~Tea~

[Aino Ailill]

TeaDidikai

Aino Ailill

Does the flavor of tea soak into a cast iron kettle? I know that it can soak into the pots that are used to cook gumbo, jambalaya, shrimp/crawfish creole, etc. when it is cooked often and, as such, cooking it in a pot that has absorbed the flavors adds that extra bit of spice to every new dish.

Tea doesn't season cast iron the same way because of the lack of fats.

Cast iron, when properly cared for, becomes "seasoned". The oils, and sometimes the spices, condition the metal in a way that enhances the character of the pot/pan and makes for fuller, richer and easier to clean meals.

The lack of fat in tea (unless you're part of an African or rural Asian culture... some of them put butter in their tea) doesn't allow for this. That said, Yixing Ware is a porous form of bisque ware and it does absorb the tea. Properly seasoned yixing ware can have hot water poured in without leaves and will pour out tea. heart

That said, you have to be incredibly careful with the quality of the yixing ware in order for it to be safe.

That is so neat! If I get into the tea scene. and I have the money, I'm going to try it. :3  

[TeaDidikai]

Aino Ailill

That is so neat! If I get into the tea scene. and I have the money, I'm going to try it. :3

I have this whole cultural thing in regards to hosting and presents. twisted  

[Calixti]

TeaDidikai

I cook with other kinds of tea and include milk.

That makes more sense than drinking milk IN green tea.

I really need to try making that green tea furikake, now that you've reminded me about cooking with tea. ninja

TeaDidikai

It's okay. I won't hold it against you. ninja

That's good. As long as you don't take it away! gonk

TeaDidikai

Calixti

...I've got a lovely rooibos chai that I adore. And drink plain or with a teeny touch of honey. biggrin

~twitch~ Rooibos is an interesting tisane, but the oxymoron that rooibos chai is makes me twitch.

That is kind of strange, now that I think about it, but that's what Teavana labels it as. sweatdrop Maybe "spiced rooibos" would be a better name.  

[River_Moonwolf]

Primarily for TeaDidikai -

Consider me a tea idiot. What is the difference between tea and tisane? Mind, I generally have to go by what's on the box... confused  

[patch99329]

River_Moonwolf

Primarily for TeaDidikai -

Consider me a tea idiot. What is the difference between tea and tisane? Mind, I generally have to go by what's on the box... confused

Hope I'm not stepping on Tea's toes. xd

I wouldn't call you a tea idiot at all, the term tea is in common usage nowadays for all kinds of infusions.

That said, tea refers to the infusions made from the tea plant (Camelia sinesis) whereas a tisane refers to infusions made from herbs, fruit etc etc.

English breakfast=tea
Peppermint= tisane

The gunpowder was totally amazing to taste. Really full of flavour!
As for my ceylon silver tip, I wasn't all that impressed. But I think this is largely based on how it was made (I took it to a friends house, he poured the water in whilst briskly boiling, and I left it to brew for an irregular amount of time).
Does anyone have any serving suggestions?  

[TeaDidikai]

patch99329

Does anyone have any serving suggestions?

Brew lighter ( 30 seconds @ about 140 degrees F) and allow it to contrast with something sweet but mild, like a mellow melon- maybe honey dew?  

[Ainwyn]

TeaDidikai

The lack of fat in tea (unless you're part of an African or rural Asian culture... some of them put butter in their tea) doesn't allow for this. That said, Yixing Ware is a porous form of bisque ware and it does absorb the tea. Properly seasoned yixing ware can have hot water poured in without leaves and will pour out tea. heart

That said, you have to be incredibly careful with the quality of the yixing ware in order for it to be safe.

I saw something recently where they were talking about the way they drink tea in Mongolia. Part of me is very intrigued and wants to try it. The other part of me is horrified at the thought of what it'd probably do to my digestive system eek

Yixing ware sounds very interesting. Do you know of somewhere I could look and be sure of the quality? Or just how to know what makes quality yixing ware?  

[Arrowlake Riddler]

Will I be shunned forever if I say I have never liked any sort of tea I've tried to drink? sweatdrop

I rarely drink tea, though, so maybe it's just that I haven't found the real thing yet...  

[TeaDidikai]

Ainwyn

I saw something recently where they were talking about the way they drink tea in Mongolia. Part of me is very intrigued and wants to try it. The other part of me is horrified at the thought of what it'd probably do to my digestive system eek

Heh... yeah. Same boat really.

Quote:

Yixing ware sounds very interesting. Do you know of somewhere I could look and be sure of the quality? Or just how to know what makes quality yixing ware?

Traditional yixing ware is safe. The problem is less about "quality" and more about confusing unsafe knockoffs for the real thing.

The only solution I know of personally (without wasting money on acid tests and ruining the pot in question) is to buy from a reputable seller.

That said- I know of such locally. If you hit Summerstar this year, I could show you, or baring that, they do online-sales.

Arrowlake Riddler

Will I be shunned forever if I say I have never liked any sort of tea I've tried to drink? sweatdrop

I rarely drink tea, though, so maybe it's just that I haven't found the real thing yet...

Likely haven't had good tea.  

[Arrowlake Riddler]

TeaDidikai

Likely haven't had good tea.

But what is good tea, then? Normally I don't drink anything else but water, so I have no idea what is good or bad when it comes to tea... or to any other drinks, on that matter. But this thread makes me want to have a cup of good tea, even though I have no idea what it tastes like. gonk  

[TeaDidikai]

Arrowlake Riddler

But what is good tea, then? Normally I don't drink anything else but water, so I have no idea what is good or bad when it comes to tea... or to any other drinks, on that matter. But this thread makes me want to have a cup of good tea, even though I have no idea what it tastes like. gonk

Where to begin...
First, freshness. Tea (unless it's pu'erh) should have been harvested within a year and a half of when you are drinking it.
It should unfold into wholeish leaves.
When you rub it between your fingers, it should have a little give before it breaks.
It should smell good.
The water needs to be the right temp, and there needs to be the right proportions.

So... what kinds of food do you like?  

[Arrowlake Riddler]

TeaDidikai

So... what kinds of food do you like?

Spicy. 3nodding  

[TeaDidikai]

Arrowlake Riddler

TeaDidikai

So... what kinds of food do you like?

Spicy. 3nodding

Any more details than that?  

[Arrowlake Riddler]

TeaDidikai

Any more details than that?

Not really. I like pretty much anything, as long as it's well spiced. I'm also especially in love with Indian and Chinese food, if that helps.  

[TeaDidikai]

Arrowlake Riddler

TeaDidikai

Any more details than that?

Not really. I like pretty much anything, as long as it's well spiced. I'm also especially in love with Indian and Chinese food, if that helps.

Not really.

What is your favorite food of all time?