Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Flip

Original poster

Fancy loose leaf tea

23 replies

reticule · 30/04/2019 00:19

I'm trying not to drink too much wine so I thought I would try to develop a taste for posh tea leaves instead. I'm a milk no sugar person, but I do already like unusual teabags like lapsang suchong and I love chai and rooibus so perhaps with a bit of perseverance I'll transform myself into a green tea swilling purist who actually gets the exercise mat out from behind the sofa once in a while- hmmm.

There seem to be millions of online shops selling tea, but which ones are good? I might as well go as organic, fair trade and high quality as possible because tea's cheap compared with booze. Also I'm getting a jug water filter as our tap water is hard as nails which makes tea scummy.

OP posts:

BentCoppers · 30/04/2019 00:23

Fortnum & Mason tea is lovely if you’re going fancy.

SpoonBlender · 30/04/2019 00:30

Chinese Gunpowder green tea. Whole leaves rolled up into little balls that unfurl in the teapot (or cup in my case), it's slightly smokey and lush. Comes in cubes.

amazon.co.uk/dp/B00AYV9OFC]]

I see Twinings do onetoo - never tried theirs, always get mine in exactly these green cardboard cubes from the Chinese supermarket in town.

SpoonBlender · 30/04/2019 00:31

Ugh. Stupid autolinker. www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00AYV9OFC?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General food

ThunderStorms · 30/04/2019 00:34

Teapigs

So many varieties.

TheSmallAssassin · 30/04/2019 00:39

I love Suki tea, had it first in a tea shop, it was so lovely we ended up ordering some online and now we always drink loose leaf (though sometimes we make do with supermarket brands)

suki-tea.com

Original poster

reticule · 30/04/2019 06:27

Oh fantastic! Thanks to all of you.

I'm really looking forward to having a lovely detailed browse of all these suggestions when I get home from work, which is part of my plan not to feel like I'm denying myself. I'll let you know what I get - many thanks.

OP posts:

TheBlessedCheesemaker · 30/04/2019 06:50

Google RAF blend tea can’t remember who makes it but it is fab.

ThunderStorms · 30/04/2019 08:27

Teapigs do a selection trial box. Not cheap, but a good way to trial different types (save money by not wasting those you don’t like). Look out for voucher codes online.

BlackPrism · 30/04/2019 11:12

T2 is fab, I recommend their Morning Sunshine flavour

RadioMeinRadio · 30/04/2019 11:27

I like what was Blue Bird tea. It's now Bird and Blend.

longwayoff · 30/04/2019 11:27

If you live in a soft water area, Darjeeling makes a lovely cuppa.

HelloDoris · 30/04/2019 11:42

birdandblendtea.com/uk_en/

I cannot rate Bird and Blend tea highly enough.. if you live near a shop pop in and breathe in the glorious smell or try one of their tea blending workshops, plus in store they have tea cafes and the lattes are amazeballs. Their online ordering is great and very quick, I adore the bears love marmalade and the Apple Strudel tea..

I think they have recently made 99% of their teas vegan too..

RomanyQueen1 · 30/04/2019 11:46

Just swill round at the end, tip the dregs out and post your cup on here.
I'll read your leaves

CitadelsofScience · 30/04/2019 11:52

If you don't have a store nearby to go in and taste/sniff then you can order online from here . Be warned though, you might become a tea snob 😂www.t2tea.com/en/uk/easter-gifting/

CitadelsofScience · 30/04/2019 11:52

Damn it.

www.t2tea.com/en/uk/easter-gifting/

PajamasnoDramas · 30/04/2019 11:53

If you fancy a floral tea Sainsbury loose leaf rose sencha green tea is light and refreshing. I love it, but I don’t like smoky ones like lapsang - even being a smoker.

CabbageHippy · 30/04/2019 11:55

If your anywhere near Winchester then this is worth a visit - www.charteas.com/

The teas are lovely & the staff extremely knowledgeable & helpful. The teas really really are lovely, many more in the shop than they have in the online shop.

I also love pukka tea but more the convenience of the tea bags

Peachesandcream14 · 30/04/2019 11:59

If you're in London go for a peek at the Harrods loose leaf tea section, it is a sight to behold with all the giant tins of tea you've never heard of. I was behind a bloke in the queue once who spent £3k on tea so may not be a cheaper option than booze!

gingerscot · 30/04/2019 12:23

I second fortnum&masons royal blend. I drink a LOT of loose leaf tea and this is my favourite. Well, second favourite - my fave is OP unblended tea that I got directly from the slopes in a tea factory in Sri Lanka but I guess that’s out of the equation for now 😞

MNHQ

HebeMumsnet · 30/04/2019 12:28

I like The Tea Maker's of London's Ceylon tea and there's a decaf version if you get so hardcore about tea-drinking you sometimes need a 'come-down' tea!

BumbleBeeWineGlass · 30/04/2019 12:34

Bird and Blend tea are the best, they do a subscription service so you get different ones each month

Original poster

reticule · 30/04/2019 12:56

Just checked in and seen all these ideas- can't wait to be a tea snob!

OP posts:

MountainDweller · 30/04/2019 21:42

I'm a bit late to the (tea) party but another vote for T2. If you like flavoured teas I highly recommend the Madagascan vanilla.

Flip