Let's talk tea

[Tech Admin]

If your doctors advice was in relation to caffeine, then tea has less caffeine than coffee. I don't drink instant coffee but I like my coffee shop coffees. However they're expensive these days so that's a once a week treat. Tea for me but I'm not fussed about brand.

Right. Technically he said "cut back" but I was already not drinking much. It's a wake-up ritual more than anything. Still, I do miss living off of coffee sometimes.

 

[ClaireKelly]

Yes, I like the Gold version. When you buy 280 bags, do you store them in air tight containers? I ask because the Lock n' Lock BA said tea bags can 'go off'. Is she correct, do you think?

I buy the big box of 210. I top up my tea canister and put the rest in a plastic bag. I use a plastic clip to close it and stick it in a cupboard. Nothing wrong with the tea at all.

 

[Grizelda]

I buy the big box of 210. I top up my tea canister and put the rest in a plastic bag. I use a plastic clip to close it and stick it in a cupboard. Nothing wrong with the tea at all.

So, as per usual, she was exaggerating in order to sell the L'nL containers. But, it's not a bad idea. For storing boiled eggs, Ln'L are ideal.

 

[Peppermint Patti]

I'm not keen on either. Yorkshire tea for me.

Hubby likes that he thinks Typhoo and PG tips are cr*p (his words).

 

[Peppermint Patti]

I buy the big box of 210. I top up my tea canister and put the rest in a plastic bag. I use a plastic clip to close it and stick it in a cupboard. Nothing wrong with the tea at all.

I always make tea with FRESH water, not what has been standing in the kettle.

Made in a mug, which I heat first with some of the water.

Add BOILING water, brew for 4 minutes, timed by an Alexa. But a bit longer doesn't matter.

Then add skimmed milk (I can't drink it with whole milk). No sugar.

I like most teabags except the cheap "value" ones which are tasteless.

PS I save any water that was initially in the kettle, and that used to heat my mug, to use for other things like washing up. Any HOT water goes into a flask to keep hot to use later (not for tea though).

We save any excess water for watering the house plants and when running water for shower or to wash hands cold water collected for saving to water the plants in the garden. Not saving any atm as all 4 water butts and 2 large tubs are overflowing.

 

[ClaireKelly]

Hubby likes that he thinks Typhoo and PG tips are cr*p (his words).

So does mine

 

[Ant7t]

Yes, I like the Gold version. When you buy 280 bags, do you store them in air tight containers? I ask because the Lock n' Lock BA said tea bags can 'go off'. Is she correct, do you think?

I'm sure they must lessen in flavour, rather than 'go off'. I used to just keep them in the box, until I decided to use the empty biscuit barrel. If, going back to the going off comment, that were truly true, how long do they sit in the, albeit cellophaned box, from factory to kitchen cupboard? And why do they have a best before date? Side note, but related, I used to work as a printer in my first job and he used to print items for Trebor and 'other' food providers. Said one to he, they only put those dates on because they have to, they don't really mean anything. And I bought a bag of peanuts once, and it said on the bag, no artificial flavours and gave a BBE of 2 years later. And then there was the sandwich that had 'fresh' chicken that was sourced in Thailand. So fresh it made its way across half the world: must have flown Sorry for the ramble, but basically, if the tea bags are in a closed container, why should they go off 'that quick'?

 

[Ant7t]

Oh, and the stuff you get in tea bags is just basically dust compared to loose tea

I'd heard that too. But in today's day and age, it's convenient to have the bags. Even had coffee in bags recently. I personally don't like, even if it's minuscule, anything floating in my cup that shouldn't be there. Or anything at the bottom of the cup either. That's a reason I've only ever had Turkish coffee the once. Nice flavour, but not good. Yes, I know this is a tea thread, but that's the way my mind works

 

[Ant7t]

So, as per usual, she was exaggerating in order to sell the L'nL containers. But, it's not a bad idea. For storing boiled eggs, Ln'L are ideal.

