What is in your cup?

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by Williamlk

cold, stale coffee....yuck...Why am I drinking this?

It's better then hotel coffee?

[Latinandgreek]

Earl Grey tea.

[astra]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Peering at the Laphroaig bottle in the cupboard! Planning!

Yesterday I didn't. Peer at it I mean.
I just had two sips when I came home from a chilly 25 minutes walk from work Only two/2 sips and it made such a huge difference...

Cuppa #3
Rooibos baked apple.

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

Nice strong, hot Yorkshire Gold

[astra]

Mate coconut milk
Yummy!

[astra]

Jade Rings.

[ProfCrash]

A yogurt smoothie for breakfast and noe cup one of Rooibos Ginger.

[astra]

Antlers d'Amour (white tea)

[ProfCrash]

I am working on finishing a pot of Pakistani tea. Chinese black tea with cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, aroma

I think I'll be trying a Vanilla Pu Erh

[astra]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

I think I'll be trying a Vanilla Pu Erh

Interesting. I wonder how vanilla is going to affect Pu Erh distinctive flavour.

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by astra

Interesting. I wonder how vanilla is going to affect Pu Erh distinctive flavour.

This is the first time I have had Pu Erh. I can say that I cannot taste any vanilla or maybe I am and I don't notice it because I know what Vanilla tastes like and not Pu Erh.

I am trying to figure out if I like this tea or not. It is a very different taste. It is almost like the leaves have been smoked. It is deffently more earthy in flavor, which I like. But then there is this smokey after taste to it which I think I like but I am not quite sure.

I think this goes into the catagory of something I'll have to have a few times to figure out if I like it or not.

[astra]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

I think this goes into the catagory of something I'll have to have a few times to figure out if I like it or not.

Maybe you should try Pu-Erh on its own to make up your mind about its taste.

A cup of Antlers d'Amour 2nd resteep.

[beppe]

This morning I went to this old shop in down town Milano where one finds all sort of fancy foods and drinks, and teas obviously. Last month I got 50 gr of very nice Rooibos from the guy, so I went there for my acquisition of teas as I want to learn to drink tea. I am not a complete ignoramus, I mean I like tea. This thread gives me the occasion of sharing my experience and to get feedback by the very knowledgeable and distinguished members.

I had a list and asked him 50 gr. samples. He sort of would have liked to give me 100 gr. doses, but I insisted explaining him that I wanted to find my way through that difficult subject and I did not want to get stuck with a lot of stuff. To my questioning He explained me to conserve it in the paper bags, maybe in glass jars, but always in the paper bags. He also told me that tea should keep for about 2 years.

I got 6 teas from him.
Keemun
GunPowder (the one I have is too old, why not start anew, I like green tea anyhow, it is the tea that I have been drinking lately: he wrote Verde = Green on the bag)
Lapsang (That is what he wrote. I had it once at the house of old diplomats that had served in China, and I remember that I liked it very much and how it surprised me, and then lately green bony chicken mentioned it and Am also so I put it in my list)
Sencha (I asked for a large leaf green chinese, he said Japan and gave me that, and that's it)
White tea (he was pleased, I have Olong already)
Ceylon (He wanted me to have a medium tea good in the morning and afternoon. I asked him about Assam that I have already and he told me that it is the strongest and than advised me with the Ceylon. I did not tell him of the Tanzania that I have, that is quite strong and that I will compare with the Assam that I bought the other day).

He told me that with loose leafs teas I am much better off, but by a wide margin better off than from confectioned packages. So, that's the way I am starting this exploration. Now I will slowly and gently go through these teas and make notes, and try to build a sensitivity and a taste.

I got the info from wikipedia about temperatures, steeping times, multiple steeping and all that. I will see about other details on the way if I develop interest and enjoyment.

[astra]

Originally Posted by beppe

I got the info from wikipedia about temperatures, steeping times, multiple steeping and all that. I will see about other details on the way if I develop interest and enjoyment.

Please post here your experience

I am off to bed with 3d resteep of Antlers d'Amour

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by beppe

I went there for my acquisition of teas as I want to learn to drink tea. I am not a complete ignoramus, I mean I like tea. This thread gives me the occasion of sharing my experience and to get feedback by the very knowledgeable and distinguished members.

To that end, Beppe, a word of caution; Always drink from the front side of the cup!

I got 6 teas from him.

Sounds like a great choice of teas! I hope you enjoy them all!

I got the info from wikipedia about temperatures, steeping times, multiple steeping and all that. I will see about other details on the way if I develop interest and enjoyment.

One point that Wiki probably didn't mention was the cleanliness of the cup. It's a terrible habit of many people, especially in office settings, not to completely wash out their cups or mugs after use, but only give them a rinse. After drinking several dozen cups of tea out of the same mug, a white mug is quite brown inside with tannin residue. (I'm guilty of this one myself. .) This will seriously affect the taste of the tea, so when doing taste tests, be sure to start with a scrupulously clean mug. Also, for your tests, heat the tea pot (or mug) with boiling water first, then throw out that water and make your tea in the warmed container. This will bring out the true flavor, making your notes more accurate. Enjoy!


Stitchawl