Subject: And yet from another persepective:
Author:
Posted on: 2009-06-19 13:47:00 UTC
All tea is weird flavored water.
Though I must respect your dedication to the drink.
Subject: And yet from another persepective:
Author:
Posted on: 2009-06-19 13:47:00 UTC
All tea is weird flavored water.
Though I must respect your dedication to the drink.
I... I must know. It is truly a pressing question. My dears, I require knowledge of...
...Your preference of tea...
Mine is chamomile for sweets, cinnamon-apple by itself, and mint with meals.
With none of those silly sweetenings like mild, honey, sugar, etc. *grins*
Russian Caravan-black and smoky. Best stuff there is.
I will drink an herbal tea when I am not feeling good or a mint tea when I need to clear my sinuses. I like a fruity tea when I am in the mood for it.
I like to fill my teacup with rice and tea and then eat it.
And why is it that I can never find the stuff at stores? I mean, the restaurants have to get it somewhere...
Also, that's a really interesting way to have tea.
What can't you find, pray?
But I like ginger tea as well. And chai, can't forget the chair. We make the best chai where and I work and I always end up drinking gallons and gallons of it. It helps me not want to strangle my boss.
I like my tea to be proper tea. Camomile, cinnamon and mint do not count as tea. They are herbal infusions, and thus weird flavoured water.
I have been known to have the odd cup of white tea with strawberry, or green tea with blueberry, pomegranate and red grape, but this is because my friend Becky doesn't drink normal tea and so only has crappy red label in the house, which tends to taste of dishwater.
For preference I take my tea in a pint and a half mug. Which is never cleaned inside - I've been working on its innards since Christmas, and have got it to a lovely state of black-and-flaky (although my housemate has a tendency to stir it too vigorously and knock off flakes, and has even on one memorable occasion attempted to wash my mug).
A pint and a half mug takes a long time to brew, so I've got lazy of late. Teabag goes in first, then water, then a quick stir and then milk, and the bag's left in to brew. Takes about half an hour, by which time the tea is just cool enough to drink. Which also takes half an hour, by which point it's time to empty the bladder. Which involves passing the kettle, and getting another brew on the go.
Yes, I take my tea seriously. I'm a Yorkshirewoman, what do you expect?
In other people's houses it's a pint mug, brewed for the length of time it takes to smoke a cigarette. No sugar. Biscuits may be the ginger nut or the chocolate suggestive, though cake is an acceptable alternative. Ideal biscuit accompaniment is the fruit shortcake. Tailors are required for special occasions, but for day-to-day consumption, a hand-made cigarette is necessary with every cuppa.
Also, you can't beat a cuppa and a smoke in the bath.
Although, I can understand why you're so awesomely gung-ho:
I'm Cuban.
I make Cuban coffee.
I make it well.
And from my perspective, Cuban coffee made from a machine is soulless drivel with no chance to be done properly - sometimes the makers don't even whip up the espuma - can you believe that?
The proper way is to make sure the water in the bottom part of the pot is at the half-way point of the bolt PRECISELY - otherwise it's too strong or too weak - then packing down the grounds flat so that you can get more flavor in. Finally, screwing down the entire thing as tight as you can unless you like boiling water flying at your eyeballs.
THEN, once that's done, you put three spoonfuls (three and a half for me) of sugar into the metal cup, and when the coffee is up, just put the slightest bit in. Then, whip it up so until it's at the approximate consistency of a milkshake. After that is done, pour the coffee in to get the espuma.
Then, and only then, do you have the perfect cafecito.
If I ever utterly lose my mind and decide to take up coffee, I shall remember this. Ta.
Although the machine thing is more because they don't whip up the espuma. Because they have no time.
Ugh.
All tea is weird flavored water.
Though I must respect your dedication to the drink.
It's not like said dedication was a conscious decision. We just take our tea very seriously round here, plus English, plus my dad drinks gallons of tea daily. I never really stood a chance.
I'm also not looking forward to tea over the next two weeks - I'm off to my sister's, and their water's really soft and the milk's soya. It's just Not Right.
No encouraging dangerous and addictive habits to minors. {= P
~Neshomeh
They'd none of 'em go for it anyway - herbal dishwater just doesn't work the same, so there'd be no point.
Unless it was mushroom tea... hmm. :P
Earl Grey is my preferred black tea, although I am a heretic who takes it with milk rather than lemon. (I can't stand lemon in tea.) English Breakfast is also good.
For herbal, chamomile is good for relaxing and mint is just generally awesome. I grow and dry my own mint for tea. It's awesome.
Always meant to try a few different kinds, though, just to see if I'm missing out.
... but I just can't bring myself to drink tea. Any kind - black, green, white, herbal, fruit, whatever. No thanks.
Or coffee. Makes my consciousness-rollercoaster even worse. And I only have hot chocolate at night, because if I was to drink it during the day I'd never stop and I should really ease up my sugar consumption.
What this means is that I drink water, fruit juice, and vast, VAST quantities of instant soup. I mean, vast. I have three boxes of it sitting beside me right now that my sister purchased for me to take to university next week, and I guarantee you they'll all be gone by Wednesday.
