BellaOnline Forums Food and Wine Tea How do you take your tea?

Angie, I am the same way, that is why tea is such a versital drink. It can be made and served all types of ways. I too enjoy a wide spectrum of tea varieties and types.

Some I sugar and some I do not. Some (as you mentioned) a wee tad bit of cream/milk.
I tend to drink the stronger or loose leaf tea in the morning-gets me going.

Mary Caliendo
Tea Editor

Darjeeling tea, black, no sugar.

Hot green tea with a bit of milk all day unless its too hot.
Black and green tea with lemon for ice tea.
I also like to combine Celestial Seasoning zinger teas with a strong black tea for ice tea.
Sleepytime or camomille late night usually with some local honey.

Love hearing what everyone else is drinking - have some new combos to try - hmmm - tea and Grand Marnier - sounds yummy!

Tetley Tea, British Blend, with raw milk and organic sugar. But any tea is better than no tea...

Thank you for your responses!
Peter you are enjoying strong, but mellow pick me up,
Susan-Lovethose sleepytime teas in the evening and Lee Ann are you from England? (just kidding) The English love their heavy cream-
And I agree Any tea is better than no tea!

A day without tea is like a day without sunshine!
Mary Caliendo
Tea Editor

I wouldn't call Darjeeling strong. It's delicate which is why it shouldn't (IMO) have milk in it.

Yes, Peter your observation is correct. Darjeeling is a black tea. It has a mellow taste. But remember some fine points bagged or loose, the region in which the Darjeeling is grown and upon which flush it is, and finally how long you personally steep your tea also will play a factor in how "strong" your tea will be.

Some say English Breakfast for ex. is perhaps "stronger" than Darjeeling for that particular company.

I have even heard it compared to the great taste of muscatel grapes used in wine- is this true?

Some people also confuse bitterness to strong as well. Tannin levels will rise as you steep resulting in more acid taste.

Great discussion! Thank you so much for your imput. And thank you for your interest in tea.

Mary Caliendo
Tea Editor

And.... Darjeeling is said to be 'the champagne of teas' and that is appropriate since I am a big fan of Champagne

Comparing like for like, English Breakfast tea (as it is known outside of England) is very much stronger in colour and taste than Darjeeling. No matter how long you steep Darjeeling it doesn't get the colour or depth of taste that EBT gets in 3 minutes.

EBT has a goodly element of Assam in the blend and is blended specifically to draw out a tremendous depth of colour within the first minute with tannins to follow -- all intended to stand up to the assault of milk and sugar.

The EBT we have is PG Tips.

Yes again, Assam the region that produces the strongest of tea.
(I think beside Russian tea perhaps)
I too love Champagne! And wine, but am only just beginning to delve into the two of them. I see that your decriptions are wonderfully expressed. Thank you for that.

I need to tune into your channel so that I may acquire more knowlege in your area of expertise! Thank you for great and engaging discussion!