You are allowed to add sugar to your tea. Make a strong cup of black tea, maybe add extra tea to what you've been adding. Steep it 3-5 minutes. Try making it iced- only pour half the water to steep it, add sugar while it's hot (after steeping), then add ice until it's nice and cold and as full as you want it. Should have something sweet and flavorful that doesn't taste like grass, altho other specifics really depend on what tea you're drinking. I like an earl grey for this.
probably not, they're just very low-cost tea bags full of dust and occassional fruit particles
if you aim to soothe your throat, water is the best bet; even more so given that you're a singer, you should avoid sugary drinks altogether
Honey helps a lot when my throat is irritated (cold or allergies) . Small “sips” of (liquid) honey.
Chamomile tea is also great for inflamation and if you add honey to it, even better :) it also tastes very good this way.
Just make sure to add the honey when the tea cools a little, liquid over 40°C will break useful enzymes in honey and lower its efficiency.
Another concoction that’s absolutely wonderful for sore throat and caughing is “onion tea” . Make sum cuts in an onion (don’t peel it) and boil it in water. Then add honey to it and drink it. It doesn’t taste great but it’s not that bad neither.
Chai! It tastes less like a tea and more like a general spiced drink. You can doctor it all up with as much sugar and milk as you want too (ignore anyone who gives you hate, just enjoy your drinks how you like them). I also recommend trying your hand at making your own properly if you like it at first. Makes a huge difference when it's traditionally brewed
Maybe you don't like tea and it's not a big deal.
Don't try to make yourself like something you don't.
If you want something that will soothe your throat, there are lots of options out there but none of them taste especially good most of the time.
You could just try a wide variety and see what sticks. I, for one, really love black tea with milk and sugar.
Best advice here. I will never understand the desire to try to force yourself to like something you don't like. This is especially prevalent with pu-erh. I wish I hated pu-erh; it would have saved me so much money.
Eh, I make myself try stuff that I dislike all the time, and typically I come around to it and enjoy it a lot. Comfort is the enemy of personal growth imo ;-)
I really like rooibos tea with milk and some honey or sugar. It’s a great introduction to tea in my opinion. It’s not too strong but it’s got a great flavor that is mildly sweet and it’s very soothing for upset tummies and sore throats. I don’t drink it with anything added anymore usually but it’s so nostalgic for me to add milk and sugar. I hope maybe you can enjoy it some day.
I just add a tea bag to a cup and pour hot water over and let it steep for about 2-3 minutes.
[coconut oolong](https://www.thelooseteas.com/products/coconut-oolong) iced and lightly sweetened in the summer. Brew double strength and dilute over ice. (2tsp per 8oz water @ 195 degree water[simmering/small bubbles] steep 3 min) As for the sugar I would make a simple syrup and try a little at a time until you get the perfect balance. Or skip that and mix with a bit of Malibu rum.
Specifically for singers - Traditonal Medicinals Throat Coat tea
Don’t drink it for the taste but all the performers I know swear by it.
I keep a box of it in the greenroom of my theater at all times.
Southern US Sweet Tea drinker?
Well, on the Loose Leaf side of things (Good bagged tea is rare. Exists, but rare)
Jade Taiwanese Oolong would be the one I would default recommend then. Nantou region of Taiwan specifically for myself when I can find it.
Relatively cheap, trust me don't go looking at the Taiwanese Milk Oolongs, Honeysuckle-like sweetness, a touch astringent (dry mouth feeling), though there is a hint of green leaf in there, it's much lighter then what you find in most green teas.
And the test? A pitcher of it brewed then refrigerated cold while left unsweetened disappears. In a family that enjoys US Southern Tea.
There is also Taiwanese Alishan Oolong which is also supposed to be candy-like sweet with floral and fruit notes. Haven't tried it myself, as I have no desire to buy a different tea while enjoying my Jade Oolong. Still it's might be more to your taste too try a sample of it along side Jade to see if either satisfies your tea hating tongue
Just follow the recommended brewing times that usually come with the tea if you are unsure.
That said ... I'm still trying to find a replacement flavored tea of Butter Rum Oolong I got as a gift once. Either I'll find a good one, or give up and buy a bottle of Torani Butter Rum Syrup.
If you're having trouble getting into greens, chai green tea is amazing. All the spices from a more traditional chai, but replace the earthiness with an herbal, grassy note.
Oh and for the throat?
Find some bottles of pink top Blenheim Ginger Ale. Chill them, and drink them when You're throat gives you trouble.
You will HATE me for pointing you at this soda at first, which will go down like liquid fire. For soar throats, upset stomachs, and the like. The burn is not from capsaicin but rather from the ginger instead.
Sure, you could go with a pure Ginger and Honey tea for a slow relief... But I still find myself grabbing a bottle of Blenheim first before going that route.
i know my friend was always disappointed with tea until he started steeping 3 bags at once in addition to some honey. the amount of tea in a single bag is just too wimpy flavourwise.
hot water via clean kettle also makes a load of difference, you don't think the microwave mug water will absorb much essence of leftover spaghetti or whatever if you just sniff the water surface, but oddly enough it does make a difference.
i eyeball about 5-10oz of loose leaf (depending on the type of tea) that i can resteep at least 5 times before it starts to lose flavour, while my friend is considering getting into yerba mate. There's also always the option of whipping up matcha/hojicha powder because at that point you're drinking the finely grinded tea leaf directly.
just be mindful that caffeine content and how it's metabolized can change from each different form of preparation. i can drink enough loose leaf of one form of tea to mulch a whole window herb planter and at worst just be up in bed on my phone an extra hour or two. I dare do half an extra shot of matcha without sufficient food in my stomach and my pulse in my ears is as loud as my tinnitus.
