Tea Leaves

[Stargazer]

I have decided to return to making "real" tea in a tea pot and with fresh tea leaves.
Please will any of you who has an opinion on the subject post your advice as to which brand and type of tea leaves to buy. I don't like Earl Grey by the way and neither do I like scented tea. Tea bags have become the norm nowadays but they can't be as good a quality as loose leaf tea for two reasons one of which is that they are not all filled with whole leaves and there is often a scum left round the edge of the cup or mug if made directly into the cup and also the dark stain that is left in the cup is disgusting and makes me wonder what our innards are like!

[sunny-dave]

Yorkshire Tea is widely available and pretty good - sveral different varieties to try (I like the 'gold' version):

https://www.ocado.com/productImages/141/14130011_0_640x640.jpg?identifier=db629c4337b4a5cd369499bd666e4f85

But my favourite is Sainsbury's Kenya Blend :

http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/gb/groceries/sainsburys-kenya-loose-tea--taste-the-difference-125g?langId=44&storeId=10151&krypto=GedqcTjq1qCGflIimWxoH9EgkFNZxRVN%2FmoE9f%2By5eii2fg0LjJ0LOHGr3G42JZiNP2QAlxS1WW4QZY2cFL9x2DaWSS0JzEJ6%2FfI2dRnRkG6LlSikbZ8F5tbzlN1hZIvsd54wb2xRtSkOijSf2lQjcBGH6jWoe5WfWZZGDOY1OE%3D&ddkey=http%3Agb%2Fgroceries%2Fsainsburys-kenya-loose-tea--taste-the-difference-125g

A good strong cuppa with a nice bright, fresh colour and taste.

[mikey4444]

I sometimes use one of those Bodum plunger pots, like this ::::

https://www.tesco.com/direct/bodum-assam-blue-05l-tea-press/277-3392.prd?skuId=277-3392&;pageLevel=sku&sc_cmp=ppc_sh-_-sh-_-tesco-_-277-3392&sc_cmp=ppc*sh*msh*bt*px_-_shopping_gsc_-_tesco_brand_-_kitchen*277-3392&gclid=CIH9yOrQxtICFcHnGwodFHQJ9g&gclsrc=aw.ds&source=others

It works very well. As regards what type of tea, well that is very personal, but I buy 100% Keemum Tea, when I can find it.

[sunny-dave]

Actually these Aldi Gold tea bags (made in a pot and allowed time to brew) are as good as most leaf teas - and incredibly good value too :

http://images1.mysupermarket.co.uk/ProductsDetailed/1/292801.jpg?v=4

[Peter Pedant]

there is a tea shop in Covent garden

My grandfather ( ICS) used to dote on Nilgiri tea
( a bit weak compared to english lorry drivers )

I do assam and darjeeling

[Peter Pedant]

Keemun - any chinese supermarket ( erm a lot in manchester )

[mikey4444]

If you are ever up in Town, try the Twinings shop in the Strand ::

https://www.twinings.co.uk/about-twinings/216-strand

A tea lovers paradise !

[Stargazer]

Wow! Thanks for all your opinions. I like the "up in town" reference Mikey, especially as I never go there, living as I do in rural Norfolk just two miles from the coast. I used to live/work "up the smoke" (I was married to an "almost" Cockney so know all the lingo), but have now become totally integrated into the rural pace of life.

[237SJ]

I also buy Sainsburys Kenyan. I can`t get it in our smaller shop but the big one up the road sells it. Any Kenyan is good so I expect other supermarkets sell it. If I can`t get Kenyan I settle for Assam but it has less flavour

[wendilla]

Yorkshire tea always .