What is in your cup?

[ProfCrash]

I finished three pots of Pu Erh and am working on my first pot of Sumatra Oolong Barison.

I am not a big fan of ice tea. Sweet tea is a very popular drink in the Southern part of the US. It is its own beast.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_tea

[desertblues]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

I finished three pots of Pu Erh and am working on my first pot of Sumatra Oolong Barison.

I am not a big fan of ice tea. Sweet tea is a very popular drink in the Southern part of the US. It is its own beast.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_tea

I make a very unscientific ice- tea in summer for my guests; I grab a teabag (fruity; any) and let that steep overnight in a caraf of cold water in the fridge. No sugar. i put a slice of lemon in it when I serve it and a leaf of mint out of the garden.

Cold Arabica- coffee

[beppe]

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

Well, it's a marvelous night for a Moondance
With the stars up above in your eyes
A fantabulous night to make romance
'Neath the cover of October skies

Happy Monday, everyone! It's a new dawn of a new day of a new week of a new month. Nu? Starting off with a mug of East India Company's Royal Breakfast tea and a plate of hummus, Kalamata olives, and warm pita bread. I have an appointment at the Bike Doctor this afternoon, to get the oil and filter changed after our ride. I think I may order some new electronics for the steed too... been thinking about a GPS Navigator... Don't 'need' it, but it might be fun...



DG, don't fret those tests! Everything will be just fine.



It should be fun. I haven't been back to Northern New England in more than 20 years, so besides the enjoyment of the wedding I'll be able to meet up with some old friends. And I'll borrow my son's motorcycle for a couple of days of touring the White, Green, and Adirondack Mountains once more. Not a lot of places on Earth that can match them for beautiful vistas.



I visit the Kwan Yin temples in every country I travel through, and carry a Kwan Yin metal (credit card size) card in my wallet. As I said, I need all the mercy I can get. To date, my favorite Kwan Yin temple to 'be in' is in Hong Kong, but my favorite to 'see' is right here in Kyoto. Soooo peaceful! Especially nice during Cherry Blossom Time, which is just about ..... now!



What's wrong with a Riesling? They're better than 'Golden Spur' or 'Thunderbird!'


Time for a second cup of tea... I think it needs to be a refill of the Royal Breakfast tea!


Stitchawl

it's too damn sweet! but then again those others may as well e pancake syrup!

[Roger Parkinson]

Originally Posted by desertblues

cold Arabica-coffee

Why cold?
Did you want it that way or did you forget about it for a while?
I've been in Thailand lately and they always specify coffee hot or cold there 'cos hot drinks aren't the default.

Anyway I just had a glass of water. Trying to convince my brain it needs to work today instead of going back to sleep. The earlier coffee helped, just not enough. C'mon, brain, get working!

[ProfCrash]

She drinks cold Arabica-coffee most of the time. I am always surprised when I see some thing warm in her post.

Water

[Stitchawl]

You took a current rhythm from out of the sky,
and taught me how to use it as the years went by.
To tie up all your problems and make them believe.
And then to sell them to the people in the street.
It's a strange, strange world we live in, Master Jack.
You taught me all I know and I never looked back.
It's a very strange world and I thank you, Master Jack.


Happy Tuesday, all. Another glorious day in the Land of the Rising Sun. Today will begin with a mug of Ahmad English Breakfast tea and a bowl of muesli with fruit and nuts, and just a dash of apple juice to wet it down.

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

I have not read the Spenser novels in ages. They are some good, junky reading.

They are the perfect read for a 3-4 hour flight or train ride. You can finish them in one trip, even while holding a conversation with your seat mate! No concentration needed.

Originally Posted by astra

I would not even attempt to write in Hebrew nowdays. I have forgotten most of it
Looks like they have succeeded in beating it into you

As it's been 50+ years since I was brainwashed, it's amazing that I can even remember which direction it should go!

Originally Posted by phenomshel

[FONT=Tahoma]
As contrary to common sense as this sounds, I have yet to be able to make decent iced tea from any of the more expensive teas I have purchased. Even those that seem they'd be great as iced tea - aren't. I think I'm doing it wrong. The problem seems to be the amounts.

