NationStates Jolt Archive

About time there was a non-political topic.

I have milk, no sugar.

Herbal or iced

milk, no sugar please :)

I only ever drink tea under the light of a dying crescent moon, using the water of a yak and the leaves of the gwbana-ghoba italian-american red tea leaf, stirred with the tail of a dog dead nigh on 5 days and 4 nights. I stir the foul mixture 6 times widdershins, then spit on my soul, take a sip, and proclaim in the wise words of a druid, "Why don't I ever just have milk and sugar. I know I like it better that way", to which the tailless dead dog replies, "yes dear, now go to sleep".

Tea, Yeah!
My favourite tea is peppermint. I like most teas, ordinary, fruit, and herbal, no milk, not too strong (except for peppermint, must be nicely stewed)

In a proper tea cup with a dash of honey.

In a proper tea cup with a dash of honey.

What makes a tea cup "proper"? I have a feeling that mine does not qualify.

Darjeeling with lemon and sugar.

Assam/Ceylon/"Breakfast" with milk, no sugar.

oolong, I don't add anything.

I love tea.

Heh, I usually don't drink tea. More of a coffee person. But the best tea, I find, is drank outside. Nothing better then backpacking into the woods to a place you know were theres a stream. Bring the flat-ass woods kettle (Or a metal juice can with a wire loop at the top) and teabags, make a fire and have a good Newfie boilup. Throw in a hand full of teabags and there you go. ^_^

I wonder though, is there another place where people "saucer" their tea? It's something the older folks here on the Rock tend to do. Pouring some tea from the cup to saucer and sipping off the saucer. Or something like that.

my grandad did that. especially in restaurants.

my grandad did that. especially in restaurants.

My great grandmother did it too. I believe it was for cooling the hot tea.

Iced - with honey

I drink my tea with honey, my grandfather was a beekeeper and so is the cause.

I wonder though, is there another place where people "saucer" their tea? It's something the older folks here on the Rock tend to do. Pouring some tea from the cup to saucer and sipping off the saucer. Or something like that.

A lot of people do that in the UK, mainly older people now. Less so these days, when mugs are used more and cups and saucers less.

I used to do it myself when I was a kid, as did the rest of my family when not in company. It simultaneously cools the tea and oxygenates it, increasing its flavour.

Earl grey, No sugar or milk and not too strong, ta.

I enjoy tea quite a bit. Mostly "real" teas; I almost never drink herbal or fruity teas except as home remedies (as such, if you know which ones to use, they work wonders), Moroccan Mint being the only real exception. As I'm living in a colder climate at present, I usually drink it hot. I don't sully my tea by putting any sweeteners or milk in it, unless I happen to be drinking certain spice teas (chai anyone?). And, for the most part, I brew it rather longer than most; anywhere from ten minutes to eight hours (yes, on purpose).

Edit: Oh, and this stuff (http://www.itoen.com/tea/index.cfm) is simply the best I've ever tasted, bar none.

What about green tea? :(

If I want to cool my tea down I either put cold water in it or just wait. But usually the former because I am impatient.

i just drink it scolding hot and burn the roof of my mouth :D

If I want to cool my tea down I either put cold water in it or just wait. But usually the former because I am impatient.
That I could never do with tea - spoils the taste. :mad:

What about green tea? :(
I Like green tea!

I Like green tea!
i hate non green tea --too bland for me

Earl Grey with milk and honey, and I also like chai (spiced) tea. I like my tea strong and hot. :)

Not much of a tea drinker I'm afraid. When I do have it I prefer the bite, so I like it no milk no sugar and definetely not herbal. Occasionally, however, have been knownto take it with honey and lemon and maybe some mint, but that is a throat-soothing infusion instead of a drink.

I will have to try tea without milk some time.

Out of a cracked cup, without milk or sugar. Or tea.

Sorry, couldn't resist. :-)

Seriously, though, where's the option for sugar sans milk?

