About Coffee / Tea

Tea-Infused Vodkas

2009-12-24T21:35:17Z

Tea cocktails are a topic I've been covering for the last few years. They are growing in popularity as people seek out new and unusual flavor profiles in their libations, as well as "healthier" ways to consume alcohol. Tea-infused liquors are showing up in innovative bars and major cities across the U.S., and they're a topic that has received a fair amount of buzz on my About Coffee/Tea Twitter account. You can make your own tea-infused vodkas as a base for more complex tea cocktails or as a delicious sipping alcohol. Here are three new recipes to get you started with tea cocktails:

Do you have a favorite tea cocktail or tea-infused liquor recipe? Share it in the comments below!

Photo (c) Lindsey Goodwin

Tea-Infused Vodkas originally appeared on About.com Coffee / Tea on Thursday, December 24th, 2009 at 21:35:17.

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Barista Skills

2009-12-21T16:01:55Z

Great barista skills can take years to hone, but the basic concepts behind skillfully crafted espresso drinks are fairly basic. Looking at the basics (like pulling shots) step by step (such as techniques for tamping) makes the learning process less daunting. With that in mind, I'm working on a series of barista skills tutorials and recipes.

I'm kicking this project off with the essential elements of making great coffeehouse drinks: how to pull espresso shots and how to foam milk. Once you've mastered those two techniques, you can use them to make a variety of espresso drinks, such as cappuccinos and espresso macchiatos.

Over the next few months, I'll add to the linked recipes in this list of espresso drinks, so watch for more drinks soon!

Photo (c) Lindsey Goodwin

Barista Skills originally appeared on About.com Coffee / Tea on Monday, December 21st, 2009 at 16:01:55.

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Last-Minute Holiday Gifts

2009-12-20T23:40:09Z

Looking for a last-minute coffee/tea gift? Gift certificates aside, here are some beverage-related gifts you can buy or make in time to cross those last few people off your list:

For the techie: A cool, new Coffee/Tea iPhone app
For the chocoholic: Coffee chocolate truffles
For the cocktail lover: Coffee-infused vodka, green-tea-infused vodka, black tea vodka or oolong vodka
For the office: Coffee cake, biscotti, Kahlua brownies or gingerbread scones
Extra goodies for the family: Hot chocolate, mulled apple cider, masala chai or egg nog

Photo (c) Lindsey Goodwin

Last-Minute Holiday Gifts originally appeared on About.com Coffee / Tea on Sunday, December 20th, 2009 at 23:40:09.

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Coffee & Chocolate Pairings, Recipes & Reviews

2009-12-16T21:53:08Z

Coffee pairings are getting to be a major trend. Cutting edge restaurants are venturing into new culinary realms by using coffee as an ingredient and as a foil to haute cuisine, while Starbucks is doing more of a Beta testing with their pairings. (Coffee with coffee cake? It's not very interesting, but it's a step in the right direction.)

Thanks to the increased availability of high-end coffee chocolates, you can go beyond classic coffee pairings with the decadent combination of coffee and chocolate (with or without cooking up a storm). I've collected my top-reviewed coffee chocolates, a few coffee chocolate recipes (including the brand new Coffee Chocolate Truffles recipe) and a general coffee-chocolate pairing guide in one article. I'll add to it as I create more recipes and review more products, but it's enough to whet your appetite (and perhaps even spark some ideas for holiday treats!) as it is. I can't promise that they're all cutting edge, but they are all delicious combinations of coffee and chocolate.

Do you have a favorite coffee-chocolate product or pairing? Share it below!

Photo (c) Marko Goodwin

Coffee & Chocolate Pairings, Recipes & Reviews originally appeared on About.com Coffee / Tea on Wednesday, December 16th, 2009 at 21:53:08.

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FAQs: CTC Quality

2009-12-15T19:14:58Z

I recently got this question from a reader:

"Is CTC considered lower or higher quality than orthodox tea, or is the quality fully dependent on when it is harvested and how much it is oxidized? Can CTC be oxidized in different levels or is it all black tea?"

Good (a frequently asked) questions! Generally speaking, CTC tea is lower quality. Many tea vendors will tell you that orthodox tea is always better than CTC tea. However, there are bad orthodox teas and good CTC teas out there. The quality level has to do with the origin, plant material, growing season/conditions, processing technique/skill, storage and other conditions. Also, some tea drinkers prefer the (typically) bold flavor of CTC tea to the (ideally) more nuanced flavor of orthodox tea. This preference seems to be more common amongst "milk and sugar" tea drinkers, including those who prefer masala chai, than it is amongst people who drink their tea without anything added.

