tried that. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed those. I started drinking some bags and some loose leaf. I have no idea when I discovered Teavana. I know it was before I started dating my Husband, July 2003, because I brought his mother a Teavana infuser and a couple of bags of tea when I joined him for his family vacation. I don't think it was too much earlier then that. In 2004 his Sister sent me a sample pack from Tea Gschwendner for Christmas. That is where I tried Arabian Nights, Anna's, and one other tea. The set came with a great book about tea and a listing of all of their teas. I loved the Anna's and Arabian Nights, they are a regular part of my rotation, and went to the website. My head exploded and the real experimentation began. It took forever for me to realize why I was drinking more TG tea then Teavana, I like the various taste of tea and not the infused tastes. I found myself throwing away teas from Teavana and buying more from TG. I would not say I am an expert, that would mean I could actually figure out what type of tea I was drinking without reading a lable. I doubt that I could honestly tell an Assam from a Darjeeling although I can pick out a Chinese Green Tea from a Japanese Green tea. I can tell you what I like and why but I don't have the experience or desire to be able to complete taste test exams. Teavana and Lupicia do a great business because there are people who love their teas. You get the smae health benefits from their teas as you do from TG or any other store. There are folks who love plain black coffee or straight up espresso and others who only drink the flavored coffess. Different tastes for different folks. I am going to be throwing away 4-5 teas I bought from TG in a few days. They have been on my shelf for ages and I just don't drink them. I tossed a ton of tea from Lupicia last year although I am finding more that I like from them this year. I would love to say that one day there are 3 green teas that I like but that is not going to happen. I have 6 that I enjoy a great deal. I have 7 Rooibos, 2 Darjeelings, One Assam, 4 Oolongs, and one White tea that are my go to teas. I drink 3-4 liters of tea a day so I can work through that rotation pretty nicely. I am rambling arn't I?