# Quality of tea in the UK **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 16, 2006, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-tea-in-the-uk/372937 "2006-09-16T06:00:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-tea-in-the-uk/372937/1 "2006-09-16T06:00:47Z")
In the past 10-15 years, the United States has been able to get great quality coffee. However, the quality of tea I’ve consumed is still weak and bland. In the UK, and other countries, is quality tea available? I’ll define quality by having both adequate strength as well as freshness. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-tea-in-the-uk/372937/2 "2006-09-16T06:25:37Z")
Not as available as it should be, given the amount we drink and the reputation we have for it. In anything other than a top-end or specialist establishment, the same problems arise as you’re probably encountering - poor quality tea, and insufficiently-hot water. The latter can cause insipid weakness even if the tea used is fine. :: Takes a break from typing because his kettle’s just boiled…seriously…:: However, I’m sure the majority of tea is drunk at home, and certainly most of it is made using tea bags, which can be dire or can be remarkably good. Only a minority use real tea. In the supermarkets, the range of tea available, both bags and fresh, is comparable to the coffees on sale. And there’s at least one major chain of specialist shops which is a familiar sight on high streets (Whittards) (specialist in a fairly loose sense of the word!) ---
**Author:** ![constanze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@constanze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constanze)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-tea-in-the-uk/372937/3 "2006-09-16T09:40:47Z")
What tea do you mean - the tea you get at a cafee ? Or the tea you buy loose-leaf at a herb shop, nature shop, tea shop, and boil yourself at home? I’m no big tea drinker myself, but I’ve seen the variety of tea in cafees vary greatly (not only with price category) - some of the alternative restaurants/cafees have differnet herbal loose-leaf tea available, because customers ask for it. So you may just have to find the right cafee. (FWIW, although you asked about UK: in Munich, Bavaria, about 1.3 million inhabitants, I know of at least one special tea shop - sells only tea and accessories - and at least tea cafee; that I stumbled across without looking for them. I’m sure there are more around if I were to look.) Or do you mean that in your area, there is not one herbal, organic, tea shop where you can buy loose-leaf tea??? ---
**Author:** ![seosamh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@seosamh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seosamh)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-tea-in-the-uk/372937/4 "2006-09-16T12:12:22Z")
My office colleagues in London always demand that I bring back Irish tea bags whenever I go to Ireland (i.e. a couple of times a year). For some reason, yer average Irish tea blend (Lyons, Barry’s) is considered better than yer average British blend (PG Tips, Tetley, Typhoo). Better brands of straight-up-and-down British tea are Twinings (who also do all sorts of fancy muck as well) and Yorkshire (depending on whether your water is hard or soft). ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-tea-in-the-uk/372937/5 "2006-09-16T12:27:34Z")
[QUOTE=dalej42] In the past 10-15 years, the United States has been able to get great quality coffee. However, the quality of tea I’ve consumed is still weak and bland. [/QUOTE] Hie thee to an Indian grocery store right now! Eva Luna, drinking a nice cup of loose-leaf Assam strong enough for the spoon to stand up (cheap as dirt, too - I think it was $1.99 for 12 ounces, which lasts me ages) ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-tea-in-the-uk/372937/6 "2006-09-16T12:43:10Z")
Good tea is no harder to make than good coffee. But a lot of people make darn bad coffee and tea. Fresh tea stored in a can in the freezer. Good quality water that has never before been boiled. Bring said water to a strong boil. A tea ball. Earl Grey (or English Breakfast) tea. About seven minutes. Serve in glass or china. Short cuts never help. It is so easy to do it right, why bother doing it wrong? Some people simply do not value good food and drink. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-tea-in-the-uk/372937/7 "2006-09-16T12:53:53Z")
Is [Lipton tea](http://www.liptont.com/our_products/black_tea/blk_hot_tea.asp) OK? 99.99 % of all the tea I’ve ever had is Lipton Black tea in bags. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-tea-in-the-uk/372937/8 "2006-09-16T13:08:22Z")
[QUOTE=astro] Is [Lipton tea](http://www.liptont.com/our_products/black_tea/blk_hot_tea.asp) OK? 99.99 % of all the tea I’ve ever had is Lipton Black tea in bags. [/QUOTE] In a word, **NO.** Get some Twinings, loose or in a bag. Earl Gray is good, and so is English Breakfast. Much, much better than the lawn clippings and floor sweepings that Lipton and Nestea try to pass off as ‘tea.’ ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-tea-in-the-uk/372937/9 "2006-09-16T13:12:02Z")
