You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
Off Topic Chat
>
Tea time
message 101:
by
Stephanie
(new)
Dec 22, 2014 07:07PM
Tasha, the tea sounds yummy! Glad it turned out good!
reply
|
flag
Rusalka said:"I'm growing a lemon verbena plant at the moment. Should be big enough soon to be able to pick the leaves off it and make a tea..."My daughter and her husband drink tea made from lemon verbena all of the time. She grows it and uses it fresh and dried.
Tasha wrote: "No, sorry, I meant the Tea Guys. After you mentioned buying samples from them I had to check them out. They have some really interesting tea blends over there so I was wondering if you have ordered from them before."I see Janice answered you. LOL! I've never ordered from them before. I was doing an internet search for tea companies and came across them. I liked that I could get samples for $2.50 - enough to know if I like it without spending a lot. I can't wait to try the Cucumber Mojito and Honey Lemongrass.
Tasha wrote: "My Tazo vanilla caramel chai tea was good. I mixed in some almond milk and added a bit of honey. So yummy!! A great afternoon winter drink. :)Glad you enjoyed your peppermint tea, Stephanie!"
I can see using almond milk in some of my teas, makes me want to go buy some now. I usually don't add anything, but I do like to dress up chai tea :)
Marcus wrote: "I decided to be adventurous and ordered some plantain/coconut/green rooibos from republic of tea...yum"Mmmm...sounds like a lovely cocktail. Can't wait to hear what you think about it.
Lots of good posts here. Besides Tazo and Republic of Tea, other brands I can recommend are Numi, Yogi, Stash, and Good Earth. Many of their offerings are organically grown, which I prefer to conventional.
Tasha wrote: "I have here a creamy oolong that you might quite like. It has become an addiction (and I passed it to the other 2 drinkers at my office). It has a rich buttery taste. Where can I get this tea? It..."
Sebz in Quebec city... :) doesn't help... There is no provenance info on their website.
Rusalka wrote: "All the more for me then! :PSo much better than syrups and chemicals."
Oh I completely agree, Rusalka. Absolutely prefer the real deal (rose petal, orange peel, cinnamon stick, etc.) to the fakey chemical additive junk!! I just meant that I don't want these pieces swimming around in my actual cup of tea when I'm drinking it : ) I have my infusion ball, but I actually prefer to use a strainer. I find it simpler for some reason.
I finally made it to Second Cup. They don't have the Christmas Tea that I used to buy. Why is that a surprise, I ask you? It seems whenever I really like a product (tea or otherwise), it quits being produced.They have Holiday Blend instead, in individual bags, no boxes. I bought a bunch - some to keep and some to take to my parents' tomorrow. It had better be good. I'll have a cup this afternoon.
Thanks, Esther. Too bad it's a local blend. :p
Tejas Janet wrote: "Lots of good posts here. Besides Tazo and Republic of Tea, other brands I can recommend are Numi, Yogi, Stash, and Good Earth. Many of their offerings are organically grown, which I prefer to conve..."Speaking of these brands, today while out food shopping I swung by the tea aisle and picked up Numi Organic Rooibos. I had a cup later when I got home and it was very good. I prefer organic anything as well, including teas if I can get them. I did get a peppermint Celestial Seasonings for myself and a Celestial Seasonings Peppermint Lane for my daughter. A little concerned bc they do list 'natural flavorings' which is really a red flag that it's not natural but since it's a holiday blend, I thought on occassion is fine.
I'm totally hooked now!
Wow I can't believe I find so many people who buy organically in one spot. I personally won't touch anything that hasan organic label on it. There are so many loopholes available to organic priducers I won't pay more for something that is barely organic. Basically they can't use chemicals. They can still ise bT seed as long as its not inoculated. They use dertilizer just as long as its laveled organic. I think most of theliquid fertilizer is the same for organic and non organic. Depending what you buy. But thats why there is an organic and non organic sections at the store. Something for everyone. I've only met one organic farmer who bought organic. A lot of them don't around here . of course I only lnow a fraction of a oercent of them in the world so it's not like I can claim it to be the majority. Might not even be normal on world standards. Probably isn't.
Personally, I prefer to buy local produce and other food. Quite a few aren't legally "organic" but follow organic practices. I try to evaluate stuff like that when I can. Have learned to look for specific farmers/food producers and to shop at local markets and coops. Doesn't work out to be feasible for everything though and for teas I just think organic varieties taste better, my subjective opinion. But generally speaking I find organic processed foods will not be loaded down with the additives, fat, sugar, salt that are characteristic of conventional. However, looking at ingredients and evaluating food sources is really the crux isn't it?
Other concerns I have about conventional large-scale agriculture has to do with GMOs as well as pesticides and antibiotics. I also have concerns about farm laborers not being harmed by exposure to dangerous chemicals and ditto for our soil and water. Everything is so damn complicated and people can get very testy over this stuff, and understandably so I suppose.
