Community Chat

[KKlim]

I'm an avid tea drinker. I use regular Lipton tea bags.

[Margo Channing]

Whole  leaf for me during the day but teabags at nite for my releaxing teas.

[Ilovetea]

Loose tea when I am home and not going anywhere and teabags when at work and on the move. 

[AuntG]

What an I missing about tea? I try to like it, but don't.  It tastes like slightly flavored hot water - maybe it's too weak.

[sfnative]

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@AuntG wrote:

What an I missing about tea? I try to like it, but don't.  It tastes like slightly flavored hot water - maybe it's too weak.

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@AuntG

Hi Auntg,

I'll begin by telling you that on my Dad's side of the family, we're tea drinkers, so i've been drinking tea since the age of 4.  That said, my grandmother always had teabags, as the family business was grocery stores, so it was easy to bring home a box of Lipton.  When my stepmother came into my life, being British, she came along with a wonderful variety of leaf tea that had to be brewed.

I should also say that over the years I'd try coffee here and there and always found it sour and bitter, so stuck with tea.  That is, until Lattes and Capuccinos came along.  LOL!  This is the type of coffee I like for sure, with a little Stevia in it, not a lot.

Back to tea.  If you're willing:  purchase some loose leaf English Breakfast tea.  If you already have a small strainer that you can perch on the top of a mug that hangs down into it, you're set.  Now place the strainer on your mug; take a measuring teaspoon and dip it into your loose tea; take one almost heaping teaspoon of tea and gently turn it over into the strainer.  Boil some water.  If you have softened water, try to use bottled water, because softened water may very well affect the taste of the tea.  As soon as it boils, pour into your mug, leaving about 1/4" clearance.  Brew or let sit for 3-4 minutes.  You can let it sit longer, but it may become bitter.  Place the strainer and leaves in your sink and do not use again.  Dispose of as you would a tea bag.  If you wish to add milk and find the mug is too full, dump out a bit of tea and add the milk or cream, after having added sweetner, if you wish.  Hope this helps.

A sorry cup of tea is no cup of tea at all!

[Lindsays Grandma]

I have been a tea drinker most of my life.  Funny thing though is that when I was working I never drank coffee at home but sure enjoyed that first cup when I got to the office as well as when I took breaks.  My first husband was from an Irish family and my first taste of tea brewed from tea leaves other than a bag was delicious.  I just might  give myself a treat and buy tea leaves and brew myself a cup of tea that doesn't taste like hot water artificially flavored with sugar and a dash of milk.

[Lindsays Grandma]

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@sfnative wrote:

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@AuntG wrote:

What an I missing about tea? I try to like it, but don't.  It tastes like slightly flavored hot water - maybe it's too weak.

---

@AuntG

Hi Auntg,

I'll begin by telling you that on my Dad's side of the family, we're tea drinkers, so i've been drinking tea since the age of 4.  That said, my grandmother always had teabags, as the family business was grocery stores, so it was easy to bring home a box of Lipton.  When my stepmother came into my life, being British, she came along with a wonderful variety of leaf tea that had to be brewed.

I should also say that over the years I'd try coffee here and there and always found it sour and bitter, so stuck with tea.  That is, until Lattes and Capuccinos came along.  LOL!  This is the type of coffee I like for sure, with a little Stevia in it, not a lot.

Back to tea.  If you're willing:  purchase some loose leaf English Breakfast tea.  If you already have a small strainer that you can perch on the top of a mug that hangs down into it, you're set.  Now place the strainer on your mug; take a measuring teaspoon and dip it into your loose tea; take one almost heaping teaspoon of tea and gently turn it over into the strainer.  Boil some water.  If you have softened water, try to use bottled water, because softened water may very well affect the taste of the tea.  As soon as it boils, pour into your mug, leaving about 1/4" clearance.  Brew or let sit for 3-4 minutes.  You can let it sit longer, but it may become bitter.  Place the strainer and leaves in your sink and do not use again.  Dispose of as you would a tea bag.  If you wish to add milk and find the mug is too full, dump out a bit of tea and add the milk or cream, after having added sweetner, if you wish.  Hope this helps.

A sorry cup of tea is no cup of tea at all!

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As an avid tea drinker I decided to take your suggestion and purchase a strainer and tea leaves.  I am tired of drinking tea that just doesn't have that good flavor.  No matter how long I let the bag steep it just doesn't cut it. 

[Yardlie]

I usually drink tea made from teabags, although I do have a teaball for loose leaf tea. Occasionally I make Jasmine or Darjeeling. Someone mentioned English breakfast. I like that also...or English Tea Time. Have them in bags. My mother drinks Earl Grey with Double Bergamot. I just can't get into that. The pungent odor triggers a migraine. I have to move away from her when she brews that. Never could get into coffee. My mother's family hails from the South (originally Ireland), and my dad's family was from England. Naturally, they were all tea drinkers.

[Harpa]

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@AuntG wrote:

What an I missing about tea? I try to like it, but don't.  It tastes like slightly flavored hot water - maybe it's too weak.

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Try a cup of matcha. But I probably make that too strong, since I do not have a matcha spoon.

There are so many flavored teas.

The whites & the greens are delicate teas, and they do taste like slightly flavored hot water.

[CatLoverDogsToo]

@sfnative  I am considering getting one of those silicone Tea Infusers sold on Amazon. Some of them are so cute. What do you think of them?  I haven't tried whole leaf or loose tea. Right now I am drinking Decaf Green tea, Bewley's Irish Breakfast tea and Red Rose, all tea bags. I haven't been able to buy white tea, which is my favorite. No one has it here.  Thank you for any info.