Tea Appreciation Thread

[clacktalk]

Post all your tea related things here! It can be anything, from drinks, brew methods, leaves, kettles, et cetera.

Just brewed myself some Irish Breakfast from Blackflower and Company. I brew my black teas at 205ish for 3 minutes, and it usually comes out great. Full of flavor and malty(?). It's time I train my palate haha


Thread was originally made for both coffee and tea, but rowdy showed me a way cooler thread. I hope it can be revived!
Coffee link here: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=40285.0

[rowdy]

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=40285.0

[blackbox]

Chai is one of my favourite drinks. Usually with a  little dash of sugar.

[clacktalk]

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=40285.0

oof I searched "coffee" and didn't find anything. Should I lock this down?

[blackbox]

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=40285.0

Yup, but the thread you linkd to does not contain tea. 

[clacktalk]

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=40285.0

Yup, but the thread you linkd to does not contain tea. 

Edited the thread to only have to do with tea. Time to brew some nice black tea!

[blackbox]

Wished I had some chai in front of me now.

[osi]

Mmm. Ice cold sweet tea on a hot day. Can't beat it

[Lanx]

ugh tea, i hate brewing it for my wife, so much that i got this
breville tea brewer

i have a pantry full of oolongs/jasmine/chais/greens blah blah and a printed out chart of time and temp needed for each. the breville takes care of all that, just input the numbers.

now she really likes barley tea and it just makes life easier.

heck i brew it in a french press

[tp4tissue]

or you know.. just pop some caffeine pills and a multivitamin..kehkehkehkeh

[Zeal]

Here's just one variant of tea that's sitting around our house...

"Old Pu-erh Tea" Aged for 20+ Years. Very expensive tea in the Chinese market, and is usually only serve to close friends / business partners. Requires 2 to 3 rinse cycles before serving, compared to 1 rinse with boiling water for other teas. Very smooth (sweet) aftertaste and no sense of bitterness at all when brewed. First brew is almost identical in colour to Americano coffee. It's such a dark brown that you can't even see the bottom of the cup.

Pu-erh is the only tea that has to left in the open air, not vacuum sealed. That's why it's sitting in this gigantic clay teapot. Phone on the left for reference of size.

[nubbinator]

Mmm, I love Pu-erh. 

[nameistaken1]

I more of a coffee drinker, but my co-worker loves Tea.

The other day he gave me Pu-erh tea with coffee beans, almonds, and chocolate in it. It was amazing.

[nubbinator]

I more of a coffee drinker, but my co-worker loves Tea.

The other day he gave me Pu-erh tea with coffee beans, almonds, and chocolate in it. It was amazing.

Why would he adulterate something as amazing as Pu-erh?

[noisyturtle]

I more of a coffee drinker, but my co-worker loves Tea.

The other day he gave me Pu-erh tea with coffee beans, almonds, and chocolate in it. It was amazing.

Why would he adulterate something as amazing as Pu-erh?

You mean the flavor of dirt?

[tp4tissue]

I more of a coffee drinker, but my co-worker loves Tea.

The other day he gave me Pu-erh tea with coffee beans, almonds, and chocolate in it. It was amazing.

Why would he adulterate something as amazing as Pu-erh?

Tea culture is just like coffee culture..  people love "elite tea"...

In the end.. It's just leaves, that someone dried or baked, and you throw some hot water in it.

[nubbinator]

I more of a coffee drinker, but my co-worker loves Tea.

The other day he gave me Pu-erh tea with coffee beans, almonds, and chocolate in it. It was amazing.

Why would he adulterate something as amazing as Pu-erh?

You mean the flavor of dirt?

Nope.  Young pu-erh can taste that way, but well aged pu-erh has a nice earthiness to it.  It is an acquired taste I'll admit.

[clacktalk]

I more of a coffee drinker, but my co-worker loves Tea.

The other day he gave me Pu-erh tea with coffee beans, almonds, and chocolate in it. It was amazing.

Why would he adulterate something as amazing as Pu-erh?

Tea culture is just like coffee culture..  people love "elite tea"...

In the end.. It's just leaves, that someone dried or baked, and you throw some hot water in it.

That's an oversimplification. In the end, anything is a lazy description of what it is or how it's done. I'm not offended, but that description comes off very patronizing

[tp4tissue]

I more of a coffee drinker, but my co-worker loves Tea.

