The Tea Scoop

Top Ten Tuesday: Teas I Can't Live Without

This list is a wee bit less refined than the last list of teas, because it is based completely on personal preference, and despite developing some more discerning tastes over the past couple years, in other places I cling to old favorites that many tea snobs, no doubt, would look down on. And in fact, there might even be an herbal infusion or two on the list.  

1. Irish Breakfast--This tea was the subject of a recent ode.  Despite the small leaves and its blended origins, I love this tea, strong enough for a mouse to trot on, and full of malty goodness. Sometimes, I add a teensy bit of milk and sugar to make something really filling to get me through the morning. 
2. Peppermint--this herbal infusion always has a home in my tea cabinet and I buy it in great quantities (although I'm aspiring to start growing my own).  I like it in the evenings when I'm trying to mellow out, not being a huge chamomile fan. I also drink it when I'm congested, as the astringency of the peppermint feels truly refreshing. A little bit of honey, and it is a cure for a sore throat.  Sometimes, in the morning, I like to add it to Irish Breakfast. 
3. Earl Grey--When I order tea out, I frequently order this lovely citrus and floral tea.  Something about the lightness of the bergamot oil makes it feel lightly refreshing after a meal, no matter what time of day. 
4. Adagio's Darjeeling #2--This is a second flush Darjeeling.  My go-to for when I have people over for tea in the afternoon. Darjeelings seem to politely scream gentility to me.  
5. Teavana's Assam Gold Rain. Fabulous for iced tea, it's malty, and full-bodied, and I'm always in the mood for it, even when I can't figure out what I'm really in the mood for. 
6. Bigelow's Constant Comment.  I know, I've mentioned this endlessly in my blog.  But it was my original favorite and continues to hold a high place on my list, especially in the winter. It just tastes like Christmas to me. Accompanied by a plate of ginger snaps, it approaches perfection for me. 
7. Peach oolong.  I did drink Teavana's until they discontinued it, but am now on a quest for a new favorite brand. I just think the natural peachiness of oolongs goes well with actual peach added in for good measure. 
8. Jasmine green tea. I love Teavana's Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearls but I like most jasmine green teas.  Delightful in the evening. 
9. A good spicy chai.  I don't necessarily have a favorite, and it's a good bet that there are multiple varieties in my cabinet at any given time. I love Yogic Chai's Mate Chai but like a good deal of other chais as well. Coconut chais always make me feel like I'm eating a toasted cookie. 
10. Mighty Leaf's Mayan Chocolate Truffle. An herbal infusion with chocolate, strawberries, and red chilies, I mix in a little bit of milk and sugar and it's a guilt free Mexican hot chocolate. Great for cold winter nights, snuggling up with Mr. Tea Scoop. 

What teas can't you live without?

Top Ten Tuesday: Teas to Try

This Top Ten list has been quite a challenge, and I even solicited the help of some folks over at TeaChat on Adagio (thanks Proinsias and entropyembrace).  I wanted to make a list of the top ten teas everyone should try. But I think this might be a multi-part project.  This first is an over all list, which doubtless will be quite debated. I'm not including flavored teas on this list, simply because there are so many common flavors that they need a list all of their own.  I'm including some basics in here for novice tea drinkers, as well as some more specialty selections.  If you have your own suggestions, I would love to hear them.

Black teas:
1. Keemun
2. Darjeeling
3. Assam
4. English Breakfast
Oolong
5. Wu Yi
6. Monkey-Picked
Green
7. Sencha
8. Gunpowder
White
9. Silver Needle
10. Bai Mu Dan

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Occasions to Drink Tea

1. In the morning, before making breakfast.

2. In the morning, while eating breakfast.

3. In mid-morning, for elevenses

4. In the afternoon, with lunch.

5. In the late afternoon, with a snack, for afternoon tea. 

6. After meals, as a digestif

7. When friends visit

8. For comfort

9. To celebrate

10. Anytime is tea time, as the Mad Hatter says. 

Top Ten Tuesday: The Tea Drinker's Travel Kit

Tea drinkers on the go are constantly faced with substandard teabags, or worse, no tea at all. What can a tea addict do?

Well there are certain to-go solutions that might help out this situation.

1. A tea wallet. Slim and soft, these can slide easily into small purses and pockets for emergencies.
2. Small flat tin. Altoids tins work great if you let them air out a bit. They hold a bit more than a tea wallet and are great if you have teas that are not individually wrapped.  Great for trips.
3. Whole leaf tea bags. I love these because you get a lot of the flavor and quality of loose leaf tea, but they are far more portable.
4. Sugar packets. If you sweeten your tea, these are great, and fit nicely into your tea wallet or tin.
5. Crystallized lemon and honey. I can't attest to these myself, having tried neither, but I do find them intriguing and some people just have to have those flavors. I'll let you know if I try them out.
6. A good mug, like Mighty Leaf's Top Brew Mug or a stainless steel double-walled thermos. Something to keep your tea hot.
7. Maybe even a second thermos.  Today I have my prepared mug of tea and a leak-proof insulated mug filled with hot water for my green tea this afternoon, since I'm on the go today.  Not ideal, since freshly boiled water is best, but great in a pinch.
8. Reusable coffee sleeves.  It's always better to take your own mug to cut down on waste, but if you're traveling light, reusable coffee sleeves at least save a bit of waste, and they take up about the same amount of room as a tea wallet.
9. A mug with a built-in infuser.  These work great when you want loose leaf on the go.  The only downside is finding a way to deal with the drippy infuser when you take it out. I sometimes carry a zipper plastic bag. Other models might have strainers built into the sipping hole, which work great for herbal teas that won't get bitter.
10. Teaspoon. When I have a mug and a built-in infuser with me, I'll throw a teaspoon for measuring into the tin or plastic bag that the loose leaf tea is in to make sure I get just the right amount.

