Tea time

[Tasha]

you guys are making me want a cup of coffee...although it would end up being a regular, no-frills machine dripped coffee. ;)

[Stephanie]

I'm two days no coffee :-) and no headaches yesterday and today :-) woohoo!!!!

[Tasha]

Awesome! :D

[Melissa]

Yay Stephanie! Congrats for kicking the habit.

[Stephanie]

Thanks, ladies :-) it's been easier than I thought it would be :-) guess it is a good thing I am out of coffee creamer lol!

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Stephanie wrote: "I'm two days no coffee :-) and no headaches yesterday and today :-) woohoo!!!!"

Yay! Good work

[Stephanie]

Thanks, Rusalka :-)

[Cherie]

I tried the rasberry jam last night with Stash fusion green & white tea. Ugh!!! I drank a cup of it with a package of Sweeta and it wasn't bad, but I do not like the tea plain. I would have added milk, but I was at work and none was available.

I am not fond of the taste of my Earl Grey with just honey in it, but I can drink it with sugar and milk and it is okay. I prefer English Breakfast or Irish Breakfast in the morning with sugar and milk. I have yet to try Lady Grey.

If someone asks, I am a coffee drinker vs. a tea person, but I can be quite happy with just a cup of hot water. I am not giving up coffee, but trying to back off of the caffeen.

I am drinking something with pomegranite and raspberry in it right now, and it is not ringing my bell. I think the raspberry is what I am not liking.

[Melissa]

Cherie, I tend not to like very fruity things like raspberry. A lot depends though on how it is flavored. Some artificial flavors just turn me off right away, but some flavorings don't bother me too much. I am very picky about lemon and cherry flavors for example.

I had some sample packs of a few different flavors, and there was a little left of each so I threw them all together in a tin. That is what I am drinking right now. I think it was peach, apricot, and maybe grapefruit. It smells very peachy which is nice but I think either I made it a little strong or the grapefruit's acidity has taken over. It's not bad but doesn't taste as good as it smells.

[Travis]

Sure its almost modnight and I've been at it since 5am but looks like a good 2 hours of driveway cleari g is still waiting so I think I'm heading for some strong, black coffee from a drip machine. I don't know about all this espresso business. Doesn't look appealing to me

[Travis]

My wife bought some kind of coffee bean once and thoight she would eat one or two to get away from coffee. I believe there is a whole package minus one or two beans still left. Lol

[Cherie]

I don't care too much for the coffee beans unless they are really well coated in chocolate. They feel and taste like chewing on a piece of charcoal. It is like getting coffee grounds in my coffee. I hate it!!!

[Tasha]

My Cuppa Cake Tea from Republic of Tea arrived, the Lemon Chiffon tea, and it was a bit of a disappointment. I was hoping for a very lemony tea but it's not. It has a weird flavor but one I'm getting used to, just not loving. I won't be ordering that one again. I got a sample of one of their Downton Abbey teas, Bates' Brambleberry Tea, and it was pretty good. The smell was so good...I may order that one again in the future.

[Mariab]

Now I remember, tea aromatized with coconut is very good...

[Gail]

I love soy cappuccino. Here you can get it in most coffee shops - some charge extra for soy milk, although the big chains like Starbucks and Costa don't charge extra. I find the soy milk froths really well, and I've never had a curdled one.

I also discovered a while back, from googling different types of coffee drinks, that there is a thing called 'dry cappuccino', which has way more froth than regular cappuccinos. Since the froth is my favourite bit, I quite liked that discovery, and fortunately Costa knew what it was when I ordered it. :-)

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Wow. That's good to hear Gail. Soy milk burns at a lower temp than cows milk, so it's really easy to burn if you don't know, or aren't paying attention. Aussies tend to like their coffee scalding, and I always struggled with that and soy. They'd complain it was too cold for their liking and I'd be trying to explain that if they wanted it really hot they'd get burnt milk. In the end, you have to opt for the burnt option, people just couldn't really tell they were drinking burnt soy. It was too hot to taste prob.

