OK, so maybe a steaming cup of cartoonist isn't on the menu for most of you (email me after this; we'll talk), but y'all know I'm helpless in the face of a rhyme.

Given the lively discussion we had a few weeks (days?) ago in the Thoughts & Sharing thread about tea and coffee, I thought I'd start a topic about your favorite recommendations and/or recipes for the brewed, dripped, steamed, frothed and/or stirred.

My recommendation:

Cafe con Leche - unless you live in an area with a big Cuban population (or are from Cuba), chances are you haven't tried this delicious coffee drink. Literally "coffee with milk" en Español, it's steamed, but not frothed, milk and Cuban espresso. (Cuban espresso, FYI, is espresso that's sweetened while it's brewing. I don't usually like sweet coffee, but this stuff is pure, finely brewed crack.) If you get this in a Cuban restaurant, ask for it with a side of buttered and toasted Cuban bread. It's heavenly.

LadyA...you come in cups? Cool! Something to keep in mind


Right, as for my reccomendations:


Kusmi Tea: it's a high quality looseleaf brand. Their Earl Grey has just the right amount of Bergamot. Noticeable yet not overpowering. And it comes in bitchin' tins.

Vietnamese Iced Coffee: A delicious iced drip coffee served with condensed milk, If you live in North America, there's a chance the coffee will have roasted chicory in it. Gives it a little extra something. Seek it out, drink it. You'll thank me for it later.

PG Tips

None of that fancy-named Johnny Foreigner muck for plucky British me!

A hot, steaming cup of LadyA for me.


Being British, like Trag, I don't really do 'fancy foreign tea'. Twinings do some nice speciality teas though: Pineapple and Rooibos, anyone? But I prefer, and will recommend a good ol' cup of Earl Grey.

Try saying that to Ducky...


Well this isn't a coffee beverage, but I felt it's worth saying here.

My mother has made the best Tiramisu I have ever tasted. It consists of normal ingredients (the coffee, ladyfingers, and such), but it features an extra punch-in-the-face of Kahlua. It gives it a wonderful edge that Bailey's can never match (don't get me wrong, I love Bailey's, but for this purpose, Kahlua wins out).

If you want the recipe, just PM me and I'll give you the full list of ingredients, and directions.

Bah. I prefer Co-Op fairtrade and organic tea.

I pour some soy milk at the bottom, the pour the brewed tea on top of it and it froths like a latte. It's fantastic.

I don't drink coffee anymore.. coffee does evil things to my body.

I once tried making frothy tea by making the milk frothy and putting it on top of the tea. It didn't work, I couldn't see the colour of the tea, so it was disgusting.

Ever since early this year, I've fallen in love with green tea. I usually have it with either brown sugar or honey, seeing as I've got a major sweet-tooth (I try to avoid white sugar because of how "refined" it is, but worst-case scenario... ).
My recommendations for green tea are:
Regular Green Tea: Supposed to be really healthy, and nice when you're not looking for anything fancy.
Pomegranite Green Tea: "President's Choice" brand, it's composed of green and white tea, with Pomegranite flavour, and a hint of lemon. Doesn't require alot of sugar, even if you have a sweet-tooth like myself.
and...
Teaopia: An awesome tea shop for anyone into any kind of tea. They have regular teas, flavoured teas, herbal teas, fruit teas, and the list goes on. All loose-leaf teas, and over 100 types of tea. My mom, sister and I tend to travel there and get a few different kinds. Currently on my "Mango Jango" green tea, and getting Blueberry next. My mom is obsessed with "Caramelissimo" Black Tea. I know they'll ship to the USA, but not sure where else.

Hope these satisfy many tea-fanciers. Enjoy!

The shipping information is useful.

Nice selection, though. I couldn't help but notice their teapots! I love the Yixing ones - the tortoise is very cute.

Holy hell, they have a location in Windsor!

I wonder if my dad's been informed.

ASDA brand value tea bags XD

...Possibly Tesco value if we happen to run out in the middle of the week - Tescos is closer.

Also, Tescos is open 24 hours! As noted at 2am last night when I was outside it eating Tesco 'sushi'.

~Kitty - enjoying her value tea.

Well I don't order from them, since there is a store 15-20 minutes from here that I actually walk into.

I think you ought to post the recipe in this forum section, a thread of its own!


Lilith

You're obviously a classy chick like me, tesco value is my brew of choice.

But it has to be made in a teapot.
With the milk poured first.

Overwise I refuse to drink it.


Normally I can't stand coffee with milk, but I've actually had this and I'd recommend it to everyone here.

Carte Noire coffee with milk here, and lots of water (hate water but apparently its good for you, not sure who said that and why, been drinking eight glasses a day for a month and don't feel any difference)