emilly | (no subject)

(no subject)

So if tea smells delicious, but tastes like, well, hot water with flavourings, is there someway to make it taste as good as it smells? I don't think "make it stronger" is an option. I drank tiny cups out of a teapot over long enough to make it so strong as to make my tongue curl up with - is it tannin? And still, just tastes like warm water.

I had the same problem with T2's creme brulee, smells lovely but tastes like hot water. And yet Katie thinks it's the nicest tea ever.

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I find that with some T2 tea too. (heh)
I say use them as potpourri.

heh indeed. it was a sample bag, i couldn't decide between special b or earl grey royale so she gave me some of each to take home and try. lucky, cause i don't think potpourri and miles-the-inquisitive-cat would mix well!

Put lots of other stuff in it so that it tastes, for example, like warm sugary water?

I am in exactly the same boat! Herbal tea: smells delicious, tastes like weird hot water.

I've found a couple of exceptions to the rule, though - particular flavours strong enough to overwhelm the general wateriness. They are mint (pepper-, spear-, whatever) and licorice. And before you say you hate licorice (because everyone seems to), I hate licorice myself, but as a tea flavour it actually tastes really good.

Try looking for one (or preferably both) of these as part of a herbal tea flavour combination. My current favourite is this one (http://www.thefunctionalbeverageco.com.au/html/liven_up.shtml), though the fact that it has a herbal caffiene substitute might also contribute...

Oh, and steeping for at least 5-10 minutes will help!

tell you what though, i cannot stand the smell of mint. Yes, that makes it rather hard to find toothpaste. is the mint in liven up obvious?
Might try licorice then - i don't hate it myself, it just isn't my first choice of lolly.

Well there you go - you just had to be different! In that case I won't recommend Sleepytime Tea, which is another old favourite I just remembered.

Yeah, Liven Up is pretty minty - that's why I like it! But I have tried a sample of one of their other teas and found it flavourful too (I think the fact that's it's loose-leaf may help as well) - from memory it was "Calm Down" (http://www.thefunctionalbeverageco.com.au/html/calm_down.shtml), which is apple, rooibos, chamomile and rose petal. Rooibos is pretty strong (it's used as a herbal substitute for black tea, so it has to be) and tastes like a cross between black tea and vanilla; I think apple may be a strong-ish herbal tea flavour in its own right too. Hope that helps!

Let me know if you find a good licorice tea!

I think the problem is flavoured teas in general. They always smell better than they taste. I'd suggest just getting some good leaf tea. If you are looking for a bit of flavour, get something like jasmine tea. It actually tastes like the smell. If you're a T2 gal, their organic jasmine sencha is good.
And I guess I don't have to tell you not to use tea bags. Leaves only please!

Hey Hespa, that Calm Down is great but I prefer their Nod Off tea. I was a skeptic at first but it really works and the flavour is subtle yet wonderful. My wife bought it for me and made it in our coffee plunger. When I saw it I laughed [as it's all loose leaf] but one cup later I was hooked.

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