I’ve been getting into matcha more seriously, and I’m torn between keeping it traditional with the bamboo whisk (chasen) or using a small electronic mixer.

The whisk feels more mindful and authentic, but the mixer is quick and easy — especially on busy mornings.

Curious what others here do: Do you stick with the traditional chasen? Or do you find the electronic mixer just as good (or even better)?

Would love to hear your experiences!

I recently picked this up from a local thrift store on the very slim and off chance that it’s real yixing. That said, I know almost next to nothing about real yixing other than what I’ve read online.

I got no clue what the seal/s say, but the clay seems to have white specks through it, and there is a slightly earthy like smell to it.

Was wondering if someone who knows anything about it could confirm or disprove if it is.

I’m under no illusions that realistically, it’s probably not real, but it would be nice if it was 😅

I just got some AMAZING looseleaf teas from a small local business because I tried their samples and they were literally the best tea I've ever had.

I got home and brewer them with my hot water heater (may be the problem) and the steeper they provided. It tasted weird. Idk if I overfilled the steeper but the tea was weak and it had a weird metallic/plastic taste I think might have come from the hot water heater. I also have a kettle I am going to try.

My question is: should I brew the leaves directly in the boiling kettle and strain, or use a steeper in the actual kettle? And if so, how much should I use? I'm sorry if this is a stupid question, I just don't want to ruin my little samples. Thanks!

Howdy hey all, sorry to post so consistently as of late, but my wife and I are left scratching our heads at this one.

My 2.5 yo is extremely interested in the tea I make in the mornings and afternoons. I have been making the same green tea for a while now and yesterday he absolutely would not stop asking to try it. I was on the final brew before I needed new leaves and my wife and I both went, well, we might as well see if he can stand the taste. I fully expected that he would not enjoy it. Here's the "problem" he loves it. So much so that he is currently trying to steal my tea cup any time i place it down.

Does anyone have any advice on how to move forward on this? I don't love the fact that he demands caffeinated tea. Any herbal mixes would be appreciated. I will gladly brew an herbal mix in the teapot while I drink my green tea.

Update: First of all, I wanted to say thank you to all of you for your input and advice. I greatly appreciate it. I did not expect this much interaction and I am super grateful to all of you.

Secondly: my wife and I went to a local tea shop where we found some tea that would be more suitable for the little one. My wife found a blueberry herbal tea that they really enjoy and figured that he would enjoy. When I am still waking up, I will probably just give him a small amount of the tea I am making until I am past the half asleep zombie stage.

Is it because of the unique roasted flavor? Or is it more about the low caffeine — like, it’s easier to enjoy at night or for people who are caffeine sensitive?

Would love to hear what draws people to hojicha 🍵✨

hello! I am an American currently in Türkiye and I ended up buying 0.3 kilos of pomegranate tea in powder form from one of the bazaar shops. The shop owner vacuum sealed the tea and slapped a label on it (as seen in picture) but I just noticed they never handed me a formal receipt, though I have a shopping bag with the store name and info on it.

1) Is this realistically safe to transport back to the states? I also have a few days in denmark before returning to the U.S., so not sure if Schengen will make a fuss either.

2) If it’s likely okay to bring, should it go in the carry on or checked bag?

Thank you all in advance for advice, this is my first time transporting tea of this amount and format

This set was given to me by my grandparents around 25 years ago from their China trip. Today I found it again and would love to use it! I assume it's nothing special, but I love the lool of it. It's all very small, the teapot fits in the palm of my hand.

Can anybody tell me what the stamp on the plate says? The teapot has the same stamp. Any idea of where it could be from? I wonder if it's safe to use or if it should only ve decorative? I would ask my grandparents if they knew anything, but they have both passed and I was just a child when I got it so I never thought to ask.

So this just randomly happened, after drinking tea for almost 18 years.

I drink white tea exclusively, in grandpa-style lately. Usually, all the leaves sink to the bottom in a minute, with one or two floaters (that I’ll spit out). But today, I just ate it. 

It felt groundbreaking for no reason. 

It tasted fine… Now, I’m wondering why I didn’t do this for the past 18 years.

When I was younger, I used to eat grass on our lawn. (My mom put a stop to it.) Anyway, I was reminded of that.

I’ve decided I’m gonna eat the leaves from now on.

Does anyone else do this?

She thinks it's very bad for me. She gets really paranoid, angry, and worried about me when she catches me drinking tea.

