No Briton can be indifferent when it comes to making a proper cup of tea

[Richard Roman]

......British people tend to give this question due reverence – as, indeed, do our kindred in the Anglopshere, from Bombay to Bermuda. I've found, though, that the only EU states where you can rely on decent tea are those which, at one time or another, were under the Crown: Ireland, Malta and Cyprus. Elsewhere in Europe, tea means half a cup of lukewarm water with the teabag, still wrapped in paper, on the saucer.......

Some of the comments are great! here are one or two of them

"When I first met her, my American girlfriend used to make tea by boiling about four teabags, milk and water together in a saucepan. That is how the made tea in the trenches. When I saw it I burst out laughing and went and bought her a kettle immediately."

"Here in Shanghai, a few British mates and I have a theory that making a proper cuppa might be something to do with the water, as no matter how hard we try, we just can't make the perfect brew here."

To read the article:

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danielhannan/100150943/no-briton-...

[Richard Roman]

I think I might hold a traditional English afternoon tea event at Grandma's when it gets a bit warmer. Tea (a selection of finest teas), scones with cream and jam, egg and cress sandwiches, cucumber sandwiches a selection of cakes etc

jack - I think the teafee idea needs further work to iron out some of the problems in the blending process

[Jack Field]

And the portugese were bigger than the dutch, although it is quite clear that the coffee revolution in china and the US is driving out the more refined and civilised practice of tea consumption. What about a fushion of coffee and tea? Richard, get Derek (GP) onto that one. We can call it 'teafee'. A drink for all ages and occasions. Darjeeling with a twist of Colombian raosted. 

[Richard Roman]

I have to say - Americans and Europeans ( I am British, just partly European!) just do not get tea!

Mind you - Holland were bigger tea drinkers than the Brits in the 17th century!

[CCF Beijing]

At the "100-day-before-the-London-Olympic-Games" mark CCTV's tea etiquette lesson taught this "etiquette-free" American:

1) Don't stir in a circle

2) Stir like the hands on a clock (3 to 9, then 12 to 6, repeat)

3) Add the milk last

*I will just have a James Bond Martini instead - "shaken not stirred". Thanks

 

[Richard Roman]

darjeeling for me as well!

[Matt Keuler]

Darjeeling is where it's at for me...

[Jemma Morgan]

I like a cup of proper builders tea, brick coloured! Yorkshire tea bags, semi skimmed milk, no sugar. Sorted! and a digestive if i feel like treating myself =) I also think you should always drink tea out of a bone china mug, it keeps it hotter for longer in my experience.

[Jack Field]

All the same. It is brilliant.

[Richard Roman]

Thank George Orwell, Jack! - apologies should have said where I got it from!

[Jack Field]

Utterly uttterly brilliant, insightful, Britishness. Who could disagree with you Richard?