The Tea Thread and Tea Exchange

[nubbinator]

Tea Exchange Sign Up


So we have the great coffee exchange thread, so I thought we should have a thread for all those uppity and posh tea drinkers out there.  Even if you're the kind who gets a rise from sucking on a week old bag of Celestial Seasonings that's already been used 5 times, feel free to join in.

What kinds of teas do you people drink?  What's your favorite?  And does anyone want to do a tea exchange?

I'll go ahead and start with two of my favorites:



Dong Ding Oolong (or Tung-Ting) is one of my favorite Oolongs. I discovered it at this awesome Chinese tea shop in Seattle and it has been my favorite ever since.  Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find it for a reasonable price since coming back to California.




Black Tea Pu-erh is one of those developed tastes.  It's very earthy and has a grassy, sometimes almost dried out manure smell.  Your first time you probably won't like it, but, if you're anything like me, you quickly come to love it.  There are also many different grades of it and really old Pu-erh can easily be the most expensive tea in a shop.

There are tons of other teas I love like Assam, Irish Breakfast, Darjeeling, Ceylon, and other Oolongs, but those two are two of my top teas out there.

[SpAmRaY]

Nubs are you sure that Black Tea Pu-erh isn't just tobacco?

I do think this is interesting but I've only ever tried one kind of tea and I haven't drank tea since I left the south many years ago.....we just had sweat tea.....a few cups of sugar per gallon.

But I do have my latest addition to our family....we name all our animals with food names....he will be called Earl....

[acantha]

in my college years i wrote most of my papers in a booth at a tea house in San Francisco that had a 3 foot tall silver russian samovar.



For 15 bucks or something you got bottomless access to the samovar, which was full of scalding hot pitch strong black tea. Not being a coffee drinker, and not wishing to compete for space in San Francisco's popular coffee houses, this was an ideal setup for me. to this day drinking strong black tea makes me anxious about deadlines, in a sorta good nostalgic way.

[thegunner100]

I really like Stash's Earl Grey and Fusion green and white tea. The earl grey has just the right amount of tangyness and tastes great sweetened or unsweetened. It can also be used to make some really good iced tea. The fusion green and white tea is amazing for relaxing to music or reading with its light taste.

Then there's Celestial Sleepytime Extra; It works! Whenever I have trouble sleeping, I just drink a cup of sleepytime extra and get drowsy within minutes of drinking.

[nubbinator]

Nubs are you sure that Black Tea Pu-erh isn't just tobacco?

I do think this is interesting but I've only ever tried one kind of tea and I haven't drank tea since I left the south many years ago.....we just had sweat tea.....a few cups of sugar per gallon.

But I do have my latest addition to our family....we name all our animals with food names....he will be called Earl....

(Attachment Link)

Absolutely positively sure...I think.  I didn't vomit after drinking it, so I believe so.

I do remember sweet tea from my 4 years in Texas.  Some was moderately sweet, some was so sweet it felt like your teeth were going to fall when you took a sip.   If you only had a few cups of sugar per gallon, you were doing it wrong, at least wrong for the south.

in my college years i wrote most of my papers in a booth at a tea house in San Francisco that had a 3 foot tall silver russian samovar.

Show Image

For 15 bucks or something you got bottomless access to the samovar, which was full of scalding hot pitch strong black tea. Not being a coffee drinker, and not wishing to compete for space in San Francisco's popular coffee houses, this was an ideal setup for me. to this day drinking strong black tea makes me anxious about deadlines, in a sorta good nostalgic way.

I can't drink that kind of tea.  So many places over steep black tea and it gets this horrible mineral-y and bitter taste.  Of course, if it was steeped properly, that sounds like it could actually be an awesome deal.

[Tarzan]

Pu-erh is great, I used to buy the little thimbles of it, pressed tea cakes just the right size to make a pot.  Accidentally bought a half-kilo pressed cake once, thinking it was the smaller version.  Took a long time to work my way through that brick...

Another tea I haven't seen recently is Lapsang Souchong.  Used to get it at Teaism, but they stopped carrying it.  Great for a strong coffee alternative, had a kind of pipe tobacco aroma. 

I've really got to stock up, most of the tea canisters in the cupboard are empty...   

