I have nothing against a cup of tea, but given the choice of any tea or a cup of hot coffee -- 99 times out of 100 I'll take coffee. To me tea is like a light beer, where coffee is the equivalent of a porter or stout -- it's just more satisfying.
Biggie
Being that he is on the trail I'll put a word in for Mr Coffee him self.
One should drink enuff coffee in a day that it can run from your vains.
One week in hope your having a grate time new freind.
Morning all. Having a Tim Horton's double double today after dropping wife off and resting before the afternoon shift. I have a Tassimo at home. I feel guilty about the plastic coffee turds but its very handy when I am asleep standing up first thing AM for my paper route. I have a square of dark chocolate with it. I prefer 72%, but I also like 82% because with 82% I am less tempted to have too many. I am also a big tea drinker, but I'm the first to admit it doesn't cut it first thing in the AM. Earl Grey, Orange Pekoe, and my homemade spiced Chai are my favourites. I also hate Starbucks, although I like the atmosphere of there coffee shops in bookstores. Not a fan of Tim Hortons and McDonalds going the way of Starbucks with their very poor attempts at Latte's etc.
I too like a little AT2% chocolate,got a Bar for x-mas that had Anahiem chilis mixed with it,that was a pretty darn good combo.
i have used a coffee liquid concentrate called JAVA JUICE. It comes in sealed small containers. When added to hot water it comes as close to the taste of a good cup of coffee without that taste of an instant kind. You can buy this on line, just type in JAVA JUICE. On the AT this year I found it in the outfitter stores.
OK, coming from England , I have vast experience with decent tea - after all, my very distant relatives planted the darned stuff in northern India - I even made a pilgrimage to 'Darjeeling', an ex British hill station prior to hiking in Nepal, where really fresh, 'tips only' tea will just blow your mind with flavor!
My conclusion, after aproximately fifteen thousand cuppas, is that tea is by far more refreshing than coffe at the start of the day.
I would recommend 'PG Tips','Typhoo', and most Yorkshire blends as folks up there in the moors tend to enjoy their tea well rounded, balanced and STRONG !!
As far as accompaniments go, tea is best served with milk (regular,4%) and white sugar, either lumps or granular.
A well loved Sunday tradition is 'Tea and Scones' with a dollop of fresh cream. Ah!!!!
Hills Brothers English toffee is all I'm going to say!!!