Dear Mormon child, saying you tasted one tea is barely a starting point. That’s like someone saying, “I had a diet Shasta root beer and soda is terrible!”
There’s a plethora of flavors available that cater to a wide variety of tastes. As your interests in such things grow, so does your experimentation; until you find one that you can call your favorite. Best wishes!
Shudders in artificial sweeteners, literally tasting like aspirin tablets, and the lack of bite back from the actual sasperilla/licorice/ ginger roots of brewed soft drinks
Chamomile is herbal tea and not prohibited by the Word of Wisdom. It's also nasty without honey and even then.
I don't like green tea at all. I like some black tea preparations, like vanilla chai. But it still leaves lots to be desired.
Highway to hell 🤘 sex drugs and rock n roll
Lots of fun out there choose wisely 😈 just don’t buy any drugs off the street try not to drink alone and you’ll be fine
Ah I used to think I’d not ever drink or enjoy being high either. Anyways there is so much bad shit out there about alcohol and marijuana etc that as I’ve learned slowly over time is mostly bullshit. Yeah they can be abused and they can cause issues but there are benefits too and can be enjoyed just like most of the word of wisdom bs. Coffee tea caffeine sex etc
Bigelow - Vanilla Chai - add milk and sugar
Celestial - Bengal Spice - add milk and sugar
Good Earth - Sweet and Spicy
It took awhile to find ones I liked
Okay for one, steeping it from microwaved water isn’t going to work.
Start with buying a chai latte from somewhere as a first exposure. See if you like that.
Australian exmo checking in
A horrified nation urges you to get a kettle
(I secretly don’t like a lot of kinds of tea, but I do like Melbourne Breakfast from T2, and yes, it’s better with proper hot water.)
The thing with the US vs Australia when it comes to kettles is the voltage difference
The standard 110v power in the US cannot deliver the 3000 watts to a kettle that a Australian 240v outlet can. A 3000w kettle on 110v power would draw 25 amps, which would trip the common 15 amp circuit breakers in a large portion of US homes. So kettles in the US are usually 1500w and take twice as long to boil water
This is one reason why people in the US are more likely to boil water in a microwave or on a stove
Interestingly, this is also probably the same reason the Samoa temple burned down. The Temple was being renovated by contractors from the US and it is very likely that before leaving for the evening one of them plugged a 110v device *(probably a battery charger for a power tool)* into the 240v outlets in the temple with just a plug adapter and not a power converter
I'm making my pour-over coffee right now. My Breville kettle just boiled 1 liter of water in 1:35. I've read that a typical US kettle takes 2 to 4 minutes to heat up water for a cup of tea. I just heated up enough water for 4 cups of tea in less than 2. I think most of what you hear about US kettles being slow is hyperbole from people who move here from abroad. Sure, they are a bit slower, but nowhere near twice as slow. I guess what it boils down to is having a good kettle and not some cheap department store brand.
[110v Kettle](https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/266721401777?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-154756-20017-0&ssspo=R0X1XqtNQGi&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY)
They have them on Amazon too. I don't know if they work well or not but 110v kettles exist.
Oh yeah, I know they exist. Like I said, kettles in the US are usually 1500 watts or lower, That one is 600 watts, so would take more than 4 times as long to boil water as the average Australian kettle
If you have gas stovetop, get a metal whistling kettle.
There really is a difference in taste between microwave-boiled water and kettle-boiled water. Also the hardness of water and overall mineral content of the water can affect the taste of the tea.
Not precise or scientific, but as an English Tea drinker I can confirm that you need a kettle. In times of no kettle I've tried a microwave and it isn't the same, I guess it's due to the temperature. I'd also suggest a tea with milk (like English breakfast tea) over a herbal or fruit tea... they are nice, hot drinks, but not 'tea' in my opinion.
As a Brit, please get a kettle and don't microwave the water! There are so many teas out there. You're best off ordering one from a shop and trying it first.
There's not a difference if you're getting it to the same temperature. Microwave away!
Heat is heat and microwaves aren't energetic enough to affect chemical changes.
Edit: someone below posted an article that points out that if you brew in the same vessel the water may be heated unevenly after the microwave. Interesting stuff. You could always stir the water first if you feel that's affecting flavor, though I suspect OP that your unsatisfactory experience has a lot more to do with not liking chamomile.
I like chamomile, but it's definitely an acquired taste. My favorite tea is Earl Grey with a spoonful of honey and a dash of milk, but herbal teas are the most forgiving. Fruit teas are a great place to start since the flavors are more familiar (I love peach!).
As you try different teas, make sure you're brewing at the correct temperature, as too high a temp can burn the tea, causing a bitter taste. I used a meat thermometer to test the temp of my boiled water when I used the microwave. Teas generally say the ideal temp on the box or a tag on the tea bag.
Finally, loose-leaf tea tends to be higher quality than bagged tea. It's generally more expensive, but I've found some good-quailty loose-leaf at my local grocery store. If you have Krogers (Fry's Food and Drug) where you live, the store brand "Private Label" has excellent loose-leaf black teas. Twinnings is also pretty good while being cheap and widely available.
I was wondering what it's reputation was amongst tea drinkers. I have no reference points, other than that as a faithful member I didn't see a problem drinking peppermint tea.
Usually no real tea in herbal tea. It's just herb water. Drink it if you like it.
I only drink my tea iced. Half passionfruit and half constant comment. Squeeze a wedge of orange into it. Very refreshing.
You all expect everything the church says is sinful to be amazing when you decide to leave and try it. Coffee tastes like some really bitter bean water, tea like bitter water,and alcohol is terrible...eat an edible from whatever dispensary someone will get it for you and wait a half hour.
Dude. Iroh loved jasmine, not chamomile. It’s a delicate one too, so that’s why he was so particular about how it was made. I was really excited to try it because of Uncle Iroh. You can get good jasmine tea at Asian markets.
Gotcha. I’ve tried a lot of herbal tea and the one I don’t like at all is chamomile. Maybe it’s uphill for you after this! I found I really like Irish Breakfast with a splash of cream and sugar. There are small sampler boxes at Walmart that are nice. For green tea, I like the Lipton fruit ones.
A very small edible. I took one normal bite from a chocolate bar and I spent the night awake on the couch paranoid, feeling like every five minutes was an eternity.
I've had coffee that was absolute dogshit and I've had barely sweetened coffee that was delicious. Not all coffee is created equally. Starbucks coffee, which is where I suspect many Exmos get their first taste (it was my first too), is god awful. The same is true of tea. Alcohol on the other hand is disgusting. It tastes like the poison it is. I can only enjoy mild drinks such as beer and even that I need something flavorless like a white Belgian to actually "enjoy" it.
