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[morningbus]

I just got an email from Teavana, offering up yet another coupon code:

FREE SHIPPING! Promo Code: ILOVEMOM
Disclaimer: Free ground shipping on any order placed before April 18, 2010 at midnight and shipped within the U.S. To receive free shipping, use coupon code ILOVEMOM or simply click through this email. Not valid on previous orders or with other offers. No cash value.

I tried it on the website and it doesn't appear to be working yet. I also doubt it would stack with the 20% off coupon from earlier. Try and run the math on your order and see which would be better for you. Standard shipping usually runs $4.75 and you get free shipping on orders over $50.

alright morning, heres your chance. what should i pick up?

maybe i'll go small and pick a few, and then pick up a pound later. gimme 2-4 suggestions and i'll see if i can pick em up locally

Oh shit son. Are you going to pick them up locally or buy them from the internet? If you go with Teavana, I'd suggest MateVana, Mate Lemon Blast (though if you like this one, I have a better, cheaper option), and, on the a little-too-high-end, Monkey-picked Oolong.

Midnight and Panda are bigger Teavana fans than I, so they'll probably have a lot more suggestions. Panda is particularly fond of Youthberry.

If you go for the local option, Tealuxe has a surprisingly decent selection of tea. I'd suggest their Rooibos, Orange Rooibos, White Tangerine, and Tiger Hill Nigiri (a black tea, great for iced tea).

 

[lethial]

I switched from drinking a cup of coffee in the morning to green tea. Not sure why, it's just the temperature of the drink that gets me going. Otherwise I find tea horrid.

 

[SundaySounds]

I wanna just go ahead and offer a word of caution on that youthberry. I didn't really care for it. I thought it was quite bitter, and it left a bad after taste. plus it's $12 per 2oz.

I haven't tried the Mate lemon blast yet, but I have some waiting for me at home. I'll let you know what I think probably on thursday when I get home.

I switched from drinking a cup of coffee in the morning to green tea. Not sure why, it's just the temperature of the drink that gets me going. Otherwise I find tea horrid.

Maybe try some mate tea? It's got just as much caffiene as coffee.

 

[reggieandTFE]

I'm pretty much exclusively drinking green tea these days. I bought some Jasmine green tea pearls after unintentionally walking into a Teavana (Woodfield Mall just outside Chicago) and I'm almost done with the jar. Any other green tea recommendations?

 

[SundaySounds]

I'm pretty much exclusively drinking green tea these days. I bought some Jasmine green tea pearls after unintentionally walking into a Teavana (Woodfield Mall just outside Chicago) and I'm almost done with the jar. Any other green tea recommendations?

If you're looking for a more citrus flavored green, I'd reccommend Teavana's Citron Sonata Green. It's delicious.

 

[Violater]

My life line,

Without my cup in the morning, my day would be shambles.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000F4J7WS/?tag=neogaf0e-20

 

[reggieandTFE]

If you're looking for a more citrus flavored green, I'd reccommend Teavana's Citron Sonata Green. It's delicious.

That sounds like a great tea for the summer. Does Teavana carry all their varieties in store or should I just order it online?

 

[morningbus]

That sounds like a great tea for the summer. Does Teavana carry all their varieties in store or should I just order it online?

They carry almost everything in the store, however you can get free shipping with the code I posted above, which makes buying it online cheaper.

Speaking of Teavana, I was asked to showcase my distaste for their Raspberry Lemon Riot Mate blend, to wit:

Your average Yerba Mate (on the right, Matefactor Brand, with some stems; on the left, I believe, is Guayaki brand, which is just the leaves of the yerba mate plant):

Now, those are my normal standards for a product that sells itself with the word "Mate" in the title. This is what Raspberry Lemon Riot Mate looks like:

Certainly pretty and has a nice floral and fruity taste, but WHERE IS THE YERBA MATE? OH SHIT I FOUND IT AT THE END OF MY SPOON. Now, you may be thinking, "Morning, what about those long green things in there, are those stems like in your first picture?" To which I reply: what the hell do you think this is? A game? You think I'd post a picture that would in some way tarnish my reputation as an obsessive tea nerd? Screw you, man. Screw you.

That's lemongrass, man. Damn.

 

[Dennis]

I like Green tea, brewed strong and bitter, and served without any additives. Am I alone in this?

 

[Llyranor]

Green tea and roasted brown rice for me.

 

[hellclerk]

Unfortunately, I don't have any good access to any good tea shops out here in the middle of nowhere. Maybe this summer when I get back to the NYC area. Other than that, I drink green tea. Always organic and fair trade. Drink it straight and extra strong. Don't use loose leaf for convenience reasons, but hopefully I can change that soon enough.

