Tea Lovers Club

[Colorful Respawn 399]

Red Diamond all the way baby! 

[Lisa 5,553]

Lemon Tea is best tea. 

 

and green tea

[Rainboom Dash 1,057]

There are these shops where I live that sell special teas (cold tea and warm tea) and though I've never bought them I love visiting them for free samples. I especially love the cold teas.

[Virgil 686]

Red Diamond all the way baby! 

My first thought to this, "A fellow Texan wrote this more than likely". That is like the state beverage almost   .

[Colorful Respawn 399]

My first thought to this, "A fellow Texan wrote this more than likely". That is like the state beverage almost   .

It's funny because I am a Texan brony!

[Virgil 686]

There are these shops where I live that sell special teas (cold tea and warm tea) and though I've never bought them I love visiting them for free samples. I especially love the cold teas.

That is the nice thing about specialty tea shops, they do typically have good free samples. Some of the online services give free samples but ya have to make those yourself unfortunately .

 

It's funny because I am a Texan brony!

Well, technically I did cheat after I saw your post and looked on your profile to confirm my theory . But I'd being willing to bet 9/10 people who said they like cold sweet tea are southerners, but when you say the brand Red Diamond... I'm sure other states have it but it does scream Texas to me .

[Colorful Respawn 399]

That is the nice thing about specialty tea shops, they do typically have good free samples. Some of the online services give free samples but ya have to make those yourself unfortunately .

 

Well, technically I did cheat after I saw your post and looked on your profile to confirm my theory . But I'd being willing to bet 9/10 people who said they like cold sweet tea are southerners, but when you say the brand Red Diamond... I'm sure other states have it but it does scream Texas to me .

Well you gotta admit, its pretty good tea.

[Karma Lightwing 245]

I tasted a tea called Mexican mango the other day, it has a spicy taste which is sweetened witho mango. It actually was really delicious

[Untitled Goose Q 5,138]

I'm not particularly bothered by what kind of tea that it is, but I do like Ginger Nut biscuits to dunk in it.

[Guest]

I don't like any warm/hot tea. only ice tea.

 

raspberry and lemon are my favorites.

[Nine 707]

Princess Celestia hates tea

 

All hail Princess Luna

[Rarity Paige Belle 1,855]

Americans drink tea! Well I never!

[Milky Jade 138]

It's pretty much in the name. I also think fondly of Ceylon (silver tips), Darjeeling, Houjicha, Assam, and good old Earl...

[Nine 707]

It's pretty much in the name. I also think fondly of Ceylon (silver tips), Darjeeling, Houjicha, Assam, and good old Earl...

I've never had ceylon white tea before actually. I probably should .. but like .. 90% of tea exports from Sri Lanka and India is all black. I've heard of white Darjeeling but I haven't tracked some of that down yet either. That I would be more interested in than ceylon teas. I kinda have a "meh" opinion of them, as I think the bulk of the crops are lower altitude and that makes for a stronger taste. That's not necessarily bad. Probably most people like that better .. but I like lighter teas anyway, and even for Darjeeling I like a first flush over a second. Ceylon makes it in as a base tea for a lot of blends, and when I'm in the mood for blends it works just fine for that.

 

Houjicha sounds wonderful too. I loathe steam kill-green, and that's all Japan does for some reason. Actually I think I already bitched about this once before in thread.

[TwilightFire 55]

Earl Grey, Oolong Tea, Jasmine Opal Tea, and Chai Tea being my favorites.

[Milky Jade 138]

I've never had ceylon white tea before actually.

 

I've heard of white Darjeeling but I haven't tracked some of that down yet either.

White is good. I'm not committed to a single tea type, but you know, if I had to.. it would probably be white or oolong.

Now your job is to find some white Darjeeling and Ceylon. If there is no other way, order it..

 

 

I like lighter teas anyway, and even for Darjeeling I like a first flush over a second.

First over second? Now that's a bit silly!

Well.. I take Avongrove and Imperial for 2nd flush, Jungpana for 1st. Darjeeling is a bit like.. my bread-and-butter, really. I think I do prefer 2nd flush, but I don't think in terms of 'strictly better'. Tea is really a mood thing, isn't it..

 

 

Actually I think I already bitched about this once before in thread.

Refer me, if you will.

[Xievie 498]

I actually kind of want to get into drinking tea.. A lot of things have been urging me to try tea, such as: being the only one in my group of friends who doesn't drink tea, mom drinks a lot of tea, the recent anime I finished and loved had a band literally named "After School Tea Time" and they actually did have tea, and how I remembered my mom gave me a tea that I LOVED for a while as a kid.

 

The only tea that I can remember the name of, the one I loved as a kid, is named "Youthberry". I'd actually like to get some more. It was quite sweet.

 

Anyways, like I said, I kind of want to start drinking tea regularly to: 1) replace my regular, unhealthy juices and sodas; 2) condition my heat-sensitive tongue (really it's annoying how I have to wait longer than others seem to have to in order to drink tea and soup). 

Any suggestions on how I could start or where I should look? 

 

Though, isn't tea generally expensive? That's what I hear at least.

[Nine 707]

Earl Grey, Oolong Tea, Jasmine Opal Tea, and Chai Tea being my favorites.

Jasmine Pearls is what I was having yesterday

 

 

@@Milky Jade, 

The whites I have are all Chinese. I will look for white Darjeeling though.

