Tea!

[osprey_archer]

I can't say that I've learned to like tea; I still think it tastes rather like boiled grass clippings. And I find the process of tea rather intimidating: it comes out in two pots, and I can't figure out how they're meant to be used. Am I supposed to pour from the hot water pot into the teapot, so that I will have a continual supply of steeped tea? Or am I supposed to use the hot water to water down the tea if I think it steeped too long? Assuming I knew if it was steeped too long. It's way too alchemical for me to judge.

And let's not even get into tea lists. One girl vs. fifty varieties of tea...is it any wonder I'm intimidated?

But at the same time...tea comes with biscuits. I'm particularly fond of ginger. Or scones with clotted cream! Why did no one tell me such a wonderful thing existed in the world? (The Jane Austen Center in Bath has a particularly lovely cream tea. I was running out of time so I had to pick between their tour and their Regency Tea Room. I think I made the right choice.)

And...while the two pots are intimidating...still. Two whole pots, plus my own tiny pitcher of milk. I could sit there and read and write all afternoon with such provisions! And it's cheaper than hot chocolate. And better for my health!

It's still a pity about the grass clippings bit. But maybe I've just been drinking the wrong varieties; eenie meanie minie mo will do that for you. What are your favorite types of tea?

Comments

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Earl Grey is nice--kind of perfumy.

For something completely different (and best drunk without milk), how about jasmine tea? That's **really** perfumy.

Ceylon tea (which my friend calls Cylon tea) tastes--appropriately enough--kind of metallic.

And then there's good old Teabag Tea. You are in England! You can get PG Tipps (or Tips?), that comes in little pyramid shapes. Or circle-shaped Liptons! And then you don't need to worry about all the pots and such, just plop a teabag in your tea cup, pour water over it, wait til it's a color you like, and then either add milk, or don't :-)

(I never used to add milk until I married an English guy, and now I always do)

[girl-called-sun.livejournal.com]

Ah, a nice cup of tea. It fixes everything.

I like Earl Grey, too, but standard teabag tea is an old friend, and the best for the dipping of biscuits. (Hobnobs. Oh yes)

I use the hot water to top up the tea pot, by the way.

[longlegs21.livejournal.com]

I really like chai tea. Well, I think it's supposed to be called masala chai. It's Indian, and you drink it with milk. You may have noticed chai tea lattes at Starbucks. :-)

Have you looked into dessert teas? I highly recommend English toffee tea, with milk. If that doesn't make you love tea, there's no help for you. ;-)

And my favorite comfort tea, especially when I'm sick, is peppermint. (No milk.) If you like the taste of peppermint at all, this tea is a safe bet.

[anait.livejournal.com]

I still think it tastes rather like boiled grass clippings.

LOL. I used to feel that way about green teas, and now I drink 2+ cups a day of jasmine or japanese sencha-type greens, bought looseleaf from specialty tea stores. I used to drink jasmine with honey when I first was introduced to it (This is blashpemy and I'm ashamed in retrospect). Now I like that jasmine tea can have a very slightly bitter taste (or not, if you don't oversteep it). Green teas have a lot of range. Japanese sencha or banchu tea is almost sweet in flavour and very fresh -- yes, a little like grass, but I like that. It's refreshing. I like green tea after dinner, as a palate cleanser. It's also great with dessert or chocolate, to offset the sweetness.

My second favourite kind of tea (mentioned above) is masala chai, which they serve made fresh in Indian restaurants, or that you can brew yourself from looseleaf tea. It's very strong in taste compared to your average black tea-in-a-bag, nearer to hot chocolate or coffee. I love it! I have it just with milk, after letting it steep for a good while. The kind in the restaurants is really excellent, because they steep the tea right in the pot with milk and fresh spices (cardomon, anise, etc.) and then serve it to you in little cups to which most people add sugar. It's a real treat, and nothing at all like the chai lattes in Starbucks, which I personally think are gross.

Yes, I am a huge snob about tea, and a total caffeine addict. Maybe I have convinced you to try some new ones though?