"Bluesea" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Top Spin" > wrote in message
> ...

snip

>> For black teas, my procedure is to pour 3 cups of tap water from the
>> cold faucet into a 4-cup pyrex and bring that to a brief rolling boil
>> in the microwave (about 6-7 minutes).
>
> WHOA! Stop right there 'cause you're scaring me. Are you aware that a
> microwave oven can super-heat water beyond the 212F boiling point w/o it
> ever creating a shimmer much less a bubble? And, if conditions are right,
> it'll explode spontaneously and scald you.

Wow, thanks for telling us that Bluesea because I didn't know that either
and I've used a pyrex measuring cup on occasion for heating water in the
micro...I'll have to be more careful.

much snippage

>
>> Can anyone recommend other teas that might be good to help develop my
>> palate?
>
> All that you can get your hands on. The basic black teas a Assam,
> Ceylon,
> Darjeeling, Keemun, Kenya, Lapsang Souchong, Nilgiri, Yunnan. There are
> more
> .
>
>> I have never smoked and find the smell of smoke unpleasant. I do not
>> drink coffee. I find the smell wonderful but the taste revolting. I
>> drink very little alcohol, mostly a glass of chianti with dinner 3-4
>> times a month. I was raised in a largely Scandanavian area of the
>> midwest and grew up eating lots of bland foods. I only provide this
>> info in case it helps suggest teas that might be less of a stretch for
>> me as I am "growing up".
>
> Not smoking will help a lot, but you really do need to experience the
> range
> of what's available or you'll be cheating yourself, IMO. You'll develop
> favorites as you go along.


I'd add to that that if you find the smell of smoke unpleasant (and in this
case I mean smoke like when a person smokes a turkey in their smoker...I
have one) then you'll probably not want to start with either Lapsang or
Russian Caravan. If you brew a black tea don't be afraid to use milk and
sugar (if you're that type) because it really makes a good cuppa Assam. I
liked Keemun Mao Feng because it was so different to me as a new
person...some people describe it's taste as smokey but I don't connet it
with that at all, to me it tastes fruity. Yunnan is good, and I am a fan of
assam, as I indicated, with milk and sugar.

I can't think what tea would approximate a chianti...

I don't know how you feel about scented teas, but if you like jasmine scent
you might try a jasmine phoenix pearl.

Melinda