Loose tea recommendations

terlywerly

Hi!!
This is a very coffee-heavy forum but I'm hoping maybe someone could advise me about tea. I recently have branched off from traditional supermarket teabag tea and have tasted a few different types of tea made from loose leaves and brewed. The most recent tea I tasted was lemon Rooibos which I have to say was fantastic!! I'm just wondering can anyone recommend a good website that has descriptions/pictures of different types of tea eg white/green/black etc and possibly a website where I could buy tea and tea related equipment that isn't too expensive delivery wise to Ireland.
Thanks!!

RE*AC*TOR

If you are near/in Dublin check out Palais Des Thes on Wicklow st.

terlywerly

RE*AC*TOR wrote: »

If you are near/in Dublin check out Palais Des Thes on Wicklow st.

Ack! Was only in Dublin on Saturday!! Don't live there unfortunately but I googled and they have a website which had some good info on it.
Cheers for that! And next time I'm in Dublin I'll definitely drop in to them. Is Wicklow Street the same street as has the Molton Brown store?

banshee_bones

RE*AC*TOR wrote: »

If you are near/in Dublin check out Palais Des Thes on Wicklow st.

Id second this, when you go in the door they have a different tea brewing each day and they give you a free small cup of it to try. Staff are really helpful and know their stuff.

I like this stuff but its just one of many I guess..

http://www.dilmahtea.com/

terlywerly

banshee_bones wrote: »

Id second this, when you go in the door they have a different tea brewing each day and they give you a free small cup of it to try. Staff are really helpful and know their stuff.

I like this stuff but its just one of many I guess..

http://www.dilmahtea.com/

I've heard of Dilmah before (not sure where though). Can it be bought in shops as opposed to online? Delivery is always the killer...

banshee_bones

terlywerly wrote: »

I've heard of Dilmah before (not sure where though). Can it be bought in shops as opposed to online? Delivery is always the killer...

Well there was a chain of coffee shops in Galway where I used to be able to get it, not sure outside of that but im sure you can, just have to keep an eye out for it id say

terlywerly

banshee_bones wrote: »

Well there was a chain of coffee shops in Galway where I used to be able to get it, not sure outside of that but im sure you can, just have to keep an eye out for it id say

I'll definitely keep a look out, the Rose and French Vanilla sounds yummy.
I actually have a brother studying in Galway at the moment, maybe he'd be able to source it for me. Cheers!

banshee_bones

terlywerly wrote: »

I'll definitely keep a look out, the Rose and French Vanilla sounds yummy.
I actually have a brother studying in Galway at the moment, maybe he'd be able to source it for me. Cheers!

ha okay well tell him to try in Mocha Beans , thats where I got it.

terlywerly

banshee_bones wrote: »

ha okay well tell him to try in Mocha Beans , thats where I got it.

Thanks, will do!

FTGFOP

I can heartily recommend House of Tea.

They're an Irish company with a shop in the CHQ building in Dublin. They have a nice selection on their site and shipping is reasonable. One of their tea samplers might be a good way to start off your connoisseurship.

...and come back and post about your adventures, we need more tea-folk on here!

just-joe

+1 on the palais du the!

I got some Japanese tea today, "fleur de geisha" today, as they had it as the sampler the last time I was in. So nice!!

I'll let ya know how it goes when I try it at home.

terlywerly

FTGFOP wrote: »

I can heartily recommend House of Tea.

They're an Irish company with a shop in the CHQ building in Dublin. They have a nice selection on their site and shipping is reasonable. One of their tea samplers might be a good way to start off your connoisseurship.

...and come back and post about your adventures, we need more tea-folk on here!

Wow, now that's what I'm talking about lol
Definitely gonna put in an order here, such great sampler packs wow, and Irish based too.
And I will most definitely post about my tea-ventures when I have some, I never realised how much more there actually is to tea than a Lyons teabag flung into the mug :eek:

just-joe wrote: »

+1 on the palais du the!

I got some Japanese tea today, "fleur de geisha" today, as they had it as the sampler the last time I was in. So nice!!

I'll let ya know how it goes when I try it at home.

Will definitely try here also, love the idea of free samples too (unemployed mentality haha)

Thanks guys!!

terlywerly

Just ordered 2 teas from House of Tea - grapefruit mango Rooibos and Blood Orange Fruit tea. Starting with the fruity ones, will work my way to the others.
Hope they don't take too long to arrive!

brianthebard

You could also try your local asian/ethnic shops for different tea varieties, I got a loose green tea in my local recently that's lovely, they had many other options.

terlywerly

brianthebard wrote: »

You could also try your local asian/ethnic shops for different tea varieties, I got a loose green tea in my local recently that's lovely, they had many other options.

