What are your favorite teas?

[Rayne_W]

Originally Posted by vanilla_latte

Alright, Rayne, I'm drinking the tea. I don't like it less. I nuked it double-time, added more sweetener, and a wee bit more cream. I steeped it 2 minutes and didn't squeeze out the bag. Much more ... tolerable.

I am calling this a win! The closer you get to boiling, the better the end result. Btw, if you have a spare plastic spoon handy, putting it in the cup of liquid will prevent it from essentially blowing up when it reaches the boiling point (the spoon breaks the surface tension).

Now, I went over to look at this Davids Tea you speak of. I'd be in hog heaven if I loved tea like most of you. Those look amazing!

The varieties of tea and sheer amount of tea vendors is really overwhelming. So many to try!

[sorenkkg]

You guys are killing me! I can't believe how much I missed yesterday (dealing with doggy health drama-- seems better today).

Ok-- here we go:

1) David's tea sells a special spoon, and while I looooove it, I will say, it's 1.5tsp, which is 1/2 tablespoon. Everyone has one of those in your measuring spoon set. They use that for about 95% of their tea.

2) that amount of loose tea from DT, herbal or black or rooibos or whatever, makes a good big mug. Mine hold about 15oz or so of water.
Then, I've taken to adding more hot (tap or otherwise) to the empty brewer, and letting it sit overnight (sort of like cold brewing) and I get another cup, only slightly weaker, hardly noticeable, from it.

weirdly, I wouldn't brew double the water with that amount though, kwim? I make 1 mug's worth, then put in water again and make another... but not 2x water at once. Ignore if this is confusing.

So, a big mug is technically about 2c if you are using a measuring cup (1c = 8oz, and 1 mug = 14-16oz, depending how big and full it is). And one 1.5tsp scoop (about 5g) gives me that amount, sometimes a 2nd mug... so 50g should be at least 10 mugs, if not more if you're being weirdly frugal like me with the 2nd brew.

I am going to tweet this thread to DT b/c seriously, I'm like a deputy or something for them, no? LOL (I'm not, I swear, I work for a software company, you can find me in linkedin!).

I'm just glad everyone is enjoying themselves, having easier DDs, very low calorie "treats" and enjoying the health benefits of drinking more fluids, and antioxidants in tea!

wait till summer hits... omg, tropicalia (which I'm hoarding, so don't even think of ordering it... pina colada goodness...) and my tried-and-true mango diablo, which is mango and chili, and I swear, I lose better when I drink it.
But not you... you can't have any. It's mine... my precioussssssss.....


S.

[sorenkkg]

Found a great link in my twitter, re: tea and times and temps. if you google "steep it" you'll find an online tea timer! How cool!
S.

[mamadodge]

I can NOT WAIT for my teas to arrive. They shipped already from DT, and I just ordered them last night. Since then, I have bought...drum roll..... T-sacs, a Paula Deen tea kettle and am IngenuiTEA steeper (because I could get that locally). I feel like I am "All dressed up and no where to go"...

[BaileysGirl]

The only tea besides sweet southern tea is Good Earth Sweet N Spicy Tea. I only drink this hot tea and sf capp during the winter months.

[tofucheez]

Ok, not another tea, but something to do with it....

I have a drip coffee maker. I make a pot of coffee like normal, then put a couple of chai tea bags in the pot of hot brewed coffee. I just leave them in there for hours and they flavor my coffee. I know this is making tea purists' skin crawl, but I like it!

[tofucheez]

too bad we can't have a tea exchange. i have so many boxes of different teas that I bought with high hopes but just didn't like. newest addition-->Yogi Egyptian Licorice. Bought it this weekend and can't stand it. And I can't give them to the food bank because the boxes are opened. Such a waste....they're just sitting here and I won't drink them....and none of my friends drink tea.
I think from now on I'll stick to tried and true loves....I can't afford to buy any I won't (can't!) drink.

[dawnyama]

Originally Posted by tofucheez

Ok, not another tea, but something to do with it....

