I feel like as my life evolved so did my tastes, and that is what lead me to appreciating tea. In the United States being interested in something that people find so mundane isn't the norm. It is very interesting once you get into the history of tea and the various blends. Still, no matter what I try I still go back to my Earl Grey. :)
I totally agree with Mr. Pratt statement. If you love quality tea then its best to bring your own when you travel. I know the TSA agents at the airports must think I'm nuts because I have containers and bags of tea in my carry on luggage! Not only do I carry tea I carry enough to always have a selection.
This guy speaks pure truth. Tea is the best drink you can ever drink. I have yet to discover my favorite flavor as I'm only 17, but I already fell in love with tea and Im on a quest for the perfect cup of team.
@Hokieson1 All you really need is a kettle (either electric or stovetop), cups, a spoon, tea, a clock, and an optional tea pot (best if you're making tea for several people). I always use a pot that has a basket for the tea, or an infuser if I'm making an individual cup (go to any tea shop and ask - they'll know what you need), because it makes for easy cleanup. You can make a perfectly fine cup of tea with just these things.
I like how he doesn't rag on coffeehouse tea or tea bags. A lot of experts like to hate on "cheaper" versions of their chosen area of expertise, but he just says it's still ok, just not as good as it could be.
I completely agree with his opinion that American society would be more peaceful if more of us drank tea. Anything that promotes less alcohol consumption would certainly lead to a more civilized population. Unfortunately the majority of us Americans are not the type of people to sit and sip tea with friends as they contemplate the finer things in life. As good as that sounds to me, there sadly isn't enough violence or sex involved in tea-drinking to appeal to the masses. Many American wine-drinkers hide behind the veil of being a connoisseur, simply getting loaded and babbling about their [apparent] knowledge of wines. Tea on the other hand, has no intoxicating effects (thankfully), and thus is not appealing to the American masses. Coffee is preferred over tea in America for one reason; its caffeine content and the "buzz" one gets from it. Although some teas have quite a lot of caffeine, the average 8oz cup of coffee here in the USA contains about 100mg of caffeine. Whether they realize it or not, millions of Americans are addicted to the caffeine in coffee. If Americans drank coffee for taste, they wouldn't drown it in cream and sugar!
You sound incredibly pretentious. There is nothing wrong with drinking tea, but at the same time there is nothing wrong with drinking coffee or alcohol.
Brandon Veracka Unfortunately, you, like the guy in the video, are completely full of shit www.therichest.com/rich-list/most-popular/10-biggest-tea-drinking-nations-worldwide/10/ of the top 10 the drinking countries, some are peaceful some aren't And why do you act as if the US is the only place that drinks alcohol or coffee?
I agree about the water! Never use straight tap! My favorite tea companies are Verdant and Whispering Pines aside from my local awesome teahouse here in Colorado (Happy Luckys Tea House in Fort Collins Colorado). There is nothing like drinking tea with other people or going to tastings! Find a teahouse!I used to be a tea reviewer (too old now) and love Puer and black tea best (drinking an awesome fragrant Keemun now).
@mathatton I don't think he meant to disqualify traditional, natural flower-scented teas. He praises them in his books and loves jasmine tea. I think he was talking about artificially-flavoured, chemically treated commercial offerings.
It's incredible that one of the most expensive tea sales ever (prior to this week's HK$1M), when broken down per cup is still cheaper than soda: less than $1/cup.
I do agree with you about the chlorination/fluoridation issue. They began adding that crap to our water here in Salt Lake at the beginning of this year. :( Luckily, there are still a few local sources of unflouridated/unchlorinated water here. I was commenting more on the quality of Salt Lake's water au natural.
Tap water is treated with chlorine and other chemicals in order to effectively kill the majority of the even more dangerous microbial bacteria that exist within it. Since these treatments are done in such minute amounts, drinking from the tap isn't very dangerous at all. But if you're paranoid about that stuff, you could always buy a filter, which is more environmentally friendly than bottled water.
His take on teas with pomegranate/raspberry flavoring added is pretty interesting, ive always wondered why someone would ruin a tea with something like that as well!
