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[SundaySounds]

How does everyone feel about pu erh? I bought some cheap stuff and it was absolutely disgusting, maybe I should spend a bit more money on some.

Idk, I've never had it. I actually just found out there was such a thing. What is it?

 

[radioheadrule83]

 

[BertramCooper]

You can get it without the bubbles, you know.

Yes, I do know. However, the tea itself wasn't good enough to merit a return visit.

That said, it's entirely possible I just went to a poor milk tea vendor.

 

[ShallNoiseUpon]

Idk, I've never had it. I actually just found out there was such a thing. What is it?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pu-erh_tea explains it way better than I could.

 

[SundaySounds]

Actually, a really random place I like to buy my tea is Marshalls. It's really hit or miss, though. I've got some pretty good teas there and I've gotten some pretty crappy teas there. But it's all at an awesome price.

I was just there earlier and I picked up some Pomegranate loose leaf black tea, and some Lavender Earl Grey tea.

 

[Medalion]

I drink pretty much drink Oolong tea all the time when I am at home.

 

[skads_187]

Green tea with a bit of sugar and honey.

 

[OJdaKiller]

Why's everybody talking about T?

 

[Seanbob11]

Being both boring and British.

 

[BowieZ]

You guys have made me want to go out and get a bubble tea. Thanks! :lol

 

[effzee]

CHICAGO-GAF...

you guys had Argo Tea? I work in a hospital here in NYC and we are getting Argo tea starting tomorrow. Pretty excited. Red up on it and seems like they offer natural or organic teas with a wide selection.

Is it good? As far as I knew it was only in Chicago but I guess they expanding to NYC.

 

[Tashi]

There's this tea I have and get every time I go to Montenegro. It's basically just plants up on mountains but it's fucking amazing :lol

 

[SapientWolf]

Being both boring and British.

That's kind of redundant.

Anyone here heard of Mighty Leaf Tea? Tea snobs seem to be raving about them on Amazon. It's whole leaf tea in a silken bag, instead of powder. I just ordered a sampler with every tea they make in it. Should be interesting.

 

[Olivier]

I'm a big fan of Oolong and Green tea in general. I'm slowly building a collection of teas from "Mariage Frères" (awesome tea salons in Paris).

 

[Siebzehn50]

I drink tea all the time.

I usually order tea from Adagio. They have a wide variety of loose leaf teas. I suggest you check them out and try some of their samplers.

http://www.adagio.com/

Came to post this. I only drink looseleaf Tea, no bags for me. I use the ingenuiTEA from Adagio to prepare my tea. It works quite well. I'd say my favourite is Masala Chai. Delicious.

 

[ShallNoiseUpon]

Came to post this. I only drink looseleaf Tea, no bags for me. I use the ingenuiTEA from Adagio to prepare my tea. It works quite well. I'd say my favourite is Masala Chai. Delicious.

My only complaint about the inginuiTEA is how hard it tends to be to clean. I use it at home because I think it is fancy as hell, but at work I just use a small infuser.


Unless I am missing something. I usually try to pull out the strainer and clean that off then just wash out the inside -- but the infuser still seems easier to clean.

 

[umop_3pisdn]

I get my tea from a local tea shop (McQuarries), I don't really know anything about his suppliers, though.

My favorite teas are white, green, oolong, black and rooibos or honeybush. I drink it all the time, it's basically how I keep hydrated as I'd say I drink much more tea than I do water. I probably drink black tea the least simply because I like to steep my tea for a while (more quercetin/rutin) and you can't really do that with black teas without it tasting kind of awful.

Rooibos, chamomile, and spearmint makes a good night-time tisane.

 

[Booshman]

Like most people I just do regular bagged tea with milk + sugar, and probably a digestive or two.

I do love making proper loose leaf tea, and the whole ritual of letting it infuse etc. but it's far too much work to do often, so I just stick with whats easy yet still tastes ok as far as I'm concerned, definately no snobbery here.

