What is in your cup?

[astra]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

I have learned a ton from the folks in this thread. I had never heard of the Chinese Black Teas or {snip} until I got here. It has been a ton of fun learning about some very different and very yummy teas.

Ivy
I am relatively a newbie in teas. Less than one year into it.
In the last week of October we went to Bath for 3 days. Stumbled upon tea shop (&tea room downstairs). I bought a few teas there. Tried my first Pu-Erh (I choose it out of a hundred teas on the menu because I have seen the name on the Internet but had no idea what it is. I have heard [not drinking, still on tea dust ] about black, green, blue, white, but Pu-Erh?) and Mate in the tea room. That's it. My tea journey started in this shop/tea room - Tea House Emporium.
There are a couple of guys&gals here with years of experience who converted me. I refuse to point a finger ---> Stitchawl and ProfCrash to name the most advanced, kindlekitten and beppe with a big influence
Although the very first seeds were planted some 20 years ago by my brother who told me:

dear bro., you don't drink tea but sweetened and coloured water.

It took me 10 years to give up on sugar and another 10 years to stomp down on my sloth and start brewing tea


A cup of Phoenix Dan Cong Oolong Tea Honey Orchid. A sample I received from The Chinese Tea Company
I have contacted them today via email and we had a pleasant conversation. I told her that I might come to their tea tasting ceremony the next time I am in London, she immediately said:

You are more than welcome to visit me. My tea tasting session is usually in the evening time, but if that is too late for you, I could arrange some time on Saturday morning or Sunday for you.

Isn't it nice?
Her husband created the website and he still learns how to handle it.

While typing I finished the cuppa.
Odd oolong. Nice and interesting. Cannot say that I am terribly excited by the flavour though. I think I am going to reinfuse it just out of curiosity.

[astra]

Originally Posted by Ivy

Can anyone advise me on what kind of tea I should try out? I like sweet and fruity things usually, I drink my tea with honey and or some lemon juice. I don't put sugar in tea, I don't put milk in tea and I don't really care for strong teas like Indian tea.

So, anything I might try and like?

Unfortunately, I prefer only straight tea.
However, I have come across a few oolongs recently with very interesting flavours.
Milk Oolong and Baozhong oolong (if you find a good one, it has a strong and very pleasant floral flavour akin to jasmine but not the same, better IMO).
You could try Japanese green tea - Sencha. It has its own distinct flavour that has no rivals.

[Iridal]

Originally Posted by Ivy

Can anyone advise me on what kind of tea I should try out? I like sweet and fruity things usually, I drink my tea with honey and or some lemon juice. I don't put sugar in tea, I don't put milk in tea and I don't really care for strong teas like Indian tea.

So, anything I might try and like?

LOL, what do you think honey is made off? Fructose, glucose and sucrose ... so ... SUGAR I guess you do put sugar in your tea after all

I'm having a last glass of water before going off to bed.

[beppe]

Originally Posted by Ivy

Can anyone advise me on what kind of tea I should try out? I like sweet and fruity things usually, I drink my tea with honey and or some lemon juice. I don't put sugar in tea, I don't put milk in tea and I don't really care for strong teas like Indian tea.

So, anything I might try and like?

Get yourself a 50 grams of Keemun, of good quality. Any herborist (erboristeria) will sell it to you for not much. The advantage is that it does not get tanninic or bitter, so you do not have to put sugar or milk. One teaspoon for a couple of cups, Use hot water for 2 or 3 minutes. Strain it, then drink it as it is. With nothing in it. Just the tea. Wait for the temperature to drop down to what you feel comfortable with.

By the same shop, you can get a good Oolong for your meals. Do not leave the leafs in the water, just strain it all and well and you can reuse it 3 or 4 times. That is the tea that they serve you in Chinese restaurants.

In the evenings, you can drink the Oolong and if you trow away the first cup, you will eliminate most of the caffeine, so it will not disturb your sleep.

Drink those two until you get accustomed. Few days. Then you are all set. Do not forget to tell us everything.

That's a good start. Stay away from scented teas, they will spoil your expectations and you will never recover from that folly.

[ProfCrash]

See, sweet and fruity does not equal Keemun to me.

A real Milk Oolong would be wonderful for you. But you have to promise to follow the steeping directions so that it tastes as wonderful as it can.

[astra]

Originally Posted by beppe

Stay away from scented teas, they will spoil your expectations and you will never recover from that folly.

My personal experience confirms it

[poohbear_nc]

My TG Rooibos (R)Wonderland assortment arrived tonight! On the front porch waiting for me. Opened the Cream Caramel to put into its canister and became faint! What an aroma! It's just like a flavored coffee I used to enjoy named Snickerdoodle (hazelnut, caramel, amaretto, cream mixture) that I had nicknamed "Liquid Cookie" - thank you for your recommendations Prof! Also got Amaretto, Ginger, Orange Peppermint, and plain Rooibos.

And ... I just realized these will make wonderful iced tea too!

Off to brew up my first cuppa!

[poohbear_nc]

Stay away from scented teas, they will spoil your expectations and you will never recover from that folly.

But if you do want to explore scented, or flavored, teas - beware of where you buy them from. From my experience, flavored teas from Adagio are hideous - all flavoring/scent with no tea discernible. But Teavana has some (IMHO) very palatable flavored black teas - in which you can taste the tea itself with the flavoring muted.

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by astra

Unfortunately, I prefer only straight tea.
However, I have come across a few oolongs recently with very interesting flavours.
Milk Oolong and Baozhong oolong (if you find a good one, it has a strong and very pleasant floral flavour akin to jasmine but not the same, better IMO).
You could try Japanese green tea - Sencha. It has its own distinct flavour that has no rivals.