The other day he gave me Pu-erh tea with coffee beans, almonds, and chocolate in it. It was amazing.

Why would he adulterate something as amazing as Pu-erh?

You mean the flavor of dirt?

Nope.  Young pu-erh can taste that way, but well aged pu-erh has a nice earthiness to it.  It is an acquired taste I'll admit.

nubbinator, are you asian...   if so how do you not know that tea is bull****.. 

[noisyturtle]

I more of a coffee drinker, but my co-worker loves Tea.

The other day he gave me Pu-erh tea with coffee beans, almonds, and chocolate in it. It was amazing.

Why would he adulterate something as amazing as Pu-erh?

You mean the flavor of dirt?

Nope.  Young pu-erh can taste that way, but well aged pu-erh has a nice earthiness to it.  It is an acquired taste I'll admit.

It's not that bad, just giving you ****. I have had some good pu-erh before, but it's become more popular recently that I keep seeing these crappy versions of it that taste like mulch

I am enjoying a great cup of Si JI Chun province oolong that is quite unique. A light flavor, almost has a hint of a mint, balanced with the taste of jasmine blossoms. Very good

[clacktalk]

Do you all have any suggestions as to how I can step up my tea game? I want to sample a bunch of teas without hurting my wallet too much.

[nubbinator]

Tea culture is just like coffee culture..  people love "elite tea"...

In the end.. It's just leaves, that someone dried or baked, and you throw some hot water in it.

I like good tea, it has nothing to do with elite.  It's just like anything else where there are preferences.  I just find it ironic that you're ripping on the distinction between good tea and bad tea on a forum that's dedicated to mechanical keyboards with a frequent emphasis on how they're better than the plebeian membrane and rubber dome keyboards.

I treat tea the same way I treat beer, wine, and any other food.  I go with the best quality I can afford that I can notice a difference in. 

nubbinator, are you asian...   if so how do you not know that tea is bull****..

I'm dayglow white.  And I know tea isn't bull**** because I've had good tea and I've had bad tea. 

I suppose tea to me is like Topre and rubber domes in here.  Some think it's all the same, some notice a huge difference.  At least with tea I know that there's a difference between good Chinese, Japanese, or Indian tea and the Celestial Seasonings **** you find on a shelf at the store.

It's not that bad, just giving you ****. I have had some good pu-erh before, but it's become more popular recently that I keep seeing these crappy versions of it that taste like mulch

I am enjoying a great cup of Si JI Chun province oolong that is quite unique. A light flavor, almost has a hint of a mint, balanced with the taste of jasmine blossoms. Very good

I figured as much.  Pu-erh reminded me of manure at first, at least in smell, then it grew on me and I noticed more nuances to it.  Now I love it.

My favorite Oolong so far is Dong Ding Oolong, a nice Taiwanese Oolong. 

Do you all have any suggestions as to how I can step up my tea game? I want to sample a bunch of teas without hurting my wallet too much.

Do you have a China Town nearby?  When I was in Seattle, there was a tea shop in China Town that you could try a bunch of the teas at.  I know a lot of them will do that with you.  You can also buy a bunch in super small quantities from them and walk out without hurting your wallet too much, but be prepared to spend at least $50.

[nameistaken1]

I more of a coffee drinker, but my co-worker loves Tea.

The other day he gave me Pu-erh tea with coffee beans, almonds, and chocolate in it. It was amazing.

Why would he adulterate something as amazing as Pu-erh?

I thought it was pretty good. To each his own, I suppose.

Although, to be fair, I've never tried plain Pu-erh. Maybe I'll get him to make me a cup without the additives on Monday.

[Zeal]

I more of a coffee drinker, but my co-worker loves Tea.

The other day he gave me Pu-erh tea with coffee beans, almonds, and chocolate in it. It was amazing.

Why would he adulterate something as amazing as Pu-erh?

I thought it was pretty good. To each his own, I suppose.

Although, to be fair, I've never tried plain Pu-erh. Maybe I'll get him to make me a cup without the additives on Monday.

Good quality Pu-erh tea will have an earthy, almost cedar smell to it. It should go down really smooth. Take a sip and enjoy the aftertaste!

[Malphas]

I more of a coffee drinker, but my co-worker loves Tea.

