Sugar ?

[Readinglady]

What do most of you use to sweeten those teas that could use a little? I wonder about the rock sugar sold at Teavana.

Thanks!
Laura

[gingkoseto]

Hi Laura, I don't use sugar in my tea, but I guess the "rock" sugar is the small chunks of hard crystalized sugar, right? If so, you can find them in many Asian groceries for very low price. Even some mainstream groceries carry it. It's sometimes called "ice sugar" due to the appearance. I use it a lot in my sweet soups.

[kymidwife]

I've used the rock sugar from Teavana... it works nicely in a hot cup because the large crystals melt slowly and don't oversweeten. Is it better than a spoon ful of regular white household sugar? I don't think I can taste much difference, to be honest. I bought some "sugar in the raw" or turbinado sugar, also a brownish/amber color. I find the sweetness factor to be the same in all, and the flavor to be slightly different depending on the color... influenced by how much molasses-type taste is present. Raw sugar isn't healthier or more nutritive than white sugar... it just depends on the taste you prefer.

Raw Sugar News Story (click me)

While Teavana gets slammed regularly for their overpricing on their tea... ironically, they underprice Adagio on the sugar. Teavana sells their sugar for 7.95/lb, and Adagio's is 9.00/lb. C'mon Adagio, lets not be undersold by Teavana of all places!

I am sweetening less and less these days, so I haven't bought any rock sugar in a long time now. I have learned during my journey that I totally don't like honey in my tea, blech.

Sarah

[Herb_Master]

I don't use any sweeteners with Oolong. Nor would I with PuEr or loose leaf Green Tea.

But as an instant pick me up in the morning I some time use herbal type teabags from Stash,Numi,Yogi,etc and I always add a sweetener.

I use honey, but it has to be a light, delicate honey such as Hungarian Acacia Blossom honey. In Moroccan Mint Tea however I prefer rough cubes of white sugar.

[hop_goblin]

Sugar in oolong?

[ABx]

The majority of wulong is actually quite sweet without anything added. If you're getting any bitterness, then you might ask for some brewing tips - we can probably help you to get it to come out without any bitterness

[Vulture]

The majority of wulong is actually quite sweet without anything added. If you're getting any bitterness, then you might ask for some brewing tips - we can probably help you to get it to come out without any bitterness

+1

I have been practicing my oolong brews and found little need to sweeten them.

[Oni]

Do not add sugar, try adding rum, or vodka, hell even whiskey can do, than again why bother with the tea.

[kymidwife]

Did I miss something? Who said they were sweetening oolong? Not that it would be "wrong" to do so if that's what the drinker enjoyed.

I was referring mostly to blacks in talking about the sugar crystals... I don't sweeten oolongs either, and I can't find in this thread where anyone said they do so?

Sarah

[xuancheng]

Did I miss something? Who said they were sweetening oolong? Not that it would be "wrong" to do so if that's what the drinker enjoyed.

I was referring mostly to blacks in talking about the sugar crystals... I don't sweeten oolongs either, and I can't find in this thread where anyone said they do so?

Sarah

I think it was assumed the person starting the thread was sweetening oolongs because this thread is in the oolong section. It took me quite a while to figure this out too, but I finally got it.

[kymidwife]

LOL... thanks for the logical explanation... I wasn't paying attention to which forum section we were in. That makes more sense now.

Doh me.

[AKTea]

I got some of the Teavana sugar crystals for Christmas and to me they have just a very slightly different taste; like brown sugar I guess. I like just a bit of sugar- less than a teaspoon to a 12 oz cup-though, I'm finding with time and age I'm using less and less sugar overall.

When I was in labor with my first child my midwife gave me tea doused with honey and to this day I won't let honey anywhere near my tea.

[ABx]

When I was in labor with my first child my midwife gave me tea doused with honey and to this day I won't let honey anywhere near my tea.

I guess that's a fair enough use - honey has analgesic properties, although it has to be fresh, and not the usual pasteurized store-bought stuff, IIRC.

[Oni]

Uh do I add sugar, or vodka?

[stanthegoomba]

Natural sweeteners! Honey (or even maple syrup... ) is tastier, cheaper, and healthier.

Nothing in oolongs, of course.