Always great to see another new fan. I'm fresh off the boat too, but I've learned a lot in the past few months. I only got my first Gaiwan days ago but already love the little thing and since they are cheap I highly reccomended the Crimson Lotus starter Gaiwan posted somewhere here (I just placed an order for myself too). They're good for asian teas, or if you want to make some tea for yourself. With my Gaiwan I can get anywhere from 7-12 seepings of tea and I'll drink those leaves throughout the day, I'm not feeling pressured to get the best value out of my leaves by having three large cups of tea.

But infusers are also nice. I have a Adiago which can come with a handly little starter set if you opt in. Good if you're making tea for friends.

If you want tea samples, Verdant and Good Life Tea offer cheap ones, $5 and $7 which should help you decide if you're an oolong person or a green person or a stereotypical british fellow drinking the Queen's own Earl Gray.

A good place to buy tea from is Amazon Prime. Lots of tea shops online will offer free shipping on orders over a certain price, but if you're not planning on buying $49 worth of product then Amazon is great. You'll find a good selection of tea you can buy in bulk, perfect if you just wanna quick fix of good tea, and they have a good selection of higher quality tea too.

Just some examples, but Amazon really does have good bulk tea. Lots of vendors, lots of them using Amazon prime.

You can buy 2LB of Gunpowder Green tea on Amazon for only $20, two day Amazon prime delivery and no shipping cost. That's a great price.

White Peony 2LB for $32 is what I really want to try next.

Davidson has a great selection of bulk teas too, Irish Breakfast.

But I'll warn with buying teas in bulk, if you buy too much you better have some people you can pawn it off on. The prices are so cheap on Amazon, and the quality is fairly good but soon you'll realize that it takes months to drink a simple pound of tea. The more tea you buy know the less you'll get to buy in the future because that 5 LBs of tea you bought will take you years to finish. Try not to buy too much bulk tea, if you decide green is your favorite then look at a handful of green reviews on amazon, research their tastes and find which one is best for you.

/u/ReTalio /u/rnbarista Absolutely! I'll warn you, this is my first go-round on this recipe. I haven't made it before, so I'm not 100% sure how it'll turn out. It's kind of a hybrid of other recipes I've found around the sub. One major thing I've changed from other recipes is omitting any actual pumpkin/sweet potato/squash to the must. In general, most things that are "pumpkin spice" flavored are just that - pumpkin spices without actual pumpkin. Pumpkin beers are especially like this, generally containing no actual pumpkin. I've also used molasses to add some color and a subtle flavor to the mead. I've made it fairly high gravity in hopes of retaining some residual sweetness, which is also why I went with Lalvin D47 instead of a yeast with a higher alcohol tolerance. It may still need to be back-sweetened, but only time will tell.

​

I've made up some of this as I go, and I'm not a very experienced mead maker. Hopefully you don't mind my verbose recipe! Let me know if you try it, I'd be curious to see what you do differently and what kind of success you get!

​

Ingredients (One Gallon)

The Must

• 3.5 lbs Clover Honey (I used Kirkland)
  
• 1/2 Cup (US) Molasses (I used Grandma's Original)
  
• 3 Cinnamon Sticks, approximately 3 in/7.5 cm long
  
• 1 Teaspoon Ground Ginger (dried ginger root may be better if available)
  
• 1/2 Whole Nutmeg
  
• 1 Heaping Teaspoon of Whole Cloves
  
• 10 Whole Allspice Berries
  
  Yeast and Nutrients
  
  
• Lalvin D47 (I used a whole packet, but that's definitely unnecessary. I meant to only use half but in my excitement I rehydrated the whole thing.)
  
• 8 Grams Fermaid-O (Following a nutrient schedule)
  
  

  Process
  

  
  ^(SIDE NOTE BEFORE CONTINUING:) ^(I used my home's tap water for this batch. I have very hard water, but it is clean and I drink it regularly from the tap. I like the flavor and I figured if there would be any off-flavors from the water itself, it would be masked by the spices in the must. I did some research beforehand and I actually discovered that my region was settled so heavily by German immigrants partially because the local water made for great brewing. Everybody has their own opinions about using tap water for brewing, so use whatever water you feel would suit you best. Here is a) ^(GotMead forum thread) ^(about hard water and mead making if you are interested.)
  