Has anyone else tried roibos tea? It's also called red tea, and it's a nice alternative to most other herbal teas, it has a bit more flavour, and it's what got me into drinking tea in the first place. Plain is best though - herbal tea without milk or sugar.

 

[ghst]

tea.
foreigner tea.
cold foreigner tea.

let's get a sense of propriety in here, gents.

 

[SundaySounds]

Cool. Just bought 4 different teas (one ounce of each) from theteatable.com, and they let you pick 3 different samples (about 1/3 ounce each, enough for about 3 cups of tea) with every order. So those 4 ounces of tea + 3 different tea samples only ran me $11.50, shipping included. And they've got a coupon going on until April 1st (TEAFORME) that gives you 10% off your order. go check it out.

I bought:
Angel's Dream Tea
Buckingham Palace Garden Party Tea
Casablanca Tea
Bourbon Street Vanilla Rooibos Tea
Sample of Crime of Passion Tea (free)
Sample of Nine Bend Black Dragon Tea (free)
Sample of Bourbon Sunday Blend Tea (free)

 

[DesertEater]

My favorite

 

[SundaySounds]

My favorite

you know, all the palmers say "lite", but was there ever just a regular palmer?

 

[RevoDS]

 

[umop_3pisdn]

The health clinic at my school has some nice spice tea there. I don't know the brand but it's delish! About 1 hour before my "pre-bedtime relaxation hour", I drink 1-2 mugs of chamomile tea. It's great to help unwind. The only problem: it's so tasteless. Because I'm trying to unwind, I want to avoid honey, sugar, etc. Any recommendations?

Like I said in an earlier post, I like to brew rooibos, chamomile, and some kind of mint (milder is usually better, so I go with spearmint) together for a night-time tea.

Rooibos is naturally a little bit sweet, and for some reason I don't much care for chamomile tea on it's own, or even ordinary rooibos (it's the only tea I prefer with some mild flavor [vanilla], over plain...) but rooibos, chamomile, and spearmint together kind of make each other more tolerable, or something. I'm normally not a big tisane or tea-blend person for whatever reason, but I've gotten into the habit of drinking that at night.

 

[Ferrio]

 

[got2bekidding]

I'm a fan of tea. I'm sure most would say Lipton Iced Tea isn't the best, but it's what I grew up on since I live in the south. My friend is always coming over with Arnold Palmer, telling me how good it is, but I haven't got around to buying any as of yet.

you know, all the palmers say "lite", but was there ever just a regular palmer?

My buddy says, if you mix vodka in an Arnold Palmer, you would have a John Daly.:lol

 

[morningbus]

YOU SONOFABITCH I WAS GOING TO MAKE THE TEA MEGATHREAD.

I AM AT LEAST 65% SURE I TOLD YOU THIS.

 

[Dark Machine]

I'm a fan of tea. I usually have 'builder's tea' like PG Tips or Typhoo. But I do love to dig into this on a Weekend and brew ones for each time of day.

 

[SundaySounds]

YOU SONOFABITCH I WAS GOING TO MAKE THE TEA MEGATHREAD.

I AM AT LEAST 65% SURE I TOLD YOU THIS.

I don't think so, bud. Although I was gonna tell you about it asap, but you weren't on steam.

 

[morningbus]

IT WAS EITHER YOU OR PANDA I DUNNO.

EITHER WAY I HAVE GONE INSANE.

 

[SundaySounds]

IT WAS EITHER YOU OR PANDA I DUNNO.

EITHER WAY I HAVE GONE INSANE.

feel free to share your vast wisdom.

 

[fireside]

I'm a big fan of Twining's Lady Grey loose leaf. It's not too strong like Earl Grey and it looks a lot cooler (immensely important, of course):

Bit of a pain to find though. No normal stores like to sell loose leaf tea anymore.

 

[threenote]

I drink red tea twice a day.

