Coffee or Tea

[Muna]

Agree the price of coffee, is crazy!
We are heavy coffee drinkers, brewing typically 2-3 pots per day for Two people.

Yaupon holly bush/tree, located primarily in South/eastern US, grows wild, reproduces quickly, AND; the leaves can be brewed into a TEA, the taste is similar to coffee, AND does contain a relatively large portion of Caffeine, as does Coffee.

Have not consumed, but is on our to do list!
And fortunate to have hundreds of these trees on our property to experiment.

Glory to God,
Taken

I actually missed this until @Rita pulled it up, this is good to know. Never even heard of this before.

I know we have one holly tree but I cannot tell which kind I do have, but it has prickly leaves, when I ran a search on the one you named it does not, so they are not the same.

I wonder if you can still use the prickly leaves for something similiar

I'll have to look for these, maybe we have a few I didnt even know we had because I never specifically searched for them.

Thanks for the info.

 

[JohnDB]

I actually missed this until @Rita pulled it up, this is good to know. Never even heard of this before.

I know we have one holly tree but I cannot tell which kind I do have, but it has prickly leaves, when I ran a search on the one you named it does not, so they are not the same.

I wonder if you can still use the prickly leaves for something similiar

I'll have to look for these, maybe we have a few I didnt even know we had because I never specifically searched for them.

Thanks for the info.

Common holly is a member of the hemlock family. Hemlock is poison. Please be careful!

 

[Rita]

I just ordered a second tub of this g-fuel.

I figured I would share. I don’t use coffee because idk i typically drink to much.

I have one serving of this a day typically before getting to work.

I also love sweet tea, but coffee can really make me mean.

View attachment 67702

Humour the Brit, what is that , hot or cold drink ?

 

[Taken]

How cool is that , so is there a process between growing and making the tea from the leaves, or is it just literally taking the leaves and grounding them down, or infusing them?
I sometimes have a cup of tea with a coffee taste, but it’s because my son makes A cup of coffee at the same time as my tea and uses the same spoon to stir both cups !!! lol

For Yaupon … collect the leaves. The younger the leaves, (Spring), the more caffeine.
Wash in water, pat dry, roast…
Oven 200 F 10-15 min.
Flip repeat.
Or
Pan on stove Continuously stirring.
They begin to turn dark.
Darker + = stronger.
Then
Crush, blender or however
Store in glass jar for use later
Or
About 1 teaspoon, in tea strainer, or tight mesh bag.
Put in cup.
Add hot water.
Steep about 10 min.

It is supposed to be rather bland “tasting”.
I would probably add honey, rather than sugar for sweetness.

I like my coffee, broths, soups, etc. VERY hot.

 

[MatthewG]

Humour the Brit, what is that , hot or cold drink ?

It’s powder. You add it to a 16oz cold glass of water but you need to shake it up, so it’s good to use a blender bottle or something with a lid, Rita.

 

[Taken]

Common holly is a member of the hemlock family. Hemlock is poison. Please be careful!

It’s the berries on the Yaupon Holly that are poisonous. (Will cause digestive system issues, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.)
Okay to handle the branches and leaves.

 

[Taken]

I actually missed this until @Rita pulled it up, this is good to know. Never even heard of this before.

I know we have one holly tree but I cannot tell which kind I do have, but it has prickly leaves, when I ran a search on the one you named it does not, so they are not the same.

I wonder if you can still use the prickly leaves for something similiar

I'll have to look for these, maybe we have a few I didnt even know we had because I never specifically searched for them.

Thanks for the info.

We have both kinds of the Holly trees. Quite sure it’s the Yaupon holly leaves only.
The one you are talking about has a bit darker trunk, fissures (not smooth), larger, wider, Very prickly leaves, Yaupon does not.
Always see very few berries on those trees.
A Yaupon planted in the sun will be loaded with berries certain times of the year.

