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In praise of tea...

(116 Posts)
GagaJo Tue 28-Feb-23 09:12:04

Ordinary old black tea, with milk.

I've drunk it after giving birth, when getting a cancer diagnosis, post-op, when hungover, to get rid of headaches (2 cups, in the quiet of morning) and when feeling nauseas to settle my stomach.

The only time I've gone off tea was sadly on chemo, but even then, I just switched over to Earl Grey. The perfumed taste disguised the chemo metallic tang.

I've taken my own supply of Yorkshire Tea to Spain, Switzerland, the US and even, ironically, took my tea to China. A little taste of home when homesick.

karmalady Thu 02-Mar-23 16:25:37

One big china mug of yorkshire gold every morning, just a dip in and out with the t bag. No milk

A large china mug of redbush in the afternoon. No milk

I like oolong and have some lovely, expensive white tea which does several fills, I make it weak at 60 degrees

One fill of home ground coffee a day and a small matcha.

rest of the time it is filtered water

I no longer like tea as it used to be

Gwenisgreat1 Thu 02-Mar-23 16:39:20

I became allergic to coffee, so turned to tea, loved any flavoured black tea providing it had no milk or sugar. Just recently I found I could drink coffee again, so now it's breakfast tea in the morning and early evening and coffee at other times.

Silverlady333 Thu 02-Mar-23 16:45:10

I am definitely a tea addict. Tetley tea for me but I will also drink Yorkshire and English breakfast tea if I must.
I too went off tea when I was pregnant and it was so hard to find an alternative hot drink.
I don't function until I have had two large bone china mugs of tea in the morning and many, many more throughout the day. I will drink a latte if in a coffee cafe type place but it is not thirst quenching like tea!

Bijou Thu 02-Mar-23 16:46:18

My tastes have changed over the years. Was always tea when I was young. In those days there were no bags and it was always in a pot and used a strainer. When going to the continent the tea was so weak my husband had a name for it. So we had chamomile tea or coffee grinding the beans.
Back in U.K. had different herbal teas before trying loose black tea made properly in a pot. Unfortunately now I cannot stand for long I am reduced to tea bags although I do have a strainer one can put in a cup.
I always have a glass of Guiness every day.

madeleine45 Thu 02-Mar-23 16:56:24

If you ever read or heard the No 1 Ladies Dectective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith the wonderful Precious Ramotswe loved her Red Bush tea.!
Actually I loathe tea and am a great coffee drinker. My sister is absolutely a tea person and has a whole range from Oolong to Earl Grey etc etc When I had chemo too , I had that horrible metallic taste and not being able to cheer myself up with a much loved coffee did not help matters. I know there is the japanese tea ceremony, but I had my own little ceremony with my coffee , so that it was just as I liked it and served in a fine worcester china mug. My mornings really begin (whatever time I wake up) with a beautifully made coffee and J S Bach on Bach before 7 on radio 3. Good or bad night or horrible day to face those few minutes in calm and peace with the wonderful smell of the coffee and the sounds of Bach. Never mind Ah Bisto , my joy is Ah fresh coffee!

madeleine45 Thu 02-Mar-23 16:59:06

I just remembered a friend who said she liked her tea weak. I replied no you have yours fortnightly, as she used one tea bag for two cups. Hardly worth using it I would have thought , but takes all sorts

grannybuy Thu 02-Mar-23 17:53:16

I have Clipper white tea for breakfast, and peppermint in the afternoon and filter coffee mid morning and teatime. I drink ordinary tea if I’m out or have visitors. All without milk or sugar.

GagaJo Thu 02-Mar-23 18:59:09

One of my favourite memories from China was going to the tea market and going to a tasting ceremony. Very 'old' traditional China setting. Getting to taste loads of teas, with the beauty and grace of the tea ceremony. Of course, I bought loads.

grannyactivist Thu 02-Mar-23 19:08:00

My nana drank only tea, from a blue and white striped pint mug, made with sterilised milk and with the leaves left in. My mother drank only coffee, usually instant and always from a small brown glass mug.

I always start the day with tea, drunk from a china mug, but I do enjoy an occasional latte. Since having the problem with my brain I now opt for decaffeinated tea and coffee and to be honest I haven’t noticed any difference.

BlueSapphire Thu 02-Mar-23 20:15:36

I love my cup of tea first thing in the morning, never drink it any other time of day.
Has to be extra strong - I use Sainsbury's own brand extra strong teabags - a dash of skimmed milk, and sugar I'm afraid. It is nectar. And it has to be made in a pot - I hate a teabag in a mug, just doesn't taste the same.

And I'm always drinking it when I write on the Good Morning thread!

The rest of the day I drink coffee.

Gundy Thu 02-Mar-23 21:51:35

Here, we are a coffee guzzling country, with a Starbucks or coffee shop on every corner. Tea not so much but specialty teas are becoming more prevalent in grocers, import shops, restaurants/cafes, hotels and even Starbucks now. Market share is up!

What I love about tea when you are dining out is it is presented almost ceremony-like upon ordering… they bring you a beautiful little chest that when you open the lid there are 12-20 different colored tea packets of all flavors and blends to choose from. Must be the same over there.

I have friends who drink only coffee, some only tea, some who drink neither. (What’s with that?) I have two cups of coffee in the morning and an occasional iced tea with lemon when at a luncheon.

Tea time? That’s the cocktail hour here…
Cheers!
USA Gundy

Mollygo Fri 03-Mar-23 08:34:56

USA Gundy
What about sweet tea? I’ve been reading a series of books where they seem to drink gallons of the stuff. Have you tried it?

Vintagenonna Fri 03-Mar-23 12:13:35

Rington's Northumbrian Gold Blend leaf tea is the basis of our wake up char.

We order online along with their heavenly handbaked ginger biscuits every three months or so. Very efficient ordering system and free delivery over £25 of goods.

HiMay Fri 03-Mar-23 16:37:47

Love tea. M and S Gold

Gundy Sat 04-Mar-23 15:58:05

Mollygo
Sorry for the late response… yes! People seem to love sweet tea, a very southern drink here. There also Arnold Palmer tea which is half tea, half lemonade. Or are they the same thing?
I will have to try again. Thx for the reminder - I just forget about them as options always going for plain iced tea in warmer weather.
Cheers!