There is a large Chinese community in Houston where I live and have
just discovered a large Chinese Supermarket and shopping center. I
want to go tea shopping and was wondering if anyone could suggest
brands/words to look for.

Thanks!
Cynthia

My suggestion is that you browse the shopping without any pre-conceived
notion, and let whichever tea excites your senses...I think there is an
online vendor Guang who lives in Houston, you may like to chat him up at
www.houdeasianart.com and see if he has a shop front that you can visit.

Danny


"Cynthia" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>
> There is a large Chinese community in Houston where I live and have
> just discovered a large Chinese Supermarket and shopping center. I
> want to go tea shopping and was wondering if anyone could suggest
> brands/words to look for.
>
> Thanks!
> Cynthia
>

Here is an arbitrary list of ten commercial Chinese teas with alternate
spellings. Not all Chinatowns are the same. If I give you a specific
brand of a specific tea you may not find it. If it were me, I'd buy
something of each on many trips including ones not on this list. Take
your time! I can imagine you ending up with many mysterious teas over
the months but not too us. You can Google this group for more
information of what you buy or ask questions when you have the
specifics. I'd stay away from anything more expensive than
nickel/gram. Also buy loose tea and not teabags. Your tastebuds are
more important than what somebody says. I don't know your tea
background but there was never an Indian,Ceylon,African tea I didn't
like. I can't say the same for Chinese tea in general but once you get
it you're hooked. I can always find something to buy in a well stocked
Chinatown and it's been a wonderful experience over the decades.

Jim

Lung Ching, longjing
Tieguanyin,TiKuanYin
Wuyi Rock Tea,Lao Chung
Pilochun,BiLuoChun
Maofeng
Gunpowder
Lapsang Souchong
Keemun,Qimen
YinZhen,Baimudan,Sowmee
DongDing,TungTing

Cynthia wrote:
> There is a large Chinese community in Houston where I live and have
> just discovered a large Chinese Supermarket and shopping center. I
> want to go tea shopping and was wondering if anyone could suggest
> brands/words to look for.
>
> Thanks!
> Cynthia

Cynthia > wrote:
>There is a large Chinese community in Houston where I live and have
>just discovered a large Chinese Supermarket and shopping center. I
>want to go tea shopping and was wondering if anyone could suggest
>brands/words to look for.

Well, what kind of teas do you like? I'll first recommend looking for
black teas... there should be some sort of keemun, and a yunnan, and
maybe a litchi black tea.

If you find any of the teas made by the "haichao teablocks co. ltd."
let me know. They'll be in long, thin boxes that may look like bags
at first. Our local stores have the green jasmine and the pu ehr
varieties from them, but none of the others. I'd love to try their black.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Scott -

Can you send me a picture of such a box?
My email is xyz1953(AT)hotmail.com

Sasha.


"Scott Dorsey" > wrote in message
...
> Cynthia > wrote:
>>There is a large Chinese community in Houston where I live and have
>>just discovered a large Chinese Supermarket and shopping center. I
>>want to go tea shopping and was wondering if anyone could suggest
>>brands/words to look for.
>
> Well, what kind of teas do you like? I'll first recommend looking for
> black teas... there should be some sort of keemun, and a yunnan, and
> maybe a litchi black tea.
>
> If you find any of the teas made by the "haichao teablocks co. ltd."
> let me know. They'll be in long, thin boxes that may look like bags
> at first. Our local stores have the green jasmine and the pu ehr
> varieties from them, but none of the others. I'd love to try their black.
> --scott
>
> --
> "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Alex Chaihorsky > wrote:
>
>Can you send me a picture of such a box?

No, but you should be able to see one on http://www.haichaotea.com/List-e.asp
without much trouble. The jasmine tea is pretty good. I don't know about
the others.... the sticky rice tea and the black tea are definitely on my
list of things to try.

The little square blocks are very convenient for travelling.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."