demiurgent | Teas I am currently drinking a lot of.

I know this is of tremendous value to you all.

My current tea list: (in no particular order)

Lapsong Souchong (Taylors of Harrogate brand): This is one of my favorite teas, really. It’s a smoky black tea, which means that it’s entirely fermented (and the leaves are therefore black), but during the process it is infused with woodsmoke. It tastes like hickory smoke, almost, as a moderately light accent, though pine smoke is typically used. I use Lapsong Souchong when I’m trying to clear my head, or want to enjoy what I’m drinking.
Tesco Irish Blend: My systems administrator at work is Irish, and when she goes home she likes to bring presents back with her. This is a common black supermarket tea in Ireland, notable for being stronger, more robust and generally better than most American Orange Pekoe teas. I typically keep my Tesco at the office and have a cup when I first get in.
Red Rose: It’s a potent cup of tea, the advertisements say. Red Rose is the tea I have drunk most often in my life, having been raised on it. Traditionally, Red Rose is one of the best orange pekoe black teas in America, and a nicely decent basic tea. I think the quality has slipped a bit in recent years, or else my palate has improved as I drink more delicate teas. Still, if I’m drinking tea at home, I’m often drinking Red Rose.
Earl Grey (Twinings Brand: I resisted being an Earl Grey drinker for years. It was so... cliché. Everyone who wanted a no-brainer way to drink tea they thought elevated them over the common base tea drinker drank Earl Grey. It was as pretentious as the guy who order the latte drink in Seattle and uses every possible drink permutation and superfluous word (”I’ll have a Caffe Latte, Vendi double nonfat decaf with two shots of vanilla, medium foam and cinnamon.” “One drip coffee coming up, jerkwater.”) but without the sophistication that requires. Still, I finally got old enough that I could enjoy Earl Grey for what it is rather than what other people think it is. In the privacy of my own home, at least.
Instant Chrysanthemum Beverage: A guilty pleasure from the asian market. For under a buck you get ten plastic sacks of something that looks like instant coffee but produces a vague tealike drink with sugar and lemon. Now, people who know me know I despise sugar in tea. I still do. But despite being on this list, Instant Chrysanthemum Beverage (I swear that’s what it’s called) just isn’t close enough to tea to trigger my teasnobbery.

I actually found this list quite interesting.

I'm drinking a lot of Barry's tea as well as a lot of Earl Grey with Lavendar

sunpony found this at a local store outside Ithaca and it's quickly becoming one of my favourite teas.

I am the polar opposite of you. I need at least 2, sometimes 3 packets of splenda in my tea. I have gotten better... I used to put 6 packets in one mug. Can you feel the sugar rush? I knew that you could. ;)

See? I'm growing up. Once, I would have castigated you as a heretic, screaming from the ledges and hurling clods of dirt at you for defiling the sacred leaves with *sucrose.* Honey -- all right, when needed. Lemon or orange at taste. But *Sugar?*

Now, I am older and more refined. I drink Instant Chrysanthumum Beverage. I accept that there are those who are wrong in this world, but that the world is large enough to include them.

And then, there's Splenda.

I mean, how can I even rail against Splenda. I don't think it really exists. I use it sometimes, but it can't actually be real. So how can I be offended by someone puting fantasy powder in their drink?

I mean, how can I even rail against Splenda. I don't think it really exists. I use it sometimes, but it can't actually be real. So how can I be offended by someone puting fantasy powder in their drink?

I like thinking about it that way.... fantasy powder... cool! Thankyou for the imagery. ::curtsey::

I also found this interesting, and copied some notes for when I next go shopping.

I never put sugar in my tea; however, if I'm sick, I will spike it with honey and lemon.

My current fave is Twinings Jasmine Green Tea. Makes my tongue all tingly and happy. I drink it at work out of a New York Public Library mug with major tea stainage. Should consider washing it now and then, eh?

I also drink Earl Grey . . . mmmmm. And I'm dying to try the Earl Grey with Lavender that the Melinator mentioned.

I love love love Starbucks goofy coffee drinks but 1) who the hell can afford them? and 2) if I ingest that much caffeine at once I have to counter it with Xanax later.

What a lovely journal topic! And a FINE distraction for the procrastinating and homework-avoiding Library Princess!!

::hugs::

And I'm dying to try the Earl Grey with Lavender that the Melinator mentioned.

The next time I see you I'll bring you a bag. Did I mention it's expensive. :sigh: it's the only drawback. it's about $6 a box, and the boxes are not big. Anyway, I'm getting beyond myself. Next I see you, there shall be tea!

:*

I enjoy all sorts of green teas and also have a box of Jasmine tea I got from the same place I got Instant Chrysanthumum Beverage (I love typing that), though I have yet to drink any of it. I also enjoy Oolongs, which are partially fermented and therefore are between Greens and Blacks. However, right at the moment I'm not drinking large amounts of any of those categories.

Starbucks Goofy Coffee Drinks are fun. It's the person who becomes so anal that he actually says "Caffe" in the front of the liteny, and sends the drink back if there aren't enough shavings in his foam that deserves a hearty punch in the throat. (I'm a tall vanilla skim man, myself.)

Oh, to *truly* be a tall vanilla skim man.

Oh, to *truly* be a tall vanilla skim man.

Oh, so many places to go.... but you are family. So I will refrain. ::grin::

Dear Eric,

I believe Taylor's of Harrogate puts out a loose blend called Scottish Breakfast. Not English. Not Irish. _Scottish_. I have only seen it in Cardullo's off Harvard Sq, and it's relatively pricey. I like to imagine, though, that it's even more powerful than Twining's Irish Breakfast, which I agree is a terrific eye opener. The selection at Cardullo's is insane; there are several Republic of Tea's White Teas that cost as much as a good bottle of wine or champagne.

Cheers,
Andrea L.

Teas I am currently drinking a lot of.

For those of us who love tea,

Re: For those of us who love tea,

Re: For those of us who love tea,

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Sugar in tea? Saints preserve us!

Re: Sugar in tea? Saints preserve us!

Re: Sugar in tea? Saints preserve us!

Re: Sugar in tea? Saints preserve us!

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