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Thread: Tea!

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    LUSE Galant's Avatar
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    Tea!

    Despite being British I grew up not liking tea at all. It wasn't until got fed up with constantly having to turn down offers of tea and coffee (I didn't drink either), and being bored with the usual things offered instead (orange cordial/juice or maybe hot chocolate) that I decided to force myself to expand and see if I could acquire a taste for both tea and coffee.

    Coffee, as it turns out, was the easiest to jump into. Far easier. Addictive much?

    I struggled to find an enjoyable tea, though, until one day, in a Japanese restaurant I ordered a green tea and instead of what I expected - having to force it down in the hopes of acquiring a taste for it - whatever they served me was exquisite! I genuinely enjoyed the tea. It was one of the best drinks I'd ever had.

    So that was it. Off I went on a journey of finding teas that I might actually like. At first my tea drinking didn't really give me much help in common social settings because I found that I only liked green tea, and more specifically, good quality Japanese green tea. (Aside - there are so many awful green teas out there being drunk like some kind of weight-loss/anti-oxidant medicine that I find most people have no clue what a good green tea tastes like, and that's almost a tragedy.) Slowly though, I've expanded my tastes and found a good number of teas that I can enjoy. Coffee remains my go-to social drink because, sadly, most people only have 'British' teas which are almost always black teas and I'm just not a fan of most of them, so I go with coffee since it seems easier to find a palatable coffee at people's homes than it does tea. Nevertheless, it's been wonderful to begin exploring the pleasures of tea and I'm really only just beginning.

    It's had me thinking lately, though. Tea is the quintessential British beverage, and yet, with the soaring popularity of coffee, coffee machines, different varieties of coffee, coffee shops etc. could it be that there's now more common knowledge about the preparation of coffee and the pursuit of 'good' coffee than there is tea? Has tea been relegated to only a single form of preparation - kettle, mug, milk, sugar, tea bag? The teapot seems to have disappeared from many homes, especially in the younger generations, and been replaced with a cafetiere, mocha pot, Nespresso machine and who knows what else.

    There seems to be more awareness of blends of coffee, countries of origin, and methods of preparation etc. than types of tea and their preparation methods - which are, in general, far simpler, less technical processes but also requiring more patience than with coffee.

    Is the art of tea making being lost, have people forgotten what it is to enjoy a really, really good cup of tea?

    Anyone care to chirp in?

    Anyone got any favourite tea types or preparation methods they'd care to share?

    Last edited by Galant; 06-01-2016 at 12:22 PM.
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    Not a good person scaryjim's Avatar
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    Re: Tea!

    My 17 year old makes the best cup of tea out of anyone in the house, so I don't think the art of making good tea is being lost. Of course, being in Manchester we are a little spoiled for options to source good teas, but I suspect it's still easier to find a really good cup of tea than a really good cup of coffee; whilst coffee might be more ubiquitous it's rarely taken as seriously as tea, and you tend to get a fairly uniform experience regardless of where you get it (unless you get a filter in starbucks, in which case it's vomit-inducing, in my experience).

    Basically, when people meet for coffee they're meeting to socialise, and happen to meet somewhere that serves coffee - the social aspect is almost more important. Whereas when people meet for tea - often Afternoon Tea, of course - the drink is actually the primary reason for meeting. Different drinks, different purposes.

    I don't think there's much general awareness of types, blends, origins or preparations of coffee amongst the general population. I'm sure there are coffee nerds out there, but the average Joe in the street probably thinks coffee comes from Starbucks or grows on trees in little metal pods. They'll be able to tell you they like a cappuccino, but probably won't be able to tell you the difference between that, a Latte and a flat white. And anyone who owns a Nespresso machine clearly knows NOTHING about coffee, frankly. Awful things. I have far more friends who'd be able to bore my hind legs off talking about different teas than talking about different coffees (although both groups are probably outnumbered by the ones who'll talk about wine ). I guess it just depends on the circles you move in, but the tea-lovers are still there and holding strong

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    Grumpy and VERY old :( g8ina's Avatar
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    Re: Tea!

