The Tea Connoisseur: A Guide
In honor of today’s deal, I decided to talk about some of my favorite teas (though left out quite a few). A cup a day, depending on what you decide to drink, can have proven health benefits, and in some cases even reduce stress. If that isn’t reason enough to make tea part of your daily regimen, the numerous varieties, available to fit any taste is a start.
One tip before you begin:
Ditch the tea bags: Loose leaf tea is more fresh and flavorful and gives you the opportunity to experiment with oil, herbs and spices—if you fancy!
Lose the bag!
Earl Grey
Named after the Prime Minister of Britain in 1832 (though the Earl supposedly never set foot in China, legend has it that it was presented to him as a gift on his return home), the tea is a combination of black tea and bergamot orange.
Bonus: a number of cookie/cake recipes, such as this one by Real Simple call for Earl Grey to add a subtle, yet complex taste.
Rooibos Tea
Rooibos Tea (Red Bush Tea)
Full of antioxidants and no caffeine, this tea has a naturally sweet and nutty taste. Brewed in a similar way to black tea, rooibis tea should be steeped for a couple minutes longer. In South Africa, where the tea originates, the tea is enjoyed with honey, sugar or a slice of lemon.
Green Tea
Best known for its health benefits, some of which include decreasing the chance of oral and other cancers, heart disease and diabetes and increasing immune system defenses, the tea is also high in antioxidants. For some, green tea has too “grassy” of a taste. If this is the case for you, I would suggest trying a few different kinds of green tea (such as Dragonwell or Gunpowder) before placing a final verdict.
White Tea
Often more rare and expensive than other teas, white tea is made using just the top two leaves and buds from tea bushes. Also high in antioxidants and proven to potentially reduce the risks of developing rheumatoid arthritis, some cancers and heart disease, some studies have even argued that white tea has more anti-viral/bacterial qualities than green tea. Admittedly, my favorite kind of tea—I’m a sucker for the silver needle variety.
For all you avid tea drinkers, I know this is a pathetic attempt at paying homage to the tea goddess. So for you, here are a couple blogs that I really enjoy, giving suggestions and perspective on tea, one cup at a time.
Gongfu Girl
Part educational, part artistic and part cultural, there is enough story telling throughout the blog to make it both an enjoyable and informational read for tea lovers.
Multiple reviews a day (and over 3,500 to date) on teas across the world. If you like to get a review before trying things, this is the place to go.
What is your favorite kind of tea?
Today’s Side Deal for London | (Running till the end of Tuesday the 5th October, 2010) |
Photography: House of Sims and rimblas
hi
i noticed you use Am Eng spelling although it is a .co.uk blog, you also refer to other American blogs. I consider it a grave offence, especially when it comes to tea!
Ok I’m not completely serious…
Is there a chance you give some suggestions on places in Edinburgh and not just London?
thanks
Anna
P.S. I was drinking some white tea recently that a friend brought from Hong Kong. I brewed it with boiling water which was a big mistake, as the tea turned very very bitter.
Quite clearly, the recommendation you see most often is to pour water that is hot but not boiling (about 70 degrees) over green or white tea. This is not the case with big brand teabags you buy in supermarket (Tetley, Twinnings and so on) – this just shows you that what they sell is not quite the real thing!!!!
Point taken
My apologies Anna! I would love any suggestions you have of UK blogs on tea—I usually go by what I can best recommend for blogs and as you saw the tea ones just happened to be US based! Yes, my English is American, but I’m afraid that’s because it is where I learned it! I would absolutely love to make suggestions for Edinburgh, but I’ve actually never been and can so far only write knowledgeably about London. Group On does have some Edinburgh bloggers, though, you should definitely check them out.
And thanks for your point on the boiling water–so true. I’ve actually seen kettles that heats at different temperatures according to what sort of tea you are drinking so you don’t have to worry about water that is too hot!