The Johnlock Conspiracy

[Inge l-w]

If TJLC hangs on the consumption of tea, then the whole of Germany, even before its unification, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire would have been one huge Lesbian/Homosexual playground! Tea is revered, it is considered a refined middle-class beverage ever since 1848, (yes, the revolution that sparked off Marxism!) , it was originally imported from Britain, but soon Hansa merchants got direct lines to India and Ceylon: local tea-houses worked on their own blends, so along Assam and Oolong and Orange Pekoe we get Friesisch, Admiral's Cup and other mixes. Personally, I use Lipton's only to make iced tea, it's too generic. On a side note, I love Lady Grey and loathe Earl Grey. Every single time, over 179 episodes of ST:TNG when Captain Picard would order : Tea, Earl Grey, hot, I wanted to reach into the screen and shake him until his back teeth rattled, him coming from a famous wine-growing family! Does that make Captain Picard also a candidate for being a closeted gay? ^_^

[Boton]

Captain Picard is the one that inspired me to try Earl Grey tea.  

 

But yes, I'm sure that he and Riker are in a torrid love affair.  That's why Riker will never leave the Enterprise for his own command.  It's all there in the tea.

[Pseudonym]

I'm not too keen on Earl Grey. I can't remember if I've ever tried Lady Grey, I must have at some point. I'd like to like fruit tea, it always smells good, but the taste is never strong enough for me - I always find it just tastes a bit like dusty water. 

 

I think I was aware of the Riker/Picard shipping before I even knew shipping was a thing. 

[J.P.]

Large populations would extinct. Like the Chinese. :P

[Inge l-w]

Ah, dear J.P. , that's green tea, it doesn't count in the TJLC debacle! Although green tea has more anti-oxidants, and white tea is even more of a rarity! Go figure! :-)

[Pseudonym]

In the spirit of the conversation... mmm, tea. 

 

 

I don't have any biscuits or cookies though sadly. :(

[Arcadia]

I love white tea. Yum.

[Artemis]

White tea is my favorite.  I also like green tea, depending, and herbal tea, especially mint.  Not terribly fond of any black tea I've tried.  Lady Grey was alright.  But for me it's like what Pseud said about fruit tea... tastes a bit like dusty water.

 

My mom used to make something called "Russian tea", which I'm not sure has much tea in it at all.  It was good though.

 

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

I'd never heard of it, but found a recipe online for what I'd guess is actually *fake* Russian tea (made with instant mixes).  Basically, it's just tea, citrus, and spices, so for a genuine tea blend you might want to check out Bigelow's Constant Comment.  I haven't drunk much tea in recent years, but it's presumably still available in most grocery stores (and is definitely sold online).

[Artemis]

Thanks! I have had Constant Comment.

I haven't tried too many different tea brands, mostly because I can't afford to experiment. I usually just get Bigelow at the grocery store; sometimes Celestial Seasonings, which I don't like as much, but they have one in particular called Tension Tamer that I love. Teavana has some amazing teas, but they're more expensive, so I only treat myself now and then at Christmas or something.

[kimber8ada]

Thanks! I have had Constant Comment.

 

I haven't tried too many different tea brands, mostly because I can't afford to experiment. I usually just get Bigelow at the grocery store; sometimes Celestial Seasonings, which I don't like as much, but they have one in particular called Tension Tamer that I love. Teavana has some amazing teas, but they're more expensive, so I only treat myself now and then at Christmas or something.

I love tea, both iced and hot, but have not seen Tension Tamer. What kind of flavor does it have Artemis? I get a lot of my tea from The Republic of Tea and Stash Tea, where I order on-line. I don't care for Earl Grey though but I like some flavored teas. I've got a Midnight BlackBerry from Stash, I think, that I love.

[Inge l-w]

So, it's not just across the pond! Never heard of Tension Tamer, must be decafeinated, just like Midnight Blackberry. It's like HoB: If someone can think of something, someone else is already trying to make it!

Ever heard of Twining's in the States? Or even better, Fortnum and Mason's? They still do amazing brand mixes. TJLC has now unofficially become the tea-tasting page.

Major question: loose leaf or teabags?

