Best loose leaf tea for a beginner

[hellololabells2019]

We are exploring the loose leaf tea world. Where is best to buy it? At the moment exploring the black teas.

Sainsbury taste the difference range is a good place to start. They have English breakfast, assam, earl grey, ceylon and darjeeling. These aren't whole leaf but a good loose blend.

If it’s a proper lock down project and you can spend ££ Fortnam’s Orange Pekoe is amazing.

We are fans of T2. Just pre ordered their selection box for DH and a big bag of French Earl Grey for me and Melbourne Breakfast for Dd2's birthday.

For ordinary tea, Sainsbury's gold. Earl Grey: I like the New English tea company.

Miles loose leaf tea is delicious.

I just buy PG Tips from Tesco.
I don't care all that much about the finer details of the taste but I like how I have to go to the effort of using the teapot with the little metal cage thing in it, makes having a cup of tea a much nicer experience than just sticking a tea bag in a mug.

Another vote for Sainsbury’s. I particularly like their Assam and their Kenyan loose leaf teas.

Another fan of T2. Their French Earl Frey is delicious

Sainsbury's is getting a good show! I came on to suggest the standard, Red Label as an intro.

Tbh, so much of the taste of tea depends on gne makeup of your water, so it really varies from place to place.

And them for a nice morning g tea, the Sainsbury's ttd Assam.

Whittards!

And actually I'm loving Barry's tea also atm. Taste of my childhood at granny's.

I loved the French Earl Grey from T2 till a friend pointed out it has artificial flavourings in it, and that rather ruined it for me. Now I buy from Bird & Blend.

Brew Tea Co. have really lovely loose leaf tea and lovely starter brew pots

Plus their packaging is eco friendly

I buy from my local independent tea seller, but I really like the look of Bird and Blend online. If you normally like your tea strongish, I'd start with a loose leaf Assam.

Proper tea is a lovely thing. The ritual of making it as well as the taste. And as luxuries go, it's a relatively modestly-priced one.

Where do you find an independent tea seller? That sounds so nice. I've enjoyed shopping small and local recently, one of the very few benefits of lockdown.

Obviously you google it, I should have said 'oh an independent tea seller, that sounds lovely'. I'm off to google my nearest one now.

Noooooo!!! @VenusClapTrap I have a new order of French earl grey arriving next week

Where do you find an independent tea seller?

Mine is a very long-established company with a shop and café in a lovely old building in my local town, selling tea and coffee since 1819. They're called Farrers - they sell online too if you fancy checking them out. I normally only buy tea there, but we've just bought a fancy bean-to-cup coffee machine, so I'll be getting coffee beans there now too!

I've started buying loose tea from a company called Monmouth Teas, they're online. Lapsang Souchong tea is georgeous. I'll be getting some Earl Grey for DD as a stocking filler, she also likes flavoured teas.

Fortnum&masons royal blend or brew tea co are my faves

TeaLyra is brilliant - if you’re looking to go beyond black tea as well.

Sorry MotherFeeder!

Bird and Blend is my favourite because of the many many many different types of tea they sell. Back in better times I did a tea tasting course with them and tried some amazing blends.