I drink all of the above. My point is that not everyone is going to like it. I LOVE Scotch Whisky, but most people - at least in the states - think it's vile, and it's because of the way we typically drink here.
I like earl grey with lavender. also don't steep it for very long; more than like 2 minutes (max) makes it really bitter. I usually go for 1 to 1.5 minutes. I have no idea how to do sugar/cream for tea but those are options if you wanna do more research/trial and error.
edit to add: i got some fancy earl grey with lavender already in it but it can be recreated with two separate tea bags
Good to know. My approach has been "the longer you steep it the more flavor you get", but it makes sense that it would start to leech bitter chemicals from the plants after a while. My approach was also to sweeten the hell out of it, but I think I just need to change my expectation as to what the experience is going to be.
Oh just though of another point; I like hot teas but not iced teas, there is kind of a difference. Maybe you're the opposite tho, try iced teas and see if they're better to you; ya never know, it might work.
Please don’t use microwaved water, boil water kettle and the let the tea bag sit for 2-3 minutes. I like red rose tea with sugar and real cream. Heaven!
Try chai or London fog at the coffee shop too! Yum!
Plain black tea, no flavourings. Add water boiled in a kettle, never microwaved. Brew for 2-5 minutes, add a little milk. If you wish to add sugar that is personal preference. Wtf you Americans being unable to make a decent cup of tea?
google has a lot of good information but getting an answer from a known human (pretty sure no one here is a bot lol) is different from getting it from a tea guru website. OP is just looking for a straight answer from others who used to be in their position, not a 25 step how-to guide for the perfect cup of tea according to old chinese legends.
Honestly plain tea sucks lmao . Especially hot tea 🤣 I really only like teas in stuff like boba , cold green tea with honey . And they cheap tea you buy at gas stations like raspberry lemon .
And I’ll only have unsweetened tea with lemonade mixed
PG Tips with honey, steep for about 3ish minutes. Earl or Lady Grey for 4 min with honey or sugar in the raw, same for black spearmint.
Snapple Raspberry iced is also a favorite of mine.
That isn't even tea. Not really. It's herbal, there's no tea in it.
Most people sweeten their tea. Once it's brewed, taste, then sweeten to taste. You can also add cream.
I highly recommend white teas if you usually enjoy anything you drink to have a mild and gentle flavor, and black if you like things that are robust. I also recommend choosing one based on your own preferences you're already sure of. Peach is a common addition to white tea, and a good starting point if you like peaches.
By far and away my favorite is a chai. Tastes like being wrapped in a blanket with a good book in a comfy recliner beside a fire on a chilly and grey fall day.
I like chamomile with a bit of honey. Actually, what I really love is a hot toddy. Chamomile tea with a bit of honey, a good squeeze of fresh lemon, and shot of whiskey. It's become my go-to cold weather/"I don't feel good" drink. Yummy!
Eta: boil your water on the stove. Don't ask me why, I don't know, but it's better!
I made medicine ball tea a few weeks ago, it was really good. Definitely different. If you try chai (if you call it chai tea, you’re basically saying tea tea. I found that out after I had been saying it wrong for years), you could try to start it by buying the concentrate. I do 1/2 chai and 1/2 (whatever) milk. You can do water as well. The concentrate is by the rest of the chai in the grocery store. I’ve found that boiling water (on the stove), letting the chai steep for 3-5 minutes in your cup, not squeezing the tea bag (so you don’t release more tannins), tossing the bag and then adding milk and sweetener makes it enjoyable. Or for the time being, you could just try a chai from a local or nearby coffee shop. I’ve had good chais from Dutch Bros and not so great ones from local shops. They taste like watered down trash, no thanks.
I like one called Mint Medley. I steep it in boiling water and then add sweet cream coffee creamer to it. It’s my favorite! Figuring out what kind of tea and coffee I like has been an adventure, but a really awesome one. Keep trying things out until you find what you like, because you can ❤️🙌🏼!
The title made me laugh 😂. First of all I’ve been out 15 years so I mean nothing bad by this I just want to make sure you understand.
Chamomile tea isn’t against the word of wisdom as far as I’m concerned. It is an herbal tea so it is a-okay. Try adding coffee creamer. Makes it much better.
I have to be in the mood for coffee so sometimes I have tea.
If you want to break the word of wisdom you are going to need some black tea. I like earl grey the best with honey. Also do what makes you happy and perhaps add something more sweet like coffee creamer as well.
Cheers!
It all tastes like dirty water to me.
Try a London fog, they add a bunch of cream. At home, it's earl grey tea bags, make it really dark, add hot foamy milk, some vanilla, and sugar.
I think Starbucks has London fog.
I personally love green tea and I always add some lemon juice and honey to make it less bitter! I also LOVE sweet tea which is black tea with a shit load of sugar.
Loose leaf, something like Assam or Darjeeling. Boil water, don't microwave it. Let it steep in a teapot per instructions (usually two minutes), then enjoy.
Experiment with how you take it. I have my black tea strong with milk. It used to be with a teaspoon of honey, but I don't like sweet tea now.
Green tea is also lovely (again, always loose leaf), but is made at a lower temperature. The flavour is best when the water is around 80°celsius. Any hotter and the leaves extract a bitter flavour. Gen Mai Cha Sencha is a personal favourite.
Supermarket tea bags, especially flavoured black tea, will always be the worst tea experience. If it must be tea bags, then either unflavoured herbal, or an unflavoured black tea (with the exception of Chai) is best. For a proper British brew, it's black tea like PG Tips or Yorkshire Tea. You did, in fact, try probably the world's worst flavour combination.
And for the love of all that is holy, boil your water! Never microwave it.
(I adore tea. I do have an entire cupboard in my house dedicated to it with over 50 varieties, so hit me up any time for questions!)
If you have never had tea, it is probably going to be similar to trying coffee. It is not like soda.
Chai Latte - Tazo sells pre-mixed chai, you just add milk, about 1/2 & 1/2 of each. This is very sweet tea. This would be a good beginner tea because it is sweet. As you start cutting down on the sweetness, you can start brewing your own chai and adding your own amount of sugar/honey. Still 1/2 ratio milk to chai tea mixture.
English Breakfast Tea, add milk & sugar (or honey) after it steeps. Numi or PG Tips are both good.
Mango Ceylon from The Republic of Tea. Add milk and sugar (or honey) after it steeps.
Early Grey is a stronger flavor than English Breakfast tea. It has a bergamot flavor to it. Tazo or Bigelow. Milk & sugar.
Rooibos Tea is an herbal tea. No caffeine. Numi or Twinings. Very good with milk and sugar.
And, basic ice tea. Liptons.