I'd never have thought of that, cheers for the idea! Hopefully the tea I ordered should be here by the end of the week.
Also realised I've had Lapsang Souchong. Quite liked it too

steerforth80

i usually by from these when im in Belfast. Think they might deliver.. top quality.. http://www.sdbellsteacoffee.com/

Daffs

House of Tea or clementandpekoe.com.
Lemon Ginger Rooibos or Rooibos Chai is tickling my fancy at the moment...

terlywerly

I'm liking the Rooibos because its caffeine free - perfect for night time! I really hope my order comes soon.
Anyone have any black tea recommendations?

terlywerly

Well my tea arrived this morning. Have only tried the blood orange so far. Not as strong as I thought, though I am probably comparing it mentally to actual blood orange. Nice, refreshing, will definitely be keeping it. Gonna try the rooibos later on, I can smell it through the bag and it smells amazing!

FTGFOP

Having some Mokalbari. Good times.

terlywerly

This is gonna sound so naive but I had genuinely no idea there was such an amount of teas out there - such variety! I'll be tea tasting for the rest of my life The OH thinks I'm mad with all my little tea caddys and boxes

EDIT: Just tried the Grapefruit and Mango Rooibos... omnomnomnom so good!

just-joe

Just about the tea I got last week, said I'd let y'all know how it goes - mild enough, but you can really smell/taste the cherry - really nice! Was cool to use a tea pot instead of bags too, exciting times!

Quite light so great for evening time too, I reccommend it!

FTGFOP

terlywerly wrote: »

[...]Anyone have any black tea recommendations?

terlywerly wrote: »

[...]The OH thinks I'm mad with all my little tea caddys and boxes[...]

I've loads of caddies too, sadly most of them are empty at the moment.

As for black tea recommedations I'll just tell you what I like on the House of Tea website: Assam SF TGFOP1 Doomni, Kenya GFOP Milima, and Keemun Superior OP. And maybe try a Darjeeling you like the sound of as well.

I think a decent Assam is a must-try and I like the Kenyan later in the day and in the evening. The Assam is an Indian tea and the Kenyan would be Indian-style too.
The Keemun is a Chinese tea, a different thing, a little piney, a little smokey, and has a sweetness that builds on the tongue.

What would you drink during the day, terlywerly? -and how would you take your tea?

terlywerly

FTGFOP wrote: »

I've loads of caddies too, sadly most of them are empty at the moment.

As for black tea recommedations I'll just tell you what I like on the House of Tea website: Assam SF TGFOP1 Doomni, Kenya GFOP Milima, and Keemun Superior OP. And maybe try a Darjeeling you like the sound of as well.

I think a decent Assam is a must-try and I like the Kenyan later in the day and in the evening. The Assam is an Indian tea and the Kenyan would be Indian-style too.
The Keemun is a Chinese tea, a different thing, a little piney, a little smokey, and has a sweetness that builds on the tongue.

What would you drink during the day, terlywerly? -and how would you take your tea?

As of up until I started investigating into the world of 'non traditional' teabag tea, I always drank my tea with no sugar, and strong. Sometimes with a tiny bit of milk, other times with lemon, depending on my mood.
The OH got me an Assam tea for Xmas (I think the label on it said something like Kardemumma or something, the brand name I mean). Its nice, not too strong though. Its so hard reading the details on a website to know what to expect from a tea though!
Thanks for your suggestions though, will definitely get around to trying them. I was thinking of ordering the Black Tea sampler. Would that be a good all round indicator of some nice varieties?

FTGFOP

Definitely. All the ones I've recommended are in there anyway, a bonus is that if you don't like one of my suggestions you only have 50g on your hands rather than 100g.

Any tea I drink in the morning has milk in it. I'd gag otherwise. I'm a bit of a caffeine junkie when I first wake up and I'd usually down two half-litre mugs to knock off the cobwebs. I used to take sugar anytime I took milk but I gave it up this year.

I googled Kardemumma and just got that it was Swedish for Cardamom, where did your OH get the tea?

