Tea Bags vs. Loose tea leaves

LameWolf

mardatha wrote: »

Where does everybody buy their loose leaf tea? I do miss a real old fashioned tea caddy full of tea...

We usually buy our tea in Morries - English Breakfast and Earl Grey. T£sco also do loose-leaf Earl Grey in their Finest range. I think both shops also stock Tw!nings, but it's more expensive than own-brand.

jinny

Yes Twinnings is more expensive
Although sometimes on offer at morries
I'm the only tea drinker in the house
So Twinnings is my treat.
Morries range is ok as well
I'm using their Assam at the mo as hard up

Mr_Singleton

Why has this thread just seemingly randomly reappeared when the last post was in 2015??

richj

don't know, but can anyone recommend some good value loose tea in the UK?

Mr_Singleton

richj wrote: »

don't know, but can anyone recommend some good value loose tea in the UK?

Define value!

I get my tea from (perversely) The Algerian Coffee Stores in London and pay between £7 & £10 per 125 grams. I sometimes splash out and go for someting special at maybe £15. Am very satisfied with the quality and price although I suspect there is a premium for it being a central London retailer.

Nelliegrace

Sainsbury's and Waitrose both have a range of loose leaf tea at around £1.50, I like the Kenyan and the Assam. (At Sainsbury's it is in the tea bag section) They both stock Yorkshire loose leaf teas and good own label teas and Clipper loose leaf green tea. M&S own brand loose teas have a lovely flavour. TKMaxx sometimes have Whittards and Williamson's teas at discounted price. Tesco sell Brook Bond, "Taj Mahal" loose leaf tea in their overseas foods aisle.
We drink a lot of tea. The taste is affected by the water in your area, so you may have to try several teas to find the one you like.
We refill the teapot several times, keeping it hot with a tea cosy. Tea needs to brew for a few minutes to get the full flavour and health benefits. You can strain the tea into a jug to stop it becoming stewed and bitter, and it reheats perfectly in the microwave, so your pot of loose leaf tea can last economically all day. We stock up when there is a special offer on tea because it keeps for years.

Denby Teapots have a non-drip spout. You can find them on e-Bay at reasonable prices. Charity shops sell tea pots, you could take some water and test how they pour.

Tea bags, better than nothing, but the scum looks revolting and the tea tastes of paper.

frankennsteiny

Mr_Singleton wrote: »

Why has this thread just seemingly randomly reappeared when the last post was in 2015??

Because it was on the mse email.

I prefer loose tea but do use both loose and tea bags. I have a China teapot bought from H Samuels. I drink the Ahmad loose breakfast tea which I bought off amazon when they were selling 12 tins for £6 on subscribe & save so stocked up on quite a few tins.
I have an outlet Whittards shop close by which I pop into from time to time to see what they have on offer.
My favourite tea that I have tried though was Fortnum & Masons Assam which I received in a hamper that I won.

CapricornLass

We tend to use teabags most of the time for convenience, but OH and I both prefer the taste of proper leaf tea. We are seriously thinking of using leaf tea more

Strangely enough, I got given some of Fortnum and Mason's Royal Blend leaf tea as a Christmas/Birthday present, and we're thinking of treating ourselves to some more as we are both enjoying it so much.

ThemeOne

Pound shops and places like Poundstretcher can be occasional sources of good value loose tea. Recently Poundstretcher has had loads of Typhoo loose tea, and about a year ago Poundland had Barrie's.

DigForVictory

I've heard some teabags just do not fully compost being partly plastic.

Treat tea? Cardews in Oxford - oh yes - was taken there regularly as a child. Though Whittards do a startling range of possibles too & may be easier to find locally. Frankly, ask anyone (who's opinion you trust) where they'd go for a gift tea & try it. I've a Welsh mate who's Japanese wife ships M&S tea home to appreciative family - it is all in the palate.

If you want to do loose tea, get a proper teapot (and there is a wide choice in most charity shops) & china to drink it out of. It doesn't have to be the full tea ceremony every time, but good china adds something that isn't just about price.

Whichever way you jump, enjoy it!