[quickcrx702]

Here are some of my favorites:
Rooibos
http://www.amazon.com/Davidsons-Tea-Organic-African-16-Ounce/dp/B000SATIE6/
Hibiscus AKA Jamaica
http://www.amazon.com/Davidsons-Tea-Hibiscus-Flowers-16-Ounce/dp/B000SATIZA/

I provided the Amazon link, but I pick this up locally for $5 at a Latino market.
http://www.amazon.com/Cruz-Malta-Kilo-Yerba-Mate/dp/B001UO90BA

These are also really tasty mate teas, but are super expensive, and I get tired of the flavor after a day or two:
http://www.teavana.com/the-teas/mate-teas/p/javavana-mate-tea
http://www.teavana.com/the-teas/mate-teas/p/my-morning-mate-tea
I just go to teavana at the mall, I don't order online.

Sometimes I drink jasmine or thai tea, but I get tired of those pretty quickly.

[Jack Karneval]

I have a tea place near where I work that has all types of exotic teas, and also sells really good bubble tea, anyone every try that?

I need to start trying some more exotic black teas because I love my black teas, and the blacker the better man!

[Tarzan]

I have a tea place near where I work that has all types of exotic teas, and also sells really good bubble tea, anyone every try that?

I need to start trying some more exotic black teas because I love my black teas, and the blacker the better man!

Then Lapsang Souchong should be on your shopping list!  $40/pound from Ten Ren, I'd go halfsies on this one if you're interested.   

http://www.tenren.com/orlaso.html

Review of the tea:
http://drinks.seriouseats.com/2011/09/lapsang-souchong-tea-history-how-to-brew.html

Hey, I found the mini cakes of Pu-erh I used to get!  Gonna have to get me some...


http://www.tenren.com/mintuopuerte.html

[CPTBadAss]

I'm a fan of Oolongs and Green Tea.

Matcha green tea from various Japanese restaurants I've been to in Seattle and NYC were amazing. I also love gunpowder green tea. For Christmas one year, I bought my mom Kusmi Gunpowder Green Tea from their storefront in Montreal. My mom still has it and refuses to drink any unless its a special occasion. She says its that good and loves it.

I usually drink an Oolong tea that I pickup at the Asian supermarkets I go to. Don't really know the name or anything, I just know it's what we drank growing up and it's good. I'll take a picture of the tin sometime.

I've also had this green tea and roasted brown rice tea? I think it was in Toronto when I went to this hibachi place. Man...I drank so much of that. SO MUCH.

Oh and I like Pu-erh tea....but typically I only drink it while I go to yum cha.

And in the summer when it's damn hot, my mom used to make chrysanthemum tea and sweeten it slightly with rock sugar. You guys can take your sweet tea. Most of the sweet tea I've tried is watery syrup that is slightly tea flavored.

Edit: Forgot to say I'd be more than happy to send you some tea nubbinator.

[Jack Karneval]

I have a tea place near where I work that has all types of exotic teas, and also sells really good bubble tea, anyone every try that?

I need to start trying some more exotic black teas because I love my black teas, and the blacker the better man!

Then Lapsang Souchong should be on your shopping list!  $40/pound from Ten Ren, I'd go halfsies on this one if you're interested.   

http://www.tenren.com/orlaso.html

Review of the tea:
http://drinks.seriouseats.com/2011/09/lapsang-souchong-tea-history-how-to-brew.html

Hey, I found the mini cakes of Pu-erh I used to get!  Gonna have to get me some...
(Attachment Link)

http://www.tenren.com/mintuopuerte.html

Hm interesting, I'll have to see if I can find it somewhere so I can try it. Would rather do that then buy a whole bunch of it not knowing whether I liked it. Thanks for the offer through Greystroke!

Turns out the place with all the exotic teas near my job has Pu-Er tea, so I'll pick up some of that when I get the chance. Also, there's a exotic tea place in the mall near me as well, so I'll have to stop in there and see if I can find this Lapsang Souchong tea.

[Photekq]

The only tea I'll drink.. About 12 cups a day.

[BunnyLake]

sir, i am all over a tea exchange, i live on tea, and get a few real nice blends

[Jack Karneval]

The only tea I'll drink.. About 12 cups a day.

Show Image

Photekq that's hilarious! That's the only tea my Dad drinks! He's literally been drinking Tetley tea since I've been alive LOL!

[Sifo]

I love tea. Let's do it.

I mostly drink oolongs... I enjoy green and white time to time.

I like exotic Asian **** too.

[Tarzan]

The only tea I'll drink.. About 12 cups a day.

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I've been drinking a lot of UK tea brands lately, most recent is some I picked up at World Market:



Just the thing for a cup or two in the morning.  Afternoons I usually switch to green tea, or white tea blends.

