The Great British Tea Debate!

[shigatsuhana]

Sir_Catherine

Ever had the Japanese Matcha tea made from powdered tea leaves that they call "froth of liquid Jade" Shigatsuhana? I recently was given some by a gentleman who lives in Japan most of the year. It is amazing! The only green tea I like; it actually surpasses most base black teas.

I love matcha! heart But I usually only drink that in tea ceremony along with wagashi. Wagashi are the little sweets served during the ceremony. Of course there are all types of wagashi. There is a fantastic shop in Picadilly called Minamoto Kitchoan. They are a Japanese company with shops all over the world that sell wagashi. Yummy!

I do have some matcha for cooking purposes. When I'm off my diet I may try to make some scones or muffins with matcha in them.  

[Sir_Catherine]

shigatsuhana

Sir_Catherine

Ever had the Japanese Matcha tea made from powdered tea leaves that they call "froth of liquid Jade" Shigatsuhana? I recently was given some by a gentleman who lives in Japan most of the year. It is amazing! The only green tea I like; it actually surpasses most base black teas.

I love matcha! heart But I usually only drink that in tea ceremony along with wagashi. Wagashi are the little sweets served during the ceremony. Of course there are all types of wagashi. There is a fantastic shop in Picadilly called Minamoto Kitchoan. They are a Japanese company with shops all over the world that sell wagashi. Yummy!

I do have some matcha for cooking purposes. When I'm off my diet I may try to make some scones or muffins with matcha in them.

I've a story behind how I came to have the matcha I do.

A few weeks ago, along with several friends, I attended an anime convention. I don't know how prevalent such things are in England, but in the U.S. such conventions are essentially a large group of people who love anime, manga, video games, board games, role playing games and Japanese culture. Or at least everyone there likes some of the above. Myself, I pass on the video games for the most part.

Anyway, at this convention there was a gentleman who has been living in Japan for some time. While teaching there, he is also attending a school in how to conduct a tea ceremony. He held two such ceremonies, invitation only, at the convention. I originally did not have an invitation. To receive one, one must be active at the con's online forum throughout the year and I was not. Not knowing he was the master of the ceremonies, but only that he knew something of them, I asked him a few questions. Noting my interest, and knowing an invited person had canceled, he extended a special invitation to me.

Thus I was able to attend a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Quite amazingly, after the ceremony when I asked him if it would be possible to obtain the powdered matcha in the U.S., he gave me a small container of it along with a small box of wagashi. eek His only strictures were that I share both tea and wagashi with friends and that I bring the bamboo whisk back to him at next year's con. Apparently the whisk should be burned in a temple in Japan after use in a ceremony.

Doing my best to honor what I know of conducting such ceremonies, I have indeed been sharing the tea with friends. It is amazing how far a little of the powder will go. I've a few recipes that call for matcha, from a very large general book of Tea, so I might use the last of the powder in trying one out. Sadly, I do not think it possible, certainly not easy, to obtain more of the tea here in the U.S.  

[Sir_Catherine]

How do Britons feel about iced tea?

Myself, I enjoy it in bottles on long car trips. Unsweetened black tea, and no lemon or other flavoring.  

[Invictus_88]

I've not had it since I was last on the Continent, in my experience it's not seen here much. It's nice though, refreshing, but not really 'tea'.

I'm more impressed with the officer in Iraq who brewed two litres of English Breakfast Tea with milk and sugar, and froze it in a camelback to provide tea for a fully day in the baking hot sun.

I'm determined to try it myself.  

[Creatio ex Nihilo]

I've become amore coffee loving person. Mint tea is still my favourite with Chai tea coming soon after it.  

[Rev.Matt]

I like my coffee like I like my women.
Ground up and stored in the freezer.  

[Creatio ex Nihilo]

Rev.Matt

I like my coffee like I like my women.
Ground up and stored in the freezer.

Um..does that mean it's a favourite ou pas?  

[Sir_Catherine]

Invictus_88

I've not had it since I was last on the Continent, in my experience it's not seen here much. It's nice though, refreshing, but not really 'tea'.

