Newbie (very) question

"Dave" wrote in news:chne6d$ snipped-for-privacy@library2.airnews.net:

I ordered my first batch over the Internet, along with my first sample of yerba mate (which, to make a long story short, led to my "discovery" of rec.food.drink.tea, and thus to my becoming a fairly serious tea-fiend--I'm almost ready for my one-year, uh, stripe, or spoon, or whatever it is tea-drinkers get). I got it loose, and used a tea ball. I later discovered it at a local organic co-op type grocery store. They also sell a brand in "tea" bags, but I seem to prefer the loose rooibos.

Here's a little info. This is not a pitch for this particular site; I've never ordered from them:

There's "green" rooibos and "red". I guess it's the red I've had. Here's an explanation (again, not a pitch, I found this site via Google just now):

It seems you can steep rooibos longer than true tea; it doesn't get bitter as quickly (if at all--I've not really experimented to find out).

"Dave" wrote in news:chne6d$ snipped-for-privacy@library2.airnews.net:

I ordered my first batch over the Internet, along with my first sample of yerba mate (which, to make a long story short, led to my "discovery" of rec.food.drink.tea, and thus to my becoming a fairly serious tea-fiend--I'm almost ready for my one-year, uh, stripe, or spoon, or whatever it is tea-drinkers get). I got it loose, and used a tea ball. I later discovered it at a local organic co-op type grocery store. They also sell a brand in "tea" bags, but I seem to prefer the loose rooibos.

Here's a little info. This is not a pitch for this particular site; I've never ordered from them:

There's "green" rooibos and "red". I guess it's the red I've had. Here's an explanation (again, not a pitch, I found this site via Google just now):

It seems you can steep rooibos longer than true tea; it doesn't get bitter as quickly (if at all--I've not really experimented to find out).

I am a great fan of rooibos. I have steeped it for as long a ten minutes and it still tastes great - and you can drink it all day long with no ill effects. You might try honeybush as well, also from South Africa. I think it has a more spicy, tart flavor. My source is

alternatives.

I don't really think you are being impolite at all. Your words spring from a very limited understanding of what I am trying to accomplish, because I deliberately did not outline the entire story. I understand your position (I think), but there is honestly a great deal more to it than that. Unfortunately I cannot discuss it in any greater detail at the moment. Perhaps as it unfolds, and I get closer to registering it with the Library of Congress. Right now it is all in front of me, and is not yet written. Sorry about that. Really.

I do appreciate your input, a great deal actually. And if I felt you were being impolite, I would at least know that you are being honest. :)

Dave snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com

Thanks for the input. I am currently brewing roughly a pint and a half using what I *think* (haven't measured it yet, maybe tomorrow) is 10 -12 grams of Jasmine tea. This gives me three cups (of about 8 or 9 ounces each) at a very pleasant level of "full-bodidness" (if you will allow me to use such a moronic term.) I would describe it as "genuine" with just a hint of bitterness (brewed for 3:30 to 4:00 minutes before removing the leaves). I used to drink very strong coffee, and I don't know how this would rank among cups of tea, but it satisfies. What does it sound like to you? Is this a fairly weak cuppa? Or am I jumping in at the deep end?

Thanks,

Dave snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com

Thank you. I will look for it.

Dave

Thanks for the links, and the info. I will check it out.

Dave

Cool. Thanks.

Dave

"Emach" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@comcast.com:

I forgot about honeybush. I've never tried it, but I'll definitely put it on my list. Spicy and tart sounds good--it brings to mind that old joke about coffee and women.

Speaking of women, I remember reading a claim that honeybush is helpful to women's hormonal balance, or something. That leads to something I'd meant to mention, but didn't--a lot of the stuff about rooiboss (and yerba mate, honeybush, and good old tea) one reads is absolutely dripping with hyperbole. But I'm sure most people realize that.

Hi, Dave. Welcome.

I will put in a brief word for tisanes -- herbal teas. Nowadays I am so absorbed with camellia that I seldom drink them, but I have strong memories of how satisfying they are.

You don't want the deliberately medicinal teas. (Although herb enthusiasts will tell you that *every* herb is medicinal.) What you want is an herb that is good on its own as a beverage. There are some quite nice blends out there at the herb specialists, too, and these can be noticeably more interesting than the bagged supermarket blends.

You are probably familiar with the popular ones like chamomile and the mints. In the lemony direction are lemon balm and vervain. Linden flower is soothing, cooling and extremely mild. Yarrow somewhat bitter and best in a blend.