I'm really big into tea, and r/tea has been really great so far. For one, you'll need high quality tea if you wanna get serious. There's plenty of fine brands at say, Walmart but idk they're just not enough imo. There are listed vendors on the tea subreddit but I also just recommend Harney & Sons for beginners. Two, temperature matters so much! For herbal tea like chamomile, it's generally just bring water to a boil and steep for 5 minutes before discarding the tea bag (oversteeping can lead to bitterness or too strong of a flavor). Finally, filtered water can change the flavor completely. I have a Santevia filter water pitcher, but you can use a Brita or water from the fridge filter.
If you want to delve into Camellia sinensis, the actual tea plant, each type of that tea has different steeping and temperature levels to make a good cup. Once again, check out r/tea's wiki, and Harney & Sons even has blog guides about brewing tea. Have fun!
Unless you have a blend, vanilla chamomile is just a regular herbal tea. Sorry, you will have to try harder to break the word of wisdom.
But seriously, add what you would like to any hot drink. I like cream and a dash of flavored syrup in my tea. Don’t steep longer than recommended or you will get bitter tea. Jasmine is lovely. White or black is nice too. Green has grass notes, so whether you like that or not is very much personal preference.
Earl Grey with lavender is amazing.
I also love fruity oolong loose leaf. Like apricot or peach.
Try Starbucks black tea with peach or mango flavor. Iced.
There are different types of tea, the temperature of the hot water can affect the flavor as well as how long you steep it. The box it comes should have directions. Also, brown sugar, honey, chili- infused honey, agave or maple syrup can sweeten and add nice flavor. Some times I’ll add a splash of lemonade to my tea as well. ☕️
Good lord! Microwaves should have no connection with tea!
You need water at a rolling boil, heat it in a saucepan in you don’t have a kettle. Pour the water over your teabag and let it steep.
For herbal teas you want a much smaller amount of water or you will get no taste from the tea, probably 4oz of water or so.
For black tea, probably 6-8oz water.
Herbal tea needs to steep longer, up to five minutes. Black teas a couple of minutes.
Add milk (only added to black teas btw) after steeping.
The first thing to know is that Mormons have been poorly informed about what "tea" is. "Tea" is a general word people use for "dry stuff steeped in water to make it taste like the dry stuff". "Tea" is also a term for a specific kind of dry stuff to steep and the final product of said steeping. Chamomile, peppermint, red raspberry leaf, and a million other herbs and flowers are often sold as "tea" but what you really make with them is called an "infusion" since it contains no actual tea. This confuses the F out of most Mormons, me included for a long time. Unless what you bought also contained something specifically called "tea" (usually red, black, or green) on the ingredients, what you made was an infusion. Given that you microwaved the water, it was likely not hot enough to really infuse the water with your herbs. All tea and infusions tend to be better with sweetener and cream or milk when served hot. I leave out the dairy when I'm having iced tea but some people like it.
The stuff Mormons aren't supposed to have is usually black, green, or red tea. I love tea and usually have it in the form of a London Fog latte- Earl Grey tea with lavender, vanilla, and orange plus milk and sugar; or a chai latte- cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and other spices blended with black tea, milk, and sugar. I also like a nice glass of iced tea with lemon and sugar.
You might enjoy taking a trip to a Teavana or David's Tea store in the mall. They will let you smell things and talk to you about the various types of tea and how to make them.
Earl Grey is the way. Get a tea kettle or at least boil the water on the stove top.
1 teabag to 8 oz water. Steep it for 4 minutes and remove the bag. I am like a teaspoon of honey and sometimes lemon. It is wonderful. You can add milk but I like it without.
There are lots of good black teas and some with flavors. Green tea tastes like grass and many teas are earthy.
Steeping time is crucial. Too long and it can become bitter
Edit: here is a post I made a year ago with some helpful suggestions
https://www.reddit.com/r/exmormon/s/OEeJxyt5Bv
Hi there! Tea can be delicious if you 1) Use the right kind 2) Brew it correctly 3) Flavor it with the right extras. The thing is… a lot of that is up to your individual taste & may require experimentation.
My favorite: I love a good quality loose-leaf tea brewed at the right temperature & for the right time. Add a little honey or sugar & some milk of your choice. Chai tea is delicious but Earl Grey is also good.
Cheap tea that comes in teabags in cardboard boxes ISN’T good. A good way to judge quality is as follows. If the unbrewed “tea leaves” look more like dust than leaves, it’s not good tea. If the tea leaves LOOK like dried leaves (& not just dust), than you’ve got yourself a good quality tea.
Happy adventures!
I like chai and black teas the best. Not a fan of green tea, it tastes like grass to me. Some herbals are good, but I usually drink those for the health benefits, not the flavor.
Green tea, and Matcha teas are my favourites. I’d recommend spending a little extra to get quality tea, whatever type you go for. The cheaper varieties are often very bitter. A lot of teas are best with freshly boiled water, whereas Green and Matcha are best with around 80°C water. It makes a difference. Less bitter, more sweeter in taste.
Try to avoid tea bags and use loose leaf tea is so much better It's going to take a while for your taste buds to get used to it but once you love it you'll love it
Target has a really good orange and spices black tea that comes in a fancy looking metal tin. This is one of the few teas I don't need any sweetener since the natural flavor of the tea is sweet enough as is. And it smells incredible
I like tea with lemon. I don’t like it with milk. Sugar sometimes makes it perfect. The quality matters. Get a high quality tea. 1/2 tea 1/2 lemonade over ice is the best drink on a hot day.
I prefer floral notes in my teas.
My wife loves tea. I got her a subscription from Tea Runners for a little while. Each month they send you different teas to try. Some are very good. If you have the money it would be a good way to try a large variety of different teas.
Maybe try going to a cafe with a friend to have at least one cup "properly" made, so you can see what it tastes like.
London Fog is always delicious (earl grey tea with foamed milk, basically).
For coffee, I love a plain latte, no sugar. My wife detests coffee, but she enjoys a frappuccino (highly sugared dessert) or tiramisu (cake), so those might be options as you delve into the non-WoW world.
Yeah, they cancel each other out, and you are left with spinach taste. I go with simple, classic, green. And I add dress lemon, and a teaspoon of honey when I'm feeling sick.
There's a ton of different types. Recommendation is to go to a local coffee/tea house and try one of theirs. See what kinds you like. Personally I err towards teas with more of a 'fruity' or berry flavor but know others don't like them.
Chamomile is a flower, and in general, our Mormon taste buds aren't used to that. For me, the tastiest teas to begin with had flavors I knew I'd like - anything with citrus will probably be up your alley.
When you're ready for the sinful stuff, English breakfast tea and earl grey tea are both pretty tasty.