 

[Mr_Appleby]

what's all this "with milk instead of water" business? tea with milk imo should be tea, with water, with a small dash of milk. be british about it, make your tea in a pot, put the milk in the cup and add the tea (so as not to scald the milk, thankyouarthurdent) or be slack and just add a splash of milk to your cup of black tea. i don't like it too milky and i don't think i could stand a "tea latte" :/ but i have it black generally anyway. depends on mood/weather.

my favourite tea is Silver Needles, though would never put milk or sugar in it as the flavour is too light. i generally by it from www.t2tea.com - from the local stores, not website.

i do quite like bubble tea, tapioca included, it's ok around here but the best i've had was in hongkong.

 

[BladeWorker]

I like White Monkey tea. Only had it a couple of times, because it's pretty hard to find. But I remember it being smooth and easy drinking.

 

[chaostrophy]

I love Lapsang Souchong tea. It's like the tea equivalent of Islay scotch, has a delicious smoky, spicy flavor.

 

[morningbus]

I SWEAR TO GOD MAN I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE.

Anyway, consider me co-curator of this thread.

A few recommendations first:

Fine places to purchase tea via the internet:
1) Adagio.com. They offer a wide selection of both popular tea and more niche varieties. I usually buy through the wholesale website, which is really cheap, but leaves me with a ton of bulk tea. I'm currently working my way through a pound of white tea and earl grey.

2) Amazon.com grocery section, specifically Davidson's Tea. I've only had limited experience with their tea, but it has been really positive. They are also one of the few places where you can buy Green Rooibos (it isn't allowed to ferment like Red Rooibos). Their prices are some of the best, excluding wholesale, of course.

3) Matefactor.com. This is the place where I buy my yerba mate from. Yerba mate (yer-bah mah-tay) is a South American herb that has caffeine in similar amounts to coffee. It has a strong, green tea-like taste and is great iced or hot.

If you're looking to get into loose-leaf tea (and you should!) I'd suggest using a french press. They are usually really cheap, they also make great coffee, and you might already have one floating around somewhere. Just don't fully plunge the tea when you're straining, only go about half way down the container. If you find yourself wanting to get more serious about tea, then start looking at teapots. Then stop looking and just buy something like this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FA9B5K/?tag=neogaf0e-20. That teapot meets all my requirements of a good teapot.

I drink a lot of tea everyday, at least 4 cups. My standbys are yerba mate, rooibos, and white tea (peony, usually). If I feel in the mood for a black tea, it'll often be a flavored kind like black currant.

How does everyone feel about pu erh? I bought some cheap stuff and it was absolutely disgusting, maybe I should spend a bit more money on some.

I like pu-erh, but it isn't for every one. It can have an earthy, aged taste to it, to which I usually have to add some sweetener. If you're in a position to try it again, see if you can find a variety with "Dante" somewhere in the title (I know Adagio sells some, but I've seen it elsewhere, too).

 

[Mr_Appleby]

I love Lapsang Souchong tea. It's like the tea equivalent of Islay scotch, has a delicious smoky, spicy flavor.

it is delicious, i agree! lovely on a cold night. but not for everybody, some people i've offered it too have found it a little confronting. but i feel the same way about anything vanilla/caramel/etc. it's unnatural ^_^

 

[SundaySounds]

How do you store your tea when you buy so much, bus?

Also, I'd say about 60% of the tea I drink is black tea. With Chamomile, Rooibos, and assorted herbal teas making up the rest. When I first started drinking tea I used to drink exclusively green tea, now I don't really care much for it.

 

[Cardigan]

I got an Adagio starter kit with a teapot and some sample teas. I love the stuff, it's delicious.

 

[SundaySounds]

Adagio looks really good, and they have a great selection but they seem a bit pricey.

 

[ili0926]

Cold Hong Kong style milk tea is the greatest drink of all time.

It looks boring. But to all my fellow Canadians out there: it's more addictive than a Tim Horton's iced cap.

 

[SundaySounds]

Have you guys ever had Thai Iced tea? I've only had it once but it was delicious.

 

[lakesideflight]

green tea for me, any brand, I'm not picky. Sometimes I stir in some honey when I'm feeling adventurous. It's so relaxing to have a hot cup of tea at night or in the morning.

