Anyone Else Drink Tea?

B128thopen

B128thopen

Joined Nov 2007
1K Posts | 2+
The hills and the hollers
Does anyone else drink tea?

I wanted to be a little healthier this year so I thought about switching from coffee to tea in the mornings.

A few tea stores recently opened near me and I went in one to just look around and ask some questions. An older lady who was full of a wealth of knowledge about teas sold me a few "starter" blends and a tea ball. I am really impressed so far and am thinking of diving head first into a new "hobby."

Does anyone else enjoy tea instead of coffee?
 
I drink both. I have been drinking green tea for years now but occasionally dabble when in the Chinese market. Lychee, etc. I love coffee but it tends to be rough on my stomach.
 
i HAVE TO- coffee screws with my heart meds- just like any citrus= typically a black and i tend to pack my own bags, but you HAVE TO SERVE IT WITH CHINA CUPS and a china teapot- the steel ones react with the acids in the tea
 
t-star said:
i HAVE TO- coffee screws with my heart meds- just like any citrus= typically a black and i tend to pack my own bags, but you HAVE TO SERVE IT WITH CHINA CUPS and a china teapot- the steel ones react with the acids in the tea
Click to expand...

So far I have only tried the black teas. How long do you let yours seep for? I was told 5min, but everything I read online says 3 min.
 
typically a 5 minute steep is sufficeit- 10 if an herbal- we usually just leave the bags in until the pot is finished
 
t-star said:
typically a 5 minute steep is sufficeit- 10 if an herbal- we usually just leave the bags in until the pot is finished
Click to expand...

Ok, amateur tea question. Do you boil the tea with the bag in the pot or pour the boiling water over the tea and let it seep?
 
B128thopen said:
t-star said:
typically a 5 minute steep is sufficeit- 10 if an herbal- we usually just leave the bags in until the pot is finished
Click to expand...

Ok, amateur tea question. Do you boil the tea with the bag in the pot or pour the boiling water over the tea and let it seep?
Click to expand...
there's an old saying- you take the water to the tea, that way your kettle doesn't react to the tannic acid-- you bring the water to a proper rolling boil and then drop in the bags- if you don't have a proper tea pot- and wash it afterwords- but that's ONLY if you don't have a proper china tea pot- like camping- as for steeping, the PROPER way is to make the tea, say hello to everyone around the table, campfire , wahtever, then pour- that gives it sufficent time to steep- and yes i am british
in other words, you boil your kettle till you get a full rolling boil- enough to make it whistle if you have one of those, or it clicks off, then put your bags in the teapot, then pour the boiling water in- then you let it steep for 5 minutes, and remove the bags and serve unless you like your tea strong- which i do - if you leave the bags in you get the full benefit of the tea in about 10 minutes
and either milk or lemon, BUT NEVER BOTH- THE LEMON WILL SOUR THE MILK AND MAKE YOU GOOD AND SICK
 
I was at work and pulled out some random green tea I picked up at an international market, and some of the guys started ribbing on me for drinking tea as being girly or what not.

Just so happened it was Chai (good stuff) so I mentioned that after a long day of blowing Russian attack helicopters out of the sky, the Afghan's would often have a few cups of chai after escaping. Kind of shut them up!

The tea they served in Iraq was REALLY good, they call it chai, but it's a lot different than what I've seen in eastern restaurants here in the states. I think it's just strong black tea with brown suger already in the bottom of the glass.
 
I am not a serious tea drinker; but in the office I will have a cup of green tea in the afternoon for a little pick me up and for the health benefit (lots of anti-oxidents). I have mine without sweetener. That's about it. I just get the hot water out of the water cooler and steep the bag in that for about 5 minutes. Then pull it out and enjoy. Real easy. I use Celestial seasonins green tea.
 
phisherman said:
I am not a serious tea drinker; but in the office I will have a cup of green tea in the afternoon for a little pick me up and for the health benefit (lots of anti-oxidents). I have mine without sweetener. That's about it. I just get the hot water out of the water cooler and steep the bag in that for about 5 minutes. Then pull it out and enjoy. Real easy. I use Celestial seasonins green tea.
Click to expand...
no offense, but that's not REAL green tea- even if it says so - same deal with the red rose /brooke bonde blue ribbon/ wahtever- it's about 5% green tea with 95 % filler( ie black tea, other teas, ground sticks and filler) the real tea comes from a proper tea house or a chinatown( not a racist term) and is sold in brown paper bags by the pound- and it's leaves put into a steeper or tea ball suspended in the hot water for 5 minutes and then withdrawn- the commercial stuff unless it's black or orange pekoe doesn't even come close
 
Well I am not going to downtwon to get my tea. I am nto that invloved and use it as just a drink that gives me a little lick me up. Like I said; I am not serious about it; but thank you for the heads up.
 