Nope...

Premium teas are designed to be made by the cup. I make iced tea by the gallon. My "usual" method for iced tea is take four family sized tea bags (and no, I don't know how many teaspoons a family sized tea bag holds), dump them into a Pyrex measuring cup that holds four cups of water, and nuke it for four minutes.

And THERE are your problems. doubled.
First, nuking the water itself, second, nuking the tea. Nuking the water removes much of the oxygen, making it taste very flat. You won't notice it in coffee, but you certainly can in tea. Next, nuking the tea itself is cooking it. You do NOT want to cook tea for drinking.

Believe me, the taste difference is DAY and NIGHT! Try it yourself;
Boil 'fresh' water on the stove, pour it into a cup with a regular tea bag. While you're letting it steep, nuke a cup of water with a tea bag in it. When they both cool down enough to actually taste, see the difference for yourself. You'll never nuke tea water again!

Then I let it sit and steep until it's REALLY strong (for maybe half an hour). Then I add sugar to the still warm tea, dissolve it, and pour into gallon sized pitcher. Add water til the pitcher is full, and i have iced tea. For many obvious reasons, (not the least is that at a teaspoon per cup, this would get very expensive very fast) this is not going to work with loose tea.

I use 'junk' teas for my iced tea. And often make it in a similar fashion, i.e. making a concentrate then diluting it. Often it gets steeped for 2-3 hours if I forget what I've been doing. No problem... Just don't add as much of the concentrate to the pitcher. The real key is NOT to nuke the water or the tea.
Try it. You'll like it.

Next into my mug, some Fortnum & Mason Ceylon! And onward the morn...!

Stitchawl

[phenomshel]

Tried it both ways, Stitchawl - I grew up drinking non-nuked iced tea (we didn't have a microwave). My plebian taste buds can't tell the difference. But how do you make a "concentrate" with loose tea?

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by phenomshel

Tried it both ways, Stitchawl - I grew up drinking non-nuked iced tea (we didn't have a microwave). My plebian taste buds can't tell the difference. But how do you make a "concentrate" with loose tea?

Same as with tea bags, only messier.

Actually, I can buy tea-pot sized tea bags here, but if you're making a concentrate, you can just dump your loose tea into the bowl, add water and steep, then just filter it through an ordinary kitchen strainer when you pour it into the pitcher. Even the cheaper tea fannings (dust) usually expand large enough not to fall through.


Stitchawl

[phenomshel]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

Same as with tea bags, only messier.

Actually, I can buy tea-pot sized tea bags here, but if you're making a concentrate, you can just dump your loose tea into the bowl, add water and steep, then just filter it through an ordinary kitchen strainer when you pour it into the pitcher. Even the cheaper tea fannings (dust) usually expand large enough not to fall through.


Stitchawl

So I just need to figure out how much tea to use. Hmmm. Will have to try it again tomorrow.

[Iridal]

Back at the office today! Looking forward to my day off on Friday

I'm having a cup of Rooibos Mirabelle Cream. This one will definitely go on the "to buy" list.

[beppe]

I am keeping daughter at home to day, yesterday she had some lines of temperature. It is just a little cold, but she will enjoy a day at home to rest and to boss her dad around. So I should drink something to increase my patience, like a herbal tea. I am having a coffee though.

She is so pretty that I think I will enjoy her also, from a distance. What? Well I can look at her in way that she does not notice me and keeps doing her things, like now that she is at her little desk while I am at mine. That's finished, she went. Where? to do what?

[GeoffC]

Green Tea#2 - with breakfast

[Iridal]

Originally Posted by beppe

I am keeping daughter at home to day, yesterday she had some lines of temperature. It is just a little cold, but she will enjoy a day at home to rest and to boss her dad around. So I should drink something to increase my patience, like a herbal tea. I am having a coffee though.

She is so pretty that I think I will enjoy her also, from a distance. What? Well I can look at her in way that she does not notice me and keeps doing her things, like now that she is at her little desk while I am at mine. That's finished, she went. Where? to do what?

Enjoy your day!

Nespresso in my cup ...

[GeoffC]

Coffee - Black ...