[iri]

samovar, which was full of scalding hot pitch strong black tea

right how it should be <3

[Photekq]

The only tea I'll drink.. About 12 cups a day.

Show Image

Photekq that's hilarious! That's the only tea my Dad drinks! He's literally been drinking Tetley tea since I've been alive LOL!

I can't blame him! Tetley is brilliant.

I've been drinking a lot of UK tea brands lately, most recent is some I picked up at World Market:

(Attachment Link)

Just the thing for a cup or two in the morning.  Afternoons I usually switch to green tea, or white tea blends.

I've never seen Barry tea before. If you haven't tried Tetley yet I'd recommend it. I think it tastes nicer than any other UK tea.

[nubbinator]

Here are some of my favorites:
Rooibos
http://www.amazon.com/Davidsons-Tea-Organic-African-16-Ounce/dp/B000SATIE6/
Hibiscus AKA Jamaica
http://www.amazon.com/Davidsons-Tea-Hibiscus-Flowers-16-Ounce/dp/B000SATIZA/

I provided the Amazon link, but I pick this up locally for $5 at a Latino market.
http://www.amazon.com/Cruz-Malta-Kilo-Yerba-Mate/dp/B001UO90BA

These are also really tasty mate teas, but are super expensive, and I get tired of the flavor after a day or two:
http://www.teavana.com/the-teas/mate-teas/p/javavana-mate-tea
http://www.teavana.com/the-teas/mate-teas/p/my-morning-mate-tea
I just go to teavana at the mall, I don't order online.

Sometimes I drink jasmine or thai tea, but I get tired of those pretty quickly.

Ironically, none of those teas you listed are a tea in the true sense of the word.  Hibiscus tea is really good though.  I actually made a hibiscus simple syrup that was delicious for part of a recipe for a dinner I made for friends.

I have a tea place near where I work that has all types of exotic teas, and also sells really good bubble tea, anyone every try that?

I need to start trying some more exotic black teas because I love my black teas, and the blacker the better man!

I love bubble tea.  Taro root is by far my favorite, but it also seems to be the least common.

And what do you mean by the blacker the better?  More like a Darjeeling, English Breakfast, Assam, or other tea that gets stronger and darker the longer you steep?

sir, i am all over a tea exchange, i live on tea, and get a few real nice blends

Since several people have said they'd be up for it, I think it may be time to get something going in the OP.  I'll try and have a sign up later on today.

[Jack Karneval]

And what do you mean by the blacker the better?  More like a Darjeeling, English Breakfast, Assam, or other tea that gets stronger and darker the longer you steep?

I'm actually not much of a tea drinker, although given time and money to spend on it, I'd like it to become a hobby! To answer your question though for me it'd be stronger & darker the longer you steep. There's something about the taste of black tea that I love, and I like as much black'ness as possible lol.

[nubbinator]

Added a tea exchange sign up in the OP.

[iri]

i drink almost solely oolongs. my favourite one is guy hua. is a macro photo really necessary?

[AKIMbO]

I've got a cupboard full of loose leaf teas. My favorites are gunpowder green tea and black dragon pearls.

[Shadovved]

Yay! Finally tea as well!

Earl Grey! English Breakfast! Sencha!

Though my parents love chinese green teas though, dunno what they drink......always getting paper packets of chinese tea from those china friends and relatives who happen to come to SG.....

I'll need to get some UK teas, harrods and TWG aint cutting it )

[JaccoW]

[...]to this day drinking strong black tea makes me anxious about deadlines, in a sorta good nostalgic way.

LOL!

Good to see many people drink Oolong around here. It's one of my favourites too. I have a giant box filled with all kinds of loose leaf and some more packed teas. I'll put up a picture of those later.
I am actually going to Taiwan this year so I am going to get some sweet oolongs and other exotic asian teas straight from the hills.

[nubbinator]

Only one person has signed up for the tea exchange so far.  I had several people say they were interested, but only one sign up.

Good to see many people drink Oolong around here. It's one of my favourites too. I have a giant box filled with all kinds of loose leaf and some more packed teas. I'll put up a picture of those later.
I am actually going to Taiwan this year so I am going to get some sweet oolongs and other exotic asian teas straight from the hills.

You lucky bugger.  Dong Ding is my favorite and is a great Taiwanese Oolong.

[baldgye]

The only tea I'll drink.. About 12 cups a day.

