Mar 05 2008
Lessons From A Cup Of Tea
I don’t do coffee. Just generally don’t like it - though I do occasionally enjoy those iced Starbucks Frappuccino things. So the problem is that I drink Coke. Diet Coke actually, and lots of it. Most of the time I drink decaf Diet Coke, but at least a few times a day I drink the straight stuff. I know it isn’t good for me, but I am just not a big fan of plain water. It is just so, so… plain. But now I hear from British researchers, of course British, that tea may actually be healthier than drinking water!
I occasionally try to have tea, and here in the South we are supposed to drink iced tea, but I have never been a big fan. Usually I end up doctoring it up with lots of sweetener and lemon just to make it palatable. But maybe I have been doing it wrong. Maybe I have been trying the wrong teas. Of course, being the cheapskate that I am, when I go to try tea I know that I may not like it so I get something cheap. Hey, don’t want to waste money if you are not going to drink the whole thing, right? Wrong. I need to approach it, like we should approach most things, with the idea that I will like it and will enjoy it. In that case I want to purchase something good that I will want around. Maybe it is that preconceived notion that I don’t like tea that is keeping me from enjoying it.
Then I started thinking, isn’t that the way with a lot that we do? If you were to go on a date with someone you thought your probably wouldn’t like, you wouldn’t put much effort into it. You would take them to a lesser restaurant, maybe not waste money on flowers, etc. But by doing that you have pretty much insured that you won’t have a good time and that you won’t want another date. Whereas if you had approached the date with enthusiasm it might have turned out differently. And even if you still didn’t want to go out with that person again, at least you would have had a more enjoyable evening.
Again, if you approach a task at work with the attitude “this is going to suck so I am not going to give it my all,” guess what? It will suck. And the job you do on it will suck. And most likely someone will notice, call you on it, and make your life suck even worse. Deal with it - you caused it. Now, if you go into it with the attitude of “this may not be my favorite thing, but if I hit it hard and do it well then I can move on to better things”, then you might actually do a good job on the task and get assigned better more interesting task. Attitude, yes, but also just a way of approaching things.
So, back to the tea. Can someone give me some good recommendations? Matthew Stibbe over at the Bad Language site says that tea is a great tool for writers and even has a few recommendations such as Breakfast Americana Mighty Leaf. Don’t know if it is a good one for a newbie, but sounds as good a first step as any!
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This week, my favorite is Tazo’s Passion. I also like any of Celestial Seasonings’ Zinger teas. For tea with caffeine, I’m a recent convert to chai. Again, I go with Tazo. They’ve got a concentrated liquid in a box that you mix half and half with milk. And yes, it sounds disgusting. My taste buds like it, though.
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Half and half with milk?! Interesting. I will check out the Tazo line.
I’m in a similar boat. I don’t like coffee at all. I love Diet Coke and other soft drinks but am trying to cut down. Plain water is boring. So where does that leave me? Tea.
But the nice thing is, tea and other herbal infusions have so many wonderful flavors to offer, the opportunities are wide open. Just don’t over-sweeten and defeat the point — and that’s the kicker.
As for recommendations? My tastes are a little pedestrian. I like the Constant Comment.
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@Haleyhughes - That one actually looks good. I tend to like the blends that have a bit of citrus in them. I am actually drinking one right now, although I did have to put two packs of Splenda in it. That probably isn’t good…
We have started drinking http://www.republicoftea.com which is absolutely fantastic. I especially like the Earl Grayer, Goji Raspberry Green Tea, Pomegranate Green Tea, and Cranberry Orange Black Tea. The stuff makes sublime iced tea or hot tea, and their catalogs are great as is their website. You can buy the tea in bulk (250 round unbleached tea bags), in canisters of 50, as loose tea or in sample sets. We have found it at World Market if you don’t like to mail order. We buy in bulk (currently we have 1000 bags (one bulk of each kind)) and although we spent a lot on it, we got free shipping, no tax, and about a 6 month supply of tea. I also noticed you can buy it in pre-made iced tea bottles, and they even have boxes (like box wine) you can put in your fridge. You should totally check it out.
The other thing I wanted to comment on was that carbonated drinks can leach calcium out of bone, accelerating bone loss (YOU: Staying Young pg.286). Also, artificial foods (like sweeteners) can affect mind and memory, and not in a good way (YOU: Staying Young pp.44-45).
Say it with me people “Crystal Light” That stuff rocks. And I like the Green Teas and Black Teas - no specific favorite flavors.
@Blueyes - I actually like those flavored Crystal Light things you put in a bottle of water. And zero calories. The fruit punch one is great.
@Karen - I went to RepublicOfTea and sent off for their catalog. I have some friends and family who are really into tea, so even if I don’t get anything for myself it would still have the makings of some nice birthday or Christmas gifts. Oh, and speaking of artificial sweeteners - just after drinking that tea with the Splenda I started feeling bad. And all I keep tasking is that sickly Splenda flavor… ugh.
I am both a Tea and Coffee lover, but I am very picky about both. I only like a certain coffee to go out and buy, and for making at home I have to have my favourite cream. For tea I drink certain kinds differently.
Right now I drink Oolong, only because I have some weight to lose and it’s suppose to be good for help in that area, as for taste, I can’t say as though I really like it. If you like something mild, Chamomile tea is really good and good for you, Lemon Chamomile is my favourite, it’s one of the only teas I can drink and not be left with a bitter aftertaste. Mint tea is another favourite, also very mild, good for you, and pretty much aftertaste free.
Dark teas I tend to only drink with milk or cream in them because to me they are so bitter, the milk takes that bitterness away. Vanilla tea is good in the dark, as is English Breakfast.
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I love tea, particularly loose tea leaves steeped in a real tea pot. Ask me how often I splurge on the extra effort? Maybe once a month. Even so, most people make it too weak for me and they don’t bother to pre-warm the pot, if they use one at all. My favorites are English teas: Earl Grey, English Breakfast Tea. I also enjoy an espicially wonderful tea, Spiced Raspberry, which can only be found at The Red Barn Antiques Back Porch Restaurant in Lake Alfred, FL. Do I sound fussy? Perhaps so! But I also drink Lipton!
WillThink4Wine’s last blog post..I’m working on it
@Jolene - Sounds like you are certainly serious about your tea! So Oolong might help me lose some weight? I could seriously get into that. I have heard of Chamomile, but no nothing about it. Need to go look it up and see why it would be good for me.
@WillThink4Wine - I will be in Orlando in June, is it worth going over to Lake Alfred to pick some of that Spiced Raspberry up? How is that restaurant?
Thanks for the pointers!
I’ve always been an Earl Grey fan myself.
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Think I may have found one today that I like - RepublicOfTea’s Pomegranate. Tried some at a local shop and I liked it, now we have to see if I can make it myself.