Telling time in U. K. English

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

I tried a shandy in Britain, and didn't really care for it. In the States, there are some who mix beer and Clamato to make a faux Bloody Mary. My stomach lurches at the thought. I'm not that partial to iced tea myself, except in Bubble Tea: flavored iced tea with black tapioca balls the size of small marbles that sucked up with a large straw and chewed.

(I dislike milk in tea, especially "chai" - ugh!)

Beer and Clamato does sound revolting. I don't like regular iced tea too, but I do really like flavored iced tea (unsweetened only). I typically only drink tea with milk when I'm in England. Funny, the one exception at home is chai tea with soy milk (makes a good flavor combination).

Originally Posted by issybird

Coffee should be drunk black. Puts hair on your chest. Seriously, I don't want to dilute the caffeine with anything. It's all that stands between me and death in the morning. As for tea, even the thought of milk in tea makes my belly roil. Tea needs lemon or nothing.

No black coffee for me! I must have my half and half or vanilla creamer. I love just about everything lemon except lemon in tea. Don't know why. Just don't care for it.

[SeaBookGuy]

As I understand it, in the U. K. they put warm milk in coffee (and, I suppose, tea), which seems counter-productive.

Getting back to the issue of time (as per my own hijacked thread!), I find the idea of tea before lunchtime odd - the only time I've done it was in Turkey, where the hotel coffee was basically un-drinkable.

I've only had pre-sweetened tea once, in Florida at a fast food joint (Popeye's?). I don't plan on trying it again.

[vans]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

That would explain my loathing of Mr Bean (although I love Blackadder).

No, that loathing has nothing to do with national characteristics, it is just good taste (I also loath Mr Bean).

[vans]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

As I understand it, in the U. K. they put warm milk in coffee (and, I suppose, tea), which seems counter-productive.

Getting back to the issue of time (as per my own hijacked thread!), I find the idea of tea before lunchtime odd - the only time I've done it was in Turkey, where the hotel coffee was basically un-drinkable.

I've only had pre-sweetened tea once, in Florida at a fast food joint (Popeye's?). I don't plan on trying it again.

UK has changed a little since Mrs Miniver and Close Encounters. We are knee deep in Starbucks and Costa Coffee shops. Tea drinking has been in decline for years. Personally I drink black coffee and Earl Grey (no milk), herb tea and hot ginger. However, I try to block even the thought of iced tea out of mind.

[DMB]

I start the morning by making myself a litre of Earl Grey green tea, which I then pour from a vacuum flask throughout the morning (no milk).

On the subject of adding lemonade to an alcoholic drink, I am reminded of several decades ago when I used to visit a particular pub in the country in Worcestershire where they sold home-made scrumpy. It was thin and appley and acid and I happened to like it. The locals would sit all evening drinking "half and half" (scrumpy cut with an equal quantity of lemonade). We sometimes used to take visiting Scots and Americans there, mainly for the local colour. Some of them were a bit contemptuous of the scrumpy, even though we warned them. I reckoned that if you drank it straight, a pint and a half was the maximum dose if you wanted to be able to walk out of the pub. But I've known a few Americans and one Englishman who drank three pints and then had to be carried out.

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

As I understand it, in the U. K. they put warm milk in coffee (and, I suppose, tea), which seems counter-productive.

I have been offered warm milk only once. Typically they serve milk similar to how we serve cream (in my experiences). I was told the purpose of the warm milk is to keep your beverage warm longer. Our thinking is that the beverage is very hot and you need to cool it before you can sip it.

Originally Posted by DMB

I start the morning by making myself a litre of Earl Grey green tea, which I then pour from a vacuum flask throughout the morning (no milk).

On the subject of adding lemonade to an alcoholic drink, I am reminded of several decades ago when I used to visit a particular pub in the country in Worcestershire where they sold home-made scrumpy.

I have only ever seen Earl Grey black tea. Now you have given me a mission to find green. That sounds lovely! I had to look up what scrumpy is. I prefer cider to beer so I would try that, although it would have to be a very small quantity for me!

Originally Posted by vans

UK has changed a little since Mrs Miniver and Close Encounters. We are knee deep in Starbucks and Costa Coffee shops. Tea drinking has been in decline for years. Personally I drink black coffee and Earl Grey (no milk), herb tea and hot ginger. However, I try to block even the thought of iced tea out of mind.

I am not a Starbucks fan; the taste is too over-roasted for me. However, I really like Costa vanilla lattes! Now you've got me craving one of those. Do you brew your own coffee, or do you drink instant? My English friends all drink Nescafe. I got the impression that instant is more common. Is that really the case?

[vans]

Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl

Do you brew your own coffee, or do you drink instant? My English friends all drink Nescafe. I got the impression that instant is more common. Is that really the case?

Until two years ago I was a double espresso drinker made from a little Italian coffee maker that I put on the hob.

However, I realised that caffeine gave me headaches so the only coffee I drink now is filtered decaffeinated. Even my Earl Grey is decaffeinated. I miss the taste and kick of real coffee, but I don't miss the headaches.