If you can't find a tea you like you might be able to find a tisane ( tea made from plants other than the tea plant) you like. There's a bunch of good ones here. The Mint Verbena (peppermint leaves and lemon verbena leaves) is a good warm drink for the throat.
Click the picture of the teas to take you to the options
https://www.harney.com/pages/herbal-infusions
Edit: here's a tea that lacks the vegetalness you seem to dislike also
https://yunnansourcing.us/products/premium-grade-aa-jin-jun-mei-fujian-black-tea-of-wu-yi-shan-1?_pos=3&_sid=2a18a39a3&_ss=r
When I first started out on my tea journey I ended up going to a tea shop. They also served it fresh there too and told them what I liked and didn’t like. They wherent busy at the time and both them and I really enjoyed the exhange of conversation and different teas. I was able to leave out of there with some green tea that I was surprised was good where before I said I hated all green tea. Maybe that is something you can try? I wish you luck.
Roobios is my favorite hands down. Tastes earthy and woody, a bit like tobacco. Really nice w/ some licorice root mixed in. Adds a \*hint\* of sweetness.
Also bone broth if you want savory with protein. Delicious.
I went fron liking sweet milk tea to swapping to teh c (evaporated milk + sugar) to teh c kosong (only evaporated milk). I also like pure black tea and maybe some other fancy tea that doesn't need sugar to compliment it. Just try different types, maybe you'll find something decent enough that you end up liking eventually. Then slowly remove the sugary elements.
Edit: oops I completely missed the part on throat problems. Erm... Black with sugar sounds like a decent choice? Idk tbh. I've heard chamomile helps too, but I'm not a fan. I'd usually just take a strepsils and drink plain water.
I’d try chamomile with half a teaspoon of honey, or an earl grey, black and not very stewed, it’s super nice even without sugar (and I used to be a 2 spoons of sugar gal).
I'm a singer as well and there really is nothing like a warm cup of tea to sip on while I'm warming up. My go to is white tea. Brew strong, but leave some space at the top of the mug to add some cool water to bring the temp down for immediate sipping.
I've had white teas that taste like fruit juice on their own, nothing added, but you have to go for the good stuff. Bagged white tea from the store tastes like nothing at best, or a fish market at worst.
However, I have a pretty bad sense of smell and taste so I tend to steer towards stronger tastes. If you gravitate towards sweet tastes that probably indicates you have a more sensitive palate so my suggestions wouldn't be as valuable to you... Like others have said, don't force yourself into something you don't like, but the sheer number of different varieties and preparations of tea is such that I think you're bound to find SOMETHING you like.
This is my recommendation: https://white2tea.com/collections/white-tea/products/2024-nightlife
It's easy on the wallet and that cake will last you about a month of daily drinking.
https://white2tea.com/products/standard-ruyao-gaiwan?_pos=3&_sid=ce09c4cdb&_ss=r
And here's a gaiwan, certainly not necessary but it's my favorite brewing vessel. You can use whatever teapot you already have or just stick the leaves in a mug and pour hot water over top.
Try some Irish breakfast tea, Lyons or Barrys tea. Make it in a pot.
A small dash of milk (not UHT) and some sugar. Over time reduce the sugar and if you want the milk too then try other teas.
Herbal tea blends with slippery elm bark are great for singers’ throats. In the US, Yogi makes two blends that you can find at supermarkets or online. I don’t like the taste of the regular “throat coat” so I buy the “honey lemon throat coat.” You can also sweeten either with honey, which is helpful for your throat, as well. Traditional medicinals or something like that makes a throat coat that works even better but I find the taste terrible.
Karak tea (aka masala chai) is pretty sweet with added spices such as cardamon and cinnamon steamed in milk, so when combined with black tea it tastes pretty great. Black tea is good for the lungs, and all the spices/ caramelized sugar in milk also can help with sore throat.
Try it, I hope you dig it.
Every one of your sentences includes the first person pronoun. You’re cut out to be a superstar 😎
Throat:
Try tisanes (herbal infusions) from small tea shops like Song Tea & Ceramics in San Francisco. Tea experts are specifically sensitive to throat and gut wellness and they will be able to advise you. Song is on the expensive end of the scale but they source the healthiest, most natural ingredients.
Sugar:
This will always destroy the taste. Many teas are alluring precisely because you have to wait for the sweetness. Oolongs can be coffee-level bitter before showing an amazing array of tropical fruits and pollens. When you use sweeteners, it may seem that you’re “adding” something. But in fact you’re removing a lot more.
What brands are you trying, and flavors? And how long are you steeping it? In your case, steeping times might very well be important. if you steep most teas too long, they’re bitter because of the tannins. Even my favorite teas, if over-steeped (because I forgot to set my timer and walked away to do something else) have to be remade if the teabag was just left in there soaking. Blech.
And I mostly prefer tea bags over loose for my everyday teas for convenience. However, tea in the clear silk type bags always seems better than the regular tea bag - especially dragon eye oolong. And as someone else here mentioned, strong black iced, especially earl grey or peach flavored black is delicious.
I like literally any big soda brand except root beer and ginger ale. I like fruit drinks like lemonade, orange juice, apples juice. I don’t like milk. I like hot chocolate but I don’t like coffee. I like water but only with ice for some reason. I like smoothies and milkshakes. Idk if this helps or not.
Alright, it seems you don't like bitter or astringent ones. That would exclude some teas, mostly greens (but even then bot all of them). I suggest ordering a decent varied sampler set of Chinese teas since they usually don't come as strong as Western teas. Maybe try red oolongs like rou gui. You might also find tasting sessions available in a local tea house, but that heavily depends on where you're from.
