Tea and cigars?

Joined Jan 2005
131 Posts | 0+
Okay, so I've achieved the near impossible task of getting not just my dad, which was the easy part, but my mom in on my cigar antics! Dad has taken quite a liking to A. Fuente Short Story and mom likes anything sweet like CAO Flavours. I'm so proud!

Anyhow, so now after teaching them a bit about cigars, they want to know what goes good with a cigar. After bringing up the obvious whiskey or bourbon, I mentioned coffee and tea.
Dad loves coffee and we've already found some that go well with cigars, but tea is something else.

Does anyone have any suggestions about what tea they enjoy with cigars? Any favorites? White tea? Green Tea? Black Tea?
Any ideas would help!!
 
Its a tea thing

I tell you, I enjoy nothing better than relaxing on the back porch, with a smooth smoke and a tall glass of ice tea.......I just need a hammock now to make it almost perfect......
 
Good job getting your mom and dad in on the fun! For the past few years when I reach for a Short Story as my morning smoke, I find that it pairs well with Chinese Gunpowder green tea.
 
I'm not much for hot tea, but really enjoy an iced tea with a cigar in the afternoon. Just plain old Lipton sun tea, slice of lemon, no sugar. That does it for me.
 
No sugar! :shock: You don't hail from the southeast apparently :D

Ill have a tea around here means ill have a large glass of tea with a pound of sugar.
 
nmcowboy.

I never noticed your signature. That is hilarious.

I just recently met with some real tea enthusiasts and let me tell you there are some real tea nuts out there. People that take tea as seriously as we do cigars. THey are very similar in how they are aged and pepared. Very ceremonial and traditional. Go to [/url]http://www.rareteas.comThey can be pricey but man are they...his. And of course coffee, wine, and scotch.[/quote]
 
well im one of these norrow minded folk that think the only thing that goes with a cigar is spirits
but
if i was gonna drink tea with one thered only be one possible choice
lapsang souchong
twingings brand
strong
no sugar
try it
im sure you havent already or you wouldnt be asking the question!
 
What heathens :p , sugar in tea?! I'm hooked on green and Jasmine teas. But I guess an oolong or black tea would be a better match with the full flavored/bodied cigars I like. My only suggestion is stay away from tea bags and get loose leaf tea.
 
Yep, I'm with Bildo on this one ... good ol' southern iced tea sweetened with lots of sugar (my wife says I need all the sweetening I can get). Lots of ice in a tall glass.

Sometimes a little slice of lemon. When I was growing up we had mint growing in a little flower garden and a sprig of mint in the tea was pretty good now and then.

Of course I won't turn down a "Long Island Iced Tea". Not sure how that would go with a cigar either.
 
I recall reading somewhere that Cuban blenders/tasters use tea to cleanse their palate between puffs/cigars so tea isn't as "out there" as you might think as a cigar compliment.

I'd suggest any, non-sweetened, non-herbal. Black, green, white, oolong. They should all play nice with a cigar.
 
You guys are awesome. I'm printing this out to show my mom so she can get some ideas.

Chickenfried, I agree about loose leaf teas, they are by far better than bagged. If you go to http://www.inpursuitoftea.com, they have a great thing called a Green Tea Anemone. It's longer leaves of tea bound together and pressed so when they steep, it expands and turns into this green anemone.

Thanks everyone for your input! I needed some more info before I just jumped into tea with cigars.
I'll be sure to let you all know how it goes!
 
I like a glass of iced tea in a ball jar to finish off the day with my stogie of choice. A little sugar to make things interesting, and just sit back and let the day dissolve.
-D
 
Good timing Cobsgirl.....

I did a review for next months Newsletter at a Restaurant...and they were bringing out all kinds of things for me to try, scotches, tea....some teas were 60 years old, some were for show only, and would "Bloom" in the pot and have a flower pop up to the top, crazy stuff!!

They have a tea expert on hand!!! This place is really amazing, can't wait to share it in August!!
 
The weird thing about the tea flowers I've tried, you can steep them for a long time without the tea turning harsh/bitter :?: I was skeptical when I heard that but I tried it out and it's true. Are te flowers mostly made with green tea leaves?
 
I'm not sure about the flowers....That was the first I experienced it....I think I might be getting into this tea thing....It's a great alternative for a cigar compliment!!
 
I love beer especially IPA's. I've tried hefewiezen, porters, ipa's, and other types with cigars. To my taste buds cigars and beer don't make a good combo.
 
The flowers are made entirely of green tea leaves, at least the ones I've seen. I really thought it was cool and it doens't get bitter at all. I didn't like it for a cigar though. Something with more body like an Irish Breakfast tea is very nice. Also, I've taken a liking to black coffee with cigars. I think it's a good palate cleanser and it brings out some of the unique tones to cigars.
 
Coffee is a good one...I tend to do that everyday....Club Soda as well when I rate cigars...


But beer...now that's another story...
When I go home to visit my parents I stop by the Flossmoor Brewery....I'll kill a lot of beers in there along with some cigars! The Barley Wine is always my favorite, as well as the belgium triples....both are about 10% alcohol as well...
I always like the strong stuff!!!