The perfect cuppa

Side note:  the teabag was actually never intended to be used.  I can't remember the dates but in Britain over 100+ years ago it was actually meant to be a measure only.  It was so people would know how much to use per person. But people actually begun to just put the teabag straight into their cup. And this is how the teabag came into being. (I actually had to read that in my manual at work!)

I saw a program that said instant tea bags were created out of convenience back when televisions became popular in the home. Same with instant coffee (don't get me started on that!). People could brew a couple quickly between programs. Out went the casual tea time!

Give me until tomorrow after work and I can probably dig up the manual with the date and the guys name! 

No I forgot to buy some while I was in the UK, but found some Twinnings Classics with different flavours. I like the tea itself, well the English Breakfast one was nice, but once I add milk it tasted bad. I have been drinking it without milk, with splenda which is ok. It's just not the same.

But after I have learned a few things I will never again drink PG Tips, Typhoo, or Tetley. I know they have been British staples in life for quite a while, but have you ever wondered why they were so cheap? You are basically getting the leftover bits.

When I was in the UK I drank PG Tips and liked it a lot actually.

Twinings is just like it is here so it is perhaps your milk, skim? Try cream or a whole milk next time... or try warming up your milk!

Twinnings is just like it is here so it is perhaps your milk, skim? Try cream or a whole milk next time... or try warming up your milk!

Yeah I thought that was what it  probably was, I tried using 1% milk. I will try whole or cream next, thanks 

If I am back in the states and didn't bring any tea with me or ran out, I will resort to Twinnings as they are the next best thing! They are probably the only other ones in par with quality competition with Whittard. They have a different market strategy and try to mass market and its worked great for them.  When I had to stay in the states for 6 months away from my husband I had him mail me Twinnings.  I thought it just tasted better coming from Britain.

Has anyone been to the Twinnings shop near the Royal Courts of Justice in London?

Has anyone been to the Twinnings shop near the Royal Courts of Justice in London?

no, have you? stories???!!!

No, I have always wanted to go but the only time we pass it is on Sunday coming home from church and it's not open then! 

http://www.twinings.com/en_int/experience_tea/strand_shop.html

 I thought it just tasted better coming from Britain.

according to this you may be right!

Additional plants at Newcastle in the north-east of England, Woolsbridge in the English New Forest, Greensboro in North Carolina, USA, and Calcutta, India provide Twinings international business with the capacity to meet global demand.

If you are in the States try Tetley's British Blend - it is better than most of the black teas over here. 

So - from a technical standpoint there is a scientific reason to add the milk to the cup first (although I don't).  Adding the cold milk first allows a sort of tempering of the milk, the milk is more "gradually" warmed by the hot tea - by adding the milk to the tea you risk overheating it since there is a larger volume of hot tea and the milk is going in in a thin stream.  --- See what kind of advantages you have taking your heat transfer course in the UK instead of the US?   

I make ok tea for myself - but I prefer it when my husband makes it.

well that makes complete sense... or you can just warm up the milk and avoid all of that!

When I was in the UK I drank PG Tips and liked it a lot actually.

I can get PG Tips in a British shop here in town (not to mention a good variety of chocolate/candy!).  If you're interested, PM me and I can send a box up to ya!

I've been a tea drinker since I was very young, and I have to agree that whole leaf is soooo much better than bags (although I'll use bags in a pinch).  Right now my favorite black tea is sold at Williams-Sonoma, but I can't for the life of me remember the company's name.  All I can remember is that they're based in Connecticut and it's ______ & Sons.  It's not on the W-S website, but I know it comes in a black tin.  Phooey, wish I could remember.

Harney and Sons?

Harney and Sons?

MY HERO!!!  That's it!  I love, love, love their English Breakfast.  I had no idea they had such a selection (http://www.harney.com/).  May have to do a little online shopping tonight.

Thanks, Courtney!