Your favorite teas~

12 years ago

What is your favorite tea and what brand is it?

Walking through the mall last weekend, I strolled through a place called Teavana. It never fails to pull me in for a few samples. I bought a seasonal Oolong tea called Pumpkin Spice Brulee for the cold winter days coming up. I just heat up water and use my metal tea ball to infuse what ever tea I have. I've seen other ways to steep the tea that look interesting but have never bought a system.
The pumpkin spice brulee tea has a mild pumpkin spice and butter flavor.
The tea I use the most is called Tension Tamer by Celestial teas. A little almond honey added and it makes a soothing hot drink before bed.

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Comments (26)

LuAnn_in_PA
12 years ago
My very favorite is Russian Caravan.
Runner up - Twining's Prince of Wales.

That Tension Tamer contains no tea at all, BTW!
iIngredients:
Eleuthero, peppermint, cinnamon, ginger, chamomile, West Indian lemongrass, licorice, catnip, tilia flowers, natural lemon flavor with other natural flavors (contains soy lecithin), hops and Vitamins B6 and B12.
Toni S
Original Author
12 years ago
true! I do like drinking it in the evening and feel that it serves its purpose. It's mental for me. Very calming.
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My recipe for simple syrup: A 2:1 ratio. Start with twice as much sugar as water. Depending on what you plan to store it in, start with 2 cups sugar, to 1 cup water. Four cups of sugar and two cups of water will fill a 32-oz. container to the top when finishing your simple syrup. Over low heat, stir until sugar is no longer laying on the bottom on the pan and mixture is cloudy. Increase heat to medium/high and bring to a boil, giving it a stir with a wooden spoon occasionally. Boil for 3 minutes. Mixture will now be perfectly clear and of a thin, syrupy consistency. Remove from heat. While still VERY hot add: Citrus zest or rind...If using zest, drop thin strips in hot mixture, allow to steep until mixture is barely lukewarm. Strain through a seive and store in bottle in refrigerator. If using rind (for instance, by using a vegetable peeler), be careful not to get any of the pith (the white) of the fruit with the rind. Crush rind with the palm of your hand on flat surface to release oils and drop into the hot syrup mixture. Follow as above. For herbs....basil and sage, for instance....take several large leaves (I find 4-5 are enough) and roll up and crush with the palm of your hand to release to oils (bruise). Mint will vary, depending on type and it's potency. Your nose will tell you. Drop into hot mixture. Steep until barely lukewarm and remove whole leaves. Store in bottle in refrigerator. Rosemary...leave on stems, crush stem (again, to release oils), drop into mixture, same as above. Thymes are also best kept on the stem, because of their small leaves. Just be sure to bruise the stem to crush to herb to release it's oil. Some people use a 1:1 ratio with sugar and water, and I've tried it, but find it to be more of a "simple water" than I do syrup. Also, the 2:1 ratio seems to take less to sweeten beverages, be it a single glass, or an entire pitcher or pot. The 2:1 ratio will become a even thicker when allowed to get cold in the refrigerator, but dissolve instantly in cold or hot beverages. When the ODD occurrence presents itself and I find I don't have lemons or oranges in the house for citrus SS, I use lemon or orange oil. 1/4 tsp. = 1 tbs. fresh zest. I use even less, finding the culinary lemon and orange oils to be intense in flavor. A little goes a long way. And they are just as good as the real thing. Not lemon or orange juice, but the culinary oils. Whatever you do, don't boil your zest/rind or herbs with the syrup. It brings out the bitterness and the result won't be pleasant. Gently coaxing out the flavor by steeping and being patient is always the way to go and will always reward you with a flavorful syrup. :-) The amount of zest or herbs you would use actually depends on your taste. I find one large lemon or orange is fine with my 4 cups to 2 cups ratio, and provides the simple syrup with more than enough flavor. After all, you want a hint of the flavor, not an overwhelming one. The beverage is the star of the show, the syrup is just a sweetener, an accompaniment. Like a lemonade flavored with basil simple syrup. You want the tang of the lemon to shine through with just a hint of basil. I find 4-5 leaves of a healthy, potent basil or sage is just fine. A couple healthy stalks of rosemary will do you well, also. Pick a nice bouquet of thyme if using it. In my experience, it takes a little more to get the job done. As I said, mint will depend on type and potency, but I've found I never have to overwhelm the pot with any single ingredient to get the flavor out of it, if it's fresh and healthy. Trust your nose and tastebuds....but don't burn yourself. When making simple syrup, it's always a good idea to have a bowl of ice water nearby, in case of any accidental splashing or accidents that may occur. This stuff is H-O-T and WILL burn your skin on contact and it sticks!
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Orchidllauraga
12 years ago
I love Barry's Irish Breakfast tea, have a cup every morning with breakfast. I add a little honey & some lemon.
katlan
12 years ago
I've never really tried different kinds of tea. I did try, last winter, Bengal Spice, by Celestial Seasonings. Love it!