Always take a good attitude and good manners with you. This should go without saying, but I want to say it, just in case. Don't make a big deal out of your tea and make yourself the center of attention. And, if you want to make your own tea at a restaurant, order hot tea with the teabag on the side, not just hot water. Otherwise, you might come off as a rude cheapskate when really you are just looking for quality. Besides, I've found some restaurants have an unexpectedly impressive tea selection.  Happy sipping!

Top Ten Tuesday: Your Tea Cabinet

Opinions on this list may vary widely, and I accept that.  But here are the top ten things that tea drinkers should have:

1. A teaspoon. As in a measuring spoon that measures out exactly a teaspoon.  Generally, you need one teaspoon of tea per eight ounces of water, so this might be the most important tool you have other than #2. 
2. A heating element, whether it be a stove or an electric kettle.  Preferably something other than the microwave. 
3. Airtight and light tight tins. They are the best way to keep your tea fresh for as long as possible. 
4. A thermometer.  While it's easy to tell when water is at a boil, for green and white teas a lower temperature is needed, and a thermometer is quite helpful.
5. A scale. Ok, you've busted me on this one. I don't actually have one. But for fluffy white teas that are difficult to measure, weight can be a more accurate measure. Usually 2-5 grams of tea are recommended. And I do have a scale on my round-to-it list. 
6. Infuser or strainer. You have to have some way to separate the leaves when they are done steeping to avoid bitterness.  
7. Filter bags.  You love your loose leaf tea, but you are a person on the go.  These are fantastic for those occasions. 
8. A good to-go cup. Something that will keep your tea hot and be near to spill proof. 
9. A nice tea set. Whether you go for cast iron or porcelain, something to create your own personal tea ceremony to take time out from the rush of life. 
10. A tea timer.  It could be a program on your computer, the timer on your microwave or oven, or a specialized tea timer. But you don't want to steep your tea too long

What tea gadgets can you not live without?

Top Ten Tuesday

Driving along yesterday, I was thinking about things people should look for when buying tea.  People are constantly looking for the best brands, the best teas, but are not always sure how to go about doing it. So here are the top ten things to think about when buying tea.

1. Packaging. While you can't judge a book by its cover, packaging can tell you quite a bit about what's inside.  Tins are my personal favorite. They don't leach the way plastic might, they are airtight, and light tight. Those two qualities are what you really need in your tea packaging to make sure its fresh. If the packaging is not resealable, then the teabags inside should be individually wrapped to keep them fresh after you have removed the cello. 
2. Ingredients List. Good tea should have no "natural or artificial flavors."  These are both created in a lab. You should recognize everything on the packaging. 
3. Whole Leaf.  Tea bags are great for convenience and portability.  But if you are going to go for a teabag, look for whole leaf varieties if possible. You get fuller flavor and less tannic bitterness that way. 
4. Aroma.  If you are at places like Teavana, Teaism, or other places with tea counters that allow you to examine the tea, take a nice big whiff. One sniff will give you a good guess as to whether or not you will like the tea in question, and help you to evaluate its freshness. Stale tea smells dusty.  
5. Brands.  I'm not saying you need to stick to brands that you know, and quality can vary within a brand. However, I recommend avoiding generic brands and cheap brands.  With tea, you often get what you pay for.  It doesn't mean you have to spend $25 for two ounces of tea, but a $2.00 box of tea probably isn't going to be all that great. 
6. Organic and Fair Trade. More and more tea companies are heading in this direction, which is great.  It might not have a huge effect on the taste of your tea, but it's great for your conscience to know that the tea you are drinking is better for the environment and for the people who helped it get to your cup. 
7. Avoid health claims. I took this bit of advice from Michael Pollan. Studies on tea and health are not conclusive. I've talked a lot about tea and health on here, and it seems like tea does certain things for our bodies, but don't buy a tea just because it claims it's good for your skin.  Drink tea because it tastes good.  (On the other hand, Celestial Seasonings' Tension Tamer works wonder for my headaches, so if something works for you, then great!)
8. Take Notes.  Really. If you find something you like, write it down. Write what you liked about it. If you find something you can't stand, do the same thing. Otherwise, it's hard to keep track of everything. 
9. Ask for recommendations.  Tastes are so personal that it's difficult to make a list of the best teas, but if you have some idea of what you like, chances are that somebody else can make a good recommendation of something new for you to try. 
10. Taste. Wherever possible, try teas, even if you aren't in the mood to buy at the moment. Wegman's often has samples, so does Teavana. It can give you an idea of what you might like to try later.  Don't be afraid to try something new!