What are /r/tea's favorite Products & Services?

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We can't function without it. Tea first thing in the morning, and one last cup before bed. You'd offer to make some at work, to family, to friends, when there's good news and when there's bad news. In the office we have a rota on a spreadsheet of whose turn it is to buy the teabags. If we run out we'll steal some from another department. I went abroad for 4 months and took this with me: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yorkshire-Tea-One-Bags-Pack/dp/B013P1AGJ0

Occasionally referred to as a cuppa, usually just a cup of tea, or some tea or a pot if you're feeling fancy.

Tea is brilliant. It simultaneously picks you up when you need a boost and soothes you when you need a break.

I drink at least 6/7 cups a day. I love tea. This has been my ode to tea.

Tea.

Early Christmas present from dad: Breville BTM800XL One-Touch Tea Maker. Super cool, has tea type selection for brewing temp, strength options, keep warm function and more! Also the basket attaches magnetically. Overall super impressed - fantastic build quality and epic features. More info on amazon - just thought I’d share: https://www.amazon.com/Breville-BTM800XL-One-Touch-Tea-Maker/dp/B003LNOPSG/

I think it’s an Automatic (Stone Mill) Gongfu Tea Set. I don’t believe there’s a proper name for the set other than that, but maybe someone who’s used one can provide more info.

From what I know, it’s mostly a novelty way to do Gongfu brewing, used for show similar to the way a themed or decorative teapot might be used compared to a regular teapot for western brewing.

Hang on! I'm grabbing my candy thermometer and testing my electric kettle. I will plot the temperature change over time and report back to you ASAP.

Edit: Electric Kettle data gathered. Waiting for water to boil in my stove-top kettle for comparison.

Edit2: The data is in! Graphing now.

Edit3: Data porn!

To gather the data I measured the temp of the water in 4 situations over the first minute in the mug. The situations were:

• Poured into a room-temperature mug from a full boil in an electric kettle.
• Poured into a hot mug (heated by the water from the previous experiment) from a full boil in an electric kettle.
• Poured into a room-temperature mug from a full boil in a stove kettle.
• Poured into a hot mug (heated by the water from the previous experiment) from a full boil in a stove kettle.
  Note: The same mug was used for all 4 experiments so as not to introduce a confounding factor.

Conclusion: The hottest water came from a stove kettle, and a heated mug. Close behind it was the electric kettle and the heated mug. Well below these two were the trials with the cold mug.

TL; DR You should always throw a splash of boiling water in the mug before adding the tea leaves/tea bag. Swirl it around to heat the mug, then pour it out, add the tea, and pour into the mug from a full boil.

Damn, wow, thanks for sharing. This got me to look at the filter bags I’ve been using (these) — polyester and polyethylene! I’m not too worried about health effects but I would like to avoid single use plastics!

I can’t dispose of loose tea leaves at work so I’ve been using these. Does anyone have a favourite brand of paper/biodegradable fillable bags?

It is a tea infuser https://www.amazon.com/Fred-Friends-5238831-Flamingo-Infuser/dp/B07KKNS5SN/

Not a very good one mind you as there won't be much room for the tea to expand but yes it does have a 'practical' use.

Very similar set, inexpensive too, on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/CoreLife-Chinese-Porcelain-Handmade-Ceramic/dp/B07CT9BGG3/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1528379603&sr=8-5&keywords=koi+tea+cup

Not sure if you need a tea pot or a kettle, but Amazon had a pretty good sale on a Hamilton Beach programmable electric kettle. $23 and it's served me well for years.

Here's a link.

Here's r/tea's list of online tea shops. It's on the sidebar if you ever need to find it again.

Get a zojirushi vacuum seal mug. Costs around $20 and the tea will stay almost as hot as when you brewed it. I have burned myself drinking tea out of one hours after I made the tea.

https://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-SM-SA60-BA-Stainless-Steel-20-Ounce/dp/B00HYOGUM2/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=zorijushi+coffee+mug&qid=1622584899&sprefix=zorijushi&sr=8-4

They are actually bread boxes that I aired the bamboo smell out of and then lined with parchment and put humidity beads inside.

Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/mDesign-Bamboo-Kitchen-Counter-Storage/dp/B079K2WTS4/ref=sr_1_13?crid=3RCR8W4MMMY5X&keywords=bamboo+bread+box+with+window&qid=1565531269&s=gateway&sprefix=bamboo+bread+box+with+%2Caps%2C133&sr=8-13

AutoMod says to give a bit of extra info, so here you guys go:

The tea set was bought at my town’s local antique store. I’m not sure where it came from or exactly how old it is, but I was told that it is at least 80 years old. It’s my favorite set, I use it all the time!

I was going to serve some black tea with cream and sugar. I know it’s a little basic for this sub but It’s one of my favorites.

If anyone would like to make the coffee cake, I used John Kanell’s recipe. The only modifications I used were some nutmeg and cloves to the streusel and filling, and I added a little splash of almond extract to the cake :)

Seems like this would be a perfect reason for just going with loose leaf, since you're just making it in a loose powder form and over complicating the process lol.
Though even with full loose leaf I have been left with 'floaters', though this just called for even more fine filters. Of all the ones I've seen this one probably has about the most fine holes, hasn't resulted in any dirty steeps even with the finest rooibos. Don't think any filter like this would keep out loose powder tea from a bag though.

