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I drink lots of black tea. Mostly clipper organic by choice; I like the flavour and that it doesn’t brew too strong but has a flavour that works for me.
Ideally my tea comes out as a sort of whisky coloured drink; the bottom of a white mug should just be visible but a bit stronger is ok.
I fancy getting away from tea bags and have a nice tea pot with a built in strainer…what fairtrade and organic loose tea should I try?
Cheers
Speaking from experience you will need to try a few different ones!
When you get it right it's very much nicer and less wasteful of packaging than bags.
However some of the leaf tea is utter garbage so don't order big bags to start. I've just had a nose about to try and find the packet for what we currently have on the go (which is nice but maybe a bit paler than you'd want) but I think it's all in the storage jar now and the packet has reached the bin. I didn't order it and Mrs gd is out.
Couple of other lessons learned.
If you get those one cup mesh basket things don't be tempted to overfill them. Same applies to the pots with built in caddies. Over filling means it just clogs and doesn't infuse right.
Get a tea cosy or tea towel over the pot when it's brewing and leave it longer than you'd leave tea bags.
Enjoy better tea because it really is. 🙂
I’m definitely after a good flavour and reducing waste is a big thing too.
Pale is not a bad thing of you can remember what it is.
I’ll need lots of samples I think. Brew Tea breakfast looks like one to try.
My favs for the last few years have been from these guys:
https://www.tiosk.co.uk/collections/black-loose-leaf
Tiosk
Brew Tea is ok, but nothing more.
The answer to your question is... https://imperialteas.co.uk/
While you're there, get a cast iron pot and drinking bowl.
https://www.coffeemasters.co.uk/the-tea-masters-loose-leaf-tea-breakfast-tea-premium-1x1kg
This is what's currently in the pot (also available via Amazon). Not special but found quite acceptable for everyday drinking.
If you want to reduce waste, maybe first find your local waste free refill shop and try whatever they stock
Currently liking tea pigs every day blend. I use one of those cup infusers that fills most of the cup so lots of space for the tea to infuse.
You can't beat John Watt Assam small leaf tea if you're wanting loose leaf.
https://johnwattcoffeeandtea.com/product/assam-small-leaf-tea/
Their Armistice blend is good as well.
Fortnum and Mason Assam. And a tea timer cube and water filter if you live in a hard water area.
Dose, water quality and brew time are all very significant factors in tea, probably more so than tea variety.
Soooo many teas 😱
Thanks all, lots to look at there and samples to be bought.
HR Higgins and Sons of Duke Street, london, particularly thier pleasingly robust breakfast and Duke Street blends.
Their Japanese cherry green tea, peach tea and Chai Masala are all lovely as well.
If its good enough for 'er Madge....
I get my tea from Waterloo gardens in Cardiff or Pekoe Tea in Edinburgh, you definitely need to experiment with what tea you like and different importers versions of the same blends as varies so much.
Golden Monkey Tea in Warwick do some lovely teas. Margaret's Hope Darjeeling is a particular favourite of mine.
If you want to reduce waste, maybe first find your local waste free refill shop and try whatever they stock
Good idea if the OP has one nearbythat stocks tea.
We did try but it was awful. Still buy lots of other stuff there just not the tea.
Second HR Higgins, also try Palais des Thes in France although the postage will probably be steep (no pun intended).
You can't go wrong starting off with a bag of that Assam from John Watt & Son that @notmyrealname posted the link for above.
Be warned though, once you ditch the tea bags and start getting into loose leaf it becomes a bit of an (expensive) addiction. You'll try the basic stuff, then you'll discover sites like https://what-cha.com/ and it becomes a bit like fine wine collecting , only much healthier for your body and mind.
A good single estate Assam, Kenyan or Ceylon tea brewed strong with a splash of milk first thing in the morning is my greatest daily pleasure.
Watch out for the anarchists when making tea. As I am sure you know, "Proper Tea is theft"
Suki Tea Belfast Brew is my favourite.
If you do get in to exploring teas, I can not recommend this tea subscription enough:
https://www.curioustea.com/tea/subscription/discovery-tea-subscription/
There are other subscriptions out there with more slick marketing and average teas but these guys are the real deal, great, small producer teas that they source themselves and good tasting notes and if you find things you like, they go out of there way to make recommendations based on your preferences
We discovered Bari Tea Brewery in Alnwick. Lovely place if you're every that way.
The Margaret's Hope or Lovers Leap are both excellent flavoursome black tea that doesn't need a strong brew.
Thank you all so much. Plenty of reading and shopping to do now!
I love tea.
Let’s see how this goes 😂
If you want to go all tea connoisseur get a variable temperature kettle as freshly boiled water is not what you need for some quality teas; some of the best china teas are recommended to brew as low as 75c.
Milk is for cornflakes and a timer is good for...timing.
Try some of the unusual teas from these folks: https://cominstea.com/pages/shop I have enjoyed their first flush Darjeeling a lot.
Our local refill place does clipper organic loose leaf tea which is my brew of choice. I dont mind co-op own brand to be honest, that's also bought locally