    Tea as most folk know it tastes really foul to me A shame really, so I mainly drink decent coffee. But the more recent types of fruit teas have taken my fancy, my latest favourite being liquorice tea. I also like the chamomile and spiced apple or honey, the blackcurrant and mint and a couple of others. But tea tea ?? nahhhh.
    Cheers, David



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    Re: Tea!

    Thanks Jim!

    I suspect you're right and social/cultural circles can make a huge difference here.
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    Re: Tea!

    Quote Originally Posted by g8ina View Post
    Tea as most folk know it tastes really foul to me A shame really, so I mainly drink decent coffee. But the more recent types of fruit teas have taken my fancy, my latest favourite being liquorice tea. I also like the chamomile and spiced apple or honey, the blackcurrant and mint and a couple of others. But tea tea ?? nahhhh.
    Aha! Potential target found!

    Where's my tea conversion book for bashing people with?

    When you say "tea tea", is there any chance you're referring to the normal black teas most people drink? And if so, have you ever tried other types of tea (like green, white etc.) or even things like Chai?

    On the more herbal or non-tea teas, have you tried things like rooibos etc?

    Some are strict about defining tea as only drinks coming from the camelia sinensis leaves, but I think it's generally easy to include other leafy/herbal drinks brewed with hot water.

    To that end - my wife and I have tried and enjoyed a few teas I grabbed from our local M&S over Christmas. My wife enjoys chamomile and lemon teas, so I grabbed a Lemon, Ginger and Ginseng tea which was actually really really enjoyable. Also, since she enjoys Earl Grey and Lady Grey teas, I grabbed their 'Empress Grey' blend and although I hate Earl Grey and Lady Grey I found I really enjoyed that one too.

    A good Japanese green tea, though, is still my favourite.

    I should also mention that I never take milk in my tea - with the exception of Chai where I'll add a dash of milk to soften the black tea flavour a little.
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    Grumpy and VERY old :( g8ina's Avatar
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    Re: Tea!

    Yep, ordinary black tea like TyPhoo etc Ive tried Chinese green tea & rooibos. No to both. AND I have to have sugar in my fruit concoctions
    Cheers, David



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    Re: Tea!

    Quote Originally Posted by g8ina View Post
    Yep, ordinary black tea like TyPhoo etc Ive tried Chinese green tea & rooibos. No to both. AND I have to have sugar in my fruit concoctions
    Chinese green tea tends to be harsher than Japanese, in my experience, although it can vary a bit. I don't tend to take sugar in anything, gave that up a while back, although I will have honey on occasion.

    What is it that you don't like about them - too bitter? Or just the taste?
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    Re: Tea!

    Well try something like single estate high grown Sri Lankan tea made with soft water first. Its a much more delicate flavour than the sledgehammer low grown stuff which most black tea in the UK uses as its cheaper and they tend to be blends too. High grown tea not blended with all the low and medium grown stuff is so different,and most people would not believe me until they tried it.

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    MCRN Tachi Ttaskmaster's Avatar
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    Re: Tea!

    Coffee - Carte Noir instant, or an Italian brand espresso (made in a stovetop pot), maybe a latte if I'm in the mood.
    I own a caffetiere thing, but that only gets used on guests. I HATE the stuff myself, along with Nescafe and most other brands that people seem to get all elitist about.

    I generally take coffee black with 2 sugars, a habit I picked up when portraying a WW2 GI.
    I do NOT use Starbucks and only touch the others when there's no other option, or if socialising.
    The Mrs refuses all hot drinks, and yet I have gotten her into Macchiatos (Macchiata? Macchiatae?) which she now loves.


    Tea - PG Tips/builders' breakfast type, milk and 2. NATO standard, basically.
    I have enjoyed rooibos (SA brands only, funnily enough), I put sugar and sometimes milk into Earl Grey, I enjoy Oriental teas when so dining (even at places like Yo Sushi) and I generally despise most 'herbal' teas as they tend to be disappointing, weakly scented hot water that tastes faintly of whatever it says on the packet, no matter how long I soak the bag for.

    I'd love one, but I am not allowed delicate things like teapots and my primary reasons for drinking tea are either coming in after a long motorcycle ride in sub-zero standing temperatures (ie -35ºC at motorway speeds), or when working as a Mechanic's Assistant where tea is just 'the done thing'.