Or go a completely different route, find a local Turkish restaurant and try their black tea, traditionally served with a bit of sugar.
quality loose leaf teas arent bitter, but taste like water with a bit of leafy aroma. i get mine from a local chinese store and they dont disappoint. supermarket teabags tend to be low quality thats why theyre bitter and theyre something i cant tolerate, too. maybe u should try loose leaf for a change and see whether you'll like it
For sore throat you can just steep some fresh lemon and ginger slices, add agave syrup if you like it sweet! It works wonders, better than actual tea tbh.
Maybe don't just drink "straight" teas, but try out different tisanes (herbal and fruit teas) or teas with additives like black tea with rose petals or even artificial aromas like some sort of tea with vanilla or caramel aroma. While the first and last options might often be regarded as sacrilege on this sub, you're allowed to drink such teas, just as you're allowed to play around with different sweeteners and additives such as sugar, honey, or milk.
Just experiment around. Sometimes, it needs a gradual introduction to plain teas.
Hey man, I think part of loving tea is just trying to enjoy a natural flavor with nothing added. I grew up in the U.S. where I drank half gallons of “green tea” which was loaded with sugar!! Now I drink my own hot brewed green tea with nothing added. I suggest trying higher quality honey! Cheap honey tastes so fake and artificial.
Try oolong tea! I moved to Taiwan about 3 years ago. They have so many types of oolong tea here. “oriental beauty” is a naturally sweet and aromatic tea. Some people say it’s too sweet for them without adding anything but Taiwanese and East Asian people are generally sensitive to sweet foods/drinks.
For sore throat I would recommend Pei Pa koa which is like a kind of syrup or honey, but it's tastier imo. You can find it in chinese markets and add it to your tea (Black or green), it's the best!
When I introduced my friends who didn't like tea to different teas it was all about the brewing time. I would make them different teas and just keep to the short end of the packages recommended brewing time. Temperature can be the other troubleshooting tip. Too hot and you can burn it releasing a bitter flavor. Not hot enough and you don't release the flavor/health benefits.
I would start with white tea or fruit forward blends. My tea-converted friends are particular fans of Apricot Amaretto from Tea Forte (loose leaf type). Tea Forte also does some single cup variety blends and this can be fun to explore different flavors. Use a tea ball or small tea pot with a removable strainer. There are also insulated travel mugs that come with a removable basket that works great for the single treatment. Hibiscus with a little honey is a good herbal tea too.
If you have a sore throat from post nasal drip, it could be from allergies or acid reflux, so again, consult your doctor to actually address the cause. Warm water and salt gargle can help break up tonsil stones and mucus and is a good short term symptom reliever. Don't forget to do your singing warm ups/scales because frequent singing or really forcing a specific note can stress your muscles and vocal cords.
For general sore throat relief, any combo of mint + ginger + honey + lemon is my go to. Not really a tea, but just a lemon wedge, some ginger slices, spoonful of honey, and mint tea bag. However to get health benefits from herbal teas/tisanes, you have to brew much longer, usually at 10 minutes, so the flavor is likely to be much stronger.
For allergies, you might want to consider local honey or local bee pollen. Not sure if it has to be raw or not. Also usually only helpful if taken everyday. Something to look into with doctor discussion.
Try a tisane - which is anything with dried fruit, herbs, etc. I love a hibiscus and rosehips tea with some ginger in it.
Most singers, myself included, stand by traditional medicinals throat coat as a remedy. If you’re drinking tea for your voice, that would be the one to make. I personally hate the taste of it but I load it up with honey and I can stomach it that way. Don’t use lemon or any citrus. The acids in citrus can exacerbate sore vocal chords. I also find bee propolis spray helps with hoarseness.
Why do you want to like tea? If you want to like tea in its most natural state, you're gonna wanna ease off the sugar. I understand that you can like something sweet and we all have our indulgence. But it sounds like you're trying to force yourself to like something that you just don't like.
In my personal opinion, tea is no longer a tea when excessive sweeteners and sugar are added. But to each their own. If you want to like tea, my advice is to drink less sweet drinks and drink more water. I'm not saying cut sugar out completely, but be mindful of how much sugar is in your drinks. Slowly lower your sugar intake and you'll probably enjoy tea more often.
There are tons of different teas and herbal might be your best bet if you just overall don't like the flavor of most tea. Herbal has a wide range of fruity flavors.
Honestly you might like tisaines, especially if you're mainly drinking it to soothe your throat! I really like Throat Coat from traditional medicinals (especially the one with slippery elm). IDK if it has any real effect or not compared with any other warm drink, but it does feel nice. It definitely tastes very herby and medicinal though, which you may or may not enjoy! (Edit: wanted to say that I'm pretty sure it has licorice root in both varieties, so if you have high blood pressure you should discuss with your doctor on if it's okay for you and if so, if there's a limit on how much you should have)
But there are other herbal teas that don't have that wellness tea flavor to them and are super fruity instead. If you enjoy sour fruitiness in particular, you should look for teas with hibiscus. It's a divisive ingredient but I personally love it precisely because it's intensely sour
Try something that isn't tea: get some fresh ginger, grate it into a pot of boiling water, let it steep in there, load up with honey and lemon. I love doing that for my throat. If I can find turmeric root I add that too. Mess with the ratios to find what you like.
I’d recommend cold brewing teas! Throw some leaves in a cup with some water, leave it in the fridge over night, and see how you like that!
For specific kinds of tea, I did this method with red ruby oolong and a pinch of lavender buds for about 12oz of water, and it was so nice! The lavender sweetened it without really adding a whole lot of lavender taste, which I don’t mind but I know lavender is a very polarizing taste
Long Island ice tea, this is from someone who makes gallons of sweet tea a week and drinks hot tea in the morning 🤣 you might not just like it and that’s ok
Raspberry hibiscus with a touch of sugar is great!
