Thursday TeaDay 8/26/10 It's a miracle!

[boylerya]

Any specific Koicha? Trying all of them could b a bit tedious....and expensive.

http://www.matchaandmore.com/matcha.htm

[debunix]

I've gotten the most boost in the past from Celestial Seasoning's Morning Thunder, which tasted like mud, but the mate packs quite a kick. I have not tasted it recently enough to know how it compares to what I drink now.

[Chip]

Any specific Koicha? Trying all of them could b a bit tedious....and expensive.

http://www.matchaandmore.com/matcha.htm

Pretty incredible line up of matcha. I have never purchased from them. Koicha should be fully enjoyed, not simply a caffeine boost. IMHO.

If you just want the caffeine, the Morning Thunder mentioned by debunix will definitely charge you.

Then save the costly Koicha for times when you can actually sit and enjoy it.

But how much of a caffeine boost do you need? Any tea will give you caffeine, just drink more of it.

[Chip]

Since I made this poll up, the panacea tea is sencha ... so I don't have to change!

Seriously though, I might check it out and see if it is something I can adapt to. I like many teas, few would be an absolute turn off. But I would miss the sencha.

Began the day with a healthful cup of SENCHA. SweeTea joined in while TEAh and Ceylon kept company.

Next up ... about to find out!

[nickE]

I won't give up my favorite teas.

Finished my leftover 2010 EoT Bulang today, steeps 10-20 or something like that.

[Katy1977]

I would definitely drink the "miracle tea" and other teas I enjoy as well, since I couldn't imagine not being able to have a variety of teas to enjoy and experiment with. I started the tea day with my pu-erh, then had two cups of Hadley and Sons hot cinnamon spice tea, am looking forward to my evening cup of rooibos later...

Katy1977

[Victoria]

Yum, multiple steeps of Nangan Baozhong from Floating Leaves Tea. No more to be had, so sad.

[entropyembrace]

Started teaday with Yutaka Midori Supreme from O-Cha

Thinking in making Rooibos next...it seems to have a strong anti-allergy effect and I really need it now :s

[Katy1977]

Started teaday with Yutaka Midori Supreme from O-Cha

Thinking in making Rooibos next...it seems to have a strong anti-allergy effect and I really need it now :s

I'm making cinnamon apple rooibos now, and yes, it does help with my allergies too, this certainly is the season!

Katy1977

[Chip]

... Warashina Supreme from the O-C earlier in a Hagi SO Biwa. Just had some "near Koicha" from Zencha in a ShyRabbit Tenmoku Chawan with the Mrs. Great tea, teaware, great TD.

[boylerya]

I've gotten the most boost in the past from Celestial Seasoning's Morning Thunder, which tasted like mud, but the mate packs quite a kick. I have not tasted it recently enough to know how it compares to what I drink now.

I am tempted to try it since you and the admin says it packs a punch, but something about the taste of mud makes me wonder whether I could tolerate drinking it. Thanks for the recommendation though, it is highly appreciated.

[debunix]

I wouldn't assume that all mate tastes like mud; I just remember that particular combo of mate and tea tasting very earthy. Nice clean mud.

[Mr. Usaji]

Yerba mate is tasty, at least if you get a good brand, and a lot more caffeinated than tea. Try several to find one you like. There's smoked and unsmoked (I've only tried the latter), with stems and without, etc. Just don't get the Brazilian kind that is chopped into tiny powdery pieces, because it clogs your strainer (like fukamushi sencha but even worse). Brew it at green-tea temperature with lots of leaves, and you can infuse it several times. You don't need one of those metal straws, but they're cool, and it lets you brew while you drink.

Remember there's always coffee, if you want caffeine. I just drink tea because I can get twice as much deliciousness with the same caffeine dose.

[nickE]

Next up today was the 2005 Mingyuan Hao Yiwu of which I have a cake. This tea gets my Most Difficult to Brew award as the leaves average 4-5 inches long and I have to 'bathe' them in warm water just to fit them in a pot... It's worth it though! The tea itself is really excellent.

Finishing the day now with Sencha. I'm getting fruity flavors a lot lately, kinda weird.

[LauraW]

Why can't I drink both?

+1! Unless I absolutely couldn't get used to the taste (but it's tea, so that's not -too- hard in most cases). It may not be my favorite, but since I enjoy at least a few kinds from most every category (sans tisanes for the most part), I think I might just have to alternate between it and my favorites!