To answer part two of the question, CTC can be oxidized to different levels (such as a lighter oxidation oolong), but most of it is black tea.

Have a question about coffee, tea or other hot drinks? Ask it here!

Photo (c) Lindsey Goodwin

FAQs: CTC Quality originally appeared on About.com Coffee / Tea on Tuesday, December 15th, 2009 at 19:14:58.

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Current Tea Sales

2009-12-13T13:37:00Z

There are still a few holiday sales going on! Here are my favorites:

Rishi Tea is still having a daily sale, each on a different item, through December 31st. To receive packages by December 24th via ground shipping order by Tuesday, December 15th. For all order forms of shipping, order by December 18th to receive your package by December 24th.
There's currently free shipping on all Samovar tea gift sets. (DISCLAIMER - I write copy for Samovar.)
Teas, Etc. is offering 25% off everything, plus free shipping on orders over $60 through 11:59 PM EST this Monday, December 14th.
Zhi Tea is offering 10% off everything with code 10XMAS09, plus free shipping on orders over $35 through Monday, December 14th.

Current Tea Sales originally appeared on About.com Coffee / Tea on Sunday, December 13th, 2009 at 13:37:00.

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Holiday Teas

2009-12-12T11:54:23Z

Imbibe Magazine recently put together a solid collection of holiday teas. I've also been reviewing a few teas for the holidays lately:

And, of course, you can always make your own holiday teas. Here are a few of my favorite holiday tea recipes:

Creamy Milk Tea (a.k.a. "Panyhose Milk Tea" or "Hong Kong Milk Tea")
Masala Chai (a.k.a. "Chai tea")
Spicy Cardamom Tisane (Not technically a tea, but still great for winter.)

What are your favorite holiday teas? Share products and recipes below!

Photo (c) Marko Goodwin

Holiday Teas originally appeared on About.com Coffee / Tea on Saturday, December 12th, 2009 at 11:54:23.

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Name This Leaf 4

2009-12-08T19:31:30Z

How well do you know your teas? Can you identify them by only the appearance and aroma? Test your skills in part four of this series and, if you're right, win bragging rights on Coffee / Tea and with your friends and family!

This lightweight tea has pale, fuzzy leaves that are usually green or black at their core. It has a delicate dry aroma that may include notes of flowers, honey, grasses/hay, nuts and/or cocoa.

The last three answers were Dragonwell/Long Jing, rooibos/"red bush tea" and Houjicha Japanese green tea. Do you know the what this mystery tealeaf is? Let the naming begin!

Photo (c) Marko Goodwin

Name This Leaf 4 originally appeared on About.com Coffee / Tea on Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 at 19:31:30.

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Sparkling Alternatives to Champagne

2009-12-06T18:06:33Z

Whether it's a New Year's party or a holiday dinner, there are many winter occasions that traditionally call for champagne or sparkling wine. However, alcohol sensitivities, work events, younger guests and other factors often call for suitable alternatives to champagne. Factors to consider when selecting an alternative to sparkling wine include:

Whether or not you will pair the beverage with food
If trace amounts of alcohol are acceptable
What kind of packaging is appropriate
Whether the drink should be ready to consume or made from scratch

Once you've figured out what you're looking for in a sparkling wine alternative, check out these elegant ready-to-drink sparkling teas and non-alcoholic sparkling beverage recipes.

Do you have questions about a sparkling wine alternative for your holiday event? Or do you have a holiday favorite to share? Post it here!

Photo (c) Marko Goodwin

Sparkling Alternatives to Champagne originally appeared on About.com Coffee / Tea on Sunday, December 6th, 2009 at 18:06:33.

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Name This Leaf 3

2009-12-04T09:27:21Z

How well do you know your teas? Can you identify them by only the appearance and aroma? Test your skills in part three of this series and, if you're right, win bragging rights on Coffee / Tea and with your friends and family! Let's begin...

These green leaves are flat and ovoid (oval-shaped) with slightly pointy ends. If they're good quality and fresh, they have a shine to them. Otherwise, they are dull in appearance.

The dry aroma is sweetly vegetal and with a strong chestnut note. Sometimes, it has a hint of vanilla in its sweetness.

This one's a little more difficult than the last two (which were rooibos/"red bush tea" and Houjicha Japanese green tea), so it's a chance for more slightly experienced tea drinkers to show their skills. (Later, I'll post even more challenging teas.) If you know the answer, "leave" it here. Let the naming begin!

Photo (c) Marko Goodwin

Name This Leaf 3 originally appeared on About.com Coffee / Tea on Friday, December 4th, 2009 at 09:27:21.

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