I know I won't be much help as my drink of choice is iced tea. I can go though about 4-6 glasses a day and more if it is hot outside. I very rarely drink hot drinks (maybe hot chocolate with a head cold or hot Saki at a Japanese dinner). Tea of choice is cheap old Lipton!

 

I like my tea STRONG. Loose leaf black tea in boiling water in the same manner as making Turkish coffee; "Earl Grey, hot;" and finally Scottish Breakfast Tea with strong overtones of Assam tea.

The tea and the 'infuser' in the image are from amazon.com. I found a large infuser to be much better than a 'ball' in allowing the tea leaves room to expand, although holes are large enough to allow tiny tea leaf pieces to get through; if that's a concern for you, a fine mesh infuser might be an alternative.

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I have a couple of infusers but they DO let fine leaf pieces through. I'll have to try that Scottish breakfast tea. I LOVE Scottish blend. Do you order from Taylor's or someplace else?

 

1. I switch off from coffee to tea and back again so I can get all the benefits of both.
2. I have a small thermos that keeps it hot/warm for the time I need it when I leave for school and drink in the am.
3. I mix black or green tea, that isn't particularly flavorful, with a herbal fruity or a mint, especially works well to add a little flavor to a bland tea.
4. I think it's cool for those of you who use infusers and the like, probably would change my attitude toward teas that smell good, but have little flavor.

 

I had tried several teas called 'Scottish Breakfast' (purchased in specialty packs of twelve to twenty bags) and found them to fall quite short of what I tasted on a visit to Scotland several years ago. I continued searching. Once I read the reviews of the Tayor's on Amazon, I made a small gamble and ordered the following at first:

http://www.amazon.co.../dp/B001EQ5PW2/
(Two tins come in this order; one I kept, one I gave as a gift.)

and

http://www.amazon.co...uct/B0000U7EMM/
(when I ordered mine, I guess these on a special because I got a set of four for this price; two I kept, two I gave as gifts. Maybe it is still a set of four but the description now fails to mention this?)


Once I knew I liked the tea in the tin and wanted more, I started ordering the same item in a box instead of a tin - the box version cost less, six at a time to qualify for the 'add on' price instead of the regular price:

http://www.amazon.co.../dp/B002HQP4WO/


Tin or box, the tea came in the same sealed pouches to preserve freshness. I keep reusing the tin.

These might be found elsewhere for less, or occasionally for a lower-price promotion on Amazon.

 

I mostly like coffee. I drink a few cups a day.

In the evenings Liz brews Chinese tea and we both drink it. I've developed a taste for it and really do like it. Liz buys a brick of the tea at the Asian market not too far from here. She breaks off just the right amount (I have no idea how she knows what the right amount is, but she does) and drops it into a teapot of boiling water. Generally, the longer it sits, the better it tastes.

Its especially good on cold evenings.

 

Thanks so much! I've added this to my wish list. My sampler of various teas and my automatic tea maker are expected today. I look forward to trying them out. I've brewed tea many many times over the years, but have yet to find just the right flavor/variety. I'm hoping getting the perfect temp and brewing method will make it more enjoyable for me.

Rob: I think I'll check out the Asian market nearby to see what they have as well. Thank you all for your advice. Keep it coming.

 

That's Kathy... loves her iced tea... couple of large decaf bags, and one constant comment for a pitcher, usually gone in a day or day and a half!

 

1. When it comes to the summer, I buy those "gallon" size tea bags from Lipton, getting them at Sams Club, and put it outside in a gallon glass jug, let the sun do it's work, and drink it w/o sugar (I'm 60, Dr. says I'm type 2 diabetic, but I'm sstill in denial
2. Like everything else, you acquire a taste for it, and now I think it's the best thirst-quencher there is.
3. And yes, I still remember sweetened tea from my younger days, my mother-in-law in Huntsville, AL made the best! What a dessert!

 

So true. When I do go to the tea houses, I usually get a bag of something to take home. I tell the tea seller something vague and stupid like, "something soothing" and then I choose from his suggestions by smell. Very scientific. Usually works out ok. Only tossed one I couldn't stand.