English breakfast milk no sugar
Earl Grey no milk or sugar
:fluffle:

Out of a cracked cup, without milk or sugar. Or tea.

Sorry, couldn't resist. :-)

Seriously, though, where's the option for sugar sans milk?

There is an "other" option for possibilities not named.

tea is best on a cloudy day, with a book, sitting in a windowsill. but earl/lady grey needs milk and sugar (but not too much). and citrus teas, such as lemon and orange, require only honey. its the best cure for a sore throat.

Chai Latte

Milk w/one or two sugars depending how I'm feeling. I prefer Earl Grey, but I'll drink just about any type of tea going.

Iced, usually.

Fresh black tea (none of that nasty pouched crap), chai spiced, a touch of cream (Half & Half), a single drop of buckwheat honey, and a scant pinch of fresh minced mint.

I take my tea *very* seriously.

Fucking poncey bastards. Cup of english breakfast. Milk, 2 sugars, in a fucking mug.

Fucking poncey bastards. Cup of english breakfast. Milk, 2 sugars, in a fucking mug.
NATO standard. Can't be beat.

Fucking poncey bastards. Cup of english breakfast. Milk, 2 sugars, in a fucking mug.

I hardly think someone who sweetens their tea is qualified to call anyone else "poncey". :D

With my pinky in the air!

Fucking poncey bastards.

And don't you forget it.

I hardly think someone who sweetens their tea is qualified to call anyone else "poncey". :D
Clearly not a Brit. Therefore not qualified to talk about tea. :p

Clearly not a Brit. Therefore not qualified to talk about tea. :p

Actually, I am British. English to be precise.

I hardly think someone who sweetens their tea is qualified to call anyone else "poncey". :D
Oh I'm sorry, mister "I cant drink my tea when its burn-your-mouth-hot". I guess I should replace sugar with cold water

About ten cups a day, Earl Grey, extra strong, milk and sugar. Those who think my tea is poncey should try a cup.

http://www.teacaddy.czi.cz/images/caddies/Lon1040b.jpg

Actually, I am British. English to be precise.
Is British .... thinks sugar in tea is poncey .... is British .... therefore is qualified to talk about tea .... is British .... thinks sugar in tea is poncey .... therefore ....

Uh-oh, irreconcilable logic failure. :eek: :eek: :eek: *Head explodes*

Oh I'm sorry, mister "I cant drink my tea when its burn-your-mouth-hot". I guess I should replace sugar with cold water

Heh, so neither of us are qualified. You should, of course, drink your tea however you like it.

I have to admit to not drinking all that much tea... and way too much coffee!

But, when I do have a cup, I like it really strong and black (no sugar).

Apparently you can't make a good cup of tea at the top of Mount Everest... apparently good tea needs to be made at boiling point (ie 100 degrees), and due to the height and atmosphere, water boils at a lower temp at the summit. Of course, coffee should never be boiled... so I'd be fine. Just thought I would pass that useless information.

Is British .... thinks sugar in tea is poncey .... is British .... therefore is qualified to talk about tea .... is British .... thinks sugar in tea is poncey .... therefore ....

Uh-oh, irreconcilable logic failure. :eek: :eek: :eek: *Head explodes*

I was only joking, no need to turn it into a debate, people!

Besides, I know plenty of people who don't take sugar in their tea.

Definitely with the blood of young virgins mixed in. Definitely.

Seriously though...

I like Orange Pekoe (was raised on Red Rose Tea here in Canada) and I add lots of milk to cool it down and about 3 packets of Sugar Twin artificial sweetner in my big arse mug and then I drink it down fast.

Let me put it on record that I do not really believe one's ponciness can be deduced from the sugar content of their tea.

There will be both ponces and non-ponces among both sugar-takers and non-sugar-takers.

Definitely with the blood of young virgins mixed in. Definitely.

Seriously though...