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ugh, this is where it's at for REAL tea;

[Photekq]

I like twinings and I'll drink it.. but.. honestly I prefer the taste of Tetley.

There is only one tea I've tasted that I prefer. Some Earl Grey from some family owned business in London. I can't even remember the name of it.. that tea was sublime.

[Jack Karneval]

Nubbinator, I would sign up for the tea exchange, but I have nothing to send 

Although I suppose I could send some Tetley to people, we always have that on hand in my house 

Or I could stop in at that exotic tea place and buy some random tea and send it to someone...?

[JaccoW]

Ask for some local specialties. Then you have something nice to show off.
Then there is also Steepster.com to really show off those fancy falvours.

[nubbinator]

Or I could stop in at that exotic tea place and buy some random tea and send it to someone...?

That sounds like a good idea.  It doesn't have to be anything expensive, just something you like.  I'll be trying to find some of the teas I like locally, but Orange County is not a good place for tea.  I may have to resort to sending some Republic of Tea stuff instead of the awesome stuff I could get in Seattle.  Or maybe you'll get paired up with someone who loves some of those bagged teas. 

[Jack Karneval]

Or I could stop in at that exotic tea place and buy some random tea and send it to someone...?

That sounds like a good idea.  It doesn't have to be anything expensive, just something you like.  I'll be trying to find some of the teas I like locally, but Orange County is not a good place for tea.  I may have to resort to sending some Republic of Tea stuff instead of the awesome stuff I could get in Seattle.  Or maybe you'll get paired up with someone who loves some of those bagged teas.

Nice, I think I'll do that then!

Edit: I signed up!

[Shadovved]

Nobody likes Fortnum & Mason's?

[CPTBadAss]

Didn't see the signup til now. I've fixed that, I think you'll like my comment this time nub

[nubbinator]

Only have 4 people signed up (5 including me).  I'd like to hit 10 before I make this a thing, but if it doesn't, well, I'll get it going soon anyways.

[meiosis]

Am I the only one who likes other asian tea?

Barley Tea (Korean herbal)
Green Tea (The one with that naked chick on there (jk shes dark green and green box))
Most Jasmine Teas

And Black Bubble Tea

MILK TEA IS STILL TEA ^^.

[Jack Karneval]

Am I the only one who likes other asian tea?

Barley Tea (Korean herbal)
Green Tea (The one with that naked chick on there (jk shes dark green and green box))
Most Jasmine Teas

And Black Bubble Tea

MILK TEA IS STILL TEA ^^.

MMMM Black Bubble Tea

[nubbinator]

Am I the only one who likes other asian tea?

Barley Tea (Korean herbal)
Green Tea (The one with that naked chick on there (jk shes dark green and green box))
Most Jasmine Teas

And Black Bubble Tea

MILK TEA IS STILL TEA ^^.

The only worthy Asian teas are Pu-erh and Oolong. 

I can't do Jasmine tea.  It makes my mouth go all tingly and numb as I'm allergic to Jasmine and many other floral scents/flavors.  I do like to try new things, just most the green teas I have are so mellow that I don't enjoy them.  They are good with certain meals though.

And give me Taro flavored boba please.  I love that stuff.

[Jack Karneval]

Am I the only one who likes other asian tea?

Barley Tea (Korean herbal)
Green Tea (The one with that naked chick on there (jk shes dark green and green box))
Most Jasmine Teas

And Black Bubble Tea

MILK TEA IS STILL TEA ^^.

The only worthy Asian teas are Pu-erh and Oolong. 

I can't do Jasmine tea.  It makes my mouth go all tingly and numb as I'm allergic to Jasmine and many other floral scents/flavors.  I do like to try new things, just most the green teas I have are so mellow that I don't enjoy them.  They are good with certain meals though.

And give me Taro flavored boba please.  I love that stuff.

Interesting point Nub because I'm the same way with how I approach tea. Some teas are just way too mellow to where it just tastes like vaguely flavored water and you're absolutely right by bringing up green tea specifically because it happens a lot with that. That's why I say when I like black tea as black as possible, I mean as BLACK AS POSSIBLE lol.

On a side note, Celestial Seasons makes a Peach tea which has so much flavor you could literally use it as a odor spray for a room lol.

[meiosis]

Am I the only one who likes other asian tea?

Barley Tea (Korean herbal)
Green Tea (The one with that naked chick on there (jk shes dark green and green box))
Most Jasmine Teas

And Black Bubble Tea

MILK TEA IS STILL TEA ^^.