  

1. Sanitize all equipment (Should I even say that?)
   
2. In a stock pot, bring one gallon of water to a boil. Boil gently for 20 minutes to remove chlorine/chloramine if using tap water (see note above) or dissolve half of one campden tablet in water and wait 24 hours before bringing water to a gentle boil.
   
3. While the water is heating up, coarsely crush/crack cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice berries. Combine with ground ginger and whole cloves and sniff them for 10 minutes set aside.
   
4. Once the water has gently boiled for 20 minutes (or has reached a low boil if tap water is not being used), add the spice mixture to the water and begin making a strong spice tea (use a fine mesh or muslin bag if desired). Reduce to simmer for 30-40 minutes or until desired strength is achieved. Taste occasionally, I made mine fairly strong (it should smell amazing at this point).
   ^(In the final 10 minutes or so, I added two bags of) ^(Twinings Pumpkin Spice Chai) ^(to try to bump up the spice flavor and add some tannins. This is totally optional and I'm not even sure how much of a difference it will make in the long run.)
   
5. Remove from heat, and measure out 3.5 lbs of honey in a separate large pot. Add enough spice tea (straining out the large chunks) to just thin out the honey so it can be poured into your fermentation vessel. Do the same with 1/2 cup of molasses (If you have a big enough vessel, you can do them both at the same time. I did not, so I mixed mine in batches. You could also add the honey and molasses directly to your fermentation vessel and add in some of the hot spice tea to dissolve).
   
6. Hydrate the yeast in your desired method. ^(You go, Go-Ferm guys)
   (I used a bit of the honey and spiced tea mixture.)
   
7. Pour your spice tea into your fermentation vessel, straining through mesh or a sieve, until it is just under your desired fill line. Cover and shake or stir to both cool off the must and aerate.
   
8. Take a hydrometer reading.
   Target OG: 1.135
   ^(My OG was around 1.136)
   
9. If your must has cooled enough, pitch your yeast and add Fermaid-O per the nutrient addition schedule.
   
10. Stir or cover and shake so that everyone gets to know each other.
    
11. Insert airlock (or consider a blowoff tube) and place in your favorite fermentation spot.
    
12. Degas and add nutrient as needed.
    
13. Once fermentation is complete (verifying with hydrometer), rack to secondary over one campden tablet.
    Target FG: 1.035^(ish)
    
14. Taste to see if additional spices are needed. If so, add spices to fine mesh bag and place in secondary fermentation vessel. Taste frequently as not to overpower the flavors. A spice tincture can be made as well for more controlled spice additions.
    
15. Bulk age or bottle. Enjoy when the air gets cool and there's pumpkins in every store!

Tea is not the same as coffee, and the first step to enjoying and appreciating it is to not compare it to coffee (or any other beverage). The tea world is vast, even basic categories like "green" or "black" themselves splinter in hundreds of directions to the point where reading "green tea doesn't pack the flavor punch that I like" is vague almost to the point of meaninglessness.

We can all make suggestions here, but ultimately there is a world of research and discovery that you're just going to have to do on your own to get the most out of the world of tea. The FAQ is a good place to start, as is The Non-Judgmental Guide to Tea.

I say give green tea another try. Go for a really good Japanese green, say Gyokuro. Maybe after drinking it you won't like the flavor, but the first infusion broth of a good gyokuro is the last thing I'd describe as lacking flavor or punch! Check out this page from Samovar Tea on how to brew gyokuro which includes a video. Tealyra is selling my favorite gyokuro on Amazon currently, but it's a first flush and I don't know how long supplies will last.

If you're after intense flavors, then puer might be worth a shot. Puer is green tea that has been aged for years and years, effectively slow oxidizing it through fermentation into a black tea. It is some of the most intense, smokey, earthy, dark broth you can brew, and the flavors and character of the tea evolve over time and will vary from production to production depending on the leaf, climate, and storage conditions. Puer that has been piled and artificially accelerated in its fermentation is called "ripe" or "shu," while "raw" or "sheng" puer means it was simply dried under the sun and then stored for years until sold to you. Puers are diverse, as are all teas. Crimson Lotus has a great guide for choosing a puer, including a section titled "If you like coffee" - they are also one of my favorite sellers. I LOOOOVE the 2014 Cloudy Days.

