Favorite Teas

[Gerry]

We have such an international mix of cultures and tastes here, I am sure we all have our likes and dislikes.

I love coffees and typically order Fair Trade or Organic.

But I have recently found hot teas to be highly beneficial in many respects and superb with meals.
I have been ordering them in 2 pound bags and extremely fresh.

Two of my favorite thus far are Irish Breakfast and Peony White.
Peony White has far more antioxidants and medicinal properties than Green Tea.
And beyond a doubt a much better taste and soothing effects.

I like English Breakfast but I think Irish Breakfast is far more flavorful.
Earl Grey I can take it or leave it, mostly leave it in comparison to the ones mentioned.

So what teas do you prefer?

[Donald Aquilano]

I like Ice tea. Hot tea doesn't excite me.

[Seraphim]

I drink green tea about twice a day. A little honey and lemon, great stuff.

[Gerry]

I drink green tea about twice a day. A little honey and lemon, great stuff.

I have had Green Tea that way and thought it was great.
I tried making it myself and it sucked.

Got a formula?

[Seraphim]

I have had Green Tea that way and thought it was great.
I tried making it myself and it sucked.

Got a formula?

I keep it simple and buy what brands are available in the store, and usually bagged green tea. I find that without it portioned in bags, I tend to add too much. I don't know how tolerant you are to caffeine, but I can't drink green tea before bed. Use organic "real" honey if you can, really adds to the flavor.

I know there is an Asian art to drinking it, but I've never had the opportunity to partake in high class tea drinking, though I would relish the opportunity.

[DNP]

Green tea is my favorite. I do not dring coffee for a few years now...

My favorites are Junshan Silver from the Hills of Junshan in China and Keemun - This tea is an excellent drinking in the afternoon and before bed time. Mixing it with milk would not reduce the aroma... also I like Miyako and Gyokuro Japanese green tea.

BTW:

6 Reasons to Drink Green Tea

The steady stream of good news about green tea is getting so hard to ignore, that even java junkies are beginning to sip mugs of the deceptively delicate brew. You'd think the daily dose of disease-fighting, inflammation-squelching antioxidants -- long linked with heart protection -- would be enough incentive. But wait . . . there's more! Lots more.

1. Cut Your Cancer Risk
Several polyphenols -- the potent antioxidants that green tea is famous for -- seem to help keep cancer cells from gaining a foothold in the body by discouraging growth and then suppressing the creation of new blood vessels that tumors need to thrive. Study after study has found that regularly drinking green tea reduces the risk of breast, stomach, esophagus, colon, and prostate cancer.

2. Soothe Your Skin
Got a cut, scrape, or bite, and a little leftover green tea? Soak a cotton ball in it. The tea is a natural antiseptic that relieves itching and swelling. Try it on inflamed blemishes, sunburns, or puffy eyelids. But that's not all. Green tea has been shown to help block sun-triggered skin cancer, whether you drink it or apply it directly to the skin -- which is why you're seeing green tea in more and more sunscreens and moisturizers.

3. Steady Your Blood Pressure
Having healthy blood pressure -- meaning below 120/80 -- is one thing. Keeping it that way is quite another. But people who sip just half a cup of green tea a day are almost 50% less likely to wind up with hypertension than nondrinkers. Credit goes to the polyphenols again (especially one known as ECGC); they help keep blood vessels from contracting and raising blood pressure.

4. Protect Your -- or Your Mom’s -- Memory
Green tea may also keep the brain from turning fuzzy. Getting-up-there adults who drink at least two cups a day are half as likely to develop cognitive problems as those who drink less. Why? It appears that the tea's big dose of antioxidants fights the free-radical damage to brain nerves seen in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

5. Stay Young
The younger and healthier your arteries are, the younger and healthier you are. So fight plaque buildup in your blood vessels; the sticky stuff increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, adds years to your RealAge, and saps your energy. How much green tea does this vital job take? About 10 ounces a day, which also deters your body from absorbing artery-clogging fat and cholesterol.

6. Lose Weight
Oh yeah, one more thing. Turns out that green tea speeds up your body's calorie-burning process. In the every-little-bit-counts department, that’s good news!

