cigalechanta

I use a coffee press and have a bowl of au lait every morning. Lately I have been drinking green tea during the day.

Kayb95

"there is such a difference between the taste of tea brewed with loose tea leaves and tea from a teabag!"

I know tea leaves are better, but I have a hard time making it correctly with loose tea. It always seems to come out bitter tasting. I must be doing something wrong. I'll have to give it a go again.

Neither my electric kettle nor my mom's shuts itself off after the water boils. Both are US, but are a little older. But mine whistles, so I can unplug it as soon as it comes to a boil. And it boils so quickly, by the time I get my tea cup out and pop the toast in the toaster, the water is boiled.

And I always drink my tea from a china cup or mug - I'm convinced it tastes better out of bone china.

Kayb95

"What a fantatastic interesting thread. And having said that I am so glad I do not drink tea! What a workout"

But it's worth it for that perfect cup of tea. I used to drink coffee (years ago) but now I'm an avid tea drinker - don't even like coffee now.

When I visit England, I always bring back as much tea as I can stuff in my suitcase, carry-on, purse, etc... Fortnum & Mason breakfast tea is my favorite.

nocinonut

Neither my husband nor I can cope with the taste of heated plastic containers. We have a stainless electric kettle which keeps the water sweet tasting. We never use plastic cups or plates for the same reason.

Use bone china for your tea and you will see that the water tastes much better with no aftertaste.

You should use half and half with cane sugar for the best taste and never squeeze the tea bag into the water.

Dreamer2

DancintoMusic:
Is that an invitation? !

The truth is, I love the real Mccoy whenever I'm travelling, and a proper "tea" is local to the area. And I love the idea of a communal fret, as described by both PalQ and Scarlett!

KayB and Nocinonut hit upon the other point of finesse. What is the vessel from which the proper tea is most enjoyed? Mine must be a china cup, or IF a mug, only one with a thin rim. And I hate any plastic tops on hot beverages "to go." The styrofoam is bad enough (I much prefer paper), but I hate feeling the warmth of the plastic sippy cups; I feel like I can taste melting plastic.

LoveItaly

Hi dear readers: well truth be told my mother, aunts, grandmothers drank tea (as well as coffee).

I think (but maybe not) I know how to make tea.

Put the kettle on the stove. Put very hot water from the tap into the teapot.
Boil the water in the kettle. Put tea into that little "thing" (not tea bags").

When water has come to a boil in the kettle empty the hot water in the teapot. Put that "little tea holder or whatever you call it" into the teapot.
Pour the boiling hot water from the kettle into the teapot. Let it steep a few minutes.

Pour tea into china cup(s). Oh yes, first remove that little tea holder (what is the name of that?).

Add sugar and if desired cream. Or if not cream perhaps lemon. Or not.

Drink.

Than I shudder. Honesty dear Fodorites I can not stand tea. But sure send warm wishes to all that thrive on it.

Now a hot cup of coffee - oh yes! I cannot start the day without my coffee. Which I drink in a Lenox "Solitare" mug.

What is that old saying? Different strokes for different folks.

But if the truth be told I still love the saying " a cuppa of tea love?"

But no thanks!

obxgirl

> remove that little tea holder (what is the name of that?).<

Tea infuser?

cigalechanta

I think so...usually the little silver "cage"?

Kayb95

I read somewhere that you should start out with cold water from the tap - that it has more oxygen in it.

And although I like half and half in my tea, I have been chastised many times for this. Evidently, the Brits consider cream in tea repulsive. It must be milk. (But I can't give up my half and half).

seetheworld

LoveItaly: LOL, very funny

Use hot water in the kettle? I have never heard nor done that

OKAY...now after 169 posts on this topic, and perhaps it was already mentioned, but do you put HOT or COLD water in your kettle to make tea? I always use cold water.

laverendrye

Not only the Brits consider cream in tea repulsive. But chacun à son goût!

sheila

Actually, I think LoveItaly was talking about warming the pot with hot water from the tap, not putting hot water in the kettle.

Now, this isn't a rule, but wouldn't do that. I always boil the kettle, use some of the water and boil te kettle again.

in this country the hot water fills off a tank and teh cold straight from the main- so we don't drink anything from the hot water intake.

m_kingdom2

...a whole new dimension to "put the kettle on" can be observed in the British picture "Vera Drake" which was released this week. An harrowing film of deep emotion and involvement.

It's set in fifties London. Highly recommended, go and see it at The Curzon Mayfair!

seetheworld

oh yes, sheila! I misread LoveItaly's post. Hot water into the teapot, not the kettle!

Neil_Oz

m_k2, some English people may still say "an 'otel", and I suppose that Americans would say "an 'erb", but "an" harrowing tale?

LoveItaly

Thats right!! Hot water into the teapot. Cold water into the kettle (and bring that to a boil).

My paternal grandmother born and raised in London loved tea I have just given up on it. Too many details LOL. Besides, really do not like tea.

But family members that only drink tea say I make it perfect. But what do I know? Cheers to all

m_kingdom2

It's simply correct grammar, to write any word beginning with 'h' with an "an" before it.

sheila

absolute nonsense. "An" is only used when the following word starts with a letter which is not a consonant and "h" is a consonant. And, yes, I checked before I posted.

m_kingdom2

That's what my generation has been taught at school, it's English grammar, and correct, but please don't miss my point about this fantastic film.

sheila

Well I don't think you're right; but to the movie.

It's been getting very mixed reviews, but for its content rather than the performances, I think.