topic Re: Quick tea question in Community Chat

Quick tea question

qualitygal — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 18:51:43 GMT

What's your favorite tea for relaxing? Do you use Celestial teas? It just sounds good and I'm out. Need to put it on my grocery list. Thanks.

Re: Quick tea question

chrystaltree — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 19:00:02 GMT

I'm a tea drinker after my morning coffee. I buy Twinings Tea bags but not the fruit teas. I like a Black tea, Green tea, Earl Gray. I don't drink tea to relax, I drink tea because I enjoy it. I also made Chai a lot last winter. I love that.

Re: Quick tea question

qualitygal — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 19:18:35 GMT

@chrystaltree Thanks, I'll write those down and see if our store carries them. I did find some black tea, and I'm enjoying that now.

Re: Quick tea question

BlueFinch — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 19:19:57 GMT

I think most herbal tea that you enjoy the flavor of, is good for relaxing. If I want regular teas, I go for decaffeinated, like decaf Earl Grey with lemon. Just a store brand, but good.

A favorite of mine for the evening is: Bigelow's Chamomile Vanilla and Honey. I stock up on this one.

I've had Celestial teas often, too. You'll just have to do a few trials. I didn't have a bad one. They're mild. I have to double up on bags for the best flavor.

They have one called Tummy Tea. A must for any pantry. It's a minty flavored tea that really does make your tummy happy if you've overindulged, or just feeling under the weather. It's soothing.

Just pick something that speaks to you. Have fun with it.

Re: Quick tea question

D Kay — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 19:25:52 GMT

I also like Bigelow teas. They seem to have more flavor than others I've tried.

Re: Quick tea question

Icegoddess — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 19:38:42 GMT

I really only drink tea as my morning beverage the way others drink coffee, and I sip on it throughout the morning. I don't drink herbals. I rotate between English Breakfast, English Teatime, Darjeeling, and one I get from Target called Breakfast Blend. Earl Grey is a bit strong for me. I used to also get one called English Afternoon that I liked, but neither Kroger nor Publix seems to carry that one anymore. I have to go to Kroger to get the Darjeeling. Not loyal to a brand.

Re: Quick tea question

Laura14 — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 19:41:02 GMT

I like Celestial but I am partial to Tazo. They have lots of unique flavors that I like hot and occasionally cold too.

Re: Quick tea question

amyb — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 20:05:24 GMT

Regular black tea with milk...the English way.

Occasionally I put just a dab (1/8 of a tsp) of honey, just to put the slightest sweet to it...take the edge off.

My favorite type black tea is Assam, though hard to find...but I do get a certain brand at Fresh Market. It's a bold, rich, smooth black tea.

I also buy PG Tips. Also, as other traditional black tea drinkers mentioned here...English Bkfst, Irish Bkst, Scottish Breakfast. All good. I drink tea first thing in the morning. (sometimes follow up with a coffee later.)

Or as an afternoon pick me up or clear my head or whatever ails ya...I find it a soothing ritual.

What I do wish is that decaf tea tasted better. While I can do decaf coffee no problem, tastes just as good to me...decaf tea is tepid, bland, blah. I just want to lighten my caffeine intake, as I'm not a great sleeper and I think this might help. But just can't switch to decaf tea. Not the same.

Re: Quick tea question

qualitygal — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 20:03:16 GMT

Thanks again, getting a good list here to check on.

Re: Quick tea question

deepwaterdotter — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 20:39:20 GMT

Bigelow Vanilla Chai.

Re: Quick tea question

cindyNC — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 21:18:53 GMT

I read the tea shop series books by Laura Childs. In the last book they mentioned a Cream Earl Grey tea. Does anyone drink it?

The online definition I found is 'Earl Grey Crème is a classic black tea blend infused with bergamot citrus, fragrant lavender and notes of creamy vanilla inspired by the much-adored 'London fog'(a hot tea beverage that's made with half Earl Grey Tea, half steamed milk, and vanilla syrup).

Re: Quick tea question

Enufstuff — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 21:37:16 GMT

@qualitygal Celestial Seasoning Herbal teas have been a staple in my kitchen for years. My current favorite that I have been drinking for several years is Mandarin Orange Spice.

In the past I bought Tension Tamer, Sleepytime,Red Zinger,

Mint Magic and Cinnamon Apple Spice. In recent years, I have noticed that some of varieties have disappeared from their website and new ones have appeared.

All the varieties I have tried have been very good.

Re: Quick tea question

just bee — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 21:42:30 GMT

@cindyNC wrote:
I read the tea shop series books by Laura Childs. In the last book they mentioned a Cream Earl Grey tea. Does anyone drink it?

The online definition I found is 'Earl Grey Crème is a classic black tea blend infused with bergamot citrus, fragrant lavender and notes of creamy vanilla inspired by the much-adored 'London fog'(a hot tea beverage that's made with half Earl Grey Tea, half steamed milk, and vanilla syrup).