I use a big mug, put one Bengal Spice teabag and one green tea teabag in it with hot water. A little shake of Splenda and done. I really like it. And it's naturally decaffeinated so I can drink it at night. Use one spice and one regular teabag if drinking it during the day.
SunnyDJ
12 years ago
Mine taste is very boring....Give me a cup of Lipton, plain ordinary tea and I sweeten it with Splenda.....Every once in awhile, I'll have a cup of Sleepy Time............
tami_ohio
12 years ago
I don't like flavored teas or herbal teas. My very favorite is the breakfast tea from the Charleston Tea Company. They are the only tea plantation in the USA, in Charleston, SC. We took a tour and bought tea a couple of years ago. If you like tea, even plain old Lipton is best as a loose tea, much better tasting than any in a tea bag otherwise.

Tami
LuAnn_in_PA
12 years ago
". They are the only tea plantation in the USA, in Charleston, SC."

Not really....

http://shop.sakumabros.com/tea.aspx grows tea in Washington State

There is the Fairhope Tea Plantation in Alabama, and there are probably 30 or 40 tea plantations in Hawaii.

This post was edited by LuAnn_in_PA on Tue, Nov 12, 13 at 17:30
chisue
12 years ago
Twining's Lady Grey, Prince of Wales, .Rooibos Red Tea. I order tins of loose tea online and carry a few teabags in my purse.

DH and I have "Teatime Matinee" most afternoons: A pot of tea, cookies, a DVD or prerecorded TV program.

We've 'had tea' with a lot of characters in British dramas over the years. Better than the other constant in British dramas: Pink Gin, Scotch, Whiskey, etc.
sheilajoyce_gw
12 years ago
I enjoy the Harney &Sons teas, and I also found a lavender and tea combination I love from a trip to New York City. We stayed at a hotel across from Central Park, and I fell in love with it there. I have to order large canisters of it, which I do. I also like the Stash brand of Jasmine Green Tea. And on grey winter days, brewing Constant Comet tea is so good. The aroma is yummy.

This post was edited by sheilajoyce on Tue, Nov 12, 13 at 22:22
OklaMoni
12 years ago
I have several teas from an Amish place. All loose tea. I love them.

Moni
wifetojoeiii
12 years ago
We love tea! My fav is Earl Gray and my DH likes Green Tea. We get our tea loose leaf from a website "designatea.com". You pick a base tea & then add flavors to it. Love it! We also combine coffee and green tea - it tastes yummy!

I haven't posted in a long time - lost my job, found a new one and we are moving...

hostapasta
renee_fl
12 years ago
I like Darjeeling and Irish Breakfast - usually Twining's but I drink other brands as well.
alisande
12 years ago
I always have many kinds of teas--herbal and otherwise--on hand. Celestial Seasonings was innovative when it first came on the scene. I drank their Roastaroma, a coffee substitute, for years, and Tension Tamer was a favorite of one of my daughters. Lately I've been drinking Tazo's Chai in the morning--just enough caffeine for me. Or decaffeinated green tea. Or a decaffeinated English breakfast tea.

