What is in your cup?

[astra]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

Say Astra... That 'Houjucha' might just be a transliteration for 'Ujucha.' The word "cha" is Japanese for tea.

Removing H takes away some fun, still...

Second cup of tea.
Assam Mangalam

[TheKindleWorm]

Some green tea, a dash of milk and a good friend expected over any minute now for a good chin wag - bliss

[astra]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

What store are you shopping at?

A few more details about NBTea and Teahouse Emporium.

I think NBTea send teas all over the world. They are a good online shop, I have known them since 2004.
They have a very good selection of sample collections that give you a good idea of different teas.


Teahouse Emporium is a bit different.
We went for a city break to Bath last half-term (the end of October).
Small but posh city. Proper English people and atmosphere. You feel like you are in England
By pure chance we found a tea shop. It is a privately owned small shop, not a chain or something. Tim is a very nice English guy and his partner, Lenka, is from Czech Republic. It is important to mention where she is from because it was her idea of tea shop and about educating local people of benefits of a good tea Prague was the first city where I have seen the real tea shop in 2006. Lots of big glass bottles with teas (hmm I think I have pictures, will upload them after I finish typing). She even imports some special cakes from Prague that are made of honey and don't stale. Don't ask me for details.
Anyway, that was the places where I learned about Mate and Pu-Erh. Tim spent some time with us explaining about the teas. Pu-Erh especially. Where he orders them in China etc.
Then we realised they had a small tea room downstairs.
One day we tried roasted mate, another day we tried pu-erh aged.

As you can see, they have online shop. However, I don't know whether they send abroad or not. It is not a perfect one. No samples available. They are not very responsive to emails, they advise to call them.

On the other hand, it does work.
So far, I have ordered 3 times from them online. No problems.

Red Rooibos

Roasted Mate
Mate Coconut Milk

Tokay Apricot 
Grenadine

Lapsang Souchong

Pu-Erh Aged
Green Pu-Erh
Pu-Erh Wellness Guarana

Assam BPS CL Mangalam
Assam STGFOP1 S Harmutty

Keemun

English Breakfast

Predictably I didn't like
Tokay Apricot - Green Sencha tea, white Snow Buds tea, marigold flowers and apricot
Grenadine - Sencha, Formosa gunpowder, EN Shi Yu Lu and Jade Rings green tea, Huang Xiao yellow tea, Shou Mei white tea, stones of pomegranate, pieces of apple and peach.

OH liked Tokay Apricot.
She also likes Green Pu-Erh. I am not sure about it yet.

I love all other teas from them. I might be imagining but I think they have better quality teas. I could be wrong though.

[astra]

Originally Posted by TheKindleWorm

Some green tea, a dash of milk and a good friend expected over any minute now for a good chin wag - bliss

Milk with Green Tea?

[TheKindleWorm]

Originally Posted by astra

Milk with Green Tea?

Yes - I can't stand any hot drink without milk and I figure that green tea is better for me than bog standard tea but I'm no tea expert so could be wrong on that!

It tastes delicious

[astra]

Originally Posted by TheKindleWorm

It tastes delicious

That's the most important thing. The rest doesn't matter!

[Latinandgreek]

First tea of the day (Earl Grey, Ahmad tea). I've been helping my husband with an English exam all morning, now it's time to get to my own work (sob!)

[astra]

Roasted mate.
Off to town.

[desertblues]

Cold Arabica-coffee. Hope to get some work done before the weekend.

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by TheKindleWorm

Yes - I can't stand any hot drink without milk and I figure that green tea is better for me than bog standard tea but I'm no tea expert so could be wrong on that!

It tastes delicious

The taste is very important and that you like it is most important. I feel compelled to point out that the milk prevents the anti-oxidants from absorbing so you are not really getting the health benefits of the green tea.

I only say this because I know many people drink green tea for the health benefits.

[TheKindleWorm]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

The taste is very important and that you like it is most important. I feel compelled to point out that the milk prevents the anti-oxidants from absorbing so you are not really getting the health benefits of the green tea.

I only say this because I know many people drink green tea for the health benefits.

Thank you that's useful to know. I like it better than ordinary tea and the health benefits would be a nice bonus - shame if I'm not getting that

I have weaned myself off sugar and gone from full-fat milk to skimmed so maybe I can gradually wean myself off the milk but then I eat so much other rubbish like ice cream that I wonder if that is really going to do much good. But I suppose starting somewhere is better than doing nothing.

[astra]

Originally Posted by TheKindleWorm

Thank you that's useful to know. I like it better than ordinary tea and the health benefits would be a nice bonus - shame if I'm not getting that

Try Japanese Sencha.
You might like as it is without any need for sugar. It is so good and very different from other greeneries

A cup of English Breakfast.

[Ivy]

coffee and nesquik

[Iridal]

I've been following this thread for a while now, and am absolutely amazed at all the tea-knowledge you guys seem to have. I drink a lot of tea too, but usually stick to plain green tea (that's the only kind I have at work). But I also drink lots and lots of coffee.

At the beginning of this year I decided it was time to start drinking less coffee, so I'm setting of on a tea-journey of my own. I'll buy some samples this weekend. But for now: a delicious cup of cappuccino to make sure I don't fall asleep during my last hour at work this week

[TheKindleWorm]

Originally Posted by astra

Try Japanese Sencha.
You might like as it is without any need for sugar. It is so good and very different from other greeneries

A cup of English Breakfast.

Thanks for that tip I will have a look to see if I can get it locally anywhere first otherwise I'll look online.