Tea Lover

Anyone who knows me knows I love tea.  What is better than a good cup of tea in the morning?  Coffee, you say?  I like coffee, but I LOVE tea.  I’m enjoying a cup right now.  For the longest time, I called myself 'an aspiring tea snob'.  But, let’s face it: I am a tea snob (in the best sense).  However, all of this snobbery may be reduced to a few select choices that I want to share with you .

Black Tea
In the category of black teas, my hands-down favorite is Twinings' Ceylon, part of their 'Origins' series.  My tea journey began as a consummate Lipton drinker.  I'm still a fan, and you can find Lipton just about anywhere.  But Twinings’ Ceylon is heaven.  It is smooth and rich and everything I want in a cup of tea.  If you want the best cup of black tea that money can buy, this is it.  I have converted several friends and relatives to this brand and they blame (yes, that is the word they use), they blame me for getting them hooked on it.  If you like black tea, give it a try: I promise you won’t be disappointed.  I generally drink my tea black, with a little sugar or honey.  Sometimes I add milk or lemon.  This tea may be found at many grocery stores or ordered online.

Jasmine Green Tea

Having grown up drinking black tea, green tea always seemed odd and bitter to me.  That has all changed, in my pursuit of tea nirvana.  I have come to appreciate many fine green teas.  The jasmine tea served at Chinese restaurants has always been a favorite, and that is probably why I love Twinings' Jasmine Green Tea so much.  They recently added a 100% Organic, Fair-Trade Certified version, which I have yet to try.

There are some loose green teas that I also love.  One is called Dragon Pearl Jasmine.  It is somewhat of a novelty, as the tea is rolled in beautiful, pearl-sized balls of tea mixed with jasmine petals.  Mighty Leaf Tea Company offers an excellent choice called Jasmine Downy Pearls.

I once visited a tea house in Zurich, where I was introduced to another favorite, Sencha with Lemon, a Japanese green tea.  I have not been able to find a comparable tea, but I’ve made up for it by adding my own lemon zest to Sencha leaves.  Mighty Leaf offers excellent Sencha .

Whether you're already a fan of green tea or not, give these suggestions a try.  You might discover a new favorite.

Herbal Teas – Mint Medley

My wife and I have both tried many mint teas, and we both agree that Bigelow Mint Medley is the best.  It is a blend of peppermint leaves, spearmint leaves, rose hips, lemon peel, and hibiscus.  I had no idea about the last three ingredients until writing this blog.  This is a comforting, caffeine-free, herbal tea.

Herbal Teas – I Love Lemon

I think it is good to find a truly tasty herbal, caffeine-free tea. Besides mint, my other favorite is Bigelow I Love Lemon.  There are many herbal citrus blends out there, and this one has a bright, lemony flavor, without other distractions.  It offers the best overall, lemony taste.  Drink it sweetened or unsweetened.

So there you have it, some of my favorites.  Give them a try.  Enjoy a good cup of tea!  It’s time for me to put the pot on again.