Tea plucked and not allowed to oxidize or only just barely oxidize become white or green teas, while fully oxidized leaf becomes black tea. Oolong tea is leaf that is allowed to oxidize somewhere in between, some closer to green, some closer to black, some in the middle. The result is a world of tea within Oolong alone, with different flavors and styles, it's amazing. Some are fruity, others are vegetal, others yet are creamy, or sweet, or nutty. Here's a guide from Serious Eats on Oolong worth reading, while Verdant Tea is an excellent tea seller with a fantastic web site that goes into the flavor profiles of each tea, and in addition to Oolong he sells puers and green.

Lapsang Souchong is smoked over pine, it's smokey and dark and dry and not like any other hot beverage you've tried. Assam teas are naturally malty black teas from india and are incredibly satisfying with milk and sugar.

This vendor list will help you if you're looking for other vendors.

Good luck!

With coffee, herbal teas, mate, and postum, you're going to be used to a much stronger flavor. Tea can be very subtle. If you drink it right after a cup of coffee or spicy/ strongly flavored food, you won't taste it.

It can also be made pretty weak, if you're using single serving loose leaf packets in a 12oz mug, it'll be pretty weak. Those are meant for closer to 6oz. Try adding a lot more tea. Add 4 times what you normally do, and steep it for the same amount of time you normally do (unless it's usually bitter, then do less). You can make it really strong if you just add more. I like to do that with a good Irish breakfast tea.

Also, explore flavored teas! Earl Grey, genmaicha, Lapsang Souchong, mint, and jasmine teas are some really good teas.

This jasmine tea has a great jasmine flavor, it's made with real jasmine instead of sprayed with oil or flavoring. It's also super cheap for pretty high quality tea.

Harney & Sons makes a good Lapsang Souchong. It's really smoky and tastes like a campfire, if you like strong drinks, you'll probably like it. It's very polarizing, though, some people love it and some people hate it.

Taylor's has good Earl Grey, which is flavored with bergamot. It tastes like fruit loops. Fancy.

Rishi makes good mint tea. It's very forgiving, if you like mint, it'll cover up most flaws you'll find in tea. The flavors compliment each other very well.

Genmaicha is made with puffed brown rice. It tastes a little bit like popcorn, it's a little sweet because of the rice, and it can have a strong flavor.

Try other things with tea, too. An Arnold Palmer (half black tea, half lemonade) is great in the summer. A squeeze of lemon or lime juice in any tea totally changes the flavor.

Loose leaf enthusiast here. Teavanna definitely has high quality leaves but you should check your options before you commit. Also - Teavanna(at least the one at South Coast) tries to push the sweet/mixed stuff too much - it's like showing off a steak with A1 sauce instead of letting customers try the delicious steak itself.

I highly recommend just buying tea in bulk on Amazon. If you're looknig for green, these are good : Link $14 for a 16oz bag will last you a very long time. Davidson's Gunpowder is cheap but robust and still delicious for its price.

If you want something with a more distinct flavor then go with Genmaicha. It goes great with food and is great to share with people because of its unique attributes: Link

If you're really keen on going to a store, a lot of the 'alternative' markets have loose leaf. Whole Foods has a pretty good selectoin of loose leaf - keep an eye out for the Rishi brand(Link), quality stuff. Make sure they sell it in loose form and not in the bagged/satchel form.

You can also use Yelp to find a local coffee/tea shop that offers loose leaf tea - they sometimes sell the leaves by itself. Link

Some shops I've personally been to that offers loose leaf tea : Zinc Café, Milk + Honey, Sweet Elle Cafe, Gypsy Den, & Kean Coffee.

Edit - I also recommend using Adagio Tea to buy tea. Great reviews and selection of tea. I have not bought from Tea Trekker but I did buy a book from them - great knowledge and selection of traditional tea from all around the world.

Well I'm not sure which kinda of teas you are into but, I will try to deliver!

1)Rosamonte Yerba Mate is not from the tea plant, it's in the holly family. It's great for "wakey-wakey" as it has a stimulant in it like that of caffeine but no jitters! It's put the "zippidy" in my "doo da" if you get what I'm sezzin', and I think ya are. The shop by me sells it for $6.00 a pound, cheap stuff and tastes great!

2)Temple of Heaven Special Gunpowder Tea This is a guilty pleasure of mine. I wouldn't buy it online though. Try for a local Chinese store in your area. I have about 3 Asian markets by me and all of them carry it for the same price 99¢! It's a nice strong tea, just don't over brew it or it will feel like you just kissed a moving train.

