Loose leaf teas (and tisanes), and where you buy them

paprikapapaya · **Posted:** Fri Jan 11, 2013 12:18 pm

Meggs wrote:

I love the comforting tea by Aveda. It's the best tea I've ever had. I don't need to put anything into it- it's just good.

Mmmm my favourite. Too bad it's so expensive.

pandacookie · **Posted:** Fri Jan 11, 2013 12:39 pm

mumbles wrote:

THE TEA THAT EATS LIKE A MEAL.

FINALLY

Beanitarian · **Joined:** Sun Jan 16, 2011 6:40 pm **Posts:** 770

paprikapapaya wrote:

Meggs wrote:

I love the comforting tea by Aveda. It's the best tea I've ever had. I don't need to put anything into it- it's just good.

Mmmm my favourite. Too bad it's so expensive.

I haven't had this tea, but if you google "aveda comforting tea recipe," it looks like some have been trying to reproduce it. It doesn't look like it contains anything expensive -- might be fun to try to blend your own!

torque · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2013 6:45 am

[quote="solipsistnation"]I just don't know how to make them on my home PC... My Mac, yes! Anyway, now I can just copy and paste. 8) [quote]
The upshot of my brazilian keyboard: umlauts.
the downside: ugly looking apostrophes.
le sigh

lillianp · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2013 8:08 am

I usually buy loose leaf from Atlantic Spice Company online. It's pretty cheap and I can usually get some other things-dried fruit, beans and whatnot as well.

creep · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2013 11:40 am

I know everyone's down on Teavana, but sometimes they have these crazy online sales where you can get 2 oz for like $1.50 - 3.00. Possibly worth it in that case?

poopiebitch · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2013 12:02 pm

Ooooh, I'll keep an eye out for a sale, thanks!

jackmormon · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2013 1:45 pm

For real-deal Chinese teas check out www.jas-etea.com. This guy is US based and provides excellent service. The only other places I have been able to find comparable grade/price all ship from China. (Usually cost more too.)

Two of my favorites are Bi Luo Chun (Green Snail) and Lapsang Souchon (Black).

Mr. Shankly · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2013 2:18 pm

creep wrote:

I know everyone's down on Teavana, but sometimes they have these crazy online sales where you can get 2 oz for like $1.50 - 3.00. Possibly worth it in that case?

Really, when? There are some teas that I really like from Teavana so I would definitely be interested in that.

creep · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2013 2:44 pm

They actually just had one. It's still going on, technically, but there's like one tea left, and the rest is just teapots and cups and stuff. I got 6 oz total, and it was under $12, half of that being the shipping cost. I kind of regret not buying more, because they're delicious (h8ers).

Mr. Shankly · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2013 2:48 pm

Is it discontinued tea or something?

eta: Whoa, just saw a $1.75 tea.

creep · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2013 2:49 pm

I'm not really sure. A lot of them still show up on the website, but as "unavailable." They do the sales a few times a year though.

poopiebitch · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2013 3:20 pm

I don't hate Teavana teas! I really like what I've tasted, I just had an unpleasant experience shopping in their store (like, REALLY unpleasant), and I read some bad stuff about their online customer service, so I was afraid to buy from them. I totally would for the right price, though!

Mr. Shankly · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2013 3:32 pm

I don't know if this will help you at all or not but I've purchased from them online a number of times and I've never had a problem (meaning I've never even had to contact customer service).

Beanitarian · **Joined:** Sun Jan 16, 2011 6:40 pm **Posts:** 770

I think most of the negativity involving teavana refers to their brick and mortar stores. I suppose their teas online might still be overpriced, but at least they don't come with salespeople parroting dubious health claims and using ridiculous high-pressure sales tactics.

fruitbat · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2013 3:43 pm

Mr. Shankly wrote:

I don't know if this is too "out there" for your party but lapsang souchong is awesome and something different. It's a nice smoked tea. Otherwise, I would love a chocolate chai tea (I don't know if I'd make these in a pot though because the loose chai teas from Adagio tend to be too fine for standard mesh). Jasmine silver needles is also awesome.

I'm one of those who won't get within smelling distance of Lapsang. Nor can I eat anything containing liquid smoke without feeling sick. I also find Jasmine tea to be totally barftastic.

Personally I like Yunnan for an assertive black tea, but a good Earl Grey is always appropriate (I did recently have some terrible over-bergamotted EG so make sure it's a good one). My current pure green tea is Bancha (a later harvest of Sencha basically if I've understood correctly).

Mr. Shankly · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2013 3:56 pm

Beanitarian wrote:

I think most of the negativity involving teavana refers to their brick and mortar stores. I suppose their teas online might still be overpriced, but at least they don't come with salespeople parroting dubious health claims and using ridiculous high-pressure sales tactics.

My favorite is when they won't put your order together until they've wafted 3/4 of their teas in your face after you've repeatedly and sternly told them, "No, I do not want to smell the teas. I just want the tea that I've asked for and to leave before I turn 100."

fruitbat · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2013 3:58 pm

I forgot to say that Peppermint would be a good choice for a herbal. At least most people I know like it.

JillW · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2013 3:58 pm

you might also consider Mountain Rose Herbs for buying loose tea online. My co-op stocks their stuff, and they are a really top notch company in terms of sourcing. If not fair trade, clearly marked. I think they are all organic. Not sure about prices. I use their black assam tea when I make kombucha, and for guests, and also get their earl grey sometimes for Mr JW.

von m · **Joined:** Wed Oct 20, 2010 6:39 pm **Posts:** 656

I don't know if anyone has mentioned David's tea yet. http://www.davidstea.com/
I'm loving their teas at the moment. I'm really digging their jasmine tea and Chocolate chili chai. The Earl Grey is also excellent.

8ball · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2013 5:03 pm

I get mine from http://www.lee-rosy.co.uk/. The cinnamon tea and the almond cream tea are highly recommended.

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