BabyJane Hudson wrote:
> Yesterday I found out about a very nice Tea shop in my city (Toledo,
> Ohio) and went there and fell in love with the place. So much nice
> stuff and so many teas. I was lost, but the man was very nice and
> helpful and I bought three samples to try. I am drinking my first cup
> now and I am truly amazed.
>
> I told him I love ginseng tea and he suggested a green lemon ginseng.
> I say Ok. Well, a few minutes ago I decided to try some. Instead of
> using one of the wire mesh infuser balls I have, I used this gorgeous
> 8oz coffee press. I spooned the tea in there and when I poured the
> water in, I sat there and just watched in amazement. After about 4
> minutes, I pushed the plunger down, poured the tea into my cup and as
> I am typing these words, I can honestly say that I am drinking the
> BEST cup of tea I have ever had in my life!

You're on your way to becoming hooked. And unlike being hooked on most
other things this one is fairly cheap, enjoyable, and healthful. I
bounce around many different teas still 10 years later, so don't ever
feel like you need to specialize unless you want to. I do gravitate
towards the green teas though, and a green/lemon/ginseng sounds like a
great time. A good ginger oolong is a good time too.

My starter teas for new folks are always a bit lower priced, common
loose teas. Jasmine green tea, sencha green tea, an oolong (foo joy or
sea dyke), Lipton Green label Darjeeling (from an indian market) as
well as a Taj Mahal brand assam.

Those are all less than $2 each for a decent quantity and will not only
give you a good base level to compare against, but be enjoyable and
help to figure out what you like.

Strawberry sencha is great, lotus root green tea, dragonwell, jasmine
pearls, osmanthus oolong, and ginger/peach black tea are all good
options too.

- Dominic

BabyJane Hudson wrote:
> Dominic,
> With all the online places you and other kind folks have
> recommended, which place would offer the kinds of prices you mention
> above? Everything above sounds so good!
> As I am typing these words, I am having my second cup of loose leaf
> Darjeeling. This is the first Darjeeling I have had and I like it.
> Maybe I should not be doing this, but I am getting two cups from each
> deposit of leaves. My small press holds about 8 oz and I use it twice.
> I am pleased with the second cup also.
> I tried my English Breakfast loose leaf tea this a.m. and I loved
> that too!
> Lastly, I really like Bigelow's Constant Comment. Here is a link to
> it: http://tinyurl.com/fjzox I was wondering if someone can read about
> the tea and suggest a loose leaf tea that may have the same mixture in
> it?
> Now all I need is some Walkers Shortbread from England and I will be
> set. I am also thinking of trying to make scones to have with my tea.
> I have never eaten one, but they sure look good with the English
> Clotted Cream on them and I am sure tea would go well with them.
>
> Thanks,
> Jane

Online outlets offer a great variety but after shipping and a bit
higher markup it can get expensive. The best friends for finding the
teas I mentioned are a local Asian market and a local Indian Market.
Asian markets will have a decent tea section with almost all of the
teas I mentioned above, except for the Taj Mahal Assam and Lipton Green
Label Darjeeling they are found in the Indian market.

You will see a lot of Foo Joy brand tea in most asian markets and it is
lower grade but still a step up from anything on American shelves and
cheap. Sea Dyke (I know not the best name, something must get lost in
translation is also another brand that is OK. You will find 120g
yellow/gold tins of Jasmine Green Tea for about $2 and that is a decent
starting point for Jasmine greens. Don;t get me wrong the tea shop you
found is most likely a great resource and will provide you with some
great mid-upper end teas... I just like to see people start off on the
lower rungs to get a feel for the variety out there and also to be able
to instantly recognize good tea and what makes it so.

That is the upside and downside of the internet, it quickens the
natural pace of things too much at times. Most folks would never even
know about a great vintage Pu-Erh until they were seriously into the
sport... but online someone can say this is the tops, here is a link,
and in 3-5 days you are mangling your own brew of it. I like to put
people on a more "normal" path, while it is still accelerated, it helps
to better appreciate everything.

I started with "The book of tea" by Okakura, an inexpensive older text
covering tea (it can be read online free at:
http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext97/tboft11.txt) but the book is only
$4 at your local bookstore. It is a great read to give some history and
culture. I spent about 10 years drinking different teas on my own with
no guidance and learned what I liked and what I didn't. Then like a
lightswitch I progressed to a new level where I was skilled enough and
knew enough to branch out and start on some really special teas and
very high grades... then that gave way to where I am now. I enjoy
middle of the road teas and treat myself to specialties every now and
then. That journey took me over 10 years, what you can learn in 2 days
on this newsgroup and online.

When the only Jasmine green tea I knew was the cheap stuff from the
sian market, it was a favorite... then after years of drinking it I
happened upon some Dragon tears (hand rolled tea buds with jasmine
flowers) and WOW, it knocked me down how amazing it was. But had I just
started with a jasmine pearl or dragon tears I would never have known
or appreciated what made it so special and expensive.

So to make a long story longer, have fun with it... everyone here is
always willing to chip in their 2cents... but let yourself be your own
compass when you are starting out and just let us give a nudge this way
or that every now and then when you need some advice. Asian markets and
Indian markets are lively, unique places, and there are many adventures
to be had there that extend beyond tea. Sometimes the journey is the
goal.

- Dominic

In my metro area the best place to find Indian teas is Arabic markets.

Jim

Dominic T. wrote:
> Online outlets offer a great variety but after shipping and a bit
> higher markup it can get expensive. The best friends for finding the
> teas I mentioned are a local Asian market and a local Indian Market.
> Asian markets will have a decent tea section with almost all of the
> teas I mentioned above, except for the Taj Mahal Assam and Lipton Green
> Label Darjeeling they are found in the Indian market.