topic Re: Question for tea drinkers in Kitchen

Question for tea drinkers

JustJules — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 14:19:43 GMT

For those of you that drink tea over coffee, I was curious what is your tea of choice. I like a good cup of coffee, but I've found that I am primarily a tea drinker, both hot and cold. For iced tea I like an herbal tea, preferably with berry flavors. At bedtime I enjoy a green tea to relax, usually something with chamomile. My current favorite is the Sleepytime blend made by Celestial Seasonings. In the morning I like a black tea, Earl Grey is usually what I drink but I have tried the Lady Grey and really like that. It is Earl Grey but with more citrus flavors. My new obsession though is vanilla Chai black tea, it's like a cozy blanket in a mug. I've really been enjoying it on these bitter cold days, the aroma and spices are comforting. So, for you tea drinkers, what is your preference. Do you have a favorite brand? If any of you have recommendations for new teas to try, like holiday blends, I would love to hear about it.

Re: Question for tea drinkers

CinNC — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 14:24:35 GMT

For some reason, I have never been able to get into the berry flavored teas. The tea flavor I love the most is peppermint. I have both caffeine free and regular, Twinnings Plantation Mint

Usually I drink coffee in the morning and tea is later. The vanilla chai sounds wonderful. What brand is it?

Re: Question for tea drinkers

brii — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 14:29:58 GMT

I drink coffee in the morning and I like to have some tea at night.

My favorite is chamomile from Celestial Seasonings. I do like Calm tea by Tazo. It's chamomile with some mint. I buy Tazo teas from Starbucks.

Re: Question for tea drinkers

fancy pantsy — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 14:39:13 GMT

interesting thread, and very timely for me!

i was sick a couple of months ago and had a terrible sore throat. i felt like maybe if i had some tea with honey that it would help my throat. what a surprise! i didn't have any honey so i had to use agave (which was quite delish) and the only tea i had was a black tea with berries. i bet it had been ten years since i had enjoyed a cup of tea. .... i was hooked.

i am a confirmed coffee snob, btw ... and it truly surprised me how much i enjoyed that tea.

so far, i have been experimenting with different teas (mostly loose because i can't find black tea with berries at the supermarket) and i would love some ideas. i love a hearty, strong tea with body and some kind of fruity element to it.

i would welcome any recommendations from you tea drinkers!

i am thoroughly enjoying that occasional late afternoon cup of tea, and quite often i am enjoying a cup of tea in the evening instead of my usual before bed coffee. in the morning, it is still coffee for me, however!

hope to hear from the tea pros and get some recommendations.

Re: Question for tea drinkers

JustJules — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 14:43:49 GMT

CindyinNC, I like the peppermint flavors too. The chai tea is really delicious. The brand I am drinking is Bigelow Vanilla Chai. They have other chai flavors too...Caramel, Chocolate, Spiced, and Green Tea chai, but so far the vanilla is the only one I've tried.

brii, Since you like chamomile and mint, and already drink Celestial Seasonings, you would probably like their Sleepytime teas. The one I am currently enjoying is their Lemon Jasmine decaf green tea, it has chamomile, spearmint, and lemon grass. Not sure if it's just the idea of Sleepytime, but it does seem to help me relax before bedtime.

Re: Question for tea drinkers

NewerNickname — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 14:50:04 GMT

I've always been a tea drinker (I love the smell of coffee but don't like the taste). For the most part, I typically drink black teas. However, when I do drink flavored, I like the wild sweet orange tea from Tazo or the green tea with coconut from Harney & Sons.

Re: Question for tea drinkers

Honeybunsmom — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 14:51:44 GMT

I drink coffee in the morning, but during the day I like a really hot cup of tea. I usually prefer black teas such as English breakfast tea. I also like vanilla chai . Starbucks has Oprahs chai tea you can buy, I haven't tried it yet but will.

Re: Question for tea drinkers

brii — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 14:53:49 GMT

Jules, I'll try that. I think drinking tea is an excellent way to relax before bedtime. I do think it helps me sleep better too.

Re: Question for tea drinkers

JustJules — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 15:00:40 GMT

On 1/14/2015 fancy pantsy said:
interesting thread, and very timely for me!

i was sick a couple of months ago and had a terrible sore throat. i felt like maybe if i had some tea with honey that it would help my throat. what a surprise! i didn't have any honey so i had to use agave (which was quite delish) and the only tea i had was a black tea with berries. i bet it had been ten years since i had enjoyed a cup of tea. .... i was hooked.

i am a confirmed coffee snob, btw ... and it truly surprised me how much i enjoyed that tea.

so far, i have been experimenting with different teas (mostly loose because i can't find black tea with berries at the supermarket) and i would love some ideas. i love a hearty, strong tea with body and some kind of fruity element to it.

i would welcome any recommendations from you tea drinkers!

i am thoroughly enjoying that occasional late afternoon cup of tea, and quite often i am enjoying a cup of tea in the evening instead of my usual before bed coffee. in the morning, it is still coffee for me, however!

hope to hear from the tea pros and get some recommendations.

fancy pantsy (cute nic), I am far from a tea pro but with an English mother there was lots of tea in our house. I really used to consider myself more of a coffee drinker until a few years ago. I love berry teas, and agave is a great sweetener, I was surprised how much I like it as a healthy sweetener.