 

[Pathfinder789]

Amazon Fresh Columbia Ground Coffee (Medium Roast), 12 ounce.
- $6.70
---
Having my morning coffee..

 

[Lambano]

My Japanese and Korean vendors knew I drank tea and used to bring me canisters of raw tea leaves from their countries when they'd visit. The Sweet Lady found me a Tea Infuser set at Bed, Bath, and Beyond (back when they had brick-and-mortar stores). Just nuke some water in the microwave, and try to steep the tea leaves for juuuuusssstttt the right amount of time. That's the tricky part.

I still have the infuser, but I haven't found any store around here that sells raw tea leaves. Maybe it's just as well. Having baggie of dried leaves on your desk isn't a good look. One of my coworkers thought I was going to smoke it instead of drink it.

 

[JohnDB]

With coffee prices potentially doubling, some people might switch to tea or reduce their daily intake, while others may stick with coffee despite the cost. It’s going to come down to personal preference and budget. Brewing at home with a French press coffee maker or other methods could help stretch beans further and maintain quality. And yes, for some, a little prayer over the morning cup might not be out of place!

Chocolate has already doubled in price....might even be shortages in the future.

 

[BlueNightingale]

Chocolate has already doubled in price....might even be shortages in the future.

Chocolate bars made at home are cheaper. Every once in a while I make my youngest amaranth bars with cocoa powder, coconut oil, and popped amaranth. We don't buy them usually because I don't like sweet things.

I found out recently that coffee makes me tired so I don't drink it as often now. Mainly tea.

That doesn't hurt my feelings because tea is cheaper anyway.

Our main expenses now are meat, produce (which will cut down next year when we expand the garden) and eggs. I can't have the whites of chicken eggs so I am trying quail eggs and that takes two weeks to come in.

Trying to give up dairy. Rice milk costs almost nothing to make.

 

[JohnDB]

I went shopping today for chocolate...

I buy roughly 22 lbs of Belgian chocolate every year to make hand dipped chocolate truffles.....14 flavors usually. Ends up being somewhere around a thousand pieces. Same thing with cookies. All given away at Christmas as presents for people. Who doesn't like a well made plate of Christmas goodies at Christmas. Especially with everyone working and too busy to do it anymore.

A 5½ lb bag of 811 Callebaut is running $75+ this year....the price I would normally pay for a whole brick or two bags of callets. I used to be able to buy 2 bags for $54 after Christmas.

We are talking about the doubling our Christmas budget....without a doubling of income.
I just about wanna cry over it all.
I guess we will be eating Ramen noodles and rice and beans.

I'm a recovering chef in a 12 step program and having issues with that first step. I also have a giving addiction with food being my love language. (Because words just seem so empty anymore) And Christmas is my license to express my gratitude and love for family members and friends of how much I value them in my life.

I just don't know what to do this year....my wife wants to hold our noses and just order it anyway. Arrrggggghhhh.

 

[David in NJ]

Ok...
Here's a subject coming into reality very soon.

The price of coffee is rising historically high.
We are talking almost a doubling of price per pound.
From $9-16/lb retail to $20-$35/lb.

So....
If coffee becomes so expensive will you swap to tea for morning consumption?

Or just a reduction in consumption.


Will prayers start?
Oh Lord, give us this day our daily cup.

The dramatic rise of coffee will give this phrase a new meaning and create jobs = bean counters

 

[BlueNightingale]

I went shopping today for chocolate...

I buy roughly 22 lbs of Belgian chocolate every year to make hand dipped chocolate truffles.....14 flavors usually. Ends up being somewhere around a thousand pieces. Same thing with cookies. All given away at Christmas as presents for people. Who doesn't like a well made plate of Christmas goodies at Christmas. Especially with everyone working and too busy to do it anymore.

A 5½ lb bag of 811 Callebaut is running $75+ this year....the price I would normally pay for a whole brick or two bags of callets. I used to be able to buy 2 bags for $54 after Christmas.