I hate most coffee. I drink it only when I really have to stay awake. The awful taste wakes me up. Though, I do like ethiopian yergichef (spelling?) coffee. I just don't get it much.

Most tea I drink is the standard commercial stuff. When I can, I get some different flavors from a spice and herb store close to work. They sell it loose by the ounce. I use my wife's coffee press to steep the tea.

The current tea I'm drinking is called Barry's Tea. It comes from Ireland and is very good.
 
Tea, I like.

Not coffee.

It makes me toss and turn all day long.
 
So after reading this it resparked my interest in Tea as a health benifit. I would drink commercial teas from time to time but last year someone gave me an herbal tea that was loose. I bought a ball to try it out and liked it but it was not exactly my cup of tea. Anyway I read this and asked a guy at work to pick me up some Green Tea in the city. Him and his girlfriend frequent Chinatown in NY and figured why not ask. I had two cups last night and actually had the best night of sleep in a long time.

Well I have a question. I see now that it is full dried leaves and there are a few stems in what they bought me. Well the question or questions. I read the leaves need to expand should I pack the ball a little on the loose side so that they have some extra room? Also shoudl I remove the stems prior to steeping? Thanks for your help guys!
 
Awesome Tom, be ready for the guys to give you hell like they gave me.

You need to get a tea ball or a strainer to fit over your cup so that you can seep the tea and then remove all the leaves and stems. The stems are fine to leave in the tea while seeping. Make sure to follow the rules on how hot the water should be and how long to seep the different teas or you can burn them or make them bitter, or just not unlock all the flavors.
This site has some great info. We have one near my office, but i like to buy from the little old lady on main street. She is full of info unlike the kids working at Teavana near me. The website is good though. http://www.teavana.com/c=how_to_prepare ... axd/Static
 
yeah I got a tea ball and it just seems like the leaves need more room to expand. I was able to steep two cups from the ball, I think tonight I might try again with a little less leaves to see if there is a diff. Thanks Connor!
 
NJsmokey said:
yeah I got a tea ball and it just seems like the leaves need more room to expand. I was able to steep two cups from the ball, I think tonight I might try again with a little less leaves to see if there is a diff. Thanks Connor!
Click to expand...

I have a ball too. i fill it up for 2 cups.
I just got my order in 10 min ago that has a filter along with a teapot (with filter) and some teas.
 
I thought I was drinking Green Tea but after reading some more I am drinking a Green Oolong tea. It is called Kings blend and has a bit of ginseng in it. I like it so far but I am hoping to try an actual Green tea soon. Here is a link Connor to the type I have, after you get through what you have I would recomend this. http://www.tenren.com/kingreen3rdg.html

Oh and I let it steep for 5mins the first cup no problems and longer on the second steep, but my water was not boiling just shy of that.
 
Looks good. I am mainly drinking black teas. A little more flavor to me. I have some green teas and drink them occasionally. I drink at least 3 cups of black tea a day.
 
I've been trying to get into loose-leaf teas. Last one I had was Russian Caravan and it was very interesting.
 
Login or Register • Reply

Similar Discussions

C
Since it's quiet around here (advice for newbies) ...
Replies
2
Views
2K
Cigars
Pistol Pete 1911
G
Black Pearl Coffee
Replies
1
Views
2K
Smokeasy
Bloofington
S
Cigar Oasis mod
Replies
13
Views
4K
Cigars
Kelvin
B
Uncle Beanz' Ethiopian Yrgacheffe Gedio Lot. . . .
Replies
0
Views
1K
Smokeasy
Bloofington
Top
Back