Do you reuse tea bags?

[e.e.cummings]

My parents have been re-using tea bags all their lives (the original recyclers!). Does not seem to have done them any harm...

[OakLeaf]

What is it? I've been itching to try gyokuro for a while, now.

Basically, it's matcha that hasn't been powdered, so you steep the leaves and remove them from the water like other leaf teas. It's the highest grade of sencha - shade-grown young Japanese leaves.

Rishi brand gyokuro is worth every penny but way too expensive for everyday. If you're buying some to treat yourself, I'd recommend you splurge on it (of course, then your taste buds will be spoiled for life). Normally I drink Teavana brand - there's a Teavana store in Columbus where I can buy it by the pound. But honestly - IMO Teavana gyokuro tastes only slightly better than Rishi sencha, and generally I like Rishi better as a company.

[Owlie]

Basically, it's matcha that hasn't been powdered, so you steep the leaves and remove them from the water like other leaf teas. It's the highest grade of sencha - shade-grown young Japanese leaves.

Rishi brand gyokuro is worth every penny but way too expensive for everyday. If you're buying some to treat yourself, I'd recommend you splurge on it (of course, then your taste buds will be spoiled for life). Normally I drink Teavana brand - there's a Teavana store in Columbus where I can buy it by the pound. But honestly - IMO Teavana gyokuro tastes only slightly better than Rishi sencha, and generally I like Rishi better as a company.

I need to try matcha as well. I don't agree with Teavana's business practices, but there's a Teavana near me at home and one a bus ride away from the apartment in Cleveland. The Whole Foods near me doesn't carry Rishi's Gyokuro, as far as I know. And Rishi has absurd shipping costs. Maybe I'll try SpecialTea's...I knew I was going to get bike enabling, but not tea enabling!

[Blueberry]

I need to try matcha as well. I don't agree with Teavana's business practices, but there's a Teavana near me at home and one a bus ride away from the apartment in Cleveland. The Whole Foods near me doesn't carry Rishi's Gyokuro, as far as I know. And Rishi has absurd shipping costs. Maybe I'll try SpecialTea's...I knew I was going to get bike enabling, but not tea enabling!

I like Specialteas, and don't really have anything against Teavana. But - if you object to one, you object to the other -> They're owned by the same company or have some other connection (they have the same shipping address). Or at least so way lots of sources with a google search.

[Owlie]

I like Specialteas, and don't really have anything against Teavana. But - if you object to one, you object to the other -> They're owned by the same company or have some other connection (they have the same shipping address). Or at least so way lots of sources with a google search.

Oh, right, Teavana bought Specialteas or something...I can't win. I wonder if Adagio has matcha/gyokuro...I'm going to keep buying my Golden Monkey from Specialteas, though.

[OakLeaf]

FWIW, fair trade certifying organizations don't work in developed countries like Japan (or the USA) - so there's no such thing as fair trade certified gyokuro or matcha. I suppose the theory is that those countries have reasonable labor laws. Which of course is no barrier to slavery being rampant in agriculture in the USA , I don't know about Japan. Anyway all I'm trying to say is that the lack of fair trade certification may be a good reason not to buy Teavana's Chinese, African and Indian teas, but not so much their Japanese teas.

I'm not aware of anywhere to buy Rishi tea in bulk at retail. If you want more than a two-week supply without buying a tin, it's mail order. I don't find their shipping costs especially high though (especially when you consider what the tea is costing ). (And oddly - FWIW - no matter how much you mail order from Teavana, they send it all in 2-oz plastic packets. )

[Blueberry]

Oh, right, Teavana bought Specialteas or something...I can't win. I wonder if Adagio has matcha/gyokuro...I'm going to keep buying my Golden Monkey from Specialteas, though.

Upton tea is another supplier I've had really good luck with. I've also liked Tao of Tea. Adagio is good - but I've not really liked their greens. Your best bet is probably to find a local Japanese market - I've had some great luck in those places!

ETA: I'm not sure if Harney & Sons has what you want, but I've also been very happy with their teas.

[rubywagon]

We are Adagio drinkers in this house as well. Their steeping cup is awesome and their jasmine and blood orange teas are excellent!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Speaking of reusing tea bags....from the Show Us Your Pets thread:
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showp...postcount=1862

[Tuckervill]

How funny, Lisa! My one cat goes NUTS over peppermint and lemon zinger tea bags. He can barely wait for me to get it out of the steaming cup before he's putting his paw in. Then he gets it out and tears it to pieces and loves on it. It's hysterical.

Karen

[MartianDestiny]

Depends on the tea (and honestly what bag it's in as well).

My loose teas. Yes, I'll reuse the leaves 2 or 3 times (typically black teas as that's what I like).

My really nice silk bags of Earl grey, no problems for 2 or 3 (in fact the first run is so strong that I reserve it for pulling all nighters and then save the bags for normal use later. No problems using it even days later if I let it dry out well).

Cheaper paper/cloth bagged tea I don't bother with. Drink it once and throw it away. Same with some of my flavored teas (I currently have a Chocolate Puerh that just wouldn't do well a second time through due to the chocolate).

[Blueberry]

Same with some of my flavored teas (I currently have a Chocolate Puerh that just wouldn't do well a second time through due to the chocolate).

I do steep the strawberry puerh from Teavana twice - it's really nice for 2 infusions

[Thorn]

With regards to Rishi's shipping, may I suggest developing a very bad habit in Rishi's vanilla tea? Buy it by the pound and you're more than 1/2 way to the free shipping mark

Orders over $100 have free shipping. Although I could just stop in when I'm on their side of town, I am rarely near them so I do mail order ever 6-8 months. Between a pound of vanilla and a pound of chai I haven't paid for shipping since the first order.

[OakLeaf]

Teavana's instructions for steeping Taiwanese tea. Five brewings - the second is very short, since the tea leaves are already saturated; after that, they get progressively longer.

I don't think I've ever had Taiwanese tea.