Those are quite common feelings and concerns TJ. There is constant imorovements being made to create wuality safe oroducts and also more work in educating the public as well as hearing their concerns. Everything just has to keep moving forward. I am not an organic farmer but I have several people who I raise beef for. The only time I raise beef is whrn I have a buyer lined up in fact. Anyway they come to me because buying beef from a grocery store terrifies people and they like knowing where it was raised and trust me to orovide a safe healthy animal. Which we do.I also have a field of a neighbor I use that has been a 10 year struggle but I think we're finally finding some compromise. They put so many restrictions on me as far as chemicals manure and fertilizer that finally this summer I told them they're gonna have to mow the field with their lawn mower pretty soon because it's so wore out it's not yielding to support my time and diesel consumption anymore.
I know first hand the views on both sides of the fence and there is still a lot of work needed to be done to satisfy everyone.
And for anyone who swears by organic or locally grown I know several oeople doing both and they have bills to pay so by all means support them as well. If you don't grow it yourself you xan't beat fresh farm market produce. I don't have faith in grocery stores myself.
My SIL has a hydroponic system in her spare bedroom and eats fresh veggies all year. I think they harvest every other day. They eat a lot of salad
Travis, I am so in awe of you and all the hands-on, hard workin farmers. Thank you!!!
Lol TJ. Luckily there is a little contraption called a tea strainer!
Tejas Janet wrote: "Travis, I am so in awe of you and all the hands-on, hard workin farmers. Thank you!!!"I agree ^^^!
I personally try to sort through all the food labels, GMOs, factory farming, hidden labeling, etc. It's not easy. I appreciate hearing your comments and expertise, Travis. It helps on this end. I find shopping for good, quality food to be one of the most difficult and challenging things. There are some days I feel it is a losing battle bc of all the loopholes and chemicals being used. I try to go organic bc it's just scary not feeling like I have control over my food and buying organic makes me feel better. I understand it's not all they proclaim (bc of the loopholes) so I just try to research and do the best I can. It should be straightforward but unfortunately it's not. ugh... :(
I do not buy organic. I do not raise my own meat or have a veggie garden (though I wish I had the sunlight for it-damn those 100+yr old trees!)...I buy what's on sale and in my budget. And I also drink Diet Coke! I hope we can still be friends?!?! :-DI did buy some "organic" tortilla chips from Costco...wow, best chips ever! haha
Along with giving up coffee and drinking tea instead in the new year, I will try to buy produce from local farmers more often. I always have good intentions to do so and just hardly follow through...I had the best apple in Greenbluff this fall, Steph!...
My sister in law's family in Vietnam has fruit that lasts for over 8 weeks in the refrigerator! That has me worried where they get their fruit (possibly China, I think she said) and what preservatives they are allowed to insert... :(
Back to tea:I am looking into buying an electric kettle! Gettin' serious ova' heeeere!!!
Melissa I'm so envious - I would love an electric kettle but I have no counter space in my kitchen! Once I move to a real house there's a Zojirushi boiler with my name on it, I swear. -_^
I bought some hi caff carmel black tea and hi caff coconut black tea. Wasn't enough flavor but I think I finally found the trick. 2 bags coconut 1 bag carmel 2 huge globs of honey. 420 mg caffeine plus some honey. Just made a peanut butter and jelly (MIL home made preserves delicious) and a glass of chocolatr milk. Hope its a good enough kick start. Then again I can drink caffeine and go to sleep with bo oroblems so provably just addicted
I don't even know if we own a tea kettle. I think I've seen one around. We just use the hot water side of our water cooler. Maybe not politically correct but it works for us.
My husband uses a tea kettle in his office and it makes things simpler for him. Here at home we are more like Travis in our habits. It's sooooooo temping to just put the cup of water for 2 minutes in the microwave! It comes with the exact temperature! I know... not the best option. Kind of sacrilege even. That happens half of the time. The other half I try to show better disposition. :)
Random pop in. Kettles are the most inefficient appliance we have from a power point of view. If you are only boiling one cup, then a microwave uses less energy per cup. I believe if its more than one the kettle is just slightly better but its debatable.
I have a Keurig that I use for coffee but will just use it for the hot water now that I will be switching to tea :)
Melissa! I'm jealous you got an apple from greenbluff!! Jamey and I haven't found an orchard here..I'm sure there is one somewhere lol! There are a lot of wineries though :)
Stephanie wrote: "I have a Keurig that I use for coffee but will just use it for the hot water now that I will be switching to tea :)"We used to do the same thing but after 2 keurigs we've decided to toss that away and moved back to good ole fashioned boiled water on the stove. We don't have a tea kettle but need one, we just use a small sauce pan. We have well water and we think that's what destroyed the kuerigs.
My husband uses a teapot with a strainer to brew his tea. it's a nice pot for brewing loose leaf tea and it was cheap on amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Adagio-Teas-Per...
Call me old school, but the only way to make tea is from boiled water in a kettle. I have an old style whistling kettle.
