The Tea thread

[dasNdanger]

meh heh hoo hoo, so fancy ! I'd do a very ridiculous dance for you now to taunt you, you know, step sideways one foot in the air, the other on the ground, then change, with my hands on my waist...you're lucky this is just a forum !!

Wait. Are you reenacting a scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail? Because that's what my mind conjured up as I read that.

nyways tea will never compare to coffee. Not talking about personal taste; but depth in flavor, the variety, it's just a higher quality product...it's like caramel and chocolate. Caramel's nice, but chocolate just operates on a different level, simply. Tea's much more healthy though, this I learned the hard way...even with all my present restrictions, green tea is actually allowed.

Totally agree...chocolate is supreme! I prefer it with a little wine in the evening. Coffee in the morn because I do enjoy the 'depth of flavor' - which is hard to achieve sometimes because I drink decaf, so I have to experiment with brands and coffee-to-water ratios. Gevalia coffee had excellent decafs, but they've all gone 'generic' now, with just breakfast blend and house blend and stuff like that, not nearly as rich as before.

Hey just for curiosity's sake, do you guys over there know about French coffee ? You know, the tiny glasses with a very dark, very concentrate coffee, like, 3 or 4 sips only ? I thought maybe in some artsy fartsy French styled "caffés" ths has got there.

You mean espresso? Or something else? Yes, to both. When I visited France back in...well...a looong time ago, that 'artsy fartsy' coffee is all we were served the entire trip. It was okay. And I've had espresso here in the States - places like Starbucks made it fairly popular over the past 20 years, give or take.


das

 

[Big Ewis]

in blue

Wait. Are you reenacting a scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail? Because that's what my mind conjured up as I read that.

mmm...no.

Totally agree...chocolate is supreme! I prefer it with a little wine in the evening. Coffee in the morn because I do enjoy the 'depth of flavor' - which is hard to achieve sometimes because I drink decaf, so I have to experiment with brands and coffee-to-water ratios. Gevalia coffee had excellent decafs, but they've all gone 'generic' now, with just breakfast blend and house blend and stuff like that, not nearly as rich as before.

yeah, some of that top quality chocolate... like.. Cadbury......
(switching to a different color now, just for the fk of it): say, give me a typical breakfast over there. Does it vary from region, or state ? Does everyone have like cereal as kids then coffee, eggs, maybe pastry ? how common are waffles throughout the country ? I'm sorry, this is getting...let's just make a full scale study of "the breakfast" in America.

You mean espresso? Or something else? Yes, to both. When I visited France back in...well...a looong time ago, that 'artsy fartsy' coffee is all we were served the entire trip. It was okay. And I've had espresso here in the States - places like Starbucks made it fairly popular over the past 20 years, give or take.

what else ?
(K I'm in the mood for blue again it seems)
well I just meant it would be artsy fartsy over there, here it's just 'coffee'. Like I bet in L.A. and N.Y. you probably have French cafés and they'll serve that typical coffee and charge you like 15 bucks for it...coz it's "French".

Best coffee is in Italy anyways, every French coffee-maker will tell you that.

das

in black.

 

[dasNdanger]

mmm...no.

Okay...then I guess all Frenchmen sound like Monty Python Frenchmen.

yeah, some of that top quality chocolate... like.. Cadbury......
(switching to a different color now, just for the fk of it): say, give me a typical breakfast over there. Does it vary from region, or state ? Does everyone have like cereal as kids then coffee, eggs, maybe pastry ? how common are waffles throughout the country ? I'm sorry, this is getting...let's just make a full scale study of "the breakfast" in America.

Cadbury? LOL! That's...just...no. Sure, we have the popular chocolates like Hershey and Nestle, but I only eat that stuff in emergencies. It's not quality chocolate. Godiva chocolate is one of the top chocolates here, but there are many others - many, MANY others. I like Ghirardelli chocolate because it's very available and inexpensive. Green & Black's chocolate is just...heavenly! Dagoba's Xocolatl chocolate is very good - made with hot chili peppers. Vosges chocolate is gaining in popularity here, and Lake Champlain Chocolates are also fairly popular. My internet buddy Joe used to have chocolate parties up in Vancouver - these are the types of chocolates I prefer (usually can't afford, but when I can...mmmmm!)

http://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/2010/04/18/april-18-2010-the-greatest-chocolate-party-ever/

http://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/2009/04/26/april-26-2009-the-best-chocolate-party-ever/

Personally, I'm a dark (plain) chocolate fan - 70% cocoa (cacao) content, or higher (I usually cut off at 85%). My 'gourmet' go-to chocolate is Green & Black's organic chocolate 70% cacao content. It's creamy, and not too sweet. I don't like sweet.