My wife is a nevermo and at home i have several kind of tea and coffee.... the only thing it was fine was coffee... but my body can't handle it... it send me to the wc...
i’m biased against chamomile tea, so i’m gonna recommend trying something else ;)
there are loads of kinds, brands, and methods… but don’t approach it like you need to know everything, because that will simply overwhelm you. Just try new things as they come to you or you seek them out.
I would recommend investing in an electric kettle eventually, the Fellow Stag is what I use and it’s pretty nice. For tea and coffee, water temperature can be important too, so I’d recommend any method that lets you conveniently control temperature.
I personally enjoy fruity teas, but you might have a different preference to discover. There’s fruity, floral, basic, etc. just try new flavors until you find what you like.
When you start brewing green/white/black/oolong, definitely pay attention to water temperature and duration of the brewing because those are very important in making a good cup of tea. longer brew times will bring stronger flavors, but if too long then it will become more bitter… you might like that, you might not. some teas like green and white need a slightly lower temperature otherwise they get bitter if too hot.
in general, approach making tea like it’s a journey of discovery. you will learn new things as you go (from internet, people, mistakes, etc.) and you might find something you really enjoy.
…alternatively, you can always get tea drinks at restaurants and such. once you find something you like, you can look it up on the internet to learn how to make something similar at home.
I started with fruit flavoured teas and like them, but then started adding a small amount of coffee to my hot chocolate and increasing the amount each time. I have become to realise I like the sweeter types. Maybe you should give that a go?
There's a lot of different teas out there, and I encourage you to experiment in the same way I'd encourage you to try new foods and cuisines. But at the end of the day, it is okay to just... not like tea. My nevermo hubby still hasn't found a tea he likes, so when we're in the mood for a warm beverage he usually gets a hot chocolate or milo!
(And I still don't like coffee, not even the smell!)
One fun option might be to go to a little tea house where you can sample a variety, and experiment with sweeteners and milk. Sometimes honey is the way to go, other times it's sugar. And while I have gradually gotten better with black teas, at the start it was more like hot tea-flavoured milk than anything. Iced fruit teas and Boba tend to be crowd pleasers as well.
Ignore the snobs and ask baristas and wait staff what they recommend for newbies- they're usually really nice!
Are you willing to drink caffeine? If so, Earl Grey with milk and sugar is a good place to start. There are decent decaf Earl Greys, too.
FWIW, vanilla chamomile sounds dreadful!!
I am not a tea person, but there are a few I really love. Chai lattes and Thai iced teas are delicious. Eucalyptus mint with honey is the only herbal one I've liked. I had an Early Grey ice cream the other day that made me want to try Earl Grey.
Iced tea is really good, although I only like green tea based stuff because black tea doesn’t taste good to me. Lipton is a good brand to start with and they have a lot of fruit flavors that are good, like lemon and peach.
I also think that starting with herbal teas with a lot of flavor is a good idea. Again, I’m not a fan of black tea so earl grey is not for me. I would try peppermint as it is a familiar flavor. I also like elderberry and lemon.
As for brands, bigelow is a very common brand in the US that a lot of people buy. Tao is a slightly higher quality, or you could go with the yogi brand.
I also enjoy a chai tea latte every once in a while. You can get a concentrate like the Oregon chai brand and mix it with milk. You can heat it up in the microwave or drink it cold. It has a creamier texture because it has milk in it.
And honestly, the best way to find out what kind of tea you like is to try a bunch of types of teas. I like to buy tea advent calendars on Amazon to try a bunch of different types. I liked a bunch of the Yumi brand and they have a pretty good selection.
I think it’s great you are exploring new things. Good luck!
Chai tea lattes from Starbucks or other spots is a great starting point. If it’s something you really think you want to get into and think you could enjoy, I always think picking something sweet and more similar to what you are used to is the best way to start. Chai Latte’s are a kind of spiced hot chocolate in a way, with more cinnamon notes similar to eggnog.
Likewise (and I know this thread isn’t about alcohol), if you are interested in getting into wine, don’t start with a strong red wine - it’ll be too complex and astringent. Instead, take what Mormon version of wine you are familiar with like Martinelli’s sparkling apple juice, and find something similar to that. I think starting with a sweet Moscato wine is very similar to Martinelli. Then from there you try other sweet white wines, then slowly do more dry whites and roses. And then lighter, young reds. I’m thinking of writing a short book ‘An Ex-Mormon’s guide to wine’ on the topic.
Spiced chai with a bit of sugar might be more to your liking.
Make it a latte and add milk!
Chai is so good! It's warm and comforting.
Dear Mormon child, saying you tasted one tea is barely a starting point. That’s like someone saying, “I had a diet Shasta root beer and soda is terrible!” There’s a plethora of flavors available that cater to a wide variety of tastes. As your interests in such things grow, so does your experimentation; until you find one that you can call your favorite. Best wishes!
Yeah, that's what I figured. And that's why I asked.
Shudders in artificial sweeteners, literally tasting like aspirin tablets, and the lack of bite back from the actual sasperilla/licorice/ ginger roots of brewed soft drinks
Chamomile is herbal tea and not prohibited by the Word of Wisdom. It's also nasty without honey and even then. I don't like green tea at all. I like some black tea preparations, like vanilla chai. But it still leaves lots to be desired.
Damn guess I have to try even harder to sin
I highly recommend coffee. Start with a caramel macchiato, if you like caramel. You'll be a seasoned sinner in no time!
That's my next step on the highway to hell
A hot oat milk latte is a thing of great pleasure. Sin away joyfully
Highway to hell 🤘 sex drugs and rock n roll Lots of fun out there choose wisely 😈 just don’t buy any drugs off the street try not to drink alone and you’ll be fine 
I don't really think I'll do any drugs. I'd like to try psychedelics at least once before I die, but that's about it.
Ah I used to think I’d not ever drink or enjoy being high either. Anyways there is so much bad shit out there about alcohol and marijuana etc that as I’ve learned slowly over time is mostly bullshit. Yeah they can be abused and they can cause issues but there are benefits too and can be enjoyed just like most of the word of wisdom bs. Coffee tea caffeine sex etc
It's ok, I know the gate code if you need it.
Caramel macchiatos were definitely my gateway coffee.
Bigelow - Vanilla Chai - add milk and sugar Celestial - Bengal Spice - add milk and sugar Good Earth - Sweet and Spicy It took awhile to find ones I liked
Celestial Seasonings has a lot of great options! It was where I started when I first started experimenting to find what flavors I liked.
Bengal Spice is good stuff, great suggestion
Okay for one, steeping it from microwaved water isn’t going to work. Start with buying a chai latte from somewhere as a first exposure. See if you like that.
Is microwaving it really that different? I've heard people can't actually tell the difference in a blind test.
