Tea...a beverage that puts the "steam" in Steampunk.

[terobi]

This is probably the right place to ask this; I'm considering buying an infuser, but I don't really see what, if any, advantages they have aside from being able to brew in a cup rather than using a teapot... All I can see them doing is restricting the leaves' movement so they don't brew as well. Anyone use one? Any advantages to them, or are they just metal teabags that don't make your beverages taste of paper?

[von Corax]

Surely if the espresso machine water is not too hot for coffee it is too cold for decent tea?

As I understand it, espresso is made with almost-but-not-quite-boiling water (around 95º C) so it should be okay for tea.

[Elmira Butcher]

I love Tazo teas, but I'm really more partial to Yamamotoyama, specifically their Jasmine tea. I just so happen to be drinking some at this very moment.

Good Earth chai is also good.

[Cameo]

Mmmmm. Tea. I may have to run downstairs and ask my coworker to lend me a teabag. He happens to keep his office stocked with my absolute favorite tea of all time- the "original" herbal blend from Good Earth. Very sweet. Fairly spicy. Extremely flavorful. I've never found another tea like it. ( can be bought here: http://www.worldpantry.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/CategoryDisplay?cgmenbr=1381491&cgrfnbr=1574580 and also at many American grocery shops). Their Red sweet and spicy is also good, but I don't like it quite as well since they changed their recipe slightly.

I'll also drink green or black, brewed strong with nothing added. Oh, and a very sweet Hibiscus is aways welcome.

[Aedon]

Much like Earl Gray without the Bergamot.

Heresy, I say!
Witch!
Witch!

[flimflam]

oolong

[Jemima Annabelle Clough]

This is probably the right place to ask this; I'm considering buying an infuser, but I don't really see what, if any, advantages they have aside from being able to brew in a cup rather than using a teapot... All I can see them doing is restricting the leaves' movement so they don't brew as well. Anyone use one? Any advantages to them, or are they just metal teabags that don't make your beverages taste of paper?

I tried using them and gave up. You can get mugs with a filter inset only slightly smaller than the mug itself which I've found is far better - the leaves have much more room to move, and I find them easier to clean up than the metal things. There's also much less of a limit on the amount of tea you can put in. Plus, I've had a couple of the cheaper metal infusers undo in the mug

[terobi]

Thanks for the info... can't say I've seen the mugs with the inserts about, but then I don't suppose I'm likely to.

I might give it a go anyway, it's only a couple of quid and if I don't like it I'll go back to teapots, no harm done I suppose...

[Lady Crystalmir]

I like Casablanca, a fruit herb blend from my local tea lounge, and Tazo's orange.  Otherwise I enjoy drinking steamed milk before bed.

[Jemima Annabelle Clough]

You can buy the inserts seperately now: http://www.whittard.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=171439&cid=t6023&language=en-GB

[terobi]

Heh, I was going to go to the Deansgate branch of Whittard's for the infuser anyway, so I'll probably just ask what they reckon when I'm there.

[Aedon]

Ooh, shameless plug time!
I less-than-three Steepware! The company is bloody brilliant. Simple design, immaculate performance.

[Jemima Annabelle Clough]

Just looked them up - like the idea of the automatic teapot


Just remembered - a chap at work uses one of these for tea: http://www.cookware-online.co.uk/ishop/930/shopscr2385.html. He claims it works well but it works on the same basis as a french press, and squishes the leaves to the bottom, so I'd be dubious about it stewing.

[Penelope Fenwicke]

I'm a Chai fan. Drink it daily. I've dabbled with other teas, and prefer black teas in general.

[Hester]

Oh, yes!  I imbibe tea daily!

Red Rose was my staple brand for many a year:



And I collected all the little Wade figurines that came as premiums in the package, when I was a child.

In university, I became partial to Twinings Yunnan:



But, it's rather hard to find anymore, especially in teabags (I'm a lazy colonial, after all!).

I've become more caffeine sensitive lately, and I particularly like Typhoo decaf, which is the only decaf I've tried that doesn't taste like "ashes of tea":



I take my tea clear (because I'm rather erratic about buying milk and usually have none on hand, or it's gone sour). 

