Anyone else think Twinings of London teas just taste like dirt water?

[311WasAnInsideJam]

I can steep it for an hour. Still tastes like dirt water. Most specifically the Irish Blend. English Breakfast Tea tastes like tea made from the dirt water of the Irish Blend. Lady Grey tastes like citrus flavored dirt water. Their green tea is alright with honey. That way you have honey flavored dirt water.

Maybe I'm not steeping it long enough, or maybe I'm using too much water. But I don't have this issue with other teas.

Side note, recommend me some teas.

Updates

+1 y

For the record, I make the tea the same as any other brand, but the results are always "dirt water" with Twinings. And as I typed this I just experimented with the English Breakfast Tea, and using half as much water and it tastes quite lovely, and more like tea. I guess it's more "gourmet, small portions" than I'm used to.

[DJB72]

Twinings bags are designed around one cup of 220ml to 250ml water between 80 & 90C at time of pouring.

More water tastes like crap. Less tastes too strong for most.

If the English Breakfast isn't rich enough, try the Strong English Breakfast. Personally I like the malty texture of their Assam.

Lady Grey blend was developed for use with orange slices, Earl Grey with lemon. Both taste like crap with milk.

Then there's Darjeeling, Lapsang Souchon, Ceylon and the other blends.

Avoid decaffeinated and the "Everyday" blend.

My personal second favourite right now is the English Afternoon Tea blend. It's good with citrus or milk, and I've even been experimenting with making my own Berry concentrate as an alternative to either.

Happy sipping 🍵

[311WasAnInsideJam]

Glad to have some actual volumetrics. So my issue was too much water. I'll check out some of those other teas, if I have them near where I am. Knowing they have a stronger version of the English breakfast tea, I'll probably switch to that.

[DJB72]

It's a dark red in the UK. I can't think it'd be different anywhere else. I let it steep at least 2 to 3 minutes.

Also, use fresh water - ideally filtered. Chlorine & other chemicals alter the taste completely.

[311WasAnInsideJam]

I use bottled water. Generic, but without the chemically taste. I also use my coffee maker (never used for coffee. Entirely for hot water) for water, which the slightly lower temperature could also alter the taste.

[DJB72]

If it's never been used for coffee it won't significantly change the taste although a higher temperature will.

Teas are actually mostly aroma rather than taste so you "taste" the scent - which is destroyed by boiling. If the water has been boiled repeatedly the oxygen in the water that carries the flavours is reduced so it tastes weaker.

[DJB72]

I'm a tea geek by the way

[Anonymous]

Im not sure what to think about this, the best cup of tea i ever had was made with Twinnings English breakfast tea, but I have no been able to get consisent results and i am often disappointed.

My normal brand is PG tips which seems good and consistent, my second choice is Yorkshire tea.

I haven't bothered to find out but I wonder if I might get a good result from a loose version of Twinnings English Breakfast tea or indeed some other loose tea.

I like strong tea and brewing it loose seems to me to be a fairly obvious / or likely way to achieve better results.

[Warmapplecrumble]

I am very particular with tea, coffee and hot chocolate.

I always buy best quality and never ever use a kettle. I boil the milk and foam it up, using a whisk, with spices and tea, I don't use water.

If I add honey I always add it later when its not pipping hot.

It tastes like pure heaven. The brewing time, the infusion.. everything is so different and can't be replicated with blenders, coffee machine and kettles. Sometimes the old school slow method is the best.

The kettle stuff is nasty. I don't know how you guys do it. I have been open minded and tried many times. I always am left disappointed.

[Warmapplecrumble]

I also use loose tea leafs. If I could I would use fresh. Then I strain the mixture in a fine sieve.

[WindowLicker]

How very dare you! 😮 I'll have you know that our tea is the best tea in all of Europia! I'm calling the Queen, you will soon be colonised! 👊

[goaded]

Five minutes (no more) in a pre-heated teapot, with water that was boiling when it went in. It's not that hard!

[Sevenpointfive]

i wish i knew. i know there is some good teas out there and i'd love to put milk in them

[LiamSaw]

I've never heard of Lady Grey, but I do like Earl Grey, especially the Bergamot in it.

[TsubasaCorrupted]

Try a different brand, or try loose leaf.

[wingattebaby16]

I prefer Liptons

[GreenGold1992]

Me too