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Subject: Tea and the alternatives

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Simon User is Offline
Posts:9
Newbie
Newbie

12/28/2008 5:53 PM
Hi...

I drink way too much tea, averaging 3 12oz cups per day, nothing good, just the black stuff, but full of cream and sweetner.

Its a habit but a tough one to give up.

There is plenty of chat about coffee and the Zone, but not much about tea.

If i substitute my tea for something better, like green or herbal and ditch the cream, I'm sure its going to be better for me.

What about sweetners?

Cheers

Goose
Steve User is Offline
Posts:8
Newbie
Newbie

12/28/2008 7:25 PM
I am a bit of a tea expert.

First, switching to better quality teas ( I am assuming you are using cheaper, maybe even bagged teas) would be a good first step. High quality, whole leaf, loose teas have more flavor and don't need sweeteners. In fact, sugar and cream is frowned upon in the world of real teas.

Second, going to green or oolong teas would help with the caffeine. Beware though that the caffein content of gree, white and oolong teas is as high or higher than black teas. The difference is that the caffeine is in a different form that doesn't have the stimulant effect of that found in black teas.

Try some greens, like Dragon Well, which is very naturally sweet. Oolongs of the greenish variety such as the high mountain Tawainese oolongs are my favorite. They have different characteristics such as flowery, sweet, creamy and sometimes roasted. If you want to stay with the darker teas for now, take your pick from all the Indian and Chinese varieties.

Another option entirely is herbal teas. The only ones I like are the South African Honeybush ( not rooiboos!). It is a mild, sweet tea that has no caffeine at all.

If you give your taste buds a chance to taste the real flavor of the tea, then you will not want to use the sugar ever again. This however, requires quality tea with real flavor.

Hope that helps.

hill User is Offline
Posts:135
Zoner
Zoner

12/28/2008 8:33 PM
Where can you find those tea's Steve other than online.I'v checkout the big supermarket chains and Trader Joe's no luck.
Karen User is Offline
Posts:868
Zoner
Zoner

12/28/2008 9:17 PM
I'm with you, Hill. I can't find the good teas here either. I thought maybe my "new" grocery store would carry them, but no. All they carry are the "bag" varieties. I hate to invest in them online because it can become very expensive with shipping and tax if you happen not to care for that particular tea. Besides, I'm certain the good teas are not inexpensive.

Happy Zoning!
Karen

Happy Zoning!
Karen
Cranberrycat User is Offline
Posts:5313
Zone Expert
Zone Expert

12/28/2008 10:55 PM
Wow, that is interesting!

I will have to ask my sister-in-law where she gets her tea. She buys good quality teas, the ones that are loose leaf and you put into the steeping spoon. I have never seen where she gets them, and I generally shop the same places that she does.

Now, if you are going to sweeten your tea, I suppose you could use some stevia (but maybe we won't need to with a good tea).

Cranberrycat

We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.


Steve User is Offline
Posts:8
Newbie
Newbie

12/29/2008 10:01 AM
I wasn't sure if I was allowed to post links here, so I left it up to you guys. I suppose it won't hurt though.

For entry level stuff as well as some excellent black and green teas, try specialteas.com. I have always had good luck with them. They have a great website with excellent descriptions and great customer service. The Lung Ching (dragon's well) is a good starter tea.

For high end Oolong teas from taiwan I go to tenren.com. I love their supreme grade oolongs in the silver can. They are expensive, so you migh twant to wait until your palate develops a bit before trying them. These are some of the best in the world, imo.

If you are doing green or oolong teas, I strongly recommend a thermometer to measure the water temperature. Don't pour boiling water over these teas.

If you want more advice let me know.

Karen User is Offline
Posts:868
Zoner
Zoner

12/29/2008 10:38 AM
Steve, thank you so much for the information. I'm going to order some in a few weeks. Would you please tell me about making it. I read that you start with cold water and bring it up to 160 degrees. Do you have the tea in the water while it comes up to temperature or do you just pour the water over the tea after it gets to 160 degrees? I'm looking at #523 to order. I read the reviews and will let it seep for 3.5 minutes - seems that is what a few preferred. Any thoughts on that?

Any recommendations on ginger tea?

Happy Zoning!
Karen

Happy Zoning!
Karen
Steve User is Offline
Posts:8
Newbie
Newbie

12/29/2008 3:21 PM
Karen,

Many people suggest bringing the water to a boil, letting it cool down to the right temperature and then pouring it over the tea. You can also learn to judge the temperature of the water pretty easily by the steaminess and take it off the heat when it is just about right. Either method is ok.

No, the tea shouldn't be sitting in the water during the heating process. Only pour the water over the tea when it is at the right temperature.