 

[Cr0wn0]

pu-erh is becoming like wine with people wanting older and certain year varieties. Ive had a few varieties and it took me a while to start enjoying it I recommend maidens ecstasy for a good starter pu-erh. I really like Samovar's masala chai but its not convenient to make it the right way and I usually just end up with a bagged chai.

 

[MattyGrovesOrMe]

My motto (and subsequently the song I want sung at my funeral): "For christ's sake, have a cuppa tea."

 

[morningbus]

Part 2:

REAL LIFE TEA RETAILERS:

There aren't too many nationwide tea retailers in the U.S, but I have some tips and recommendations here too.

1) Teavana (they also operate an online business). They are probably the biggest chain store in the U.S. and they get a lot of somewhat deserved flak from tea purists. They've aggressively expanded in the last few years and if you have a high-end mall in your area, it probably has a Teavana somewhere. Now, let's run an experiment: I want you to go to Teavana and ask to see any tea they have. It doesn't matter what you pick, just pick whatever you see first. I guarantee you that any tea you pick from there will be blended with shit that probably has no place being in it. Just look at their yerba mate blend Raspberry Riot Lemon Mate, I FUCKING DEFY YOU TO FIND THE YERBA MATE IN IT.

Regardless, there is some decent stuff from there. I really like their MateVana blend, which barely suffers from Teavana's usual padding (though I have my doubts about how much the cactus flower is adding to the taste).

2) Tealuxe (also online, learn to use google!). This is a local Boston chain of tea "bars." They're usually really nice inside and offer a fairly decent selection of teas. I'd suggest them more for their specialty tea drinks, though. During the summer they offer up "frozen teas," which are just slush-puppies with tea flavoring. The orange rooibos frozen tea is great.

3) David's Tea (also online). This is the only other retailer I've had experience with. I believe they're only in Canada (as they are a Canadian company), which is a real shame. They have a great selection of tasty tea and their overall aesthetic is clean and inviting. My favorite thing they offer is the Fruite Mate blend. I just wish it were cheaper.

OTHER PLACES THAT SELL TEA.
Some tips if you really need to buy tea in person.

1) Natural products store. Check their herb or medicine section, where they'll sell tea as snake-oil.

2) Vitamin stores. They also sell tea, usually for supposed health benefits. You'd be surprised, even GNC carries a selection of tea.

3) Organic section of grocery store.

How do you store your tea when you buy so much, bus?

I have a bunch of air-tight ceramic canisters. They kind of look like these: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0030IMF8E/?tag=neogaf0e-20 but mine have metal spoons instead. When storing tea it is important to try and keep out air and light, so always go with metal or ceramic containers that seal tightly.

 

[Monocle]

Someone once sent me a bag of the most fragrant loose-leaf Earl Gray tea I've ever had. I've no idea where it originated but I have a mind to find out, because I've nearly used it all.

So that would be my recommendation. Buy the richest loose-leaf Earl Gray tea you can find and brew it nice and strong. Also, try combining it 40/60 with Teavana's White Ayurvedic Chai (or an equivalent blend), a little rock sugar, and a dash of cream. Delicious.

Edit:

I've had milk tea once and will never have it again. Those tapioca balls are vile.

There are many kinds, some more offensive than others. Generally, the sweeter and fresher the better. Several times I've tried bubble tea with a type of tapioca ball that grew disgusting when I let the drink marinate in the fridge for several hours. The gelatin would bloat up and take on a weird flavor and texture that made me slightly nauseous. Bubble tea can be great as long as you finish it quickly.

 

[Peronthious]

This is the greatest tea ever.

I jumped on a promotion from Kungaloosh tea I saw on deals.woot a while back, ~200 bags of various types of tea for $20, and I'm still going through that. Once that's out I'll probably order two 6-packs of the Good Earth. mmmmm

 

[Stahsky]

I've never really dived into the hot tea world, but I'm a huge fan of Iced Tea. The regular stuff mostly.. Brown? I don't know. Anyone got any top picks for something along those lines?

I don't touch the bottled stuff, but It's normally just Lipton teabag shit so I guess there's no real difference.