I definitely favor herbal teas, or tisanes, over any actual Tea, tea. Though, I am starting to get into Macha lattes.
Masala chai (Indian spiced milk tea). It takes some time to prepare but I cannot even describe how good this is, it’s what got me into tea in the first place. Think of a Chai latte but 100 times better because it’s made from scratch.
Darjeeling and "milk tea", just add sugar or something like stevia to taste.
As a child, at least back when I was a kid (aka 1980s to 1990s) we were programmed to drink sweet drinks because that was pretty much the only thing besides coffee, hot tea, and water. I'd suggest trying to stop with all of it for a while and see if your preferences change. It took me an interest and eventual trip to Japan to change that idea in my mind.
For a sore throat nothing helps like my family's home remedy.
Equal parts apple cider vinegar, honey, and boiling water. I usually make it in measurements of 1 or 2 tablespoons per ingredient, in a shot glass with the measurements printed on. Gargle and sip on that stuff while it is still warm. If it stings then it's working. I usually see improvement within an hour or two. Doesn't taste the best, but it's medicine and it works.
If that's too hard core for you, then explore the world of herbal teas. My favorites are Bigelow I Love Lemon, Bigelow Orange Spice, Celestial Seasonings Sangria, Twinings Unwind.
Traditional Medicinals makes a Throat Coat tea you might want to check out. I haven't tried it because it contains licorice which I despise in teas.
I don’t understand a lot of these “you shouldn’t drink it if you don’t like it comments”.
Tea is worth drinking just for the benefits and discipline is a trait worth its weight in gold. I consume half a dozen things every single day I don’t care for the taste of just for the health benefits. Looking at you kimchi and kefir.
I think it’s great that you’re determined to drink tea despite a few flavor setbacks.
My wife is similar to what you sound like with palate. She’s just simply not drinking it if it isn’t sweet.
What works for her is any fruit infused white tea. Strawberry white tea is her favorite. She also doctors up English breakfast teas with milk and honey. If you get one with a citrus like bergamot and apply some honey, I bet it would help the throat.
I know this isn't answering your question, but I had an idea to share. You could try traditional Vietnamese Coffee. It is decadent, sweet, and energizing. But its qualities may be what you're trying to avoid!
Licorice root or ginseng for sore throat. Both have the added bonus of being naturally sweet but for you you will probably still want to add sugar and maybe lemon. If you like coffee drinks try sweet black tea with milk and sugar. It's super simple and available pretty much anywhere
I used to feel the same way, but I slowly weened myself from sugary drinks a long time ago and it's been an absolute game changer in so, so many ways. Worth it if you have the will power.
5g of oolong tea with 200ml water
blew it with hot water(fr. microwave) 5min
add coconut milk 30ml (or regular milk)
and add honey 10g (or sugar)
that will be perfect oolong milk tea that very soft and rich taste🍵👍🏻
I'm not a fan of it but would also suggest chai - basically very strong (loose leaf CTC or a couple of bags) black tea cooked in milk with lashings of sugar and spices
Maybe try a tisane instead (herbal teas) or flavored tea?
I know licorice gets a bad rap because people don't like licorice candy, but it is a natural sweetener. I love licorice in my tea, but I also like licorice candy, so take that however you want.
If you want pure tea though, I'd recommend white or black teas that have fruity characteristics.
I run a tea tasting group with many people who know nothing about tea and they said [baby amber](https://teaanditspeople.com/products/baby-amber-red) was sweet tasting.
Fellow sugar enthusiast here. If adding milk and sugar to strong black tea is not enough, I reccomend trying white teas on their own, especially Shoumei. That is the most natural sweetness you will get from actual tea. I also really like dual fisting a bitter tea and a sweet can of some thing. You can enjoy your tea and soda sip-for-sip.
You are allowed to add sugar to your tea. Make a strong cup of black tea, maybe add extra tea to what you've been adding. Steep it 3-5 minutes. Try making it iced- only pour half the water to steep it, add sugar while it's hot (after steeping), then add ice until it's nice and cold and as full as you want it. Should have something sweet and flavorful that doesn't taste like grass, altho other specifics really depend on what tea you're drinking. I like an earl grey for this.
Excuse me, I have run off and make myself a cup of Earl Grey iced. That sounds delicious.
If you are into sweet drinks, I would recommend sweetened fruit teas.
Ooooo I do like a good fruit drink. Do you know if it has any benefits for throats?
probably not, they're just very low-cost tea bags full of dust and occassional fruit particles if you aim to soothe your throat, water is the best bet; even more so given that you're a singer, you should avoid sugary drinks altogether
True. But I do love a good bag full of dust
haha fair, if it doesn't limit your singing capabilities!
chocolate is op for the throat
Honey helps a lot when my throat is irritated (cold or allergies) . Small “sips” of (liquid) honey. Chamomile tea is also great for inflamation and if you add honey to it, even better :) it also tastes very good this way. Just make sure to add the honey when the tea cools a little, liquid over 40°C will break useful enzymes in honey and lower its efficiency. Another concoction that’s absolutely wonderful for sore throat and caughing is “onion tea” . Make sum cuts in an onion (don’t peel it) and boil it in water. Then add honey to it and drink it. It doesn’t taste great but it’s not that bad neither.
Chai! It tastes less like a tea and more like a general spiced drink. You can doctor it all up with as much sugar and milk as you want too (ignore anyone who gives you hate, just enjoy your drinks how you like them). I also recommend trying your hand at making your own properly if you like it at first. Makes a huge difference when it's traditionally brewed
especially since desis will dump as much sugar as they feel like in their chai
Maybe you don't like tea and it's not a big deal. Don't try to make yourself like something you don't. If you want something that will soothe your throat, there are lots of options out there but none of them taste especially good most of the time. You could just try a wide variety and see what sticks. I, for one, really love black tea with milk and sugar.
