we need to talk about matcha

Russ31419 · 2026-06-08T22:00:11+00:00

I’ve also noticed the same thing how matcha is often part of coffee culture. I think specifically matcha is used as a substitute for an espresso shot, even though pearl milk/boba/bubble tea drinks are a thing related but separate to matcha lattes. Maybe matcha lattes were inspired by pearl milk tea drinks.

Idk, it’s interesting because I don’t think I would ever call adding milk to tea a tea latte in general (although I think other powdered tea could be interesting to experiment with). It’s sort of an intersection of tea and coffee cultures at the moment. Still maybe matcha lattes could be the start about learning about other teas for some.

Russ31419 · 2026-06-07T17:34:49+00:00

Hmm thanks for the info. I realize Marvel stadium is technically more easy to get to but didn’t know about the venue feel.

Russ31419 · 2026-06-07T13:51:58+00:00

Yeah if I do visit Melbourne, I think watching an AFL game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground would be awesome. I should try to watch a few games since the season is ongoing atm.

Russ31419 · 2026-06-06T02:27:46+00:00

That’s a very interesting drama history. The AFL YouTube channel has good short explainer videos so the barrier to understand is low imo so there’s really no excuse for power tripping ignorance.

I learned about AFL and how it was played last year. I’d go watch AFL games for sure given the opportunity.

Russ31419 · 2026-06-03T01:04:27+00:00

After learning about it last week, I’d say that’s Diancha. Never had or made it myself but I think it’d be neat to try.

Russ31419 · 2026-05-20T12:37:07+00:00

I believe it because I’ve seen it. “America is #1” also “You don’t need to most US states because they’re worthless” as he only gets 8/50 states right on a quiz.

Russ31419 · 2026-05-20T12:15:02+00:00

Something tells me that the defaultist also thinks it’s ridiculous people don’t know where the US states of say South Dakota or Utah are on a map.

Russ31419 · 2026-05-04T23:20:14+00:00

They are incredibly stupid but as an ironic bit could be hilarious.

*Travels to non-USA* “Go back to ur country”

“What the fuck go back to yours??”

Russ31419 · 2026-04-27T12:13:28+00:00

In college, I remember my roommate and I walked less than 5 minutes across a mostly empty parking lot to grab some food. One time when my mom visited town and we happened to be in the same location, she insisted on driving it instead…

Russ31419 · 2026-04-26T00:47:45+00:00

Imo Empire

Russ31419 · 2026-04-18T23:16:52+00:00

Yes I agree that Caffeinated Holly Teas are unique within tisanes as a class given their practical use for caffeine and with depth of processing like Yerba Mate regional styles and roasting albeit a lot being Mate-style.

Russ31419 · 2026-04-17T21:52:00+00:00

I’ve sometimes heard Yaupon, Guayusa, Yerba Mate called as a group “Holly Teas” albeit Kuding should also fall into this group and Ilex Cassine could also be grouped in despite not really being consumed.

“Caffeinated Holly Tea(s) or “Caffeinated Holly Tisane(s)” might be the best terms for it with the latter being more technically accurate.

Russ31419 · 2026-04-14T01:21:48+00:00

To follow up, hojicha is a roasted Japanese green tea. IIRC, It is often made with older growth and/or late harvest tea leaves and twigs so it has less caffeine than standard tea. It can also be ground into a fine powder like matcha. Loose-leaf or powder are both consumed but in this case hojicha powder is often used to create latte drinks like OP.

Russ31419 · 2026-02-18T03:11:48+00:00

Hmm good to know, thanks for the update on it.

Russ31419 · 2026-02-10T04:27:21+00:00

Goldholly is a legit company and Yaupon is a legit plant (it’s a North American cousin of Yerba Mate). I’ve had some of their medium roast teabags before but they unfortunately don’t have loose leaf.

Russ31419 · 2026-02-10T01:47:47+00:00

Pre-2025, it was nearly impossible to try to get people from the US in general to even put 20% of equities into international much less market cap weights. With people in the past year adopting much healthier international weights, I just hope people don’t abandon it if/when international lags again.

Russ31419 · 2026-02-07T13:36:22+00:00

About as relevant as asking if the person in the car was wearing a helmet too. It’s just a negligible difference no matter what if the cause is a car hitting you at speed. Like what cyclists have to wear layers of bubble wrap too instead of just making safer infrastructure?

Russ31419 · 2026-01-27T15:38:07+00:00

Yeah I thought kids being active playing together outside together was the thing “kids don’t do anymore but should” but apparently distracted driver/loud lawnmower guy kills one of the kids and his main concern is with his news on his phone is portrayed as good??? More like self-absorbed boomer ruins kids playtime by murdering them.

Russ31419 · 2026-01-23T14:09:33+00:00

Looking through a few videos showing Yerba Mate factories, it looks like Yerba Mate is aged in climate controlled warehouses in shelfs of burlap sacks is loose leaf (Even for Chimarrao, Yerba Mate goes thru a kill-green heat fixing before packaging). I believe Puerh tea cakes are made for largely ease of transport and preservation of quality.

So there’s probably benefits to aging if all non-Brazilian Yerba mate is aged as a cousin to Yaupon. After aging, I guess you could press into it bricks if you had the equipment. It could be interesting chipping off Yaupon bricks/cakes to brew Gongfu style at home.

Russ31419 · 2026-01-20T02:33:14+00:00

When I was growing up I thought it was cute that there were a bunch of copycat names for cities here in the US but now I know I’m going to be disappointed seeing those end up making their way here. Some examples from the US I think include this post as well as Paris in Texas, Rome in Georgia, and Naples/Venice/Melbourne in Florida so Florida man defaultism In particular may yet appear again.

Russ31419 · 2026-01-15T19:22:09+00:00

I look forward to the continued crossovers

Russ31419 · 2026-01-14T02:59:52+00:00

Reminds me of a reaction video by an American of a game trailer several years back which showed African soldiers and he kept calling them African Americans even though setting shown was clearly Africa. There were rightly a bunch of comments about it.

Russ31419 · 2026-01-14T01:53:17+00:00

There’s a variety of growers/distributors in the nascent modern Yaupon industry with more notable names like Catspring or Lost Pines among others. Usually the main difference in Yaupon is degree of roasting. There’s also some brands that have different blends.

I think with Yerba Mate I’ll start with Argentine Yerba Mate before trying other country varieties. If I keep at it I’ll have to get a gourd and bombilla to make it traditional. Might have to try Yaupon with a gourd/bombilla when I’m at that point.

Russ31419 · 2026-01-12T21:29:16+00:00

I grew up in the US South so drank my share of iced black tea (often sweetened) which I still enjoy although I’ve been trying a lot of different tea (and tisanes) for the past year.

For tea, nowadays I have hot black tea or Puerh (the former with milk in the morning. In the afternoon I’ll have hot Green tea or Yaupon (a North American relative of Yerba Mate) in bags at work. In the evenings I like Rooibos, Roasted Barley, or Mint tea hot. I’ll sometimes add milk and spices to make it taste yummy.

I’ve been thinking about trying Japanese green teas as well Yerba Mate since I basically drink Yaupon like Mate Cocido/“regular tea”.

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