Any tea drinkers?

[Teggy]

I decided to start drinking tea as an alternative to going to diet soda or other when I want something other than water. My first experiments are going pretty well in that I seem to enjoy the stuff. I've just been grabbing what's around me to start, green tea at work and some different basic teas from the Keurig at home. I know there's a lot out there and I'd like to broaden my horizons, especially in terms of getting the best health benefits.

Any recommndations from people who've gone down this road?

[corruptrelic]

All of England!

While I haven't stopped drinking soda, I usually go through 2 gallons of Publix deli unsweetened tea per week. Good stuff.

[CeeKay]

about the closest I get outside of iced tea is masala chai.  tastes great on cold wintry days.

[leo8877]

Tea all day long.  Green tea at work, green tea at night.  I got to Cost Plus (do you have those in MA?) and get flavored green tea even.  From these guys:  http://www.republicoftea.com/

[spigot]

PG Tips!

[Bullwinkle]

Okay.

About six months ago, my wife came back from Europe with a tea called Alexandra David-Neel from Mariage Freres.  My first loose leaf tea.  We had to buy one of those tea balls.  It was absolutely amazing.  A black tea with orange and spice.  I was hooked.

We were in a mall with a Teavana shortly after that.  I wanted to get a pot for more than one cup at a time.  Maybe, like, a cheap brewing device.  We wound up with a hobnailed deal and trivet.  This store had the single best salesman I've ever run into in any store anywhere.  It didn't help that I was really tired.  We decided to get a couple of teas.  It wasn't until he was ringing it up that I realized the difference between coffee and tea.  Coffee is sold by the pound.  Tea is by the ounce.  We walked out of there spending more than 300 bucks.

My wife also got me some great teas for Valentines Day.  

We have some fruity ones and some chais, but I can tell you the best ones we have are the Celestial Temple Peaks (black), the Citrus Lavender Sage (herbal) and the best one by far is My Morning Mate.  That last one smells like chocolate and cinnamon and is just smooth and amazing.

[Ironrod]

Hot. Earl Grey.

[CeeKay]

Hot. Earl Grey.

shaken or stirred? 

[Caine]

if you have a decent asian market nearby, I recommend a jasmine.  the stuff is generally pretty good and with a bit of sugar, has a great taste. 

[Zinfan]

I like Oolong teas, the Peets Golden Dragon is very nice but pretty expensive.  It is a loose leaf tea and I use an ingenuitea http://www.adagio.com/teaware/ingenuiTEA_teapot.html to brew it.

[Calavera]

I'll second both PG Tips and Republic of Tea. The Milk Oolong from RoT is really good. The Lipton Tea Pyramid bags are a good an inexpensive choice if you can't find PG Tips locally.