You can never go wrong with Twinings tea, and they have a mixed berry black tea, also a blackcurrant tea. You might want to look at their website since they offer all their teas online, while only certain blends are sold in the stores.

There are so many choices now, it's really an art form. I am enjoying trying different types of tea and different brands.

Re: Question for tea drinkers

violann — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 15:05:31 GMT

Good news/Bad news- Celestial Seasonings Zinger teas ALL contain enough Hibiscus to lower your blood pressure. For me, good news, but if you are taking a prescription medication for BP let your doctor know if you drink a lot of Zinger.

Re: Question for tea drinkers

birkin baby — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 15:13:48 GMT

Ahmad teas are my favorite.

Re: Question for tea drinkers

JustJules — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 15:13:58 GMT

On 1/14/2015 Newnick ame said: Good news/Bad news- Celestial Seasonings Zinger teas ALL contain enough Hibiscus to lower your blood pressure. For me, good news, but if you are taking a prescription medication for BP let your doctor know if you drink a lot of Zinger.

Interesting. The berry zinger tea is one of my favorites, use it to make my iced tea. I don't take BP meds but my blood pressure runs on the low side normally. Odd that a tea called "zinger" would have that effect. I'll ask my doctor when I see them next.

Re: Question for tea drinkers

VaBelle35 — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 15:29:35 GMT

I'm a fan of the Mighty Leaf Tea brand. Their Spring Jasmine Green Tea is my favorite (similar to what I used to buy from a Chinese restaurant locally years ago) and their Earl Grey.

Re: Question for tea drinkers

GRACIE — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 15:30:02 GMT

I drink about 3 to 4 times a day, hot brew in the morning and cold brew for lunch, at night another hot brew. I like to mix my teas. My favorites White tea and green tea is a excellent blend. Ginger root teas are good for digestive issues. My tea company of choice is American classic tea which is subsidiary of Bigelow teas Inc. The only tea company In the United States that grows and package a varies of teas in Wadmalaw Island in South Charleston. My sister and I visited last year. I would recommend any tea lover to visited. I do get other teas as gifts from other companies, but prefer 'Bigelows'

Re: Question for tea drinkers

NickNack — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 15:37:28 GMT

I drink coffee and tea both. I drink loose tea, and my favorite is Golden Monkey black tea. Sometimes I'll mix it with a white tea. I've bought it other places but usually purchase from Teavana in the Mall. I don't usually like herbal teas.

Re: Question for tea drinkers

Sooner — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 15:52:15 GMT

I find I enjoy few coffees, but like espresso and lattes. I have been an iced tea drinker for all my life, and hot tea for about 30 years. I find few flavored teas I like, but maybe a naturally flavored almond, mango, or vanilla tea--but there are few I like. I don't like tea bags, and usually use loose tea or sachets. I can taste the bag and the tea is never as good as steeped. I'm by tea like lots of folks are by wine.

My favorite is Assam teas, the maltier the better! I love those in the morning with milk, and very rarely with a little sugar as well. In the afternoon I like Darjeeling. I mostly drink black teas, but also like Oolong too and some of the less grassy greens. Brands are Harrogate, Bewley, Harney, and Yorkshire Gold.

I get a lot of tea from Harney (their decaf Assam is pretty good), but love Upton Tea for their single estate teas and huge selection of wonderful things to try. Their sample packets are a great buy and fun. They will make labels with your name on them too--which makes great gifts.

To me the best teas of all are Mariage Freres and they make the best flavored ones I've ever had. Market Hall website sells some of them. They are expensive but a treat. Once a year or more I usually get an order from Fortnum and Mason, but their shipping is so expensive it's only once every year or two! They have fabulous tea tins! And great tea!

I think Chatham tea pots with the filters are the best! Upton sells them and they make wonderful tea because the filter is big and non-metallic. ForLife makes great tea mugs with huge filters (even though they are stainless the are huge!).

Re: Question for tea drinkers

SeasonedCitizen — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 15:55:53 GMT

Love Paris by Harney & Sons and besides the sachet type (which I give as gifts) it comes in a K-cup (for me).

Re: Question for tea drinkers

lork — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 16:29:16 GMT

I do not drink coffee, but tea is my choice day in / day out. My favorite is Lipton's loose leaf black tea. I drink several cups of it hot in the morning, then over ice the rest of the day. Some night's I'm ready for a second pot of it, maybe with a little sugar. When I'm needing something a little exotic, I drink a cup (or two) of Bigelow's Constant Comment with sugar. For a late night treat, or when I have a sore throat I drink a cup of very hot, strong "Friendship Tea", the homemade mix of instant tea/orange drink/sugar that has been discussed on this site.

Re: Question for tea drinkers

Shelbelle — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 16:39:04 GMT

My fave one is Bigleow Lemon Lift, great burst of flavor, add a little sweetener to it. My DH prefers herbal, he likes Celestial Sleepytime and Tension Tamer, both minty flavors.

Re: Question for tea drinkers

Helping — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 16:40:30 GMT

Stash Chai Spice and decaffinated Chai Spice. I like mine with milk. Flavorful!