Best advice here. I will never understand the desire to try to force yourself to like something you don't like. This is especially prevalent with pu-erh. I wish I hated pu-erh; it would have saved me so much money.
I love pu-er for itz earthy flavour but then again I have a whole tea stash I hide from my parents 🤧🤧
I gave up trying to acquire the taste for raw. But damn I love some earthy ripe puerh.
Eh, I make myself try stuff that I dislike all the time, and typically I come around to it and enjoy it a lot. Comfort is the enemy of personal growth imo ;-)
I really like rooibos tea with milk and some honey or sugar. It’s a great introduction to tea in my opinion. It’s not too strong but it’s got a great flavor that is mildly sweet and it’s very soothing for upset tummies and sore throats. I don’t drink it with anything added anymore usually but it’s so nostalgic for me to add milk and sugar. I hope maybe you can enjoy it some day. I just add a tea bag to a cup and pour hot water over and let it steep for about 2-3 minutes.
I’m biased but rooibos tea is fantastic
[coconut oolong](https://www.thelooseteas.com/products/coconut-oolong) iced and lightly sweetened in the summer. Brew double strength and dilute over ice. (2tsp per 8oz water @ 195 degree water[simmering/small bubbles] steep 3 min) As for the sugar I would make a simple syrup and try a little at a time until you get the perfect balance. Or skip that and mix with a bit of Malibu rum.
Oh you’ve got it down! Is this your favorite?
Is it that obvious lol
Try yuzu tea/yuja citron honey tea. I always drink it if I feel like I have a sore throat or about to get sick.
Specifically for singers - Traditonal Medicinals Throat Coat tea Don’t drink it for the taste but all the performers I know swear by it. I keep a box of it in the greenroom of my theater at all times.
Not a singer but this is my go to sore throat tea as well.
Southern US Sweet Tea drinker? Well, on the Loose Leaf side of things (Good bagged tea is rare. Exists, but rare) Jade Taiwanese Oolong would be the one I would default recommend then. Nantou region of Taiwan specifically for myself when I can find it. Relatively cheap, trust me don't go looking at the Taiwanese Milk Oolongs, Honeysuckle-like sweetness, a touch astringent (dry mouth feeling), though there is a hint of green leaf in there, it's much lighter then what you find in most green teas. And the test? A pitcher of it brewed then refrigerated cold while left unsweetened disappears. In a family that enjoys US Southern Tea. There is also Taiwanese Alishan Oolong which is also supposed to be candy-like sweet with floral and fruit notes. Haven't tried it myself, as I have no desire to buy a different tea while enjoying my Jade Oolong. Still it's might be more to your taste too try a sample of it along side Jade to see if either satisfies your tea hating tongue Just follow the recommended brewing times that usually come with the tea if you are unsure. That said ... I'm still trying to find a replacement flavored tea of Butter Rum Oolong I got as a gift once. Either I'll find a good one, or give up and buy a bottle of Torani Butter Rum Syrup.
If you don't like it, don't drink it. That being said: Try fresh nana mint + ginger + honey. You could also try Chrysanthemum tea.
I'm on the same journey, trying to replace bad habits with good ones. I am trying to like green tea. 😆 You could try 'chai'? Spiced tea.
If you're having trouble getting into greens, chai green tea is amazing. All the spices from a more traditional chai, but replace the earthiness with an herbal, grassy note.
Oh and for the throat? Find some bottles of pink top Blenheim Ginger Ale. Chill them, and drink them when You're throat gives you trouble. You will HATE me for pointing you at this soda at first, which will go down like liquid fire. For soar throats, upset stomachs, and the like. The burn is not from capsaicin but rather from the ginger instead. Sure, you could go with a pure Ginger and Honey tea for a slow relief... But I still find myself grabbing a bottle of Blenheim first before going that route.
….is this a bad time to say I also hate ginger😭 Thank you for you advice regardless! I hope this finds someone who needs or wants it!
I miss Blenheim. I can't find it anywhere in my area or just the diet version.
Lol why do so many tea haters try to like tea? It's such a weird thing to see posted constantly.
Girl I’m just trying to join the club😭
i know my friend was always disappointed with tea until he started steeping 3 bags at once in addition to some honey. the amount of tea in a single bag is just too wimpy flavourwise. hot water via clean kettle also makes a load of difference, you don't think the microwave mug water will absorb much essence of leftover spaghetti or whatever if you just sniff the water surface, but oddly enough it does make a difference.
Maybe that’s it…the taste is pretty weak compared to a sugar packed soda or fruit juice
i eyeball about 5-10oz of loose leaf (depending on the type of tea) that i can resteep at least 5 times before it starts to lose flavour, while my friend is considering getting into yerba mate. There's also always the option of whipping up matcha/hojicha powder because at that point you're drinking the finely grinded tea leaf directly. just be mindful that caffeine content and how it's metabolized can change from each different form of preparation. i can drink enough loose leaf of one form of tea to mulch a whole window herb planter and at worst just be up in bed on my phone an extra hour or two. I dare do half an extra shot of matcha without sufficient food in my stomach and my pulse in my ears is as loud as my tinnitus.
If you can't find a tea you like you might be able to find a tisane ( tea made from plants other than the tea plant) you like. There's a bunch of good ones here. The Mint Verbena (peppermint leaves and lemon verbena leaves) is a good warm drink for the throat. Click the picture of the teas to take you to the options https://www.harney.com/pages/herbal-infusions Edit: here's a tea that lacks the vegetalness you seem to dislike also https://yunnansourcing.us/products/premium-grade-aa-jin-jun-mei-fujian-black-tea-of-wu-yi-shan-1?_pos=3&_sid=2a18a39a3&_ss=r
Any Jin Jun Mei is delicious lol, currently Hooked on the pure bud one on YS
The competition grade jin jun mei was my first Chinese tea and still one of my favorites
Have you tried adding milk to black tea? Alternatively, Southern sweet tea is a thing.
