ACK! Does this thread have a bouncer?
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).
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. And now it looks like they sell over the internet.
Another, Internet-only tea retailer that I’ve used is Upton Tea Imports. 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).
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
By the way, I’ll just note that green teas are different. Most experts recommend brewing greens at temperatures below boiling.
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? 
Share and enjoy!
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.
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.
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).
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!
:eek:
You may as well just use hot water out of the tap (faucet)! ::shudder::
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.