Favorite Teas

[philomath]

I'm currently sitting down to a cup of tea, so it seems fitting to ask you all about your favorite teas as well as sharing some of my own.

Some of my favorite black teas are Yorkshire Gold by Taylors of Harrogate, Lapsang souchong (a smoked black tea that is very smoky), and random bulk blend loose leaf teas with carmel and vanilla flavorings. In general, black tea is what I'll drink the most of and I tend towards malty and strong teas.

I have less experience with green tea, but I'll have a jasmine flavored one on rare occasion. I'll also have regular green tea at restaurants when I have the opportunity.

As for herbal teas, I'm a big enjoyer of chamomile. It's smell reminds me of cut hayfields in late summer. I like mint tea, though I don't have a favorite type. There's a bit of wild mint in my area, so I try to pick that and use it in it's season.

Lastly, I enjoy iced tea in warmer weather. It's the only type I typically sweeten and I like it brewed strong. I usually use Lipton teabags for it, but almost any type works in a pinch for me.

What are some of your favorites? Any you'd suggest?

 

[davejonescue]

My favorite hot tea has always been Earl Grey. Either that, are regular hot store-brand Black tea with Lemon/Honey in it.

My favorite cold tea is Unsweetened Iced Tea. I am in Texas, so most Sweet/Iced Teas are 2:1 ratio of Sugar/Tea and way too sweet for me. Plus I enjoy the taste of tea, as well as the taste of coffee, hence, I drink my coffee black.

Honorable mention would be an Arnold Palmer. I really enjoy those too.

 

[JH]

I'm going to second earl grey, there's just something about bergamot. Other than that, I usually drink peppermint. Just about every Wednesday evening after the prayer meeting, I make tea, then try to strike up conversation with folk.

 

[philomath]

My favorite hot tea has always been Earl Grey. Either that, are regular hot store-brand Black tea with Lemon/Honey in it.

My favorite cold tea is Unsweetened Iced Tea. I am in Texas, so most Sweet/Iced Teas are 2:1 ratio of Sugar/Tea and way too sweet for me. Plus I enjoy the taste of tea, as well as the taste of coffee, hence, I drink my coffee black.

Honorable mention would be an Arnold Palmer. I really enjoy those too.

I don't know that i've ever put lemon in my hot tea come to think of it, only ever in my sweet tea. How much do you typically put in? I'll have to give it a try.

I like Earl Grey as well. It's one of the teas i'll have with a little splash of milk. Most others i'll just drink straight unless I forget I made tea and let it sit for too long. Fortunately that doesn't happen too often.

 

[davejonescue]

I don't know that i've ever put lemon in my hot tea come to think of it, only ever in my sweet tea. How much do you typically put in? I'll have to give it a try.

I like Earl Grey as well. It's one of the teas i'll have with a little splash of milk. Most others i'll just drink straight unless I forget I made tea and let it sit for too long. Fortunately that doesn't happen too often.

With the hot honey/lemon black tea, it will be about 1-2 tbsp of honey, and 1-2 tbsp of lemon juice, depending on how sweet/sour you like it. Its really good.

 

[Theoretical]

Some friends who honeymooned in Greece introduced me to Greek Mountain Tea, also known as Ironwort. That stuff is uncaffeinated and is just incredible for an herbal tea.

[Edit] For caffeinated teas, Earl Grey please.

 

[Clariz]

Matcha is always my favorite ♡
I also love fruity blend, green tea with cranberry and so on. One brand that's really good is Lovare.
Another tea that I made and enjoy so much is fermented raspberry leaf tea.
With fermentation, it smells so fruity and sweet.
Great use of raspberry that lives like weed in my yards.

 

[arapahoepark]

I'm a coffee drinker but Starbucks' matcha has really won me. I hardly have it but I remember it giving me a focused calm.

 

[philomath]

Matcha is always my favorite ♡
I also love fruity blend, green tea with cranberry and so on. One brand that's really good is Lovare.
Another tea that I made and enjoy so much is fermented raspberry leaf tea.
With fermentation, it smells so fruity and sweet.
Great use of raspberry that lives like weed in my yards.

Fermented raspberry leaf tea sounds very interesting. What does the process look like for it? Do you ferment the leaves then brew them, or brew the beverage first then ferment it?
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I'm a coffee drinker but Starbucks' matcha has really won me. I hardly have it but I remember it giving me a focused calm.

I've had their matcha before and it was really good! What's your preferred type of coffee?

 

[arapahoepark]

I've had their matcha before and it was really good! What's your preferred type of coffee?

Light to medium roast black.

 

[Clariz]

Fermented raspberry leaf tea sounds very interesting. What does the process look like for it? Do you ferment the leaves then brew them, or brew the beverage first then ferment it?

Ferment, dried and brew them.
Fermentation process is pretty easy.
Put raspberry leaves on a double ziploc bag underneath car seat for several days until it smells fruity (5-7 days in my experience)
Then, air dried single layered, 3 days inside a shed.
And voila! Ready to keep inside mason jars for future brews.