Keeps the smell in I suppose

 

[Sazza]

I buy the big box of 210. I top up my tea canister and put the rest in a plastic bag. I use a plastic clip to close it and stick it in a cupboard. Nothing wrong with the tea at all.

I really don't think they go off. We used to send tea bags from here in Scotland to a relative in California and she would keep a small amount out and put the rest in freezer and took some out when the canister needed refilling!

 

[stratobuddy]

I note that some tea bags are sold in separate sealed foil packs inside a large cardboard box, yet in other large boxes the bags are just loose in the non-airtight cardboard box.

 

[Grizelda]

I like a hot cup of tea. Nothing worse than tepid tea. If tea is made in a pot, it gets cold quickly and a tea cosey doesn't help.

 

[madaunty]

I like a hot cup of tea. Nothing worse than tepid tea. If tea is made in a pot, it gets cold quickly and a tea cosey doesn't help.

Oh, yes. Totally agree, has to be hot. If for any reason I haven’t drunk it all before it cools too much, I chuck the mug in the microwave to revive it.

 

[merryone]

I will say though even though the likes of Tetley/PG tips are considered bottom of pile by some whether that be quality or taste, and that I make it in a mug, and pour the milk in afterwards I don't care as it tastes good to me. On the other hand I have a friend who when we go out for coffee will always have latte but at home she only uses instant. Don't get me wrong there are some decent tasting instants out there, but I find they are ways of making them taste a lot better ie using Coffee mate instead of milk and using a kettle with a variable temperature dial as pouring boiling water onto coffee burns and spoils it. Recently this friend told me that her kettle had broken and she's missing her coffee (she's not a tea drinker btw). I told her about the kettle we've got with it's temperature control and keep warm feature and she said I don't want to spend a lot of money. Our kettle was really cheap I think it was only £20 from Amazon and it's brilliant. When I told her that she said "I don't want to spend that much" (she's well off btw) oh ok I said I thought with all those features the price was pretty reasonable. Her response was I just want something that will boil water. I have to say I thought to myself what a Philistine pouring boiling water over cheap coffee granules. I then thought to myself what a hypocrite, I enjoy PG Tips made in a mug and I don't care who knows it, she enjoys instant coffee made with boiling water and milk - each to their own. Unfortunately I when I think about it those words "I just want something that boils water" still makes me shudder lol!

 

[Ostrichkeeper]

A few years back I ordered a supposed water boiling machine from QVC which they claimed was suitable to make tea with.After using it for about ten days I felt ratty all the time, sweaty and headachey. I found that by the time the water reached the cup it wasn’t boiling at all so I had actual withdrawal symptoms from caffeine which surprised me.I left an honest scathing review which they put up.They came and picked it up. Back to my good old one litre kettle, it’s the best way to make tea unless you have a boiling tap of course.

 

[ClaireKelly]

I will say though even though the likes of Tetley/PG tips are considered bottom of pile by some whether that be quality or taste, and that I make it in a mug, and pour the milk in afterwards I don't care as it tastes good to me. On the other hand I have a friend who when we go out for coffee will always have latte but at home she only uses instant. Don't get me wrong there are some decent tasting instants out there, but I find they are ways of making them taste a lot better ie using Coffee mate instead of milk and using a kettle with a variable temperature dial as pouring boiling water onto coffee burns and spoils it. Recently this friend told me that her kettle had broken and she's missing her coffee (she's not a tea drinker btw). I told her about the kettle we've got with it's temperature control and keep warm feature and she said I don't want to spend a lot of money. Our kettle was really cheap I think it was only £20 from Amazon and it's brilliant. When I told her that she said "I don't want to spend that much" (she's well off btw) oh ok I said I thought with all those features the price was pretty reasonable. Her response was I just want something that will boil water. I have to say I thought to myself what a Philistine pouring boiling water over cheap coffee granules. I then thought to myself what a hypocrite, I enjoy PG Tips made in a mug and I don't care who knows it, she enjoys instant coffee made with boiling water and milk - each to their own. Unfortunately I when I think about it those words "I just want something that boils water" still makes me shudder lol!