I used to take 3 teaspoonfuls of sugar in my tea, but I weaned myself off it a couple years ago, in a slimming effort.  Now I eat chocolate or other confections WITH my tea instead -- a much more satisfying allotment of calories.

[James Harrison]

I'm partial to Assam myself... tastes like Darjeeling but a little maltier. 

I always have to have at least one (large) cup/mug a day. 

[Tanvi_Sunil]

I'm a Chai fan. Drink it daily. I've dabbled with other teas, and prefer black teas in general.

Here Here!

I still need to remember to ask my Guru for her mom's chai recipe!

[Jack Elliot]

Since I gave up carbonated beverages, I've been drinking quite a lot of tea.

I drink coffee in the mornings, but the rest of the time I drink tea...mostly black tea, or chai, often with a french vanilla or orange spice blend. Although, chamomile is nice right before bed.

[Jaqhama]

This will be an interesting debate...

What's the correct way to make a pot of tea or use a tea bag?

Myself I don't think I've made loose tea in a pot for more years than I can remember.

I normally put 2 sugars in a mug, then add a centimetre of milk, then the tea bag...then pour the boiled water in.

Ye God's; when I was going to the USA in 2004 for a motorcycle tour, my American friend Valorie said she'd be happy to buy me some tea bags...and how long did one microwave a cup of tea?
I said one needs a kettle to boil water. She was astounded.
Took her ages to find an electric kettle in the middle of the Kansas countryside. It was almost like they didn't exist in her part of the world.
Everyone in Ozland has an electric kettle...well certainly the majority.
When I had myself arrived in Kansas I bumped into a British chap in a local motocycle shop. Imagine the surprise, a Brit and an Aussie meeting in the middle of country Kansas...one of the first things Steve said to me was, "Do you know how hard it is to find a bloody kettle in this place?"

[Rowan of Rin]

"Do you know how hard it is to find a bloody kettle in this place?"

That is a hilarious tale, and I have had the same problem finding a non-electric kettle. I finally bought one of eBay from a ship, which is very cool

My tea-making ritual is (yes, I have become lazy, I use tea bads for black tea): Tea bag, hot water, sir in sugar till it dissolves, then milk. I think your way is the correct one, something about not cracking the cup or something. However, as of late I have been drinking this fantastic green tea I brought back from China, I bring a glass thermos of it everywhere I go now!

[Hester]

I do like loose tea made properly in a pot ... but Mr. H. gets a bit shirty about me leaving the sodden tea leaves for him to try to clean out of the pot.  [Does anyone know an easy way to do this?]

So, mostly I use bags -- sometimes in the pot, or sometimes in the mug if it's just me.

During WWII, my mom used to send care packages to my uncle & aunt in London, England, including Red Rose teabags.  My aunt wrote back thanking my mom, but added, "Don't you Canadians find it a bit inconvenient to have to cut open all those tiny little packets of tea?" 

I particularly like Chinese Jasmine tea:



Oh, and I also like King Cole Tea, a nice strong black tea blended and packaged by the Barbour company in New Brunswick since the turn of the last century:

[Mal `e Diction]

I drink at least two or three cups/mugs every morning. Yes, the lazy Yank way, water nuked in the micro then plop in a bag.

But on weekends, I take the time to make it properly — preheat the pot & cups with warm water while the kettle reaches the boil, put loose tea in a tea ball (solves that tea leaves stuck to the pot issue), then ball into the pot, pour the boiling water over the ball, close the pot lid, and wrap the teapot in a towel while the tea steeps. Finally, unwrap towel, remove tea ball so the tea doesn't get too harsh, then serve.

One of my favorite teas is made by Xanadu and is called Star of Persia. Heaven!

[wisdom_of_trees]

Yes, you could say that I like tea.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

[Zthroo]

Should I consider myself heretical for drinking English Breakfast Tea in the evening?

[terobi]

Yes, you could say that I like tea.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Dear god...

Could that be the first recorded instance of an aether-peen?