Need help with proselytization

I suggest CTC Assam before trying any Chinese black (red) teas. I grew
up drinking Red Rose, Tetley, and Lipton in tea bags and find that the
Chinese black teas have a different flavor that I can't quite put my
finger on. The CTC Assams are a closer match to these blends and would
be a good first step for a devout teabag user. You might also want to
consider something like Twining's English Breakfast. Growing up I felt
that making a REAL pot of tea (English style) with loose tea from a
pretty tin was a treat when compared to just dunking a teabag in a
mug. Once your friends sees that using loose tea is easy, he'll be
more likely to move on to try other teas.

Alan

On Nov 29, 12:24 pm, "Bluesea" <thisadd...@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> "Alan" <a...@alanandmike.com> wrote in message
> > Once your friends sees that using loose tea is easy, he'll be
> > more likely to move on to try other teas.
>
> Nooo, I don't think ease will get him, either. He sticks a teabag in a mug
> with cold water and nukes it. That's why I'm convinced flavor's got to do
> the trick.

Well, then, the bar's pretty low, isn't it? ;-)

If tasting a good loose tea made with non-nuked boiling water doesn't
convince him, I suggest you resign yourself to the fact that he is
beyond help.

Good luck and tell us how it turns out.

Alan

On 11/29/2007 9:58 AM, Bluesea wrote:
> I want someone to try some of the good stuff and would like to know what's
> the base tea(s) in Midwest Country Fare Tea, the Hy-Vee store brand teabags,
> and Lipton's for comparison purposes between teabags and loose tea. These
> are the only teas he drinks. He doesn't like anything else he's tried and I
> don't see the point in comparing apples to oranges.
>
> Does anybody know or care to venture an educated guess?
>
> TIA.

A friend will *only* drink teabag tea, ideally Lipton. I keep Red Rose
loose tea for him - he'll drink that, and likes it. According to the
box, it is "Pure Ceylon Tea" - "Premium Blended Mountain Estate Black
Tea" - it does taste like basic tea bag tea, but a bit better.

Interesting to me that he's so curious about how filtering the water
will change the taste of the tea, but isn't open to the idea of
letting the tea itself or his method of brewing change the taste.
Maybe he's worried that the filtered water will make it taste worse?

Anyway, if he's happy with it, then it's the right way for him.

Alan