BREAKFAST:

Breakfast all depends on taste and lifestyle here in the States. Orange juice with breakfast is quite common (some prefer tomato or other juices, but OJ still reigns as king here.) Some eat cereal (mostly kids and old people - lol). Some people just have coffee and toast. Some just have oatmeal. Some eat eggs and bacon. Some prefer pancakes or waffles or French toast (bread dipped in an egg & cinnamon batter and 'fried' in a skillet). Others just have bagels with cream cheese, or bagel 'breakfast sandwiches', which may contain any combination of the following: fried egg, bacon, sausage, pork roll (Philly area thing), and/or cheese. Some places have 'breakfast burritos', which might be something like scrambled eggs with peppers and onions wrapped in a flour tortilla. Down south people love corn grits, and sausage and gravy, and even fried fish (catfish) for breakfast. I LOVE grits (they're like polenta/poleinte), cooked in milk like porridge, with a bit of fresh garlic, shredded cheese (I prefer pepperjack or cheddar) and hot sauce.

That all said there's a lot of breakfast places in the States - we really love eating breakfast out! Popular items for breakfast at restaurants are pancakes (esp. blueberry pancakes), and omelettes. I love omelettes, too, my favorite being eggs with onion, peppers (or tomatoes), and feta cheese.

Basically Americans eat just about anything for breakfast (even leftover pizza!), everything except beans on toast. That's a crazy Brit thing, I think.

what else ?
(K I'm in the mood for blue again it seems)
well I just meant it would be artsy fartsy over there, here it's just 'coffee'. Like I bet in L.A. and N.Y. you probably have French cafés and they'll serve that typical coffee and charge you like 15 bucks for it...coz it's "French".


Best coffee is in Italy anyways, every French coffee-maker will tell you that.

I can't say much about the various types of coffee. I love it, I drink it, but I don't over-think it.



das

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I have to drink decaf - so what's the best? (Currently we drink Barry's decaf.)


das

http://www.undergroundhealth.com/10-amazing-health-benefits-of-rooibos-tea/
@dasNdanger, you might want to try some Rooibos from Cape Town. It is naturally 'decaf' and the methods of farming through to distribution are very well regulated. If you don't have a stockist nearby PM me if you'd like a Christmas prezzy from SA. I do think it's a well marketed product and should be easily acquired in most parts of the western world though? It's basically the only thing we consume over here that is good for you and is also my tea of choice though I only switch to tea in the late afternoons during the working week. The English did bring the tea culture here to some extent but it's mainly old ladies (the ones with light bluish perms) having tea and biscuits for the most part. Coffee is king of the non-alcoholic, non-carbonated drinks over here.

 

[welshglory]

Love me some Indian style chai. Brew it with some cinnamon. Oh yea....

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Oh dear Christ lads, what have we done?! How we miss Feic, he's a man who'd have never let this forum fall into such disrepair, I'm neither angry nor sad but I feel as if I'm in mourning, I just can't explain it.
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Lyons, very strong, occasionally need two tea bags with a caramel digestive.
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"Two gin-scented tears trickled down the sides of his nose. But it was all right, everything was all right, the struggle was finished. He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother."

 

[Icemn]

rooibos

 

[dasNdanger]

http://www.undergroundhealth.com/10-amazing-health-benefits-of-rooibos-tea/
@dasNdanger, you might want to try some Rooibos from Cape Town. It is naturally 'decaf' and the methods of farming through to distribution are very well regulated. If you don't have a stockist nearby PM me if you'd like a Christmas prezzy from SA. I do think it's a well marketed product and should be easily acquired in most parts of the western world though? It's basically the only thing we consume over here that is good for you and is also my tea of choice though I only switch to tea in the late afternoons during the working week. The English did bring the tea culture here to some extent but it's mainly old ladies (the ones with light bluish perms) having tea and biscuits for the most part. Coffee is king of the non-alcoholic, non-carbonated drinks over here.

@TRF_stormer2010 - Firstly, thank you for your generous offer! That was very kind of you. But no need - I am well familar with rooibos and it is readily available here (both plain and in blends). But thank you for the reminder - I don't have any on hand atm, and so will pick some up this weekend! It is a very good tea.



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Oh dear Christ lads, what have we done?! How we miss Feic, he's a man who'd have never let this forum fall into such disrepair, I'm neither angry nor sad but I feel as if I'm in mourning, I just can't explain it.
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-
-
-
-
Lyons, very strong, occasionally need two tea bags with a caramel digestive.
-
-
-
"Two gin-scented tears trickled down the sides of his nose. But it was all right, everything was all right, the struggle was finished. He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother."

I find it rather amusing that on the lean mean rugby forum machine the most popular thread of the day (yesterday) was about sipping tea. It's a good thing...it has humanized the normally inhumane.


das

 

[Big Ewis]

Cadbury? LOL! That's...just...no.

But but, English chocolate, world famous English chocolate......Ok ok, sorry.......Kitkat then.

And fr...fried fish in the uhm. In the morning. Gravy ? Mmmmmm...I've really been missin' out all these years...why didn't I think of that ? And what's that: "breakfast burritos". Ah...and all those things, if you don't mind me asking, aren't part of a special pagan annual ritual, or when people lose bets or...they just really choose to go for these things, right ? That's fine !..Well you know what they say...something something personal tastes.
I mean I know someone who eats pancakes with ketchup and mustard, with on the side some fried toothpas....ok no I don't..

