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UK forum members - are your black tea bags actually anything special?
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I don't really drink non herbal tea these days but yeah they're a fair bit better. Know a proper (stingy) Yorkshire bloke who won't drink anything cheap and gets through tons of teabags.
There's not that much of a difference between brands. All tea bags are kind of bad though, and the convenience (and low price) is why people buy them. Loose-leaf tea is a class apart.
It's like most things, shops own brand versions are usually inferior quality.
You also have regional differences as well for instance Scottish tap water generally isn't as hard English.
You also have regional differences as well for instance Scottish tap water generally isn't as hard English.
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I've drank Yorkshire Tea bags for almost 20 years now and I really notice the taste difference. I really can't fuck with PG Tips or Tetley bags.
Tetley used to be alright a long time ago, not sure what happened(they got bought out around the same time) but it almost became undrinkable overnight, Yorkshire tea is just a reliable decent cup and what i stick with now.
Both of you just stole all my posts so I'll just quote you to agree. :D
Tea bags are rubbish in general. Loose leaf tea is better but in general tea tastes like the soil where it was cultivated. A lot of flavour quite literally comes from the 'dirt' where its grown. There wouldn't be a world of difference between brands if they all come from the same location genuinely.. There's some refining and process but this is how it is.
I used to do work for a few different tea manufacturers and knew some tea brewers and roastmasters (coffee) during the time.
I used to do work for a few different tea manufacturers and knew some tea brewers and roastmasters (coffee) during the time.
Nah people love PG Tips and Yorkshire Tea because it's like comfort food tea. Like saying Cadbury's or Galaxy are so much better than Hershey's: yes it's true, but it doesn't mean it's high quality or anything.
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I know loose leaf is tiers above but just wondering about these bagged brands because they get so much praise despite still being priced really low. "can 4 dollars for 80 cups really be that much better than the absolute worst?"
Either Yorkshire Tea (Gold or normal) or (weirdly) Tesco Finest English Breakfast (usually supermarket ones are a bit insipid). Everything else - especially the posh ones with the more plasticy bags like teapigs/clipper or whatever, can get in the fucking sea.
We'll have a pot with loose leaf on the weekend (Typhoo loose leaf is actually ok, not as good as Yorkshire though) but it's just too much palavour when working.
We'll have a pot with loose leaf on the weekend (Typhoo loose leaf is actually ok, not as good as Yorkshire though) but it's just too much palavour when working.
I used to support wholesalers who brought in food supplies into the UK. The major difference between store brands, and 'brand brands' is quality control. Often the source for grains, tea, etc are all the same but 'brands' have greater quality control so there's fewer recalls and they also tend to package things better so you won't find metal, rubber, etc in your food products. Store-brands are cheaper because quality control is done cheaper. For instance in the packaging areas they might not replace a rubber something and you might find it in your food or they don't do enough metal detection, etc. Of course there are poor brands but the price you pay is usually for better quality control when it comes to food manufacturing.
Short answer, no.
You can get much more interesting black teas if you go loose leaf. It's where companies like T2 shine, though they also do bagged versions of most of their stuff these days.
You can get much more interesting black teas if you go loose leaf. It's where companies like T2 shine, though they also do bagged versions of most of their stuff these days.
To be honest I think most black teas are pretty awful in comparison to other types, I used to drink PG tips then moved onto earl grey's when I was a black tea drinker. Now I buy loose green, yellow or white teas. Though it wasn't a cause of the switch, I read an article (a couple of years ago now mind you) that with a few exceptions the majority of teabags sold contained quite a bit of plastic that is not recyclable or biodegradable which is something to think about when buying your tea.
Nope, pretty much all bagged tea in the UK is just powered wank, but with slightly different strengths and flavours so some people develop a preference. Anyone trying to pretend one is "better" than another really doesn't understand just how poor quality British tea is.
I'm traditionally a coffee drinker but when I drink tea, it's always Yorkshire tea.
Who pissed in your cuppa this morning m8?
Despite what I said earlier, I think how it's brewed makes more of a difference to flavour. If someone hands me a cuppa they've just brewed in a mug, I'll drink it out of politeness but it tastes fucking awful compared to tea brewed in a teapot.
Read your tea leaves to find the answer. I think you know what it is.
I don't think it's "special", but tbh i just want a cup of tea that does the job, i'm not into food wank and beverage snobbery in general.
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I imagine most of these brands are prepared / blended with the assumption that it will be used with milk at least.
Yorkshire Gold or Twinings English Breakfast for teabags, but as plenty of people have pointed out, loose leaf is preferable. And yes, I put a splash of milk in - even in Earl Grey, although sometimes I'll have lemon instead. Depends on my mood.
To be honest, I don't actually drink a lot of tea these days. I've always preferred coffee. When I do make it, I like to make a pot rather than a single cup. That's a ritual I enjoy.
To be honest, I don't actually drink a lot of tea these days. I've always preferred coffee. When I do make it, I like to make a pot rather than a single cup. That's a ritual I enjoy.
I can drink any of the big brands (Yorkshire Tea, PG Tips etc) without issue but cheap tea just isn't very good.
Brands like PG Tips, Yorkshire and Tetley are bog standard to me, but they are a smoother drink than store own which can sometimes be peppery and harsh. Of the mainstread brands Yorkshire is probably the best - Tetley is weak as piss. If you want to pay a few pence more Twinings are always better. Loose leaf > bags always for flavour, but tea bags are just convenient.
I don't use any milk in tea for about a year or two now, but always preferred a strong tea with just a splash of milk any way.
I don't use any milk in tea for about a year or two now, but always preferred a strong tea with just a splash of milk any way.
Twining's and Teapigs are a little pricier than others but worth it for general teabags you can buy in like, Tesco or that. Twining's Lady Grey and Teapigs' Everyday Brew are solid go tos.
Otherwise if you're into loose leaf stuff then Bird and Blend, Eteaket and the Rare Tea Company are 3 UK based companies that all have a variety of blends (at different prices and sizes too if you just wanna try a sample before committing to anything).
Otherwise if you're into loose leaf stuff then Bird and Blend, Eteaket and the Rare Tea Company are 3 UK based companies that all have a variety of blends (at different prices and sizes too if you just wanna try a sample before committing to anything).
I used to have 2 sugars. My wife broke that habit out of me like snapping a twig with a JCB.
What the hell was I thinking all those years. I feel shame.
Loose leaf is always nicer, but it's less convenient.
As far as teabags go, there is a difference, sure. PG Tips is good, Yorkshire next and then everything else below. Even Yorkshire I don't really like but I have to deal with it at work (it really isn't nearly as good as PG Tips). Oh, Twinings is decent though, I always forget them (separately, their Swiss Hot Chocolate is SO good!)
And then there's the class-ism with teas! PGTips = builders, Yorkshire = pompous/fake elite (I say this because that's who keep banging on about it to my face) and Tetley is for poor people or something.
As far as teabags go, there is a difference, sure. PG Tips is good, Yorkshire next and then everything else below. Even Yorkshire I don't really like but I have to deal with it at work (it really isn't nearly as good as PG Tips). Oh, Twinings is decent though, I always forget them (separately, their Swiss Hot Chocolate is SO good!)
And then there's the class-ism with teas! PGTips = builders, Yorkshire = pompous/fake elite (I say this because that's who keep banging on about it to my face) and Tetley is for poor people or something.
Boom. We had to source our own black tea during WWI.
Coffee is the new tea here though
I'll fight everyone
Gold blend is where its at.
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