Be very careful about overbrewing. Green tea is only bitter when it is overbrewed or when it is real poor quality. Start with two minutes for most greens. If that is not enough,, then go longer the next time. All teas are different. Keep in mind, many people who try good green teas for the first time say they can't taste anything. I have heard Chinese people say that our black teas don't have any flavor. It is all a matter of what your taste buds are tuned into. If 3.5 works with no bitterness, then fine.

If you really get interested in tea, you will develop your own methods, rituals and variations based on your accumulated knowledge. Besides drinking, much of the fun is in learning about tea until you don't need measuring spoons, thermometers, or timers. Just your own intuition.
Karen User is Offline
Posts:868
Zoner
Zoner

12/29/2008 3:57 PM
Thanks, Steve!

I currently drink a lot of "cheap" green tea - at least six glasses daily. I learned real quick not to let the tea bags brew too long. Some brands say 5 min - well, if you like bitter, then that's fine! LOL! I found 2-2.5 min is best for most. I was just going by a few reviews on the website stating 3.5 min was best (2 min too weak and 5 min too bitter). I currently don't boil my water - I microwave it for 1 min 10 sec - it's hot and steamy but not boiling. It'll be interesting to find out what temperature that is.

Thanks again for your help, Steve. I know Goose appreciated it, too.

Happy Zoning!
Karen

Happy Zoning!
Karen
Simon User is Offline
Posts:9
Newbie
Newbie

12/31/2008 9:03 AM
Hi Steve...

Thanks a lot for all this information!

I knew there was a lot more to tea but you seem to have it down to an artform.

Now I am back, I'm going to follow your suggestions and see how i get on. So you know, the reason I am persuing tea (good from bad, right from wrong etc) is that stopping my tea intake cold turkey has given me severe headaches (or at least thats what I think it is) so I need a good alternative to enjoy tea without affecting my zone too much.

Thanks again

Goose
Kelly User is Offline
Posts:38
Aspiring
Aspiring

01/02/2009 6:25 AM
We have this really awesome store, that just opened called Teavana. They have really good teas. In all different kinds of price ranges. They are also knowledgable about all of them. I don't know if they have a website or not or if they are in your area. We are on the VA side of DC.

Kelly


Steve User is Offline
Posts:8
Newbie
Newbie

01/02/2009 9:53 AM
Kelly,

Teavana ia a national chain. They are fairly expensive and their teas are average at best. They have some decent pots and cups though. I would go with the places I listed for quality and price.

Kelly User is Offline
Posts:38
Aspiring
Aspiring

01/02/2009 10:04 AM
For someone who is new I guess they are awesome...

Kelly


ISOserenity User is Offline
Posts:41
Aspiring
Aspiring

01/04/2009 12:11 AM
So my question is how do you figure tea into your blocks? Do you alter your other intake to reflect the amount of carbs in the tea?
Cranberrycat User is Offline
Posts:5313
Zone Expert
Zone Expert

01/04/2009 12:25 AM
Unless I am missing something, I don't believe that there area any carbs in tea, unless the carbs are added.

Cranberrycat

We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.


ISOserenity User is Offline
Posts:41
Aspiring
Aspiring

01/04/2009 12:38 AM
Hmmm...I thought there would be. Well, heck, here I thought the only thing I'd be able to drink would be water & milk. I don't think that there is any high quality tea around here, guess I'll have to check.
Cranberrycat User is Offline
Posts:5313
Zone Expert
Zone Expert

01/04/2009 12:41 AM
Tea is pretty much a freebie, unless you add all kinds of sweetener and/or milk/creamer. I suppose there may also be some flavored teas that have carbs, but I have never run across any.

Cranberrycat

We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.


ISOserenity User is Offline
Posts:41
Aspiring
Aspiring

01/04/2009 1:49 AM
No, surprisingly for a sugar addict I stopped drinking sweet tea a long time ago. A lot of my family is from the south so every jar of sun tea we made was chock full of sugar!

Sue K User is Offline
Posts:8672
Zone Expert
Zone Expert

01/04/2009 11:17 AM
ISO, look for green tea. It's available in just about every grocery store these days and is excellent for you. Jasmine green tea is delicious! To buy green tea at cheaper prices go to an Asian store.

sue

Lost 100 lbs 14 yrs ago, off BP meds, thanks to the Zone diet and Zone fish oil!


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janet User is Offline
Posts:861
Zoner
Zoner

01/13/2009 11:21 AM
Steve has offerred good advise and obviously has the knowledge and the palate. that said, I must offer my faves. I am really into yerba mate, an herbal tea from south america that is high in something like caffeine but gentler, called matteine. The high is so nice , so nice, I tell you .....(only for awhile, you get used to it and don't notice) and it is high in antioxidants. Now, the flavor can be a bit too earthy, so it is best mixed with something, and they mix it with everything. You can get peppermint yerba mate, "mate latte", which is not full of fake junk but just yummy herbals, all the way down to (and I love it) "morning thunder" which is mixed with black tea, quite a kicker! (celstial seasonings)

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