The only worthy Asian teas are Pu-erh and Oolong. 

I can't do Jasmine tea.  It makes my mouth go all tingly and numb as I'm allergic to Jasmine and many other floral scents/flavors.  I do like to try new things, just most the green teas I have are so mellow that I don't enjoy them.  They are good with certain meals though.

And give me Taro flavored boba please.  I love that stuff.

Interesting point Nub because I'm the same way with how I approach tea. Some teas are just way too mellow to where it just tastes like vaguely flavored water and you're absolutely right by bringing up green tea specifically because it happens a lot with that. That's why I say when I like black tea as black as possible, I mean as BLACK AS POSSIBLE lol.

On a side note, Celestial Seasons makes a Peach tea which has so much flavor you could literally use it as a odor spray for a room lol.

Understandable if you feel qwerky after drinking Jasmine, I feel the same eating really fresh fruit especially melon, and I feel my tongue itchy standing next to next to a freshly cut duran. Gotta take my fruit processed or left out for a while

Oolong and Jasmine tea are very interchangeable, while oolong is often served the most in Chinese rest. I believe.
I mean who can hate Oolong Tea :3
Pu-erh usually appeals to my elders, rarely see the younger generation giving it the respect it deserves.
Taro milk tea is amazing , apparently everyone gets taro when stoned.

[pandather]

I'm in... got into the tea kick myself pretty recently...

[pandather]

Also, I don't have any nicer tea as I'm just about to get an infuser.

[JaccoW]

Some of the teas I have are:
Le Palais de thés
- Fleur de Geisha
- The du Hamman
- The des Moines
and a pu-er with cinnamon

Kusmi Tea
- Prince Vladimir
- Kashmir Tchai
- Detox
- Euphoria
- Be Cool

And I should have some awesome pearl jasmine tea somewhere.

I broke my teapot with infuser last week but I want to spend my money on my little vacation. So a replacement will have to wait.

[pandather]

Actually just got s steal mesh ball infuser thingy... Now to buy tea for myself and to send to you guys!

[Poom]

oh cool, I just found out about this thread, its so hard to start, i love tea and used to teach people about tea when I was living in Germany.

So my favourite has to be in the oolong family, especially Taiwanese high land (gao shan) (1200+ meter above sea level, harvested in Spring, about 15-20% fermented, 2nd-4th tips (grand cry in wine term) the 3rd-4th water would be optimum for me, and infused in my trusty Yixing clay pot.

another spring oolong tea would be Fujian Ti Guan Yin (800+ meters above sea level), 55-65% fermentation, big leaves (3rd - 6th tips), 2nd - 4th water and infuse in the same Yixing clay pot.

Green tea... my mom knows more about green tea than me, but since I used to lived in hangzhou (the place of the best green tea, Longjing) I had my fair share of green tea to drink, but my favourite would be summer harvest of Korean Je-ju island green tea, I dont recall the name, but i get it from this place all the time and they know what I buy, its not like normal green tea because in Jeju Island it gets more sun, so it has full-flavour, can even called "creamy". Infused at no more than 80 degree celcius water, otherwise the tannin would come out and taste bitter.

other notables that i drink on a regular basis... Huangshan mao feng, big leaf (minimum 30cm in diameter) Pu-er, lose or pressed doesnt matter, 8 years old minimum of post-fermentation. but puer is a totally different art of tea which again im not an expert on, but it's good after meal helps dissolves fat, thats why its the main ingredient on diet tea.

Oh I should stop now, can talk about tea all day and all night!

[Sifo]

ti guan yin is THE ****ING **** my #1 favourite all time.

<3 oolongs

[eth0s]

Chamomile.

[Sifo]

Just made me some of this...

blended with peppermint, white tea, green tea, natural cucumber flavor, orange peels, marigold flowers, natural orange flavor, natural lemon flavor

It's good ****.

[Poom]

Just made me some of this...

Show Image

blended with peppermint, white tea, green tea, natural cucumber flavor, orange peels, marigold flowers, natural orange flavor, natural lemon flavor

It's good ****.

how come you have a poster of girl's day in the background??? :eek:

[Sifo]

Just made me some of this...

Show Image

blended with peppermint, white tea, green tea, natural cucumber flavor, orange peels, marigold flowers, natural orange flavor, natural lemon flavor

It's good ****.

how come you have a poster of girl's day in the background??? :eek:

I have a Sistar poster too