I have a tea kettle that we boil water in on the stove. I am surprised to find out about the electric kettle's inefficiency compared to a microwave or stove. And here I thought getting an electric kettle would be a better option oh and a faster option :)
I would probably have at least 3 cups of tea per day (1 in the morning and probably a couple after work?) + hot water for oatmeal and such...but that would be using it twice in a day.
I thought boiling only water in the microwave was dangerous?
And man, I wish I had a water cooler at home - J-E-A-L-O-U-S!
VA has to have farms?!?! Right??
I have an electric tea kettle, and I love it. My husband and I drink three or four cups of tea between us every morning. When I get home from work, I set up tea (mugs, a tea bag for me, and two scoops of loose tea in a strainer for Peter). He gets home half an hour later, and all we have to do is hit a button and then pour when the water is warm. Often, my twenty-three year old son, who lives nearby, will stop by to have evening tea with us. Sometimes he brings a friend or two. For tea fanatics who care about the perfect cup of tea (that's not me, but might be my husband), you get best flavor by pouring freshly boiling water (water that has just come to a rolling boil), over the tea. Water that has boiled longer has less oxygen in it. Dumping a tea bag in a cup of boiling water and stirring doesn't have quite the same effect. Most water-coolers that provide heated water do not get it hot enough for good tea. To each his/her own.
Stephanie wrote: "Melissa! I'm jealous you got an apple from greenbluff!! Jamey and I haven't found an orchard here..I'm sure there is one somewhere lol! There are a lot of wineries though :)"Check out this website. I was trying to remember where I went when visiting my family, maybe Johnson Orchards (and Peaks of Otter Winery) in Bedford County.
http://www.pickyourown.org/VAalbe.htm
We have an electric kettle and I think it is faster (and certainly easier) to use than to boil on the stove. Maybe it's just my imagination. Hubby gave me a tea-of-the-month subscription for Christmas, which is very exciting. However, the first box has lots of green and herbal teas. I don't mind herbals but greens are not my favorite. I like good strong black tea and will often mix an herbal with it.
I do some mix too, Melissa.
My sister really liked the Holiday Blend from Second Cup. I'm not so enamored of it myself. This is a black tea with hint of cherry and orange. I find that if I do more than wave the tea bag over the cup of boiling water, it's too strong.
I find it so strange to hear so many of you have stove top kettles. They've pretty much been unheard of in Aus for the last 40 years or so. I don't know anyone in my entire life who hasn't had an electric kettle.
Rusalka wrote: "I find it so strange to hear so many of you have stove top kettles. They've pretty much been unheard of in Aus for the last 40 years or so. I don't know anyone in my entire life who hasn't had an e..."I used to have an electric kettle, but when I moved into my own place, I decided to get a whistling kettle. I liked the idea of having something nostalgic, and the price suited me.
I have never mixed teas before...I've only used tea bags, so maybe do you mix tea if you have loose leaf? Or I suppose you could put two bags of tea in the same mug, but wouldn't that be super strong?I ordered an electric kettle through work, will get it Monday, I am excited! I may just stop drinking coffee early (a whopping 3 days..!) :)
Janice wrote: "I used to have an electric kettle, but when I moved into my own place, I decided to get a whistling kettle. I liked the idea of having something nostalgic...."Ditto for me too. :)
The only time I've mixed teas before was if I was making an entire pot, not just a mug. Then I throw in 2 bags of whatever flavours sound good.
I have only ever had stove-top kettles. I always considered an electric kettle to be another unnecessary appliance to clutter up my counter. It all must be what you grow up with, no one I know has electric ones.
I mix when doing an entire pot too. The kettle my husband has in his office is electric, but we only have stove top here at home.
Melissa I do prefer loose teas to tea bags, and having the ability to blend is just one reason. I'm tickled that it turns out our vacation spot this week is day-trip distance from a tea plantation. Hoping we can go on Wednesday.
That sounds like fun, Melissa. I bet you'll walk away with some nice, fresh teas! Have fun. :)
That sounds fun Melissa!I've never had a tea kettle. When I wanted to make a pitcher, I boiled water in a small pot. Now I make one or two cups at a time by microwaving the water. Since I mostly use loose tea I want to get a glass teapot with infuser.
Picked up some more tea last night at the grocery store. One of the stores we have here, Kroger, has quite the selection, I was happy to see :) I picked up Lipton brand green tea, some chai tea and a sleepyte me tea :) all tea bags:) I've already started drinking the peppermint tea in the afternoon which is caffeine free. It is nice to have something hot to drink since it is kind of cold and dreary out today.
I forgot to mention that my sister gave me a package of loose tea for Christmas. It's called "Waimea Wake Up Tea". I wonder what she's telling me with that. Hmmm...It's made of Noni, Licorice & Mint. I haven't tried it yet. Isn't noni seaweed? Had to google: http://english.noni.com.pa/
Licorice and mint sound like a yummy combo :-)
You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
Books mentioned in this topic
Rob Roy (other topics)The Martian (other topics)