Amazon.com: House Again Large Tea Ball Infuser & Cooking Infuser - Extra Fine Mesh Tea Strainer Screw Top 18/8 Stainless Steel with Extended Chain Hook to Brew Loose Leaf Tea, Spices & Seasonings, for Multi Cups: Kitchen & Dining

Example (not a recommendation) : https://www.amazon.com/Esschert-Design-USA-Teapot-Warmer/dp/B0047CXWWK/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=tea+warmers+for+teapot+cast+iron&qid=1610207081&sprefix=tea+warmers+for+teapot+cast&sr=8-3

Distilled water doesn't have enough minerals to bring out subtle flavors. Many good water purification systems have a re-mineralization filter, usually of volcanic rock. For instance, I use a counter-top Santevia system, and in the water chamber I put this rock and it really helps. The ceramic balls in this mix don't seem to help much, but the rocks themselves make a huge difference.

Same here!

Edit: found it here on Amazon!

Yes! The kintsugi "kits" are stupid expensive, and not really worth it. Something like this from Amazon would work great. Or, if you have a special food-safe adhesive you like, you can order the powder to color it yourself.

Here's one that's not quite so fancy and a bit cheaper.

https://smile.amazon.com/Brewista-Variable-Temperature-Kettle-BKV12S02NA/dp/B01CFHAIBQ/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1545606819&sr=8-4&keywords=Brewista+Artisan+600mL+Gooseneck+Variable+Temperature+Kettle

My old setup for anyone who cares to see, here.

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I'm so in love with the teapot! It holds 160ml which is perfect for me. The teapet is a lot bigger than I was expecting, which is nice! I'm really loving the double walled glasses too, it stays cool to the touch no matter how hot the contents are. So far the tea tray is awesome! No warping like my old tea tray, no leaking, and it holds a considerable amount of liquid! The tray is super easy to remove and dump out. Looks quite nice too, I didn't have my hopes too high about the quality of the tea tray, since this is by far the cheapest one I've seen for the size I wanted.. but it's perfect! No complaints! I love staring at my teaware now 😍

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The teapot, pitcher, cups, and tea pet were bought from teaware.house, the Cha He and tea strainer were bought from Yunnan Sourcing, and the tea tray is from Aliexpress! I'm brewing some Rou Gui oolong (from Yunnan Sourcing) right now :) Very different from the other oolongs I've tried.. there are notes of chocolate, and I can taste that it's been lightly roasted. I have a roasted Tie Guan Yin that really tastes like it's been roasted, but this rou gui has a nice balance. I'm really liking it!

I've got one too, and they are quite easy to find online, including the store I bought it from in person and from Amazon.

Link to the very same product as in the pic

Here you go! If you have a miniso store nearby you can buy it there for less.

Source: https://archive.org/stream/catalogueno11200sear#page/14/mode/2up

(I couldn't screencap the whole thing, but there's just one English breakfast tea missing.)

I'm surprised that they are predominantly Japanese, and so many green teas. And Formosa oolongs, even!

EDIT: The gunpowder teas are Chinese as I thought. I found out the following:

>The varieties of Moyune Green, distinguished by the age of the leaf and by the make of it, are as follows :

>GUNPOWDER. Young to medium leaves rolled in balls ranging from " Pinhead " to " Pea Leaf."

>YOUNG HYSON. Young to medium leaf made in Congou fashion ; the finest and closest make is known as "Gomee."

>IMPERIAL. Older leaves, made in Gunpowder style.

>HYSON. Older leaves, made in Congou style. Amongst the finer grades, made from carefully selected mature leaves, manipulated with care, are some of the finest liquoring Green Teas produced ; they, however, find less favour than they deserve on the home market, and the greater part are exported.

>The lowest grades, known as u Twankay " and " Hyson Skin," when now shipped to this country, are usually labelled " Imperial " or u Hyson."

"Tea and tea blending (1894, London)", S. Lewis and Co.

https://archive.org/details/teateablending00slewrich

According to Lu Yu

Rice, ginger, salt, orange peels, spices, milk, and onions. This was common for sometimes time at least to the Tang dynasty (800ish AD).

Salt was considered by him the only acceptable one, to confer act the bitterness. Tea was much more bitter then, than now.

Many other cultures have a strong tradition of milk, fermented horse milk, fermented yak butter, and mint too. I believe the earliest ate and chewed tea too.

I drink my tea "neat", mostly drinking young raw pu erh though. Tea is meant to be enjoyed though, if someone enjoys flavored Tea, let them drink in piece, just please don't expect me to give you my prized teas if you do.

They're sticks of honey, probably. They're commonly sold at farmer's markets in different flavours and types. That looks like clover honey by the shade.

Okay, maybe not clover. Here's an amazon link of similar items. They're a fun snack.

https://www.amazon.com/Floral-Honeystix-Clover-Honey-Sticks/dp/B005WYD8LW

I've started making custom tea wares lately. We started making gongfu tea tables out of locally sourced live edge wood and they've been quite popular. The last month or so I've been working on making Damascus steel tea knives. These are turning out awesome! I've got a small forge and anvil in my shop at home and do everything myself by hand.

We're auctioning the first off today on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/96aLcoIz0O/ They take a while to make and I'm real excited to see these going out into the world. I've got more in the works.

If you don't know what Damascus steel is it's the real world equivalent of Valyrian steel. They've been spell forged and have a +9 against Xiaguan iron cakes. :-D

On amazon! Here’s the link I got it from, they’re currently unavailable but you should be able to find something from another seller :) just be careful because a lot of these are made for espresso so they’re really small, I had to dig a bit to find ones big enough for tea!! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075KL1Q78/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_VHlcGbE3RFAXA?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

They're just generic spice tins. You can get them on Amazon or at the Container store or anywhere similar. I just bought a pack of chalkboard stickers and put them on the lids.

