Random Tea Thread

[HTHBellcaptain]

I have recently found a wonderful little Tea shop at Florida Mall. It's called TeaVana. They have all these wonderful loose leaf teas. Currently I am drinking and icedtea mixture of Peach Rooibas and Rasberry Sangria (herbal). Yum!

I guess the point of this thread is to say that I love Tea. I'm finally coming out in the open and admitting. I'm not going to be a closet tea drinker any more. I realize that there are those who may label me or even place an unfair stereo-type on me, but I'm tired of society trying to control my life. I was born to drink tea. It's in my genetic makeup. I'm won't deny who I am. You hear that world? I'm a tea drinker!!!!!!!!!!! So there.

Is there anyone else out there who would like profess their undying love for tea?

[Ghoulish Delight]

Yes, I believe there may (http://www.loungeoftomorrow.com/LoT/showthread.php?t=1440).

[Prudence]

I'm having a blueberry bubble tea right now. Mmmmm.....tapioca.....

[alphabassettgrrl]

I like tea. I have lots of tea. Black tea, green tea, white tea, herb tea- I drink it all.

[Matterhorn Fan]

Yes, I believe there may (http://www.loungeoftomorrow.com/LoT/showthread.php?t=1440).Oddly enough, the tea lover who started the present tea thread was notified of the existence of the past tea thread by the tea lover who started the past tea thread. So naturally, now we have two tea threads.

I guess HTH just wanted to come out of the tea closet as publicly as possible?

Here's a tea stumper for anyone who's up to the challenge: What's the deal with brown rice green tea? I found this at the Japan pavillion at EPCOT. What does rice add to tea? Is it a flavor thing? Is one supposed to leave the rice in the teacup? The package was all in Japanese and the Japanese girls there were all busy selling chopsticks and sake, so I couldn't get the answers to my questions.

About Teavana, I like them hot, but have yet to figure out how to make them taste good iced. There's a gritty texture thing there that I don't really fancy. But I still have some experimenting to do. Since the teas are so good hot, it's worth finding out how to make them taste good cold, too.

[Stan4dSteph]

Here's a tea stumper for anyone who's up to the challenge: What's the deal with brown rice green tea? I found this at the Japan pavillion at EPCOT. What does rice add to tea? Is it a flavor thing? Is one supposed to leave the rice in the teacup? The package was all in Japanese and the Japanese girls there were all busy selling chopsticks and sake, so I couldn't get the answers to my questions.I cheated and used Google, so I don't actually have any clue personally about it. Here's the link: http://www.jeddy.org/cha/genmai/

As far as the rice goes, I think if you use the usual method of steeping loose tea using an infuser, it will remain in the infuser with the tea leaves.

[Matterhorn Fan]

Aha! Thank you...
The roasted grain essences in the rice get steeped out to add an extremely mellow, almost nutty aspect that compliments the crisp, leafy qualities of green tea (and let me add here that white rice would never be able to impart such flavor, even if it was roasted), and the flavors "round out" the green tea, completing the overall taste in a really satisfying way.I might have to try that sometime.

Funny . . . the picture at the top of that page . . . the sen-cha I bought at EPCOT is that same brand.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Oh, genmaicha is good stuff. Tea helps keep you healthy, too.

[libraryvixen]

I love tea as well. I love dark, fragrant teas that send a wonderful steamed perfume up from the cup. I love the Republic of Tea teas. My favorite one is the ginger peach... well.. at least, right now it's my favorite one.

[libraryvixen]

Oddly ...I like them hot, but have yet to figure out how to make them taste good iced. There's a gritty texture thing there that I don't really fancy. But I still have some experimenting to do. Since the teas are so good hot, it's worth finding out how to make them taste good cold, too.

I love iced teas. I found a great way to make iced tea from my favorite "hot" tea. I seep the tea in hot water for a while (a full glass will do) until it's to my strength. I then pour it over a glass of ice. It's great because it's not too watered down. It's also best to sugar the tea while it's warm and before it's poured into the ice glass.

[Tref]

I love tea. I also love walking outside without my pants on, yet why is it always left to me to start such a thread?

[Matterhorn Fan]

I believe my iced tea problem is solved.

Cloudy teas have are a thing of the past now that I have a Teavana "Perfect Tea Maker." It's a thoroughly ridiculous gadget that I will now never be able to live without. The tea is strained through mesh which is much finer than any of the strainers I had before . . . so no tea leaves (or bits of tea leaves) are getting through now. Hooray for gadgets.

Libraryvixen, I, too, love the Republic of Tea. I loved their teas even before I ever bought any, simply because the name "Earl Greyer" amused me. The Ginger Peach is delightful. I highly recommend the Pineapple Guava White tea, too.

I don't put sugar in my tea.

[Keelboat Captain]

I am a cold weather tea drinker. The best time for me is when I am out camping and it is a very cold morning. Although sitting out on the pouch on a cool evening is also nice. I stopped drinking iced tea when I released how much sugar I was putting in it to make it taste good. Never went back.

[Matterhorn Fan]

Lisa--Your tea should go in the mail sometime this week. I just need to find a box.

In other news, Mmmmm . . . . Peach Oolong . . .

[Not Afraid]

I'm getting tea! I'm getting tea! YAY!!!

[Matterhorn Fan]

And you didn't want any . . .

[libraryvixen]

Matterhorn Fan, if you're going to do a tea outreach program.... ;)

[Matterhorn Fan]

Well, Lisa's tea is a thank-you for her sending me art.

I know TeaVana has a website (www.teavana.com). Do they ship?

If they do, HTH and I will be happy to post our favorites thus far. Or, at least, I will . . . and HTH might drop by once in a blue moon if he knows we're still talking about tea. ;)