Tea leaves

gayleygoo

Does anyone use proper tea leaves instead of tea bags? I have just ordered a few packets to try - all black tea leaves as I'm not really into "fancy tea", and I like milk and sugar with mine. I have a teapot that my Granny bought me, that includes some sort of inner strainer bowl so that should be perfect for using them.

I'm not sure if it will be moneysaving, the 50g packs were around £2-£3 (and they were the cheaper teas) and I'm hoping each one will last at least two weeks. Maybe once I know which ones I like I can buy bigger packs and save money that way. Given what OH spends on coffee though, I'll be happy if the tea tastes worth it! Any tips for getting the best out of tea leaves?

Butterfly_Brain

Sainsbury red label is £1.40 for 250g
Waitrose is £1.40 for 250g
Asda £1.20 for 250g
Tesco £1.20 for 250g

I only buy it if I want to read the leaves, which is becoming a dying art

gayleygoo

Thank you Butterfly Brain, I looked in my local MrT's a few weeks ago and didn't see any there, will have another check next time I go! They only had the minty/flavoured leaves, jasmine tea etc. Just looked online and they have a couple of black varieties available, maybe only the larger stores stock them.

The online shop I ordered from would be more cost-effective if I ordered bigger packs at least, so if I like any of the ones I get I will get bigger packs next time

Reading the tea leaves sounds like a bit of fun - did you learn that from someone in your family?

Justamum

I use loose tea. I like mine weak so I find a bag is too strong. I use 1 tsp of tea for a pot. The price per kg of loose tea is £6.72, the price for 80 bags (also 250g of tea) is £9.20 per kg, so loose tea is much cheaper than using bags.

Blue_Doggy

Did anyone else's mum use to save damp used tealeaves to sprinkle on the carpets when sweeping (with a carpet broom!)? The idea being that they would hold the dust. Mine used to do it in the 50s but I don't remember her doing it much after then.

culpepper

We found asda had a better choice of loose teas than sainsburys but both sell it loose. Own brands are usually cheapest but we rotate which ones we buy because it is easy to get bored with just one type.

THIRZAH

I use loose tea. We prefer Typhoo but Tesco seem to have stopped selling it so usually buy Yorkshire tea. It always seems to be on the bottom shelf .

jackyann

Always use loose tea myself - cheaper and better tasting (sorry to say, butterfly that I strain it properly so can't read the leaves!)
Because I like it and buy Fair Trade when I can, I use Co-op 99 at £1.49 for 250g, although I stock up when they have occasional "2 for £2.50" offers.

Farway

I use loose tea, I like Co-op 99, for same reason as Jackyann above, but Waitrose have good [not cheap] selection

PS, not all co op have same prices, the one near local Lidl is cheaper for tea than the one I sometimes use which is more convenience store

PPS, I don't read tea leaves, but tip them on the garden, they rot down readily

thorsoak

Many years ago, I worked for a tea trader - he would buy the tea in bulk at the tea auctions, or direct from the plantations, blend it and sell it on (again at the tea auctions) to the people who make Typhoo, Brooke Bond, Co-op, Yorkshire, etc etc etc. He would always say that Co-op 99 brand was the best, because of the mix of teas that they would require - always very dismissive of Brooke Bond "chimp tea"!

To get the very best flavour, firstly warm the pot, using fresh hot water then add 1 spoonful per person + "one for the pot", then pour over freshly drawn boiling water. Give it a stir, pop on a cosy - and then leave for 3-4 minutes to brew properly. It's up to you whether you prefer to add milk first or last - but use a strainer to pour the tea into your cup - sniff first - then enjoy!

7roland8

Heard that the 'milk in first' routine was started many years ago as the delicate china cups would often crack if boiling tea added first - shouldn't matter these days though.