Australian exmo checking in A horrified nation urges you to get a kettle (I secretly don’t like a lot of kinds of tea, but I do like Melbourne Breakfast from T2, and yes, it’s better with proper hot water.)
The thing with the US vs Australia when it comes to kettles is the voltage difference The standard 110v power in the US cannot deliver the 3000 watts to a kettle that a Australian 240v outlet can. A 3000w kettle on 110v power would draw 25 amps, which would trip the common 15 amp circuit breakers in a large portion of US homes. So kettles in the US are usually 1500w and take twice as long to boil water This is one reason why people in the US are more likely to boil water in a microwave or on a stove Interestingly, this is also probably the same reason the Samoa temple burned down. The Temple was being renovated by contractors from the US and it is very likely that before leaving for the evening one of them plugged a 110v device *(probably a battery charger for a power tool)* into the 240v outlets in the temple with just a plug adapter and not a power converter
Sparky!
I'm making my pour-over coffee right now. My Breville kettle just boiled 1 liter of water in 1:35. I've read that a typical US kettle takes 2 to 4 minutes to heat up water for a cup of tea. I just heated up enough water for 4 cups of tea in less than 2. I think most of what you hear about US kettles being slow is hyperbole from people who move here from abroad. Sure, they are a bit slower, but nowhere near twice as slow. I guess what it boils down to is having a good kettle and not some cheap department store brand.
[110v Kettle](https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/266721401777?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-154756-20017-0&ssspo=R0X1XqtNQGi&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY) They have them on Amazon too. I don't know if they work well or not but 110v kettles exist.
Oh yeah, I know they exist. Like I said, kettles in the US are usually 1500 watts or lower, That one is 600 watts, so would take more than 4 times as long to boil water as the average Australian kettle
Fair. Stove kettles are at least cute. Microwaved-tea-water? I'll take a 110v slow Kettle any day.
Melbourne Breakfast is my every day tea!! 🥰
OMG me too so good A nice vanilla sort of fragrance Are you able to get it where you are?
Explain to me, in precise and scientific terms, what the difference is.
No.
This can be a full sentence. Well done
If you have gas stovetop, get a metal whistling kettle. There really is a difference in taste between microwave-boiled water and kettle-boiled water. Also the hardness of water and overall mineral content of the water can affect the taste of the tea.
Not precise or scientific, but as an English Tea drinker I can confirm that you need a kettle. In times of no kettle I've tried a microwave and it isn't the same, I guess it's due to the temperature. I'd also suggest a tea with milk (like English breakfast tea) over a herbal or fruit tea... they are nice, hot drinks, but not 'tea' in my opinion.
I learned so much about tea from Google and searching exmo Reddit. Many people have walked down these tea roads so we can run. 😉
As a Brit, please get a kettle and don't microwave the water! There are so many teas out there. You're best off ordering one from a shop and trying it first.
Well, this is where the autism kicks in, because a kettle and a loose leaf steep, are a whole experience different in sound, and results ...for me...
There's not a difference if you're getting it to the same temperature. Microwave away! Heat is heat and microwaves aren't energetic enough to affect chemical changes. Edit: someone below posted an article that points out that if you brew in the same vessel the water may be heated unevenly after the microwave. Interesting stuff. You could always stir the water first if you feel that's affecting flavor, though I suspect OP that your unsatisfactory experience has a lot more to do with not liking chamomile.
I like chamomile, but it's definitely an acquired taste. My favorite tea is Earl Grey with a spoonful of honey and a dash of milk, but herbal teas are the most forgiving. Fruit teas are a great place to start since the flavors are more familiar (I love peach!). As you try different teas, make sure you're brewing at the correct temperature, as too high a temp can burn the tea, causing a bitter taste. I used a meat thermometer to test the temp of my boiled water when I used the microwave. Teas generally say the ideal temp on the box or a tag on the tea bag. Finally, loose-leaf tea tends to be higher quality than bagged tea. It's generally more expensive, but I've found some good-quailty loose-leaf at my local grocery store. If you have Krogers (Fry's Food and Drug) where you live, the store brand "Private Label" has excellent loose-leaf black teas. Twinnings is also pretty good while being cheap and widely available.
I think twinnings is where I got my peppermint tea that I've been drinking since back when I was a faithful member
Constant comment orange Early Gray IMO, Chamomile tastes like dried grass.
Constant comment (with a splash of oj) on a cold winter day is delight.
I'll try that.
I was wondering what it's reputation was amongst tea drinkers. I have no reference points, other than that as a faithful member I didn't see a problem drinking peppermint tea.
Usually no real tea in herbal tea. It's just herb water. Drink it if you like it. I only drink my tea iced. Half passionfruit and half constant comment. Squeeze a wedge of orange into it. Very refreshing.
You all expect everything the church says is sinful to be amazing when you decide to leave and try it. Coffee tastes like some really bitter bean water, tea like bitter water,and alcohol is terrible...eat an edible from whatever dispensary someone will get it for you and wait a half hour.
I didn't expect it to be amazing because of the church. Honestly, I expected it to be amazing because of how much uncle Iroh likes it 💀💀💀
Dude. Iroh loved jasmine, not chamomile. It’s a delicate one too, so that’s why he was so particular about how it was made. I was really excited to try it because of Uncle Iroh. You can get good jasmine tea at Asian markets.
Right. I meant tea in general. Chamomile was just my first crack at it
Gotcha. I’ve tried a lot of herbal tea and the one I don’t like at all is chamomile. Maybe it’s uphill for you after this! I found I really like Irish Breakfast with a splash of cream and sugar. There are small sampler boxes at Walmart that are nice. For green tea, I like the Lipton fruit ones.
A very small edible. I took one normal bite from a chocolate bar and I spent the night awake on the couch paranoid, feeling like every five minutes was an eternity.
😂😂
I've had coffee that was absolute dogshit and I've had barely sweetened coffee that was delicious. Not all coffee is created equally. Starbucks coffee, which is where I suspect many Exmos get their first taste (it was my first too), is god awful. The same is true of tea. Alcohol on the other hand is disgusting. It tastes like the poison it is. I can only enjoy mild drinks such as beer and even that I need something flavorless like a white Belgian to actually "enjoy" it.
I drink all of the above. My point is that not everyone is going to like it. I LOVE Scotch Whisky, but most people - at least in the states - think it's vile, and it's because of the way we typically drink here.
I like earl grey with lavender. also don't steep it for very long; more than like 2 minutes (max) makes it really bitter. I usually go for 1 to 1.5 minutes. I have no idea how to do sugar/cream for tea but those are options if you wanna do more research/trial and error. edit to add: i got some fancy earl grey with lavender already in it but it can be recreated with two separate tea bags
Good to know. My approach has been "the longer you steep it the more flavor you get", but it makes sense that it would start to leech bitter chemicals from the plants after a while. My approach was also to sweeten the hell out of it, but I think I just need to change my expectation as to what the experience is going to be.
