Indeed! Its almost like the people who post here enjoy "the best" life has to offer.Mike Grammer wrote: ↑February 26th, 2019, 12:13 pm It does seem that we have some Da Hong Pao (Red Robe) mafia in this thread![]()

Indeed! Its almost like the people who post here enjoy "the best" life has to offer.Mike Grammer wrote: ↑February 26th, 2019, 12:13 pm It does seem that we have some Da Hong Pao (Red Robe) mafia in this thread![]()
The chemical taste of flavored coffee is awful. A local shop “specializes” in flavored coffees. I bought some filters from there in a moment of desperation, I threw them out after the first use.Jay Miller wrote: ↑February 26th, 2019, 11:22 amFlavored coffee is gross but I'll admit to loving a good Earl Greay.Troy Stark wrote: ↑February 26th, 2019, 9:22 am Herbal drinks = not tea
Flavored teas = gross
Aside from that, I enjoy most teas and what I drink will depend on my mood. I lean toward high-quality loose leaf teas. Love walking into asian tea shops and tasting gongfu style.
Particular favorites include oolong (esp: red robe), aged pu'er (we have a 20 year that is divine), jasmine pearls, and any spring tea I can get my hands on.
My understanding is that there are only single digit bushes of the original "mother plants" left and they are so rare that the tea produced from those mother plants is given to government official or someone extremely important. You can't even buy it with money.Troy Stark wrote: ↑February 26th, 2019, 5:52 pm Speaking of red robe, has anyone ever had "The Red Robe," i.e. tea from the mother plants? I think all tea labeled red robe is supposed to be from bushes grown in the province that were propagated from the mother plants, but who knows if that ends up being true...
I have to admit... I usually don't walk into a tea shop and when I do, I typically go to the ones in Vancouver where there is no online sale.Troy Stark wrote: ↑February 28th, 2019, 5:12 am Alan, great post. Thanks for all the excellent info you've offered in this thread.
One last question. Since we all don't have relatives in the tea tradedo you have any suggestions for places the rest of us can source authentic Da Hong Pao, etc?
Isn't the answer to milk "only if you're British"?
Not British, but Earl Grey with a splash of cream is an awesome morning alternative when you're not feeling coffee.
Sounds awesome. I should really explore matcha more, but it's so damn expensive. Well, at least the higher grade stuff is.
Sounds really cool. The video said Oolongs are a very broad class of tea ranging anywhere from 10% oxidation to 85%. Do you know approximately where yours fall? Or any brands and/or names to look for? TIARussell Faulkner wrote: ↑May 7th, 2019, 9:56 am Yeah the answer to milk and sweetener is never.
I like greener Oolongs, mostly from Taiwan. I buy via Postcard Teas in London and usually have 2-3 on the go.
Russell Faulkner wrote: ↑May 7th, 2019, 10:15 am Mark, check out Postcard teas website. It has a lot of background but it’s unlikely you can buy the same tea in the US.
Of course they will deliver (well they do to me...)
Worth bearing in mind that you get 3-6 cups from the same leaves, so it may appear expensive but on a ‘per cup’ basis, all but the most expensive teas are reasonably priced.
A famous kind of Taiwanese tea is gaoshan oolong. Gaoshan translates to high mountain because the teas are grown on mountains there. I happen to have a surplus thanks to generous family members from Taiwan. If you're interested in trying some before you drop $$$ on it, you can send me a PM with your address and I'd be happy to mail you enough for a cup or two. The catch is that I couldn't tell you what type it is because I can't read Chinese.Mark B wrote: ↑May 7th, 2019, 10:22 amRussell Faulkner wrote: ↑May 7th, 2019, 10:15 am Mark, check out Postcard teas website. It has a lot of background but it’s unlikely you can buy the same tea in the US.
Of course they will deliver (well they do to me...)
Worth bearing in mind that you get 3-6 cups from the same leaves, so it may appear expensive but on a ‘per cup’ basis, all but the most expensive teas are reasonably priced.