On that point, I would like to register my objection in TRF: no one blows on their tea to cool it down: dear Mr Holmes, you were certainly brought up better than that, unless in your youth you got used to builder's tea along with your drug addiction!

[Carol the Dabbler]

... I would like to register my objection in TRF: no one blows on their tea to cool it down:....

 

Of course not!  One must first pour it from one's cup into one's saucer!

 

[Pseudonym]

Uh, I do. My parents do. My brothers do....?

[Carol the Dabbler]

Sorry, Pseud, guess that means you're no one.  :P

[Pseudonym]

:( Woe, woe is me. Neither I, nor my family, really exist. :( 

[Arcadia]

Guess I don't exist either, then. This might explain why no one ever seems to hear me when I talk....

[kimber8ada]

I drink Twinnings all the time but have never tried Fortnum and Mason' s. I'll have to check them out. Most of my favorites are black tea and blends, green tea isn't usually strong enough for me since I like my tea strong and sweet.

 

And yes I, too, have been known to blow on my tea to cool it down.

[Artemis]

You can add me to the list of people who blow on their tea, lol.

 

I love tea, both iced and hot, but have not seen Tension Tamer. What kind of flavor does it have Artemis? I get a lot of my tea from The Republic of Tea and Stash Tea, where I order on-line. I don't care for Earl Grey though but I like some flavored teas. I've got a Midnight BlackBerry from Stash, I think, that I love.

 

Hmm, not sure how to describe it... there's a bit of a lemony fruitiness to it, but not overwhelming; almost more like an aftertaste.  It's a really nice balance of flavors, for my palate anyway.  Here's a link, if interested.

 

Edit: Lol, it's got catnip in it!

 

Two of my other favorites are Mint Medley and Green Tea with Pomegranate, from Bigelow.

 

Never had Midnight Blackberry, I'll have to check it out.
 

Ever heard of Twinning in the States? Or even better, Fortnum and Mason's? They still do amazing brand mixes.

 

I haven't, but I haven't done much looking around either.

 

Major question: loose leaf or teabags?

 

Depends on what I want most out of it.  Loose leaf tea usually tastes better, I think.  But I like tea bags for their convenience, and the soothing feeling I get from bobbing it about in the mug by the string.  That's my favorite part of the tea experience, lol.  I was disappointed when Celestial Seasonings removed the strings from their bags to be "environmentally friendly".

 

 

[Inge l-w]

So, dear shadowy teddy bear and Pseudonym, you should watch a Rumpole of the Bailey episode from Season 7, where the whole blowing on tea is a no-no, and since it is She Who Must be Obeyed who says it, then, logically, you don't exist :D

[Carol the Dabbler]

Oh, well, then -- if Hilda Rumpole says it, it must be true!  :D

[Pseudonym]

Meh, I do what I want. Something I do that is a faux pas, and revolts the people around me, is that I usually drink my tea with the teabag still in the cup. Reason being I like my tea as strong as possible, and without leaving the bag in whilst I drink it I find it too weak. 

[J.P.]

If you really want to go for a shock effect I suggest you suck on the bag after you drank all the liquid.

[Pseudonym]

It has accidentally gone in my mouth a couple of times. (I'm desperately trying to avoid making any tea-bagging jokes.)

[SherlockedCAMPer]

So, it's not just across the pond! Never heard of Tension Tamer, must be decafeinated, just like Midnight Blackberry. It's like HoB: If someone can think of something, someone else is already trying to make it!

Ever heard of Twining's in the States? Or even better, Fortnum and Mason's? They still do amazing brand mixes. TJLC has now unofficially become the tea-tasting page.

Major question: loose leaf or teabags?

On that point, I would like to register my objection in TRF: no one blows on their tea to cool it down: dear Mr Holmes, you were certainly brought up better than that, unless in your youth you got used to builder's tea along with your drug addiction!

Not much of a tea drinker here. I'll do it to be culturally correct when in Asia or the home of an Asian immigrant who still does tradition. But definitely loose leaf as long as it is properly strained.

 

It has accidentally gone in my mouth a couple of times. (I'm desperately trying to avoid making any tea-bagging jokes.)

Where's the fun in that ;)