Tea - the gentleman's drink

PostRe: Tea - the gentleman's drink by JV » Tue Feb 03, 2009 1:30 pm

I'm not a fan of Tetley. Tastes weak to me.

Shafto wrote:
piratebrido wrote:
Shafto wrote:
Fair enough that you prefer Tetley's blend, but at the end of the day, it's not that different from the tea I drink. One of my favourite's is Darjeeling, which is just a light black tea and is even in some of the blends you get in typical tea bags. Not trying to put down your tastes, just aware that people seem to have a disconnect between typical tea bags and loose tea. It's pretty much the same thing, except with loose tea you're more able to tell what's in it (i.e., not the dirt and other crap they put in some cheap bags).

What crap is put into Tetley tea bags? I would also be surprised if dirt was put in them and they passed the EU food laws.

I never said any crap was put into Tetley. There is definitely poor-grade tea and other leftovers from the harvesting process uses to fill out some cheap tea bags though. Maybe not dirt, I'm probably exaggerating on that one from listening to my mum tell me what she had to drink when she was wee, but definitely stuff that isn't going to add to the taste. I think it's called 'fannings', and the lower grade 'dust' (I think these are like official grades of tea quality). Basically, they take away the fully formed leaves and sell it as high grade tea and take the leftovers, stick them in a bag and sell them separately.

Interesting blog post - http://chezpim.typepad.com/blogs/2005/08/breaking_the_te.html

Was less interesting and more just complete nonsense. She gave no indication that 'poor' tea was put into teabags. I can say that fannings are put into loose tea, and my opinion and evidence would be equal to hers. She is trying to justify her like of loose tea by trying hard to convince others (maybe herself) that teabags are poor quality and below her sophisticated taste buds. I don't know why she can't just enjoy the tea she likes without piss in the chips of those who like tea from a bag. Anyone can make a career from criticising, perhaps she should concentrate her efforts on why she enjoys loose leaf tea and add something to the discussion.

PostRe: Tea - the gentleman's drink by **Shafto** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 2:42 pm

piratebrido wrote:Was less interesting and more just complete nonsense. She gave no indication that 'poor' tea was put into teabags. I can say that fannings are put into loose tea, and my opinion and evidence would be equal to hers. She is trying to justify her like of loose tea by trying hard to convince others (maybe herself) that teabags are poor quality and below her sophisticated taste buds. I don't know why she can't just enjoy the tea she likes without piss in the chips of those who like tea from a bag. Anyone can make a career from criticising, perhaps she should concentrate her efforts on why she enjoys loose leaf tea and add something to the discussion.

While the Blog posts agenda was quite different from my own, it was purely an opinion piece with some pseudo-scientific backing, not meant as some evidence-based adventure into the world of Tea.

From Tetley themselves: http://www.tetley.co.uk/Why-tea-is-grea ... &-A/Top-10

Isn't tea bag tea just sweepings from the factory floor?
No, the tea used in tea bags is usually of a 'fannings' grade. The tea is simply cut to a smaller size. Its greater surface area infuses a stronger brew and even fetches a premium over leafier teas in auction.

So - we know that 'fannings' are what's used in Tetley tea. Tetley cite that this is not less quality tea, simply trimmed and smaller. Other's would disagree, and say it is of lower grade. I'm not particularly fussed, as people may very well prefer fannings, and taste it ultimately subjective.

What is true though, is that using loose leaf tea allows you more control over what you have. You can use whatever grade tea you want, and there's nothing stopping you from simply buying Tetley in loose form, and having the same taste, but more control. I not only prefer the taste of loose leaf tea, but also the fact that I can control the amount and therefore strength, reinfuse easier, and will probably go further than bags. It is a choice, and one about subjective tastes, so feel free to prefer what you want.

Just aboot to stick the kettle on and grab me some biscuits.

Cool beans.

PostRe: Tea - the gentleman's drink by **SEP** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 2:53 pm

CosmoKramer wrote:Just aboot to stick the kettle on and grab me some biscuits.