 

[Dennis]

Unfortunately, I don't have any good access to any good tea shops out here in the middle of nowhere. Maybe this summer when I get back to the NYC area. Other than that, I drink green tea. Always organic and fair trade. Drink it straight and extra strong. Don't use loose leaf for convenience reasons, but hopefully I can change that soon enough.

Good man. And just get a strainer for the loose leaves, it really isn't any extra trouble.

 

[Jim]

I'm a dedicated tea drinker (couple cups a day w caffiene/night decaf), loose leaf and regular. Was this mentioned?

Candy Cane Lane

Fucking amazing seasonal tea. Locally only available around the Holidays, but you can get it online any time.

Also, for loose leaf, I just get the Teavana 100 pack of loose leaf filters for when I'm too lazy to use a strainer. I have a local Teavana store in the mall, so it's easy to get them.

 

[Cyan]

Browsing the Teavana site... boy, this is really expensive!

 

[SundaySounds]

Browsing the Teavana site... boy, this is really expensive!

Staying away from the White and Oolong teas is a good way to keep the costs down.

 

[Fatalah]

It depends on what you're looking for. If you want a high quality, mostly traditional Earl Grey, Adagio's Earl Grey Bravo is pretty excellent.

Thanks for the thoughtful info! I actually went with the OP's favorite "Stash's Double Bergamont Earl Grey". Seems like a winner.

 

[morningbus]

Whoa, Woot has finally pulled through and delivered a tea deal (and it is actually pretty damn good).

Sellout.Woot has a Primula 40oz Glass Teapot with 39 Flowering Teas for $14.99 (plus $5 shipping). The teapot looks a little janky, but the flowering teas alone are a steal at $20.

I'd get in on this, but I have enough tea as it is.

 

[Natetan]

I'm not a fan at all of sweetened teas, and not big on herbal teas either.

My likes:

Twinings lady grey. Great when loose leaf isn't realistic.

fresh mint in hot water.

milk tea. anyone in japan had the double tea leaf that's been on the market for the last year or so? it's great. they've even made an ice out of it. check your local kombini freezer case!

also a fan of any other straight teas. barley, oolong, dark green, the list goes on.

I love tea.

 

[SundaySounds]

Whoa, Woot has finally pulled through and delivered a tea deal (and it is actually pretty damn good).

Sellout.Woot has a Primula 40oz Glass Teapot with 39 Flowering Teas for $14.99 (plus $5 shipping). The teapot looks a little janky, but the flowering teas alone are a steal at $20.

I'd get in on this, but I have enough tea as it is.

The pot looks really nice, but how is the tea going to taste?

Thanks for the thoughtful info! I actually went with the OP's favorite "Stash's Double Bergamont Earl Grey". Seems like a winner.

excellent choice

milk tea. anyone in japan had the double tea leaf that's been on the market for the last year or so? it's great. they've even made an ice out of it. check your local kombini freezer case!

also a fan of any other straight teas. barley, oolong, dark green, the list goes on.

I love tea.

Do you think they sell that online anywhere?

 

[morningbus]

The pot looks really nice, but how is the tea going to taste?

The teas have great ratings on Amazon, at least. The teapot is apparently made out of plastic and really thin glass, though.

 

[ATF487]

Whoa, Woot has finally pulled through and delivered a tea deal (and it is actually pretty damn good).

Sellout.Woot has a Primula 40oz Glass Teapot with 39 Flowering Teas for $14.99 (plus $5 shipping). The teapot looks a little janky, but the flowering teas alone are a steal at $20.

I'd get in on this, but I have enough tea as it is.

I bought this, when the flowering teas run out I'm probably just going to get some loose leafs from adaigo

 

[SundaySounds]

The teas have great ratings on Amazon, at least. The teapot is apparently made out of plastic and really thin glass, though.

Just made a cup of that peppermint rooibos you sent me a while ago. nooooot really feeling it.

Everything else you sent me was pretty solid, though. thanks.

 

[SundaySounds]

Also, the coupon "10OFF" for teavana seems to still be active. It gets you $10 off of any purchase over $30. Probably a better value than the 20%, depending on how much you're planning on buying.

 

[morningbus]

Just made a cup of that peppermint rooibos you sent me a while ago. nooooot really feeling it.

Everything else you sent me was pretty solid, though. thanks.

Yeah, I don't think you guys are too into mint flavors. I'll have to send you some more stuff now that you've gotten into loose leaf.

 

[SundaySounds]

Yeah, I don't think you guys are too into mint flavors. I'll have to send you some more stuff now that you've gotten into loose leaf.

Perhaps I'll return the favor if I find something you haven't tried already. and if I can get my hands on some tea bags.

 

[hellclerk]

Good man. And just get a strainer for the loose leaves, it really isn't any extra trouble.

No, but getting loose leaf is. I'm basically going to school in literally cousin-fuck nowhere.

