Chinese Tea 101

Snake Hips · 12-12-2009, 08:41 PM

Some of it's black, some of it's green, some of it's white, all of it is delicious. That's all you need to know.

Nimbus · 12-19-2009, 11:58 PM

The black teas are very bitter and strong. My father likes the loose teas because he has no taste buds

(smoking cigarettes for 42+ years). The dim sum restaurants serve a milder version of this type of tea.

Then you have Chrysanthemum tea, which is light and a little sweet. There is very little after taste and it is usually paired with dim sum dishes. If you are drinking this tea during dim sum, you may request to have sugar added to the tea before it is served. Also, stir the pot to loosen the petals and evenly distribute the sugar.

The purpose of drinking tea during dim sum or any other meal, is the break down of oils from the food for digestion.

Do not drink dietary tea unless you want to lose water weight. You will also be in the bathroom for a very long time, many times over.

Some foreign teas have an exuberant amount of caffeine, so be aware.

Neuromancer · 12-20-2009, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nimbus

The black teas are very bitter and strong....

When brewed properly, no tea should taste bitter...

Three main types of teas; black, green, and white...here are some examples:

Blacks:
Keemun - also known as China Black
English Breakfast Tea
Irish Breakfast Tea
Prince of Wales

Earl Grey - also a black tea with flavoring from bergamot (bitter orange) ** this is my favorite...it gives it a light hint of citrus

Greens:
Japanese Green Gunpowder
Green Tea - any of several types

Whites:
Any of several types

If you plan on buying in the grocery store I find Twinnings to be the best brand...everything else tastes flat and stale by comparison...and you can buy most of these in teabags or loose leaf in tins

BTW - Teas age like cigars if you buy tins of loose leaf and keep them sealed to let them age

Here's a good online vendor I've bought from several times...

Simpson & Vail

Also, if you're serious you might want to google "brewing tea" online for a primer on how to brew them properly...each of the three types (black, green, white) use different temperatures and brewing times...

Enjoy

12-12-2009, 08:41 PM	#1
Snake Hips Götterdämmerung Join Date: Nov 2008 First Name: Tyler Location: Directly above the center of the Earth Posts: 1,013 Trading: (10)	Re: Chinese Tea 101 Some of it's black, some of it's green, some of it's white, all of it is delicious. That's all you need to know.

12-19-2009, 11:58 PM	#2
Nimbus ... Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: J Posts: 523 Trading: (7)	Re: Chinese Tea 101 The black teas are very bitter and strong. My father likes the loose teas because he has no taste buds (smoking cigarettes for 42+ years). The dim sum restaurants serve a milder version of this type of tea. Then you have Chrysanthemum tea, which is light and a little sweet. There is very little after taste and it is usually paired with dim sum dishes. If you are drinking this tea during dim sum, you may request to have sugar added to the tea before it is served. Also, stir the pot to loosen the petals and evenly distribute the sugar. The purpose of drinking tea during dim sum or any other meal, is the break down of oils from the food for digestion. Do not drink dietary tea unless you want to lose water weight. You will also be in the bathroom for a very long time, many times over. Some foreign teas have an exuberant amount of caffeine, so be aware. Last edited by Nimbus; 12-20-2009 at 12:03 AM.

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