Just go to loose leaf, all you need is a simple basket strainer. Something like this for example:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08YRQNXKD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_WNGHW4JPFAE84Q3RJ39B

For tea check out the recommended vendor list:

https://www.reddit.com/r/tea/wiki/vendors/page_01?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf

Based on your list of Constant Comment products (Constant Comment original is fabulous!), it sounds like you're using teabags. So when we say "How much leaf to how much water", we're talking about the amount of tea leaves in the tea bag. So lets talk about whether you're using teacups (which usually contain 4-6 oz of liquid) or whether you're using mugs (which can range between 10-18 oz of liquid.) So if your current method gives you results that taste like flavored water, then lets add more teabags. Constant Comment instructions per the Bigelow website currently recommend 12 oz water per teabag. Please take this as a general guideline and add another teabag to make it stronger if you want. Maybe use 3 teabags. Give it a try and see how it goes.

I'm also going to second /u/LittleRoundFox and recommend Yorkshire and Yorkshire Gold tea. Its a heart English black tea that brews up very strong. I love it and will happily drink it with tea and sugar. I'll brew up 40 oz of the stuff in a stainless steal thermos and that'll last me thru 4 hours of studying. If you can't find it around you, you can order it from Amazon, and if you feel $4 or $5 is more than you want to pay for a box, then if you live in the US, DM me your address and I'll mail you sample.

In a few cases, tea can be an acquired taste. It used to be, I had to have sugar in my coffee and tea ALL THE TIME. then I did a diet change to cut the vast majority of sugar from my diet and then I could start tasting all the stuff that the sugar used to cover up. I'll still use sugar when I drink black tea, and Starbucks coffee ('cuz they burn their beans), but high-end chinese tea is delicious without sugar. Your Mileage May Vary, however.

With my powers of Amazon Whore, I have found them! https://www.amazon.com/Assorted-Designs-White-Japanese-Teacups/dp/B01D3SY4EI/

I'm not sure the exact name but it's an automatic steeper for a gongfu tea ceremony. This one is a stone mill design.

I got it on Amazon here

and here is the amazon link for the set pictured, I believe:

https://www.amazon.com/Aoheuo-Magnetic-Diversion-Rotating-Semi-Automatic/dp/B08Q3S3ZF3/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=glass+tea+set+magnetic&qid=1620009478&s=home-garden&sr=1-1

I'm just going to cut and paste my response to the question of cast iron at this rate...

I hate cast iron. Don't get cast iron. Unless you're collecting everything for a true Japanese Chanoyu set, don't even think about cast iron. In any normal setting they're just a chunk of inconvenient heavy hot metal and most people don't take care of them and then they rust.

Okay going past that, welcome to tea! :) There's a variety of different kinds of pots and other brewing vessels to start with. It mostly depends on what style you like best. I always recommend that people get small teapots to start with if teapots are the way they want to go. A lot of us also use gaiwans, but since you're just getting started it's fine to first find a pot with which you're comfortable and happy with. I used to have a Bee House teapot like this one that I loved. They're very easy to use, look very nice, come in many of colors, and are easy to clean. I also like these other Japanese basket style teapots too. Kutani is a famous kiln and produces a wide range of lovely teaware and other ceramics. I saw a bunch more on Amazon by them that looked really nice.

I would personally also suggest avoiding glass teapots, they really do break very easily or can get scratched etc. If the basket is glass too then it's usually a major pain to clean.

Check the sidebar FAQ for some good guidance.

Essentially you need:

1. Hot water. And good water. So an electric kettle and some bottled spring water (or good tap water if you are lucky to live in such an area with no chlorination or off tastes).

2. Something to brew in. A standard tea pot works, but isn't always the easiest way. A look on Amazon will show you hundred of options here, from cups with basket infusers to one-person-pots to gaiwans to whatnot. What they all have in common is that they are a place for the tea leaf and the water to mix until the infusion is ready.

3. A strainer. Some infusion devices have them. Many teapots do too (look inside -- good teapots often have fine semi-spherical honeycomb strainers over the inside of the spout). If your infuser does not you'll need a simple strainer to hold over your tea cup while you pour to catch the tea leaf. DO NOT use one of those common tea balls or closed tea spoons. They cramp up the loose leaf and do not allow it to infuse freely. The results will be disappointing in comparison to letting the tea leaf float as free as possible.

4. A cup to hold the finished tea.

EDIT: I took a look on Amazon to find a simple all-in-one press-button infuser and found this. These types of press-button infusers make tea making about as easy as it can get: Put the leaf in the top, add water, and when it looks done press the button to drop the tea into the pitcher part of the infuser. Then pour into the cups. This one is a really cheap version ($14) and comes with some nice glass tea cups.

FYI, same kettle is $126 on amazon right now https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-1-7-Liter-Variable-Temperature-Electric/dp/B00N2278VC/

Massdrop did this same $75 deal a couple months ago. It is a very good deal if you want the big Bonavita.

For those who were like "Hell yeah, I'll go pick one up right n- holy shit, $230?"

