Irish Tea

[SteveBuscemisRheumyEye]

Afternoon! Perhaps a silly question, but to those who've drunk "English" tea would you say that Irish brands (like Barry's) taste different?

I bloody love tea and am wondering if it's worth getting my hands on some

I only drink Yorkshire tea, which I get in my local SuperValu. I don't like Lyons as I think it has a weird aftertaste, and Barry's not strong enough in my view.

Having said the above, Bewleys tea is nice.

@Roasteros hmm, thanks! I do like it strong so sounds like Barry's is a no!

Barrys all day long. Strong like yorkshire tea, but yorkshire tea has a dusty taste.

@SteveBuscemisRheumyEye each to their own tastes in tea. Try it and see, sure.

It's gas that there are so many different preferences. My mum drinks nothing but Lyons, a work colleague nothing but Barry's, but I think that's the Cork connection!

I'm Irish and live in Ireland and I like PG Tips. I use 2 teabags though.

I’m Irish, in Dublin, and I love Liptons

Tbh it's the water in Ireland that makes the tea so good. Very soft water. I live in London and the water def does not taste as good

1000% I only drink punjana English tea is all stinking

Barry's isn't weak but you need to use the at least the red box (Gold Blend) and water freshly boiled, and leave the bag in the mug for a good while. Don't be stingy with the bags in the pot either. Yorkshire is drinkable, but it's not Barry's. Same with Bewley's and Robert Roberts, not strong enough though will do in a pinch. Lyons has a grey look and a grey taste and it's not strong either, I really dislike it. Tea should be a rich deep colour, not greyish brown.

I like Punjana.
Runs and hides

I'm not fussy. I've hear people claim that irish tea is far superior to English tea which is "all shit". Odd thing to say, as far as I'm aware neither country grows it!!

I'm actually fairly unfussy. Have come across a tea I think is not nice (usually a supermarket own). I drink it black with no sugar - however I don't have it strong so I'd say that has a lot of bearing.

With the whole Barry's v Lyons thing I might favour Barry's but if I'm honest I wouldnt be confident I'd know which was which in a blind testing.

@Apileofballyhoo

Barry's isn't weak but you need to use the at least the red box (Gold Blend) and water freshly boiled, and leave the bag in the mug for a good while. Don't be stingy with the bags in the pot either. Yorkshire is drinkable, but it's not Barry's. Same with Bewley's and Robert Roberts, not strong enough though will do in a pinch. Lyons has a grey look and a grey taste and it's not strong either, I really dislike it. Tea should be a rich deep colour, not greyish brown.

I drink loose leaf Barry's Gold Blend tea (red box). It's perfect. (Disclaimer; I'm from Cork and I may be biased).

I drink Thompson's tea(Made in N.ireland) Its only one I buy but im an absolute tea lover

When I lived in London I used to drink Tetley's and sometimes PG Tips, Barry's Tea is awful stuff, I drink Lyons Gold Blend most of the time.

I only drink Twinings Earl Grey (with milk, I'm a complete philistine!). Send Barry's Decaff out to my friends in Italy, she loves it best.

It has to be Lyons in our house.

I just about put up with Barry's at work, I leave it soaking in my mug for a few minutes.

Lyons in our house too.

Barrys or Bewleys can both make a good strong cup of tea. Lyons tastes wrong and never is proper brown strong, more grey with a taste of newspaper print.

Lyons Gold Blend is delicious and definitely not grey.

Barry's here, and when I lived in England, I had a supply sent to me -- I do agree about the water making a huge difference. Where I last lived in England, the water was very hard, and gave unpleasant scummy deposits on the surface of your tea if you didn't filter the water first.

@NewjobOldme That's a lovely picture and definitely not grey (but not strong enough and too much milk )

I love how seriously we take our tea

I love this! Thanks so much for all of the responses. I think I'm going to have to try some of each - I too take tea very seriously!

I am now experiencing a strong urge to take a photo of my next cup of tea