Question for my British friends across the pond

[Hertston]

ORIGINAL: ilovestrategy

There's something I've wondered for a long time. Do you guys really drink tea or is that just another false stereotype made in Hollywood?

No, 'we' (personally, I don't) really do drink the stuff by the gallon. The Mrs used to drink pints of the stuff a day until she had to lay off dairy products - the normal preference is very much 'with milk and/or sugar'. Virtually all of colleagues at work drink several mugs a day, probably in something like a three to one ration compared to coffee.[/quote] Coffee is the favoured drink 'out', though.

I've always pictured people in the Victorian era with cups and saucers. How far from the truth is that image?

Still a lot of it drunk that way, although most is probably out of mugs these days. The most significant change from those times is probably the tea-bag; not many make tea the 'old' way any more.

[ilovestrategy]

Hertston, what do you mean by the old way? I'm guessing tea leaves?

[Hertston]

Yup. Tea leaves, pre-heated teapot, 'fresh' boiled water (i.e not boiled before), tea strainer etc.

[ilovestrategy]

ORIGINAL: Hertston

Yup. Tea leaves, pre-heated teapot, 'fresh' boiled water (i.e not boiled before), tea strainer etc.

Ahhhh ok. I have my tea leaves directly in the cup with fresh boiled water.

[Dixie]

Tea leaves are my option of choice when possible, washing your teapot is wrong as well.  But generally it'll be teabags.

[AW1Steve]

ORIGINAL: Dixie

Tea leaves are my option of choice when possible, washing your teapot is wrong as well.  But generally it'll be teabags.

Ah....so you Brits have finally become as lazy as us![:D]

I was always reminded in my student days in Winchester Hants, that we Yanks couldn't brew a proper pot of tea. (True, so true). And we responded that "You Brits couldn't make decent coffee!" (Even more true!)[:D] So now you have StarBucks. And we Yanks, still can't brew that great a cuppa (Teavana stores withstanding!).[:D]

[andym]

Its wrong to wash your Tea mug.It sort of "seasons" itself over the years and gives your brew a certain "Je ne sais quoi".NEVER ,EVER substitue brown sugar or similar for white sugar.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: andym

Its wrong to wash your Tea mug.It sort of "seasons" itself over the years and gives your brew a certain "Je ne sais quoi".NEVER ,EVER substitue brown sugar or similar for white sugar.

Warspite1

I totally agree with the first point [&o]. Mrs Warspite won't have a cup of tea in the same cup if its been more than a few hours since the last one, but I think a day or so's "seasoning" improves the flavour no end [8D].

In the days when I used to take sugar, I didn't mind the brown stuff - it was not as sweet, in fact on reflection it was that that probably helped me when giving up sugar for good. The move from half a sugar to no sugar was less of a jump.

[ilovestrategy]

ORIGINAL: andym

Its wrong to wash your Tea mug.

My wife would never go for that. If I ever tried refusing to wash my tea mug...........

[andym]

ORIGINAL: ilovestrategy

ORIGINAL: andym

Its wrong to wash your Tea mug.

My wife would never go for that. If I ever tried refusing to wash my tea mug...........

Good God man!Are you a man or a mouse?Its sacrilidge,its like a whisky barrel.They need to be nurtured and matured for the best flavour.I think my last one was about 5 years old and only washed once!The present mug is nearing Tea Nirvana.All it needs od just a swill out with hot water to remove any tea residues or undissolved sugar.

[ilovestrategy]

Well, I need to stay in her good graces to buy Distant Worlds, Storm over the Pacific, a new gaming rig to replace my 4 year old dinosaur, and to eat! [:D]

[warspite1]

ilovestrategy - I think you need to grow a set [;)] Just tell her "this is the way its gonna be - no more washing of the mugs love - gottit?".

I am sure that approach will pay dividends in the long run.......[:D]

[ilovestrategy]

One thing I learned years ago is to pick my battles. Man, I'm at work and I want some tea. [:(]

[spelk]

PG Tips is my preferred tipple. You just can't beat a nice cup of cha. We're raised on the stuff, I remember as a small kid, having hot sugary tea poured into the saucer so it would cool faster so you could drink it. I've seen kids with it in their milk bottles, luke warm of course.

Been reading about the Falklands lately, and the troops there would whip out their hex stoves and brew up in the middle of a firefight, if they were pinned down by Argentinian fire. The hot sweet tea helped warm their bodies and lift their spirits, whilst waiting on their next big push forward.

We brought it back from India and made it our own, we've been sipping it ever since. We've moved on from bully beef (corned beef) though. Mostly

[helm123456789]

Have a very good female friend that lives in Nottingham and she doesn't drink a drop of Tea.  Prefers coffee and that may be from the fact that she lived in the states for a while.  Was funny when I stayed with her and was looking around her flat looking for the tea and there was none to be had.

[redcoat]

ORIGINAL: helm123456789
Have a very good female friend that lives in Nottingham and she doesn't drink a drop of Tea ...  Was funny when I stayed with her and was looking around her flat looking for the tea and there was none to be had.

Nightmare.

[Perturabo]

ORIGINAL: andym

Its wrong to wash your Tea mug.It sort of "seasons" itself over the years and gives your brew a certain "Je ne sais quoi".

Really? I'll have to try out that method once.

[Toby42]

I'm mostly a coffee drinker, but when I do drink tea I like it black and strong. My wife on the other hand likes English Tea. Cream and Sugar!

[Dixie]

Assam tea, brewed nice and strong with a little bit of milk and sugar.  The best way to have it is so strong that no-one else will touch it.  That way no-one will steal your brew when your back is turned. [:D]

[ilovestrategy]

ORIGINAL: helm123456789

Have a very good female friend that lives in Nottingham and she doesn't drink a drop of Tea.  Prefers coffee and that may be from the fact that she lived in the states for a while.  Was funny when I stayed with her and was looking around her flat looking for the tea and there was none to be had.

That's funny!