More Tea Vicar?

Youstolemyname · 27 Dec 2011 at 10:26

Well the wife got me an inginuiTEA teapot for xmas (http://www.adagio.com/teaware/ingenuiTEA_teapot.html) which is a pretty cool way of brewing a mug of tea for one.

However, she didn't get me any loose leaf tea

So off I went to Waitrose to get me a pack of 'Twinings English Breakfast'- the same teabags we use. The difference in taste is incredible!

Now, I love my coffee and buy lots from Hasbean but can anyone not only recommend any teas to try but also recommend any online suppliers of loose leaf teas? A quick google brings up a tea minefield! Don't even know where to begin!!!

Thanks in advance...

4MIT · 27 Dec 2011 at 10:30

Twinnings do a great range and most supermarkets stock them, I think thats a good place to start. Get some Darjeeling leaves.

mangobreeder · 27 Dec 2011 at 14:29

4MIT said:
Twinnings do a great range and most supermarkets stock them, I think thats a good place to start. Get some Darjeeling leaves.

Darjeeling may not be to his taste if he like English breakfast, its very delicate.

If you like a delicate tea, then a good Darjeeling is hard to beat, such a "Happy valley *********", its a first flush Darjeeling, and very nice.

If you like a more full bodied tea, then go for English Breakfast no7, or a good assam, try loads and see what you like.

p.s Twining tea, is dross, its all marketing.

Craig1981 · 27 Dec 2011 at 16:08

Earl gray!

J1234 · 27 Dec 2011 at 16:08

I've found High Teas and Wilkinsons of Norwich to be very good.

As above, Twinnings isn't great.

If you're feeling lazy and want a decent bag, I've found Tea Pigs to be the best. They're a bit pricey at £10 for 50 but they are very, very good quality.

shroomz · 30 Dec 2011 at 08:47

I've said before that Twinnings is a bit like the PC World of teas, they are readily available and pretty cheap but when you really take a look at whats inside, you just go

. The ones I was recently blown away by were brought back by my cousin when she came back from China - one was just normal leaf tea and another was called something like Pura. Absolutely different flavours and now nothing tastes the same

Flibster · 30 Dec 2011 at 11:02

Youstolemyname said:
Well the wife got me an inginuiTEA teapot for xmas ( http://www.adagio.com/teaware/ingenuiTEA_teapot.html) which is a pretty cool way of brewing a mug of tea for one.

Now, I love my coffee and buy lots from Hasbean but can anyone not only recommend any teas to try but also recommend any online suppliers of loose leaf teas? A quick google brings up a tea minefield! Don't even know where to begin!!!

I've been looking at one of these, they look really interesting. Stops brewing quickly and also prevents papery tastes.

Steve also sells tea.

Not sure who it's from at the moment.

Justin said:
I've found High Teas and Wilkinsons of Norwich to be very good.

Big fan of Wilkinsons, just don't buy the coffee.

But it's my home town, so I can forgive them a little.

My current tea comes from Waterloo Tea - it's wonderful. Even gives dosage, temperature and brew time recommendations.

I've also heard extremely good things from people whose opinion I trust about http://www.postcardteas.com/ - not tried any yet, it's on my list for the next time I'm in London.

arc@css · 31 Dec 2011 at 00:36

No thank you, though I am rather partial to a coconut macaroon.

A big Redbush tea fan myself.