[QUOTE=seosamh] Better brands of straight-up-and-down British tea are Twinings (who also do all sorts of fancy muck as well) and Yorkshire (depending on whether your water is hard or soft). [/QUOTE] Yorkshire Tea has a blend supposedly intended to be more suited to hard water - although I suspect you won’t see it on sale in places with soft water! FWIW, I find it tastes better, but no more so than the stronger blend. ---
**Author:** ![Tabby\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tabby\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabby_Cat)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-tea-in-the-uk/372937/10 "2006-09-16T13:24:58Z")
I loved the Fortnum and Mason teas so much I bought three tins back with me… Don’t know what I’ll do when I run out, though. =/ ---
**Author:** ![ethelbert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/958977/32.png) [@ethelbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ethelbert)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-tea-in-the-uk/372937/11 "2006-09-16T14:12:35Z")
[This recent nytimes article](http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/13/dining/13tea.html?_r=1&oref=slogin) suggests that the British are more tolerant of mediocre tea because they drink it with milk & sugar. > [@](#): > > Somewhat surprisingly, English tea companies appear to be the slowest to catch on to the trend of fine tea in tea bags. The English often drink tea with milk and sugar, so they like it dark and strong, just the way cheap tea bags make it. “The English consumer is less adventurous than the American,” Mr. Cheetham said. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-tea-in-the-uk/372937/12 "2006-09-16T14:18:24Z")
The “takes sugar” proportion in the UK I’d estimate to be 50/50, but the “takes milk” is about 90%. We do mostly take milk. And therefore, yes, we put up with slightly rubbish tea - but it’s ambrosia compared to \*$&£&@# _Liptons_. :barf: ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-tea-in-the-uk/372937/13 "2006-09-16T15:40:01Z")
[QUOTE=astro] Is [Lipton tea](http://www.liptont.com/our_products/black_tea/blk_hot_tea.asp) OK? 99.99 % of all the tea I’ve ever had is Lipton Black tea in bags. [/QUOTE] This is the tea you give your mother-in-law. The best that can be said for it is that it sterilizes the water. For teabags, Yorkshire Tea and Earl Gray’s Tea are good; for open tea, I use Earl Gray’s and Lapsang Suchong. Not so much the latter as I like my tea quite strong. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-tea-in-the-uk/372937/14 "2006-09-16T15:42:21Z")
Oh yes, do not confuse being dark with being strong: cheaper teas often have caramel added so they look darker. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-tea-in-the-uk/372937/15 "2006-09-16T16:55:13Z")
[QUOTE=BiblioCat] In a word, **NO.** Get some Twinings, loose or in a bag. Earl Gray is good, and so is English Breakfast. Much, much better than the lawn clippings and floor sweepings that Lipton and Nestea try to pass off as ‘tea.’ [/QUOTE] Twinings English Breakfast, please. Currently I’m drinking Tetley sent from Canada, which is different but also lovely. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-tea-in-the-uk/372937/16 "2006-09-16T17:03:37Z")
I bought an excellent whole-leaf darjeeling at Harrod’s; I probably paid way too much for it, but it is excellent tea. I haven’t been able to get anything to match it in the States–and that includes efforts in New York. Republic of Tea’s whole leaf darjeeling is “meh.” If I’m missing an obvious source, somebody please fill me in. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-tea-in-the-uk/372937/17 "2006-09-16T17:11:34Z")
I’m English and like my tea fairly weak - certainly by nothern standards. I find the Tetleys tea from the local supermarkets is fine, as is English breakfast. I did once try the Publix own-label but it was so weak that I had to use two bags per mug, thereby negating any cost-benefit. I take milk & sugar. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-tea-in-the-uk/372937/18 "2006-09-16T17:55:00Z")
[QUOTE=amarone] I take milk & sugar. [/QUOTE] Of _course_ you do. Is there any other way? ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-tea-in-the-uk/372937/19 "2006-09-16T18:28:57Z")
> [@](#): > > posted by **Eva Luna** > Hie thee to an Indian grocery store right now! Do as **Eva Luna** says. My dad was stationed in India during WW2. He always told me, “The Indians keep the best for themselves. They sell the second-rate stuff to England. They sell the dregs to us.” ---
**Author:** ![velveeta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/13edae/32.png) [@velveeta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velveeta)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-tea-in-the-uk/372937/20 "2006-09-16T19:32:28Z")
This is an interesting article about tea from the NYTimes. (Might need to register): > **[Tea’s Got a Brand New Bag (Published 2006)](https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/13/dining/13tea.html?_r=1&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects%2fT%2fTea&oref=slogin)** > > The tea bag is in the process of large-scale reinvention, and some of those who currently shun it with almost ostentatious disdain are very likely to be won over. Also, I buy my tea from http://www.harney.com/ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-tea-in-the-uk/372937.md?page=2)