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What has happened to our tea?

(56 Posts)
kittylester Thu 30-Jan-14 07:01:26

We make our tea using leaves in a pot but lately have noticed that it has become much less flavoursome. Has anyone else noticed this? Anyone have any recommendations for a strongish, flavoursome, breakfast tea?

margaretm74 Thu 30-Jan-14 13:21:22

A friend made us tea when we visited years ago - she had had water filters fitted to her mains system. The tea was horrible.
However, DD1 drinks filtered rain water (no mains) and I always enjoy the tea at her house.

Granny23 Thu 30-Jan-14 13:17:44

I've gone right off tea and only drink coffee now. I think the problem is our water. Our village used to have its own supply coming direct off the hill. It was a joy to drink, either straight from the tap or as tea. In fact when DD1 worked in London for a year she used to take bottles full down with her and I used to take water from home to work in Town. With the huge expansion of the village we are now connected to chlorinated mains supply which is horrible to drink and makes tea taste yucky. Strong coffee seems to mask the 'artificial' taste.

I used to say that folk were mad to buy bottled water here but now I buy Highland Spring, bottled on the other side of the Ochils at Blackford. It tastes just like our tap water used to do.

margaretm74 Thu 30-Jan-14 13:09:19

How long does loose tea keep if it has never been opened and is in a tin? Surely years ago when it came in sacks and had to travel by slow boat it must have been quite old before being consumed? Just asking because I have a tin of loose tea, never opened, which is years old

margaretm74 Thu 30-Jan-14 13:06:20

I like Yorkshire, but DH keeps bringing home bargain packs of PG, which is OK .... . Just like fairly strong tea with milk! I'm probably a pleb.
Used to drink Rooibos but then I went right off it.
When DD2 is home the cupboard gets filled with all kinds of fruit teas, chai, rooibos, chamomile etc then she leaves it all here where it goes out of date.

Brendawymms Thu 30-Jan-14 12:30:13

One tea that is very tasty is by Ronnefeldt and called Mokalbarie. Pricy but special.

annodomini Thu 30-Jan-14 12:28:41

Make it so, roses! wink

Flowerofthewest Thu 30-Jan-14 12:27:36

I use my vintage Piquotware pot for tea, used to use china teapot but a lady at a specialist tea stall at a Food fare says she find that Piquotware pot is the best - not sure why. It was the coffee/hotwater pot she was using. It does somehow enhance the flavour.

rosesarered Thu 30-Jan-14 12:15:05

Thought I didn't like tea until I discovered Earl Grey [ I use tea bags] have got several teapots in the house but don't seem to use them now. Was brought up on strong orange coloured tea [no idea what it was] and always rather disliked it.Since then have tried many varieties, but only like Earl Grey [with either milk or lemon, depends how I feel.]
So, now I am like Captain Picard...... Earl Grey tea;hot ! [though sadly don't have a machine like he has to instantly produce a cup, unless DH is at home,] grin.

Nelliemoser Thu 30-Jan-14 12:07:00

Yorkshire tea. I got really fed up with DH buying Sainsbury's Red Lable and other better values teas other brands he tried seemed bland.

I am not extravagant with food and I flatly refuse to compromise on having a decent brew.

janerowena Thu 30-Jan-14 11:59:39

I was going to suggest Yorkshire tea too, as a friend said exactly the same thing only a couple of days ago. I think our taste buds change as we age. I drink redbush/rooibos now.

durhamjen Thu 30-Jan-14 11:48:08

I only ever drink herbal teas as I cannot stand the taste of tea.
My sons use Yorkshire tea. The Ringtons man comes round this village, and he keeps trying to persuade me to buy it, even though I tell him that I only use organic herbal teas. I ended up once buying a pack of their organic tea, and gave it to my son after having it in the house for a year without anyone drinking any. I was worried if I kept it any longer it would go completely out of date.

harrigran Thu 30-Jan-14 11:39:56

I use Rington's tea, it was blended to suit the water in this area and it is a nice cuppa brew

janthea Thu 30-Jan-14 11:26:50

I use Twinings Green Tea (50% black and 50% green). I like the flavour of it and I read somewhere that green tea is good for arthritis. Not sure if it's true, but what the heck!

annodomini Thu 30-Jan-14 09:53:52

I drink tea without milk: Ceylon for breakfast; Earl Grey in the afternoon. My favourite brand is Taylor's of Harrogate which I can't always find easily so my fallback is Waitrose's own brand. Always leaf tea, brewed in pottery pot. I don't put lemon in it, preferring to get the 'bouquet' of the tea on its own.
When I go to visit my sister and BiL, I cannot bring myself to drink their brew of choice - Lapsang Souchong which I find unbearably smokey.

I must admit to drinking Rooibos tea as well, because I am very sensitive to caffeine, even in tea.

feetlebaum Thu 30-Jan-14 09:01:51

I drink one mug of tea in the afternoon... Twining's Assam - loose of course...
sans milk.

Surely the 'champagne of teas' is Darjeeling? Very pale and very subtle...

Nonu Thu 30-Jan-14 08:38:09

Flick ,
laugh , nice to start the day with a titter !

FlicketyB Thu 30-Jan-14 08:30:31

"Builder's tea" can be bought in Wickes. DH had some in his Christmas stocking. You do have to supply your own sugar.

Nonu Thu 30-Jan-14 08:17:53

For years and years we drank Sainsburys "Red Label" . However, the price was getting quite ridiculous .
We now drink Aldi tea and a very fine brew it is ! We like ours really strong and this tea fits the bill !
Might even go so far as to say " Builders tea "
sunshine not much so far , still the day is young.

Iam64 Thu 30-Jan-14 08:08:00

We are drinking Lancashire tea - it's strong and flavourful, mind you, it's tea bags for ease

Dragonfly1 Thu 30-Jan-14 07:59:18

*it

Dragonfly1 Thu 30-Jan-14 07:58:43

Kittylester I went off PG Tips because bit did seem to lose its flavour. I use Yorkshire tea instead now, which does seem to have a bit more kick.

grumppa Thu 30-Jan-14 07:57:38

Assam leaves in a pewter pot for afternoon tea. Waitrose bags in stainless steel to get us up in the morning.

Oldgreymare Thu 30-Jan-14 07:57:17

Kitty I went off PG Tips and swapped to Twinings English Breakfast, sadly tea bags, so what do I know?

Brendawymms Thu 30-Jan-14 07:54:28

Ditto grin

kittylester Thu 30-Jan-14 07:47:01

I don't think we have very refined tastes - our tea of choice is PG Tips! shock.