Tea

Used to drink Earl Grey but now only redbush - Tick Tock variety. Tried the Tetleys, it's horrible. I do not, however, take milk in any tea, so I don't know what redbush would be like if you put milk in it. Can't drink ordinary tea, it makes me want to throw up!

Tetley is my favourite ordinary tea only I don't like it too strong. I haven't had orange pekoe for a long time but it is nice slightly different flavour. I do like earl grey sometimes with milk sometimes with lemon. I also like green tea

Talking of liquorice (?), is there any widely available that isn't soft, too much aniseed or too much black treacle? The tea is good.

I really should be more adventurous in my tea drinking- I like my tea very weak (which horrifies my mother and DD!) and generally only drink coffee

I've tried more expensive teas but I always go back to Tesco original - can't beat if for that morning cuppa.

Tetley decff. I like weak tea with no sugar and some lactofree milk. One teabag lasts me all day so only 365 per year just for me. Of course more is used for family and friends. I have decaff coffee with no sugar or milk one cup mid morning sometimes never anymore. I'm cheap to maintain!!

I am constantly in search of a refreshing hot drink, so am grateful for all the ideas here. I cannot stand 'ordinary' tea, especially not with milk in it, and I am fed up with coffee. I like some fruit teas, but am tempted by the liquorice and the redbush, so will try them both. Thank you all.

Apricot
There you are! Does that make you feel better?

I clicked on this thread expecting a delicious discussion on cakes. I do drink an occasional cup of tea but don't care what sort or how it's made. It's the cake which matters!

I like to buy my Assam and fruit teas from Aldi, not tried the coffee. They do have some fantastic stuff in there.

I drank only tap water during January to raise awareness and sponsorship for WaterAid which provides clean safe water and hygiene facilities for those without them. I have mainly avoided caffeine for several years for medical reasons.

At 12.15am on 1st February I had a low calorie hot chocolate, it was ok.

Next morning I had a decaff coffee (I like Aldi Gold, no I really like it, it's not just the price!) that was all right too.

Later I had Redbush and realised what drink I had truly missed in January - it was delicious, comforting, and refreshing. I enjoy it with or without milk and my son has given up coffee for Redbush without milk.

The glass of wine I had last week was good too - and kind friends and family donated almost £200 to WaterAid. Now I'm wondering whether I can give up chocolate for March ...

For Christmas my SIL bought me a selection of Whittard teas. Some lovely blends but my favourite is the Orange Pekoe. Delicious flavour and with a slight zing. Yum! Their original blend is very enjoyable too if you like a strong flavour, which I do.

Yes redbush ("rooibos") is the tea that Alexander McCall Smith has woven into his stories. It is widely popular all over Southern Africa. It is naturally caffeine free, quite an acquired taste. I can only drink it with no milk and a bit of honey. It is also used as a digestive soother; and there is a whole range of rooibos baby products and beauty products too.

Yes I prefer the Waitrose Earl Grey too Anno . Have you tried the Lady Grey - very refreshing ?

There's Earl Grey and Earl Grey. I bought some bags from Morrison's and they were horrible. It's worthwhile trying several different brands and choosing the less perfumed if that's what you prefer - I do. I also find Twinings a bit too scented. At the moment, I am using Waitrose's own brand leaf Earl Grey. I can then adjust the strength to my own taste.

Yorkshire Tea please. I find PG tips very bitter and rudely refer to it a smokers tea. Red bush tea no, well it isn't really tea is it?

My OH has dabbled with good value own brands but if there is one thing I won't compromise on is a decent cup of tea.

I don't really like Earl Grey either! It smells good though, but as others have said, it's like drinking perfume.

I am a tea addict, there are places I go, The local U3A and our choir concerts where the tea is usually dreadfully "gnats piss". I think it's down to poor quality tea bags rather than too few tea bags.

I suggested at these places that they need to up the quality of the tea provided which provoked the response "Oh for heavens sake don't go upseting our tea ladies!"

I love Assam too!
DH bought home a giant box of PG Tips which I am working my way through (nobody else in this house drinks tea), but is is not a patch on Assam IMHO.

PG Tips for me - it's get me going through some tough times. I also like Camomile tea sometimes and drank a lot during "the change."

Jings - must agree about Earl Grey - like drinking scent.

Actually for those who like a delicate flavour, Darjeeling is good - known as 'the champagne of teas', it gives a pale straw-coloured infusion.

Assam, loose leaf and a proper pot...just drinking a mug of it now, no milk just a couple of sweeteners. Lo-o-o-o-vely!

Is redbush tea the one that is talked about in the Alexander McCall books ?

It makes a difference if your area has hard or soft water.

PG tips, but not strong. Other than that, a nice cup of redbush.

Thanks everyone.

Sheena I shall try the Taylors Yorkshire Gold and the Assam tea Jing.

Any tea will do but I do not like strong tea but as my mother called it knats pee!