# The perfect cup of tea **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 26, 2003, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-cup-of-tea/184597 "2003-06-26T19:47:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-cup-of-tea/184597/21 "2003-06-29T20:38:05Z")
ACK! Does this thread have a bouncer? ---
**Author:** ![chukhung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@chukhung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chukhung)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-cup-of-tea/184597/22 "2003-06-30T00:45:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sattua \* > **Um… isn’t it true that most “loose-leaf” teas are also crush-tear-curl? And isn’t it a travesty, also?** Yes, in terms of amount sold, I’m sure most loose-leaf, black teas are CTC. As for it being a travesty, I don’t know. Most CTC teas are decent quality, inexpensive teas that infuse quickly. There’s a place for them (just like there’s a place for tea bags). > [@](#): > > \*\*Is it possible to buy whole-leaf tea? In the States? Where? How much? \*\* In my experience, many large cities have at least one specialty shop that carry good quality, loose-leaf teas. When I lived in the Minneapolis area, I always had good luck at [La Société du Thé](http://www.la-societe-du-the.com/). And now it looks like they sell over the internet. Another, Internet-only tea retailer that I’ve used is [Upton Tea Imports](http://www.uptontea.com/). They seem to be particularly good about getting the new Darjeelings in each year (which are my favorites). Prices from Upton’s for black teas range from less than $4.00 for a 125 gm packet of a blended BOP from Ceylon to more than $25.00 for an 80 gm packet of a particularly high-end Darjeeling. (And if you want really pricy, take a look at some of their green teas that are aimed at the Japanese market). > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Chronos_ > **It can’t be good for the prepared tea to sit for a half-hour while it cools down enough to drink. No, the water ought to be heated to just higher than one’s preferred drinking temperature, so that when it finishes steeping, it’s ready to drink.** **Chronos** , I think you’ll find that for black teas, it’s really critical to use water right at boiling. Water at lower temperatures just doesn’t seem to be able to extract all the flavor from the leaves. And it certainly shouldn’t take a half-hour for it to cool down. As the article I linked in my OP states > [@](#): > > There is a final piece of advice about when to drink this perfect cuppa. > > Its temperature has to be between 60 and 65 C (140-149 F), **or about a minute after having been poured from the pot.** > > Below this temperature, many of the tea’s bouquet of flavours disappear. > > Any higher, and there is the danger of “vulgar slurping, which results from trying to drink tea at too high a temperature.” > > [Emphasis added] By the way, I’ll just note that green teas are different. Most experts recommend brewing greens at temperatures below boiling. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Chronos_ > **By contrast, the one time I ventured to try Earl Grey, I almost swore off Star Trek, it was so foul.** Well, of course. If the tea in Earl Grey blends was any good they wouldn’t have to dump in all that bergamot oil to mask the flavor, would they? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Drastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-cup-of-tea/184597/23 "2003-06-30T00:49:19Z")
Share and enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![red\_dragon60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@red\_dragon60](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/red_dragon60)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-cup-of-tea/184597/24 "2003-06-30T02:00:08Z")
I am a fan of Earl Grey. I don’t use any of the cheap stuff though. Imported from Britain, and comes in loose cheesecloth pouches. Bad Earl Grey is vile. Good Earl Grey has a beautiful floral scent and a richness to it. I will say though, it is a very aquired taste. You love it or hate it, and I really only started drinking it when I got ahold of the good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-cup-of-tea/184597/25 "2003-06-30T03:16:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DesertDog \* > \*\*Feh. That always tasted like medicine to me. When you’re not playing starship captain, you might try [Lapsang Souchong](http://www.stashtea.com/w-050023.htm). It’ll put hair on your chest. Or remove it. > > DD \*\* Oh, but I _have_ drunk Lapsang Souchong, and very much like it. My original statement, “Tea, Earl Grey, Hot” was merely meant to be amusing, a joke. I like Darjeeling too. ---
**Author:** ![Washte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Washte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washte)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-cup-of-tea/184597/26 "2003-06-30T10:42:14Z")
Thank you for the fun history **Mr Tambo**. Your grandfather sounds like a hoot! As for loose leaf, I am a Ceylon and Assam person. Bag-wise my favourite is Yorkshire. Also really enjoy Chai (flavoured). > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Chronos_ > Why in the world would any sensible person make their tea on the boil? Are you serious? Because it tastes like crap otherwise. Boiling water must be used to best release the taste and oils from the tea. Also, water that has only partially boiled tastes absolutely foul! > [@](#): > > No, the water ought to be heated to just higher than one’s preferred drinking temperature, so that when it finishes steeping, it’s ready to drink. :eek: You may as well just use hot water out of the tap (faucet)! ::shudder:: ---
**Author:** ![Necromancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ac91a4/32.png) [@Necromancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Necromancer)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-cup-of-tea/184597/27 "2003-06-30T11:13:55Z")
I tend to drink Australian teas and I use a glass teapot…but I do pour the milk into my cup first. I prefer loose leaf tea, but if a tea bag is the only thing going, then I’ll take it. In fact, I feel like having a cuppa right now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-cup-of-tea/184597.md?page=1)