What is in your cup?

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

If I may be so bold as to suggest....

If you like black teas, try the Keemun, Golden Assam, and China Black from McNultey's. Their Ceylon Dimbula is also very, very good.

Stitchawl

Thanks again for the suggestions. You order from McNultey's to be delivered to Japan? Do you use a local distributor?

[astra]

Third cuppa.
Mate coconut milk

[desertblues]

Poured myself a cup of Arabica coffee at 7.00 o'clock, grabbed a raisin bun, worked the garden for an hour.
.........cooked for today and tomorrow
.........hammering away at my Mac untill 17.00 hours
.........now coffee gone cold + some licorice that will last me untill 17.00 hours.

.........wish I were a tea-drinker...so much more refinement in my life

[astra]

Water in a flask.

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

To me, anything that isn't made from the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant isn't tea.

I have one of those on my windowsill It's a little too small to go outside (or yield enough leaves to make harvesting worthwhile!), and I don't have a plant house for it to overwinter in at the moment

But... and don't laugh until you try it, I like to drink plain hot water. No tea, no herbs, no coconut. Nuttin! Just a cup of boiled hot water. As I said, don't laugh until you try it. I laughed for a year at a friend who drank this and had some serious humble pie to eat after I tried it.


Stitchawl

I drink around 2 litres of mixed boiling & cold water a day - can't stand cold water.

[Latinandgreek]

What else? Earl Grey tea.

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by Fbone

Thanks again for the suggestions. You order from McNultey's to be delivered to Japan? Do you use a local distributor?

Both McNultey's and Baltimore Tea&Coffee ship to me here in Japan. However, I do buy my blends locally. I can easily get many of the Taylors of Harrogate teas, Fortnum & Mason, as well as Marks & Spencer, Mariage Frères, East India Company, and quite a few others. I have to ride into downtown Kyoto or downtown Osaka, each about a 30-45 minute trip as I live right on the border between them, but then I can pick and choose what I'd like.

Obviously I can also purchase dozens of different Japanese teas, and there are several different tea shops in every neighborhood. I'm also just a short ride away from the tea plantations in Uji, and that town is REALLY filled with tea shops, but they only sell Japanese green tea.

Usually, when we have visitors from abroad, we usually take them to a formal tea ceremony held in a traditional tiny tea house in a garden.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t_6D...eature=related
and here is how it's done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_lSd...eature=related

Fortunately, they don't serve Lipton's.
Unfortunately, they don't serve Fortnum & Masons!

Stitchawl

[astra]

Fourth cuppa.
Rooibos raspberry&vanilla

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by desertblues

.........wish I were a tea-drinker...so much more refinement in my life

We will be happy to help you convert.
You prolly just need to find a tea strong enough for your coffee soaked taste buds!


Stitchawl

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by ShortNCuddlyAm

I have one of those on my windowsill It's a little too small to go outside (or yield enough leaves to make harvesting worthwhile!), and I don't have a plant house for it to overwinter in at the moment

Wonderful! I have one on my veranda too! In the spring, you will need to wrap your head in a big towel, take off your shoes, and while barefoot pick only the first three leaves on each branch. Let them dry in a warm (not hot) oven for a few hours, then sit over night. The next morning crush them up, pour on the hot (80 degree) water, and enjoy a cup of green tea! If you prefer oolong tea, crush after picking and let sit overnight, THEN dry and drink!

I drink around 2 litres of mixed boiling & cold water a day - can't stand cold water.

There is hope for you yet!


Stitchawl

[bjones6416]

Okay, the ONLY loose tea my store had yesterday afternoon was Twinings Classic Earl Grey. I bought it, so everybody jump in here and tell me how to best brew it.

[astra]

Fifth cuppa.
Rooibos raspberry&vanilla

[astra]

Originally Posted by bjones6416

Okay, the ONLY loose tea my store had yesterday afternoon was Twinings Classic Earl Grey. I bought it, so everybody jump in here and tell me how to best brew it.

AFAIK, it is a fairly standard type of black tea.
1 full tea spoon on about 250-300 ml mug. 100 °C.
3-4 minutes.

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by astra

AFAIK, it is a fairly standard type of black tea.
1 full tea spoon on about 250-300 ml mug. 100 °C.
3-4 minutes.

I do one teaspoon per 8 ounces.

[desertblues]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

We will be happy to help you convert.
You prolly just need to find a tea strong enough for your coffee soaked taste buds!


Stitchawl

I'm afraid my tastebuds are out of order: just reheated my cold coffee in the microwave: 900W, 35 sec.
But I drink my coffee out of a nice Fine Bone China, made in England, cup.