 

[morningbus]

No, but getting loose leaf is. I'm basically going to school in literally cousin-fuck nowhere.

Is there a reason you can't buy online? Even the most bustling metropolitan areas have got nothing on the selection available via the net.

 

[grumble]

Everyone should get Monkey Pick tea. It's picked by monkey on a remote mountainside in China. It's tasty, and worth it for novelty alone.

 

[morningbus]

Everyone should get Monkey Pick tea. It's picked by monkey on a remote mountainside in China. It's tasty, and worth it for novelty alone.

Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure monkey-picked tea is not actually picked by monkeys. It's legend that Chinese Monks trained monkeys to pick the hardest to reach tea leaves, but in a modern context "monkey-picked" just means the tea is of a really high quality.

 

[Darkman M]

Southern style tea is best.

 

[RoryDropkick]

Oh ok, so it's not a matter of it being laced with monkey feces for that extra-earthy taste then..

 

[SundaySounds]

Hey Bus, you get tea from Davidson's on Amazon, right? Have you ever had their Yerba Maté? I'm looking to start buying it in bulk, and their prices aint bad, dawg.

Less than $13 for 1 pound, and free shipping.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000SATIV4/?tag=neogaf0e-20

 

[morningbus]

I've bought some green rooibos from Davidson's through Amazon before, and was pleased with the quality. I haven't specifically tried their yerba mate, but the price is really reasonable. The one review that is up there, while mixed, seems to describe the flavors you should be looking for from your mate and is only negative because the reviewer prefers roasted mate.

I'd say it is definitely worth a try.

 

[Korey]

I can't decide which kind of tea I want at the moment. Chamomile used to be my favorite for lazy evenings at home, but reminds me too much of my ex, who said that she liked chamomile when we were still together. I'm trying to keep my mind off of her at all costs...she was really clingy and if I think about her too much my asthma starts acting up. So chamomile is out of the question

 

[SundaySounds]

I've bought some green rooibos from Davidson's through Amazon before, and was pleased with the quality. I haven't specifically tried their yerba mate, but the price is really reasonable. The one review that is up there, while mixed, seems to describe the flavors you should be looking for from your mate and is only negative because the reviewer prefers roasted mate.

I'd say it is definitely worth a try.

Yeah, when panda and I get another set of those ceramic canisters I'm gonna grab that and a pound of their earl grey.

Also, do you know a good place to get bulk lemongrass? This place seems pretty legit, and their prices are awesome: http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/bulkherb/l.html

$7.75 per pound of lemongrass. sounds pretty good to me.

I can't decide which kind of tea I want at the moment. Chamomile used to be my favorite for lazy evenings at home, but reminds me too much of my ex, who said that she liked chamomile when we were still together. I'm trying to keep my mind off of her at all costs...she was really clingy and if I think about her too much my asthma starts acting up. So chamomile is out of the question

Rooibos makes an excellent nighttime tea. My person favorite is the Bourbon Street Vanilla Rooibos from The Tea Table. I know I must have mentioned this a couple times already, but it is an amazing tea. Perfect nighttime tea especially if you don't want to drink chamomile.

But any rooibos will do, really. All Rooibos is caffeine free.

 

[hellclerk]

Is there a reason you can't buy online? Even the most bustling metropolitan areas have got nothing on the selection available via the net.

I still have most of a box of Equo green tea bags. I don't drink it terrifically often, if only because it takes something like 20-30 minutes for it to brew to my liking, and I'm paying attention to it that whole time. It's somewhat bothersome and time consuming.

 

[SundaySounds]

I still have most of a box of Equo green tea bags. I don't drink it terrifically often, if only because it takes something like 20-30 minutes for it to brew to my liking, and I'm paying attention to it that whole time. It's somewhat bothersome and time consuming.

Have you ever tried just using two bags at once?

 

[UrokeJoe]

Uncle Lee's green tea

Trader Joe's unsweetened iced tea, pure love!

and some loose Adagio teas.

 

[hellclerk]

Have you ever tried just using two bags at once?

Yeah, that's what I do. I still steep it for 20-30 minutes.

 

[SapientWolf]

I just wanted to say that Mighty Leaf's Tropical Green Tea is pretty decent hot but it is sublime on ice. So refreshing.

 

[morningbus]

Yeah, when panda and I get another set of those ceramic canisters I'm gonna grab that and a pound of their earl grey.

Also, do you know a good place to get bulk lemongrass? This place seems pretty legit, and their prices are awesome: http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/bulkherb/l.html

$7.75 per pound of lemongrass. sounds pretty good to me.

