Any Tea Drinkers Out There?

[fadingdaylight]

Just shy of 6 weeks ago, I decided to give up coffee and try to make the switch to tea. My main reason for this was to make quitting smoking (which came the following week) easier. So I visited a local tea shop, got myself a small loose leaf teapot, a handful of samples of various teas, and took the plunge.

Like a lot of things in my life lately, I discovered a new joy. Some of the original samples I picked up were not keepers, but a few were, and after a few more rounds of samples, I started really uncovering some gems.

Some of my favorites have been a traditional Pu'erh, which I find to make a great coffee replacement, a ginseng coated oolong, and matcha. Matcha is like green espresso, and I really enjoy the traditional whisking/prep process.

What about you guys?

[Bogertophis]

I've been drinking tea, mostly iced, since in high school. (don't even ask me how many years that is, lol)

My favorite is a strong black Irish breakfast blend tea that I have to get online (just about to re-order) but I like oolong & green as well. I'm not into herbal & sweet
flavored teas, though if you ever have a sore throat, "Throat Coat" is very effective.

I rarely drink hot coffee...I enjoy it in colder months now & then, but even when it's cold out, I mostly drink iced tea.

BTW, Congratulations for quitting smoking!!!

[Reinz]

Congrats on your smoking cessation program. I sure hope it works for you.

I’m not a coffee/tea drinker, I just wanted to wish you the best.

[Bogertophis]

I forgot to mention, but one reason I switch off on the kind of tea I consume is that I find my taste buds get "tired"...teas taste best when you change them up-
probably since they aren't a strong flavor to begin with. (Just like with fragrances, be they good or bad, our sense of smell starts to tune them out after a while.)
I don't like anything added to my tea either...not lemon, cream/milk, or sugar.

[fadingdaylight]

I forgot to mention, but one reason I switch off on the kind of tea I consume is that I find my taste buds get "tired"...teas taste best when you change them up-
probably since they aren't a strong flavor to begin with. (Just like with fragrances, be they good or bad, our sense of smell starts to tune them out after a while.)
I don't like anything added to my tea either...not lemon, cream/milk, or sugar.

I'm the same way. I don't add anything so I generally go through 3-4 different types in any given day to keep it interesting.

[Valyndris]

My mom recently got me into drinking tea, she's always finding different kinds too and so far I've liked em all. I mostly enjoy herbal teas. I started drinking tea as a means to lose some weight as now I will have a tea instead of eating a snack... Or at least I try to but my husband buys all the goodies and sometimes I can't resist, especially when the donuts stay on the kitchen counter where I frequent a lot. Anyway back on topic, I'll list what I have right now for teas. I've got green tea, licorice spice, raspberry hibiscus (I hear hibiscus helps to reduce appetite), honey lemon, apple cinnamon, peppermint and creamy vanilla (that one is good with a bit of creamer), dandelion root (only good with creamer), bengal spice, wild berry zinger, a 4 pack of black teas including english breakfast tea, irish breakfast tea, earl grey and lady grey, I also like lemon ginger, vanilla rooibos, and chamomile. My parrot also drinks chamomile tea and loves it, he drinks it cold of course. That's all the teas I have right now, I like trying different things as I am new to tea drinking and have lots yet to try. Whenever I find something new or different at a store I usually buy it, I have yet to find a tea I don't like other than regular orange pekoe, which is what my husband drinks.

[Sonny1318]

I too like my tea, Arizona makes a couple I like. And my wife has made me a hard core Chamomile tea drinker, with lime and honey.

[dakski]

Matcha and Mate represent.

Also like oolong and black tea.

[artgecko]

I've been drinking hot tea for a long time now.

For quicker tea prep (in the morning before work) My go-to is "stash" brand tea bags. I like their English and Irish breakfast teas and their chai and green tea chai varieties. You can get them cheapest ordering sealed tea bags in bulk from Amazon.

For loose tea, my favorite purveyor is Upton Tea Company. They have very fair shipping and prices and will sell you samples also. My favorite from them is st. Isaac's blend, which is a European style "earl grey" citrus flavored tea. It is not sweet but is basically like a more complex and strong earl grey blend. They also sell many direct estate teas and tea blends.. I think that is more their specialty vs. flavored teas.

They also do an old school paper catalog you can request. It has a looong article published in parts in it of the story of the east India company (if they are still doing this). Makes for an interesting read.

[Miranda2]

I love tea, Earl Grey and green tea with mint, are my two favorites but like plain black tea too..I also love coffee but cant drink it without cream and sugar so it gets too fattening.
I really want to get ahold of some organic green tea in bulk but cant seem to find any. I do have organic black tea.