What is in your cup?

[Difflugia]

Originally Posted by c123

...Twinings loose Darjeeling tea (the one found on the continent, a superior blend found to the one on the UK).

So, do the English prefer worse tea?

I'm drinking generic (or maybe counterfeit) Taiwanese high mountain oolong.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by Difflugia

So, do the English prefer worse tea?

I'm drinking generic (or maybe counterfeit) Taiwanese high mountain oolong.

Well, given that they most typically drink it with milk, I suspect they're looking for a slightly different taste. The milk will tend to knock down the bite from tannins and "bright" teas, so the tendency is likely to heighten that for the UK blends to counteract the effects of the milk. (Note: this is pure speculation on my part.)

Another wet day here, so I'm going with the Murchie's Russian Caravan. The smokiness from the Lapsang Souchong is a definite plus on a wet and gray day.

[cromag]

Lingering over the last tea of the day.

[CRussel]

Chapter submitted! <whew!>

Time for dinner, some crappy TV, and a wee dram of Octomore.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Chapter submitted! <whew!>

Time for dinner, some crappy TV, and a wee dram of Octomore.

Oh, this stuff is sooo good. It's a good thing I can't afford to drink it very often.

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by Difflugia

So, do the English prefer worse tea?

I'm drinking generic (or maybe counterfeit) Taiwanese high mountain oolong.

Originally Posted by CRussel

Well, given that they most typically drink it with milk, I suspect they're looking for a slightly different taste. The milk will tend to knock down the bite from tannins and "bright" teas, so the tendency is likely to heighten that for the UK blends to counteract the effects of the milk. (Note: this is pure speculation on my part.)

Another wet day here, so I'm going with the Murchie's Russian Caravan. The smokiness from the Lapsang Souchong is a definite plus on a wet and gray day.

I don't know, Lipton and other similar brands are popular in the US. Most people I know use milk and sugar in their tea. While Teavana has grown in popularity most of the people I work with still think that making loose leaf tea is an arduous process and not worth the time. Even my friends who drink loose leaf are unclear on why they should use different temperature water based on tea type and the like.

I suspect that people in Japan, China and India are more knowledgeable regarding tea and the rest of the world remains a bit clueless and interested in the tea bags that are convenient, taste like crap, and require milk.

[Difflugia]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Well, given that they most typically drink it with milk, I suspect they're looking for a slightly different taste. The milk will tend to knock down the bite from tannins and "bright" teas, so the tendency is likely to heighten that for the UK blends to counteract the effects of the milk. (Note: this is pure speculation on my part.)

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

I don't know, Lipton and other similar brands are popular in the US. Most people I know use milk and sugar in their tea. While Teavana has grown in popularity most of the people I work with still think that making loose leaf tea is an arduous process and not worth the time. Even my friends who drink loose leaf are unclear on why they should use different temperature water based on tea type and the like.

I suspect that people in Japan, China and India are more knowledgeable regarding tea and the rest of the world remains a bit clueless and interested in the tea bags that are convenient, taste like crap, and require milk.

Now I want to try the same brands bound for different markets. I have a can of Twinings Darjeeling, but it's more bitter than comparably priced Darjeeling blends intended for sale in India (Lipton and Wagh Bakri Darjeelings are both available at a local convenience store owned by an Indian family). I'd be curious to know if Twinings actually sells more tea if it's slightly more bitter (kind of like milk chocolate in the US being made with slightly sour milk).

Since it came up, I'm having the Lipton Darjeeling this morning.

[wodin]

Kirkland Pacific Bold

[CRussel]

Today is a Murchie's English Breakfast Blend day. Bright sun, a few clouds, 13 degrees with a high of 19 or 20 forecast. IOW, a lovely fall day.

[cromag]

A largish glass of Shiraz.

[Difflugia]

Lipton loose leaf.

Maybe I'm in a different mood or something, but it's a lot better than I remember. The leaf pieces are quite tiny, but it's still less bitter than CTC teas like PG Tips or Brooke Bond.

[CRussel]

Nothing at all right now. Need to correct that.

I think a big pot of Keemun is in order.

[poohbear_nc]

Perrier at the end of a long day ... to be followed tonight with a dram (or 2) of Port Charlotte

[cromag]

Right now, just the memories of tea.

EDIT: And now, some Shiraz. Just to take the edge off.

[Difflugia]

High mountain oolong.