I've seen all the recent things related to coffee here on Witt lately, and am wondering...where are my tea people?
I like coffee (I'm from Cajun country, so I like mine mixed with chicory), but being as how tea is the most widely consumed beverage on earth after plain water, I would have figured we'd have a few tea lovers here. I'm currently getting more into puerh and matcha, as these things have started becoming more easily available locally. But I always begin my mornings with a fine cup of Assam.
I'll let Professor Elemental sum up my thoughts: https://youtu.be/eELH0ivexKA?si=6D8BuX3LKIyUDt9m
I went caffeine-free for a few months and definitely leaned into herbal tea blends. One that I still drink even after re-caffeinating is from Celestial Seasonings called Tension Tamer. It is a blend of spearmint and catnip among other components. Yasuhito has matcha quite frequently and English Breakfast tea is a common morning drink too.
I do enjoy a good cup of English Breakfast myself, though I find I usually have it later in the evening, sometimes with dessert. (Case in point, I had a slice of sweet potato pie and a cup of EB the other evening. 10/10 would enjoy together again.)
Of course, growing up in warmer climes than Wisconsin, I'm partial to a good sweet tea as well...
Quote from: Breneir Tzaracomprada on March 23, 2025, 04:34:46 PMI went caffeine-free for a few months and definitely leaned into herbal tea blends. One that I still drink even after re-caffeinating is from Celestial Seasonings called Tension Tamer. It is a blend of spearmint and catnip among other components. Yasuhito has matcha quite frequently and English Breakfast tea is a common morning drink too.
Celestial Seasoning's "Sleepy Time" is a favorite. (If I drink anything caffeinated after 2 pm nowadays, I won't sleep all night.) My wife prefers herbal teas, she says they have more flavor. The stuff I normally drink is too bitter for her tastes.
Quote from: Mic'haglh Autófil, O.Be on March 23, 2025, 04:45:22 PMI do enjoy a good cup of English Breakfast myself, though I find I usually have it later in the evening, sometimes with dessert. (Case in point, I had a slice of sweet potato pie and a cup of EB the other evening. 10/10 would enjoy together again.)
Of course, growing up in warmer climes than Wisconsin, I'm partial to a good sweet tea as well...
I was born in Tennessee and raised in Texas...and I loathe sweet tea. How is that possible?! Isn't sweet tea the official beverage of southerners? Well, in our household growing up, my Mom would always make a big pitcher of Lipton tea. She wouldn't add any sugar to it. If you wanted that, you'd add sugar to your own glass or cup. She always dumped a packet of Sweet and Low into her cup. For me, I just would drink it unsweetened, and I guess came to prefer it that way. Jump to today, there's a brand of sweet tea they sell in jugs that is very popular here in Ohio. My wife is a big fan. (It's called "Milo's".) I've tried it, and...to me, it is overwhelmingly sweet. Milo's also makes an unsweetened tea, and I bought a jug of it once. It was pretty good. Wife thought it was completely tasteless, and couldn't distinguish between it and a cold bottle of water. (Anyhow, these "yankees" accuse me of not being southern enough because I can't drink beverages that are 90% sugar to 10% tea.)
I love a good cup of Earl Grey or English Breakfast, but I find I drink hot tea in the colder months. I do enjoy iced tea also and drink it regularly.
-Txec R
Quote from: Breneir Tzaracomprada on March 23, 2025, 04:34:46 PMI went caffeine-free for a few months and definitely leaned into herbal tea blends. One that I still drink even after re-caffeinating is from Celestial Seasonings called Tension Tamer. It is a blend of spearmint and catnip among other components. Yasuhito has matcha quite frequently and English Breakfast tea is a common morning drink too.
Tension Tamer is my evening go-to.
I work in the coffee industry but I actually prefer tea. In fact, I had a cup of oolong when I got home from work today.
I like Breakfast blends. English Breakfast is my preferred blend. I also enjoy Earl Grey from time to time.
I'm planning on getting a Gung Fu Cha tea set in the near future. Right now, I'm buying bicycle parts for my next build so purchasing tea equipment isn't front of mind. Once I get that tea set, I'll splurge on some higher quality teas.
Red Zinger (or other hibiscus blends) are my go to from Celestial Seasonings (which Mo Segal started in the Boulder area). For the caffeinated I like Morning Thunder which combines black tea and maté.
But I still drink 5 cups of coffee for every one of tea or similar.
Quote from: xpb on March 24, 2025, 10:14:03 PMCelestial Seasonings (which Mo Segal started in the Boulder area)
Urantia Foundation (https://www.mashed.com/1274655/eligious-origins-famous-celestial-sleepytime-tea/) represent!
I haven't drunk tea in a long while, but I got used to drinking it Iranian-style in little shot-glasses
Awhile ago I tried to create the "Coffee and Tea Purity Act" in Fiova. It was inspired by German Beer purity laws. I learned a lot about coffee and tea. This thread is giving me flashbacks. Haha!
Quote from: Quedéir Castiglhâ on March 23, 2025, 08:56:45 PMTension Tamer is my evening go-to.