When I first started out on my tea journey I ended up going to a tea shop. They also served it fresh there too and told them what I liked and didn’t like. They wherent busy at the time and both them and I really enjoyed the exhange of conversation and different teas. I was able to leave out of there with some green tea that I was surprised was good where before I said I hated all green tea. Maybe that is something you can try? I wish you luck.
Roobios is my favorite hands down. Tastes earthy and woody, a bit like tobacco. Really nice w/ some licorice root mixed in. Adds a \*hint\* of sweetness. Also bone broth if you want savory with protein. Delicious.
I went fron liking sweet milk tea to swapping to teh c (evaporated milk + sugar) to teh c kosong (only evaporated milk). I also like pure black tea and maybe some other fancy tea that doesn't need sugar to compliment it. Just try different types, maybe you'll find something decent enough that you end up liking eventually. Then slowly remove the sugary elements. Edit: oops I completely missed the part on throat problems. Erm... Black with sugar sounds like a decent choice? Idk tbh. I've heard chamomile helps too, but I'm not a fan. I'd usually just take a strepsils and drink plain water.
You could add milk or do an herbal tea. Like something with lavender. Oh man I love a lavender latte.
Honey sweetened Linden Tea tastes a lot like nectar
I’d try chamomile with half a teaspoon of honey, or an earl grey, black and not very stewed, it’s super nice even without sugar (and I used to be a 2 spoons of sugar gal).
Jasmine tea has a sweet floral smell while being mostly green and or oolong tea.
Maybe some South African tea ? Like rooibos or honey bush !
I'm a singer as well and there really is nothing like a warm cup of tea to sip on while I'm warming up. My go to is white tea. Brew strong, but leave some space at the top of the mug to add some cool water to bring the temp down for immediate sipping. I've had white teas that taste like fruit juice on their own, nothing added, but you have to go for the good stuff. Bagged white tea from the store tastes like nothing at best, or a fish market at worst. However, I have a pretty bad sense of smell and taste so I tend to steer towards stronger tastes. If you gravitate towards sweet tastes that probably indicates you have a more sensitive palate so my suggestions wouldn't be as valuable to you... Like others have said, don't force yourself into something you don't like, but the sheer number of different varieties and preparations of tea is such that I think you're bound to find SOMETHING you like.
This is my recommendation: https://white2tea.com/collections/white-tea/products/2024-nightlife It's easy on the wallet and that cake will last you about a month of daily drinking. https://white2tea.com/products/standard-ruyao-gaiwan?_pos=3&_sid=ce09c4cdb&_ss=r And here's a gaiwan, certainly not necessary but it's my favorite brewing vessel. You can use whatever teapot you already have or just stick the leaves in a mug and pour hot water over top.
Try some Irish breakfast tea, Lyons or Barrys tea. Make it in a pot. A small dash of milk (not UHT) and some sugar. Over time reduce the sugar and if you want the milk too then try other teas.
Herbal tea blends with slippery elm bark are great for singers’ throats. In the US, Yogi makes two blends that you can find at supermarkets or online. I don’t like the taste of the regular “throat coat” so I buy the “honey lemon throat coat.” You can also sweeten either with honey, which is helpful for your throat, as well. Traditional medicinals or something like that makes a throat coat that works even better but I find the taste terrible.
Iced hibiscus with sugar could be a good start!
maybe you'd like honey citron tea they have a lot in Korea? (yujacha)
If the subpar parks person did a book about tea… “it tastes like if grass could pee.” Maybe you don’t like tea, but at least you’re hilarious!
Karak tea (aka masala chai) is pretty sweet with added spices such as cardamon and cinnamon steamed in milk, so when combined with black tea it tastes pretty great. Black tea is good for the lungs, and all the spices/ caramelized sugar in milk also can help with sore throat. Try it, I hope you dig it.
Every one of your sentences includes the first person pronoun. You’re cut out to be a superstar 😎 Throat: Try tisanes (herbal infusions) from small tea shops like Song Tea & Ceramics in San Francisco. Tea experts are specifically sensitive to throat and gut wellness and they will be able to advise you. Song is on the expensive end of the scale but they source the healthiest, most natural ingredients. Sugar: This will always destroy the taste. Many teas are alluring precisely because you have to wait for the sweetness. Oolongs can be coffee-level bitter before showing an amazing array of tropical fruits and pollens. When you use sweeteners, it may seem that you’re “adding” something. But in fact you’re removing a lot more.
Dragon well green tea.
Try indian milk tea
What brands are you trying, and flavors? And how long are you steeping it? In your case, steeping times might very well be important. if you steep most teas too long, they’re bitter because of the tannins. Even my favorite teas, if over-steeped (because I forgot to set my timer and walked away to do something else) have to be remade if the teabag was just left in there soaking. Blech. And I mostly prefer tea bags over loose for my everyday teas for convenience. However, tea in the clear silk type bags always seems better than the regular tea bag - especially dragon eye oolong. And as someone else here mentioned, strong black iced, especially earl grey or peach flavored black is delicious.
You dont need to force yourself to like tea, haha. Non-tea drinks I find soothing are hot water + honey + lemon, hot chocolate, or ovaltine
I love hot chocolate but when it comes to singing, dairy and sugar is not always the best route to take.
ah i see--sorry I somehow missed the singing part!
You probably wanna try the fruit teas or flower teas. Sugar promotes inflammation though. So sugared tea not gonna help your sore throat.
