What's your favorite caffeine / decaf drink?

[SunSpot]

Hi all,

just succumbed again to my love for Sencha tea, which got me thinking, what are the best drinks .. (non alcoholic, duh..).

my personal top 5:

#1: Bengali Mango lassi (has kaffir lime and chili in it and other fresh spices)
#2: Iced Chai
#3: Sencha with milk
#4: Gunpowder black tea from China
#5: That one hot chocolate after a day working in the snow

What're your favs?

 

[Jabberwocky]

Hell yes on the mango lassi!!!! You're the first person I have met who even knows what a good lassi should be like, though I prefer strawberry TBH.

My favs:

1. Maté, using a gord, bombilla and a pot of hot but not boiling water, enjoyed with three bananas
   
2. A nice simple espresso, Parisian cafe style, enjoyed with a butter crossant and possibly a hint of home made strawberry or blackberry jam, preferably enjoyed outside in the sun under a tree on the sidewalk of Isle Saint-Louis next to Notre Dame.
   
3. Earl Gray, loose leaf, from Tevana, steaped for 3 minutes with a tablespoon of fresh cream and a teaspoon of cane sugar.
   
4. A close second to the Earl Gray, but a white tea with a hint of peach also from Tevana, also loose leaf, but enjoyed without any cream or sugar or anything else.
   
5. This is actually my practical favorite, but percolated (sp?) black coffee made with beans a family friend roasts herself, enjoyed at 4am, with the sunrise.
   
6. And lest I forget, my absolute favorite when it comes to hot cocoa, Mexican hot chocolate, made with the big chocolate bar things, simmered in whole milk and whipped until frothy.

This is making my mouth water!

 

[SunSpot]

omg those drinks sound soo good! don't think i ever had a mexican hot chocolate it sounds great!! but it's interesting, your #1 is Mate? wouldn't have thought that, yes it's good but that good?! My last guayaba sp? was years ago and i didn't know proper brewing technique then. As for Lassis, omg heaven .. They made it with fallen fruit, seemed real proud of it wanted me to try. I was sceptical, so she made this huge show (street vendor lady). it was weird, we were walking through the slums later but it was one of the best days of my life .. couldn't stop grinning. We were quite a procession of joy that day Funny how tastes are so strongly linked to memories.

Another really unusual one is Waldmeister von Deutschland. Its not very popular there now (everythings americanized, sigh ..) but used to. It's this little forest herb, and they make a green soda with it and jello. Tastes a bit like pandan, and a bit tart with hints of berry fruits. Hard to describe, just a flavor I've never had before. I swear it was hotter that day over there than in The Desert.

 

[sigmond]

SO>HL

Bump

 

[Boregod]

Monster mean bean cold coffee absolutely amazing

 

[SunSpot]

Boregod you just reminded me of this thread, thanks. I discovered this ancient bag of peach maté in our cluttered pantry and will brew exactly 1g now, thanks tpd for the inspiration.

As for energy drinks imo the best was rockstar cal free from 7 years ago, when they still had these weird herbs in there. Great taste AND the coolest buzz.. Used to study sitting by a 9th floor window overlooking campus, sipping that stuff.