I tried this blend last night and I must say, I rather enjoyed it. Thanks for the tip! Tonight I'm going for some Green Tea.
-Txec R
My recent personal favourite (which is what my aunt usually makes) in mint and nettle tea but I also sometimes make an earl grey with some milk.
Quote from: Barclamïu da Miéletz on March 25, 2025, 01:54:39 PMMy recent personal favourite (which is what my aunt usually makes) in mint and nettle tea but I also sometimes make an earl grey with some milk.
One of my favorite tea drinks is a London Fog which has earl grey, steamed milk and vanilla.
My personal favourites are Chinese teas that are lighter and more floral, and white teas. I am fond of Darjeeling, though. Assam is too heavy for me (not that I'd refuse a cup!).
Sweden is very much into scented teas, chock-full of fruit peel, dried berries, and spices. Rhubarb-vanilla is a typical example. I really hate those with a passion.
Quote from: Audrada Roibeardet on March 23, 2025, 09:05:01 PMI work in the coffee industry but I actually prefer tea. In fact, I had a cup of oolong when I got home from work today.
I like Breakfast blends. English Breakfast is my preferred blend. I also enjoy Earl Grey from time to time.
I'm planning on getting a Gung Fu Cha tea set in the near future. Right now, I'm buying bicycle parts for my next build so purchasing tea equipment isn't front of mind. Once I get that tea set, I'll splurge on some higher quality teas.
I'm looking into getting a Gung Fu tea set as well. Well, you can't even get a regular tea pot around here anymore.
Honestly, a European tea pot makes terrible tea. The water to tea ratio is all wrong and after you brew, the tea sits in the pot and over steeps. It all leads to a bitter, astringent tea which is why so many people add milk and sugar.
I'm not saying that you shouldn't add milk and sugar. That's a personal preference. If you feel you NEED to add those things to make the tea palatable, that might be a problem. Good quality tea brewed in the Gung Fu method shouldn't need any additives. It should be delicious on its own.
Quote from: Audrada Roibeardet on March 27, 2025, 06:29:29 PMHonestly, a European tea pot makes terrible tea. The water to tea ratio is all wrong and after you brew, the tea sits in the pot and over steeps. It all leads to a bitter, astringent tea which is why so many people add milk and sugar.
I'm not saying that you shouldn't add milk and sugar. That's a personal preference. If you feel you NEED to add those things to make the tea palatable, that might be a problem. Good quality tea brewed in the Gung Fu method shouldn't need any additives. It should be delicious on its own.
Absolutely correct on all points. (Tea is more complicated than the average drinker realizes. There are even optimal water temperatures for different varieties. And water quality factors in too. Proper tea preparation is an art and a science.) (I've been drinking tea for most of my life, and am still finding out there's always more to learn about it.)
It wasn't until recently that I learned about the importance of water temperature. That's another problem with European methods of brewing. Boiling water isn't great for any tea. Assam can handle the heat but if you're brewing anything delicate like white, yellow or green tea, boiling water destroys the leaves. Even oolongs should be brewed at lower temperatures.
As for water quality, at a bare minimum you should use filtered water. Some people will even use bottled spring water. Water straight from the tap isn't a great option. I use tap water if I'm brewing a cuppa with a tea bag. I'm not expecting anything fantastic from a tea bag so I'm not bothered by using tap water.
I hope I'm not coming off as a tea "elitist". That's not my intention. I think if you're going to drink tea, you should enjoy it. Using quality loose leaf tea, pure water and proper techniques leads to a better experience.
My kettle has settings for different kinds of teas or coffee that I use when brewing. I also use filtered water.
-Txec R
Quote from: King Txec on March 28, 2025, 09:59:46 AMMy kettle has settings for different kinds of teas or coffee that I use when brewing.
Alien technology...
Quote from: King Txec on March 28, 2025, 09:59:46 AMMy kettle has settings for different kinds of teas or coffee that I use when brewing. I also use filtered water.
-Txec R
Mine just has a temperature knob on the base, so I've played around with it and found what seems to make things taste good. Coffee is set to 200 degrees, tea to 185.
Those are good temperatures for brewing. If you decide to brew green tea, I would recommend that you lower the temperature slightly.
We seem to be focused on hot tea. You can also cold brew. Delicate teas can really shine when cold brewed. Plus, cold brewing tea doesn't take that long. Cold brew should not be confused with iced tea. Iced tea starts with a hot brew and then left to cool to room temperature before adding ice.
"Sun tea" is another option. Apparently it's popular in the Southern United States. I've never tried to make it. Rumor has it that brewing tea in the sun can potentially make you ill. I personally would risk my health for tea. Especially since the other methods seem to be safer.
When you write "European",
@Audrada Roibeardet, do you mean British? Because I don't recognize what you describe at all (except for in the UK and Ireland). Of course you don't use boiling water with all teas. Of course you have an insert for the leaves that you lift out of the pot after 2-4 minutes, depending on the tea.
I suppose I do mean "British" when I refer to a "European" method. I guess I should have said that Asian methods are superior to all others. I personally believe that the Gung Fu method is best.