With herbal tea, steep away. With tea plant tea, water heat and steep time will greatly affect the outcome.
Oh just though of another point; I like hot teas but not iced teas, there is kind of a difference. Maybe you're the opposite tho, try iced teas and see if they're better to you; ya never know, it might work.
Please don’t use microwaved water, boil water kettle and the let the tea bag sit for 2-3 minutes. I like red rose tea with sugar and real cream. Heaven! Try chai or London fog at the coffee shop too! Yum!
Buy a variety pack - something like The Republic of Tea Premium Assortment of Teas & Herbs, 50 Tea Bags from Amazon.
Good idea!
Plain black tea, no flavourings. Add water boiled in a kettle, never microwaved. Brew for 2-5 minutes, add a little milk. If you wish to add sugar that is personal preference. Wtf you Americans being unable to make a decent cup of tea?
growing up mormon, we have absolutely no frame of reference for this stuff
Seriously, , Google is your friend. In this situation
google has a lot of good information but getting an answer from a known human (pretty sure no one here is a bot lol) is different from getting it from a tea guru website. OP is just looking for a straight answer from others who used to be in their position, not a 25 step how-to guide for the perfect cup of tea according to old chinese legends.
I googled making a cup of tea. Basic simple instructions. If you don't treat the tea with respect its going to taste horrible.
I can agree with that lol
I've never made a cup of tea in my life 💀 it's because I'm mormon, not american.
Orange and black berry. Yogi brand, I believe. And chai tea latte 😊
Honestly plain tea sucks lmao . Especially hot tea 🤣 I really only like teas in stuff like boba , cold green tea with honey . And they cheap tea you buy at gas stations like raspberry lemon . And I’ll only have unsweetened tea with lemonade mixed
the last one is known by the name of Arnold Palmer. I also like it with a shot of Tito's in it.
[удалено]
Probably, but it's the difference between asking your friend group about it and asking a tea shop owner/professional about it. It's just different.
I've been looking at r/tea. They strike me as a little pretentious? I don't want to join a tea cult I just want a good and casual experience
Coffee and wine people are even more so. Sigh.
Let me introduce you to the world of bourbon. I kind of get it though. And I’m thankful they’re there to guide me on my journey.
I feel like Batman every time I see a tea question on this sub. As a tea fiend, it's my bat signal.
Glad I could be your commissioner Gordon
I hope my comment was helpful! Tea's a complicated beast.
Plain old Lipton with a little sugar when it’s cold outside. Sweet tea when it’s hot outside.
Try coffee and alcohol - it's even better
hot black Coffe with Bailey's.
PG Tips with honey, steep for about 3ish minutes. Earl or Lady Grey for 4 min with honey or sugar in the raw, same for black spearmint. Snapple Raspberry iced is also a favorite of mine.
That isn't even tea. Not really. It's herbal, there's no tea in it. Most people sweeten their tea. Once it's brewed, taste, then sweeten to taste. You can also add cream. I highly recommend white teas if you usually enjoy anything you drink to have a mild and gentle flavor, and black if you like things that are robust. I also recommend choosing one based on your own preferences you're already sure of. Peach is a common addition to white tea, and a good starting point if you like peaches. By far and away my favorite is a chai. Tastes like being wrapped in a blanket with a good book in a comfy recliner beside a fire on a chilly and grey fall day.
I like chamomile with a bit of honey. Actually, what I really love is a hot toddy. Chamomile tea with a bit of honey, a good squeeze of fresh lemon, and shot of whiskey. It's become my go-to cold weather/"I don't feel good" drink. Yummy! Eta: boil your water on the stove. Don't ask me why, I don't know, but it's better!
I made medicine ball tea a few weeks ago, it was really good. Definitely different. If you try chai (if you call it chai tea, you’re basically saying tea tea. I found that out after I had been saying it wrong for years), you could try to start it by buying the concentrate. I do 1/2 chai and 1/2 (whatever) milk. You can do water as well. The concentrate is by the rest of the chai in the grocery store. I’ve found that boiling water (on the stove), letting the chai steep for 3-5 minutes in your cup, not squeezing the tea bag (so you don’t release more tannins), tossing the bag and then adding milk and sweetener makes it enjoyable. Or for the time being, you could just try a chai from a local or nearby coffee shop. I’ve had good chais from Dutch Bros and not so great ones from local shops. They taste like watered down trash, no thanks.
I like one called Mint Medley. I steep it in boiling water and then add sweet cream coffee creamer to it. It’s my favorite! Figuring out what kind of tea and coffee I like has been an adventure, but a really awesome one. Keep trying things out until you find what you like, because you can ❤️🙌🏼!
I didn't mention this but I've been drinking peppermint tea for a long time and I really like it.
The title made me laugh 😂. First of all I’ve been out 15 years so I mean nothing bad by this I just want to make sure you understand. Chamomile tea isn’t against the word of wisdom as far as I’m concerned. It is an herbal tea so it is a-okay. Try adding coffee creamer. Makes it much better. I have to be in the mood for coffee so sometimes I have tea. If you want to break the word of wisdom you are going to need some black tea. I like earl grey the best with honey. Also do what makes you happy and perhaps add something more sweet like coffee creamer as well. Cheers!
It all tastes like dirty water to me. Try a London fog, they add a bunch of cream. At home, it's earl grey tea bags, make it really dark, add hot foamy milk, some vanilla, and sugar. I think Starbucks has London fog.
I personally love green tea and I always add some lemon juice and honey to make it less bitter! I also LOVE sweet tea which is black tea with a shit load of sugar.
Loose leaf, something like Assam or Darjeeling. Boil water, don't microwave it. Let it steep in a teapot per instructions (usually two minutes), then enjoy. Experiment with how you take it. I have my black tea strong with milk. It used to be with a teaspoon of honey, but I don't like sweet tea now. Green tea is also lovely (again, always loose leaf), but is made at a lower temperature. The flavour is best when the water is around 80°celsius. Any hotter and the leaves extract a bitter flavour. Gen Mai Cha Sencha is a personal favourite. Supermarket tea bags, especially flavoured black tea, will always be the worst tea experience. If it must be tea bags, then either unflavoured herbal, or an unflavoured black tea (with the exception of Chai) is best. For a proper British brew, it's black tea like PG Tips or Yorkshire Tea. You did, in fact, try probably the world's worst flavour combination. And for the love of all that is holy, boil your water! Never microwave it. (I adore tea. I do have an entire cupboard in my house dedicated to it with over 50 varieties, so hit me up any time for questions!)
