Original Blend

This good, economical bagged black tea was in every household when I was growing up. It still tastes good.

We used to drink it as they do in parts of Germany, with freshly squeezed lemon juice. As a boy, sitting at the table under the sparkling light from the chandelier, I enjoyed watching the red-brown colour change to a sunny gold as I stirred the juice into the porcelain teacup. The flavour became somewhat tart, complementing the fine, whipped cream covered, fresh fruit tortes my mother, grandmother and great-grandmother used to bake.

For breakfast, I douse it with a lot of milk and leave the bag in my mug to get every last molecule of flavour. Put some Suraj tea masala (ground spice mixture from Superstore’s Indian aisle) into the water as it is heating to make your own authentic chai. Add further ground spices to adjust the flavour to your taste. Serve with hot milk. The robust tea flavour shines through admirably.

My staple tea for orange pekoe in bagged form. I tend to only use it now when travelling because I’m addicted to my looseleaf, but it is by far superior to me than Tetley or Lipton or PG Tips.

**Note on my steeping time . . . I’m a bag-in girl with this one, with added milk and sugar.

I like that this is an all-purpose tea, but it’s in the British tradition: that means it’s intended to be drunk with milk and sugar, and THAT means that if you aren’t a milk-and-sugar-er, it’s probably going to be too strong and too bitter very quickly. Here’s a solve: brew it over and over again for only a minute or so to drink it straight, and take out the tea bag between brewings. Otherwise, it really is good British-style, and develop a taste for the ol’ milk and sugar. It’s also good as a London Fog— brew it directly into a cup of really hot or even coffee-shop-steamed milk, with some sugar or vanilla syrup to sweeten it just a little.

This was one of the first black teas I ever had, so the taste seems to be hardwired into my tastebuds to be comforting, even if it’s not the best black tea ever. I like to use it for iced tea, because usually I’m just so happy to be drinking something cool I don’t care what type of tea I use.

This is my morning cuppa when I’m too tired to care what I’m drinking. As someone else said “an easily available cheap and cheerful tea”.

I used to livein England for five years. When I returned to America, loosing my favourite tea brands was disappointing. But Red Rose was the closest I found of an easily available cheap and cheerful tea.

Try drinking a cup of mint tea and then making a Red Rose as the next cuppa in the same mug. Gives the Red Rose a nice hint of mint, but not enough to overpower the flavour.

This one always turns out bitter for me. Not a fan but will drink if necessary.

Just added sugar for a simple sweet cup of black tea.

I’ve been wanting to try this one for awhile based on word of mouth, it has a good reputation for an off the shelf tea you can find at the supermarket. Great price, cheaper than one of its competitors that I have used regularly. Strong without being obnoxious or bitter, nice honey like flavors. For me it’s perfect for making quick iced tea in the Summer.

This is the tea my great-aunt from England often drank. When my palate has grown weary of all manner of tea-trickery, I will reach for a bag of Red Rose. A cup will take me back to my childhood as it’s very likely the first tea I ever had. It’s surprisingly a nice, very drinkable tea all these years later.