Hmm. People who live in America - will I be able to get instant soup there when I go there in a week's time?
There's all sorts. I'm sure you'll be able to find something you like.
Where in America are you visiting?
~Neshomeh
For a sort of university short course thing :)
I'm not quite as far as you can get from California, but there are mountains and deserts and big lakes and a lot of miles in the way. {= P
Enjoy your sunny, baking hot weather and whatever else they have out there. {= )
~Neshomeh
I'm sure it will be nice - I'm told it's sunny there right now, so I've packed a lot of skirts :D It'll be nice to escape from our miserable, straight-from-Antarctica winter :D
I've had tea before and didn't like it. May try it again one day, just to see if my dislike is purely pushy-doesn't-understand-the-meaning-of-no-I-don't-want-that-it's-too-hot-family-member related.
I just don't particularly like hot drinks very much. I'll make an exception for a deliciously chocolately hot chocolate now and again, and if circumstances really require it I'll take a coffee loaded with sugar, but tea... just no. I don't even really like the smell of it.
Of course, this now begs the equally pressing question...what are the preferences among the non tea-drinkers? ;)
Personally, I like hot blackcurrant drinks.
If I'm in a coffee shop with my mum and brother I'll usually have a hot chocolate with all the trimmings, except for one place I go to that does gorgeous white/milk/dark chocolate with strawberry/banana/orange milkshakes. I like going there because you get a free chocolate with every drink, and because my mum doesn't eat chocolate I get hers as well since my brother is a grumpy, lazy git who finds a table as soon as and sits down so doesn't get a say in things. I'll sometimes have a milkshake at the Thornton's Cafe as well, since theirs are made with ice cream.
There are several places here that do wonderful milkshakes, the sort where you pick a sweet or chocolate bar and it gets blended into your drink. Bounties and Daims are my usual choice there, although I did have a Crunchie one from the Italian ice cream place today.
At home I drink lemonade, and very rarely anything else. I keep a two litre bottle next to my keyboard at all times. For variety I tend to have at least one can of Ting fizzy grapefruit juice hidden somewhere, and a few bottles of Oasis, water and Sprite of varying levels of fullness. There is alcohol hidden somewhere, but I only touch that very rarely.
When eating out, usually in the food court, it depends on which vendor I've ended up at. Apple juice, J2O and water are my usual choices. If we've just gotten a drink from the shop then I'll have water, Sprite or Oasis, which is how they end up in my room half-drunk and destined to be forgotten about. When at Costco, where the choice is free coffee or free orange juice, I'll always pick the orange juice.
I haven't had a hot blackcurrant drink in ages. I might have to see if there's any squash in the house so I can make some tonight.
Wow, this reply seems to have turned into a bit of an essay.
I've never encountered a place that does chocolate bars blended into drinks... I think I'm slightly envious now ;) It sounds heavenly.
I'm mostly a water drinker - I only drink soft drinks or hot chocolate when I'm eating out. Occasionally orange juice, but it's usually that really cheap stuff that you make up from the powder, that doesn't really taste like proper orange juice at all. Other than that, I could not live without my hot blackcurrant *coughs* Sad, I know.
Honestly, and you call yourselves English! It's no wonder the Empire went down the toilet.
I've never even tried other varieties. I do however like to think that I'd love "tea, Earl Grey, hot."
I now drink white tea with two sugars. I'm down from six sugars. :P
She would put so much sugar into her tea that it seemed to be more sugar than tea.
Down to two, remember?
Do you mean with milk?
~Neshomeh, attempting Brit to Yank translation.
I expect he means with milk. You can get white tea though - like the stuff with strawberry I mentioned in a higher post. So far as I can work out they pick the tea rather earlier on, before it's turned into proper black tea.
Over on this side of the Big Pond, white tea means tea picked when the leaves are brand-new. It's supposed to be sort of a delicacy-type thing, but I find it pretty boring for the most part. On the other hand, if the idea is to make it taste like other things, then it works pretty well.
~Neshomeh
Honestly, I can't stand the taste of white tea; I've tried different fruit blends with the stuff, but anything that starts with white tea just doesn't do it for me.
Yeah, I wouldn't fancy it by itself. With strawberry it's alright though. And handy for when we run out of milk, because I won't drink black tea (as in milkless). I've seen what it does to my cup, I don't want to think how fast it'd make my teeth brown.
Builder's tea. :D Sainsbury's own brand stewed and forgotten for half an hour, blitzed in the microwave, with a splash of milk, and if it's a really bad day, as much sugar as the cup will hold.
Unless I'm at uni, when I don't buy dairy stuff (I'm a cheapskate), when it's Sainsbury's own brand strawberry [and two other yummy red berry] tea, or whatever other fruit tea is on offer and looks tasty.
And always copious amounts of Jasmine tea.
Well...my personal preference is green tea, though I like earl gray with breakfast. And lemon tea for singing. Makes you salivate and keeps your throat from drying out, doncha know? ;-)
Been experimenting with some berry teas, but I'm not too fond of them.