I have a great alternative for $45, really great reviews on Amazon. I have no affiliation with them, but I was very close to pulling the trigger on something much more expensive. So here you go: https://www.amazon.com/Elechomes-Electric-Gooseneck-Temperature-Stainless/dp/B075D74CVH

Lol you are welcome? I have a milk frother that heats up the milk and froths it at the same time and was only $41 on amazon! Also you can always just hit up the milk and use a hand mixer or immersion blender to foam it up... although it require more work.

I actually really like it, it is on the "Sweet" side which I prefer. I couldn't find where to buy it online though :/

[edit] actually it seems amazon has them

For Japanese green tea, a gaiwan maybe isn't a good idea since the steaming process used to produce Japanese green tea will result in fine particles that may be tricky to hold back with a gaiwan lid. Mesh is good, but most mesh ball infusers are too small unless you're making a small amount of tea. Some Japanese teapots (kyusu) will have mesh filters or really fine holes within the built in clay filter of the nicer ones. I have a really inexpensive glass one that has a mesh basket that is very large, like this: https://www.amazon.com/Hario-CHN-30T-Kyusu-Fukami-300ml/dp/B00BD1NZ5W/

which may be the same thing as this one, not sure if these are actually different it not:

https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Cha-Kyusu-Maru-300ml/dp/B000NVMC4I/

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?authkey=CJLgu5IL&key=0ApCZ-sUhC2egdGtTVFNjMzFfZzdDUnVVTVgxQ2RxNVE&hl=en&authkey=CJLgu5IL#gid=0

That's the official list, which is always linked on the right hand column of the subreddit.

If you want to get into tea, and not pay Teavana prices, I recommend looking at /r/Tea's List of Retailers

And here's a crash course for you:

I would then recommend going to Teachat.com and going there to read. They have some nice guides there too. Most of us here use one of many brewing practices: French Press, Gongfu method, Cold Brewing, Grandpa Style, and Cantonese / British style.

French press, you already know. Just don't crush the leaves.

Cold brewing is as the name suggests: Leave the teas in cold water, and stick it in the fridge.

Grandpa style is when you throw the leaves in a cup, pour water on top of it, and drink. When you're at the bottom of your cup, add in more water.

Cantonese / British is when you stick it in your teapot and leave it there at the table for the whole time.

Gongfu method (With Effort) is the usage of a small porcelain / yixing teapot or Gaiwan brewing vessel (a lidded cup). This is done by rinsing the leaves first, and then dumping all of the contents out into a sharing pitcher and then consequently into teacups.

Some more things you should consider is never use a teaball or anything that constricts the leaves from expanding. This is a big nono. Smaller the teapot the better, the more you let the tea soak, the less infusions you can get out of it, as well as the higher chance of your tea going bitter.

/r/tea's list of retailers

Here you go darling.

Personal favorites: Red Blossom, Ashateahouse, Purepuer, norbutea, verdanttea, chantea, naivetea.

On a side note, stay away from Teavana.

I just wanted to show off my first huge tea order! I've ordered small samples from TeaVivre before, but this was my first big tea haul! Over 500g of tea here! I ordered a glass teapot, a glass pitcher, a tea strainer, two teapot covers, a Cha He, and 13 different types of tea!

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So far I've tried.. 2012 Yunnan Sourcing "Yong De Blue Label" Ripe Pu-erh tea cake, Lu Shan Yun Wu Green Tea, Laoshan Black Tea, Imperial Gold Needle Yunnan Black Tea, Wu Yi Shan Rock Tea "Classic Rou Gui" Oolong Tea, and Anxi Hairy Crab Mao Xie Fujian Oolong Tea. They've all been really great but my favourite so far is the Laoshan black tea!

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My current tea tray is actually a cutting board I ordered off amazon for like $10. I've ordered a really nice tea tray (#2, the dark wood one) off Aliexpress that should be here in a few weeks! I also ordered a teapet from teaware.house! I'll probably post more pictures once those things come in :)

Fairtrade is mostly applicable in India where workers are truly kept in subhuman conditions and paid next to nothing unless otherwise specified.

Here are a couple of examples of non-ethical tea farming in India, which you'll quite probably support if buying just any Indian tea: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jul/20/poverty-tea-pickers-india-child-slavery http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-34173532

I have a Hamilton Beach electric kettle from Walmart. I've been using it for a year or more and I love it.

Hamilton Beach 40996 Programmable Kettle, 1.7-Liter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0083I7THI/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_PajZtb1DHM8386CF

It was a gift, but I think this is the one, except the spoons in mine are ceramic not metal.

>I find brewing loose leaf tea to be a lot of work for just one cup

I just use one of the metal in-cup infuser baskets for loose leaf one cup at a time. Brew in the cup, pull out the strainer, and you're done. Super close to bagged tea in terms of ease. I'll use a teapot when I want more than one cup or if I'm feeling the aesthetic vibe of a teapot and want to out in the effort for the meditative feel of it.

If you're making it in a pot, you can use something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Simtive-Borosilicate-Stainless-Ceramic-Brushed/dp/B07YJ13KG9 along with a tea light candle.

Basically, you use tea lights for their intended purpose...keeping a pot of tea warm.

I've been using this model for a bit and haven't had any hiccups from it. Real versatile with my lifestyle. I like talking about these toys lol so ask away if your on the fence

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08SBT939S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_MNDKF60CCXNR0DCFPJBN?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

The stainless steel mesh ones are pretty reliable:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016E9MM7O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_FKAGSB1BEKCGJPTK6833

I also like the House Again ones, they’ll universally fit pretty much any mug:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1OTXHW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_Z574ZVXEQH4BMSH3465H

Also having a good quality tea matters. Cheap tea will be broken smaller and produce more dust.