The other day he gave me Pu-erh tea with coffee beans, almonds, and chocolate in it. It was amazing.

Why would he adulterate something as amazing as Pu-erh?

Tea culture is just like coffee culture..  people love "elite tea"...

In the end.. It's just leaves, that someone dried or baked, and you throw some hot water in it.

Pretty much.

[Lastpilot]

Call me southern, but I like sweet iced tea. I also had a long island iced tea yesterday. It was good.

Note: I am a sugarholic.

[noisyturtle]

I don't think tea is like coffee at all. With tea there is so much variance in flavor profile that a person can choose a tea based on personal preference.
With coffee there are only two types: Good coffee, and bad cofee. And most sane human beings can tell after the first sip whether the coffee is pre-ground and processed freeze-dried crapola, or a real-deal cup of coffee.

[tp4tissue]

Call me southern, but I like sweet iced tea. I also had a long island iced tea yesterday. It was good.

Note: I am a sugarholic.

Diabetus..

[osi]

Call me southern, but I like sweet iced tea. I also had a long island iced tea yesterday. It was good.

Note: I am a sugarholic.

Diabetus..

Show Image

The ice will melt down and cut the sugar to balance it out. Add the Styrofoam cup and you're in heaven.

Best ice is crushed small cube style like sonic has. Bliss

[tp4tissue]

The tea I dread most is tieguanying..   seriously... i've put down hundreds of gallons of this stuff out of politeness.. because it's so damn ubiquitous

[noisyturtle]

The tea I dread most is tieguanying..   seriously... i've put down hundreds of gallons of this stuff out of politeness.. because it's so damn ubiquitous

For me it's anything with bergamot in it. **** tastes like medicine 

[nubbinator]

The tea I dread most is tieguanying..   seriously... i've put down hundreds of gallons of this stuff out of politeness.. because it's so damn ubiquitous

For me it's anything with bergamot in it. **** tastes like medicine 

Bergamot is bad, but for me it's anything with Jasmine...which sometimes includes English breakfast.  It makes my mouth go numb and swell.

[tp4tissue]

The tea I dread most is tieguanying..   seriously... i've put down hundreds of gallons of this stuff out of politeness.. because it's so damn ubiquitous

For me it's anything with bergamot in it. **** tastes like medicine 

Bergamot is bad, but for me it's anything with Jasmine...which sometimes includes English breakfast.  It makes my mouth go numb and swell.

I also  h8 barley tea...   This is why I try not to visit koreans in their homes.. because there's like a 78% chance, the barley tea will come out... and you gotta put it down to be polite...




I put up with bergamot   if I hum the startrek tune in my head... and pretend it came out of an enterprise replicator..   

[Sniping]

I drink a lot of tie guan yin.

[Lanx]

damn, just say you don't want tea? or ask for water? i follow traditional chinese as well, but i eschew all that politeness with a modern outlook, heck every 50+ mom/dad understands too by now, if not, they're too much in the stone age.

i mean sure if i'm visiting someones grandma, sure i'll buy a bussell of fruit and drink whatever they serve me, cuz they be grannies, but moms and dads? nope that generation should realize that we're all modern and **** by now.

[tp4tissue]

damn, just say you don't want tea? or ask for water? i follow traditional chinese as well, but i eschew all that politeness with a modern outlook, heck every 50+ mom/dad understands too by now, if not, they're too much in the stone age.

i mean sure if i'm visiting someones grandma, sure i'll buy a bussell of fruit and drink whatever they serve me, cuz they be grannies, but moms and dads? nope that generation should realize that we're all modern and **** by now.

I drink a lot of tie guan yin.

(Attachment Link)

I drink a lot of tie guan yin.

(Attachment Link)

You are now on my Enemies list... /scribble

[tp4tissue]

damn, just say you don't want tea? or ask for water? i follow traditional chinese as well, but i eschew all that politeness with a modern outlook, heck every 50+ mom/dad understands too by now, if not, they're too much in the stone age.

i mean sure if i'm visiting someones grandma, sure i'll buy a bussell of fruit and drink whatever they serve me, cuz they be grannies, but moms and dads? nope that generation should realize that we're all modern and **** by now.

you can't do that...  you're probably not old enough to understand.. but you can't do that..

