On Thu, 3 Feb 2005 22:22:11 -0800, "Melinda" >
wrote:

>"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.

That's about 4-5 times someone has suggested Keemun Mao Feng, so that
will be next on my list as soon as I use up what I have now.

>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
>


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(11/09/04)