As for descriptions, yeah, you're still pretty much guessing what a tea will taste like from most descriptions. The US version of the TeeGschwendner website has some of the best descriptions I've come across. That link goes to a description of my favourite tea, Assam Marangi, which is pretty much hot ale from my point of view.

terlywerly

FTGFOP wrote: »

I googled Kardemumma and just got that it was Swedish for Cardamom, where did your OH get the tea?

I asked him last night and he said some speciality shop in Sligo when we were up visiting friends. He said there were a few different teas under the same brand name.
EDIT: just found this online, this is the brand alright: http://www.teaandcoffee.ie/?page_id=132&category=1&page_number=1

I'll be up in Dublin within the next few weeks so I may pop in to House of Tea and pick up some and have a good wander about while I'm at it!

FTGFOP

By the way, I don't know where in the country you are but if you're near Cork, Kilkenny, or Dundalk, Gurman's might be worth a visit as well.

terlywerly

FTGFOP wrote: »

By the way, I don't know where in the country you are but if you're near Cork, Kilkenny, or Dundalk, Gurman's might be worth a visit as well.

The OH will be in Cork in a few weeks, may get him to have a nose for me!! Cheers! <raises teacup in salute>

Daffs

Any suggestions on where to purchase a teapot suitable for loose tea. With a infuser part, preferably that you can remove that has a tray to set aside. Any one?

Slaphead07

Daffs wrote: »

Any suggestions on where to purchase a teapot suitable for loose tea. With a infuser part, preferably that you can remove that has a tray to set aside. Any one?

TK Maxx have a lot of that sort of stuff and are cheaper than most.

FTGFOP

Is this for making tea at work, daffs?

siochain

Daffs wrote: »

Any suggestions on where to purchase a teapot suitable for loose tea. With a infuser part, preferably that you can remove that has a tray to set aside. Any one?

@ 6.99 ya can't go wrong
http://www.aldi.ie/ie/html/offers/special_buys3_13447.htm

siochain

great range and top quality from

http://www.teagschwendner.com/DE/en/HomePage.TG

Daffs

Thanks so much for all the suggestions (apologies for the time lag since asking the question...long story).
Those all look great & that Aldi one defo looks like a bargain.
But I am trying to find one, that I saw but cant find to buy since.
It was china with an infuser and a dinky infuser holder so that you could take out when brewed to strength you like & then reuse when topping up. Hope that makes sense.
I like some of my teas quite weak so can get a few infusions for the same small amount which is why the infuser basket & holder was brilliant.
And Yes to have at my desk (which is at home) so no need to transport too far!!
Anyone else seen anything that fits my fussiness??

terlywerly

Daffs wrote: »

Thanks so much for all the suggestions (apologies for the time lag since asking the question...long story).
Those all look great & that Aldi one defo looks like a bargain.
But I am trying to find one, that I saw but cant find to buy since.
It was china with an infuser and a dinky infuser holder so that you could take out when brewed to strength you like & then reuse when topping up. Hope that makes sense.
I like some of my teas quite weak so can get a few infusions for the same small amount which is why the infuser basket & holder was brilliant.
And Yes to have at my desk (which is at home) so no need to transport too far!!
Anyone else seen anything that fits my fussiness??

I have a wee Bodum one which I love!

FTGFOP

Something like these?

(Click to go to their respective Amazon pages)

The first one wasn't available for shipping to Ireland from that particular seller, so some rooting around might be required to find a seller willing to ship to Ireland. I didn't check for the second one. TeaGshwendner has these, you could just use them with the teapots you have already. TeaGschwendner has a flat shipping fee of 15 euro to Ireland.

I'd just buy two teapots! One for brewing, one for serving. There's more room for the leaves to unfurl when you don't use an infuser.

FTGFOP

siochain wrote: »

great range and top quality from teagschwendner

Have you ordered from them Siochain? What teas did you get? Like them?

I've ordered from there a few times, usually a hefty amounts to take advantage of the flat shipping. This last time got a load of different Assams, having fun trying them all.

Daffs

Just want to say, Thanks a mill for all the suggestions on my quest for a teapot. I have ended up getting an infuser separately that fits perfectly into one of my favorite teapots (vv old!) so am happy for the moment.
Will keep an eye out for what one with the infuser holder too and keep you posted.

I am currently enjoying Assam in the morning & then a very tasty Darjeeling when I have something sweet in the afternoon....heaven!!

siochain

FTGFOP wrote: »

Have you ordered from them Siochain? What teas did you get? Like them?