I'm having a hard time getting into the teas this guy is talking about. I'm pretty impatient about steeping times and water temp. I tend to stick to no frills black teas that don't mind being steeped indefinitely. I'm definitely open to trying more teas but only if prepared by the more initiated of drinkers.
Definitely try a tieguanyin (iron goddess). It's pretty forgiving if you over brew but also you can brew it 15sec the first time, and double the stepping time for each steep. Up to 5-7 infusions. It develops flavor the more you brew it. The 4th or 5th steeps end up being my favorite. That also might be too light for your tastes though too. Check with Jeffrey Cooper and see if he has any of the red robe oolong left.
I think I saw the red robe in the cupboard. I've been trying different earl grey variations. Jeff s "jolly earl" is pretty great. The tea spots version has been good to me aswell. I'll just bite my tongue at the snobbery above.
"That kills not only the tea, it kills you"- This is debatable and doesn't need to be brought into the discussion(as you stated, it kills the flavor). On a side note, boiling, brewing and serving vessels can also kill the tea(ie plastic cups, styrofoam...).
He's also a historian. Opium at one time was traded by the British and is applicable because China would no longer accept silver money for trade, only opium.
Nice video. I prefer a certain Yamamoto Japanese green tea, Sen Cha. No, I dont have time for leaves, just bags. But I do use filtered water. I never knew how much of a difference it made, until I was traveling in Europe, bringing my favorite brand with me, and when I made a cup over there, the mineral content was so high, I couldnt even taste the tea.
I would also agree on your nitpick though I think "evolved" is perfectly appropriate. No tea ceremony that I am familiar with in any major culture was invented overnight. These ceremonies evolve over centuries as collections of slowly changing traditions. Just drop my "first" and treat it as " the Japanese tea ceremony evolved over time" heh. In my experience water with the correct balance of minerals can actually compliment some types of tea. Boy can I tell its late and my brain is fuzzy.
No we would not be a more peaceful country if we drank a lot of tea, hell we already drink a lot of 1 in 2 american drink tea on a given day. The Brits, Chinese, and Japanese are big tea drinkers, they were also traditionally known for their warmongering. The Brits even started a war to force the Chinese to force opium down their throat so they could jack them some sweet sweet tea. I am Vietnamese and I love my fucking tea(and coffee), I have family that grow tea and coffee. I think its a wonderful product that embodies the virtues of humility with a good pound of tea being 12 bucks yet yield 300-600 cups of tea, jaw dropping value right there folks.However, FFS it will not turn us into saints.
During the Qing dynasty, Opium was sold for silver through Chinese trade (1800 CE was the year opium was officially forbidden by the Qing government, smuggled at Canton Bay). The silver earned in that trade was then often used to buy Chinese goods, namely tea. The Qing government realized it had made no profit on this bargain, and that British trade had no intention to introduce non-local silver into China. I should have written, China would no longer accept their own silver for trade pre-1800.
Though Salt Lake's water may not be to this gentleman's tastes for his tea, don't be misled into thinking Salt Lake City's water is by any means subpar. In fact, the lowly municipal water in SLC has been voted the best tasting tap water in the country (TODAY, msnbc, 7 Jul 2007). In my experience it is best to pair one's tea with one's water, just as is done with wine and entrees. Keep in mind, when the Japanese tea ceremony first evolved, Brita filters were few and far between.
I dont think boiling would remove any chemicals, more likely it would increase the amount of chemicals for the same amount of non boiled water, because some water evaporates. I would just get a filter
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"it doesn't go bad, it just becomes a ghost of itself". What a very eloquent man.
here's an example of eloquence-fail: Claudia, you are so damn purdy.
Wtf guys, what happened to loving tea? Yall changed
I've known this gentleman's 3 tea books for 30 years and have had enormous enjoyment thanks to him. What a pleasure to hear him speak.
