To the Tea Drinkers

[Lady Day]

I dont know if its the US or all over, but I thought Id share this tale with you.
Ive gots me a sore throat. So, I go to the grocery store to pick up some chamomile and honey.

I get to the tea isle, and its flooded with all these strange concoctions of mood reflecting, infused zingers, fruit inspired, and green enhanced teas! Thats all they were; some 'enhanced' with vitamins, mined with other teas (in the same bag, so that justifies the price increase of 100%), in snazzy packages and unpronounceable names.

I literally laughed out loud after looking for 5 minutes for a flippin box of chamomile.

Then I found it, in the back, two boxes left, surrounded amongst the new 'in' teas, only and calling to me. I got them both and never looked back.

Do any of you other tea drinkers see this where you are? Is tea ruined now? I hope not. Tea aint cola, dont put ginseng in it. Wait, oh never mind.

LD

 

[PrettySquareGal]

I kind of like it. How else could I have made my husband a cup of PMS tea and get to see the look on his face when I told him what it was. That was years ago. Those blends & varieties have been around a long time in the health food stores at least.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Tea will always be available in its various levels of purity.

I find some of the detox teas very useful.

bk

 

[Feng_Li]

Yep, it's crazy! I stopped buying bag tea, because I think it always tastes dusty.

When I lived in Germany, I knew of a very nice shop in town that sold whole leaf teas from big cannisters on the shelves. You could get anything you wanted, even a custom blend if you liked. And the overwhelming majority of the tea was pure and unadulterated, although there were some aromatised and enhanced teas.

I hope a similar place exists in Portland, because I'm down to the last of my stock.

 

[Lady Day]

Yeah, I have loose tea as well, and ran out of my chammie. :eusa_doh: I was in a bind. Plus when youre sick, you tend not to travel for the best, but for what will do.

LD

 

[ShooShooBaby]

Feng Li,

i would suggest heading over to: Alberta Co-op on NE Alberta and 15th (my favorite place to shop); People's Co-op on SE 21st(?) north of Powell; or Limbo on SE 39th south of Holgate. Mountain Rose Herbs is a good online resource, based out of Eugene.

 

[Vintage Betty]

I'm a big tea drinker; I have been for many years. I probably have about 40-75 varieties in my kitchen right now from all over the world: China (White Tea, Monkey Tea, First Flush limited run, White Peony, Monk Tea, Jasmin - at least two varieties), Japan (brown rice, green organic, Iran (Best Tea - Earl Grey and Ceylon; Amber Tea - Darjeeeling, Earl Grey and Ceylon with probably some Bergamot); Hawaiian, French (Kusmi - Earl Grey and Orange; Mariage - Marco Polo **A favorite with chocolate undertones**, Russian (Smoked Tea), African, Indian, Kenyan, English and many others (I'll post more on request).

I really like trying new teas and blended teas aren't all expensive. The large bag of Best Tea from Iran which I believe is actually Persian tea was only $8.95. I think it's 8 ounces worth.

Lady Day, would you like a sampler?

Vintage Betty

 

[MaryDeluxe]

I had a similar problem the other day when I went looking for cold medication. I stood there for the longest time trying to figure out what kind of medicine to buy??? Is it the flu or a cold?? Yes I have a sore throat but no cough....but that doesn't mean I might not be coughing in a few days?? Do I want liquid or a pill?? Do I have a fever??? Why do we really need so many choices????

Now tea is much easier for me...I'm a sucker for the cool graphics on the outside of the box lol

 

[SamMarlowPI]

good ol' Lipton with a squeeze of lemon...

 

[Vintage Betty]

good ol' Lipton with a squeeze of lemon...

*yucky*

 

[Miss Neecerie]

I mostly drink teas from either Adagio teas online...or a local place called the Vintage Tea Leaf.

Both have really lovely stuff.

In terms of -plain- tea...of the teabag variety, I drink PG tips from the UK.

 

[Vintage Betty]

I mostly drink teas from either Adagio teas online...or a local place called the Vintage Tea Leaf.

Both have really lovely stuff.

In terms of -plain- tea...of the teabag variety, I drink PG tips from the UK.

What variety of tea do you drink?

VB

 

[Miss Neecerie]

Everything from fruity herbal stuff...to Russian Caravan tea...mmmm smokey.

Only kind I am not super fond of is everyone else's favorite, Earl Grey. the Vintage Tea Leaf has one called Purple Princess, which is Earl Grey with added lavender and I like that, as it lessens the Bergamot.

 

[SamMarlowPI]

*yucky*

can get one through a sore throat...

 

[Lady Day]

I'm a big tea drinker; I have been for many years. I probably have about 40-75 varieties in my kitchen right now from all over the world: China (White Tea, Monkey Tea, First Flush limited run, White Peony, Monk Tea, Jasmin - at least two varieties), Japan (brown rice, green organic, Iran (Best Tea - Earl Grey and Ceylon; Amber Tea - Darjeeeling, Earl Grey and Ceylon with probably some Bergamot); Hawaiian, French (Kusmi - Earl Grey and Orange; Mariage - Marco Polo **A favorite with chocolate undertones**, Russian (Smoked Tea), African, Indian, Kenyan, English and many others (I'll post more on request).

I really like trying new teas and blended teas aren't all expensive. The large bag of Best Tea from Iran which I believe is actually Persian tea was only $8.95. I think it's 8 ounces worth.

Lady Day, would you like a sampler?

Vintage Betty

Dare you spoil me VB!?
I think I shall take that chance!!!

You are a sweetie!

LD

 

[Vintage Betty]

Everything from fruity herbal stuff...to Russian Caravan tea...mmmm smokey.

Only kind I am not super fond of is everyone else's favorite, Earl Grey. the Vintage Tea Leaf has one called Purple Princess, which is Earl Grey with added lavender and I like that, as it lessens the Bergamot.

Bergamot seems to be to personal taste; I know people who love and hate it. (The person who hates it is English). But I can understand; it's very "perfumy" for a tea.

Never tried Purple Princess, is that a regional tea? I'm running into a varietal blend which is African Red + some fruit and flower blend + earl grey = packaged with a label of your choice = a local tea. I picked it up at two seperate locations in the US, and they are nearly similar, slightly different blends. I like the one from the Witches House in Maine the best.

 

[imoldfashioned]

I've definitely noticed this trend LD--in tea and everything else. Sometimes you just want something plain and unmessedaroundwith (a new word I just created).

I hope you feel better soon dear! Now that you've found it, drink lots of tea!

 

[Vintage Betty]

Dare you spoil me VB!?
I think I shall take that chance!!!

You are a sweetie!

LD

Yes I do. Who better to spoil than a Bartender? So...the question remains...do you LIKE blended teas? Any tea you don't like?

VB

 

[Lady Day]

So...the question remains...do you LIKE blended teas? Any tea you don't like?

VB

My favorite tea is Earl Grey. I even wanted to get the oil and prepare my own. I love black teas, and the clean robust taste of white teas. Not an herbal tea kinda girl.

Green on occasion.

LD

 

[Miss Neecerie]

Never tried Purple Princess, is that a regional tea? I'm running into a varietal blend which is African Red + some fruit and flower blend + earl grey = packaged with a label of your choice = a local tea. I picked it up at two seperate locations in the US, and they are nearly similar, slightly different blends. I like the one from the Witches House in Maine the best.

Its a blend done in house at a Tea Parlor in Long Beach...they do ship however...and I could also get you some if you wanted to try it.