teas

Me!!!

I gave up drinking coffee over 30 years ago when it was reported -- later reversed -- that people who drank over 5 cups of coffee a day had twice the risk of heart attacks. Since I drank 10-15 cups, I decided to switch to tea.

Very quickly, I realized tea bag tea had less flavor than brewed loose tea. And I quickly discovered Twinings -- their English Breakfast, Assam, Darjeelings, Russian (Caravan?), Gunpowder, and my favorite for years -- Prince of Wales (a Chinese black Keemun). Never cared for the perfumed Earl Grey.

After a few years, I switched from Twinings to buying from Murchie's in Canada (much cheaper). I'd buy about $100/year from them, still do <www.murchies.com> and now my favorites are primarily those with lower theobromine levels (theo. is similar to caffeine) -- Murchie's extra choice Keemun, Formosa Oolong, and green gunpowder. While I think Murchie's quality has slipped a little over the last 10 years compared to their previous level, they're still good.

Recently, I've also started ordering from www.SpecialTeas.com in Massachusetts.

When I made the switch from tea bags (the tea inside is dust or floor sweepings although I'll still drink it when it's the only kind available) to brewing loose teas, I first started putting the loose tea into some of those metal balls pierced with holes and which contain the tea leaves.

Then I found that letting the tea leaves more freely circulate in the boiling water and then steeping the brew for 5 minutes released FAR, FAR more flavor. (Try taste testing the difference between a cup of tea bag tea vs. a cup brewed from loose tea -- also the difference between tea brewed in a tea ball vs. that with the tea leaves free to circulate. Use whatever method ends tasting the best to you.)

So that's the way I've made tea for years. Usually use a microwave to bring 4 cups of water to a boil in Pyrex measuring cup, then add the tea leaves, cover and let steep for 5 minutes, then pour through a strainer/sieve into a cup and enjoy!

I'm going to go make some now.

I love tea. I drink unsweet ice tea all the time. I used to drink hot tea with milk and sugar. Then it began to taste different. It wasn't as heavy tasting. It tasted thin, if that makes sense. I've tried several different types and they're all the same to me. Any suggestions on getting my old taste back

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Monnie, do you still intend to drink it with milk and sugar? I'd think that would alter the taste considerably. I've only had my tea without sugar or milk. And by "heavy" do you mean full, rich?

I was going to suggest that you order some of the small (maybe 1/2 ounce?) samplers from www.SpecialTeas.com If you want a full, rich taste, possibly a Chinese black Keemun or a Ceylon or an Assam or an English Breakfast blend might suit you.

But rather than buying a bunch of different kinds of teas most of which you wouldn't like, I suggest going to some of the coffee and tea bars where they have a variety of teas such as the kinds I mentioned and ordering just a cup of this one or that one until you find one you like.

In my experience, Home brewing the loose teas from Special Teas (or Murchies) tastes far better than any brewed "cuppas" I've ever had in Coffee/Tea houses. But they'll provide a less expensive way of trying to find the tea varieties more satisfying to your taste.

ETA -- But Monnie, after further thought, if you like adding milk/cream & sugar to your hot cup of ___, why not try to discover the particular type and style of coffee you like? Coffees have as many different varieties and blends as teas and they're probably much better suited to adding the sugar & milk/cream you like. Starbucks has a lot of varieties although I heard McDonald's coffees have won some blind taste tests.