Tea n00b that needs help!

[bobafettm]

So. I enjoy specialty beers and finding obscure micro-breweries etc. I'd love to jump into being into tea but I really have no idea where to start! I've never really drank tea other then when its cold out or if I'm sick so my pallet is clear of any certain likes/dislikes of flavors.

I'm sure its important to use certain ceramic tea pots etc for certain teas... So I guess that means the good ol' glass cup in microwave isn't going to work out so well ;)

Does anyone have some tips? Maybe some guides they enjoyed online.

Tomorrow is going to be 83 degrees so I'm thinking of taking the top off and cruising up to Ann Arbor Michigan which has a lot of tea / coffee shops/lounges and picking up some stuff!

[tokenuser]

So. I enjoy specialty beers and finding obscure micro-breweries etc. I'd love to jump into being into tea but I really have no idea where to start! I've never really drank tea other then when its cold out or if I'm sick so my pallet is clear of any certain likes/dislikes of flavors.

I'm sure its important to use certain ceramic tea pots etc for certain teas... So I guess that means the good ol' glass cup in microwave isn't going to work out so well ;)

Does anyone have some tips? Maybe some guides they enjoyed online.

Tomorrow is going to be 83 degrees so I'm thinking of taking the top off and cruising up to Ann Arbor Michigan which has a lot of tea / coffee shops/lounges and picking up some stuff!Go to adagio.com and get an InifiTEA setup with a tea sampler - suggest either black or green (green is milder, and more "iced tea" like). They have an InfiniTEA version for iced teas as well. It not quite "glass cup in microwave" simple, but its really not that much more of a challenge.

[bobafettm]

Thanks! I would like the challenge though! I don't mind if I have to crush the leafs etc... I think that would be more entertaining

[Shadow125]

Don't microwaves like kill all vitamins and stuff? I'm guessing that might kill some of the leaf.

[radzack]

Thanks! I would like the challenge though! I don't mind if I have to crush the leafs etc... I think that would be more entertaining

If you're interested in learning abit about tea, Kevin is doing some great videos on the "Tea" page on facebook. You can also grab his tweets here: http://twitter.com/goodtea

You can also watch some back episodes of Bottles, Blends and Brews (http://revision3beta.com/watch/bbb)for good information, and you can check out all of the episodes of the show I host for Adagio (http://www.adagio.com/signature_blend/index.html?autoplay=true&SID=1b4d50a8a8ccd74c65a919db415f9bda) for general tasting notes, tips, etc. I'm also twittering (http://twitter.com/radzack) random links, etc.

As far as a set to start out with...

I would recommend the Starter Set (http://www.adagio.com/misc/no_risk.html?SID=1b4d50a8a8ccd74c65a919db415f9bda) from Adagio if you are looking to hop into tea with a broad range, good price, and interesting infuser. Comes with an interesting and informative book on tea, etc.

I would also recommend picking up the set Kevin is selling through Samovar Teas. (http://shop.samovarlife.com/Kevin_Rose_Tea_Starter_Set_p/50krss.htm) The teas are more artisan, and would appeal to a seasoned tea drinker more than a beginner. The infuser is a nice tool to use as well. It's all up to preference.

Both are priced well, both do the job they need well. Hope this has assisted you.

-zack

[tokenuser]

Don't microwaves like kill all vitamins and stuff? I'm guessing that might kill some of the leaf.You dont microwave the tea ... you microwave the water, then add the tea. Tea needs to "bloom" to be effective.

[bobafettm]

Thanks guys! Exactly what I was looking for! I actually found a British Tea shop about 10 miles down the road from me... Didn't even know it existed. My GF actually went up there yesterday and talked to them for a bit and they gave us a variety of tea samples to try out etc. As of right now I have just the round infusers that you drop into a cup of hot water. Looking at Adagio right now to pick up a kettle infuser.

But before I order it, after work I'm going to go back up to the local tea place and see if they carry any nice infuser / kettles there. **Any recommendations of clay/glass/plastic?**

Thanks again for helping me get started! This thread saved me from just wandering aimlessly lol

[tokenuser]

First you need a good jug to boil water in. This is (generally) separate from the tea pot.

Choice of material for the pot is preferential:

1. Porcelain/China. The classic material ... because that was the easiest material to make a pot out of during the industrial revolution, which co-incides with the boom in tea drinking with the Lipton Clipper ships and the Dutch West Indies company plying to tea routes to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and India. Good thermal properties. The pot stay warm and keeps tea at a good temp.
2. Glass. Exceptional thermal properties for tea. Easy to clean (tea will stain porcelain over time). Modern designs.
3. Clay. Traditional chinese/japanese material. Used in a lot of mass produced pots. Good thermal properties, but not great (the heat radiates out and escapes too fast). My wife has a clay pot with a metal, insulating fabric lined fitted cover she uses when she want more than a cup.
4. Polycarbonate (plastic). Terrible thermal properties. You tea wil get cold faster. The InfiniTEA from Adagio is pretty good though - the tea gets steeped in the polycarb pot, then immediately gets served into a single (clay) mug for drinking, so the tea doesn't stay in the device long enough to get cold.

If you are brewing more than a cup of tea in a pot, get a thermos. Drink a cup of tea, then put the rest in a thermos for later. This has two advantages - it keeps the tea hot longer, and it gets the brewed tea away from the leaves. Over steeping your tea results in bitter tea.

[bobafettm]

Excellent write up!

Since water is water no matter how I get it hot I could just use my basic tea kettle then to get the water going. BUT it matters to have a good infuser pot to keep the tea hot while it blends the tea with... so I get ya now!

So I'm probably wanting to go with a glass pot due to easy cleaning etc...