I like Orange Pekoe (was raised on Red Rose Tea here in Canada) and I add lots of milk to cool it down and about 3 packets of Sugar Twin artificial sweetner in my big arse mug and then I drink it down fast.
Orange Pekoe: the best! :cool:

Let me put it on record that I do not really believe one's ponciness can be deduced from the sugar content of their tea.

There will be both ponces and non-ponces among both sugar-takers and non-sugar-takers.

Excuse the ignorant American, but what's a ponce?

Let me put it on record that I do not really believe one's ponciness can be deduced from the sugar content of their tea.

There will be both ponces and non-ponces among both sugar-takers and non-sugar-takers.
Steady, mate. Could be seen as a contraversially liberal statement that.

Excuse the ignorant American, but what's a ponce?
Ponce n., & v.i.

1. n. One who does not take their tea in the correct manner.

2. v.i. Act as ponce, take tea improperly etc.

noun 1 a man who lives off a prostitute’s earnings. 2 derogatory an effeminate man

from http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/ponce?view=uk

Ponce n., & v.i.

1. n. One who does not take their tea in the correct manner.

2. v.i. Act as ponce, take tea improperly etc.

Thanks, TWH. I am endeavouring to learn more about the language of our friends across the pond, and that helps. :)

Edit: Further thanks to Clonetopia.

Thanks, TWH. I am endeavouring to learn more about the language of our friends across the pond, and that helps. :)

You know he was joking right? See my post above for the actual def.

I drink mine with sugar and lemon juice.

Milk, no sugar. English breakfast tea. Fairtrade. In a mug.

Actually, I am British. English to be precise.

Ah, but do you put the milk in before or after the tea?

Foreigners will never appreciate the importance of this question, wars have been fought over less.

Iced w/lemon unless you are offering Moroccan Mint w/sugar.

That will swirl your chi!

Ah, but do you put the milk in before or after the tea?

Which way is supposed to be correct? I probably do it the wrong way.

Drink more coffee, but I have my tea black, no sugar, with the bag still in the mug. I've been known to suck it afterwards. Sad but true.

The only reason that putting milk in the cup before the tea became standard practice was because when tea first became fashionable, the china of the day could not withstand the hot liquid. So milk was sploshed in first to avoid breaking the brittle cup. It makes no difference to the taste.
To be a ponce is to be 'girly', not necesarally gay, just foppish. It is also sometimes used to denigrate someone who doesn't pay his dues, a bit of a parasite.

The only reason that putting milk in the cup before the tea became standard practice was because when tea first became fashionable, the china of the day could not withstand the hot liquid. So milk was sploshed in first to avoid breaking the brittle cup. It makes no difference to the taste.


This is the reason I would give. But I have heard the exact same reason given for putting the milk in last - putting it in first would cool the cup and thus render it more likely to break when the tea is poured in.

I've also heard the explanation that putting the milk in last scalds it, adversely affecting the taste. But that sounds a bit poncey to me.

I've also heard the explanation that putting the milk in last scalds it, adversely affecting the taste. But that sounds a bit poncey to me.
I heard pouring hot water straight onto coffee granules scalds them, which is why the milk goes in first. No idea of the supposed reason with tea though. The whole thing sounds like a sham to me, and an excuse to be poncey :)

I heard pouring hot water straight onto coffee granules scalds them, which is why the milk goes in first. No idea of the supposed reason with tea though. The whole thing sounds like a sham to me, and an excuse to be poncey :)
No, the coffee thing is right. I take my coffee black, but if I make it with instant, I always put cold water in first. Makes for a smoother, richer drink.

Hot tea, the stronger the better, from the crack of dawn until the next crack of dawn. (Might take an occasional sleep break.) Added Sweet&Low. Usually Red Rose. Lipton if I'm desperate. English Breakfast a favorite, Constant Comment is nice for a change, Oolong is good. Not too wild about most of the fruity or herbal teas, but will drink if no other choices. No milk in any of it since childhood, and no more sugar (snivel) since diabetes descended.

No stinking coffee ever.

Which way is supposed to be correct? I probably do it the wrong way.

