(no subject)

[the_rck]

I've concluded that, if I'm to use stevia, I need strongly flavored teas. Anything subtle gets overwhelmed by the flavor of the stevia. Chai works, so does lapsang souchong. I haven't tried other black teas because I haven't any. I hesitate to buy more tea just now when I've got so much peach blossom oolong to get through and with warm weather starting.

With white tea or oolong, I'm better off with no sweetener than to use stevia. Fortunately, those I've tried aren't bitter enough that I require a sweetener.

I have to figure out what to do with the peppermint chocolate tea. I was the only one who drank that, and I'm not supposed to have peppermint now (and I don't like it without honey and milk). Maybe Scott will drink it, come fall.

It'll be interesting to see what I do with tea over the summer. It will be too warm for me to really want tea, but I will want something to drink that isn't straight up water. I'm not set up to make large quantities of tea at one time to chill for iced tea (and we have no ice. Our freezer is too full to accommodate ice cube trays). Maybe I can make something approaching lemonade with water, lemon juice and stevia.

Comments

[booniverse.livejournal.com]

I have quite a mix of teas at work, want me to grab a packet of a couple strong ones that you can try? I have double bergamont earl gray, constant comment, two kinds of honeybush tea and a black peach deelie. I also have a green peach deelie which I find tastier. I can bring a selection to gaming.

[the_rck]

That would be wonderful! Whatever you're interested in sharing, I would be glad to have.

[chorus-of-chaos.livejournal.com]

I have an number of sturdy water bottles (they once held Fiji bottled water, which is pricy, but I had coupon for a free pack. they are square and easy to hold and are a good size for me, a litre I think) which I make my iced tea in. I fill the bottle about 1/3 of the way with cold water, use my electric kettle to brew a pot of tea of choice ( tea pot is 20 oz tea pot, I brew it strong and usually make green tea with ginger, oolong, or lemon ginger herbal) Add the brewed tea and choice of sweetener to the bottle of 1/3 plain water, shake really good and shove in the fridge, turns out fantastic. Sometimes I add a bit of peppermint to the lemon ginger herbal from celestial teas(my grandmother raised me with lemonade with mint, which I guess is common in the UK, but freaky here?) Ginger drink is easy to make too, just grate some ginger up fine and through it in the bottle with some sweetener, you can also buy little packets of dried pre mix stuff to make ginger tea drink (if you can handle the ginger, I know your tummy is iffy on some things.)

BTW, most walmarts have the liquid stevia, enough for about 80 servings, in a small bottle for around 3.50,a brand called "Skinny girl". they also have monkfruit sweetener (which is no calorie, and natural...it just didn't particularly impress me) and one that is a blend of agave and stevia that has no calories...that one is exceptionally good IMHO.

[the_rck]

I don't have any container in which to brew more than a cup of tea at a time. I have a kettle and I have mugs, nothing in between. We're unlikely to buy a teapot because we have no place to put one. There's no cupboard or counter space that isn't occupied.

I love ginger, though, and will look for the packets you mention. Are they sweetened? I can't have anything unless it's sweetened with stevia or (maybe. I haven't tried it yet) monkfruit or not sweetened at all. I'm allergic to aspartame (nutrasweet), and sucralose (splenda) makes me ill. Scott buys little tea packets, but I can't have them.

[chorus-of-chaos.livejournal.com]

The ginger packets can be found online in various asian sites and ebay, or in a local asian market if you are lucky to have one. they either have sugar or crystalized honey in them or no sweetener at all, but it's not a lot of sugar or honey. You'd probably have to check the calorie amount, but if my memory is correct a cup has between 15 to 30 calories depending on the brand and you can usually get two or three servings from a packet because it's hella strong to use a whole packet.. ginger isn't a flavor that needs a lot of sweet. it's been a while since I bought any, but last time I bought a box of 20 packets I think it was right at two bucks and a little change, roughly same price as tazo tea.

Another option is to just brew your tea in a saucepan and put into the bottle with a funnel. I've done this in the past when I was without teapot (I carry tea with me, and have done this when visiting a friends house in winter and wanted hot tea to take with me while driving home) I remembered the aspartame and sucralose as I have the same problem, they make me horribly ill I don't know how the stuff stays on the market, or why people would put what is basically scrapings off a chem lab table into their food. (yeah, I really don't like the stuff!!!)

here's an example of one I've gotten in an asian grocery (for a HECK of a lot cheaper) it's very strong, I can usually get two or three cups from one serving. (other people mention this in the comments, so I'm not the only one with this perception)

http://www.amazon.com/Ginger-Drink-Kili-Sachets-Packed/dp/B000PWTCBQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398998393&sr=8-1&keywords=ginger+drink+mix

this is another one (again, much cheaper from anywhere but amazon, and again, most americans only use half a packet as the chinese like their ginger tea eye wateringly strong!!!)

http://www.amazon.com/Instant-Crystal-Honey-Ginger-bags/dp/B0035UI0H2/ref=pd_sim_gro_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=19DT1GCJBW21RE04GK24

another brand I've had, again, what is with amazon inflating prices to crazy epic proportions!!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FN5KW2S/ref=asc_df_B00FN5KW2S3090040?smid=A3EJY24PMDFE9E&tag=pgmpx-710-01-20&linkCode=df0&creative=395133&creativeASIN=B00FN5KW2S&tag=pgmptvs-710-06-20

googling ginger drink also gets you some great recipes for making your own, it's just the hassle of grating the ginger. You don't necessarily even have to brew it, just put it in a pitcher or what have you with sweetener of choice and give a really good shaking and let it sit for a bit.