There a plenty more. Especially in Hawaii. However, I think its a little difficult to buy from most if you are not local. Many american tea plantations seem to be small. There are two tea plantations in south carolina: the Bigelow Tea Charleston Tea Plantation and Table Rock Tea. The Charleston Tea Plantation actually sells on amazon. Check out the list

You should get a real infuser basket like this. Your bobble doesn’thave enough room to let the tea leaves expand and infuse properly.

I'd guess that this tree is relatively unknown outside China and the international tea community, so it's unsurprising if the contributors didn't know about it. It's said to be the world's oldest cultivated tea tree. If you're interested, there's a short paragraph on another site about how they determined the age of the tree. Essentially:

"In 1982, the Director of the National Agricultural Exhibition Center Mr Wang Guang Zhi determined that the tree was more than 3200 years using the isotope method (radiocarbon dating). Zhongshan University's Botany Department concurred with his results after conducting their own experiments. In early 2004, experts from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences estimated the tree's age to be between 3200 and 3500 years."

So if I'm doing my math right that's under $.10-$.14/g?

Here's a black with a honeyed sweetness and chocolaty notes for $.13/g shipped. Zhanping Shu Xian black tea from HelloTeatime. (Warning, the shipping isn't fast).

For the smoky oolong, are you looking specifically for a pine smoke flavor, like a lapsang souchong has, or just any kind of roasted oolong?

Encyclopedia Britannica agrees with you on Wade-Giles.

Wikipedia also has no problem with pu'erh or pu'er.

This is a green tea cold brew with the Tao of Tea's Dragonwell leaves, kiwi, strawberries, and a few blueberries. This week I have been doing different mixtures with my green tea. The first was just honeydew which was okay. The other was watermelon which I really enjoyed. The last was a combination of those two which was awesome!

This is my infuser; I always blend my teas with honey from a local beekeeper who I have the luxury of working with and occasionally sugar as well. The honeydew and watermelon did not get sugar though as it was very good with just honey.

Tea Sachets are better for a couple of reasons: They tend to open up larger, preventing the tea from compacting. They also tend to come with slightly higher quality tea in them, since they are more expensive (usually less sachets per container than bags). Since the bags aren't as compact, the tea going into them can be (not always true though) larger.

However, tea sachets don't necessarily make for better tea. Some companies just use them to justify charging more. (lipstick on a pig).

If you really want to get into experimenting with tea, just take the plunge into whole leaf teas. A in mug infuser is very inexpensive (the one I use isunder $12 https://www.amazon.com/Infuser-Handled-Stainless-Infusing-Steeping/dp/B01N1OTXHW/). Opt for as big of one as can fit in your favorite mug. They clean really quick and easy, and with no moving parts, they could last forever.

Last note: Harney and Sons teas you find at stores tend to be really subpar. I don't know what it is - if they just sit on the shelf for too long or a different manufacturer just using the name - but I've found it really hit or miss. If you're in the US, they offer free shipping and usually have a number of sample packs to get you started. I think they do particularly well with black teas, oolongs and flavored teas. Some of the green teas are good too - but I prefer Tea Source for green teas.

If you're willing to stretch a little above $50, Amazon has a very good electric kettle on sale at $54 (down from $99): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005YR0F40/

I've been using it for over a year and its still going strong.

It sounds like you like black tea for the richness of the flavor, but it's the tannins that are causing too much bitterness. I find that when I add milk to a cup it adds a little bit of sweetness because the fat binds to the tannin. If your go to is P.G. Tips and you're heading into the land of loose leaf, which is probably the answer to your question, you're going to find that you can get both blends and specific varieties.

Assam: malty, dark, intense, high tannin Ceylon: brighter, fewer tannins Keemum: honestly I've never had a cup I enjoyed. This is a part of traditional english breakfast blend

Longer brews and higher temperatures bring out tannin flavors as everyone above has mentioned.

I find tea filters to be the easiest way to brew:

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B000KDW9MO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_30E8AGD18RRCGCYHSZ4G

One question is whether you want to stick to tea bags or if you want to do loose leaf.

If tea bags, I think Harney and Sons samplers would be a nice place to start. Harney and Sons has some pretty tasty blends, and it contains some standard teas as well at a very accessible price.

I don't know where you are or what resources are available to you. If you have not developed any preferences yet, I would recommend you start with a good quality loose leaf tea, eg large leaf orange pekoe from Ceylon, like https://www.amazon.com/Frontier-Natural-Products-Organic-Ceylon/dp/B0012BSISM/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=Black+tea+loose+ceylon&qid=1605540422&sr=8-3 You may find better sources than Amazon, depending on where you live.

Other people may point you at Chinese or Japanese teas which they prefer. It will take awhile to find your own favourites, so I wish you a happy journey of discovery! Just remember, your choices are as valid as anyone else's.

The thing that helped me most when I was getting started with tea was buying a basket infuser that let me use loose teas. They are on amazon for between $9-15.

Find some loose tea - there are a lot of really great teas that just don't come in bag form. For the brewing time and water temperature, try any of these charts. They all have the same basic advice: 3-5 minutes in boiling water for black tea, 2-3 minutes in less than boiling water for green tea.

Continue to experiment and find what you like! I like a splash of milk in a dark tea like Irish or English Breakfast. The only tea I sweeten with honey is Earl Grey. I leave my green and white teas alone. Yerba mate is fantastic iced during the summer. You'll have your own preferences, I'm sure.