3) Rose Pu-erh toucha from Island Teas Cheap and strong! You get 30 toucha and each on can make about 6 cups of tea, so that like...6....carry the 1...that's like A LOT!

I hope this helps, and if ya tell me what kind of teas you are into, I might be able to give you a bigger list.

I will only list TRUE ceremonial grade matcha. If it tastes unpleasantly bitter, sour, with hollow flavor notes when prepared in the KOICHA method, it is not true ceremonial grade matcha. There is no standard to labeling matcha in America so many companies falsely advertise their matcha as being ceremonial grade, when it is not in Japanese standards. Also, REAL matcha will not be made from anywhere other than Japan. Lastly, it is only organic matcha if it is certified organic under a JAPANESE certifying body. It can also have USDA Organic, but check on the product packaging and make sure there is a JAS Organic certification as well.

1.) Starter Matcha - [Magus Brands Premium Organic Matcha] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01B3QN858). You can buy this on Amazon.

2.) Intermediate Matcha - Marukyu Koyamaen Gold Mark Organic. You can probably buy this on Rakuten or a Japanese e-tailer.

3.) Divine Matcha - Marukyu Koyamaen Tenju You can buy this on Rakuten or a Japanese e-tailer.

Summary of each:

Magus Brands Matcha - New brand on Amazon but as close to the real deal as you're going to get outside of the best brands Japan Domestic market. American customers will appreciate this flavor profile more than the top-of-the-line competition matcha in Japan due to its more milky and fresh vegetal taste than the seaweed umami taste. Near identical to Marukyu Koyamaen Gold Organic, but at a fraction of the cost.

Marukyu Koyamaen Gold Mark Organic. The BEST Organic matcha you will ever find in Japan, so pretty much the world. There is a hint of sweetness in the taste and smell, but there is no sugars added. You can tell immediately that these leaves are hand-picked from the first flush and the first bud on top of the tea plant. Be warned, you will never be able to go back to crap tier organic matcha after this. And by crap tier, I am referring to KissMeOrganics, matchaDNA, etc - the brands that spend all their money on buying fake reviews than developing a quality and authentic matcha for their customers.

Marukyu Koyamaen Tenju - Cost me about $65 for a 20g tin. This is the matcha I break out when President Obama visits my house! All jokes aside, this caliber of matcha shouldn't even be categorized with the rest of the matcha in the world. This is a national treasure of Japan in itself. I rationed this tin of matcha for a year, and on the last 2g serving I made, it smelled and tasted almost the same as the day I opened it. As for the taste of this matcha... absolutely divine! Imagine the most aromatic powder in the world coupled with a supremely mellow taste that complements the aroma. There is always a bitterness with KOICHA, but KOICHA made with this matcha is SWEET, BRIGHT, ANGELIC?!...I don't even know how to describe it!

I am heavily biased towards Marukyu Koyamaen matcha - it is the Dom Perignon of matcha. Everybody in Japan knows it, every matcha connoisseur outside of Japan knows it. The only American company that makes matcha even close to Marukyu Koyamaen quality is Magus Brands. They do source their tencha from Ikeda Seicha and farms that supply to Marukyu Koyamaen so that might be why.

Ooooh the best kind of reply I could have hoped for!

Sweet to neutral (no sugar added :P), bold flavors (no herbal teas), fruity, nutty, floral, wood, not astringent, not bitter. The more unique the better. I'm not too picky on characteristics but do care about overall quality.

Well, I have more black teas than I know what to do with; I don't see it on their website now but last year about this time I ordered a 5g sampler of every black tea Golden Tips had. I still have a box full in the garage, great stuff. (PM me if you want to trade for some)

----------

Besides black (though always looking for unique ones):

I love a bold white tea, currently drinking a cold brew of Tao of Tea's Silver Needle. It reminds me of a green tea without the grassy flavor, which is my big hangup with green teas.

I have actually ordered a green tea from YS before (through Amazon). I do not care for it on its own, not much flavor beyond 'grass', but I do like to mix a pinch of it into my cold brews to take the edge off.

I would love to try a good Oolong too. I bought one Da Hong Pao Big Red Robe Wuyi Oolong Tea Rock Tea (500g) but had the same experience as the pu-erh cake (see next paragraph), it tasted rotten and fishy with no tea flavor. I might have thrown it away I'm not sure, will have to go check.