That kettle sounds brilliant!

 

[Grizelda]

I will say though even though the likes of Tetley/PG tips are considered bottom of pile by some whether that be quality or taste, and that I make it in a mug, and pour the milk in afterwards I don't care as it tastes good to me. On the other hand I have a friend who when we go out for coffee will always have latte but at home she only uses instant. Don't get me wrong there are some decent tasting instants out there, but I find they are ways of making them taste a lot better ie using Coffee mate instead of milk and using a kettle with a variable temperature dial as pouring boiling water onto coffee burns and spoils it. Recently this friend told me that her kettle had broken and she's missing her coffee (she's not a tea drinker btw). I told her about the kettle we've got with it's temperature control and keep warm feature and she said I don't want to spend a lot of money. Our kettle was really cheap I think it was only £20 from Amazon and it's brilliant. When I told her that she said "I don't want to spend that much" (she's well off btw) oh ok I said I thought with all those features the price was pretty reasonable. Her response was I just want something that will boil water. I have to say I thought to myself what a Philistine pouring boiling water over cheap coffee granules. I then thought to myself what a hypocrite, I enjoy PG Tips made in a mug and I don't care who knows it, she enjoys instant coffee made with boiling water and milk - each to their own. Unfortunately I when I think about it those words "I just want something that boils water" still makes me shudder lol!

She sounds like a cheapskate imo. It's difficult to find a decent kettle under £20. I'd rather have nothing in my tea or coffee than Coffee Mate. Some people say that Typhoo is really scraping the barrel where tea is concerned. They may be tea snobs. I know a few coffee snobs. I don't know how they make their coffee at home, but they will only go to certain coffee shops where they say the only drinkable coffee is made. They'll go out of their way to get to these cafes. If it's an espresso, they'll first have a shot glass of water to cleanse their pallets and then drink the tepid coffee in one gulp. Mama mia!!

 

[merryone]

She sounds like a cheapskate imo. It's difficult to find a decent kettle under £20. I'd rather have nothing in my tea or coffee than Coffee Mate. Some people say that Typhoo is really scraping the barrel where tea is concerned. They may be tea snobs. I know a few coffee snobs. I don't know how they make their coffee at home, but they will only go to certain coffee shops where they say the only drinkable coffee is made. They'll go out of their way to get to these cafes. If it's an espresso, they'll first have a shot glass of water to cleanse their pallets and then drink the tepid coffee in one gulp. Mama mia!!

She isn't as a rule, but in this instance she is. I believe she bought one in Argos for a tenner in the end, I've checked and there is such a thing and it looks pretty flimsy. I kinda get that there's no point in having all bells and whistles if they're not something you think you're gonna use, but even so I think I'd sooner pay a little more and get something that's a superior build. I love to save money where I can and that's why I tend to read a lot of online reviews and I won't pay out blindly for a big name. On the cheap end of the scale some years ago I spent £12 on a Swan steam iron and it's the best iron I've ever used hands down and on the expensive side after trying a couple of cheap fans cum heaters I bought a Dyson and pun intended it blew the other ones out of the water!

 

[Grizelda]

She isn't as a rule, but in this instance she is. I believe she bought one in Argos for a tenner in the end, I've checked and there is such a thing and it looks pretty flimsy. I kinda get that there's no point in having all bells and whistles if they're not something you think you're gonna use, but even so I think I'd sooner pay a little more and get something that's a superior build. I love to save money where I can and that's why I tend to read a lot of online reviews and I won't pay out blindly for a big name. On the cheap end of the scale some years ago I spent £12 on a Swan steam iron and it's the best iron I've ever used hands down and on the expensive side after trying a couple of cheap fans cum heaters I bought a Dyson and pun intended it blew the other ones out of the water!

Cheap things usually pack up pretty soon, but you can be lucky. I won a cheapo electric hand mixer in a bingo game 25 years ago. It looks like hell, but it keeps on going.