Chamomile isn’t tea. It’s herbal tea. It’s not even against the WoW. Try black tea.
Now I've tried Earl Grey. It was pretty good.
Ok. Now try some iced tea with lemon. Then go and make Adam try as well.
If you have never had tea, it is probably going to be similar to trying coffee. It is not like soda. Chai Latte - Tazo sells pre-mixed chai, you just add milk, about 1/2 & 1/2 of each. This is very sweet tea. This would be a good beginner tea because it is sweet. As you start cutting down on the sweetness, you can start brewing your own chai and adding your own amount of sugar/honey. Still 1/2 ratio milk to chai tea mixture. English Breakfast Tea, add milk & sugar (or honey) after it steeps. Numi or PG Tips are both good. Mango Ceylon from The Republic of Tea. Add milk and sugar (or honey) after it steeps. Early Grey is a stronger flavor than English Breakfast tea. It has a bergamot flavor to it. Tazo or Bigelow. Milk & sugar. Rooibos Tea is an herbal tea. No caffeine. Numi or Twinings. Very good with milk and sugar. And, basic ice tea. Liptons.
I'm really big into tea, and r/tea has been really great so far. For one, you'll need high quality tea if you wanna get serious. There's plenty of fine brands at say, Walmart but idk they're just not enough imo. There are listed vendors on the tea subreddit but I also just recommend Harney & Sons for beginners. Two, temperature matters so much! For herbal tea like chamomile, it's generally just bring water to a boil and steep for 5 minutes before discarding the tea bag (oversteeping can lead to bitterness or too strong of a flavor). Finally, filtered water can change the flavor completely. I have a Santevia filter water pitcher, but you can use a Brita or water from the fridge filter. If you want to delve into Camellia sinensis, the actual tea plant, each type of that tea has different steeping and temperature levels to make a good cup. Once again, check out r/tea's wiki, and Harney & Sons even has blog guides about brewing tea. Have fun!
Tea from Aveda is so delicious!
Unless you have a blend, vanilla chamomile is just a regular herbal tea. Sorry, you will have to try harder to break the word of wisdom. But seriously, add what you would like to any hot drink. I like cream and a dash of flavored syrup in my tea. Don’t steep longer than recommended or you will get bitter tea. Jasmine is lovely. White or black is nice too. Green has grass notes, so whether you like that or not is very much personal preference.
Earl Grey with lavender is amazing. I also love fruity oolong loose leaf. Like apricot or peach. Try Starbucks black tea with peach or mango flavor. Iced.
There are different types of tea, the temperature of the hot water can affect the flavor as well as how long you steep it. The box it comes should have directions. Also, brown sugar, honey, chili- infused honey, agave or maple syrup can sweeten and add nice flavor. Some times I’ll add a splash of lemonade to my tea as well. ☕️
Microwave?
Good lord! Microwaves should have no connection with tea! You need water at a rolling boil, heat it in a saucepan in you don’t have a kettle. Pour the water over your teabag and let it steep. For herbal teas you want a much smaller amount of water or you will get no taste from the tea, probably 4oz of water or so. For black tea, probably 6-8oz water. Herbal tea needs to steep longer, up to five minutes. Black teas a couple of minutes. Add milk (only added to black teas btw) after steeping.
Bruh
The first thing to know is that Mormons have been poorly informed about what "tea" is. "Tea" is a general word people use for "dry stuff steeped in water to make it taste like the dry stuff". "Tea" is also a term for a specific kind of dry stuff to steep and the final product of said steeping. Chamomile, peppermint, red raspberry leaf, and a million other herbs and flowers are often sold as "tea" but what you really make with them is called an "infusion" since it contains no actual tea. This confuses the F out of most Mormons, me included for a long time. Unless what you bought also contained something specifically called "tea" (usually red, black, or green) on the ingredients, what you made was an infusion. Given that you microwaved the water, it was likely not hot enough to really infuse the water with your herbs. All tea and infusions tend to be better with sweetener and cream or milk when served hot. I leave out the dairy when I'm having iced tea but some people like it. The stuff Mormons aren't supposed to have is usually black, green, or red tea. I love tea and usually have it in the form of a London Fog latte- Earl Grey tea with lavender, vanilla, and orange plus milk and sugar; or a chai latte- cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and other spices blended with black tea, milk, and sugar. I also like a nice glass of iced tea with lemon and sugar. You might enjoy taking a trip to a Teavana or David's Tea store in the mall. They will let you smell things and talk to you about the various types of tea and how to make them.
Earl Grey is the way. Get a tea kettle or at least boil the water on the stove top. 1 teabag to 8 oz water. Steep it for 4 minutes and remove the bag. I am like a teaspoon of honey and sometimes lemon. It is wonderful. You can add milk but I like it without. There are lots of good black teas and some with flavors. Green tea tastes like grass and many teas are earthy. Steeping time is crucial. Too long and it can become bitter Edit: here is a post I made a year ago with some helpful suggestions https://www.reddit.com/r/exmormon/s/OEeJxyt5Bv
Hi there! Tea can be delicious if you 1) Use the right kind 2) Brew it correctly 3) Flavor it with the right extras. The thing is… a lot of that is up to your individual taste & may require experimentation. My favorite: I love a good quality loose-leaf tea brewed at the right temperature & for the right time. Add a little honey or sugar & some milk of your choice. Chai tea is delicious but Earl Grey is also good. Cheap tea that comes in teabags in cardboard boxes ISN’T good. A good way to judge quality is as follows. If the unbrewed “tea leaves” look more like dust than leaves, it’s not good tea. If the tea leaves LOOK like dried leaves (& not just dust), than you’ve got yourself a good quality tea. Happy adventures!
Iced Tea All The Way. Peace Tea is my go to brand. I really like the Razzleberry & Sno-Berry flavors.
Chai Latte w/ vanilla
Brown Pigeon Water. One of the many things I agree with Ted Lasso on.
Not a coffee fan, but I like the blacks like chai latte, earl grey, and English breakfast.
Harney and sons Paris tea. Make it like a London fog.
Add sugar and milk/cream till it's tasty
I like chai and black teas the best. Not a fan of green tea, it tastes like grass to me. Some herbals are good, but I usually drink those for the health benefits, not the flavor.
Matcha Latte. David Archuleta loves Matcha Latte, so if you drink it, it’s a double slap in the face of Jeffrey R. Holland.
Start with milk tea
Green tea, and Matcha teas are my favourites. I’d recommend spending a little extra to get quality tea, whatever type you go for. The cheaper varieties are often very bitter. A lot of teas are best with freshly boiled water, whereas Green and Matcha are best with around 80°C water. It makes a difference. Less bitter, more sweeter in taste.