Yeah, I'm with you there. I much prefer herbal.
Forgot chai. How could I forget chai? I live on chai. Could not survive school without chai. *clutches mug of chai*
Everyone's tried chai but me, it seems. >.>
I wonder how this almighty tea tastes?
Also almost everyone seems to put sugar in their tea but me. XD
Each one is a little different, but the basic idea is spiced black tea with milk and sugar. You can drink it straight, but it's just not the done thing in this case. The sugar brings out the flavor of the spices, so that's important.
Most chais include some combination of cinnamon, clove, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, cardamom, and/or anise. Some are more complex, some more simple. I prefer the ones without anise, but if you like that sort of thing, it's up to you. {= ) They come in teabags, as a powder, or as a concentrate. I like all kinds of leaf chai, but I prefer Oregon Chai as a powder and Tazo Chai as a concentrate. If you get concentrated Tazo, though, I warn you that they take the "spice" part seriously. You really, really want to make sure you get the balance of milk right so as not to hurt your throat. Believe me, I've done it. Their ginger is really potent.
I hope you try some chai soon, and enjoy it. {= )
~Neshomeh
Personally, I prefer the concentrate of Oregon Chai's vanilla chai. If you want to add a little bit more...well, flavour, I guess, I also suggest trying it with soy milk. It takes some getting used to, but after a while you get kinda hooked. ^_^
It adds a nice sort of nuttiness to it, and it feels thicker than with just milk.
~Neshomeh
It depends, of course, upon the time of day, the amount of sleep I have had, the mood I am in, and what it is I am trying to achieve by drinking tea.
As a general rule, Chai is my favorite, with good cream (none of this 2% milk stuff) and lots of sugar. It is good on just about any occasion, particularly when I can get ahold of really good Chai. After one particularly horrendous night of finishing my portfolio for this passed quarter, my study partner introduced me to what is called a 'Dirty Chai', which is good Chai tea with a shot of espresso in it.
For other things, I am very much partial to mint as a rule, particularly chilled peppermint tea. Also, Yogi has a beautiful tea that is Egyptian Licorice and Peppermint, which is something akin to heaven for me. Instant calm and goodbye to any headaches.
Russian Caravan is one of my favorites when it comes to black tea. It's this lovely strong black tea with a very smoky flavor to it, and always makes me think of the description of Trader Tea out of Tamora Pierce's Circle of Magic books, if any here know of them. It's wonderful when trying to stay awake for homework/being awake for class the next morning after a homework spree. I bought a pound of it this past year, and it served me well. I was brewing it by the gallon in strength so as to be nearly black. My friends called it Crack Tea....
A nice subtle Ocha (green tea- the kind you get in a sushi restaurant) is nice for being calm and writing surrealist stuff. It also wakes me up, but doesn't give me the Burst-o'-Caffeine that Caravan does. I used to get a cup of Ocha every morning while waiting for the bus when I had Karate at nine in the morning.
As an afternoon pick-me-up/cool-me-down, or as a nice comfort when sick, either Tazo Passion or Celestial Seasonings Cranberry-Apple Zinger are WONDERFUL. The first is Passion-fruit flavored, the second, well, that's rather obvious, isn't it?
*stares at what she wrote*
Okay, that was a lot of writing. I'll just post this now...
So, hello! :)
And I don't drink tea. Sorry if that scandalises anyone.
Hi and welcome, by the way. I don't think we've talked yet. {= )
Anyway, my preference depends on the day, the time, where I am, who I'm with, and a host of other things. There are a few teas that I will hardly ever refuse, though. One is chai. I'm a bit of a chai connoisseur in that I've had many kinds, and I can almost tell you what spices are in a particular one. The ones I know by taste or smell, anyway. Usually I like chai as a breakfast or after-dinner tea.
Another tea I will almost always drink is Earl Grey any way you care to make it. I like it straight black, and I like it with milk and a little sugar. It's good for waking up in the morning, with food, with dessert, and when I just need to smell bergamot to feel better about life.
Green tea is good with just about everything if I can't think of anything better.
As for black teas, I admit I don't really know the difference between most of the varieties, but I believe I like English Breakfast and Darjeeling.
I also like Oolong tea.
... I just plain like tea. I wrote an article about tea for a little publication at my college which I'd be happy to share, if people are interested.
~Neshomeh
http://www.fictionpress.com/s/2687303/1/InDefenseof_Tea
Enjoy. {= )
~Neshomeh
I keep getting a "403 Denied" window. Is there some kind of problem with the site?
I assume you've tried refreshing the page, but I'm going to say it anyway. Failing that, I guess try navigating to my main page and going that way.
~Neshomeh
That depends on mood, atmosphere, surrounding edibles, and weather.
For cold nights, you can't beat a hot mug of chai. For mildly chilly afternoons, green sweet tea is the best.
Or mint, for everything else. (Tazo has a blend called Zen which is most excellent.)
Next time I shop for mint (this weekend - I'm out) I'll look for that. Hm... nummy.
Or green at a pinch.
I'm not much of a tea person, but... I will drink that Lipton Green Tea citrus stuff.