Tea Bags vs. Loose tea leaves

mardatha

Me too. I don't always use loose tea now but always used to and it tastes better. And I'm trying to learn how to read the tealeaves

westcoastscot

I use tea leaves, I get my tea from Braithwaites in Dundee, really inexpensive and lovely! I buy a pound of "usual" for about £3.50 which lasts a month at least (I drink tea all day), and I have their version of lady gray also which makes a change if I don't want to have milk in my tea. I use one of those little thingy's - don't know what they're called - like a teaspoon with two sides and holes in??? it opens and you put a teaspoon of tea in it and put it in your mug - it makes tea and then the leaves come out with it???? Oh what is it called???????????????

I had a lovely set for christmas of three small themed tins of tea, one with christmas blend (smells lovely!, like christmas cake), one vanilla and one cinammon - its coarser tea like the lady gray and was a beautifully presented pressie for less than £5. Must think about getting some for pressies this year

WCS

u751904

I have to admitt I've had a few duff tea pots. eg they don't pour that nicely and dribble a bit. I've got my latest one from a charity shop I go for ones which have a nicely arched spout like this one http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BEAUITFUL-ROYAL-SUFFORK-TEA-POT-MILK-JUG-SUGAR-BOWL-/110724671707?pt=UK_PotteryPorcelain_Glass_PotteryPorcelain_China_SM&hash=item19c7b468db

I've had the brown traditional tea pots as well - but gone more floral / vintage.

There is a debate that tea tastes better in a china cup as well not sure what the vote is on that, afraid we've gone to mugs. Perhaps china keeps hotter longer?

Jolaaled

staffie1 wrote: »

Is there any waste if you're making a cup of tea just for yourself?

To make a cup for one (with leaves), I put one tsp of dry tea leaves into a teastrainer and carefully and slowly pour boiling water over them, directly into the mug.

HTH

adelight

You can get mugs with a plunger section for tea leaves, easier shaped tea pots and other gadgets if you don't want to clean the pot or only want one cup. You can get bodum for less elsewhere(always on sale) and own brand types for much cheaper but these are a few examples http://www.bodum.com/gb/en-us/shop/detail/K10718-16/
http://www.bodum.com/gb/en-us/shop/detail/11380-01/

Red_Doe

it opens and you put a teaspoon of tea in it and put it in your mug - it makes tea and then the leaves come out with it???? Oh what is it called???????????????

I've got one of those too and no idea what it's called either!
Not sure if tea tastes better from china cups or not but I do find the whole 'ritual' of making tea, from spooning in the leaves to straining it into pretty cups and adding whatever I want to taste, very very soothing and calming.
I remember mum and granny always having a pot of tea on the go, and gran's would be so strong you could damn near tapdance on it!

sexymouse

This is what I use for my loose leaf tea. It's great. It's called a tea infuser.

The Whittards one is a little pricey, but I got it at an outlet shop. If you google tea infusers, you'll find loads or really sweet stainless steel ones -eg hearts, little teapots, houses etc.

westcoastscot

Oh that's it!! I have a wee few - some like that and some with less holes but bigger, they are about a pound in the tea shop I use.

WCS

zippychick

ive merged this with our older tealeaves vs teabags thread so you can read what other think

Zip

System

I don't drink tea often enough to really be bothered...so i have tea bags for convinience.

I quite fancy getting a teapot though