I have one 2001 Menghai ripe pu-erh cake that I bought online and I absolutely hated it, I think I've only made 2-3 cups with it (357g cake). Tastes like rotting fish guts, cheap mushrooms, and dirt. With all the hype around pu-erh I would like to try a good one but I'm hesitant after that last experience. If anyone wants that Menghai cake I will happily trade it for the cost of shipping.

I also have 16oz of Davidson's bulk English Breakfast that I haven't touched in probably a year. It was my first 'real' tea order but now I'm spoiled and can't stand the stuff. While better than tea bags there is something 'off' about it and it generally tastes like hay or barley and not so much like tea.

I also keep some nice Yogic Chai on hand but generally only pull it out for when I'm sick or it is raining outside.

I would recommend looking into looseleaf tea over teabags. A lot more variety and higher quality product.

Rishi teas offers a number of organic teas, both loose and bagged. I personally like their organic Japanese sencha green tea. They also sell on amazon.

Harney & Sons are also a good supplier for folks trying out looseleaf for the first time. Not everything they sell is organic, but they have a pretty good variety of just about everything and reasonable prices. Their organic breakfast, Korakundah Nilgiri, and organic Assam are all teas I would recommend. You will probably want to avoid their flavored stuff, though, as most of it contains natural flavorings. They also sell on amazon.

Tealyra are another supplier I have ordered from. They have a good selection of organic herbal teas and Japanese green teas. I personally recommend their gyokuro genmaicha and Tranquil Nights chamomile blend.

Simpson & Vail also have a good selection of organic teas. I particularly like them for their decent selection of single-estate Assam and Darjeeling black teas.

Fun! I love these kinds of contests =)


For /u/Morthy

• Posh Englishmen drink tea, right? (Stupid add-ons WL)
  
  
• I have little shame when it comes to being ridiculous in public, but I wouldn't be seen wearing only these in public. (NSFWishlist)
  
  
• cough This looks phallic. (NSFWishlist)
  
  
  For /u/Akelelie
  
  
• How about a super NERDY item?! ($5+)
  
  
• This would help me identify birds! It's intended for a person who has the bird in hand, but it's the only book I know of that includes such great details, especially in juvenile birds, which other books/apps lack. (Yeah right! $50+)
  
  
• When you have fire, you have hope! (Stupid add-ons.)
  
  Thanks for the contest guys <3

29 y/o female on daily dose 60 mgs of immediate release adderall. I stopped taking it for 18 months and here's what I found most helpful:

• essential oils. There's a blend for focus/ADHD symptoms called "In Tune" it's made by doTerra and I order it on Amazon. Its a roller ball and apply to the back of your neck/base of your skull. Warning: strong smell, I didn't mind it and you get used to it but other people will ask where that hippie smell is coming from https://www.amazon.com/doTERRA-InTune-Essential-Focus-Blend/dp/B00SYNF8E8
  
  
• matcha green tea, I order organic Rishi packets. The matcha is in powder form and it comes in packets I would empty into a water bottle. Tastes gross but you get used to it. Matcha has become pretty trendy and sold places (can add to your green tea at Starbucks) but bc it tastes like dirt/grass it's often combined with a lot of sugar. Here's the Amazon link for packets I https://www.amazon.com/Rishi-Tea-Matcha-Organic-Powder/dp/B001EQ5KRM
  
  
• vitamins/supplements: I went to an integrative specialist, she did various tests and suggested supplements to take to balance out my brain chemistry. They were specific to me and some I took just for a few months whereas others I take regularly. One thing she found was that I don't absorb b vitamins (genetic) so she recommended a specific kind I should take. So there was a b complex, taurine, coQ, and vitamin D.
  
  
• diet : I notice when I avoid refined sugar/processed foods i feel much more alert and less tired all the time. I am not as good at sticking to this one though!
  
  
• morning cardio: bunch of studies showing the effects of exercise to improve focus immediately following/shortly after exercise. I am worse at this than dieting especially since I'd have to wake up so early to work out before work but hopefully you're better at this and can benefit! My doctor (primary care) was clear about at least 30 mins of cardio vs things that don't necessarily get your heart rate up like lifting (the way I do it at least) or slow/stretching type yoga
  
  That being said, it's really really tough especially when youve been taking meds. I recently started back up on adderall bc I am back in school and while I was learning to cope well at my job without it, I really struggled when trying to write/study without medication.
  