I have a drip coffee maker. I make a pot of coffee like normal, then put a couple of chai tea bags in the pot of hot brewed coffee. I just leave them in there for hours and they flavor my coffee. I know this is making tea purists' skin crawl, but I like it!

Not really. I work at Starbuck's and that is what we call a dirty chai I made one just the other day. She wanted a chai with a decaf shot of espresso in it. I don't think I would like it, but she loved it.

[vanilla_latte]

Rayne -

I'll try to remember to stick a spoon in it tomorrow. Oh, I had yet another cup of tea when I got home. It was one I brought back from some hotel that was in a red package, so I remembered talk of red tea being milder. Have no idea what flavor it was - tasted kind of berry flavored. Not too bad.

Baby steps ...

[sorenkkg]

Vanilla-- don't judge a tea by it's cover! LOL

Jenn-- you're like me-- I had DT one time at a friend's house in April, and came back to my place and ordered a kettle and a $$$ worth of tea...

Speaking of-- I tweeted DT about our thread, and they replied, and I quote:

Awesome! Let us know if you ever want nutritional info for a specific tea

So for those of you with doubts, go ahead and either tweet them, or use the Contact Us on their website-- they are VERY responsive!

Oh, and they love pictures of your pets having fun with their bags and boxes... That'll get you on their FB page and twitter for sure!

related note: greyhounds don't like bags or boxes. party poopers.

Dawn and Tofu-- very interesting! I used to make coffee for my mom when I was a kid (like, she'd yell my name, and I'd bring her fresh coffee... is that considered endentured servitude? )
Anyway, sometimes, i'd put some cinnamon in it... prelude to the dirty coffee? hmmmm...

[Rayne_W]

Originally Posted by tofucheez

Rayne-

I checked out those matcha flavors.....wowza! I'd like to order some, but I wonder about the "natural flavors" in them......methinks they may be calorific, even though tea usually isn't supposed to be.

Originally Posted by Rayne_W

I just sent them a note on their contact form, asking if they know the calorie counts on the matcha blends. I'll report back if I hear from them.

Got a reply back from Red Leaf Tea:

Hi,
Each gram which is approximately 1 serving will have around 3-4 calories, depending on what strength of flavor you choose. As you can see it's very little. If you purchase Sugar Buster Matcha, it will include the herb that helps people loose even more weight if that's your plan. You can even pick 2in1 matcha and have matcha mixed with the herb and any flavor you want, we are very flexible :-). Please note that if mix it with milk or other liquid you need to add the calories that come from this source as well.
Let me know if you have any more questions.

Thank you,
Robert Rydzewski
Red Leaf Tea

So, maybe a calorie or two more than some of the teas I already use (I always assume about 2 cals/cup).

[tofucheez]

Thanks Rayne!

[LoCarbGal]

I'm going crazy waiting for me tea order to get here! I really, really could use some yummy tea for today's DD. I just checked, and it left NY sorting facility this morning, so another couple of days I guess. Maybe by Monday. At least it didn't get delayed at the border!

Two more DDs and then I'll have my tea.

Two more DDs and then I'll have my tea.

Two more DDs and.....

[Luv2Eat]

I picked up these up from my local grocery store:

The Republic of Tea Coconut Cocoa
The Republic of Tea Strawberry Chocolate

They're a little weak for my taste, so I double the strength.

Coconut Cocoa - nice flavor, double the coconut - the coconut flavoring is too strong and it gave me a headache.
Strawberry Chocolate - yum! no complaints so far, have only brewed it once. Definately will buy this one again when I run out.

I mix them both with a splash of coffee and half and half, as well as a no calorie sweetner. Very nice change of pace from straight coffee and helps me cut down on the coffee and the addition of flavoring is lovely. Next, I'm gonna try to mix the two.

[sorenkkg]

This is so much fun! I'm on an UD today, but I'm cold (might be getting another cold...shhh... don't even think it!).

I have some DT coco rooibos chai, and I think I'm going to dive into it

[vanilla_latte]

Originally Posted by sorenkkg

Vanilla-- don't judge a tea by it's cover! LOL

~~

Haven't had any tea yet - coffee is what I want today.