I love this guys voice. Even the way he says "Pass your cup" at 2:38
What an elegant man
I feel like as my life evolved so did my tastes, and that is what lead me to appreciating tea. In the United States being interested in something that people find so mundane isn't the norm. It is very interesting once you get into the history of tea and the various blends. Still, no matter what I try I still go back to my Earl Grey. :)
I like this guys style
Pratt is so delightful... love him
this chap is hilarious! I wish he made video series.
Oh, I love the Tea lovers Companion!!!!
I totally agree with Mr. Pratt statement. If you love quality tea then its best to bring your own when you travel. I know the TSA agents at the airports must think I'm nuts because I have containers and bags of tea in my carry on luggage! Not only do I carry tea I carry enough to always have a selection.
This guy speaks pure truth. Tea is the best drink you can ever drink. I have yet to discover my favorite flavor as I'm only 17, but I already fell in love with tea and Im on a quest for the perfect cup of team.
the man knows about tea. i like his way of talking and extensive knowledge. also bonus points for gentlemen grumpiness.
I love this learned and cultured man! I could listen to him rhapsodize on tea for hours...with a pot of tea, or 2.........of course!
this guy is the fucking man!!!!! he's so eloquent!
I have that same white Chatsworth teapot with the red strainer basket . It looks like that one has seen more use than mine .
@Hokieson1 All you really need is a kettle (either electric or stovetop), cups, a spoon, tea, a clock, and an optional tea pot (best if you're making tea for several people). I always use a pot that has a basket for the tea, or an infuser if I'm making an individual cup (go to any tea shop and ask - they'll know what you need), because it makes for easy cleanup. You can make a perfectly fine cup of tea with just these things.
The last part about water make me smile. "You are going to kill it any way" XD
We don't make tea in Britain, we just blend tea's made from around the world into the most exquisite blends known to man.
Loved it! More please!
The girl sounds too peppy to talk to this man. He's so elegant sounding, and how she says "Delicious" at 5:58 really gets to me
I like how he doesn't rag on coffeehouse tea or tea bags. A lot of experts like to hate on "cheaper" versions of their chosen area of expertise, but he just says it's still ok, just not as good as it could be.
I really like this guy.
Wow. That was really cool.
This made me so happy.
We usually rinse the tea leaves with hot water in the first time and also we drink the tea without covering that lid.
Amazing tea education in under ten minutes, thanks!
thank you for this video kind sir, cheers
Love the opium book behind him!
James Norwood Pratt is doing a book signing and tea talk at Tea Gallerie in San Diego on 10/01/13 at 6:30pm I can't wait!!!
reading the spines of the books behind him. I count three on tea and one on opium. This man has lived a life.
I completely agree with his opinion that American society would be more peaceful if more of us drank tea. Anything that promotes less alcohol consumption would certainly lead to a more civilized population. Unfortunately the majority of us Americans are not the type of people to sit and sip tea with friends as they contemplate the finer things in life. As good as that sounds to me, there sadly isn't enough violence or sex involved in tea-drinking to appeal to the masses.
Many American wine-drinkers hide behind the veil of being a connoisseur, simply getting loaded and babbling about their [apparent] knowledge of wines. Tea on the other hand, has no intoxicating effects (thankfully), and thus is not appealing to the American masses. Coffee is preferred over tea in America for one reason; its caffeine content and the "buzz" one gets from it. Although some teas have quite a lot of caffeine, the average 8oz cup of coffee here in the USA contains about 100mg of caffeine. Whether they realize it or not, millions of Americans are addicted to the caffeine in coffee. If Americans drank coffee for taste, they wouldn't drown it in cream and sugar!
You sound incredibly pretentious. There is nothing wrong with drinking tea, but at the same time there is nothing wrong with drinking coffee or alcohol.
Brandon Veracka Unfortunately, you, like the guy in the video, are completely full of shit
www.therichest.com/rich-list/most-popular/10-biggest-tea-drinking-nations-worldwide/10/
of the top 10 the drinking countries, some are peaceful some aren't
And why do you act as if the US is the only place that drinks alcohol or coffee?
