Went to vote this morning. I think this was the longest I have ever had to stand in line to vote. At one point my wife says, “I think you are going to be late for work.” To which, I sarcastically replied, “What are they going to do fire me?…. O wait they already did.” She sighed and quietly replied, “Really.” A few moments later I noticed the lady in front of us started acting antsy. She turned, looked at me, and said, “I can’t afford to lose my job.” Then she stepped out of line and quickly left the building. I stepped forward, thinking to myself, “Me too.” Sigh.
Different subject. Like gmathis I am also struggling with daylight savings time. I am waking up at 3:30. I don’t have to be up until 6:00, but I can’t go back to sleep. I am decaffing it in the evenings and it doesn’t seem to be helping. So I grabbed old reliable in an attempt to stay awake this morning.
I drink a lot of cheap teas. Some are better than others. I also get to drink a lot of above average stuff, thanks to Steepster. Some of it is a bit pricey. This one falls into the cheapster Steepster end at about a buck and half and ounce. This is where I go when I just need a good comfort sip. Not overly complex, just tasty. I highly recommend Ahmad to any one looking for a better than average cheap tea.
I am KS and I approve this tasting note.
If I were to try this loose leaf version for the very first time today I would probably give it an 83 or so but it is my comfort tea so the high rating stands.
Today I poured it into my new double walled ceramic travel cup from Starbucks. It did not suck the flavor out of the cup like our plastic lined cups. It smelled like tea. It tasted like tea, and the ceramic felt good on the lips. The near boiling water made the rim very hot at first. Once it was cool enough to the touch, the tea was also cooled enough to drink comfortably. It fit securely in the cup holder of my car. I think I will like this cup. It did justice to my comfort tea.
Hitting the old comfort tea today. I healthy scoop. Just below boiling water and three minute or less steep. Instant moment of peace. Longer and hotter and it can get bitter.
I have been drinking a lot of ‘serious tea’ lately. I am overdue for a cup of mindless enjoyment. Grab some leaf without really measuring. Get some water hot but just shy of boiling. Go about 3 minutes. Add Splenda and relax. No analyzing the base. No deciding is this citrus, floral, or perfume. No caring about depth or complexity. Its comfort tea. Sweet!
Don’t care if others think this is pedestrian. Until I try something I like better this is my EG of choice.
Earlier this afternoon I was feeling a little (lot) mad at the world. I steeped up my favorite comfort tea. It helped.
Going to my happy place with some comfort tea.
I love Ahmad. Inexpensive loose leaf in a tin. The base can get harsh if you over steep. This is my favorite everyday EG so this is what my brain thinks bergamot is supposed to taste like. Not for sissies. (Strikes manly pose)
I get to work this morning all blurry headed and pull open my tea drawer. There are over 50 different choices. Only about four of which are not sample sized. Too many options. I can’t decide. I don’t want to open something new. I don’t want to think that hard to prepare it or taste it. I am not awake enough anyway. I don’t have time for that one. Not in the mood for that one. Arrgh! If I don’t get caffeine soon I will shrivel up and d… ooh, Earl Grey. Nice. A blast of bergamot. The bite of a Ceylon. The first cup is nice and harsh just like I need it. The second, sweet and mellow, like everyone around me needs it. I may make it through this day yet without pulling someone’s arm off.
Cue loud blues guitar. Woke up this morning… Stop the music, we all know a blues song that starts like that doesn’t end well. Though it usually does have a pretty awesome riff. Anyway, I woke up with a throbbing headache. Driving to work the sun was bright, on the horizon, and in my eyes the whole way. Some days you just miss the rain. I walk in the door and a buddy is standing there with a box of peanut butter cookies. Oh yow, the blues just turned into the hallelujah chorus. Immediately start thinking what goes with PB cookies. Grabbed old reliable.
I used a healthy spoon of leaf, a 2 minute steep, and 12oz of just under boiling water in my press. Made three(!) delicious steeps of delicious, slightly astringent (which I like) mugs. The secret to this tea is not to steep too hot or too long or it can get too much attitude.
For the uninitiated, Ahmad does a great job of value for dollar with their low cost loose leaf teas – and even their bagged teas. Similar to Twinings in cost, leaf quality, and bergamot level. The biggest difference to me is the base has more guts in this one.
I have not tried many higher quality EG’s. If I did, I might find one I really liked the taste of that had great depth and complexity, but I don’t know that would prompt me to switch. This one is like an old pair of jeans with the butt and the knees wearing through that you wear anyway because they are comfortable. Nothing like a good comfort tea.
The perfect amount of bite for my tastes. The perfect amount of citrus – lots, but it never overpowers the base. This is my favorite pair of old jeans with holes in the knees and the butt. Just too comfortable to replace.
Fed the addiction again this morning along with a cup of rice.
This is dust in a paper bag. The bergamot is freeze dried. I’m supposed to hate it. I don’t. Is it really worthy of a 90? I guess only to me. This has been a staple in my tea drawer for years. It shall remain so for more.
It appears to have been 4 months since I last sipped this one. I think it is the oldest non-puerh in my stash. I used more leaf just in case it is loosing strength. it still tastes awesome. My favorite inexpensive Earl Grey. It’s $1.50 an ounce purchased locally. It may be cheaper online. This starts with the hearty bite of Ceylon. Next the bergamot takes over growing in intensity, going right to the brink of making me flinch. Then as it fades the Ceylon aftertaste lingers. Me and this tea go way back and I still love it.
Nothing beats value comfort tea when you have brain overload.
The Ceylon base is strong and a bit astringent, which I like. The bergamot is strong and has some pucker power to it, which I like. Add a packet of Splenda, that I am addicted to and the job I don’t want to be at today is a little more tolerable.
I forgot the ‘e’ in Ceylon when I first typed it. I chuckled to myself and fought back the urge to talk slowly through a running fan – “By your command!”
Blueberry bagels, cream cheese, and Earl Grey – enough said :)
This tin is way over a year old and it shows it. Makes me sad. I used to buy Earl Grey green by the pound. Now I have so many choices I find 4 ounces is a lot of tea. I’ll need to use this up soon.
My favorite cheap EG.
My brain was too overworked and tired for brewing anything requiring thinking. This one never lets me down. Drank all day long.
Any one know what the difference between the tins with silver lids and the ones with green lids? Local only sells the green.
Haven’t logged anything in a couple days. This cold is kicking my butt and all my reviews have been whiney, so I didn’t add them. I needed my comfort tea today. I poured the water into the press and got detained for about six minutes. At three minutes this is perfect. At six, the tea turns bitter and the bergamot becomes perfumey with a high pucker factor. Yeah, I’m still whining.
I love the smell of the dry leaf and am always amazed that it doesn’t overpower the cup. A co-worker also brewed a cup this morning. He said he wouldn’t throw it out but preferred his Twinings. From his description, the best I can tell is he does not like Ceylon tea and does not want to taste the tea base. Interesting how different individual perceptions can be.
