Buying English Breakfast Tea
 

I own a 7-Cup electric kettle. In a couple of weeks, we are having a gentleman from England as a guest in our home, which is located in Florida. Not for any particular reason, I chose Bentley's Breakfast Tea and Earle Gray as two choices to buy for his upcoming visit. I drink Red Rose tea, so that's what is in my pantry. Can someone help me out with making a good choice? BTW, I don't know anything about loose tea. I'm talking tea bags!

There are countless Earl Gray and English Breakfast teas available anywhere in the States. Any one is pretty much like the others (there are differences but not enough for you to worry about). However coffee is just as popular in the UK as is tea (more popular really). Its a nice gesture but just whatever you have on hand would be fine. If it was me and I was going to do something similar I'd probably buy one of the mixed assortments - like what Bigelow and Twinings offer. Then all bases are covered. Something like this:

https://www.giftsforyounow.com/bigel...AaAke5EALw_wcB

. . . Any supermarket should sell something similar

Thank you, great suggestion.

I love Harney's teas; I don't know their English Breakfast, but any tea I've bought from them has been excellent. I buy on Amazon; price is reasonable.

https://www.harney.com/products/english-breakfast

This is the one I buy:

https://www.harney.com/products/paris-bag-of-50-sachets

Do you know that he's a tea drinker? Not all English people are, a friend I stay with in the UK, for instance. If he is, why not ask what brand he drinks at home? You can get just about any of them on Amazon. And, no, not all blends/brands with the same name are alike.

Earl Grey, not Gray, is not always popular with Britons. Most prefer a simple unflavoured tea, and most drink it strong, with milk, rather than black and weaker.
Offer him the choice and let him make his tea to his own strength preference. Most Brits just mak tea in a mug or cup and get their desired strength by dunking the teabag to the right colour. Offer sugar but don't sweeten tea unlss they ask for it that way.
Do use boiling water, do not make the tea in you kettle. Btw it won't kill him to have tea made the American way for a few days. Well except for offering sweet tea if they aren't used to it.

I'd just be yourself, it is a nice thought to think of their wishes, but they are coming for the adventure as well ;-)

Jeeze Louise -- I did it too! And I currently have three different Earl Grey's and a 'Lady Grey' in my tea cabinet. No excuse except maybe multitasking and not paying attention. Can I blame auto correct -- nah ;)

Moved to the US Forum, and tagged for Florida

Why not ask your guest to bring his fav tea along so you can try it? Tell him you’d like to learn a bit more about tea.

(Maybe he’ll say he doesn’t like tea for some reason and… problem solved)

👍 Best suggestion so far.

(plus most Brits . . . IF they drink tea . . . travel with tea bags)

As a Brit living in England, I do not carry teabags when we're away on holiday. I drink whatever is the local brew, coffee or tea. If you must buy teabags, then Tetley or PG Tips are a good choice. Most of us don't drink Earl Grey.

Or perhaps suggest he bring his own teabags, so he'll have exactly what he favors. My fussy tea-drinker sister prefers to bring her own. She has it on hand at home and it is easy to pack.

Not Earl Grey, unless someone requests it. It is flavored with oil of bergamont. Many tea drinkers do not care for it (hate it, won't drink it).

Just any ole regular "English Breakfast Tea" would be a safer bet.

If you are close to a Trader Joe's, they have a good assortment with their own branded teas.

My local Trader Joes actually stocks very little tea - mostly herbal and matcha types with a few very generic black teas. Just local larger supermarkets carry a much wider variety, including many British brands.

I agree NOT Trader Joe's. They do great for many things... but tea is not one of them.

Just buy something standard at any normal grocery store like Bigelow brand English Breakfast and hope for the best :-)