I agree about the water! Never use straight tap! My favorite tea companies are Verdant and Whispering Pines aside from my local awesome teahouse here in Colorado (Happy Luckys Tea House in Fort Collins Colorado). There is nothing like drinking tea with other people or going to tastings! Find a teahouse!I used to be a tea reviewer (too old now) and love Puer and black tea best (drinking an awesome fragrant Keemun now).
Nothing like a good cup of B.O.P .Simple and refreshing
@mathatton I don't think he meant to disqualify traditional, natural flower-scented teas. He praises them in his books and loves jasmine tea. I think he was talking about artificially-flavoured, chemically treated commercial offerings.
LOL learn about tea like you learn about love-making.....this guy rocks.
An ASMR Tea artist!
i actually enjoyed this guys douchiness
This Man Is Hilarious And Wise
"Of course I use teabags! When we travel, it is the first line of self-defense!"
LOL
It's incredible that one of the most expensive tea sales ever (prior to this week's HK$1M), when broken down per cup is still cheaper than soda: less than $1/cup.
Pure truth.
i overstated it... you are right ;)
Thank you for your passion and expertise related to this beautiful subject--TEA!
Priscilla Murtha
This guy kicks ass
Well put, my friend ;) .
I do agree with you about the chlorination/fluoridation issue. They began adding that crap to our water here in Salt Lake at the beginning of this year. :( Luckily, there are still a few local sources of unflouridated/unchlorinated water here. I was commenting more on the quality of Salt Lake's water au natural.
What brand is that infuser?
This guys a little whacky but I do love my tea
Tap water is treated with chlorine and other chemicals in order to effectively kill the majority of the even more dangerous microbial bacteria that exist within it. Since these treatments are done in such minute amounts, drinking from the tap isn't very dangerous at all. But if you're paranoid about that stuff, you could always buy a filter, which is more environmentally friendly than bottled water.
Tea is the greatest drink....
if you like tea you should check out Azafranda Saffron Tea they sell it on Amazon
His take on teas with pomegranate/raspberry flavoring added is pretty interesting, ive always wondered why someone would ruin a tea with something like that as well!
I'm having a hard time getting into the teas this guy is talking about. I'm pretty impatient about steeping times and water temp. I tend to stick to no frills black teas that don't mind being steeped indefinitely. I'm definitely open to trying more teas but only if prepared by the more initiated of drinkers.
Definitely try a tieguanyin (iron goddess). It's pretty forgiving if you over brew but also you can brew it 15sec the first time, and double the stepping time for each steep. Up to 5-7 infusions. It develops flavor the more you brew it. The 4th or 5th steeps end up being my favorite. That also might be too light for your tastes though too. Check with Jeffrey Cooper and see if he has any of the red robe oolong left.
Or, do it properly or drink something else. I mean really. "Oh, I'd like to drink that coke but I can't be bothered opening the top"
I think I saw the red robe in the cupboard. I've been trying different earl grey variations. Jeff s "jolly earl" is pretty great. The tea spots version has been good to me aswell. I'll just bite my tongue at the snobbery above.
Hahahaha. And yeah dude I really like the jolly earl. Good work Verdant Tea!
I want to know what this man thinks about herbal tea. Maybe I'll have to read one of his books.
this guy is jumping around from tea to wine
How about boiling that water? does it remove it? Just want to know another way to filter all those chemicals without buying a filter.
so happy to see what you show about tea. you know i am from China and i like tea too. o hope to be tea friends.
wow.
Is there anyway I can contact this man?
He's dead right about putting tap water through a Brita filter before making tea in many places.
That's exactly what I was thinking about adding flavours to the tea. People are so superficial nowadays...
"That kills not only the tea, it kills you"- This is debatable and doesn't need to be brought into the discussion(as you stated, it kills the flavor). On a side note, boiling, brewing and serving vessels can also kill the tea(ie plastic cups, styrofoam...).
He's also a historian. Opium at one time was traded by the British and is applicable because China would no longer accept silver money for trade, only opium.
The world's most interesting man has met his match!
Nice video. I prefer a certain Yamamoto Japanese green tea, Sen Cha. No, I dont have time for leaves, just bags. But I do use filtered water. I never knew how much of a difference it made, until I was traveling in Europe, bringing my favorite brand with me, and when I made a cup over there, the mineral content was so high, I couldnt even taste the tea.