I love the Japanese greens. They are very yummy but might not be the best starter tea for someone who likes fruity and sweet.

That said, starting with a nice Bancha or Sencha is a good idea.

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

But if you do want to explore scented, or flavored, teas - beware of where you buy them from. From my experience, flavored teas from Adagio are hideous - all flavoring/scent with no tea discernible. But Teavana has some (IMHO) very palatable flavored black teas - in which you can taste the tea itself with the flavoring muted.

I agree. There are good infused teas that taste like tea and have a nice fruit accompaniment. Anna's is one of those. I stopped buying from Republic of Tea, Lupicia, and Teavana because I find their teas to be too heavily flavored. I like to taste the tea as well as the flavor.

That said, that is my preference. I started with Republic of Tea and loved their teas for two or three years. The Ginger Peach and Blackberry Sage where two teas I went through very quickly. As I was exposed to other teas I began to find that I liked something a bit different.

KK loves her Republic of Tea and has recommended them here. If you like fruity and sweet, Republic of Tea is one place to look. I don't know how available they are in Europe.

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

My TG Rooibos (R)Wonderland assortment arrived tonight! On the front porch waiting for me. Opened the Cream Caramel to put into its canister and became faint! What an aroma! It's just like a flavored coffee I used to enjoy named Snickerdoodle (hazelnut, caramel, amaretto, cream mixture) that I had nicknamed "Liquid Cookie" - thank you for your recommendations Prof! Also got Amaretto, Ginger, Orange Peppermint, and plain Rooibos.

And ... I just realized these will make wonderful iced tea too!

Off to brew up my first cuppa!

heheh Enjoy. I start my day with 2 pots of Rooibos. They resteep pretty well.

And I finally figured out multiple quoting.

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by Ivy

Can anyone advise me on what kind of tea I should try out? I like sweet and fruity things usually, I drink my tea with honey and or some lemon juice. I don't put sugar in tea, I don't put milk in tea and I don't really care for strong teas like Indian tea.

So, anything I might try and like?

try the greens and whites. this is the Republic of Tea, no idea if you can order it there, but it can at least give you some ideas. I drink the honey ginseng green tea daily both hot and iced (prefer it iced) up to a gallon some days. a seriously scented jasmine would be right up your alley I'm thinkin'

[phenomshel]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

But if you do want to explore scented, or flavored, teas - beware of where you buy them from. From my experience, flavored teas from Adagio are hideous - all flavoring/scent with no tea discernible. But Teavana has some (IMHO) very palatable flavored black teas - in which you can taste the tea itself with the flavoring muted.

And I had the exact opposite experience with Adagio...very little scent, and NO taste other than strong tea. The one exception was their cream flavored black tea, which I liked very much.

Jessica tells me that Tea Forte is very good for strongly flavored teas, but I find their selection to be both expensive and limited.

I have yet to find a premium black tea that is strongly enough flavored for my tastes (which seem to be very unusual, especially in this tea purist crowd, LOL). I like mine VERY strongly fruit flavored, and very sweet. My current favorite tea is (Prof.Crash, don't click the spoiler!! I won't be responsible!!)

Spoiler:

Lipton Blackberry flavored.

So do some very fun experimenting and see what you like, and what you don't - but ultimately, don't forget to have fun in the journey!

[maianhvk]

hello, hello, hellooooo, good morning

plain yoghurt right now, earl Grey later.

[astra]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Off to brew up my first cuppa!

How did it go?

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

I love the Japanese greens. They are very yummy but might not be the best starter tea for someone who likes fruity and sweet.

That said, starting with a nice Bancha or Sencha is a good idea.

Originally Posted by phenomshel

So do some very fun experimenting and see what you like, and what you don't - but ultimately, don't forget to have fun in the journey!

I think the Ladies are right. I got a bit carried away


Now.
Good morning! The last good Friday morning for me until the end of July when I am planning to have summer holidays. Until then no more days off, long weekends and such.
So, I have started this glorious day (c) Stitchawl with a wonderful cup of Assam Hattialli (Fortnum and Mason). I brewed it as suggested in the video and by tea master from Tea Smith, more tea leaves & shorter brewing time.
Then I had a cup of Finest Keemun Mao Feng that I brewed as it was suggested somewhere on the Internet - less tea than usual Keemun, but longer brewing time 6min vs. 4min to bring out the flavour of this type of Keemun. Yummy!

And now...I am going to try Wu Yi Rock Da Hong Pao/Big Red Robe a free sample courtesy to The Chinese Tea Company.
Nice....but not enough flavour. I will have to put more tea leaves next time.

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by astra

Unfortunately, I prefer only straight tea.

as opposed to bendy tea


Black coffee#1

[Ivy]

Originally Posted by Iridal

LOL, what do you think honey is made off? Fructose, glucose and sucrose ... so ... SUGAR I guess you do put sugar in your tea after all

I didn't mean to say I don't put any kind of sweetener in it. I just don't put sugar, the white or brown crystals. Ever. In bars they offer it if they don't have honey and I rather take it without any sucrose than with this kind.


Thanks guys for all the suggestions. I copy pasted them and saved for a better time when I'll be able to google every single thing you mentioned and do some research of my own.


I had my standard Nes Vanilla today. The fever is gone and all, so no more tea, though I did have one cup last night.

Originally Posted by GeoffC

as opposed to bendy tea

I like how your mind works.
Mine hopped straight to gay tea.