[Gail]

Cappuccinos don't tend to be at boiling temperature anyway here, so I imagine they're automatically heated to a temperature that's okay for soy milk too. Actually, last week, I did have one that was hotter than usual temperature at a small cafe that I'd never been to before. I didn't see any sign of curdling but the taste wasn't so good.

[Tasha]

I'm not a fan of soy milk. I prefer almond milk and have been putting that in my tea and coffee. When I get it out though, it's usually just milk/creamer.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Still have no idea what creamer is. I know you put it in your coffee or tea to make it white. But why don't you guys use milk like the rest of us?

[Stephanie]

Because there are several different flavor a of creamer you can buy and it is so good :-) there is peppermint mocha, pumpkin spice, cinnamon vanilla. Mmmmmm...I quit coffee mostly because I used A LOT of creamer in my coffee to not make it taste like coffee ;-)

[Janice, Moderator]

It always seemed strange to me when I learned people put milk in their coffee and tea, because everyone I knew around me used cream (not creamers). My ex always used evaporated milk in his coffee.

[Sarah]

I didn't know about creamer either. It all sounds way too sweet for me. We use cream in coffee if it's say a liqueur coffee but that's it.

[Gail]

I've heard of creamer, but never knew what it was. I tend to have either a soy cappuccino or a black coffee. I don't like coffee with milk. I do like coffee with cream, but haven't had it in ages. It seems to be a bit of an old-fashioned tradition now. Modern coffee shops don't tend to do it - although the occasional Olde English teashop might!

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Stephanie wrote: "Because there are several different flavor a of creamer you can buy and it is so good :-) there is peppermint mocha, pumpkin spice, cinnamon vanilla. Mmmmmm...I quit coffee mostly because I used A ..."

But... what is it? If it's not milk? And you guys seem to use it in tea as well? Or am I wrong and just coffee?

[Gail]

I imagine also it has the advantage of being longlife. I googled and there is a whole Wikipedia article about creamer! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-dair...

[Gail]

Ooh - it is susceptible to 'dust explosion', so is used by amateur film-makers to create fireball effects. Well, seems more versatile than normal cream! :D

[Sarah]

Thanks for the wiki link Gail - we use that stuff only as a last resort for camping as it's long life and we don't need to worry about it going off (or leaking in rucksacks). Also tends to accompany train and plane coffee/tea. But in my opinion, is horrible stuff.

[Gail]

I was thinking it's probably available in some coffee places, but I've just never looked, because I don't add anything to my coffee.

[Tasha]

haha, I didn't realize creamer would generate conversation! I use the term creamer loosely I guess. I actually use half and half in coffee (not tea!) when almond milk isn't available or I'm ordering coffee out. I don't use non-dairy creamer or flavored ones either.

[Stephanie]

I used dairy creamers in my coffee. I don't use it in tea. I suck at explaining what things are :-(
My best attempt would be that it is like flavored milk? But more sugary:-) hope that makes sense :-)

[Travis]

I had some pumpkin spice creamer in my coffee just this morning. I only add creamer for flavor otherwise I drink it black. Milk in coffee, yuck, might as well add water

[Cherie]

I always drank coffee black, as did most of my family.
My in-laws used to put milk in their coffee, but no sugar. I really always thought that they did it to cool it down, but I finally asked once. They both grew up during the depression and had to cut out the sugar when it was rationed and just got used to drinking it that way.

I use non-dairy creamer (flavored or plain - depending on how I am feeling ) every once in a while, especially if I am buying it somewhere where it is very strong. If I use the creamer, I always put sugar in it too though. I do not like the creamer or milk by itself. I have a hard time drinking lattes for the same reason, except for mochas, which are sweeter.

I tried a tall flat white at Starbucks last weekend. Yuck!

[Janice, Moderator]

Cherie wrote: "I use non-dairy creamer (flavored or plain - depending on how I am feeling ) every once in a while, especially if I am buying it somewhere where it is very strong...."

Whenever I head out on the highway, I stop at one of the gas stations and get XLarge coffee, and add about 5 French Vanilla creamers. That's the only time I use creamers. I see it as a treat. Put on an audiobook, sip on tasty coffee, and settle into the trip.