  Good luck, hope this was helpful!
  
  Edit: "30 mins of cardio vs. things that don't get your heart rate up

You may try something calming, but energizing like green tea, which is low in caffein but also has a bit of theanine and EGCGs which will help stay awake and focused in class. I wouldn’t do more than 3 cups a day. Prince of Peace is a great brand that makes organic green tea, and you can probably find it at your local health food store. The EGCGs may also help soothe your dopamine receptors so refraining from excessive PMO (porn,masturbation,orgasm), partying, and gaming won’t be so tough. But most Nootropics won’t give you the results you read online because brain chemistry in developing brains is quite different from that of adults.

You could get that (it's the same thing) but the individual packets make it more expensive. It's portioned into 100 individual serving packets. This is Prime eligible too so no shipping charges: http://www.amazon.com/Itoen-x3000-Instant-Japanese-2-82oz/dp/B0035EPCSS/ref=pd_sbs_gro_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=1CQNPA1R5DJ81X8BWSX7

There are also several online Japanese grocery stores that carry it, but the above is the best deal per serving (once you factor in shipping costs) available on Amazon anyway.

And, don't worry about asking, how the heck would you know it came as an instant powder? That's certainly not the case for most teas! Glad to help a fellow Oi-Ocha fan get their fix :-)

Also, yea, you can totally drink it hot and it's good (though I prefer it cold). It even says on the front of the packet that you can have it cold or hot (and brew it with either cold or hot water)

Copying and pasting for you my recommendations to a friend the other day who is starting Keto:

Your friends:
Avocados (very good fats + potassium), eggs, butter (I think you're allowed clarified butter on Whole30), veggies, fish, coconut oil (I get this at Costco), coconut milk (the pure stuff in a box or can), macadamia nuts (in limited quantities), Swerve / erythritol, sparkling water (La croix is fantastic), decaf or herbal tea - (green tea especially is great because it helps with fat-burning, balancing blood sugar, lowering appetite, and has lots of antioxidants), Cauliflower rice - this saves me, Roasted vegetables

Suggestions/links to purchase:

Magnesium supplement I use (should also help a bit with sleep)

Potassium additive - NoSalt or NuSalt - add it to your food if you're not getting enough Potassium in your diet (most people don't) - you can probably find this in the grocery store for less $$, but I don't know for sure

Decaf green tea I drink 3 times a day - it's decaffeinated with CO2, not chemicals, and it's organic.

SWERVE erythritol sweetener - 1 pack or 2 pack

STUR water flavor drops - for keto champagne or just to add to water

Miracle noodles - they are definitely available at Whole Foods, or you can also find them at a few asian grocery stores (shiritaki noodles). These taste bland and almost gross on their own, but if you add sauce and meatballs, they do a pretty good job of passing for spaghetti if you're desperate.

Silicone candy molds for keto fudge and other keto candies - they seem superfluous, but after you try making keto fudge in a regular pan, you'll realize how much easier these are for portioning and for getting out of the pan.

And finally, the INSTANT POT - I recommend this to everyone I know. My partner and I use it multiple times a week, it is amazing, it does everything. Pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, browner, yogurt maker (also makes julienne fries!!). Seriously you cannot go wrong with this thing.

Keto Recipes:

Keto Fudge

Keto champagne

Cauliflower Rice

Maria Emmerich has an impressive collection of recipes and I've been using the sweet ones especially for a craving / fat bomb

edit - formatting

First of all, if you want to get into loose leaf tea, you're going to want to get something to brew it in. The simplest to use and clean is a French Press. But getting into loose leaf doesn't mean you have to forsake bagged tea all together, I still use both.

As far as finding a tea you like, you should start with bagged tea just because it's cheaper. You need to get familiar with the tastes of black, green, white, herbal, etc teas. Once you get a feel for the different tastes, get yourself acquainted with a nearby tea shop. There's not much of that by me, but at least I have a Teavana.(Good teas, but way overpriced). A lot of times they'll have different teas you can sample or at the very least smell.

The best way to buy quality tea without bleeding your wallet is probably through Amazon. You can buy it in bulk (generally 8oz+) for pennies on the dollar.

