Just finished lunch at work and now making some Matcha.
Moved to China a while back so have started upp'ing it on the tea side. First thing I started like here was something called San pao Tai, or Ba Bo Cha. Its sweet, fruity, and just straight up wicked. This is when I was an 'amatuer' so I used to just put the satchet in a cup and let it brew, but thats how most people drink this particular tea.
It also uses fresh fruits/herbs/nuts. Heres a pic:
Really nice flavour. Not sure if you can buy it in the 'outside' world. Theres dates, some funny squidgy thing I never found out, those nuts, some jasmine and green tea. All blends really well together.
These days I drink Tie Guan Yi, a chinese Green Tea. As it brews for longer the taste becomes quite strong and a little bitter, so making the right strength is important, you have to sort of guess where the flavor is gonna go. Mostly really good though.
Last month I went back home (to England) Im from Yorkshire which is really famous for tea. Yorkshire Tea is normal tea bag's, like the ordinary mans tea but still really good. Sugar and milk.
For others living in the UK, and in the north. I strongly recommend Betty's Tea shop. Its a family run business established in 1916. They have 4 outlets in Ilkley the original, Harrogate, NorthAllerton, and York. They have the finest tea's from around the world and daily deliver fresh baked goods. Its a pretty up-market posh looking place in posh little towns, but the prices are really quite reasonable considering service and quality.
http://www.bettys.co.uk/
I went to the one in Ilkley:
While there I got some biscuits (not American biscuits, ie cookies, im talking Shortbread, Oat and Ginger, Chocolate Crisps etc). And I also bought Cederberg Rooibos:
I havent unfortunately had the chance to try this yet, although I have smelt it and it is LUSH. Lost my kettle, sucks.
I'm from an Asian background so at home my family drinks alot of Milk Tea anyway. I was never quite fond of Desi Indian tea but once my sister made some and I swear it was like Crack I just became addicted, this was a few years ago. Its done by boiling water in a pan, emptying a tea bag or throwing in loose tea to let it infuse, and then adding a pinch of cardamon, crack open and throw in a couple, about 3 - 4 seeds (thats how I like it, others vary). Let it brew and keep it on the boil, making sure it doesnt overheat or burn.
Heres my tea set that I bought a couple of months back:
I don't use it too often as I drink most of my tea outside, and also because well I dont have a damn kettle right now.
The way I usually do it though is to boil water and leave it in the teapot for a while. Same with the cups, so they stay warm. Empty. And then repeat but this time with the tea, allowing it to brew/infuse for a few minutes. My cups are really small (you can hold with 2 fingers). There was a time during summer I'd just sit there in the morning drinking tea thinking I was an old Japanese guy. Fun.
Also, question about Matcha. I've been drinking it for a while now, and i guess its different because you have to whisk it yourself. I do, and I get the desired effect of foam etc, but theres always a little residue left after (I do sift it), is that to do with ratio? If so, what ratio (matcha spoon : bowl) do you guys usually use?
I'm still curious about the other types of tea, especially black and white, any GAF recommendations? I don't really have a clue about them so what are the flavours and such like? I drink tea mainly for the health benefits these days, I smoke alot so the anti oxidant things they have are pretty useful.
Tea, biscuits, and whisky all the way.
