Good Tea or Cocoa Brands

[Burnt_Toast]

What are some good brands of tea or cocoa to drink?
As for cocoa I looking for healthy dark cocolate.

Any with any suggestions?

 

[CharlieD]

Imo the store bought brrands are pretty close to each other in quality, or rather lack of the above. To buy a good tea you need to go to specialised stroes and buy tea in bulk. Thouh I rearly do that due to the price diference. In the store I like to buy Bigelow breand, or if somebody goes to Canada I always ask them to bring some lipton Red Rose tea. Not to confuse with red rose available here in the states.

 

[ChefJune]

I always love Harney Teas. really top quality and great selection (plus the people who run the co are super folks )

The chocolate I have right now is Lake Champlain Mocha Chocolate. It is very good. Williams-Sonoma's ground chocolate is very tasty, too. makes wonderful cocoa. The store brands are all loaded with corn syrup.

 

[Fisher's Mom]

I really like Tazo teas, but I don't know if they are readily available everywhere.

 

[Toots]

I order tea from TeaMerchants.com | The online home of TeaGschwendner USA | Premium loose teas and tea accessories from around the world
and I also use the Royal Blend from Fortnum & Mason (UK).

For cocoa, I like mexican hot chocolate made with Ibarra chocolate. I also like the Godiva hot cocoa mix.

 

[AMSeccia]

Happy Holidays Friends, I haven't had occasion to post or visit much ... but if you have a Penzeys near you, do try their Hot Cocoa Mix (or order online at www.penzeys.com). It's yummy and affordable! Buy it in the bag, it's cheaper and no worries about glass breakage in transit.

 

[Toots]

Happy Holidays Friends, I haven't had occasion to post or visit much ... but if you have a Penzeys near you, do try their Hot Cocoa Mix (or order online at www.penzeys.com). It's yummy and affordable! Buy it in the bag, it's cheaper and no worries about glass breakage in transit.

You know, I was wondering if this was good - I'm going to try it - thanks!

 

[AMSeccia]

oooh, wait ... I would also like to recommend a green/black (looseleaf) tea blend called President's Chocie from a local merchant, www.inspiredaroma.com. It's soooooo wonderful, and the benefits of both types of tea to boot. I don't stand to gain from posting that site, I'm just a happy customer! She has other tea offerings, but the Presidents Choice is my favorite. My dad prefers her oolong. There's a spice blend that's good as well, but a bit heavy for all day drinking IMHO.

 

[jessicacarr]

I like Tazo tea.
Godiva chocolate makes an excellent hot chocolate.

 

[Burnt_Toast]

hey

wow guys thanks for all the suggestions.

Hey is my opera browser or is the board acting funny?

 

[miniman]

I really like the fair trade cocoa powder.

 

[whole milk]

Good morning and Happy New Year!

I think what you buy depends, in part, on how much you're willing to spend. Myself, I love Fortnum and Masons Irish Breakfast Tea, Maruage Freres's Earl Grey Blue, and Fauchon's Anniversary teas -- and these are only the black teas, not to mention the green teas or teas I use when I make spiced chai. What I mean to say is that there really are many, many different types of teas and if you've not had the pleasure of tasting the difference between an Earl Gray and a Lady Earl Gray, I recommend buying an assortment (most often in tea bags) and sample around to see what you like. Of these I recommend to start with Twinings as they are not very expensive and give you a point of reference. And do try Japanese, Chinese, and Taiwanese green teas, oolon, and pu ur teas, they're really wonderful.

As for cocoa, I'm biased here, I like melt chocolate in whole milk when I want hot chocolate and add a touch of cinnamon, vanilla, rum, or espresso to it. Much better than cocoa powdered hot chocolate.

Hope this helps



wm

 

[PieSusan]

Trader Joe's Sippin Chocolate is suppose to be Bellagio.
I also like Bernard Callebaut and Guittard.

I am also a big fan of Harney teas.

 

[Fisher's Mom]

Hey is my opera browser or is the board acting funny?

It's just us - we always act funny!

 

[PieSusan]

I have some Fortnum and Mason tea that was a gift. It is the Queen's favorite. lol

 

[Maverick2272]

Some of the hot chocolates we like: Trader Joe's Sippin, Godiva, and a blend I put together using coco powder and my own mix. It was loosly based on a few recipe idea I got off of FN's web site. Sometimes that is the best, what you put together yourself using recipes instead of just what you buy in the store.
As for teas, Tazo is good, and we sometimes order thru Gevalia they have good teas as well.
Next to try is hot chocolate from Penzy's, turns out we have one nearby in Oak Park that I didn't know about even though we must have walked by it a dozen times in the last year. I am looking forward to going there to replenish my spices as well.

 

[whole milk]

I have some Fortnum and Mason tea that was a gift. It is the Queen's favorite. lol

Which Queen, you or Elizabeth

(I guess my family connections are out, eh.)

 

[AMSeccia]

Some of the hot chocolates we like: Trader Joe's Sippin, Godiva, and a blend I put together using coco powder and my own mix. It was loosly based on a few recipe idea I got off of FN's web site. Sometimes that is the best, what you put together yourself using recipes instead of just what you buy in the store.
As for teas, Tazo is good, and we sometimes order thru Gevalia they have good teas as well.
Next to try is hot chocolate from Penzy's, turns out we have one nearby in Oak Park that I didn't know about even though we must have walked by it a dozen times in the last year. I am looking forward to going there to replenish my spices as well.

Oh maverick, you're in for a treat. But take inventory before you go ... I get in there and nearly go blank. Love Penzeys. LOVE IT. Aside from freshness, I find it's quite reasonably priced overall compared to the supermarkets.

 

[Maverick2272]

Yea, I better take some inventory or I will go mad and walk out with half the store LOL.

 

[PieSusan]

Which Queen, you or Elizabeth

(I guess my family connections are out, eh.)

Actually my friend who lives in London and worked at Picadilly at Universal Music before it moved, sent me Putnam Mason Royal Blend Tea. It was first blended for King Edward VII in the summer of 1902 and still comes with the royal seal and in this case, a lovely dark green box that was beribboned and that also contained a silver metal teapot (and server) in which to place the loose tea before putting it in your teacup. The server was to be used for placing the teapot after your tea was brewed.

Me, I was dubbed Queen of all things baked by a friend, Koshersalty. It was cute and stuck, sorta like Pie Susan.