[Gail]

I see cappuccinos as my treat. I like to occasionally go to a coffee shop and read my Kindle for an hour or two while sipping a cappuccino. :-) I don't think I'd like creamers, though, because I don't like any sweetness added to my coffee, other than the chocolate sprinkles on top of the froth.

[Marcus]

Just as an update, the plantain/coconut green rooibos from republic of tea is my new favorite thing...the flavors are subtle but really nice

[Stephanie]

Any advice on make the flavors stronger?

[Tasha]

Marcus wrote: "Just as an update, the plantain/coconut green rooibos from republic of tea is my new favorite thing...the flavors are subtle but really nice"

I'll have to keep that one in mind. I like that company. I love that they give you samples in the catalog and in the order!

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Marcus wrote: "Just as an update, the plantain/coconut green rooibos from republic of tea is my new favorite thing...the flavors are subtle but really nice"

Plantain? Interesting. Never thought of that in a tea before.

[Cherie]

Rusalka wrote: "Marcus wrote: "Just as an update, the plantain/coconut green rooibos from republic of tea is my new favorite thing...the flavors are subtle but really nice"

Plantain? Interesting. Never thought of..."

Isn't that just a bananna albeit one you don't eat, but cook with it? They are bland and kind of sharp, like a green bananna to me.

Does it taste like bananna/coconut Marcus?
What's a rooibos?

[Melissa]

Steph-Making a flavor stronger-try less water? Longer steeping time?
Have you gone back to coffee yet? Hehe

[Stephanie]

Thanks, Melissa :-) nope, haven't gone back to coffee (I do have some left but am out of coffee creamer :-) )

[jaxnsmom]

Cherie wrote: "What's a rooibos?"

Rooibos is an herbal tea and is caffeine free. I really like it, by itself or as the base for several of my herbal tea blends. It's supposed to have some health benefits - antioxidants and such. I think it's also referred to as bush tea by some of our members.

[Cherie]

Thanks Jmom. I know what bush tea is from Mama R. In The No. 1 Ladie's Detctive Agency. :). Unfortunately, I don't care for many of the blends that have the red zinger flavor. It is too tart.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

It's from an African plant Cherie (not a camilla like "normal" teas we tend to drink from China and India), so it's exactly what they are drinking in Ladies Detective Agency.

[Tejas Janet]

I have a nightshirt with "Instant Human... Just add coffee" on the front. Very apropos for me.

I'm mostly a brew-at-home coffee drinker. One cup mandatory, two cups max per day. No greasy, diluted coffee for me. That's how creamers and milk in coffee tastes to me. However, I enjoy cinnamon or cardamom in my coffee so I add a pinch just before brewing.

I'll settle for almost any coffee if necessary, like when on the road. Will add sugar if truly awful stuff to cover up scorched taste. I find that diners tend to deliver the best no-frills coffee like I prefer.

[Stephanie]

I love that saying TJ! I saw it today when we were at Cracker Barrel for brunch! I think it was on a wall hang thing :-)

[jaxnsmom]

Cherie wrote: "Thanks Jmom. I know what bush tea is from Mama R. In The No. 1 Ladie's Detctive Agency. :). Unfortunately, I don't care for many of the blends that have the red zinger flavor. It is too tart."

It's the hibiscus that creates that yuck flavor in the zinger teas. There's no rooibos in those.

[Melissa]

I used to have a shirt that said Instant Human Just Add Coffee. Got that back when I was a preteen or around there, though I didn't like coffee at all back then, I must have thought the saying was funny ;)

[Cherie]

jaxnsmom wrote: "It's the hibiscus that creates that yuck flavor in the zinger teas. There's no rooibos in those..."

Good to know, thanks. I may check out some of the rooibos blends. I know that there must be a good tea shop in Portland. I need to look around. I will also check out republic of tea for the one Marcus recommended.

[Esther]

Melissa wrote: "I used to have a shirt that said Instant Human Just Add Coffee. Got that back when I was a preteen or around there, though I didn't like coffee at all back then, I must have thought the saying was..."

I need one of these...