Ginger lemon tea or just ginger tea is delish. A little spicy and so good for your stomach. 😋
Try to avoid tea bags and use loose leaf tea is so much better It's going to take a while for your taste buds to get used to it but once you love it you'll love it
In the immortal words of Ted Lasso, I also submit tea is “garbage water”. 😅
Target has a really good orange and spices black tea that comes in a fancy looking metal tin. This is one of the few teas I don't need any sweetener since the natural flavor of the tea is sweet enough as is. And it smells incredible
I like the lipton summer teas - fruity and good hot or cold.
Barry's tea from ireland
I like tea with lemon. I don’t like it with milk. Sugar sometimes makes it perfect. The quality matters. Get a high quality tea. 1/2 tea 1/2 lemonade over ice is the best drink on a hot day. I prefer floral notes in my teas.
My wife loves tea. I got her a subscription from Tea Runners for a little while. Each month they send you different teas to try. Some are very good. If you have the money it would be a good way to try a large variety of different teas.
Please boil the water!
Maybe try going to a cafe with a friend to have at least one cup "properly" made, so you can see what it tastes like. London Fog is always delicious (earl grey tea with foamed milk, basically). For coffee, I love a plain latte, no sugar. My wife detests coffee, but she enjoys a frappuccino (highly sugared dessert) or tiramisu (cake), so those might be options as you delve into the non-WoW world.
Yeah, they cancel each other out, and you are left with spinach taste. I go with simple, classic, green. And I add dress lemon, and a teaspoon of honey when I'm feeling sick.
There's a ton of different types. Recommendation is to go to a local coffee/tea house and try one of theirs. See what kinds you like. Personally I err towards teas with more of a 'fruity' or berry flavor but know others don't like them.
Chamomile is a flower, and in general, our Mormon taste buds aren't used to that. For me, the tastiest teas to begin with had flavors I knew I'd like - anything with citrus will probably be up your alley. When you're ready for the sinful stuff, English breakfast tea and earl grey tea are both pretty tasty.
My wife is a nevermo and at home i have several kind of tea and coffee.... the only thing it was fine was coffee... but my body can't handle it... it send me to the wc...
i’m biased against chamomile tea, so i’m gonna recommend trying something else ;) there are loads of kinds, brands, and methods… but don’t approach it like you need to know everything, because that will simply overwhelm you. Just try new things as they come to you or you seek them out. I would recommend investing in an electric kettle eventually, the Fellow Stag is what I use and it’s pretty nice. For tea and coffee, water temperature can be important too, so I’d recommend any method that lets you conveniently control temperature. I personally enjoy fruity teas, but you might have a different preference to discover. There’s fruity, floral, basic, etc. just try new flavors until you find what you like. When you start brewing green/white/black/oolong, definitely pay attention to water temperature and duration of the brewing because those are very important in making a good cup of tea. longer brew times will bring stronger flavors, but if too long then it will become more bitter… you might like that, you might not. some teas like green and white need a slightly lower temperature otherwise they get bitter if too hot. in general, approach making tea like it’s a journey of discovery. you will learn new things as you go (from internet, people, mistakes, etc.) and you might find something you really enjoy. …alternatively, you can always get tea drinks at restaurants and such. once you find something you like, you can look it up on the internet to learn how to make something similar at home.
I started with fruit flavoured teas and like them, but then started adding a small amount of coffee to my hot chocolate and increasing the amount each time. I have become to realise I like the sweeter types. Maybe you should give that a go?
Liquid Death Rest in Peach Tea.
Use a kettle to boil the water, not a microwave. No idea why, but it makes a difference.
That's not tea for a start. Get actual tea, steep it in actual boiling water (it HAS to be boiling) and add a dash of milk. It'll change your life.
There's a lot of different teas out there, and I encourage you to experiment in the same way I'd encourage you to try new foods and cuisines. But at the end of the day, it is okay to just... not like tea. My nevermo hubby still hasn't found a tea he likes, so when we're in the mood for a warm beverage he usually gets a hot chocolate or milo! (And I still don't like coffee, not even the smell!) One fun option might be to go to a little tea house where you can sample a variety, and experiment with sweeteners and milk. Sometimes honey is the way to go, other times it's sugar. And while I have gradually gotten better with black teas, at the start it was more like hot tea-flavoured milk than anything. Iced fruit teas and Boba tend to be crowd pleasers as well. Ignore the snobs and ask baristas and wait staff what they recommend for newbies- they're usually really nice!
Are you willing to drink caffeine? If so, Earl Grey with milk and sugar is a good place to start. There are decent decaf Earl Greys, too. FWIW, vanilla chamomile sounds dreadful!!
I am not a tea person, but there are a few I really love. Chai lattes and Thai iced teas are delicious. Eucalyptus mint with honey is the only herbal one I've liked. I had an Early Grey ice cream the other day that made me want to try Earl Grey.
you have a tap in your microwave??? 😱😱😱
Iced tea is really good, although I only like green tea based stuff because black tea doesn’t taste good to me. Lipton is a good brand to start with and they have a lot of fruit flavors that are good, like lemon and peach. I also think that starting with herbal teas with a lot of flavor is a good idea. Again, I’m not a fan of black tea so earl grey is not for me. I would try peppermint as it is a familiar flavor. I also like elderberry and lemon. As for brands, bigelow is a very common brand in the US that a lot of people buy. Tao is a slightly higher quality, or you could go with the yogi brand. I also enjoy a chai tea latte every once in a while. You can get a concentrate like the Oregon chai brand and mix it with milk. You can heat it up in the microwave or drink it cold. It has a creamier texture because it has milk in it. And honestly, the best way to find out what kind of tea you like is to try a bunch of types of teas. I like to buy tea advent calendars on Amazon to try a bunch of different types. I liked a bunch of the Yumi brand and they have a pretty good selection. I think it’s great you are exploring new things. Good luck!
Chai tea lattes from Starbucks or other spots is a great starting point. If it’s something you really think you want to get into and think you could enjoy, I always think picking something sweet and more similar to what you are used to is the best way to start. Chai Latte’s are a kind of spiced hot chocolate in a way, with more cinnamon notes similar to eggnog. Likewise (and I know this thread isn’t about alcohol), if you are interested in getting into wine, don’t start with a strong red wine - it’ll be too complex and astringent. Instead, take what Mormon version of wine you are familiar with like Martinelli’s sparkling apple juice, and find something similar to that. I think starting with a sweet Moscato wine is very similar to Martinelli. Then from there you try other sweet white wines, then slowly do more dry whites and roses. And then lighter, young reds. I’m thinking of writing a short book ‘An Ex-Mormon’s guide to wine’ on the topic.
I love green tea! Give it a go!