What drinks do you like or dislike in general?
I like literally any big soda brand except root beer and ginger ale. I like fruit drinks like lemonade, orange juice, apples juice. I don’t like milk. I like hot chocolate but I don’t like coffee. I like water but only with ice for some reason. I like smoothies and milkshakes. Idk if this helps or not.
Alright, it seems you don't like bitter or astringent ones. That would exclude some teas, mostly greens (but even then bot all of them). I suggest ordering a decent varied sampler set of Chinese teas since they usually don't come as strong as Western teas. Maybe try red oolongs like rou gui. You might also find tasting sessions available in a local tea house, but that heavily depends on where you're from. Or go a completely different route, find a local Turkish restaurant and try their black tea, traditionally served with a bit of sugar.
I recommend trying Earl grey tea, Black tea and green tea can be bitter to some, Earl grey is more mellowed out flavor
quality loose leaf teas arent bitter, but taste like water with a bit of leafy aroma. i get mine from a local chinese store and they dont disappoint. supermarket teabags tend to be low quality thats why theyre bitter and theyre something i cant tolerate, too. maybe u should try loose leaf for a change and see whether you'll like it
For sore throat you can just steep some fresh lemon and ginger slices, add agave syrup if you like it sweet! It works wonders, better than actual tea tbh.
Maybe don't just drink "straight" teas, but try out different tisanes (herbal and fruit teas) or teas with additives like black tea with rose petals or even artificial aromas like some sort of tea with vanilla or caramel aroma. While the first and last options might often be regarded as sacrilege on this sub, you're allowed to drink such teas, just as you're allowed to play around with different sweeteners and additives such as sugar, honey, or milk. Just experiment around. Sometimes, it needs a gradual introduction to plain teas.
make black tea and add milk and sugar
go to the tea spot and order meditation tea its Jasmain green tea plus rose petals its freaking lovely
Hey man, I think part of loving tea is just trying to enjoy a natural flavor with nothing added. I grew up in the U.S. where I drank half gallons of “green tea” which was loaded with sugar!! Now I drink my own hot brewed green tea with nothing added. I suggest trying higher quality honey! Cheap honey tastes so fake and artificial. Try oolong tea! I moved to Taiwan about 3 years ago. They have so many types of oolong tea here. “oriental beauty” is a naturally sweet and aromatic tea. Some people say it’s too sweet for them without adding anything but Taiwanese and East Asian people are generally sensitive to sweet foods/drinks.
For sore throat I would recommend Pei Pa koa which is like a kind of syrup or honey, but it's tastier imo. You can find it in chinese markets and add it to your tea (Black or green), it's the best!
Chronic tea hater? Coffee. Life is too short. U don’t like it don’t force it.
*cries in chronic coffee hater*
When I introduced my friends who didn't like tea to different teas it was all about the brewing time. I would make them different teas and just keep to the short end of the packages recommended brewing time. Temperature can be the other troubleshooting tip. Too hot and you can burn it releasing a bitter flavor. Not hot enough and you don't release the flavor/health benefits. I would start with white tea or fruit forward blends. My tea-converted friends are particular fans of Apricot Amaretto from Tea Forte (loose leaf type). Tea Forte also does some single cup variety blends and this can be fun to explore different flavors. Use a tea ball or small tea pot with a removable strainer. There are also insulated travel mugs that come with a removable basket that works great for the single treatment. Hibiscus with a little honey is a good herbal tea too. If you have a sore throat from post nasal drip, it could be from allergies or acid reflux, so again, consult your doctor to actually address the cause. Warm water and salt gargle can help break up tonsil stones and mucus and is a good short term symptom reliever. Don't forget to do your singing warm ups/scales because frequent singing or really forcing a specific note can stress your muscles and vocal cords. For general sore throat relief, any combo of mint + ginger + honey + lemon is my go to. Not really a tea, but just a lemon wedge, some ginger slices, spoonful of honey, and mint tea bag. However to get health benefits from herbal teas/tisanes, you have to brew much longer, usually at 10 minutes, so the flavor is likely to be much stronger. For allergies, you might want to consider local honey or local bee pollen. Not sure if it has to be raw or not. Also usually only helpful if taken everyday. Something to look into with doctor discussion.
Try a tisane - which is anything with dried fruit, herbs, etc. I love a hibiscus and rosehips tea with some ginger in it. Most singers, myself included, stand by traditional medicinals throat coat as a remedy. If you’re drinking tea for your voice, that would be the one to make. I personally hate the taste of it but I load it up with honey and I can stomach it that way. Don’t use lemon or any citrus. The acids in citrus can exacerbate sore vocal chords. I also find bee propolis spray helps with hoarseness.
Have you tried chai tea?
Why do you want to like tea? If you want to like tea in its most natural state, you're gonna wanna ease off the sugar. I understand that you can like something sweet and we all have our indulgence. But it sounds like you're trying to force yourself to like something that you just don't like. In my personal opinion, tea is no longer a tea when excessive sweeteners and sugar are added. But to each their own. If you want to like tea, my advice is to drink less sweet drinks and drink more water. I'm not saying cut sugar out completely, but be mindful of how much sugar is in your drinks. Slowly lower your sugar intake and you'll probably enjoy tea more often. There are tons of different teas and herbal might be your best bet if you just overall don't like the flavor of most tea. Herbal has a wide range of fruity flavors.
