Question for tea drinkers

[Eraser]

I'm not too fond of coffee so I drink tea a lot, but there's always something that I've never quite understood. I usually use these single cup teabags. On the bag it always says you have to put it 2 to 4 minutes in your cup of tea. Now I myself only hold it in for a couple of seconds while wiggling it back and forth a bit. That gives a nice orange hued tea:



If I hold the bag in 4 minutes, it turns into this vile dark brown tea that has an extremely bitter taste. What I'm wondering is if there's anyone that really holds the bag into the water for four minutes straight? Or do you give it a large splash of milk and sugar then? I don't put anything in my tea.

[Don Carlos]

It depends on how strong the tea is. I usually leave it for between a minute or two and then add the milk. It gives it a nice colour and good taste.

I have a mate who says he drinks tea, but I have never seen anything so vile looking in my life. He puts hot water in a cup, gets a tea bag which he waves at the cup from twelve paces, adds enough milk for 6 cups then proceeds to tell everyone that he has a "delicious brew" on the go.

I'm looking at him while he drinks it and, quite frankly, he repulses me.

[MKJ]

also, boiled water cooled to 90C

[Eraser]

add the milk.

I know you Brits like to do this, but frankly, adding milk to tea is an atrocity.

[MKJ]

fully depends on the tea. brits dont add milk to every tea, and not every tea is good without milk.

[Don Carlos]

The adding of milk to tea is actually born from us using extremely fine bone china back in the day. The cool milk stopped the china from shattering as the hot water hit the surface.

Little fact there for you. Also Enginsh Breakfast tea is the balls with milk

[LawL]

I'm not too fond of coffee...

Stopped reading there.

[Unisaw]

I leave the bag in whilst I drink my tea.

[Don Carlos]

You monster

[SoM]

add the milk.

I know you Brits like to do this, but frankly, adding milk to tea is an atrocity.

not only that, but milk reduces antioxidants in tea, for example in black tea its reduced by between 7 and 25 percent then unmilked tea

[MKJ]

than

[Dark Metal]

I let it steep for a couple of minutes. Then milk and honey. I have a cup of Orange Pekoe in the mornings.

[Eraser]

not only that, but milk reduces antioxidants in tea, for example in black tea its reduced by between 7 and 25 percent then unmilked tea

than

Yeah and something isn't "reduced by X percent than Y".

[LawL]

lostCUNT will be offended by this thread.

[plained]

the process is the same as it is for anything really

weather its chicken soup, coffee, tea , whatever

dont soak it too long or it will bring out the tanins and waxy type shit and other crap u dont want

[Plan B]

wiggling it back and forth a bit

Always thought "teabagging" (no, not that) was considered a mortal sin among purist tea connaisseurs.

[bitWISE]

add the milk.

I know you Brits like to do this, but frankly, adding milk to tea is an atrocity.

Thai Iced Tea with cream is fucking godly

[Eraser]

Thai? Does it come with a happy end?

[Eraser]

Always thought "teabagging" (no, not that) was considered a mortal sin among purist tea connaisseurs.

I'm not a purist. I approve of any sort of teabagging.

[Captain]

Yeah, as long as it's being done to you.

BAM!

[bitWISE]

a drink made from strongly-brewed black tea. Other ingredients may include added orange blossom water, star anise, crushed tamarind seed or red and yellow food coloring, and sometimes other spices as well. This tea is sweetened with sugar and condensed milk and served chilled. Evaporated milk, coconut milk or whole milk is generally poured over the tea and ice before serving to add taste and creamy appearance

[lvlshot]http://luantemple.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/thai-iced-tea-01.jpg[/lvlshot]

[obsidian]

If I hold the bag in 4 minutes, it turns into this vile dark brown tea that has an extremely bitter taste.

Water that is too hot will cause the tea to become bitter. MKJ is right about slightly cooling the water after boiling.

I drink orange pekoe (the only stuff I have in tea bags), loose leaf Earl Gray to enjoy in my ready room, jasmine green tea and my favourite, Oolong tea.

I pour boiling water into a ceramic teapot, let it sit for 1-2 minutes, pop in the tea and give it a stir, then steep for 3-5 minutes. Pour and enjoy. I add a splash of milk to pekoe and oolong. Sugar ruins good tea. The timing has to do with the type of tea, green tea requires cooler water and less steeping time than red teas, oolong is somewhere in between the two.

If you want to see fancy, attend a Chinese tea ceremony. A pretty lady gracefully took 10 minutes to prepare a cup of tea with much swishing of every teapot, cup and tool with boiling water before actually putting in the leaves, all while artfully engaging in conversation.

[seremtan]

A pretty lady gracefully took 10 minutes to prepare a cup of tea with much swishing of every teapot, cup and tool with boiling water before actually putting in the leaves, all while artfully engaging in fellatio.

you mean

[EtUL]

I usually seep for a minute or so but I've never measured. Got some Twining's English Breakfast atm after I heard a bald little manc on a podcast say it was his favorite, I thought I'd give it a try.

[Don Carlos]

KP is the man