Cool beans.

That sounds like a strawberry floating brilliant idea.

PostRe: Tea - the gentleman's drink by **Shafto** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 2:56 pm

CosmoKramer wrote:Just aboot to stick the kettle on and grab me some biscuits.

Cool beans.

I'm tea'd up to me eyeballs!

No biscuits though - thinking a wee Bagel with sausages and tomato sauce might be the way to go!

PostRe: Tea - the gentleman's drink by **Dowbocop** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 2:59 pm

Re: the tea blog post discussion: she also makes an innacurate assumption about the cost of an individual cup. If her "German made scale" was so precise it shouldn't have been a problem, but she probably uses counterbalancing scales because digital scales take away from the weighing experience. She also ruins her convenience argument by saying that leaf tea isn't more complicated, then writing four sodding paragraphs on the equipment, technique and groundrules of brewing loose leaf tea. So it's scientifically and practically rubbish, well done sweetheart.

Anyway, let's get some photos of our beloved tea mugs. Here's mine, with my current selection of teabags on display (apologies for poor clarity):-

I know a lot of people are opposed to green tea, but the Twinings green tea with orange and lotus flower really is the dog's bollocks!

PostRe: Tea - the gentleman's drink by **Forest** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 4:43 pm

My new favourite cup.

PostRe: Tea - the gentleman's drink by **Vermin** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 4:50 pm

Ah, I see you wisely went for the humble, non-descript cup, Matt. Someone else must've suffered a horrible fate when they went for the Gold-rimmed, Emerald-studded cup in the Holy Teacup 'test'.

Immortality is now your prize.

PostRe: Tea - the gentleman's drink by **Red** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 4:58 pm

I have an amazing giant Batman mug 8-)

PostRe: Tea - the gentleman's drink by **Forest** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 5:39 pm

Gil-Martin wrote:Ah, I see you wisely went for the humble, non-descript cup, Matt. Someone else must've suffered a horrible fate when they went for the Gold-rimmed, Emerald-studded cup in the Holy Teacup 'test'.

Immortality is now your prize.

Yessssssssssssssssssssss 8-)

PostRe: Tea - the gentleman's drink by **jamcc** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 7:27 pm

JV wrote:I'm not a fan of Tetley. Tastes weak to me.

We have it at work and it's not nice. I bring in my own Yorkshire as it is so yum.

jamcc wrote:
JV wrote:I'm not a fan of Tetley. Tastes weak to me.

We have it at work and it's not nice. I bring in my own Yorkshire as it is so yum.

We have Tetley at work too, it's drinkable but not my favorite.

I keep my Yorkshire Tea for home, it's nice to have a a different tea at home. It tastes like freedom.

PostRe: Tea - the gentleman's drink by **Banjo** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 10:40 pm

Red wrote:I have an amazing giant Batman mug

I have a sweet Homer Simpson mug with "If you don't do anything, you'll never make mistakes" inscribed. 8-)

They're OK, but Tetley, Typhoo and PG are all of the same average calibre if you ask me. If you like a nice hearty brew then get some Twinings Assam in.

PostRe: Tea - the gentleman's drink by **Sirus** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 12:39 am

Yorkshire Tea, tiiiiiiiiiiiny bit of milk, and two sugars. Delicious tea.

PostRe: Tea - the gentleman's drink by **Qikz** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 1:48 am

Oh Teh Noes wrote:Yorkshire Tea, tiiiiiiiiiiiny bit of milk, and two sugars. Delicious tea.

o/

PostRe: Tea - the gentleman's drink by **Shafto** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 1:03 pm

Sadly, i've never had the pleasure of Yorkshire tea - what's it like?

PostRe: Tea - the gentleman's drink by KK » Mon Feb 09, 2009 1:06 pm

I'm going between Sainbury's Taste the Difference Breakfast, Red Label & Twining's Everyday at the moment. The first is currently in the lead.

Tea - the gentleman's drink

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