I'm more impressed with the officer in Iraq who brewed two litres of English Breakfast Tea with milk and sugar, and froze it in a camelback to provide tea for a fully day in the baking hot sun.

I'm determined to try it myself.

The ice tea I drink is straight black tea chilled, so I don't see how it would be any less 'tea' than your officer's. Just mass produced.

Not surprised it isn't seen much cross the pond from here though.  

[A Lost Iguana]

Rev.Matt

I like my coffee like I like my women.
Ground up and stored in the freezer.

There's this wonderful sig about women and whisky. ninja
Twelve years old and mixed with coke  

[Invictus_88]

Sir_Catherine

Invictus_88

I've not had it since I was last on the Continent, in my experience it's not seen here much. It's nice though, refreshing, but not really 'tea'.

I'm more impressed with the officer in Iraq who brewed two litres of English Breakfast Tea with milk and sugar, and froze it in a camelback to provide tea for a fully day in the baking hot sun.

I'm determined to try it myself.

The ice tea I drink is straight black tea chilled, so I don't see how it would be any less 'tea' than your officer's. Just mass produced.

Not surprised it isn't seen much cross the pond from here though.

They always taste of fruit, it seems.  

[Foetus In Fetu]

A Lost Iguana

Rev.Matt

I like my coffee like I like my women.
Ground up and stored in the freezer.

There's this wonderful sig about women and whisky. ninja
Twelve years old and full of coke

On the rocks?  

[Bonita Chaotica]

I'm developing an obsession for Chrysanthemum tea.

Can't stand tea that's been contaminated with sugar, have a bare minimum tolerance for milky tea.

Invictus_88

I'm more impressed with the officer in Iraq who brewed two litres of English Breakfast Tea with milk and sugar, and froze it in a camelback to provide tea for a fully day in the baking hot sun.

Back when my dad was in the Royal Air Force, in Libya; drinking tea was compulsory! "Drink tea, it will help cool you down. This is an order."  

[Sir_Catherine]

Invictus_88

Sir_Catherine

Invictus_88

I've not had it since I was last on the Continent, in my experience it's not seen here much. It's nice though, refreshing, but not really 'tea'.

I'm more impressed with the officer in Iraq who brewed two litres of English Breakfast Tea with milk and sugar, and froze it in a camelback to provide tea for a fully day in the baking hot sun.

I'm determined to try it myself.

The ice tea I drink is straight black tea chilled, so I don't see how it would be any less 'tea' than your officer's. Just mass produced.

Not surprised it isn't seen much cross the pond from here though.

They always taste of fruit, it seems.

Of fruit?! What brand were you drinking? eek  

[Sir_Catherine]

Bonita Chaotica

I'm developing an obsession for Chrysanthemum tea.

Can't stand tea that's been contaminated with sugar, have a bare minimum tolerance for milky tea.

Greetings Bonita.

A book finally explained that milk in tea will reduce the bitterness, so because I like my tea brewed very strong, I tried a few drops of milk in a full beaker of Earl Grey. I was pleasantly surprised to find the tea retained all it's flavor but the bitterness was much reduced.

Sugar in tea though, I consider sacrilegious. wink  

[Shadow of an Illusion]

Sir_Catherine

Bonita Chaotica

I'm developing an obsession for Chrysanthemum tea.

Can't stand tea that's been contaminated with sugar, have a bare minimum tolerance for milky tea.

Greetings Bonita.

A book finally explained that milk in tea will reduce the bitterness, so because I like my tea brewed very strong, I tried a few drops of milk in a full beaker of Earl Grey. I was pleasantly surprised to find the tea retained all it's flavor but the bitterness was much reduced.

Sugar in tea though, I consider sacrilegious. wink

Earl Grey is one of those teas you aren't supposed to have milk with. (I still do but I like my tea milky)


Anyone like Redbush tea? It's good, stops the tea cravings but doesn't make me feel too frirrrr (it's the only way to describe it).