Like most things in Britain, it's all to do with class - I've been doing it the 'wrong' way all my life.

You are supposed to put the milk in before the tea and if you put it in before you are being terribly middle class. Globes is absolutely right as to the reason: putting milk in the cup before the tea was important because expensive crockery couldn't withstand the hot liquid. So milk was sploshed in first to avoid breaking the brittle cup. If you have a shitty mug, it doesn't matter. So its about how much money you have.

Nowadays, no crockery is going to break, as its made differently - its just a class shibboleth to snobbily identify people who weren't brought up proper-like.

However (and even more poncily), if you put the milk in afterwards, it will scald and damage the taste, but it only really matters if you have really good tea and really fresh milk, so again, it's all about rich folk showing off.

Doesn't it make you feel patriotic?

I drink it with milk and one sugar, but if I can get it, I use cream and honey.

I love my tea. :)

I drink my tea (English breakfast) with a little semi-skimmed milk (put in first naturally ;)) and no sugar. And now that we've solved the milk problem, where does everyone stand on leaves/bag? Personally I prefer leaf tea, but that's possibly because of the ritual of making the tea and straining it is something that really makes me feel at home, it's what I was brought up with. And what do people do with the milk if they're just making a cup of tea with a bag in the cup? Does the milk go in first followed by the bag followed by the water, or do these circumstance allow for relaxing of the milk first rule? Persoanlly I think they do. And probably every one of my friends would agree I am a tea ponce :P

Iced with sugar.

I love my sweet tea.


Otherwise I somewhat enjoy a certain mint herbal tea. Quite nice on a cold morning.

I'm about to have a jasmine green tea now, can't get enough :D

But really-- hot, no milk, sugar, or honey; or iced, with or without sugar.

I like Orange Pekoe (was raised on Red Rose Tea here in Canada) and I add lots of milk to cool it down and about 3 packets of Sugar Twin artificial sweetner in my big arse mug and then I drink it down fast.Ah Red Rose, it's been forever since I've had any. Milk and sugar definetely for the authentic feel. I never really liked it, but it's what I grew up on, perhaps that why I'm not really a tea drinker.

Which is why I wanted to comment on the coffee and boiling water, the best coffee is (in my not so humble opinion) made with boiling water. The problem is not the boiling water but the fact that most techniques boil the coffee, ie the classic percolator. If you can lay your hands on a vacum percolator (my next coffee maker), they produce the best coffee using steam at (for technical reasons) slightly below the boiling point of water and water at slightly below the condensation point of steam. The best temperature for water for coffee is slightly below the boiling point, say 210F or 99C, and boiling water is often at this temperature due to the peculiar behavior of water molecules, a soft boil not a hard boil.

I drink my tea (English breakfast) with a little semi-skimmed milk (put in first naturally ;)) and no sugar. And now that we've solved the milk problem, where does everyone stand on leaves/bag? Personally I prefer leaf tea, but that's possibly because of the ritual of making the tea and straining it is something that really makes me feel at home, it's what I was brought up with. And what do people do with the milk if they're just making a cup of tea with a bag in the cup? Does the milk go in first followed by the bag followed by the water, or do these circumstance allow for relaxing of the milk first rule? Persoanlly I think they do. And probably every one of my friends would agree I am a tea ponce :P

Excellent question.
Drinking fresh (leaf) tea does spoil one slightly for tea-bags. Careful comparison does reveal a faint papery taste in tea-bag tea. But that doesn't stop me. I usually bung two bags of the old Earl Grey in a mug, two sugars (none of your poncey sweeteners), stir vigerously, and add milk. I then lazily stir for a minute or two and........................heaven.

earl grey tea, hot, very strong, no milk and 2 lumps of sugar

herbal w/ honey..

Milk...in tea? :eek: No thanks.

I like my tea either on the rocks with lemon and sugar or hot with honey.

I don't drink tea, I piss in it and sell it to girly englishmen.

I don't drink tea, I piss in it and sell it to girly englishmen.


LMAO.