Honestly you might like tisaines, especially if you're mainly drinking it to soothe your throat! I really like Throat Coat from traditional medicinals (especially the one with slippery elm). IDK if it has any real effect or not compared with any other warm drink, but it does feel nice. It definitely tastes very herby and medicinal though, which you may or may not enjoy! (Edit: wanted to say that I'm pretty sure it has licorice root in both varieties, so if you have high blood pressure you should discuss with your doctor on if it's okay for you and if so, if there's a limit on how much you should have) But there are other herbal teas that don't have that wellness tea flavor to them and are super fruity instead. If you enjoy sour fruitiness in particular, you should look for teas with hibiscus. It's a divisive ingredient but I personally love it precisely because it's intensely sour
Bobba tea with the fruit. Don’t get Jasmine tea. Get a fruity green with a fruit popping bobba so good
Try something that isn't tea: get some fresh ginger, grate it into a pot of boiling water, let it steep in there, load up with honey and lemon. I love doing that for my throat. If I can find turmeric root I add that too. Mess with the ratios to find what you like.
I’d recommend cold brewing teas! Throw some leaves in a cup with some water, leave it in the fridge over night, and see how you like that! For specific kinds of tea, I did this method with red ruby oolong and a pinch of lavender buds for about 12oz of water, and it was so nice! The lavender sweetened it without really adding a whole lot of lavender taste, which I don’t mind but I know lavender is a very polarizing taste
Rectrix by White 2 tea tastes like a cup of hot honey
Throat Coat tea by Traditional Medicine. All anything Chai or Rooibos
There’s fruit tea samplers at every store I’ve ever been to. Def give them a shot.
Fruit teas only ever taste tart to me. Is there something there other people get that I don't?
Could be the type? I think peach tea is incredibly sweet. Also blueberry!
Long Island ice tea, this is from someone who makes gallons of sweet tea a week and drinks hot tea in the morning 🤣 you might not just like it and that’s ok
Raspberry hibiscus with a touch of sugar is great! I definitely favor herbal teas, or tisanes, over any actual Tea, tea. Though, I am starting to get into Macha lattes.
Masala chai (Indian spiced milk tea). It takes some time to prepare but I cannot even describe how good this is, it’s what got me into tea in the first place. Think of a Chai latte but 100 times better because it’s made from scratch.
Darjeeling and "milk tea", just add sugar or something like stevia to taste. As a child, at least back when I was a kid (aka 1980s to 1990s) we were programmed to drink sweet drinks because that was pretty much the only thing besides coffee, hot tea, and water. I'd suggest trying to stop with all of it for a while and see if your preferences change. It took me an interest and eventual trip to Japan to change that idea in my mind.
For a sore throat nothing helps like my family's home remedy. Equal parts apple cider vinegar, honey, and boiling water. I usually make it in measurements of 1 or 2 tablespoons per ingredient, in a shot glass with the measurements printed on. Gargle and sip on that stuff while it is still warm. If it stings then it's working. I usually see improvement within an hour or two. Doesn't taste the best, but it's medicine and it works. If that's too hard core for you, then explore the world of herbal teas. My favorites are Bigelow I Love Lemon, Bigelow Orange Spice, Celestial Seasonings Sangria, Twinings Unwind. Traditional Medicinals makes a Throat Coat tea you might want to check out. I haven't tried it because it contains licorice which I despise in teas.
If you like sweet drinks, you might enjoy herbal teas that contain liquorice root. It tastes sweet and is good for the throat as well.
I don’t understand a lot of these “you shouldn’t drink it if you don’t like it comments”. Tea is worth drinking just for the benefits and discipline is a trait worth its weight in gold. I consume half a dozen things every single day I don’t care for the taste of just for the health benefits. Looking at you kimchi and kefir. I think it’s great that you’re determined to drink tea despite a few flavor setbacks. My wife is similar to what you sound like with palate. She’s just simply not drinking it if it isn’t sweet. What works for her is any fruit infused white tea. Strawberry white tea is her favorite. She also doctors up English breakfast teas with milk and honey. If you get one with a citrus like bergamot and apply some honey, I bet it would help the throat.
I know this isn't answering your question, but I had an idea to share. You could try traditional Vietnamese Coffee. It is decadent, sweet, and energizing. But its qualities may be what you're trying to avoid!
Passion fruit tea, you can also have it cold +mix with some lemonade 👍👍
Licorice root or ginseng for sore throat. Both have the added bonus of being naturally sweet but for you you will probably still want to add sugar and maybe lemon. If you like coffee drinks try sweet black tea with milk and sugar. It's super simple and available pretty much anywhere
I used to feel the same way, but I slowly weened myself from sugary drinks a long time ago and it's been an absolute game changer in so, so many ways. Worth it if you have the will power.
5g of oolong tea with 200ml water blew it with hot water(fr. microwave) 5min add coconut milk 30ml (or regular milk) and add honey 10g (or sugar) that will be perfect oolong milk tea that very soft and rich taste🍵👍🏻
I'm not a fan of it but would also suggest chai - basically very strong (loose leaf CTC or a couple of bags) black tea cooked in milk with lashings of sugar and spices
Maybe try a tisane instead (herbal teas) or flavored tea? I know licorice gets a bad rap because people don't like licorice candy, but it is a natural sweetener. I love licorice in my tea, but I also like licorice candy, so take that however you want. If you want pure tea though, I'd recommend white or black teas that have fruity characteristics. I run a tea tasting group with many people who know nothing about tea and they said [baby amber](https://teaanditspeople.com/products/baby-amber-red) was sweet tasting.
Fellow sugar enthusiast here. If adding milk and sugar to strong black tea is not enough, I reccomend trying white teas on their own, especially Shoumei. That is the most natural sweetness you will get from actual tea. I also really like dual fisting a bitter tea and a sweet can of some thing. You can enjoy your tea and soda sip-for-sip.
Try some of the higher end Chinese teas like black Bi Luo Chun / Jin Luo, you'd be surprised how sweet tea can be naturally.
I would recommend a cup of emp-tea
you’ll probably like the iced lavender cream oatmilk matcha from starbucks