Nige - another gorgeous mug. Is that Portmeirion...? Another Supermarket Battle nail-biter! But, in the end, time to stock up on Tesco's Original by the tiniest of margins. For me this morning, Gents, it was Harney & Sons Holiday Special Black Tea, resplendent of orange peal, vanilla, cloves, cinnamon and a hint of almond - a brew which screams: "Christmas!" This will be the morning hot beverage of choice for the remaining days of December as there are twenty sachets to be enjoyed. Nonetheless, thanks for braving the bottom of the proverbial barrel and proving this relevant review. And, as always, thanks for all that you endure for the community. Cheers!
I enjoy the tea talk and comparisons. I am an American living in Shetland with my family and I’ve been here for 5 years. I grew up in New York loving black tea from the time I was a child. I got into single origin Darjeeling, Ceylon, Assam, Keemun and some others that were brilliant. Mail order loose tea in the states you could find cheap. When I started touring the UK as a musician I pretty much immediately discovered clipper and I’ve been drinking it since. I rarely have milk in my tea, just straight. What I’ve noticed with Tetley when I have to drink it (at work or at a friends house) is that the tea gets really bitter quickly. Clipper I find to be great at any temperature even if the tea bag steeps over 5 minutes. With tetley and most round teabag copies I find that to drink black they can just be too harsh. Other brands that I really like are Barry’s, Yorkshire, and there’s a brand called Scottish Blend which is passable. I will try Thompson’s because that seems to be up my alley and they sell it here. It seems that much of the cheaper tea in the UK expects to be cut with milk. Once again I enjoy your show!
Hi, thats really interesting, we get a lot of comments suggesting that decent tea is tricky to get hold of in the States, perhaps New York is an anomaly? I (Anders) am a huge fan of Clipper but couldn't drink black, I find most bags too harsh for me to drink without. The Thompsons you must try, from what you say, it seems like a right fit for you. Let us know what you think. Thank you for watching, pleased you enjoy it.
@ growing up near NYC allowed one to access more European blends of black tea in many import shops. Although I must say that standard black tea in the states used to taste better, even Lipton back in the 80s had way more taste I wouldn’t touch the stuff today. I later would frequent tea merchants in NYC where I could buy regional teas. I even used to drink the American grown tea from south Carolina (a tea plantation Lipton had started and it was acquired by locals) Later on Barry’s started getting imported and you could buy it in some American supermarkets. The clipper I used to buy via was the internet.
@ I just had my first cup Of Thompson’s Scottish Blend. It’s what is available in Shetland along with the everyday blend. It’s fab! I must say it is more tanic than clipper but still very flavourful. Good without milk, but I could imagine it would really shine with a bit of milk. It reminds me of Barry’s gold blend as well. Far better and cleaner than tetley!
I'm sure you guys get asked this ALL THE TIME, but out of all the teas you've tried on the channel, which one (or maybe two haha) are your absolute top ones? It seems like Thompson's ones always do well, and Clipper. Maybe those two?
I've finally got round to the new PG range, they've launched an English Breakfast with the new Gold. Absolute rubbish, and the new PG? Watery rubbish. I've a feeling PG will be on big trouble like Typhoo eventually. Amazed they still have sales with the changes, shows many just consume brand names no matter what....or just overload it with sugar to mask any taste. The taste difference Sainsbury's English breakfast is a good one!
The PG Tips story is a sad one, but sadly, brand recognition will keep them going I'm sure. Thankfully for those willing to try different teas, there's plenty better teas out there.
Talk about two cool dudes thanxz for another great battle, cheerz
Thank you
Nige - another gorgeous mug. Is that Portmeirion...? Another Supermarket Battle nail-biter! But, in the end, time to stock up on Tesco's Original by the tiniest of margins. For me this morning, Gents, it was Harney & Sons Holiday Special Black Tea, resplendent of orange peal, vanilla, cloves, cinnamon and a hint of almond - a brew which screams: "Christmas!" This will be the morning hot beverage of choice for the remaining days of December as there are twenty sachets to be enjoyed. Nonetheless, thanks for braving the bottom of the proverbial barrel and proving this relevant review. And, as always, thanks for all that you endure for the community. Cheers!
Yes it is Portmeirion, Studio range. That Harney & Sons tea sounds divine, perfect for this time of year.
I enjoy the tea talk and comparisons. I am an American living in Shetland with my family and I’ve been here for 5 years. I grew up in New York loving black tea from the time I was a child. I got into single origin Darjeeling, Ceylon, Assam, Keemun and some others that were brilliant. Mail order loose tea in the states you could find cheap.
When I started touring the UK as a musician I pretty much immediately discovered clipper and I’ve been drinking it since.
I rarely have milk in my tea, just straight. What I’ve noticed with Tetley when I have to drink it (at work or at a friends house) is that the tea gets really bitter quickly. Clipper I find to be great at any temperature even if the tea bag steeps over 5 minutes. With tetley and most round teabag copies I find that to drink black they can just be too harsh.
Other brands that I really like are Barry’s, Yorkshire, and there’s a brand called Scottish Blend which is passable. I will try Thompson’s because that seems to be up my alley and they sell it here.
It seems that much of the cheaper tea in the UK expects to be cut with milk.
Once again I enjoy your show!
Hi, thats really interesting, we get a lot of comments suggesting that decent tea is tricky to get hold of in the States, perhaps New York is an anomaly?
I (Anders) am a huge fan of Clipper but couldn't drink black, I find most bags too harsh for me to drink without. The Thompsons you must try, from what you say, it seems like a right fit for you. Let us know what you think.
Thank you for watching, pleased you enjoy it.
@ growing up near NYC allowed one to access more European blends of black tea in many import shops. Although I must say that standard black tea in the states used to taste better, even Lipton back in the 80s had way more taste I wouldn’t touch the stuff today.
I later would frequent tea merchants in NYC where I could buy regional teas. I even used to drink the American grown tea from south Carolina (a tea plantation Lipton had started and it was acquired by locals)
Later on Barry’s started getting imported and you could buy it in some American supermarkets. The clipper I used to buy via was the internet.
@ I just had my first cup
Of Thompson’s Scottish Blend. It’s what is available in Shetland along with the everyday blend. It’s fab! I must say it is more tanic than clipper but still very flavourful. Good without milk, but I could imagine it would really shine with a bit of milk. It reminds me of Barry’s gold blend as well. Far better and cleaner than tetley!
I'm sure you guys get asked this ALL THE TIME, but out of all the teas you've tried on the channel, which one (or maybe two haha) are your absolute top ones?
It seems like Thompson's ones always do well, and Clipper. Maybe those two?
That is hard to answer, it really is dependent on the mood and context.
I've finally got round to the new PG range, they've launched an English Breakfast with the new Gold. Absolute rubbish, and the new PG? Watery rubbish. I've a feeling PG will be on big trouble like Typhoo eventually. Amazed they still have sales with the changes, shows many just consume brand names no matter what....or just overload it with sugar to mask any taste.
The taste difference Sainsbury's English breakfast is a good one!
The PG Tips story is a sad one, but sadly, brand recognition will keep them going I'm sure. Thankfully for those willing to try different teas, there's plenty better teas out there.