 

[Hulk Hogan]

Green tea with two sugars. no milk

 

[dasNdanger]

But but, English chocolate, world famous English chocolate......Ok ok, sorry.......Kitkat then.

And fr...fried fish in the uhm. In the morning. Gravy ? Mmmmmm...I've really been missin' out all these years...why didn't I think of that ? And what's that: "breakfast burritos". Ah...and all those things, if you don't mind me asking, aren't part of a special pagan annual ritual, or when people lose bets or...they just really choose to go for these things, right ? That's fine !..Well you know what they say...something something personal tastes.
I mean I know someone who eats pancakes with ketchup and mustard, with on the side some fried toothpas....ok no I don't..

Found this: http://maratinage.wordpress.com/201...st-studies-les-etudes-comparees-du-petit-dej/

Of course, not every American eats that way every day. Some just grab coffee and a donut, while I've been known to eat a bowl of cereal topped with fresh fruit (but I need some protein to keep my blood sugar level, so will often have an egg or two as well). Home fries/hash brown potatoes are quite common, especially in the northern States (while in the south people prefer the aforementioned grits as a rule).

And it really all depends. With America being such a 'melting pot', breakfast differs from culture to culture. For instance, many of my Asian friends still have rice for breakfast, especially if they weren't born here. Those of a European background often opt for the 'continental' breakfast - coffee and pastries. So just about anything goes here breakfast-wise. There's no set right or wrong.



das

 

[Big Ewis]

mmmm, look at that English breakfast. Was rubbing my tummy the whole time....
Yeah thought I'd ask you about breakfast there. Maybe there's a unified "American breakfast" formula, but surely from region and state it varies. Same in France obviously, but there is that constant of the toast/baguette, butter, jam with coffee; the occasional weekly croissants (or similar) when ppl can get em. It's very bread/pastry oriented here. I know in the North for e.g. they actually dunk cheese in their coffee. Messed up, all the rest of France is shocked to learn this.

As a kid, I remember I loved chocolate so much it's all I had for breakfast. Loads of chocolate bars, with milk. Fkd up. I think if it were physically possible, all I'd have all day for months would be pastry. There are things you just can't get tired of. Not sleeping pills, though. Those will make you tired.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

Just to say that I've got my cup ready, first one off the day

 

[Big Ewis]

Just to say that I've got my cup ready, first one off the day

impressive.

 

[Noodle]

Just to say that I've got my cup ready, first one off the day

You did not take this picture. I did a reverse google search of it and there were many results.

 

[Big Ewis]

You did not take this picture. I did a reverse google search of it and there were many results.

"reverse google..search" ?....oh, dear lord..the implications.

 

[dasNdanger]

mmmm, look at that English breakfast. Was rubbing my tummy the whole time....
Yeah thought I'd ask you about breakfast there. Maybe there's a unified "American breakfast" formula, but surely from region and state it varies. Same in France obviously, but there is that constant of the toast/baguette, butter, jam with coffee; the occasional weekly croissants (or similar) when ppl can get em. It's very bread/pastry oriented here. I know in the North for e.g. they actually dunk cheese in their coffee. Messed up, all the rest of France is shocked to learn this.

As a kid, I remember I loved chocolate so much it's all I had for breakfast. Loads of chocolate bars, with milk. Fkd up. I think if it were physically possible, all I'd have all day for months would be pastry. There are things you just can't get tired of. Not sleeping pills, though. Those will make you tired.

I have a little chocolate with my coffee in the morning.

I would say that the quintessential American breakfast is: Bacon and eggs with toast, orange juice, and coffee. Additional items, such as a bowl of fruit, homefries or grits, cereal, pancakes - those can vary, but if you ask the average American what's for breakfast, they'll most likely say, "Bacon and eggs". (Ha! I just asked my husband - a pancake lover - what he'd say the American breakfast is, and he said - you guessed it - 'bacon and eggs'.)




das

 

[Draggs]

Oh dear Christ lads, what have we done?! How we miss Feic, he's a man who'd have never let this forum fall into such disrepair, I'm neither angry nor sad but I feel as if I'm in mourning, I just can't explain it.
-
-
-
-
-
Lyons, very strong, occasionally need two tea bags with a caramel digestive.
-
-
-
"Two gin-scented tears trickled down the sides of his nose. But it was all right, everything was all right, the struggle was finished. He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother."

Feic was a champ at random threads, surely the big man himself loves a cup of tea while doing quantum physics.

 

[Big Ewis]

bacon is just a religion over there, sooooooo many countless references to it on shows, cartoons, online, just everywhere...it's like the American equivalent to French don't-give-a-damnness/indifference. A national obsession.

Now make a random comment about tea so we can stay on this thread a bit longer, das.

 

[dasNdanger]

bacon is just a religion over there, sooooooo many countless references to it on shows, cartoons, online, just everywhere...it's like the American equivalent to French don't-give-a-damnness/indifference. A national obsession.

Now make a random comment about tea so we can stay on this thread a bit longer, das.

Chocolate covered bacon...mmmmmmmmmm...

Okay - back on topic:

Tea - loose or in wee baggies? Discuss.





das