No. There is no limit. The more, the better. However if caffeine keeps you awake at night you may want to stick to caffeine-free herbal tea in the late afternoon and evening.
I had to give up coffee a few years ago (stomach problems), and now I am a dyed in the wool tea sipper.
The bitterness of black tea depends on how long it’s brewed as well as the brand and type of tea. Lipton is awful. I mostly drink Twinings English Breakfast as my daily morning drink, with a dab of heavy cream.
I am also fond of Earl Grey, a black tea with the herb bergamot added–it’s an acquired taste, but one that is best without sweetener or milk. The amount of bergamot varies by brand. Again, Twinings is my favorite, but the one served at Starbucks is nice too (Republic of Tea, I think). If you try it at Starbucks, get it plain–not the hideous “London Fog” mixture.
I am also very fond of cardamom tea, which is black tea with a hint of the spice added. I frequently buy it at an ethnic grocery store in my neighborhood. It goes down very nicely without any sweetener added. Good with or without cream. I was recently gifted a case from Amazon.
Another good black tea that is best without sweeteners is Bigalow’s Constant Comment–it has orange zest and spices, and I believe it’s carb free.
The fancy tea shops offer a good opportunity to try a tea without committing to a large package. However they tend to be pricey and a bit too esoteric for my taste.
You will find that the world of tea knowledge and variety is somewhat like the world of wine, including the snobbery. That said, here is a bit of advice from a dedicated drinker and caffeine addict:
- For black tea, use water that is truly boiling for the best flavor with less bitterness. Pour the water over a teabag or into a teapot with loose tea leaves. A nice touch is to preheat the cup or teapot with hot water beforehand. Use a cup of water with a teabag in it cooked in a microwave only if you are truly desperate.
- Loose leaves vs tea bags is a lot of ado about nothing, in my opinion.
- NEVER drink tea (or any other hot beverage) from a Styrofoam cup, unless you want a mouthful of toxic chemicals that will damage your liver.
- Green tea compares to black tea as decaff coffee compares to French Roast–a mere shadow of the real thing IMHO.
Enough rambling. Enjoy discovering your favorite.