We are talking about the doubling our Christmas budget....without a doubling of income.
I just about wanna cry over it all.
I guess we will be eating Ramen noodles and rice and beans.

I'm a recovering chef in a 12 step program and having issues with that first step. I also have a giving addiction with food being my love language. (Because words just seem so empty anymore) And Christmas is my license to express my gratitude and love for family members and friends of how much I value them in my life.

I just don't know what to do this year....my wife wants to hold our noses and just order it anyway. Arrrggggghhhh.

I think if you explained to people the problem with inflation they would be understanding.

I couldn't imagine anyone being upset over that. Health has to come first, unless people are willing to pitch in for the cost.

 

[nedsk]

I went shopping today for chocolate...

I buy roughly 22 lbs of Belgian chocolate every year to make hand dipped chocolate truffles.....14 flavors usually. Ends up being somewhere around a thousand pieces. Same thing with cookies. All given away at Christmas as presents for people. Who doesn't like a well made plate of Christmas goodies at Christmas. Especially with everyone working and too busy to do it anymore.

A 5½ lb bag of 811 Callebaut is running $75+ this year....the price I would normally pay for a whole brick or two bags of callets. I used to be able to buy 2 bags for $54 after Christmas.

We are talking about the doubling our Christmas budget....without a doubling of income.
I just about wanna cry over it all.
I guess we will be eating Ramen noodles and rice and beans.

I'm a recovering chef in a 12 step program and having issues with that first step. I also have a giving addiction with food being my love language. (Because words just seem so empty anymore) And Christmas is my license to express my gratitude and love for family members and friends of how much I value them in my life.

I just don't know what to do this year....my wife wants to hold our noses and just order it anyway. Arrrggggghhhh.

Maybe you could just send time with people instead of make them food. Time is our only finite commodity and is more valuable than chocolate or callets whatever that is. My mother, God rest her soul, used to say don't bring me a gift one day out of the year and then not call or stop by to see me the rest of the year.

 

[JohnDB]

I think if you explained to people the problem with inflation they would be understanding.

I couldn't imagine anyone being upset over that. Health has to come first, unless people are willing to pitch in for the cost.

Maybe you could just send time with people instead of make them food. Time is our only finite commodity and is more valuable than chocolate or callets whatever that is. My mother, God rest her soul, used to say don't bring me a gift one day out of the year and then not call or stop by to see me the rest of the year.

Not possible to ask for $$$ or to visit them more. We see these people every week at least once a week.

There's something about consistency....being the same even when the world seems to be going wrong and upside down.

It's not just the gift....it's a bit of respite from the crazy going on in the world...

Most of the pastoral staff has had their spouses take jobs this past year. (Their kids are grown)

But timelines are full. Everyone feels the stretch. Dads and moms all pitching in together. Some dads are unemployed or underemployed....same with moms. Everyone is getting older....much more effort required to do more.

A plate of cookies and candies....it's not much but it's a hug....it's a bit of understanding and consistency in an inconsistent world.

 

[nedsk]

Not possible to ask for $$$ or to visit them more. We see these people every week at least once a week.

There's something about consistency....being the same even when the world seems to be going wrong and upside down.

It's not just the gift....it's a bit of respite from the crazy going on in the world...

Most of the pastoral staff has had their spouses take jobs this past year. (Their kids are grown)

But timelines are full. Everyone feels the stretch. Dads and moms all pitching in together. Some dads are unemployed or underemployed....same with moms. Everyone is getting older....much more effort required to do more.

A plate of cookies and candies....it's not much but it's a hug....it's a bit of understanding and consistency in an inconsistent world.

Right the world is inconsistent and so will our responses be. What is consistent is what we can control and, in this case, its our time.

 

[HealthyShape]

If you drink tea, do not drink tea packaged in bags; millions of microplastics are released into hot water from them. Use loose-leaf tea instead and then strain it through a stainless-steel sieve.