[HarveyJ]

White tea from a pear tree... Smells good and is insanely caffeinated. Tastes shocking when it's luke warm though. Celestial brand is my favourite.

DNP: Results 5 & 6 are debatable at best, and pushing the current marketing fad for Green Tea weight loss supplements. Any caffeinated or anti-oxidant rich substance will help you lose weight by speeding up your metabolism, so long as it doesn't contain sugar. And it's not weightloss, so much as obesity prevention... as in you'll plateau at a certain weight. Furthermore, that study is yet to be replicatedi n people. It's only been in mice so far as I can tell from the stuff in NewScientist.
Most of the push is actually centered on an appearance by Dr. Perricone on Oprah... Which is fairly dubious, as he has a brand line of crap like this that he sells.

I'm not saying this as a personal attack or anything. I just really think people need to be aware of what's medical fact and marketing fiction.

[Gerry]

I keep it simple and buy what brands are available in the store, and usually bagged green tea. I find that without it portioned in bags, I tend to add too much. I don't know how tolerant you are to caffeine, but I can't drink green tea before bed. Use organic "real" honey if you can, really adds to the flavor.

I know there is an Asian art to drinking it, but I've never had the opportunity to partake in high class tea drinking, though I would relish the opportunity.

I have bagged tea but really much preferred the fresh tea leaves. Has really been sensational. Just like coffee beans vs. cans of coffee.

Caffeine is not and has never been an issue with me. Almost immune to it after all these years of working nights.

As for honey, I always buy fresh local organic honey. FACT: Using local honey will help tremendously in alleviating your allergies. The bees make the honey by pollination of the local flowering grasses, grains, and flowers. Honey is being taken seriously now for cooking and using.

Besides, it takes good.

In regards to the "high class" tea drinking, I'll never be in that category. You won't see me sipping out of fine china with the pinky finger protruded.

[Seraphim]

I have bagged tea but really much preferred the fresh tea leaves. Has really been sensational. Just like coffee beans vs. cans of coffee.

Caffeine is not and has never been an issue with me. Almost immune to it after all these years of working nights.

As for honey, I always buy fresh local organic honey. FACT: Using local honey will help tremendously in alleviating your allergies. The bees make the honey by pollination of the local flowering grasses, grains, and flowers. Honey is being taken seriously now for cooking and using.

Besides, it takes good.

In regards to the "high class" tea drinking, I'll never be in that category. You won't see me sipping out of fine china with the pinky finger protruded.

I can build up a tolerance to alcohol, but not caffeine, it's strange. I rarely drank coke or pepsi as a kid, maybe that's the reason???

Spot on regarding local honey. I used to suffer from terrible allergies, until my Grandfather cured me with a huge supply of bees pollen.

[Gerry]

My favorites are Junshan Silver from the Hills of Junshan in China and Keemun - This tea is an excellent drinking in the afternoon and before bed time. Mixing it with milk would not reduce the aroma... also I like Miyako and Gyokuro Japanese green tea.

I have had the silver and like it very much.

You would love the White Peony - medicinal benefits are greater and more calming it seems.
Not to mention, it has an extended benefit of being able to be steeped twice - simply add 2 minutes to the previous steep.
I order my fresh coffee and tea here (no, I am not an affiliate).
Unquestionably the freshest and best prices I can find anywhere.

This is also a very educational site for learning about different teas and coffess and regions.

Tea is also a very maligned medicinal herb.
And a product that I have found to be very enjoyable as a digestive aide and very soothing and relaxing with meals.
Since I have had to quit drinking wine due to high potent pain meds I am taking, teas almost seem to be as a pursuit of a fine wine or great cigars (something else I gave up several years ago).

I can build up a tolerance to alcohol, but not caffeine, it's strange (never drank coke/pepsi as a kid, maybe that's the reason??)

Never was big on either. Drink water whenever I need something.

[Compassion]

Loose leaf tea all the way!


Oolong from China or Taiwan is very much one of my favorites.

Tea is so healthy for you, DNP hit it on the button..


Green Tea was recently shown to help prevent type 1 diabetes.

doccom is also right about buying local honey.

Wildflower honey in particular really helps pollen allergies (according to my local vendor I see at the Farmer's Market)