[Sniping]

damn, just say you don't want tea? or ask for water? i follow traditional chinese as well, but i eschew all that politeness with a modern outlook, heck every 50+ mom/dad understands too by now, if not, they're too much in the stone age.

i mean sure if i'm visiting someones grandma, sure i'll buy a bussell of fruit and drink whatever they serve me, cuz they be grannies, but moms and dads? nope that generation should realize that we're all modern and **** by now.

I drink a lot of tie guan yin.

(Attachment Link)

I drink a lot of tie guan yin.

(Attachment Link)

You are now on my Enemies list... /scribble

hue

[Lanx]

i'm 35, i'm plenty old, i'm just modern, and i look at it this way, if my mom and dad and in laws accepts all these modern views, which they do, then fck others who don't.

[SSIPAK]

drinking boba count as drink tea right?

[Zeal]

drinking boba count as drink tea right?

...

Sure, let's just pour 2 cups of sugared water & milk, along with whatever other flavourings. 

[tp4tissue]

drinking boba count as drink tea right?

...

Sure, let's just pour 2 cups of sugared water & milk, along with whatever other flavourings. 

Tea,, is essentially flavored water,  the flavor being the (tea leaves)..


Suddenly..  Sugar and raspberry flavoring  somehow is considered a corruption of a corruption..


Hypocritical?


anything that goes into a water and flavors it is tea...  Yes that includes poo...  oh remember cat poo coffee and bug poo tea?   yea they're real..

[nubbinator]

Tea,, is essentially flavored water,  the flavor being the (tea leaves)..


Suddenly..  Sugar and raspberry flavoring  somehow is considered a corruption of a corruption..


Hypocritical?

Show Image

Ah yes, tp4tissue, the great philosophunculist.

Let me ask you this.  You wouldn't brew coffee with urine would you?  Urine is just water with urea and other  trace things, so suddenly brewing coffee with urine is a corruption?

Hypocritical?

Seriously dude, stop trolling with your asinine arguments and let people enjoy their tea.

[tp4tissue]

Tea,, is essentially flavored water,  the flavor being the (tea leaves)..


Suddenly..  Sugar and raspberry flavoring  somehow is considered a corruption of a corruption..


Hypocritical?

Show Image

Ah yes, tp4tissue, the great philosophunculist.

Let me ask you this.  You wouldn't brew coffee with urine would you?  Urine is just water with urea and other  trace things, so suddenly brewing coffee with urine is a corruption?

Hypocritical?

Seriously dude, stop trolling with your asinine arguments and let people enjoy their tea.

read my post again..

they make tea with  "****"


Kopi Luwak.. cat poo coffee  Bug **** tea.. ChongShiCha,    BOth of which are among the most expensive variants of flavored waters..



get over yourself..

Your idea of what is, and what is not,  is horribly outdated.

[noisyturtle]

three penis wine?

[tp4tissue]

asdf

[jacobolus]

The tea I dread most is tieguanying..   seriously... i've put down hundreds of gallons of this stuff out of politeness.. because it's so damn ubiquitous

Tieguanyin is delicious. We drink lots of it here. Can usually get 5–7 steeps out of it too.

For me it's anything with bergamot in it. **** tastes like medicine 

Earl Grey tastes like medicine? What kind of medicine is that?

(After trying some good black tea and some ****ty black tea, I can definitely now understand why the British wanted to add extra flavorings and lots of milk and sugar to the crappy stuff. But with that said, I also quite like a good Earl Gray, with or without some added milk.)

[tp4tissue]

The tea I dread most is tieguanying..   seriously... i've put down hundreds of gallons of this stuff out of politeness.. because it's so damn ubiquitous

Tieguanyin is delicious. We drink lots of it here. Can usually get 5–7 steeps out of it too.

For me it's anything with bergamot in it. **** tastes like medicine 

Earl Grey tastes like medicine? What kind of medicine is that?

(After trying some good black tea and some ****ty black tea, I can definitely now understand why the British wanted to add extra flavorings and lots of milk and sugar to the crappy stuff. But with that said, I also quite like Earl Gray along some milk.)

[davkol]

I drink this...

Like two liters a day. It's rough. That's the way I like it.

[tp4tissue]

I drink this...

Show Image

Like two liters a day. It's rough. That's the way I like it.

Tea addiction is almost exactly like coffee addiction.. 


depending on the teas,  coffee is usually more carcinogenic due to the roasting process..