What is in your cup?

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by astra

I found UVA Shawlands Estate Orange Pekoe
Is it the right one?

It's got the correct growing/harvesting conditions. The one I drink is packaged by a Japanese importer, and doesn't tell me the estate where it's from. The best Uva is grown between 3,000-6,000 ft, and picked between June and September when the winds dry the gardens a bit. Shawlands mentions those winds so maybe... Plus, can anything sold by East India Company be bad?


Stitchawl

[orlok]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

I used to drink gallons of normal coffee every day. I had to go decaf cold turkey b/c of a new prescription medication. Aside from the withdrawal headaches, I would fall soundly asleep every day at 3 pm at my desk - quite embarrassing! And then fall asleep after dinner. And watching TV.
Take lots of walks! It helps!

Well, very similar experiences by the sound of it. 3pm really is the deadly slot, but at least I work from home a lot, so my nodding head is seen only by the cats .

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

Yikes.

Are you avoiding all caffeine or can you slip in a mug or two of good tea? Tea has less caffeine then coffee so you can get a bit of a caffeine fix.

Or try a rooibos or Yerba Matte. Rooibos has non-caffeine based stimulants and Yerba Matte has some caffeine but other stimulants that somehoe balance out the caffeine.

I can't drink normal tea, as it makes me gag, but I do love my Rooibos, and have increased my intake there. Never hear of Yerba Matte, but will certainly have a look.

I do get some caffeine from chocolate, of course...

Originally Posted by astra

orlok

Roasted Mate

My BH likes it (she used to like coffee).

Thanks for the link, astra. I'm on it.

Oooops, nearly forgot. Rooibos in my cup.

[pdurrant]

Coke Zero #3

[maianhvk]

smoothie: papaya and Asian persimmon, plus milk.

[CRussel]

Thanksgiving Recovery Day here.

Peet's Major Dickason, followed by fresh squeezed OJ.

Now, a cup of Scottish Breakfast

[pdurrant]

Coke Zero (#4?)

[beppe]

^orlok
welcome back, among the living

I got 200 grams of MATCHA KOTOBUKI from my pusher for 110 euro.
I intend to add a small teaspoon of it to my morning green smoothie.
I know that they use it for culinary purposes and not only for the tea ceremony. It would be a way to get my caffeine.

[phenomshel]

Milk from our local dairy, who still uses glass bottles. Going to try Dr Pepper 10 later (if it stops raining, anyway, the top is down on my Tracker so it's not coming out of the garage unless it dries up).

[beppe]

Originally Posted by astra

(So far, I didn't like Ceylon...maybe the best of the best will do...)

Spoiler:

Pure Ceylon - Taylors of Harrogates
Piccadilly Blend Tea - Fortnum and Mason - [info]/my comments - [Black Lighter Tea] [Ceylon blend] Ceylon is Ceylon. Borring.

Cuppa #4
Bojenmi

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

I agree... to a point. I believe that most of the generic 'hotel teas' such as Lipton, Salada, Red Rose, etc., are made from the orange pekoe and pekoe cut black grades of the lower grown Ceylons.

But once you start going up the hill (about 2,000 meters,) and get teas harvested between June and September, the tea develops flavors not even suggested by its cousins in the valleys below. Trust me...

Try it. You'll like it.


Stitchawl

Nice discussion. I went back in time one year and found my notes on Ceylon Tea and Keemun while I was experiencing fine teas.

"This morning I tried the Ceylon. Washed the cup as Stichawl suggested. Measured the temperature of the water, and seeped it 3 minutes. Put away the tea for next seeping.

Ceylon. Best cup of tea I ever had. So agreeable, smooth, lightly perfumed, no tannin. Salty and acid on the tongue (wine tasting reactions). Maybe faintly flowery. A shadow of peppery aftertaste, but so light. Invites big sips. Fantastic. I am no expert at all, but I enjoyed the cup mightily. I will try my other black teas and see if they are better. But as things are, with this tea I could go all the way.

Second seeping. More tannin, less flavor, less color. I learned."

Then few days later.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stitchawl
Go for the Keemun in the morning. Assam is more of an afternoon tea.
I usually choose a breakfast tea that includes Keemun in the blend.

