British Tea (best, place, accent) - Page 3 - City-Data Forum

Rob Allen · 03-05-2009, 01:54 PM

My local market sells Murrough's Welsh Brew tea, which I was surprised to see here in the suburbs of Portland, Oregon, USA. But my grandmother was Welsh, so I tried it - and I love it! Must be genetic...

It's also common to find Twining's and Jackson's teas in stores here. Are those considered good teas in Britain? Their packages certainly try to give that impression.

Brit2009 · 03-05-2009, 02:41 PM

Twinings are not necessarily any better than any other brand of tea on the market but are known for their variety. They are more popular for their variation of teas, however, for example their large range of fruit teas rather than a bog standard English cuppa. Basically there really isn't much to it - in most English homes you will find a kettle and either a box of pg tips, tetley or yorkshire gold etc. If people are in to their fruit teas etc or are particular about what they drink they may have twinings teas but I would say that's probably about 1 in 20 people I know if that. Fruit teas and Twinings type teas are probably drank less than coffees here to give you an idea. We don't all stock up on a variety of teas and drink our teas in different ways - most of us have one type (English breakfast as you would know it) which will be one of the brands named with hot water a splash of milk and sugar to your liking.

Mooseketeer · 03-06-2009, 04:47 AM

Am I the only one who actually drinks loose tea only ?

I have been in the UK for over 20 years now and I was really surprised how bad the tea is here ( in my opinion as I said before it really all very subjective). I have met very few British people who actually drink loose tea , most seem happy with teabags. I find it so odd from a Nation reputed for its tea drinking. I always find the tea much nicer on the continent.

You usually have to go to a really expensive tea-rom in Britain to get loose teas .

I also love Green tea and Rooibos tea . Does anyone else like Japanese Green Tea and Rooibos ?

Scotslass · 03-06-2009, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mooseketeer

Am I the only one who actually drinks loose tea only ?

I have been in the UK for over 20 years now and I was really surprised how bad the tea is here ( in my opinion as I said before it really all very subjective). I have met very few British people who actually drink loose tea , most seem happy with teabags. I find it so odd from a Nation reputed for its tea drinking. I always find the tea much nicer on the continent.

You usually have to go to a really expensive tea-rom in Britain to get loose teas .

I also love Green tea and Rooibos tea . Does anyone else like Japanese Green Tea and Rooibos ?

I enjoy a nice cup of green tea, I also love Chinese tea along with my "regular" tea.

I am more of a coffee drinker though.

Brit2009 · 03-06-2009, 10:07 AM

I think it is very rare for people to drink loose tea and I see it as a bit 'quirky' - in a good way. My husband likes rooibos, however, it tastes horrid to me. It's all just a question of personal taste I guess and I think people should drink whatever they like. I just felt it was appropriate to explain to the OP that most people use teabags like the ones he has purchased. It is a little more rare for people to drink other varieties like green and rooibos and rarer still to drink loose. As he was asking what is a good representative of what most people drink I think his pg tips are right on the mark. I am going to look for some loose though as I'm intrigued to try it now. Is it similar to rooibos/ green though as I don't like either of these (maybe I've been ruined by my teabag addiction)!

averagejoe76 · 03-06-2009, 10:13 AM

On the topic of Tea's what is cream tea??

Brit2009 · 03-06-2009, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by averagejoe76

On the topic of Tea's what is cream tea??

Tea with scones and clotted cream usually. I actually have a cup of tea right now with a scone in hand but that is highly coincidental as we don't over sit around taking tea and scones every afternoon! And I normally have chocolate hobnobs!!!

Mooseketeer · 03-06-2009, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brit2009

I think it is very rare for people to drink loose tea and I see it as a bit 'quirky' - in a good way. My husband likes rooibos, however, it tastes horrid to me. It's all just a question of personal taste I guess and I think people should drink whatever they like. I just felt it was appropriate to explain to the OP that most people use teabags like the ones he has purchased. It is a little more rare for people to drink other varieties like green and rooibos and rarer still to drink loose. As he was asking what is a good representative of what most people drink I think his pg tips are right on the mark. I am going to look for some loose though as I'm intrigued to try it now. Is it similar to rooibos/ green though as I don't like either of these (maybe I've been ruined by my teabag addiction)!

You can get so many different varieties of loose tea, which is another attraction to me. I would start loose tea with a good English Breakfast or an Assam probably though I also really like Earl Grey ( Lady Grey is also quite nice). I hate over-brewed tea I have to admit, it then becomes really bitter. Sometimes I even experiment with blending my own from different types.

I personally prefer tea with no milk and just a slice of lemon. I don't drink tea that often so I am quite fussy about it when I do and I find teabags tend to loose the tea flavour and concentrate the bitterness a lot more.

Have you got a strainer ? I use d to have an external strainer but I now have a teapot which has a removable one ( from Whittards I think) and I make sure I lightly infuse the tea not leaving it too long or you end up with what to me tastes like tar.

A nice cup of Darjeeling , with some lemon , and some scones, strawberry jam and clotted cream , heaven !

Brit2009 · 03-06-2009, 11:57 AM

Brilliant, thanks for the info! I think I'll get down to my local Whittards and have a look at the equipment! I think I'll start with the English breakfast variety as I find Earl Grey slightly too perfumed, definately an acquired taste anyway. Thanks again!

Kalbo · 03-06-2009, 12:13 PM

I drink 2-3 cups of green tea a day. I have seen English Teas in America but never PG Tips, in fact I have never heard of that brand. The other brands mentioned I have tried.