Good to know. Thanks!
Im gathering your a Southern UK woosie who would not understand us council house kids drinking our PG tipsRussell Faulkner wrote: ↑May 7th, 2019, 9:56 am Yeah the answer to milk and sweetener is never.
I like greener Oolongs, mostly from Taiwan. I buy via Postcard Teas in London and usually have 2-3 on the go.
Anyone else in the dark on "PG tips?"Alan Eden wrote: ↑May 7th, 2019, 12:40 pmIm gathering your a Southern UK woosie who would not understand us council house kids drinking our PG tipsRussell Faulkner wrote: ↑May 7th, 2019, 9:56 am Yeah the answer to milk and sweetener is never.
I like greener Oolongs, mostly from Taiwan. I buy via Postcard Teas in London and usually have 2-3 on the go.
Gonna pass for now, but thanks so much for the generous offer!Betty C wrote: ↑May 7th, 2019, 12:28 pmMark B wrote: ↑May 7th, 2019, 10:22 amRussell Faulkner wrote: ↑May 7th, 2019, 10:15 am Mark, check out Postcard teas website. It has a lot of background but it’s unlikely you can buy the same tea in the US.
Of course they will deliver (well they do to me...)
Worth bearing in mind that you get 3-6 cups from the same leaves, so it may appear expensive but on a ‘per cup’ basis, all but the most expensive teas are reasonably priced.
Good to know. Thanks!
A famous kind of Taiwanese tea is gaoshan oolong. Gaoshan translates to high mountain because the teas are grown on mountains there. I happen to have a surplus thanks to generous family members from Taiwan. If you're interested in trying some before you drop $$$ on it, you can send me a PM with your address and I'd be happy to mail you enough for a cup or two. The catch is that I couldn't tell you what type it is because I can't read Chinese.
Is this in response to Russell's comment about never using milk and sweeteners? Or are you calling me "fancy pants" too?Alan Eden wrote: ↑May 7th, 2019, 12:39 pm Its interesting, everything is fancy this fancy that, oolong, matcha etc etc
A whole country of people was raised on PG tips with a splash of milk and heaven forbid some white tate & lyle sugar, its wonder were not all dead. Try this before dismissing it out of sight, i know its not cool or fancy but if you just take it for what it is then it is a cheap easy wonderful drink.
I know ill get mocked by all the fancy pants but thats OK
I had to google though I was correct in my guess that it was a brand.Mark B wrote: ↑May 7th, 2019, 12:54 pmAnyone else in the dark on "PG tips?"Alan Eden wrote: ↑May 7th, 2019, 12:40 pmIm gathering your a Southern UK woosie who would not understand us council house kids drinking our PG tipsRussell Faulkner wrote: ↑May 7th, 2019, 9:56 am Yeah the answer to milk and sweetener is never.
I like greener Oolongs, mostly from Taiwan. I buy via Postcard Teas in London and usually have 2-3 on the go.![]()
Thats a ridiculous comparison.Russell Faulkner wrote: ↑May 7th, 2019, 10:13 pm Discussing PG Tips here is the equivalent of discussing whatever the cheapest, mass produced wine available in the US is.
Go for it if that interests you but save the reverse snobbism it’s boring.
Read more here.Why? Well to get to the bottom of this issue, last week I spent an afternoon at the Fifth International Scientific Symposium on Tea and Human Health, where I picked the brains of lots of researchers.
Turns out, there seems to be a consensus about one thing: Milk proteins can bind with the beneficial plant compounds known as flavonols in tea. (You may have heard these compounds referred to by specific names such as catechins.) And, according to some scientists, the binding may make it tough for the body to absorb the flavonols and get the health benefits.
Thanks for all the info, Siun. I'll look into these!Siun o'Connell wrote: ↑May 8th, 2019, 5:18 pm English breakfast drinker here as my daily 3 cups ... with cream.
