Tea

I know may seem like a silly question to many, but we aren't hot tea drinkers (yet). As southerners, iced tea was the norm made from plain old Lipton tea bags. I'd like to know what kind of tea to have at the house for guests who want a cup of hot tea. Today is the second time we've had someone ask for a cup of tea and it's just embarrassing to say we don't have any tea. All advice would be much appreciated!

My advice is to play safe and go for bags of PG Tips.  Make sure you have milk. And granulated sugar for the heathens 

Vicky

Yup, standard "builders' tea" will do the trick with most people!

you can get a really really small box of pg tips... no one will complain...

Or you can get the 'bale-o-tea-bags' at Costco!!

Basically any of the main boxes of tea in the tea aisle will do fine (except of course, herbals). You most likely won't run into any obnoxious tea snobs. If you haven't got an electric kettle yet, you'll probably want to get one.

I felt the same way.  I was so nervous to have people over because I didn't know what to do with tea.  I keep some PG Tips and a variety box of flavored teas and I bought an electric kettle at Wilkinsons for cheap. 

Is it just me or do you find the first thing people do over here when you come into a home is offer you a cup of tea or coffee and it's considered rude if you don't?  Even builders or contractors?   I suppose it was how I was brought up.  We never offered a drink to someone unless it was someone we knew who was going to be visiting for an hour or more.  Thank goodness my dh is up on it. So he is pretty much the designated host!  lol   It's not that I am being rude. It's that I just forget about these things mostly cause I get to talking with the person.   But luckily, since I work at Whittard, our cupboards are never bare of good quality tea or coffee!  Problem is there is too much to choose from, I think, and that alone can be overwhelming for some people.  There really is no such things a an ordinary cup of tea because every tea varies.  So I usually make sure I have English Breakfast on hand. 

Is it just me or do you find the first thing people do over here when you come into a home is offer you a cup of tea or coffee and it's considered rude if you don't?  Even builders or contractors? 

There is a knack to knowing when to offer tea and when not to.  For example, when my mum was having new windows fitted and I was hanging around during the day, I'd offer the contractors a cup after they had unloaded, and then at about two hourly intervals.  You don't want them to sit down for a break before they have even started, but you want to keep them sweet so they do a good job.  Also, don't offer tea to guys who are charging by the hour unless they have done at least an hours work!

Vicky

Good stuff to know Victoria!! 

I would never have thought to offer tea to workmen.  Just to friends and family. It's a lovely idea though.  I'm going to bookmark this so I can learn to be a proper hostess. 

Thanks for the tips Vicky!

I should add that this is just my opinion...not a rule of any kind.  I think much of it was because I drink tea by the gallon and would feel rude putting the kettle and not offering a cup to someone there!

Vicky

Yup, standard "builders' tea" will do the trick with most people!

now this brings up a query: what is 'builders tea'?

every time i see stephen fry telling me he wouldn't be ashamed to give twinings everyday to his builder, i wonder what i'm missing. 

now this brings up a query: what is 'builders tea'?

It just means everyday ordinary cheap tea. Nothing 'gourmet' or special.

'builders' is just easier to say than 'proletariat', eh?