Bio
I was a long-time coffee drinker, having worked at Starbucks coffee for about 10 years. Also had a twice-daily habit of drinking 16 oz sugar-free Rockstar energy beverages to fuel getting me through my two jobs and my college studies. And taking care of my family in between.
One day, I decided I was tired of coffee and I needed to kick my expensive energy drink habit (roughly $3-$4 per day for the Rockstars). Also, I was looking to reduce my caffeine intake. I purchased a nice glass teapot with a french-press-style infuser at my Starbucks, and I bought packets of Keemun and Dianhong tea from World Market (circa 2010 when they offered these).
The Keemun tea was my first love. It blew my mind with its deep plummy fruityness, leathery texture, and lingering heavenly aftertaste. The Dianhong I thought was a solid breakfast tea, but not as nuanced.
I use about 20 grams of tea per day now. 10 grams for a 32-ounce teapot once in the morning and again in the afternoon.
I do not re-steep my leaves. I only want one full-flavored pot of tea with the full kick of caffeine. Out of curiosity, I have experimented in re-steeping various teas and I have found invariably that the tea is just a weaker, unexciting, ghost of its former self after the first steep.
I am mainly looking at teas in the price range of $20-$60 per pound, but I have purchased somewhat more expensive teas (up to around $100/lb) on occasion. My goals are to keep my tea habit well below $90/month (what I had previously been spending on energy drinks) but also to have some really great tea experiences.
Location
Las Vegas, NV
