A question for the tea drinkers

[Niode]

I'm more of a coffee drinker these days. Used to drink a lot of tea, but I definitely prefer Earl Grey, and when I fancy something cheaper: Yorkshire Tea.

[blackmagepwns]

Earl Grey, hot.

That's the stuff.

I'm with this guy.

[Whomper]

English tea tends to be a blend of Assam and Ceylon.

There are a lot of everyday brands which are just plain awful - Tetley and Typhoo are the worst offenders. Superior everyday efforts are PG Tips and the wonderful Taylor's Yorkshire Tea.

Yorkshire Tea is very strong - one bag makes two cups, they proudly claim - but is wonderful stuff, particularly when brewed in a pot.

Moving up the price scale, you get into the world of Twinings, who rule the roost in the UK for posh mass-market tea. If you're looking for the experience, I'd say to go for:

• English Breakfast - strong, with a toast-like fragrance. Drink with milk.
• Irish Breakfast - no direct experience of this one - may be designed to complement more peaty water (certainly when staying in the West Coast of Scotland we had to drink Irish teas, as the water made normal tea taste odd).
• Earl Grey - flavoured with oil of bergamot (a type of citrus). Quite fragrant, which doesn't sit well with everyone (namely me). Purists say to drink it with lemon, but lots of people drink it with milk anyway.
• Lady Grey - similar, but even more fragrant variant of the above.

Other than that, they do some competent single variety teas - assam, ceylon, gunpowder, lapsang, etc.

Other posh brands to look out for (if you can find them) are Fortnum's and Wilkin & Son's (Tiptree - they also make superb jam).

I'm living in New Zealand now and have been very impressed by Dilmah teas - particularly their large-leaf ceylon. They're a Sri-Lankan company and may sell in the US.

[jp1]

Well, at least there isn't any animal eating tea leaves and shitting them out. Then all other teas would be rendered trash compared to the new and expensive gourmet tea.

[Reverend]

Well, at least there isn't any animal eating tea leaves and shitting them out. Then all other teas would be rendered trash compared to the new and expensive gourmet tea.

Ah yes, that

[jp1]

[JWatts]

my favorite was a Christmas tea that Twinings made, not sure if they still make it though, had a hint of cinnamon. I'm not a huge tea person but it is my favorite hot beverage.

[Luke]

I would recommend Darjeeling.

Something else you might like is an Oolong. Its in between green and black. Very fragrant and enjoyable.

Good stores for good tea:

http://www.specialteas.com/

Also:

http://www.stashtea.com/

[Niode]

Just noticed somebody mentioned Taylors of Harrogate. They make some pretty nice coffee. The Espresso is great as an everyday coffee, but the Hot Lava Java is awesome. Couldn't have it every day though, bit too strong.

[fastbilly1]

Thanks all, now I have a large list to try. I just discovered a small teashop is opening near my house and the shady Teavana store is now closed. My tea adventures have just begun.