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    Re: Tea!

    I make most of my tea in disposable DIY teabags, filled with whatever loose tea option I happen to feel like (usually either an Assam or Lady Grey). I do own a teapot but don't really use it - it's just something else that would need to be washed up. Given that I can control the quality of loose tea that goes into the bags I think that removes the main advantage of using a pot. Even if I'm making several cups I prefer the bags as everyone can choose which tea they'd prefer. I'll generally put a splash of milk into the Assam but nothing in the Lady Grey.

    I've never really got into green teas, although it's likely I've never experimented enough to get the brewing spot on either, so that could be part of it. Given the black tea I usually favour (I prefer a punchy Assam to generally lighter and more floral Ceylon options) I think it's likely that my tastes don't suit green tea in general. I remain open minded to finding something I like though, maybe I'll try and find some good Japanese green tea to try at some point. If green tea varies between regions as much as black tea then I certainly haven't tried much of what's out there.

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    HEXUS.timelord. Zak33's Avatar
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    Re: Tea!

    OK. This is serious.

    Bad weak tea is utter dross. Tea with a skin on is dross. Tea with that brown scabby stuff stuck the mug is dross.

    Lets start at the beginning.

    Boil Kettle.
    Allow to stand for about 1 minute to lose a little heat.
    Pour water into EMPTY CLEAN mug
    Add tea bag
    Stir the WATER .. NOT the tea bag. Do everything in your will power to NOT squeeze the tea bag. Stir the entire mug of water a dont' stop.

    Do ... NOT.. leave it to stand. Not in a mug. Never. Leaving it to stand is for tea pots ONLY.

    Add some milk... then stir some more. Then add some more if required.



    Using this method you will NEVER get that brown scabby crusty stuff on the side of the mug. The flavour will come out of the tea leaves, and the tea will be superbly drinkable.


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    MCRN Tachi Ttaskmaster's Avatar
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    Re: Tea!

    Quote Originally Posted by Zak33 View Post
    Stir the WATER .. NOT the tea bag. Do everything in your will power to NOT squeeze the tea bag. Stir the entire mug of water a dont' stop.
    But for how long do you stir this, though?

    Also, you say not to leave it standing in the mug... and yet a number of studies on The Perfect Tea all conclude you should do just this, for exactly 4½ minutes (+/- a few seconds, if making several cups).
    Certainly everyone I make tea for insists on it standing, with two insisting the bag be squeezed and only Mum insisting it not be.

    Quote Originally Posted by Zak33 View Post
    Using this method you will NEVER get that brown scabby crusty stuff on the side of the mug.
    That's the tannin, isn't it?

    Quote Originally Posted by Zak33 View Post
    I know our policy on swearing. I utterly stand by my link on this.
    Can Admins actually be banned/punished by Mods/other Admins?

    Quote Originally Posted by Zak33 View Post
    No kids will read a thread in a cookery forum on tea making.
    But parents do and may direct their kids here for the learning experience! ;p
    "Hexus Tea Camp - Send your children away to learn how they *should* be making your Sunday Morning Cuppa"!

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    Re: Tea!

    Quote Originally Posted by Ttaskmaster View Post
    But for how long do you stir this, though?
    All these and other questions.. do you not know there is a British Standard for making tea? BS 6008:1980 or ISO 3103-1980


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    Re: Tea!

    Ooh Long, black. I can't stand the generic teas, but a cup of this Chinese tea is real treat. I also enjoy strong dark ground coffee. I realised that a lot of people just throw drink and food down their throats, but I really enjoy small amounts of extremely tasty food/drink, and really enjoy every mouthful.

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    HEXUS.timelord. Zak33's Avatar
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    Re: Tea!

    Tea... Like coffee....us,important enough to put my ban hammer cupboard key out if reach of other mods

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    Grumpy and VERY old :( g8ina's Avatar
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    Re: Tea!

    Quote Originally Posted by Ttaskmaster View Post
    Can Admins actually be banned/punished by Mods/other Admins?
    Oh yes.

    But not today.
    Cheers, David



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