So, these David Teas - the flavors sound luscious. Are they a more full-bodied tea? I think I'm used to how coffee is (and I'm still relatively new to coffee drinking) and tea just seems so weak. BUT - tea is better with the great suggestions you gals pour out.

[Luv2Eat]

[sorenkkg]

The most coffee like texture that I've run into is the chicory dickory dock. I know that in Louisiana, they add chicory to coffee (or just have it on it's own too).

The rest of my teas, as much as I love them, have a tea texture. Chai with milk (or almond milk) would be a bit different, but still, basically water with flavor.

Not sure why chicory is so different (IMO) but that's what I have when I want something richer.

That's the knowledge I've been steeping in for a few months now

[Rayne_W]

Originally Posted by vanilla_latte

~~

Haven't had any tea yet - coffee is what I want today.

So, these David Teas - the flavors sound luscious. Are they a more full-bodied tea? I think I'm used to how coffee is (and I'm still relatively new to coffee drinking) and tea just seems so weak. BUT - tea is better with the great suggestions you gals pour out.

Thing is, if it's a more full-bodied tea (ie stronger), it will probably taste more like....tea.

If you mean that you want something that is strong enough to take cream (a lot of it), then it seems like Irish Breakfast and some of the bolder English Breakfasts would be suitable. They tend to be bitter/tannic and dark. With lots of sweetener and cream, they are decent equivalents to coffee. Then there's also steeping chai directly in milk/cream/half-n-half.



Anyone else have suggestions for strong/full-bodied teas?

[Flutter]

Huh. I had some sort of flavored tea the other night and thought of you girls, so I added a little sweetner & milk. Ah yea, I think I'm going back to just plain ole hot tea from now on. {sigh} I am happy to have been able to drink some again with no heartburn, though! I sure hope that wasn't a fluke b/c I got my old beloved tea kettle back out and it's back on my stove.

[tofucheez]

This one is very tasty and like tea, but NO tea!

Steep chai spices (just the spices, no tea) in milk. I use almond milk. It's creamy and spicy and oh so good.

[Rayne_W]

Originally Posted by Flutter

Huh. I had some sort of flavored tea the other night and thought of you girls, so I added a little sweetner & milk. Ah yea, I think I'm going back to just plain ole hot tea from now on. {sigh} I am happy to have been able to drink some again with no heartburn, though! I sure hope that wasn't a fluke b/c I got my old beloved tea kettle back out and it's back on my stove.

What brand/flavor of tea was it?

[Flutter]

It was peppermint from Celestial Seasonings. (they have my beloved old sleepytime tea in their sampler, so I tried the peppermint from it)

[Rayne_W]

Originally Posted by Flutter

It was peppermint from Celestial Seasonings. (they have my beloved old sleepytime tea in their sampler, so I tried the peppermint from it)

Oh no! Milk doesn't (typically) go in herbal teas.

[Flutter]

LOL! I am so not a put anything in my tea kind of girl ANYHOO, but yea, blucky bluck and BLUCK for sure! I will try getting back to my beloved English breakfast & sleepytime and then come back to see if I can brave something else then.

[svenskamae]

I have to go through this whole thread again to catch up, but I just wanted to report that I got my box of goodies from David's Tea today. I've got my new glass mug with steeper, my new tea spoon, and the winter, sweet indulgence, and chocolate samplers of tea. Now I'm all equipped with new treats to help me through DDs. Thanks for bringing David's Teas to my attention.

[tofucheez]

Flutter- FWIW I don't like mint herbal teas at all either, though I enjoy many other teas. The mints all taste weirdly grassy to me.

[Kismet311]

Has anyone had Coconut Chai black or green? I saw it at the store and might try it. I love anything with coconut!

[mamadodge]

What brand was it? I haven't seen any coconut around my area at all, and I have been looking. Me loves some coconut too!

[grammyw/kitties]

I bought a Lipton herbal tea "Blackberry Vanilla" yummy..yummy