I usually pick my lemongrass up from a local Wiccan herb shop. I have to deal with a little bullshit, but their prices are reasonable and they're good for picking up herbs and teas in a pinch. I don't have any experience with Mountain Rose Herbs, but that is definitely a great price. Grab some lemon peel from them too, it'll really help to make a nice lemony tea.

Oh shit, they have gentian root. Maybe I can go ahead with my plans for a tea-based Moxie knock-off.

Yeah, that's what I do. I still steep it for 20-30 minutes.

Whoa. You steep two green tea bags for 20 to 30 minutes? What temperature water do you use? I hope it's cold, because otherwise that would result in some pretty bitter tea.

 

[SundaySounds]

I usually pick my lemongrass up from a local Wiccan herb shop. I have to deal with a little bullshit, but their prices are reasonable and they're good for picking up herbs and teas in a pinch. I don't have any experience with Mountain Rose Herbs, but that is definitely a great price. Grab some lemon peel from them too, it'll really help to make a nice lemony tea.

Oh shit, they have gentian root. Maybe I can go ahead with my plans for a tea-based Moxie knock-off.

What is that?

Also, what would be best to use in my homemade lemon mate tea? they've got like, 5 different lemon herbs, lol. I was thinking about using both the lemon grass and lemon peel. but then they also have the powders of both of those herbs for basically the same price. Would it be beter to use those since I would (theoretically) have to use less in my tea?

Spoiler

I'm assuming the powder would be more concentrated, so I wouldn't need say a full tsp in my tea, whereas I might with the lemon grass or peel

 

[Davidion]

What is that?

Moxie AFAIK is a funky tasting soda that's popular in the NE, particularly Vermont.

Maybe that's not what he's talking about.

 

[morningbus]

What is that?

Oh, you poor Non-New Englander, Moxie is the oldest brand of soda still in production, starting in Massachusetts way back in 1884. It was the nation's favorite soft drink until World War 1, when Coke got enlisted men hooked on their stuff by sending it to the frontlines.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moxie

It is the hard alcohol of soft drinks.

It is an acquired taste.

It is my favorite soda.

Moxie AFAIK is a funky tasting soda that's popular in the NE, particularly Vermont.

Maybe that's not what he's talking about.

You best believe that is what I am talking about! Also, it is most popular in Maine, for some reason.

Also, what would be best to use in my homemade lemon mate tea? they've got like, 5 different lemon herbs, lol. I was thinking about using both the lemon grass and lemon peel. but then they also have the powders of both of those herbs for basically the same price. Would it be beter to use those since I would (theoretically) have to use less in my tea?

Spoiler

I'm assuming the powder would be more concentrated, so I wouldn't need say a full tsp in my tea, whereas I might with the lemon grass or peel

From my experience, lemon peel and lemongrass are the cheapest, best herb-based ways to add lemon flavor to your tea. I've tried a few others, like lemon verbana, which is nice, but far too expensive.

As for the powder, there can be unexpected additives used in making powdered versions. They can sometimes taste kind of funky and will often disrupt the texture of your tea. I'd probably avoid.

 

[Enosh]

at home we preaty much only drink one kind of tea, we call it "russian tea" not sure if that is actualy anything...

stealth edit:
did some google, it's this thingy:

 

[morningbus]

at home we preaty much only drink one kind of tea, we call it "russian tea" not sure if that is actualy anything...

stealth edit:
did some google, it's this thingy:

http://www.nutsonline.com/images/items/09574l420.jpg

Is that the same as Russian Caravan tea?

 

[SundaySounds]

at home we preaty much only drink one kind of tea, we call it "russian tea" not sure if that is actualy anything...

stealth edit:
did some google, it's this thingy:

http://www.nutsonline.com/images/items/09574l420.jpg[/QUOTE]

lol, k. What's it like?

 

[Enosh]

Is that the same as Russian Caravan tea?

I don't even know what that is :lol

but yeah some google image search produces similar pictures to how the tea at home in the box looks like will latter try to find a packaging to read what it is actauly suposed to be

lol, k. What's it like?

kinda bitter, we always put suggar in it, depends on how much tea vs water you use, we usualy go for not a lot of tea so it has a light color

but yeah I like it a lot more than other teas, especialy the fruit ones, probably beacose I grew up with it and got used to it

 

[Cyan]

Might have to try the Irish Breakfast. I'm a little put off by the fact that I'd get 2 oz for the same price as 80 teabags of my favorite Irish Breakfast, the Trader Joe's stuff.

 

[ShallNoiseUpon]

Moxie Love

I haven't been able to find what people enjoy about Moxie yet. For years it was all there was to drink besides water at one of my friend's houses. Ugh. Moxie is so odd.



I'm ashamed to admit that I've been drinking cheap coffee lately. I've been to poor to buy tea. I think I'm going to place an order this weekend -- probably some maté, a couple greens and the most "out there" stuff I can find.