I don't drink instant coffee but as you say it is very popular in the UK. I think this is because we tend to like big mugs of hot drinks and a big mug of real coffee would have us bouncing off the ceiling.

[SeaBookGuy]

Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl

I prefer cider to beer so I would try that, although it would have to be a very small quantity for me!

Yesterday, I stopped by a local watering hole for lunch (one beer and an overpriced plate of pork sliders). Their beer mats touted a brand's pear cider, but the bartender told me they weren't carrying it (yet).

Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl

Do you brew your own coffee, or do you drink instant? My English friends all drink Nescafe. I got the impression that instant is more common. Is that really the case?

In India, I understand they sell Nescafe with the sugar and (powdered) creamer pre-mixed.

Originally Posted by vans

Personally I drink black coffee and Earl Grey (no milk), herb tea and hot ginger.

I love ginger, including ginger tea, ginger biscuits and ginger beer! After the pub lunch above, I stopped by a local supermarket nearby, noticing in their British section that they carry tins of a ginger drink, so strong they 'dare' one to try it! I was put off by the cost (3 quid each!), but I might get one next time I'm through there.

[DMB]

Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl

I have only ever seen Earl Grey black tea. Now you have given me a mission to find green. That sounds lovely!

I have yet to find it in England. I buy it in Switzerland or France -- Tetley's Oriental Earl Grey. I used to drink decaff black Earl Grey, but I prefer this and the caffeine content is quite low. It doesn't seem to be available in the USA as far as I can tell from the Tetley website.

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

Yesterday, I stopped by a local watering hole for lunch (one beer and an overpriced plate of pork sliders). Their beer mats touted a brand's pear cider, but the bartender told me they weren't carrying it (yet).

In India, I understand they sell Nescafe with the sugar and (powdered) creamer pre-mixed.

The offices where I work in England have machines that serve tea and coffee like you describe. I have only ever tried "white coffee". It dispenses a granulated mix of instant coffee and powered creamer into a cup, and then you have to move it to a hot water dispenser. You press a button, and it gives you a stir-stick. I have seen similar machines in places like the waiting area for a ferry.

Wyder's and Ace are popular pear ciders out West. When I lived in Seattle we would take day trips to Vancouver. They have some great cider up there.

Safeway has an excellent selection of imported British items.

Originally Posted by vans

Until two years ago I was a double espresso drinker made from a little Italian coffee maker that I put on the hob.

However, I realised that caffeine gave me headaches so the only coffee I drink now is filtered decaffeinated. Even my Earl Grey is decaffeinated. I miss the taste and kick of real coffee, but I don't miss the headaches.

I don't drink instant coffee but as you say it is very popular in the UK. I think this is because we tend to like big mugs of hot drinks and a big mug of real coffee would have us bouncing off the ceiling.

We had ex-pat Italians working with us here in the US. They brought in their own espresso machine and would take an afternoon break around the machine at 2PM.

I do caffeinated coffee in the morning and then I switch to decaf tea for the afternoon and evening. I wonder if instant coffee is popular because of the convenience or just because tea is still more popular than coffee? Electric kettles are not very common here, although I have one and use it almost daily.

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by DMB

I have yet to find it in England. I buy it in Switzerland or France -- Tetley's Oriental Earl Grey. I used to drink decaff black Earl Grey, but I prefer this and the caffeine content is quite low. It doesn't seem to be available in the USA as far as I can tell from the Tetley website.

My local supermarket sells Twinings. I have to go to a specialty shop to find Tetley. Bigelow is one of the popular American brands of tea. Their website says that they sell Earl Grey green tea so I'll have a better chance of success if I search for that.

[SeaBookGuy]

I've just returned from Safeway, which had a black and green blend of Earl Grey from Stash brand, but no green E G itself.

I tried a green tea latte once ... it was ... different. I'm a fan of green tea ice cream.

[Phogg]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

I've just returned from Safeway, which had a black and green blend of Earl Grey from Stash brand, but no green E G itself.

I tried a green tea latte once ... it was ... different. I'm a fan of green tea ice cream.

If you will look at your local grocers, Canada Dry is marketing a green tea ginger ale. The ginger somewhat overpowers the tea, but its not bad.

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by DMB

I have yet to find it in England. I buy it in Switzerland or France -- Tetley's Oriental Earl Grey. I used to drink decaff black Earl Grey, but I prefer this and the caffeine content is quite low. It doesn't seem to be available in the USA as far as I can tell from the Tetley website.

Whittards is a good place to look for rarer sorts of tea.
They have Green Earl Grey as bags or loose.

(An online search suggests that of the major supermarkets, Sainsburys sell a Twinings Green Earl Grey.)

[wodin]

Originally Posted by DMB

Humour doesn't travel well.

Monty Python is funny anywhere English in all of it's various dialects is spoken. Being mono-linguistic, I'm not sure how well it translates; but I'd think it would render well in most languages.