What is in your cup?

[orlok]

Yes, I suppose so. Back to Rooibos this morning .

[Difflugia]

Lady Grey

[cromag]

Last tea of the day. I need to pick up some more buckwheat honey.

[CRussel]

Ah, buckwheat honey. One of those honeys you either like a lot or can't stand. In my early days, I was in the can't stand school, but I'm come around to like a lot!

I just bought 1/2 kg of the first local honey of the year, a "Wildflower" blend that's heavy on the maple tree and really quite remarkable.

Drinking faux San Pellegrino for now. But there's Bruichladdich Port Charlotte in my future.

[Emma Santiago]

I am having a hot cup of tea right now

[CRussel]

Welcome, Emma!

It's May Long Weekend here, and I'm enjoying a day with only one job to work on, and gorgeous weather. I'm starting out the day with a large mug of Murchie's English Breakfast Blend tea. This is a hearty, brisk, morning brew that can easily handle some milk, though I prefer mine without.

[cromag]

Last tea for the day.

[CRussel]

Talisker. The only way I can manage to watch Power Players Jeopardy.

[cromag]

A largish glass of Zinfandel.

[ProfCrash]

The sun has reappeared. No idea how long it is going to hang around but I am enjoying looking at blue skies for the time being.

Genmaicha in my cup.

[Difflugia]

A "Sweet Orange" flavor from the same Taiwanese brand. It's a Chinese black tea flavored with orange peel and hibiscus flowers. It's as good as the others, but I really wish I could get the black tea that they use as the base without any extra flavoring. I asked the owner of the store about Chinese black teas and she said that she didn't carry any, but offered me pu erh and dark oolong teas instead.

I still have green and jasmine teas from the same brand to try.

Unfortunately, the brand name is "Tradition", which makes Googling a little more difficult.

[ProfCrash]

The base could very well be a Puerh.

[jbjb]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Lagavulin is nice, but not in the same league as Octomore, sadly.

Mmm - peaty!

Octomore is sensational. I've visited the Bruichladdich distillery several times - always a great welcome and an unbelievable range of very high quality whiskies.

If you ever visit Islay (and if you like peaty whiskies you really must), make sure you go to Bruichladdich.

(The other Islay distilleries are also well worth a visit - no complaints from me at any of them.)

((As far as I can remember.))

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by Difflugia

A "Sweet Orange" flavor from the same Taiwanese brand. It's a Chinese black tea flavored with orange peel and hibiscus flowers. It's as good as the others, but I really wish I could get the black tea that they use as the base without any extra flavoring. I asked the owner of the store about Chinese black teas and she said that she didn't carry any, but offered me pu erh and dark oolong teas instead.

I still have green and jasmine teas from the same brand to try.

Unfortunately, the brand name is "Tradition", which makes Googling a little more difficult.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_pg_2?...qid=1464012732

However, it doesn't much look like they sell their base black tea. Which probably means it's generic and not particularly inspiring.

If you're looking for good China Black, look for better grades of Keemun. You don't list where you are, so difficult to point you at a provider. Here in BC, I'd say either Amazon.ca or Murchies, both of which have excellent Keemuns are reasonable prices. (Though neither as good as my favourite, Peet's Lion Mountain Keemun, which is only available for a very limited time each year, and which may not get offered again now that they've basically abandoned their tea business.)

In my cup this morning: Peet's Major Dickason's Blend coffee. Tea will wait until later - right now we need injections of serious caffeine.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by jbjb

Mmm - peaty!

Octomore is sensational. I've visited the Bruichladdich distillery several times - always a great welcome and an unbelievable range of very high quality whiskies.

If you ever visit Islay (and if you like peaty whiskies you really must), make sure you go to Bruichladdich.

(The other Islay distilleries are also well worth a visit - no complaints from me at any of them.)

((As far as I can remember.))

Never been to Islay, though I'd love to go. We're likely to make a UK trip next year, assuming all goes well. We've got the flight covered with Virgin Atlantic points.