Thread: Tea?

Originally Posted by AnarchoPhil

Both countries call what they drink "chai". I have seen tea labeled as "chai" but it doesn't taste the same. What tastes the closest to the "chai" of the middle east is just a bag of black tea.

"Chai" is the Russian word for "tea". It probably is in some other languages as well.

The only time i drink tea now is when im out of coffee.
I still have my pint mug for those times when i run out and need something nice and hot to drink

ian

Actually "chai" originally comes from India, specifically Hindi and is the generic word in that language simply for "tea."

The typical way tea was made in India was to boil whole (i.e. fresh from the cow!) milk and then simmer it with the tea leaves in it and add some spices and sugar. In India it is often called "chai masala." When I lived in Kenya this means of preparing tea was the typical way out in the rural areas, having come there through the workers from India who built the railway.

Because this traditional eastern way of preparing tea, in milk with spices and sugar, was so different from the usual English means, with water, and just off the boil, not boiling, with milk and sugar optional, "chai" came to refer to spiced tea while "tea" referred to the steeping of tea leaves in water fresh off the boil, but with no continuing heat applied.

I like's 'em both, but obviously the English style is easier, and here in the US, where actual whole cows milk is hard to find, it's just not the same made in the "chai" manner.

Darjeeling...Darjeeling... Oh how i love Darjeeling.

That aside, i truly do appreciate a good blend of darjeeling loose leaf, and for the days when i feel that i'm burning through my loose leaf too quickly, a nice cup of Darjeeling from Twinnings serves its purpose. A cup of french press coffee in the morning and a spot of tea right before supper, around 5:30 p.m. has suited me well in these last few months. Even if its 95(35C) with 99% humidity, i still find myself indulging in a nice hot cup of tea.

Also, am i the only person who is annoyed when people ask for a cup of Chai Tea? I've always been annoyed by redundancy, (Like people calling it the ATM Machine [Automatic Teller Machine Machine]) and it just makes me chuckle when i hear yuppies ask for tea tea.

-Jaxx

Originally Posted by Jaxx2112

Also, am i the only person who is annoyed when people ask for a cup of Chai Tea? I've always been annoyed by redundancy, (Like people calling it the ATM Machine [Automatic Teller Machine Machine]) and it just makes me chuckle when i hear yuppies ask for tea tea.

I think it has to do with the distinction, as noted above, that chai can also refer to spiced tea with milk. Then you have the Americanized chai latte'. Much like coffee house coffees are coffee for people who don't really drink coffee, it's the tea for people who don't really drink tea.

Originally Posted by HNSB

I think it has to do with the distinction, as noted above, that chai can also refer to spiced tea with milk. Then you have the Americanized chai latte'. Much like coffee house coffees are coffee for people who don't really drink coffee, it's the tea for people who don't really drink tea.

Except of course that "tea" was consumed as "chai" in India long before the English started making it as "tea"

I'm going back to bed...this is way to confusing! ;-)

I do love the teas. Most preferably the greens, however.

I tend to frequent a cup of yerba mate cast loosely into a mug and sipped through a bombilla the traditional way. I also drink black tea and sometimes white tea, but herbal tea are frequently my cup of choice of an evening. Berry infusions usually if it's not too late when I turn to chamomile.

My wife gets low blood pressure so both she enjoys ever slowwly..she loves her english breakfast and jasmine tea!...I get low blood sugar so I use 80/20 decaf and regular ;-)


pcdad

Originally Posted by HNSB

The tea I drink most often is Lapsang Souchong.

Lapsang is one of my favorites, too...and in the same vein, I have some Smoky Russian Caravan tea on hand from my local shop. Very different characters. I call the Lapsang "campfire in a cup" since I grew up with pine campfires. The Russian has a hardwood smoke flavor, not completely unlike a barbecue.

My overall favorite has to be a good Earl Grey. We now keep one in the house called Earl Grey de la Creme, which has lavender added. I also favor English and Irish breakfast teas.

At this very moment, I'm having a cup of South American breakfast tea. It includes cocoa nibs and all manner of other foliage.