Do you have any certain recommendation on an exact piece?

http://www.adagio.com/teaware/petit_teapot.html?SID=1d0826bc1af3d070ad16a19158fd ea85

How would that be?

[tokenuser]

I think all the Adagio gear is well designed. They know that tea leaves need room to open up and bloom.

I just realised that I was referring to the IngenuiTEA (http://www.adagio.com/teaware/ingenuiTEA_teapot.html?SID=2c467e9bad3eddbe6020d20 0302d928d) as an InfiniTEA (not a product name at all - but it should be ;) ).

I am actually thinking of getting the concert pot for my wife's birthday. Finally a reason to use tea lights that doesn't involve those damn oil burners she likes :)

[bobafettm]

Thanks again tokenuser! I picked up 2 of the IngenuiTEA (http://www.adagio.com/teaware/ingenuiTEA_teapot.html?SID=2c467e9bad3eddbe6020d20 0302d928d). One for myself and one for my GF. I also went up to the local British tea shop very close to were I work. It has a HUGE amt of teas there. I got a big variety for next to nothing. Very cheap! And they had about 40 or more to choose from.

[wayoutwest]

If you're interested in learning abit about tea, Kevin is doing some great videos on the "Tea" page on facebook. You can also grab his tweets here: http://twitter.com/goodtea

You can also watch some back episodes of Bottles, Blends and Brews (http://revision3beta.com/watch/bbb)for good information, and you can check out all of the episodes of the show I host for Adagio (http://www.adagio.com/signature_blend/index.html?autoplay=true&SID=1b4d50a8a8ccd74c65a919db415f9bda) for general tasting notes, tips, etc. I'm also twittering (http://twitter.com/radzack) random links, etc.

As far as a set to start out with...

I would recommend the Starter Set (http://www.adagio.com/misc/no_risk.html?SID=1b4d50a8a8ccd74c65a919db415f9bda) from Adagio if you are looking to hop into tea with a broad range, good price, and interesting infuser. Comes with an interesting and informative book on tea, etc.

I would also recommend picking up the set Kevin is selling through Samovar Teas. (http://shop.samovarlife.com/Kevin_Rose_Tea_Starter_Set_p/50krss.htm) The teas are more artisan, and would appeal to a seasoned tea drinker more than a beginner. The infuser is a nice tool to use as well. It's all up to preference.

Both are priced well, both do the job they need well. Hope this has assisted you.

-zack

Thanks for all the recommendations. I ordered the adagio starter set. I decided on black tea because I am an occasional, though passionate, coffee drinker.

[gus]

Go to adagio.com and get an InifiTEA setup with a tea sampler - suggest either black or green (green is milder, and more "iced tea" like). They have an InfiniTEA version for iced teas as well. It not quite "glass cup in microwave" simple, but its really not that much more of a challenge.
Yeah, do this. Or any other tea site. You can also get some at stores like whole foods, etc.

[bobafettm]

Again thank you to everyone involved with helping out!! I've become addicted to the tea already. I feel more lively after a good cup but not the same garbage you get from Coffee etc.

I tried to make my own Matcha shake drink with some green tea and grinded it up and it tasted yummy! but it was a pain in the butt to grind all that over and over. So I ordered some Matcha Green Tea powder so i can just mix my own easier! :D

[acidburn]

Thanks for all the recommendations. I ordered the adagio starter set. I decided on black tea because I am an occasional, though passionate, coffee drinker.

Since you enjoy coffee check out Mate Tea. Not sure Adagio carries it. Very tasty and has a something similar to caffeine in it. I've gotten it from Trader Joes already in tea bags, but Teavana sells by the ounce.

[johan_sk]

What I do, which has worked out really well, is go on Adagio.com and order a bunch of the small sample packs ($1-$5 each, enough tea for 10-20 cups usually). Then, I settle on a few that I like, of which I order the big packs, but still buy the small sample ones so I always have a large variety of tea in the house either for myself if I want to try something different / mix some flavors, or for a guest to choose a flavor they enjoy. I think, at this point, I have all but like 5 of the teas they have on Adagio and have started branching out, but I'm loving it. Tea is really an amazing hobby in that it's delicious, fun, complex, and really healthy.

If you want a suggestion, check this out: Jasmine #12 (http://www.adagio.com/oolong/dragon_pearl.html?SID=238b26551161c7dad58a6c0c88f7 04b2). It's not for everyone and it's a bit on the expensive side, so just grab the sampler at first, but it's SO GOOD. Definitely worth checking out.

[whoisscott]

if your starting out with tea, i'd suggest going with minty green teas, i don't really think you can go wrong with those. Some green teas can have a grassy taste, i've been told that happens when they are over steeped, but i've been really careful about that and still seem to get that with some teas. Adagio has been mentioned and I think they are great, especially when starting out, they offer sampler sets or just samples of specific tea and the samples are pretty cheap.

[itsthepittsinnh]

When you are at Adagio's website, click through to their TeaMap for listings of tea rooms and tea shops by state.
http://www.teamap.com/

Tea Guide provides the same info but encompasses the whole world:
http://www.teaguide.net/

Tea rooms/shops seem to fall into one of two categories: "Afternoon Tea" or "The Leaf"
Both know tea, but the first concentrates on the Afternoon Tea experience (scones, cucumber sandwiches, etc); while the second is all about the tea. A trip to a tea shop, and a chat with knowledgeable staff will be the best start. (Do give yourself some time as we in the tea world tend to be a bit fanatical.)

Join a tea tasting group. To find a tea tasting in your area try posting a question in TeaMail, a Yahoo Group run by the Tea Guide http://www.catteacorner.com/teamail.htm

Welcome to our world,
Annelise Pitt, Thistledown Cozies