I've ordered from there a few times, usually a hefty amounts to take advantage of the flat shipping. This last time got a load of different Assams, having fun trying them all.

Tried a few over the last few years, Japan Sencha is the one I stick too, love the stuff. Usually order enough to do few months at a time.

FTGFOP

I branched out a bit last time I ordered and got some Gyokuro. Weird stuff! Tastes like chicken broth and dried cherries. Seriously!

Did you ever try it?

It's supposed to have way more theanine than most tea due to the way it's grown, knowing this I expected more 'umami' but in a more vegetal way. Like a really intense tomato/mushroom/msg zing ...or something. Wasn't expecting outright meatiness.

I made it again for the first time in while last night and I only got the advertised honeydew melon notes on the first couple of sips. Might try a shorter infusion or weaker infusion next time.

Berty

Im going to plug Suki Tea. There are a number of places around the country you can buy it retail(from cafes) but then again they have put their margin on it as well so you may as well buy from source.

Buy it online. E-mail them and ask them about the sample pack so you can try a few different types.

http://www.suki-tea.com/opencontent/default.asp?itemid=1&guid=032B6F3F-A7D7-435B-8A4C-FB0612DA6779

Their tea pots truly are the business. They look great. I have the glass one myself and its very theatrical when serving it to friends.

Tea-a-Maria

Another very nice range of teapots is the Chacult ones.They do lovely little tea for one sets,with a saucer and a cup and teapot that nestle in each other.I got mine in G's in Ennis.A great café for anyone in the area btw!I love brewing and enjoying my 'fancy teas' in it.:D

Here's a pic.http://static.letsbuyit.com/filer/images/de/products/original/40/31/cha-cult-tea-for-one-jolanda_4031660-4031660.jpg

I got a variety pack of flavoured teas in Palais du Thé in Dublin.Same as other people who have posted here,I'd highly recommend it.I have to admit though,I'm not a fan of rooibos,though their flavoured green teas are very nice.

terlywerly

Ok I'm gonna be in Dublin next Monday so I will be stopping into a few tea related places. Anyone wanna recommend something nice in terms of maybe a green tea and a black tea that I can try out? I was thinking of getting a variety pack in the House of Tea maybe

FTGFOP

If you like Assams try the Mokalbari. Even if you don't like Assams try it anyway! It goes well with milk but it's not like overly-astringent cheaper Assams where it needs milk. It's delicious however you take it.

Try the black tea sampler or else pick up a Darjeeling and a Keemun as well as the Assam so you get an idea of the spectrum of black tea. Those three will be very different from each other.

As for green tea, somebody else might give better recommendations but If I was going to try a green tea myself I'd go with Japanese Sencha. I had that years ago and liked it more than I thought I would.

terlywerly

I think maybe I'll get the black tea sampler this time and then judging on how that goes, maybe do an online order. I think I'll pick up the Sencha as well, I think I may like it

Tea-a-Maria

If you do go to Palais des Thés,try picking up either the Geisha tea, a green tea with cherry blossom in it,or Thé des Alizés,which has peach and watermelon and is light and fruity.Yum!:)

FTGFOP

terlywerly wrote: »

I think maybe I'll get the black tea sample...

Were you up yesterday or is it Monday next you're going up? Let us know what you think of what you pick up anyway!

terlywerly

FTGFOP wrote: »

Were you up yesterday or is it Monday next you're going up? Let us know what you think of what you pick up anyway!

Next Monday, and I'll be away for a week so it'll be the following week again before I get to taste them! Really excited though, I'll have a whole range of teas in front of me, I'll be like a child in a sweet shop

terlywerly

Well I'm back and I didn't come empty handed. I ended up getting the Geisha tea in PdT and the black tea sampler and the Sencha in HoT. So far I've only tried one tea from the sampler, the Darjeeling Steinthal and it was lovely, really light and fresh and perfect this morning for my hungover head
Am going to try one of the others maybe later

FTGFOP

Cool. Rarely drink Darjeeling myself, but now and again it's perfection.

Any other reviews?

terlywerly

FTGFOP wrote: »

Cool. Rarely drink Darjeeling myself, but now and again it's perfection.

Any other reviews?

No not yet lol I'm hooked on this Darjeeling I keep going back to it all week!! I'll definintely be investing in a bigger bag of it when I'm finished the one from the sampler.
I think I'm gonna try the Nilgiri next, anyone tried it?