Don't forget to check the links in the sidebar, including FAQ and the list of online retailers!

If I were you I would spend it on a nice kettle like this or some teaware, or just save it for something else

You're not going to find great quality tea on Amazon

If you want a quality tea sampler I would highly recommend What-Cha's Intro to Tea Collection

It looks like speckled clay, which is typically achieved with an addition of granular manganese. It could just be a larger piece of manganese that discolored the glaze.

If you're worried about it, you can buy lead test kits at most home improvement stores or even Amazon.

Summoning /u/dog22222 to see what he thinks.

Why do you think tea bags would be a big cost reduction?

You say you spent $30 on almost a pound of tea, which sounds like a great deal. A pound of tea bags would usually cost more unless you buy very low-end bags in bulk.

For instance, one of the cheapest tea bag bargains I can find at this moment is a half pound of Lipton on Amazon, at $22/lb (assuming you are a Prime member and get free shipping).

A simple Tazo breakfast tea runs $50 for a case which is only 3/4th of a pound.

You can find the bamboo-box style (collects water in the bottom of the box) for $15-$25 from a lot of sources, which is a good way to start gongfu cha on the cheap. But I recommend against them in the long terms since they tend to crack and leak over time, unless you use a separate waste-water bowl for rinses and such.

Instead get one with a plastic catch tray underneath. They tend to cost more, but there are common enough that you should be able to find a basic one in the $30-40 range. Even Amazon carries them from a number of sellers, like this one for $35 or this one with a more common design for $43. Those were from a quick search, there are tons more on there that might be better for a lesser price.

It looks like a hario coffee carafe. I found one that is a cheaper version on amazon. It's $10.

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https://www.amazon.com/Hiware-Coffee-Server-Standard-Carafe/dp/B012VWZ88S/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1539382700&sr=8-6&keywords=hario+carafe&dpID=41vYpw-QtOL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

I ordered an inexpensive gaiwan to try out gongfu brewing.  I intend to use it for some puerh I have coming.  While I wait on my order, I thought I'd at least get acquainted with my new gaiwan.

Today I did my first gongfu session with some milky oolong from H&S.  I know there is better, "real" milky oolong out there, but it's the best tea I have right now for this type of steeping.  "Best" meaning I knew it would likely hold up well to several steepings.  I also don't have a tea tray or any legit setup for now because I'm just starting out.  I can definitely see how some of the extra equipment could be beneficial (e.g. so I don't have to stand over my sink dumping water).

The gaiwan worked very well, from what I can tell.  The lid seals well, the cup sits sturdy in the saucer, and it strains the leaves well.  I enjoyed experiencing the taste and aroma changing with each steep.  After the second steep I felt intensely calm and content, a feeling I only ever remember feeling after my first time doing meditative yoga.  I think it might have come from the mindfulness exercise that is practicing this type of brewing.  It could be cha-qi but I don't know if that's a thing with oolong.  Anyway, I'll be chasing that calm feeling the rest of my life.  I'm excited for my puerh to arrive!

Anyone starting out on gongfu should use one of these. It is all of the brewing supplies in one. They come in glass and can also be found on Amazon, but I find that this metal one is fit for travel.

Get a variable temperature kettle. Many recommend a Bonavita.

As for tea...

• Silver Needles
• Long Jing
• Jasmine
• Heavy Roasted Oolongs
• Da Hong Pao
• Tieguanyin

Oolong is a broad category and you should not get started on Pu-erh yet. Choose a tea type and sample its sub-types.

Vendors (Check under the subreddit's "about" tab)

• YunnanSourcing
• Adagio
• Teavivre

I originally had the packets just sitting on a shelf in my pantry. The struggle was real.

I found this acrylic bin on Amazon and is perfectly sized for the Adagio sample size packets. I just pull the bin out with the convenient little handle cutouts and away we brew!

One of my better Amazon purchases.

First off, don't use the tea ball/spoon thingy. They don't allow the tea leaves to fully expand. Look for something like this.

https://smile.amazon.com/Yoassi-Extra-Fine-Approved-Stainless/dp/B01LQ7NQTW/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=cup+infuser&qid=1552432811&s=gateway&sr=8-7

Fits inside your mug or cup and allows the tea leave to fully expand. As far as pro and cons there is no doubt that loose leaf makes superior tea. But it does take a bit more work to weigh or measure out your leaves instead of dunking a tea bag into a cup of water. Better taste or more convenience. Your choice.

This is the best kept secret in the tea world

Pretty delicious sencha at an affordable price. It's not the best tea i've ever had, but it's pretty darn good, and the price is quite fair. That guy constantly lists tea, keep an eye out, it's possible to get them for 20-25 a bag. The sencha is the best from his collection as well.

Now don't get let this get too big, I want to keep getting cheap sencha!

Rust isn't that dangerous. Just boiling water, rinse it out, clean it well... Don't use soap if your pot has a tendency to take on flavours. Bleach, when rinsed well, can "reset" your pot.

Tetanus and rust based problems are associated with the dirty aspect of rust, not rust itself.

should be fine with boiling water and a metal scrubby. Just rinse it well. . If you can boil the actual pot, that's better.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_health_consequences_of_ingesting_rust This is a more logical response for you.

It is very convenient to use teapots with candles for tea drinking. One candle burns for approximately 4 hours and the tea remains hot throughout the entire time. Wrote a small review of all my collected tea items. I hope this will be useful to someone.