I like your assessment of the Ceylon tea! It really is an excellent drink when you can make it with loose leaf tea. Unlike the rest of you folks, I don't care to re-steep black teas. The only ones I will do that to are oolongs and greens.


Stitchawl

You are magic. yes you are. I made my morning cup with Keemun instead of Assam as planned. Before seeing your post

Very good. Better than Ceylon even, except for the slightly bitter after taste.
About Ceylon. I understand it a little better (what it means is that I remember). The flavor goes up instantly very nicely when I sip it, over the tip and side of the tongue, but when it reaches the top it sorts of flattens out.

Keemun is more localized as flavor, in a way more discreet (compact?), but it keeps high and intense all the way. The bitterness is gone and it leaves a nice, vaguely spicy souvenir. Next time I'll make more than just one cup. To be studied more in depth. I never had anything like that before. The after taste keeps changing yet. Mind you this is the first thing I put in my mouth this morning. Very persistent.
Now I will try to re-steep it, just for knowledge acquisition.

Re-steeped. Not bad. A little more tannin. Still a great cup. The flavor structure is the same and it's tint also. Bitterness comes earlier. Spiciness is there yet, around the edges of the tannin. Mouth is cleaner because of the tannin that makes it more rough. Not bad at all. First cup is more alive and deeper. The absence of tannin in the first cup is a big plus.
Overall I rate this Keemun marginally superior to the Ceylon I have. (But I will continue enjoying a cup of Ceylon once in a while, just to remember its charm and to change my mind once more). "

My idea, dear Astra, is do get the best Ceylon that money can buy and it will give you fine sensations.

[ProfCrash]

So today I had One pot of Rooibos Vanilla (it is the only Rooibos I have right now, frsh shipment on the way), two pots of Black Dragon Pearl from Teavana (Good but not great), and one pot of Bancha.

I so love tea.

And with that, I am headed home.

[CRussel]

Lion Mountain Keemun. STRONG. It was either that, or making more coffee, and I prefer to avoid going down that slippery slope.

[beppe]

This is the Matcha Kotobuki I got. The color is really fine I think. I'll see tomorrow if it is as good and pleasing as I hope.

In the meantime, all this talking and wheeling and dealing has made me brew a cup of Semcha. Being late at night, I dumped the first seep. Now I have a very fine drink of nice tea that leaves my mouth clean and happy, so I will do an other seep.

It might be that I am back on the tea track? who knows. For the time being I am fine like that.

[Stitchawl]

A long time ago, when the Earth was green
There was more kinds of animals than you've ever seen
They'd run around free while the Earth was being born
And the loveliest of all was the unicorn

There was green alligators and long-necked geese
Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees
Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born
The loveliest of all was the unicorn

( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EPsuOEH1fY )


No unicorns... Maybe the biggest mistake made to date.


Good morning, all! Another beautiful Fall day with blue skies and cool winds. Today begins with East India Company's "Keemun Downy Bud" and a plate of warm croissants. I want the extra butter just for fun!

Originally Posted by beppe

I got 200 grams of MATCHA KOTOBUKI from my pusher for 110 euro.
I intend to add a small teaspoon of it to my morning green smoothie.
I know that they use it for culinary purposes and not only for the tea ceremony.

Can't get away from the stuff here! Matcha ice cream sold at almost every soft cream vendor, along with vanilla and chocolate. Matcha mochi, Green tea cake and cookies, and sometimes even for tea!

Originally Posted by beppe

.....SNIP........
My idea, dear Astra, is do get the best Ceylon that money can buy and it will give you fine sensations.

Originally Posted by beppe

Attachment 77633This is the Matcha Kotobuki I got. The color is really fine I think. I'll see tomorrow if it is as good and pleasing as I hope.

Usually 'Kaitenzushi' restaurants have individual taps in front of each customer dispensing green tea, but the "Kura" chain provides only hot water from the taps and little tins of ow grade matcha on the table so you can mix it up fresh!



One more cup of Keemun tea and it will be me for the road!


Stitchawl

[maianhvk]

strong coffee.........

[Latinandgreek]

Mint tea.