I don't have much experience with mixing teas with alcohol, but I know that Earl Grey goes well with scotch/whiskey. And I bet that a spiced rum would go wonderfully with a hot milk chai. Actually I think I'll try that out once I get home from class.


Here are some other favorite teas of mine, I'd recommend them all if they adhere to your personal tastes.

Dragonwell Green This is my favorite tea of all time, but it's not for everyone. Very earthy.

Raspberry Riot Lemon Mate (Mate/Herbal)

Bourbon Street Vanilla (Rooibos)

Honey Lemon Ginseng (Green/White)

Constant Comment (Black)

Earl Grey (Black)

Honey Vanilla Chamomile

I love this Mr. T mug I made! It's definitely a favourite. I also really love my Tetris mug! I love Tetris and anything Tetris-related. It's an amazing mug.

I have this tea on my "household-y stuff" list that I'd love to try! Thank you for the contest!

Of all the silly nonsense, this is the stupidest tea party I've ever been to in all my life.

This would be my choice because i know it is some kind of green tea, and i have no idea what kind until I can try it!


I've loved japan since i first started watching anime when i was 11 or 12 (26 now). Ever since then I've always wanted to travel to Japan and experience it in person. Eventually i will be able to make a trip there, i hope. I have traveled to other countries (UK, France, Mexico) and while they are great, they don't have the same lure to me that Japan does. The best i can do in Arizona is visit the local Asian markets and do some shopping, as well as we have a Japanese Friendship Garden in downtown Phoenix that is open during parts of the year. My friend's wife is from Japan and has opened her own bakery full of her homemade snacks and treats that are all delicious.

Hey GearHound! We are a matcha company located in Orange County, CA. We are a manufacturer of matcha with organic capabilities. We source the tencha in Japan from the oldest and most prestigious tea farms on auction. Then we blend the tencha before storage and grind it on demand and airship it to you.

We can also do private labeling!

Our typical sizes for bags are 20g, 100g, 1kg, 5kg.

We are mostly in the premium ceremonial grade matcha segment, but we do have a premium culinary grade matcha as well.

If you are looking for other Japanese teas, we also supply those as well (Gyokuro, Sencha, Hojicha, etc) along with matcha accessories (chawan, chashaku, chasen, etc).

Please pm me with your specifications. We are here to make the ordering and quality control process as easy for you as possible. If you want to give our organic ceremonial grade matcha a try, please check us out on Amazon and use the Promo code 8REDDIT8 at checkout!

Are the contents in the article for regular green tea or something like matcha, etc.? I just drink the generic Bigelow green tea that my office has. Also, how much more beneficial is matcha? I've seen quite a few members here touted its higher benefits over regular green tea, but wondering what your take is (besides the obvious of intaking the green tea since it's in powder form).

Second question, if green tea's thermogenesis effects decrease if user habitually uses caffeine, and green tea itself has caffeine, should the user cycle green tea with occasional decaffeinated green tea? For instance, my only source of caffeine is from green tea, for maximal benefits should I cycle or is the amount in green tea not significant enough?

Try English Breakfast or Assam if you can get them where you are.

Some people have Earl Grey with a dash of milk too, which has a nice citrusy taste.
We drink plenty of tea without milk too, if you like peated whisky or smoked foods then maybe try Lapsang Souchong?

I'm sure the folks over at r/tea have plenty of recommendations too!
You can always buy a sampler box to start and try them all out.

This is also pretty fun, purple tea!

Earl Grey Teabags are the new sponsor of the Andrew Luck Book Club.

I received my order of 10 lbs of oatmeal and 240 bags of Bigelow green tea for under 40 bucks. I eat/drink both daily, so it was convent and the tea was much cheaper than the grocery store. I typically stock up on oatmeal when it is on sale, so not sure how much/if I saved any money there.

I see! Well, in that case, try out Gunpowder green tea. It's really inexpensive and if you can find an international or asian grocery store near you, you can get a box for a couple of bucks! Just make sure your steeping temperature is right. Usually 175-180 or you will get a bitter brew.
This brand Is usually the one I see in stores. That's a half-pound, but they come smaller than that. You can also find some Jasmine greens there too. Such as this one. Again, they come in smaller tins than that.

I have close to 50 boxes of tea and have it several times a day. If you like cinnamon flavors, this is my go to craving killer (and it's super potent): Hot Cinnamon Spice/Sunset