View Full Version : Anyone use loose leaf tea?
Last weekend it was like a reality nightmare - I'd run out of teabags!!! This week there was no chance of that happening, I got swmbo to buy some teabags and milk.
Crawled out of my pit this morning, eyes half shut, mouth dry, head all fuzzy and made for the kettle. Filled the kettle, got it boiling, opened the new box of teabags only to find LOOSE TEA!!! NOOOOOOOOO!!!!1
All is not lost. I live is a fully furnished flat, fully furnished by a little old lady so apart from all the doilies and flowery crockery that we keep stashed out of view in the mysterious cupboard of ming we actually have a tea strainer. I was saved. And actually it's not a bad cuppa, apart form the extra tea scum floating on the top that teabags must filter out.
So does anyone else use loose leaf tea and why? I would say a teabag makes a slightly superior more convenient cup of tea, but I will see this bogof (typical isn't it :D ) box of loose tea through.
The only time I use tea bags is when I'm not at home. I love loose tea leaves - tastes much nicer, richer, smoother and much much more aromatic. Loose tea leaves makes a far better cup of tea. My favourite mixture is lapsang souchong with asam - 2 for 1 usually. But I vary that with some darjeeling at times.
The only time I use tea bags is when I'm not at home. I love loose tea leaves - tastes much nicer, richer, smoother and much much more aromatic. Loose tea leaves makes a far better cup of tea. My favourite mixture is lapsang souchong with asam - 2 for 1 usually. But I vary that with some darjeeling at times.
Likewise, loose leaf tea is far superior to tea bag tea, but teabags are so convenient..
If I'm making a cuppa for more than me I always used to make it with loose leaf tea, but I haven't bothered with a tea strainer and pot here to be able to do it.
I agree, a quick cuppa a tea bag is so much easier. However I've got this cool little gadget (a metal strainer type of thing) that you just fill with leaves in for a one cup portion, so you get the benefits of loose tea mixtures (if you mix) but without the mess! :)
Stan_Lite
08-09-2007, 10:30
I use loose leaf most of the time, I find it a much tastier cuppa.
My morning pot is usually Twinings English breakfast and my afternoon pot is usually Assam. I have the occasional pot of Earl Grey thrown in for a tasty refreshing brew.
I use a glass teapot with a built in strainer - seems to keep the 'floaters' down to a minimum.
Only tea I like is green tea and I've never tried doing that at home in case it puts me off it.
Seem to have gone off coffee recently :shocked:
Huddy made me a coffee (well 2) on holiday and it was lovely :) First coffee I'd had in about 4 or 5 weeks. Came home, made a coffee, poured half of it down the sink :undecided:
Leaf tea is much much better. I have both loose and bags in the house though as teabags can be convenient. At the moment I have Ceylon, Lady Grey, Assam and Keemun tea. My favourite is Orange Pekoe (FTGFOP to be precise) but it's quite awkward to get up here, normally have to get it when I visit my sister in London or sometimes you can get it mail order.
Yummy tea :)
Would one of you loose tea leaves people read me my future after your next cuppa?! :D
I don't think I've ever tried loose tea leaves. This is something I will have to look in to me'thinks.
Fancy a cuppa now! Nom nom nom!
Mystic Jon *appears in a puff of smoke*
I see much naughtiness in your future and wiggling of your bottom :shocked:
I say, this is an extremely rude cup of tea :shocked:
Piggymon
09-09-2007, 20:28
I wubs Jasmine tea .. yum yum.
Orange pekoe isn't a fruit tea by the way (not even flavoured with orange)..... it's just a name. Orange Pekoe is a black tea :)
Tea bag in mug, add sugar and boiling water, stir, pour in milk and leave to brew with bag in for about an hour.
Go builders tea!
Sugar? In tea?! Eeewwwwww! :p
Sugar? In tea?! Eeewwwwww! :p
Damn, straight. Faysh's method is correct. It's so correct she went out and got me a box of teabags after seeing my strugglings on Sunday morning :D
(note: strugglings in the kitchen, not on the toilet)
Earl Grey and not Tesco value pap either. It must be Twinnings, made at 70 degrees celcius with the bag dipped for 6 minutes and not a moment more. It mustn't be stirred and no milk will be added. It shall not be quaffed from a mug, it must be a bone china cup.
Rose tea is nice and so is any Whittards loose tea, however when making Earl Grey, the above procedure must be followed.
Here is something nobody has mentioned... When having a normal brew, what biscuit?
70 degrees? Are you insane man? Water straight off the boil or one gets a mug full of "mad womans widdle" (C) Former Royal Marine Ernest G. Davidson (1899-1952) who knew all about tea.
Ahh, common misconception with Earl Grey. You can be forgiven for being a heathen though. [/condescending tone]
You are correct when using normal common tea.
When having a normal brew, what biscuit?
Something British!
So I like Rich Tea, chocolate Digestive, chocolate Hobnobs, shortbread etc. Today I feel llike some choccie 'nobs ;D
Ahh, common misconception with Earl Grey. You can be forgiven for being a heathen though. [/condescending tone]
You are correct when using normal common tea.
Earl Grey isn't tea, it's garden waste, it's got flowers in it.
Adding milk while the bag is still in the cup is just plain wrong. I don't know what the science involved is but I'm sure there's something in milk that just blocks the perforations and makes the tea horrible. Probably enzymes, or biomolecules or something. No doubt.
I do like a gingernut with a cup of tea, but most biscuits will suffice.
Adding milk while the bag is still in the cup is just plain wrong.
I do that :D Mic always complains but when I have done it "his" way he never notices the bloody difference anyway :p
Maybe you just make grotty tea? :D
I don't get some people here pour cold milk on the teabag, then top it up with hot water. This is wrong and makes wrong tasting tea.
Some of my old clients used to make the worst tea in the world. Truly bad.
Matblack
11-09-2007, 13:39
I wubs Jasmine tea .. yum yum.
Yum Yum indeed!
http://www.nbtea.co.uk/acatalog/Exotic_Tea.html
Just placed and order with these guys :)
MB
Von Smallhausen
11-09-2007, 19:07
Earl Grey isn't tea, it's garden waste, it's got flowers in it.
Good gracious, you utter savage !!!!!!! :D
Earl Grey and half a slice of lemon ..... perfect. :cool:
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