A cup of tea...

@dodgy

Hey Marv, I so appreciate you plunging into this discussion with your full-on tea passion. I see a new facet to your character with all this camelia sinensis love and well, just who'da thunk it? Since I'm your buddy and want to help with this Rosie Lee jonesing, I'm gonna give you a wee tip, an insight if you like into the tastiest brew of them all. Sorta Lord of The Teas, one brew to rule them all kinda thing. Wait for it man, control that edge-of-the-seat excitement that's gripping your pantyhose right about now - Nettle Tea.

Yeah baby, that's it! Right there. I hope you know just what I've done for you here. Oh and don't go for it with added mint or lemon to get away from that true horse-eating-grass-coming-back-out-its-ass note, just get the plain stuff and your taste buds with love you for it. Good old stinging nettle tea! Well okay, strictly speaking it is a tisane as a tea connoisseur like yourself will be fully aware that only camelia sinensis can be brewed into tea.

No need for thanks or other favours. Just giving a brother a leg up. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. :D

Brew on, man!
 
Have a Sri Lankan friend who brings us over a bag of Ceylon tea straight from the plantation. Best stuff in the world.

Otherwise, it's usually Typhoo (grew up drinking it, don't judge!) I have Whittard's whenever I'm allowed in the office at work. But when I'm out in the community, it's whatever NHS logistics leave in the kitchen (Usually Typhoo!)
 
Have a Sri Lankan friend who brings us over a bag of Ceylon tea straight from the plantation. Best stuff in the world.

...

For some years, we've been loyal drinkers of Ceylon tea, from http://www.wilstea.com/acatalog/BLACK__TEAS__-__LOOSE.html All his blends and single estate teas are superb. I'm afraid that we buy them by the kilo, although I blame my wife for the rate at which we get through tea. (It deflects any criticism of my coffee habit :) )

I recently bought a Sage teamaker. It's a combined kettle and teapot, with a gizmo that lowers the tea infuser for exactly the right amount of time into water that's been brought to exactly the right temperature. It has been a revelation. Great though the tea was when we simply used a teapot, this raises the flavour profile to a new dimension. It not only works for black tea, but for green and white teas as well. I can honestly say that we haven't used a teapot since buying the Sage.
 
I'm more than a bit sold on the Sage Tea Maker, John, but I can't find an answer to my question. Maybe you can help me out? All the ad info shows a half full Tea Maker but 0.75l is too much for little ol' me. Can you tell me, please @Melbourne12, what is the minimum quantity of water that permits immersion of the tea basket? Is the jug graduated?
 
Tea Maker....Find that the best process for me is a china* tea pot, 2 tea bag, filtered water, and the microwave set on high for 2min 55sec. right before it boils. Set for 2-3 mins and its tea.

* china being some white ceramic tea pot made in China
 
We have a Hario 700ml glass teapot with diffuser and have no complaints. It makes 2 Ringtons bone china mugs of tea and with the large diffuser, it ts easy to clean.

Jim
 
I have no complaints about a mug and basket strainer - other than that there is too much temperature variation. I wanna experiment to find the optimum values for my taste and my teas - I bought only eight Darjeeling 1st Flush teas this year. A stock of Thurbo from last year remains most excellent.
 
If Summer ever comes... I'm looking for some advice on Ice Tea. Ideas on brewing and a Brand that holds up to a lot of ice. Thanks
This is my wife's "best iced tea this side of the Mississippi" recipe:
  • put a teabag of your choice in a glass, fill half-full with freshly boiled water, add sugar of you want 'sweet tea', and let sit for a couple minutes, then remove the teabag
  • fill a separate glass to the top with ice, fill approx. 1/3 with cold water, then add the hot tea 'liquor' from the first glass, and top up with more ice depending on how much ice will have melted
  • add a slice of lemon and enjoy!

(Always add hot to cold, otherwise the iced tea will be cloudy and look unappetizing)
 
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