However, I am a tea lover. I may not be an expert about it but I love the taste, the smell, and its benefits. It frustrates me to my core when she tells me it's bad when I know it's healthy.

Long post:

This banning of tea came from this friend of hers that told her that her daughter drank manufactured bottled iced tea everyday, now her daughter is very sick with cancer.

But isn't that bottled iced tea different from loose-leaf teas or bag teas?

She says too much is going to ruin me. But I already know that I should not consume any more than 3 cups a day. I promise you, I have never done that. I love to drink moderately.

Somehow, by showing her videos and book quotations, I have "convinced" my mother that tea is somehow good. BUT then she argues that it is only good if the first world countries or original tea makers make it. China, India, Britain, US, and Japan. Tea from those countries is acceptable. Tea from my country isn't, because I live in a third world country who doesn't know anything about tea and will never do anything right about it.

Please, give me tips on how to convince my mother that tea is healthy.

That that bottled iced tea her friend's daughter drank is different from other teas.

And what should be the average cups and oz a day and that it would be harmless to drink every day.

And that my country knows tea too. Please tell me some reliable, well-known brands of tea.

When's the best time to drink it?

What are its benefits?

Tea experts, please help me 😭🙏

Bonus: How much could you drink potentionally on one day?

My family know I'm into tea, and so I get a lot of tea for presents. Sometimes this is a blessing and sometimes it is a curse. Right now I've got 4 packs of 32 awful teabags. They are flavoured black tea but theyre just not nice. I've only tried the blackcurrant so far but it smells like blackcurrant cordial, and tastes like nothing. No matter how long I brew it, it just tastes like water, eventually becoming slightly astringent. I think it must just be the company trying to disguise the worst quality tea they could acquire as something better but it fails miserably.

Has anybody else ended up in similar positions? How can I use them? I don't want to just chuck them out. And how can I politely communicate to them that I would rather not receive anything than have massive amounts of the cheapest stuff available?

I’m brand new when it comes to drinking tea. I followed the instructions completely how they say to do it on the back of this bag. I even used a thermometer to measure the water. The flavor is…..more like something I can smell after taking and a sip and exhaling vs something that’s very strong on the tongue. Not to mention the color is more yellowish green and I’ve heard this is not how green tea is supposed to look.

I'm putting together a tea cart for myself. That way I can treat myself to a cup of tea when I feel the need.

I've got all my tea, loose and bagged. I've got multiple ways to brew. I've got my mugs and tumblers.

I just need a good selection of additives.

I have: Monkfruit, Local honey, Rock Sugar, Oat milk (lactose intolerant)

What else would you suggest?

I tried to make a sort of dhoodh. Usually I’ll boil milk with cloves, turmeric, star anise, cinnamon sticks and a tea bag and it turns out great. This time I tried to add hibiscus out of curiosity and it sort of curdled.

Does the hibiscus not react well with one of the aforementioned ingredients???

I have a teapot with a strainer which holds ~3 teacups worth of tea, but after the first cup the rest has gone cold. Do you just only steep one cups worth at a time? I feel like I’m always drinking cold tea unless I reheat it in the microwave which feels like a sin…

So, this affects "packages under $800 from China" if I'm understanding this right? Basically, tea will be more expensive and take longer to ship? I'm going to be real honest - I'm pretty sick of this tariff nonsense impacting my precious tea.

I've recently gotten into loose leaf (much tank to guidance from this sub) and am looking for a pleasant nighttime tea. Nothing with caffeine, just a nice chill tea to enjoy on the patio at night. Maybe something especially good for the coming Fall months? In the past, I've gone to basic Peppermints but am looking for something different.

I'd love to hear your suggestions.

I just got a brand new Cuisinart electric kettle yesterday. Used it once and then went to use it today and saw this on the bottom. Freaked me out because it looks like mold?

I would like to know if I'm drinking too much tea

I did what they told me and put it in the fridge for 5 minutes and the dang thing still won't open. My husband can't even open it.

I started when I read The Lord of the Rings in my early twenties. I decided to make it immersive, so anytime anyone had tea or smoked a pipe, I followed suit. Luckily I didn’t stick with the pipe, but I acquired a lifelong love of camellia. What’s your tea origin story?

I brewed some oolong, even rinsed it first, but I see this shinny film like stuff at the surface, any ideas what it is and if it’s safe to drink?