And there are so many that are worthwhile yet not well known. Damiana is aromatic and spicy, and good blended with peppermint. Some interesting others that are woodsy or meadowy: Wood Betony, Labrador Tea, Sweet Goldenrod, Sweet Fern, Sweet Gale.

I'm getting myself psyched. I really ought to go brew up some of these soon...

Joe Kubera

I drink honeybush tea like it's the nectar of life. Speaking as a woman, I can honestly say that I do notice positive effects on my hormonal balance. It also has the one thing I find most important in a tea--it tastes like sin, it's so good. (now stepping back into lurkdom)

You are absolutely right - I do have a very limited understanding of your task and was just trying to warn you about the minefield you are trying to enter :) As long as you are aware that it is a minefield, Godspeed. I actually admire your cowboy courage. How very Texan of you! (I have to admit that TX is my favorite state of mind and I would definitely live there if I could). I wish our Prez instead of pretending to be a Texan would actually be one. I do not think we would be in this mess now... (Sorry for off-topic remark, but I am a disappointed Republican and I do have to vent somewhere :)

Houston.... Yea, I remember :) Being a geologist by education (gold, not oil) myself I did spend some time there and yes, there are no &^%$ing tearooms there! Even if that were, the tea will be horribly spoiled buy all that barbeque sauce smell that is everywhere. But if you are in Reno (where are no tearooms either) drop by my place and you would get a full gongfu service (with wenxianbei) on greener varieties of oolongs like fresh Te Guan In and Nai Xian that I brought from China in July and if you manage to stay sober (one can get drunk from gongfu tea, you know) we may also try Shui Xian Yan (Wild Shui Xian) from our friend Roy Fong at Imperial Court in San Francisco. You will pay be back with Texan accent :)

Best,

Alex.

P.S. Drop me a line on my e-mail xyz1953(remove this)@hotmail.com (remove everything within brackets) and I will send you my phone number so we can chat if you want.

Great info, thanks. Do you remember where did you get these numbers from? I think these are correct estimates, but if you happen to to remember the ref, it would be nice. I am especially interested in the caffeine distribution between steeps. Is it possible to remove the bulk of it by washing tea just a bit longer? If only I has an access to a liquid chromatograph at home! Thanks.

Alex.

I certainly find that improved ease of concentration to be the case; but I get that from tea and coffee as well. Coffee and yerba mate tend to make me a little "twitchier", whereas tea is much smoother, not that I mind either way. I try to avoid all of them within a few hours of bed -- I became a lot more sensitive after I gave up caffeine for a few weeks earlier this year; before, I could drink a pot before bed and sleep fine -- , but it's sometimes difficult because they're all so tasty! :-)

N.

Certainly. Honeybush is a good source of isoflavones which are estrogen mimickers. However some oncological risks may be involved if you overdo it. (I know because I have several patents in the field of soy isoflavone as estrogen balancers) I say that because when people say that they drink something as a nectar of life, they are not usually talk about just a cup a day :)

Alex.

That must be the new age Zen Tea someone was talking about. Why do you call that *Japanese* ? That doesn't exist in Asia. Tea is a drink. Serving it is a party.

I'd say a breakfast tea organised by Martha Stewart would be 10000000 times closer to Japanese tea than your circus. She'd get the feeling.

Any ideas on where to go next? I hope to someday fly to

Can you read English ? As you bought it, you should read the Book of Tea.

Get invited to drink tea by Japanese people. If you can't, look for a tearoom/restaurant that will treat you as a guest. Even if that takes ages to get the room well and the flowers in their place, the real thing is just that. : receiving friends and serving them tea. I don't know any bookstore that sells that.

Kuri

I do appreciate the serioius warnings, and I am trying not to do anything foolish in this endeavour. Thank you for your help in that.

I actually agree with you on this. :) Not a problem.!

Wow. Thank you. I am not sure what to say. "Thank you" is about all I can think of...

You know, I will give you the full story if you are interested, via email. I just didn't want to post it on the net at this point. Let me know, and I will send it later today with my real return addy. Thank you for the consideration.

Dave

Euro-American.

Quick addendum while the wife gets dressed. When I say "the fully story" up above, I mean I can fill you in on the details I didn't post before. I don't mean you have to read everything I've written up to now. :) You are one of the people with the knowledge I need, and I suspect that, once you understand the personal dynamics and other details, you will understand exactly what it is I am looking for (and why I don't think I need to capture the full Tea Experience in print. The story is about the people in it, not the tea in it. The tea just plays a part at one point.)

Let me know. And thank you again for all your input, and warm consideration. Whether you help me with this story or not, I would very much like to continue talking with you about tea. Like I said, you are the man with the knowlege I a seeking.

Dave

decaffeinating