I do enjoy finer teas at times and am quite fond of Kusmi tea's Tchai. They are a historic brand and have some very interesting offerings. They sell a wellness tea sampler at a reasonable cost if you want to experiment - https://us-en.kusmitea.com/wellness-tea ... tment.html
PS - the Bloomingdale's Home store at least used to carry the Kusmi teas - since you're in Chicago. you might want to check.
Also, some of us were going to do a tea tasting - never got around to it but there was a good shop for doing that: https://www.adagio.com/stores/il_chicago.html (see the list on that page of planned tastings.
And here are more options - the first sounds interesting -https://specialtyteaalliance.org/world- ... icago-tea/
And of course Vanilla patisserie serves very good tea with their pastries in their little cafe room/
Yah. Good DHP is Greatness. Problem is there are different levels of it. And some label fraud etc.Mark B wrote: ↑May 9th, 2019, 10:06 am Does anyone have experience with this stuff? It appears to be the zenith of quality tea. The prices they command are mind-blowing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Da_Hong_Pao
Seems spot-on. At least a tea habit won’t financially ruin me the way Burgundy does.Mark Y wrote: ↑May 9th, 2019, 12:26 pmYah. Good DHP is Greatness. Problem is there are different levels of it. And some label fraud etc.Mark B wrote: ↑May 9th, 2019, 10:06 am Does anyone have experience with this stuff? It appears to be the zenith of quality tea. The prices they command are mind-blowing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Da_Hong_Pao
I’m no expert but I do know this. Imagine the vastness that is wine knowledge/world. There’s an equal vastness of tea knowledge/world.
From soil. tea growing. Variety. Terrior. Service. Temp/equipment etc. it’s nuts if u go deep on it.
Kinda like saying I wanna learn about wine.
I heard Grand cru burgundy is good. Is it?![]()
Oh you just haven’t gone deep enough yet.Mark B wrote: ↑May 9th, 2019, 12:37 pmSeems spot-on. At least a tea habit won’t financially ruin me the way Burgundy does.Mark Y wrote: ↑May 9th, 2019, 12:26 pmYah. Good DHP is Greatness. Problem is there are different levels of it. And some label fraud etc.Mark B wrote: ↑May 9th, 2019, 10:06 am Does anyone have experience with this stuff? It appears to be the zenith of quality tea. The prices they command are mind-blowing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Da_Hong_Pao
I’m no expert but I do know this. Imagine the vastness that is wine knowledge/world. There’s an equal vastness of tea knowledge/world.
From soil. tea growing. Variety. Terrior. Service. Temp/equipment etc. it’s nuts if u go deep on it.
Kinda like saying I wanna learn about wine.
I heard Grand cru burgundy is good. Is it?![]()
![]()
Tea seems to be a drink that attracts people named Mark (and with a "K" no less! Astounding! - we are a dying breed).Mark Y wrote: ↑May 9th, 2019, 1:01 pmOh you just haven’t gone deep enough yet.Mark B wrote: ↑May 9th, 2019, 12:37 pmSeems spot-on. At least a tea habit won’t financially ruin me the way Burgundy does.Mark Y wrote: ↑May 9th, 2019, 12:26 pm
Yah. Good DHP is Greatness. Problem is there are different levels of it. And some label fraud etc.
I’m no expert but I do know this. Imagine the vastness that is wine knowledge/world. There’s an equal vastness of tea knowledge/world.
From soil. tea growing. Variety. Terrior. Service. Temp/equipment etc. it’s nuts if u go deep on it.
Kinda like saying I wanna learn about wine.
I heard Grand cru burgundy is good. Is it?![]()
![]()
I’ve heard people paying thousands for discs of pu’er hahaha
Mark³
Edit: just realized Mark cubed is technically four Marks...
2nd edit: then realized the number "1" cubed is still "1". I think I broke my brain. Honestly, I have no idea what Mark cubed would be. Oh well, guess we may never know. Sorry for the thread drift.