Spoons like candy)

I use the Bonavita Electric Kettle.

https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV382510V-Variable-Temperature-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40

It's a steal. I originally got it to use for pourover coffee, but the temperature adjustment ended up being amazing once I got into tea, too.

As for temperature, it's different for every tea. But the "industry standards" seem generally correct. One deviation I can say for Taiwanese Oolongs, I always hit those with boiling water.

I'm assuming you want to drink a milk based tea. I'd buy an infuser basket and a few small samples of loose leaf chai, earl grey, darjeeling and assam and see what you like. I'm told Harney and Sons is pretty good for this stuff, but if you have a local tea shop (most cities do) try that out.

There's no one way to enjoy and get into tea so go with whatever sounds appealing.

You'll notice a big difference in flavor if you go back to loose tea, but a tea ball is too small for most teas because you want the leaves to open up and have room to move around. You can brew in the teapot or cup that you already have and pour the brewed tea through a kitchen strainer to remove the leaves (or invest in a reusable filter basket; my favorite is this one by Finum). Then, just pick up some leaves and experiment!

https://www.amazon.com/TASSEN-Porcelain-Grinning-Single-Medium/dp/B07NF1P4PH/ref=mp_s_a_1_20_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=tassen+cup+face&qid=1623339179&sr=8-20-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFQR0tYTEZFOFRIUUMmZW5jcnlwdGV...

You can get portable stoves for camping. Maybe something like this or this? Maybe bring a cooking thermometer if you want to be particular about the temp.

There isn't going to be a huge difference. The determining factors of how much caffeine you're getting is the amount of tea you use and the amount of time you steep. The temperature may play a part as well but that would be constant if you use the same tea.

Gong-fu brews multiple times with short infusions whereas western steeping brews once for a longer period. Assuming you pull more caffeine from the earlier infusions with gong-fu, all that means is you're front loading your caffeine intake.

If you want to continue with western brewing then you can try cup sized tea infusers. There are also things like the Hario Largo which give the tea more room to expand while keeping capacity rather low.

Go to the grocery store, go down the candle aisle, and buy one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Darice-Large-Candle-Warmer-Releases/dp/B001DHQXX2

I kept one on my desk for years until I switched to using an insulated tumbler from Klean Kanteen.

This is the gaiwan I got on amazon-singly handedly one of the best tea purchases I've ever made. I have no regrets. Used to be prime, but they changed it. It's not too hot to handle, and retains heat quite well. Read the review for better pictures and such.

I'd have to agree with /u/Kargaroc on this, genmaicha is one of those things where the cheap teas or teabags tend to be close to the more expensive ones so there isn't much reason to go for any "fancier" genmaicha less you are a ganmaicha fanatic.

My honest recommendation? When I want to drink genmaicha I drink Itoen teabags for it. You can get them off of Amazon and for genmaicha I have no real complaints. Itoen is a large drinks company in Japan, but their quality is, to me, better than other comparable options (lipton, Arizona, et cetera). I will say, Itoen markets outside of Japan under the name Kirkland, so theoretically it should be same or similar, but it could just be me but I do find Kirkland tea lower quality than buying it under the Itoen brand, and as such I'd recommend ensure you purchase Itoen branded and not Kirkland branded.

Amazon! It actually came with a damaged leg. I tried to repair it with gorilla glue but it didn't really take. The seller should be sending me another one though. It says "unavailable" so maybe out of stock now?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GXQN4QQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

A mug top infuser runs for under $10 for two on amazon. If you care enough about making better tea to post on reddit, loose leaf is probably the best, cheapest, first step to take.

I think you've got the right idea!

​

Some additional equipment you might consider getting:

- a mesh strainer: some teas have kind of small particles. you can find strainers at a lot of tea shops. although the pot has a filter, some smaller leaf pieces can still end up in your cup. This one's on amazon just to give you an idea of what to look for. I'd pick a different one though. they don't seem to have a lot of options on amazon. Just search for a gongfu strainer or filter at a tea website/store.

- A fair cup: this is just a pitcher that you pour the tea into before pouring it into the cups. It ensures that everyone is getting the same strength tea. The first cup can be weaker than the last since the water has had a little more time to steep in the last cup. The problem can also be solved by pouring a little bit in each cup multiple times instead of filling them in a single pour.

- a tea pet: they're just cute lol. some of them are supposed to bring good luck and some of them do things like spit water, blow bubbles, pee, or change color. you pour excess tea on them and they get nice and shiny.

​

If you're in London, maybe try Mei Leaf? I've never been nor have I ordered from them, but they have a pretty good online presence and a lot of people seem to like them. They're #5 on the Vendor List. They just posted this video about gift ideas of teas that they carry. Some of them sound pretty good. They also probably have the stuff I mentioned above in their store too if you want to get everything in one trip!

Perhaps something like this? Or if you are looking for a simpler set, there's a lot out there more like this one. These are both on Amazon, but are sold from vendors that may have websites outside if you wish to buy direct.

I found the exact one on Amazon

[https://www.amazon.com/Yeme-Tasteful-Bamboo-Table-Serving/dp/B00M3Y8LNY/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?keywords=bamboo+tea+tray&qid=1562356451&s=gateway&sprefix=bamboo+tea+&sr=8-6](Here)

Looking for some help with my kettle. The infuser basket has broken and I haven't had any luck at all shopping for replacements. I bought one but it was not the right size (not nearly tall enough -- doesn't reach to the bottom of the kettle). There seem to be many different shapes of kettles but not a corresponding variety of infuser baskets.

