Well, I've just returned from the UK where one of the last things I did before I caught the boat back to France was to go and buy a few packets of tea. The ordinary stuff, I mean, not the exotic blends my wife likes (and which you can get just as easily in France. I wanted the run-of-the-mill breakfast-type variety, but could I get it? Well, yes, but not easily. You see, I prefer the loose-leaf type - not tea-bags- and tea-bags seem to account for ninety-nine per cent of what's on offer in the UK high streets nowadays. I finally found a few packets of leaf tea in the "specialist teas" section of a large supermarket, alonside twenty linear metres or so of tea in tea-bags. Does no one else drink tea as we used to? Is it just me who doesn't like tea from tea bags?

You and Prince Charles.It was widely reported that he was served tea in a cup containing a teabag , when in the US.He looked mystified and didn't know what to do with the bag.

I know he isn't a mental giant, but surely that is a solvable problem. Unless they committed the TRULY unforgivable sin and served it to him in a saucerless mug.

This spot looked promising, if you're looking for a source from which you might order tea. They're in the UK, but their delivery fees looked fairly reasonable for UK orders, I can't imagine they'd be too much worse for shipments on the continent.

quote:

Originally posted by babthrower:
I know he isn't a mental giant, but surely that is a solvable problem. Unless they committed the TRULY unforgivable sin and served it to him in a saucerless mug.

This is a man who has a servant to squeeze his toothpaste for him.He may find the real world a little perplexing.He worked this problem out eventually and put the bag in the saucer.Nowhere in Britain [I stand to be corrected] do you get served a teabag in a cup.You do, however, receive one in a mug [usually with saucer] in transport caffs and other cheery 'greasy spoons'.It's doubtful whether His Royal Highness has ever been served tea in one of those

Incidentally, the choice of teas in tea shops (i.e restaurants serving teas ) is limited in Britain.Nowhere do you encounter the tea shops you find in Antibes and Cannes, where the teas are of many blends, with a tea or blend 'of the week',mixed on the premises.

quote:

Originally posted by MrsS:
They're in the UK, but their delivery fees looked fairly reasonable for UK orders, I can't imagine they'd be too much worse for shipments on the continent.

Yikes! Those prices are a bit steep! () £3.65 for 125g! PG Tips sells for around £1 for the equivalent weight. Loose tea is available in the grocery stores in the UK, but it isn't the main seller that it once was, and I suspect that was what Colin was saying. Tea bags are the norm now. My parents still use loose tea.
I suspect if you are dashing into a smaller corner shop, looking for loose tea though, you may be out of luck.

quote:

Unless they committed the TRULY unforgivable sin and served it to him in a saucerless mug.

The unforgivable sin would be serving tea in a cup with the tea bag still in it. It simply isn't done. I have never been served tea in Britain that way. Usually a teapot is brought to the table with a cup and saucer.

Btw, did anyone else here collect Brooke Bond tea cards?

quote:

Originally posted by dg:

The unforgivable sin would be serving tea in a cup with the tea bag still in it. It simply isn't done. I have never been served tea in Britain that way. Usually a teapot is brought to the table with a cup and saucer.

Btw, did anyone else here collect Brooke Bond tea cards?

1)Absolutely !

2) Collect the cards? Certainly I did, but I gave up when I found, at the rate I was going, I'd never have enough to get a chimp.

Fred explains:

quote:

This is a man who has a servant to squeeze his toothpaste for him.He may find the real world a little perplexing. ... Nowhere in Britain ... do you get served a teabag in a cup.

That's nice.

I've never been served a teabag in a cup here, either, except when I make it myself. Still, I'm sure I could cope.

A friend was served tea in Canada (remote northern settlement): the lady of the house was serving tea, made with loose tea leaves, in a mug. Suddenly she noticed a smudge on the side of the mug. She gasped in horror, snatched it back, picked up her shirt-tail which was conveniently hanging outside of her bluejeans, spit upon it, and wiped away the offensive bit of schmutz.

He drank the tea. Hey, he'd been canoeing for fourteen hours!

I find that I can find varieties of tea in the bag much easier, so do most of my steeping that way. I also do loose-leaf, and keep a large collection of tea-balls and infusers around just for that. I have found that many of the flavors I like are available for order on Amazon, but one must order in a fairly sizeable amount to make it affordable, and they do have the canned loose-leaf teas in some flavors.

Dog, have you tried Rooibos tea? Rooibos is a heath-like shrub that grows in South Africa.

There is a loose-leaf version by Cape de Hoop that is the best of them, I think, and Newlands Import Corp. distributes it. You could find your local outlet by calling 1-800-939-7338.

I like it so much it will soon replace my morning cup of coffee and noon and evening tea. (but first I have to use up the coffee and tea I have). It's pricey, but tolerable if you don't have a big habit. You can drink it with or without milk.

It's supposed to have health benefits but I use it as a pleasing hot drink.

And I prefer the loose-leaf to the bagged rooibos. But it might be the brand.

It's often blended with dried berries -- blueberry, cranberry etc. But it's not sweet.

And so far all my guests have loved it!

Bab, the only rooibos I tried was a bagged product from Good Earth, cinnamon apple I believe, and it was not so good, so I never really gave it a chance again. I do mix in a little green tea, but nothing herbal at this time.