@cindyNC

I order several teas from Harney & Sons in New York and the New Mexico Tea Company.

I like variations on Earl Grey and NM Tea Company sells a Cream Earl Grey.

Here's their description:

An exquisite Earl Grey character mellowed with soft hints of cream. If you are fan of Earl Grey and have not tried tried this, you are in for a treat. Cream Earl Grey has a taste that is smooth with vanilla overtones, which stand out above the premium bergamot flavor - the signature taste of Earl Grey.

Blend of black teas, cornflower petals, bergamot, natural flavors.

Make a "London Fog" without a milk steamer:
1) Use 1.5 teaspoons of Cream Earl Grey and steep for 5 minutes.
2) While the tea is steeping take heavy cream, add in some vanilla extract, sugar, and a touch of boiling water. Shake the cream vigorously (to simulate the steaming process)
3). When the tea is ready, pour the cream mixture in. You even get a nice layer of froth on top!

Strangely, I didn't care for this one as much as I thought I would. I do like Harney & Sons Victorian London Fog (black tea, oolong tea, bergamot oil, lavender, vanilla flavor).

Their Paris (black tea, oolong tea, black currant flavor, vanilla flavor, bergamot oil, caramel flavor) is also good.

NM Tea Company offers a tea that's similar to Victorian London Fog called Vintage Earl Grey. Black tea, rose petals, lavender, rosemary, bergamot and rose oil. Fragrant!

And in a pretty package.

Re: Quick tea question

feline groovy — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 01:25:32 GMT

Bigelow 'Cozy Chamomile'.

I'm a tea lover and it's the best-tasting chamomile I've ever tried.

Re: Quick tea question

happilyretiredgirl — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 04:01:05 GMT

@amyb I am not a good sleeper and some of the cause is some medications I take. My doctor prescribed sleeping meds but I could not stand the way I would feel in the mornings which actually it would take hours before I felt like I could function. I decided to stop taking them and I tried the sleepytime tea and it actually has really helped me. It was not a quick fix, but i started sipping a cup and sometimes two about 1 hour before I wanted to go to bed and in time it acutually works for me. Maybe youn can try this and I hope it will work for you.

Re: Quick tea question

cindyNC — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 04:06:34 GMT

@just bee The New Mexico Tea site is overwhelming! Thanks for the suggestion. I'm going to purchase some Cream Earl Grey.....probably decaf and maybe try a few others.

Re: Quick tea question

qualitygal — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 11:00:05 GMT

Thank you again, I'm armed with names of now.

Re: Quick tea question

amyb — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 11:14:42 GMT

@happilyretiredgirl wrote:
@amyb I am not a good sleeper and some of the cause is some medications I take. My doctor prescribed sleeping meds but I could not stand the way I would feel in the mornings which actually it would take hours before I felt like I could function. I decided to stop taking them and I tried the sleepytime tea and it actually has really helped me. It was not a quick fix, but i started sipping a cup and sometimes two about 1 hour before I wanted to go to bed and in time it acutually works for me. Maybe youn can try this and I hope it will work for you.

@happilyretiredgirl Thanks for the suggestion; I think I will try that! I take a melatonin Gummy "Olly" brand, almost every night. I wonder if my body has just gotten used to them...some nights they work, others, not so much. I only ever take one per night, the dosage says two, but meds effect me easily and I often don't take as much as prescribed.

My doc wasn't concerned because she asked if I fall right back to sleep when I wake up, and I do, for the most part. I just wake several times a night and I have NO clue why! So just depends, but I just wake up in the morning some days fully rested others not as much. I've always, since I was a baby, (my mom always told me "you were never a napper!" I'm still not!) not been a great "sleeper."

I'm sure I should reduce caffeine (generally have 3 cups a day, two in the morning, one sometimes later.) My doc says don't have any after noon. I don't do this everyday, but when I want tea later in the day my "cut-off" has been 3 o'clock. Noon is probably better. But, ask the Brits...a little too early for "tea-time!" lol.

Anyway...all that said...I'm sure I can try to improve on things.

I will buy and try that Sleepy time tea.

I'm not a fan of chamomile taste, but I can drink it..and the few times I've had a cup of that before bed, I think that also helped.

Re: Quick tea question

wagirl — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 13:03:23 GMT

I like a cup of tea once in a while but it has to be decaf--my fave are lady grey or earl grey--love the begamont or the irish/english breaskfast teas--I love herbal fruit teas too--I use them to flavor a normal black tea when I make ice tea.

Re: Quick tea question

just bee — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 13:32:43 GMT

@cindyNC wrote:
@just bee The New Mexico Tea site is overwhelming! Thanks for the suggestion. I'm going to purchase some Cream Earl Grey.....probably decaf and maybe try a few others.

@cindyNC

Careful! I started buying a lot of tea when I first visited Harney & Sons and I ended up with several that I just didn't like.

Go slow...