I think it is time to broaden my horizons and slow down on the espresso habit. I've ordered a tea maker and a sampler of various teas. Do any of you drink teas? Do you have any advice on blends/types of tea that you recommend? I've often experimented with hot tea but have yet to find one that I really love.

 

Sorry, Val. No tea for me. Just keep a diet Coke in the fridge for my next visit.

I do know some folks really enjoy tea. I'm sure you'll find some you like.

 

I drink tea for the most part...coffee out at dinner sometimes. My sis is more into brewing tea. She gets teas from Teavana. There is a store here. I like herbal fruit teas and most often drink Raspberry Zinger from Celestial Seasonings. They have a lemon one and apple cinammon. I have drunk Constant Comment, too.

 

^^^ I love coffee in the mornings. I have never been much of a tea drinker. Coincidentally strange, though, just this week I had decided to severely limit my coffee drinking to help avoid periodic acid reflux at night. We have a Keurig hot drink pod machine, and I am ordering various kinds of teas right now. I use a Melitta filter system for coffee and the Keurig pods for other hot drinks. I still have to make coffee for +1 Chris in the mornings. Maybe l can say more about tea preferences later.

 

I like the basic Earl Grey quite a bit. I've wanted to make iced tea with it as well, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

 

NOOOOOOOOO, while tea is okay, espresso is special.

 

I'll never be able to completely give up my espresso, but I've been turning that machine off earlier and earlier every day and I'm trying to limit myself to only a couple of cappys a day. I keep hearing of the benefits of green tea, white tea and black tea. I've tried Earl Grey but it really does nothing for me. I LOVE Scottish Blend tea but would like to venture out into other blends, etc. Thanks for the Teavana recommendation, MsP. I've ordered a sampler from them to see what I like. The teamaker is supposed to help brew the tea at just the right temperature so the flavor is much better. I checked on that Breville machine, but discovered it is loaded with plastics and bpa. The cuisinart is not as automatic as you have to lower the brew basket yourself (what a pain ) but has no bpa. I'm looking forward to trying something new for those times when I need a little pick me up in the afternoon and a nice warm cup of tea would be nice in the late morning.

 

Maybe if I double up on my Beta blocker.

 

I'll have to look at what is in my cabinet for a more definitive list.

I love a mug of tea on cold evenings and lazy Sunday afternoons (when I get the latter...not so frequently, it seems). I have a Revereware tea kettle that whistles -just like my mom had when I was a kid, and my tea is either in bags or loose for which I have a spring loaded tea infuser. Very simple. Nothing high tech. There is something about a tea kettle on a gas flame like Grandma Murphy did it. I could just put a mug of water in the microwave but it's not the same to me.

I like several different flavors and all depends on my mood. Celestial Seasons "sleepytime" for when it's late at night. Various cinnamons, oranges, apples are a staple in my kitchen. And of course the usual suspects like earl grey or English breakfast. And plain Tetley when I'm feeling all Don Meredith.

Tea is also how I get together with one of my girlfriends. She doesn't like to go out much (slight mobility issues) and while she loves a stiff drink, she can't really do that anymore (meds). But she can drink tea so I lure her out of her cocoon by making reservations at one of the local tea houses where we pretend we are little girls having a grown up tea party. It's silly, but it's fun.

At home, this time of year is when I pull out the warmer slippers and throw blankets, relax on the couch all casual, and I really start getting into my teas.

Heh-heh...

She's my-tea my-tea,
Just lettin' it all hang out.

(yeah, bad pun)

 

Earl Grey is the brew of choice for us. The local gourmet market has it loose and it works great in our tea brewer with thermal carafe.

I much prefer loose tea to bagged as the flavors are more intense and overall better.