And not only has the basket broken, but it never seemed the optimal shape in the first place. I guess I like a lot of leaves for the amount of water I put, and having all the leaves actually submerged has been a problem (especially for unbroken leaves). The basket kind of folds inward so that the volume it holds is less than if it was properly rounded. I think the opening it goes in is wide enough if only the basket itself was as voluminous as possible.

Maybe best if I just buy a new kettle? This one was not a huge investment anyway. But if I could find the perfect basket, with the correct width and depth to reach all the way to the bottom of the kettle, that would be ideal.

https://photos.google.com/u/1/share/AF1QipOu-5SlFj91abtRayKlYOeq-zjMEXZX5MadUf59wfqlt2WftCr5NcHIsWLKsvdL6A?key=bjRMekEwc293Z1RrWjhqNm5UeTBQRG12YzFfVnVB

https://www.amazon.com/Teapot-Sotya-Tetsubin-Japanese-Kettle/dp/B01G6GR1L2/

I got them on amazon. They are by Zero Japan or Bee House. I also have their salt cellar. I think they are 15 oz and 22 oz.

ZEROJAPAN 15oz Round Teapot with SLS Lid and Infuser (jeans blue) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HIUWK12/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_r2EeEbV2NDCZW

ZEROJAPAN Universal teapot 680cc egg plant BBN-04 EG (japan import) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0042D7DI8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_x3EeEbZ7JZK8F

There are quite a few colors and other sizes as well. My salt cellar is the same blue color and I love it. They have other crazy finishes too and apparently it can go in the microwave as long as you remove the lid and infuser.

More u/LiquidProustTeas sampler:

Finished trying the YS 2016 Immortal Monkey yesterday. It now had a stronger smell, almost but not quite fishy, that it didn't have to begin with. Used longer steeps and it had got lighter in colour again. It had a slight savoury taste at the very end of a sip, but less flavour than it had to begin with. I'd say I liked it best right at the start, but having nothing attention-grabbing it doesn't beat an oolong. I'd drink it again no problem, there just isn't much reason to choose it over other options.

Today tried one labelled "2011 Shimonoseki breen". The closest thing I've been able to google for what it might be is a 2011 Xiaguan red box (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Pu-er-Tea-2011-Shimonoseki-Premium-Puer-Tea-250g-Compressed-Xiaguan-Aged-Raw-Puerh-Shen-Puer/32706374015.html) but no idea if that has anything to do with it. It would make sense if it was meant to say "green".

Anyway, this is the first one I don't like. Leaves were very tightly packed - I broke off just under half which is 3g (easy to weigh when it holds together so well!) and was using 35-40ml water. It needed some more breaking up after the rinse to make sure it got wet through - liquid was a light amber. It had a vegetal bitter aftertaste with maybe some smoke. The bitterness lingered in the mouth and I didn't find it very pleasant. It didn't really have anything to make up for that.

Another thing that I noticed was that in The Story of Tea: A Cultural History and Drinking Guide by Mary Lou Heiss and Robert Heiss, they talk about how the meaning of Bohea tea changed over time. This sort of explains how a term once used for Wuyi teas became described in most primary sources as referring to dust-grade, low-quality tea.

That copy is from Barnes & Noble's 'Collectible Editions' line.

Here is a link to that edition of Dune.

Here is a link to their 'Collectible Editions' line.

Most places sell them for $10 or more, but you can get them for less than half of that online at places like dx.com. Their selection rotates frequently, but they've had the "manateas" and other animal ones quite frequently for about $4 with free shipping from China.

I bought some Ebay Pu-erh. It wasn't very good, and I'm pretty sure it's the same grade of tea that I received from Hello Teatime! I wouldn't recommend it, but I do drink it at work, for what that's worth.  

I would recommend looking at the sale area of What Cha and going with that.

I looked at other items the Etsy seller offers and it looks to me that their prices are pretty steep. You can get similar pieces on Aliexpress at less than half the price: 1, 2

IMO, etc.

http://seekingalpha.com/article/1032681-dont-believe-us-test-the-teas-yourself

This site offers independent lab results of the actual findings that prove that yes, they include pesticides which exceed regulatory limits

Did a blind tasting with friends:

"Rasseru wrote 3 months ago OK LP, what ones were what..?

I liked 8,2,5 in that order the most. then 9,1,7

3 flavoured milk 6 tasted like cheap dancong 4 was wtf confused, got tomato potato chips"

and "Daylon R Thomas wrote 3 months ago I liked #3, #2, and the BTTC Oolong. I haven’t finished, so my rankings aren’t official."

With what I found, I believe these are good choices:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/The-3rd-Prize-Shanlinxi-Taiwan-Oolong-Tea-Gold-Award-High-Mountain-Tea-50g-Loose-Sample/1000001448827.html?spm=2114.13010608.0.0.8GkM2a

and

http://www.dragonteahouse.biz/premium-organic-taiwan-jin-xuan-milk-oolong-250g-8-8-oz/

Sorry for the links, we use Aliexpress and DTH both at the same time. For the price they are nice, but there is always a better choice at a little more cost. Oolong is my favorite so I know it quite well :)

If your blog is static website there is no other use for cookies than spying. I do not think you do it on purpose but you give to big tech do unethical stuff throw your blog.

I have tea related blog too, I use jekyll as generator (awesome technology 100% recommmend) and for trafic info I use plausible.io . Plausible is open source and ethical.