 

[iainduguid]

Rooibos is a nice alternative for non-caffeinated

 

[DanSSwing]

Lapsang souchong. I like my tea as I like my scotch. Smoky.

 

[ReformedChristian]

I personally enjoy Earl Grey and Chamomile for hot teas. In terms of Ice Tea I go with Lemon, Peach and Lemonade Tea mixed.

 

[therussellhome]

I'll join the Earl Grey club if I'm looking for something caffeinated. In non-caffeinated my family loves Winter Apple Cider Tea

 

[LadyCalvinist]

I can't have caffeine but I do like many herbal teas and fruit flavored teas.

 

[philomath]

Light to medium roast black.

It's been a while since I've had a light roast. This past winter I got a little inexpensive moka pot and have enjoyed making coffee in it. You're supposed to use espresso ground coffee and it ends up very strong. The only pre ground i can typically find locally is Cafe Bustello which is a dark roast. I know some people like to mix it with hot water to make it more the strength of regular coffee, but I haven't tried that yet.
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Ferment, dried and brew them.
Fermentation process is pretty easy.
Put raspberry leaves on a double ziploc bag underneath car seat for several days until it smells fruity (5-7 days in my experience)
Then, air dried single layered, 3 days inside a shed.
And voila! Ready to keep inside mason jars for future brews.

I'll have to give this a try this summer!
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Rooibos is a nice alternative for non-caffeinated

I don't think i've ever had this outside of a blend. Is there a specific type of rooibos you'd suggest?

 

[Clariz]

I'll have to give this a try this summer!

Let me know how it goes!

 

[Santos]

If Earl Grey is good enough for Captain Jean-Luc Picard, it's good enough for me.
Except when my patriotism gets the best of me and I toss all the tea into the bay. (Usually around July. I don't know why.)

 

[Clariz]

@philomath

1:45-2:20 is the time stamp of the method I mentioned if you need visual guidance.
I did fermented fireweed leaves tea as well with same method

 

[David B]

I have many South Asian friends, so I have gotten into Chai. An Indian Auntie taught me to make it with cardamom, ginger, tea sugar and milk (its best if you use the actual spices but since we make it weekly for outreach events we use powdered ginger and cardomom).

To make it, boil water with spices and tea (practice to learn the amount). When it's boiling, add in the room temp or warm milk add sugar, and test to get the flavours correct. You pour it through a strainer to serve it. Lots of South asians drink it at sunset, dusk, or at night

Soon I will get into Yerba Mate, a unique tea from Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay. For Yerba you fill a large goard or cup with yerba leaves and pour in boiling water. The straw you drink it with has a filter to keep the leaves/powder out. For tea, yerba mate probably gives you the most caffeine. In South America, it's often a communal drink you pass around the table. It is a bit complex compared to other teas; there are lots of easy mistakes you can make, which may frustrate the South Americans you're drinking the tea with. Yerba Mate also has differences between countries some have larger leaves and different straws (bombillas)

How to start Yerba Mate

When I want a simple drink I drink black tea from India/Pakistan with some milk or green tea. At night I drink hot water to avoid caffeine. (Hot water tastes good to me)

 

[Wilhelmus à Broccoli]

I'm also a big fan of Yorkshire Tea by ToH and lapsang souchong.

My go-to, though, is probably Harney & Sons' Scottish Morn, made George Orwell's way.

When I can't do caffeine, I really enjoy a cup of rooibos.

 

[philomath]

@philomath

1:45-2:20 is the time stamp of the method I mentioned if you need visual guidance.
I did fermented fireweed leaves tea as well with same method

Thanks for this! This'll be very helpful. What does the fermented fireweed tea taste like? A sort of fruity flavor as well?

 

[Clariz]

Thanks for this! This'll be very helpful. What does the fermented fireweed tea taste like? A sort of fruity flavor as well?

Fireweed tea or also known as Ivan Chai tastes like black tea to me with very mild floral note. I like to pair it with freeze-dried mint.
Raspberry smells more fruity than fireweed as fireweed doesn't bear fruits but does have beautiful purple blossoms that lots people made into jelly.
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I have many South Asian friends, so I have gotten into Chai. An Indian Auntie taught me to make it with cardamom, ginger, tea sugar and milk (its best if you use the actual spices but since we make it weekly for outreach events we use powdered ginger and cardomom).