HA he dissed SLC where Im from - This guy is great!
Sebastien is right. Rooibos is not a "true tea", however, it is a tisane (aka herbal tea).
good eh ah video
what do you mean with that?
it is a shame that there are no more Obsessives, is there no artisans anymore? wheres the cannabis artisans video ;D
im very yong and i LOVE tea coffe is so bitter
I would also agree on your nitpick though I think "evolved" is perfectly appropriate. No tea ceremony that I am familiar with in any major culture was invented overnight. These ceremonies evolve over centuries as collections of slowly changing traditions. Just drop my "first" and treat it as " the Japanese tea ceremony evolved over time" heh. In my experience water with the correct balance of minerals can actually compliment some types of tea. Boy can I tell its late and my brain is fuzzy.
This man could be my best friend
prejudice is a loss of reality
Was anyone else expecting someone that talks about tea to have a British accent?
@555gypsie um, okay you guys drink a lot of tea. frankly, england introduced the world to old black tea. a lot to be proud of. lol.
i want this man to adopt me.
what did he mean by "water kills the tea"?
Holy crap, I didn't even notice he's American. He just has a certain distinguished Britishness about his speech or something.
it has been a dream of mine to go to England but for now my finances are holding me back, but one day "I'll be there maan".
No we would not be a more peaceful country if we drank a lot of tea, hell we already drink a lot of 1 in 2 american drink tea on a given day. The Brits, Chinese, and Japanese are big tea drinkers, they were also traditionally known for their warmongering. The Brits even started a war to force the Chinese to force opium down their throat so they could jack them some sweet sweet tea.
I am Vietnamese and I love my fucking tea(and coffee), I have family that grow tea and coffee. I think its a wonderful product that embodies the virtues of humility with a good pound of tea being 12 bucks yet yield 300-600 cups of tea, jaw dropping value right there folks.However, FFS it will not turn us into saints.
D. Le Oh and I also grow tea in my garden, just for funzies.
D. Le We fucking love our tea too. So much we decided to make a short comedy film about it.. Check out 'The Dark Side of The Cup' on our channel...
O_o ... I love tea! And how dare you! I am a dedicated meat-eater....
(also: LOL! You really made me laugh.)
During the Qing dynasty, Opium was sold for silver through Chinese trade (1800 CE was the year opium was officially forbidden by the Qing government, smuggled at Canton Bay). The silver earned in that trade was then often used to buy Chinese goods, namely tea. The Qing government realized it had made no profit on this bargain, and that British trade had no intention to introduce non-local silver into China. I should have written, China would no longer accept their own silver for trade pre-1800.
Yeah, I scrolled down to the comments as soon as I heard that to see if anybody else was perturbed by that "delicious".
tea is my life, don't criticize.
Though Salt Lake's water may not be to this gentleman's tastes for his tea, don't be misled into thinking Salt Lake City's water is by any means subpar. In fact, the lowly municipal water in SLC has been voted the best tasting tap water in the country (TODAY, msnbc, 7 Jul 2007). In my experience it is best to pair one's tea with one's water, just as is done with wine and entrees. Keep in mind, when the Japanese tea ceremony first evolved, Brita filters were few and far between.
Proper tea only comes from one plant, camellia sinensis.
Uncle Iroh!
Any one else notice the book in the background called Opium?.....
Hello, Clarice.
I KNEW HE WOULD HAVE A ENGLISH ACCENT!!!
Like a sir
Get a Brita filter jug, they're around $20.
Dorito Tea
I dont think boiling would remove any chemicals, more likely it would increase the amount of chemicals for the same amount of non boiled water, because some water evaporates. I would just get a filter
Hannibal Lecter of tea
this man sounds very intelligent
You wouldn't even be able to tell if it actually were good tea, you drown it in milk.
Or for your enemies Bloodroot is the best
one man untargetable party right here. dont trread on meat!
Pu'er tea taste so earth and ancient.
my fave! brewed with a few pandan leaves is best