The estates I have in my collection right now are Singtom for first, Margaret's Hope and Makaibari for second. Darjeeling is pretty much considered "best" as a second flush anyway so drink up. Black tea is hardly my favorite, but I didn't think I could get away with not having Darjeeling around. And it is good. I just think white's better.

My first post on the second page of this thread is about how much I don't like sencha. I didn't mention steaming at the time, but that's why. It makes the finished tea astringent and grassy.

[Milky Jade 138]

@Nine

That's pretty much agreeable. I'm not yet at the point I could discern 2nd from 1st flush by taste alone, but my general experience is awarding 2nd with first place. About sencha, let me read that tomorrow..

 

The thing I'm currently hot about is matcha. Matcha matcha matcha. You like it?

[TwilightFire 55]

Jasmine Pearls is what I was having yesterday

 

 

@@Milky Jade, 

The whites I have are all Chinese. I will look for white Darjeeling though.

The estates I have in my collection right now are Singtom for first, Margaret's Hope and Makaibari for second. Darjeeling is pretty much considered "best" as a second flush anyway so drink up. Black tea is hardly my favorite, but I didn't think I could get away with not having Darjeeling around. And it is good. I just think white's better.

My first post on the second page of this thread is about how much I don't like sencha. I didn't mention steaming at the time, but that's why. It makes the finished tea astringent and grassy.

There is actually a Chinese specialty store not far from where I live.

[Nine 707]

@, 

Loose leaf is more expensive than bags, and to make loose leaf you should get a proper infuser. That costs a bit up front, but the difference in quality is huge compared to tea bags.

Loose leaf has a range of prices. Even the cheapest will be way better than tea bags. You don't need to buy the really expensive stuff. Most people don't anyway. Depends on what makes sense for you. If you decide you really do like tea, you can buy whatever you like and can realistically afford.

 

@@Milky Jade,

Telling darjeeling from non-darjeeling and first from second flush, or roughly by altitude is something I can do. I can't tell apart estates. I haven't even had tea from all the estates. How many people have?

Maybe I could train myself to tell apart the estates I have tried. I don't know though. I'm not that good.

 

I do have a matcha set, but I drink matcha pretty rarely. Very special occasions and ritual type stuff. It's super expensive besides.

[Virgil 686]

Princess Celestia hates tea

 

All hail Princess Luna

Rebel Propaganda! Show the proper respect due to Princess Sun Butt.   

 

Americans drink tea! Well I never!

Well, there's like... uhmm... at least like ... a few of us that... drink decent quality tea  .

 

I actually kind of want to get into drinking tea.. A lot of things have been urging me to try tea, such as: being the only one in my group of friends who doesn't drink tea, mom drinks a lot of tea, the recent anime I finished and loved had a band literally named "After School Tea Time" and they actually did have tea, and how I remembered my mom gave me a tea that I LOVED for a while as a kid.

 

The only tea that I can remember the name of, the one I loved as a kid, is named "Youthberry". I'd actually like to get some more. It was quite sweet.

 

Anyways, like I said, I kind of want to start drinking tea regularly to: 1) replace my regular, unhealthy juices and sodas; 2) condition my heat-sensitive tongue (really it's annoying how I have to wait longer than others seem to have to in order to drink tea and soup). 

Any suggestions on how I could start or where I should look? 

 

Though, isn't tea generally expensive? That's what I hear at least.

Basically what Sensei Nine ( @@Nine on this thread I will be referring to you as Sensei Nine from now on ), said above is the best opinion. My two bits on the matter would be:

1. Try Adagio.com and get a couple of their Sample packs ( four 2 ounce samples of different teas, most packs $10-$15); that's a pretty good starting place for starting out if you don't have a store nearby that sells loose leaf tea. Also, you can use most loose leaf teas 2-3 times or more depending on the quality (adagio no more that 3 times unless they specify otherwise).

2. You will have to buy an infuser, but if you just get a steel mesh infuser ball ( not the best but good starter ) like this :

( there is another variation with a metal chain, but those are more of a hassle in my opinion), you'll only spend at most $4 bucks ( $2-3 is the average honestly). And you can buy such things online of course but you actually have a good shot at finding such things in a grocery store.

3. Since you said your trying to build up your tolerance to heat, try green teas as they need a lower temperature 180 degrees Fahrenheit, the water should just be slightly too hot to touch, so no bubbles just some steam ( or 2 minutes at most in your average microwave [but you didn't hear me bring up the dreaded microwave ] ).

Feel free to ask me any questions you may have. Always happy to help a budding tea snob.. er.. tea connoisseur .  

[Milky Jade 138]

@@Nine,

Telling apart teas is a discipline I'm not too shabby at. Aside from, you know, tisanes.. because to hell with them?

 

As for matcha, I'm very finical with the amount of water. Sure, thick koicha is probably considered the "best", but I think that if you blend it with usucha (it provides a strong taste), and get the blend right (break the lumps carefully) you can use that with a little bit more water and grin like a Cheshire.

 

Yeah.. you gotta be mad as a hatter these days if you want to drink matcha on like.. a daily basis..

 

I personally don't even go above once or twice a week. It'd require a phase of ebullience that doesn't even come once in 6 months.

The only thing I can really drink on a daily basis is Tiě guān yīn and (obviously) Milky Jade Oolong.

[XxConfusedUnicornxX 834]

Tea is like, the best thing that has ever happened to mankind! Yeah, I'll just leave it there.

[ReverseFaller 2,484]

I'm not really a big fan of tea. The only tea I like is Arizona Iced Tea.