To make it, boil water with spices and tea (practice to learn the amount). When it's boiling, add in the room temp or warm milk add sugar, and test to get the flavours correct. You pour it through a strainer to serve it. Lots of South asians drink it at sunset, dusk, or at night

Soon I will get into Yerba Mate, a unique tea from Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay. For Yerba you fill a large goard or cup with yerba leaves and pour in boiling water. The straw you drink it with has a filter to keep the leaves/powder out. For tea, yerba mate probably gives you the most caffeine. In South America, it's often a communal drink you pass around the table. It is a bit complex compared to other teas; there are lots of easy mistakes you can make, which may frustrate the South Americans you're drinking the tea with. Yerba Mate also has differences between countries some have larger leaves and different straws (bombillas)

How to start Yerba Mate

When I want a simple drink I drink black tea from India/Pakistan with some milk or green tea. At night I drink hot water to avoid caffeine. (Hot water tastes good to me)

We have Playadito brand Yerbamate at home!
We prepared it improperly by using french press XD

 

[philomath]

I have many South Asian friends, so I have gotten into Chai. An Indian Auntie taught me to make it with cardamom, ginger, tea sugar and milk (its best if you use the actual spices but since we make it weekly for outreach events we use powdered ginger and cardomom).

To make it, boil water with spices and tea (practice to learn the amount). When it's boiling, add in the room temp or warm milk add sugar, and test to get the flavours correct. You pour it through a strainer to serve it. Lots of South asians drink it at sunset, dusk, or at night

Soon I will get into Yerba Mate, a unique tea from Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay. For Yerba you fill a large goard or cup with yerba leaves and pour in boiling water. The straw you drink it with has a filter to keep the leaves/powder out. For tea, yerba mate probably gives you the most caffeine. In South America, it's often a communal drink you pass around the table. It is a bit complex compared to other teas; there are lots of easy mistakes you can make, which may frustrate the South Americans you're drinking the tea with. Yerba Mate also has differences between countries some have larger leaves and different straws (bombillas)

How to start Yerba Mate

When I want a simple drink I drink black tea from India/Pakistan with some milk or green tea. At night I drink hot water to avoid caffeine. (Hot water tastes good to me)

I'll have to try making Chai like that soon! I've had it at different tea shops and liked it. When i make the bagged kind it's still decent, but not the same.

Yerba Mate was always really interesting to me. I've never had it, but I learned a bit about it in a plant science class during university. I've always remembered it because on my Flemish professor's distinct pronunciation of it.

What type of tea from India/Pakistan do you like? I currently have some darjeeling in the cupboard that's nice.

 

[David B]

We prepared it improperly by using french press XD

Is it good that way?

What type of tea from India/Pakistan do you like? I currently have some darjeeling in the cupboard that's nice.

I use Tapel Danedar brand Orange Pekoe tea. I found it by walking into my local south asian store and finding the tea with some Arabic on the box.

For chai, I use this tea:
https://www.amazon.com/Taj-Mahal-Brooke-Bond-500g/dp/B017H7D1ZO

Yeah, I've been told that masala chai is a different drink from chai. I have found a few instant chai powder mixes to be convenient and nearly as good.

 

[philomath]

I'm also a big fan of Yorkshire Tea by ToH and lapsang souchong.

My go-to, though, is probably Harney & Sons' Scottish Morn, made George Orwell's way.

When I can't do caffeine, I really enjoy a cup of rooibos.

I'll have to give Scottish Morn a try one of these days!

Some great advice on making Tea by Orwell. Also some really funny quotes. Here are my favorites:

"..but because the best manner of making it is the subject of violent disputes."
"Actually one can swallow tea-leaves in considerable quantities without ill effect.."
"I know very well that I am in a minority here. But still, how can you call yourself a true tea-lover if you destroy the flavour of your tea by putting sugar in it? It would be equally reasonable to put in pepper or salt."

 

[TheBoringBaptist]

I'm currently sitting down to a cup of tea, so it seems fitting to ask you all about your favorite teas as well as sharing some of my own.

Some of my favorite black teas are Yorkshire Gold by Taylors of Harrogate, Lapsang souchong (a smoked black tea that is very smoky), and random bulk blend loose leaf teas with carmel and vanilla flavorings. In general, black tea is what I'll drink the most of and I tend towards malty and strong teas.

I have less experience with green tea, but I'll have a jasmine flavored one on rare occasion. I'll also have regular green tea at restaurants when I have the opportunity.

As for herbal teas, I'm a big enjoyer of chamomile. It's smell reminds me of cut hayfields in late summer. I like mint tea, though I don't have a favorite type. There's a bit of wild mint in my area, so I try to pick that and use it in it's season.

Lastly, I enjoy iced tea in warmer weather. It's the only type I typically sweeten and I like it brewed strong. I usually use Lipton teabags for it, but almost any type works in a pinch for me.

What are some of your favorites? Any you'd suggest?

Iced tea, herbal peach tea, and london fog tea

 

[Joshua]

Source :

Funny Southern Saying Shirt | Don't Unsweet My Tea | Gettin' Place

Funny southern shirt featuring “Don’t Unsweet My Tea” design. A bold southern humor tshirt perfect for cookouts, country lifestyle, and sweet tea lovers.

gettinplace.com

 

[DanSSwing]

If you ever run across a Green Beans Coffee (usually in airports), be sure to try a Spiced Chai Smoothie. Nobody makes it like they do.