My favorite real tea is Ceylon Nuwara Eliya, a loose tea given to me by a friend who brought it back from Sri Lanka. It's really excellent. When it's gone I'll have to find some online.
kathi_mdgd
12 years ago
I always have several brands and kinds of tea on hand as I'm not a coffee drinker nor is dh.
Every morning I have 2 cups and once in a while 3 cups of green tea for/with breakfast.

My favorite tea that I like to drink during the day is Good Earths Original.It's a spicey blend and tastes oh so good on a chilly/rainy day or anytime you just want something good and refreshing to drink.This summer I even made ice tea with it.

My next favorite is peppermint;I always have that on hand as well.I have one shelf in my cabinet that has nothing but different kinds of tea.

Oh forgot to say I have only found the Good Earth brand at walmart and the commissary.
Kathi
Georgysmom
12 years ago
Tazo's Passion.
kathi_mdgd
12 years ago
I always have several brands and kinds of tea on hand as I'm not a coffee drinker nor is dh.
Every morning I have 2 cups and once in a while 3 cups of green tea for/with breakfast.

My favorite tea that I like to drink during the day is Good Earths Original.It's a spicey blend and tastes oh so good on a chilly/rainy day or anytime you just want something good and refreshing to drink.This summer I even made ice tea with it.

My next favorite is peppermint;I always have that on hand as well.I have one shelf in my cabinet that has nothing but different kinds of tea.

Oh forgot to say I have only found the Good Earth brand at walmart and the commissary.
Kathi
socks
12 years ago
I like oolong but am really a coffee drinker. Tea is a nice change for mid-day, though.

I think I read that Starbucks bought Tevana.

I need a Tension Tamer tea for December. Christmas always stresses me. Actually something more powerful than tea might be better, LOL!
murraysmom Zone 6a OH
12 years ago
Twinings has a really good pomegranate tea. I first had it at Bob Evans a couple of winters ago. I couldn't find it in any stores, so I ordered it directly from Twinings. Delicious!
alisande
12 years ago
Kathi, I've picked up Good Earth teas at Big Lots from time to time, but of course they're not always there.
cheryl_down_under
12 years ago
I love Twinings teas, especially the Australian Afternoon and Traditional Afternoon - both full strength flavours. I really enjoy my cup of tea and these do the job beautifully.
Marilyn Sue
12 years ago
I am more an iced tea drinker but do drink hot tea on a cold day. My choice for iced tea is either Luzianne or Irani . I like orange pekoe and pekoe cut black teas the best. I do like Earl Grey and English breakfast tea. There are others but can't think of them right now.

Sue
tami_ohio
12 years ago
Lu Ann, I knew about the ones in Hawaii, but not the one in Alabama. When we took the tour, they told us they were the only one. Whether that was true at the time or not, I have no idea. If we ever get to AL I will have to try them!

Tami
LuAnn_in_PA
12 years ago
I was told about the ones on the mainland (by a tea fiend) when I mentioned that tea was only grown in Hawaii.
I had no idea either, until a few months ago!
pammyfay
12 years ago
For "traditional" iced tea, Luzianne only -- decaf or caf, I like to keep both in the cupboard. I know I could make it the real way -- brewing it, then pouring it over ice, but I just make refrigerator tea with it (a jug of water, a few tea bags, let it sit in the fridge a couple hours).

I also make refrigerator tea with Celestia Seasoning's Red Zinger and sometimes Berry Zinger.

Sometimes at the grocery story, I'll find bottled Sweat Leaf Tea in the mint and honey flavor -- delicious!

CHISUE: Love your "Teatime Matinee" date!
minnie_tx
12 years ago
Bigelow

Constant Comment
taste of oranges and spices I get the decaf
jmc01
12 years ago
Red Rose - orange pekoe that is, hand's down, the best grocery store tea around! The trick is that most of the grocery stores are in Canada....thus, mail order.

Your favorite teas~

Comments (26)

LuAnn_in_PA

Toni S
Original Author

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Your favorite teas~

Comments (26)

Toni SOriginal Author

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Toni S
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