The Great British Tea Debate!

[Sir_Catherine]

Shadow of an Illusion

Earl Grey is one of those teas you aren't supposed to have milk with. (I still do but I like my tea milky)

Really? I thought milk could, by tradition, be used with any strong black tea. How does one determine if the tea is or is not meant to be taken with milk? For my stronger cups I still plan on using milk, but it would be nice to know.

Have you ever tried pekoe with a drop of actual bergamot oil? A friend who is a certified massage therapist brought over all her oils one day and was showing them to me while I made tea. Though they are meant for scenting lotions, she put a drop of the oil in my ordinary pekoe. Instant pseudo Earl Grey. Very interesting, though we discovered one does not want to accidentally taste pure bergamot oil from the rim of one's tea cup. I think her taste buds went numb for a while!  

[Invictus_88]

No milk for Earl Grey, but you can still choose to. People will either simply not notice or, if they do, just think you're slightly eccentric or gauche.  

[ficklefiend]

Invictus_88

No milk for Earl Grey, but you can still choose to. People will either simply not notice or, if they do, just think you're slightly eccentric or gauche.

or common.  

[Shadow of an Illusion]

Sir_Catherine

Shadow of an Illusion

Earl Grey is one of those teas you aren't supposed to have milk with. (I still do but I like my tea milky)

Really? I thought milk could, by tradition, be used with any strong black tea. How does one determine if the tea is or is not meant to be taken with milk? For my stronger cups I still plan on using milk, but it would be nice to know.

I put milk in mine anyway (if it has to be Earl Grey), but don't give people milk if they order it.  

[Invictus_88]

I have just returned from a trip to Swansea to see POTC3, really rather fun.

Best of all, Whittard's had a sale. So I returned with Lapsang Souchong, Russian Caravan, some more Assam and something called their "1886 Blend". All for mere pennies.

I've never bought from Whittard before though, and haven't yet had time to try any teas. Do Whittard teas come particularly highly recommended?  

[Ithaya]

I like Davy Jones's Locker in that. ^^

Some of Whittard's instant teas are quite nice. I like the Turkish apple one, and the green teas (I find pure green tea too bitter). And they have nice teapots. ^^ I bought one for my sister in the sale because she's moving.

I take Earl Grey with milk. It's my favourite drink. And they serve milk with it in most places. In a little jug. In the posh places they give you lemon too. So you can choose. Shame I don't visit them a lot. I've yet to try it with lemon.  

[Shadow of an Illusion]

You can put any tea with lemon. The lemon binds with something and changes the taste of the tea. Still, I prefer my tea with milk.  

[Creatio ex Nihilo]

I'm in need of tea..Our teachers have confiscated our tea and coffee because the day girls refuse to clean up after themselves just because they have to get the bus or their parents are waiting for them. crying Why us boarders must suffer the consequences, I don't know. It's ruddy annoying though and I'll be on the warpath soon if I don't get some caffeine down my throat. scream

But I would love some mint tea or some chai.  

[shigatsuhana]

Most people that I know who drink Earl Grey will have milk in it. I used to like Earl Grey until one place where I worked, we drank several cups a day, and grew to hate it. Give me PG tips for everyday tea any time! However, my tea of choice is Green tea, preferably Genmaicha.  

[Sir_Catherine]

Invictus_88

Sir_Catherine

Invictus_88

I've not had it since I was last on the Continent, in my experience it's not seen here much. It's nice though, refreshing, but not really 'tea'.

I'm more impressed with the officer in Iraq who brewed two litres of English Breakfast Tea with milk and sugar, and froze it in a camelback to provide tea for a fully day in the baking hot sun.

I'm determined to try it myself.

The ice tea I drink is straight black tea chilled, so I don't see how it would be any less 'tea' than your officer's. Just mass produced.

Not surprised it isn't seen much cross the pond from here though.

They always taste of fruit, it seems.

Say, Invictus, you never responded to my question of what iced tea brand you were drinking that it would taste of fruit.

In the States many places will offer raspberry iced tea and one can find it in bottles as well. You seemed surprised at the fruit taste though, so I'm guessing what you had was supposed to be plain, non-flavored, iced tea?

Very strange if so; I can tell you Lipton unsweetened bottled iced tea taste strong, good and not at all fruity.  

[Foetus In Fetu]

The only iced tea I've ever had tasted of fruit.

Was apparently supposed to, however.  

[Invictus_88]

Sir_Catherine

Invictus_88

Sir_Catherine

Invictus_88

I've not had it since I was last on the Continent, in my experience it's not seen here much. It's nice though, refreshing, but not really 'tea'.

I'm more impressed with the officer in Iraq who brewed two litres of English Breakfast Tea with milk and sugar, and froze it in a camelback to provide tea for a fully day in the baking hot sun.

I'm determined to try it myself.

The ice tea I drink is straight black tea chilled, so I don't see how it would be any less 'tea' than your officer's. Just mass produced.

Not surprised it isn't seen much cross the pond from here though.

They always taste of fruit, it seems.

Say, Invictus, you never responded to my question of what iced tea brand you were drinking that it would taste of fruit.

In the States many places will offer raspberry iced tea and one can find it in bottles as well. You seemed surprised at the fruit taste though, so I'm guessing what you had was supposed to be plain, non-flavored, iced tea?

Very strange if so; I can tell you Lipton unsweetened bottled iced tea taste strong, good and not at all fruity.

It was in France a good few years ago, yellow label. Lipton, I believe. In a biggish cheapish plastic bottle, ribbed for some reason. Presumably for extra pleasure, or something.

I had no idea what it was supposed to be. To my mind, tea is tea. That is to say; black tea of an English style, in a cup, probably with a spot of milk. So, something iced was a bit beyond my comprehension. It was a bit surprised when the tea taste was primarily on the aftertaste though, with the main impact being a sort of tea-and-peaches affair.

But bearing in mind I can drink hot tea when it's pushing forty degrees centigrade, I'm not sure I'll ever have much use of iced tea.  

[Sir_Catherine]

Invictus_88

bearing in mind I can drink hot tea when it's pushing forty degrees centigrade

I'll keep that in mind. smile

Especially considering the "biggish cheapish plastic bottle, ribbed...tea-and-peaches" description, I'm going to conclude that you had the misfortune of quaffing peach flavored iced tea.

Not the iced tea I choose to drink. I once said if you came to the states I would serve you a decent cup of tea to make up for all the crap you'll find otherwise. I now add a decent bottle of unsweetened, no fruit flavors, iced tea to that offer.

Bottled iced tea really is the way to go when one is driving down the freeway and shouldn't be handling a hot liquid.  

[Invictus_88]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5jTXdiBwas

I'm amazed I've not seen this before now, but...hell yes.

I'm quite happily amused!  

[Warnersister]

So, will we British start dunking Oreos in our tea?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7376123.stm

Oreos are good for munching on their own, but not for tea, I believe.

DW