this post was submitted on 21 Jan 2024
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I'm usually a C2 sort of guy, but through bad luck and (my own) poor performance, I've begun my Sunday morning with a B1. Whilst a bad start to the day, I'm determined not to let it ruin what could be a good Sunday.

Where do you come in on the tea debate?

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[–] OscarCunningham 24 points 9 months ago (2 children)

It's not a linear scale from light to dark. There are three constituents: tea, milk and water. A weak cup of tea with a little milk looks different from a strong cup with a decent amount of milk. This should be a ternary plot.

[–] HonoraryMancunian 8 points 9 months ago

Thank you. For years me and my siblings have always said it's possible to have a strong and milky tea.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago

Yeah it's not clear what the axes are in this picture. Looks more like a single scale split in 4

[–] [email protected] 10 points 9 months ago (1 children)

C3, no debate in my mind. I can accept C1 through to D2 though.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

This is the correct answer.

[–] grue 7 points 9 months ago (1 children)

D4, but with a shitload of sugar.

...And ice, 'cause I'm a Southerner, not a Brit. 🤪

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago (3 children)

Before the diabetes diagnosis I used to take three sugars in my tea.

Two years later and I'm not sure I could stomach tea with sugar in it.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago

@Oneeightnine @grue
As a student I took three sugars. Then I moved into a house with 4 others none of whom took sugar. For everyone's convenience I went cold turkey and never looked back. Now I'd spit out tea with a quarter of a spoonful of sugar.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago

American here who grew up on southern sweet tea. As an adult I cut the sugar from all tea and never looked back. Although I will occasionally put a little nip of B&B in there.

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[–] iAvicenna 7 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

5E (a.k.a. E5)

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago (1 children)

E5 for me. I soak and squeeze the crap out of the teebag.

A tip for everyone to get stronger tee. Put the teebag in a quarter cup of boiled water, then boil it in the microwave for 30 seconds, then add the rest of the water. It releases all the favour in the bag.

[–] Luvs2Spuj 4 points 9 months ago

That sounds like too much tannin, but if you like that then why not. I prefer to use different tea for a stronger or milder tea flavour. I'm not trying to knock what works for you, if I had a microwave I would at least be willing to try it so I could comment with more knowledge.

You might enjoy using a loose leaf tea if you haven't tried before?

[–] Delphia 5 points 9 months ago

It should be strong enough to stand the spoon up in.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago (1 children)

If I'm in a cafe or something, or feeling posh, I have it with milk, and generally go for C2 onwards. I generally leave the teabag in for as long as possible, including not removing it at all - but if I'm having any milk at all, I'll have quite a bit of it.

If I'm at home/work or otherwise in control of the kettle, I drink it black and leave the teabag in throughout the whole drink.

Controversially, at home on an evening, though I leave the teabag in, I often top up the water a few times, therefore drinking progressively weaker tea as it gets later. The last cup of tea before bed is basically just hot water that remembers meeting a leafy flavour once.

[–] cucumber_sandwich 2 points 9 months ago

Controversial, but consistent, opinion. At least you know exactly what you like.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago

Somewhere on the c range. I'm not too picky.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Pure Barrys tea is the only reasonable choice and thus everything except D4 (mayyybee D3) should be considered a crime.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I thought my Irish mate was having me on saying Irish tea was better than British tea all those years ago. Then I picked up a box of Barry's while looking for something to do in Limerick. Now I don't let it run out.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

My grandmother is from the northwest of Germany. People over there got a very unique tea culture and their own famous blends. Last time I visited her, I gave her a box of Barrys. After the first teapot was empty, she asked me to bring lots more Barrys when I visit her again.

[–] Toneswirly 4 points 9 months ago

American D1 gang represent

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

Green tea needs a bit of cold water in first, to make sure the hot isn't too hot. Proper green tea blends taste like cat's piss when you over-heat them.

Like in Japanese tea ceremonies, they have to grind the green tea leaves slowly, so as not to overheat them.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago

I like my tea to be iced coffee

[–] Luvs2Spuj 3 points 9 months ago

C1 using whole milk, which is significant if you are only using colour as a measure of tea preference.

I think milk type could be the 3rd dimension to this chart, but that is more likely to be is brew time.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago

B3 to C2 is my preference. C3 or darker and I'm asking if the cows are on strike. B2 and lighter I'll ask if you just showed the teabag to the cup instead of putting it in.

[–] zammy95 3 points 9 months ago

Is the implication here "how much milk do you add?" Confused about the colors if that's not the answer. The option with no milk for me (but I also like white and green teas, which are nowhere near that dark color)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (2 children)

D3/D4 And a small splash of milk to round it off. At most a tablespoon (15ml) to a pint.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

"Just the tiiiiiniest splash of milk, please" /gets given builder's tea

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[–] LifeCoffeeGaming 2 points 9 months ago

D4 realised a while back I don't really like the taste of milk, so went darker and darker until now I just drink black tea. Honestly I'm more of a coffee chap (snob)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

B2, but I'm a filthy coffee drinking American what do I know.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

C2 as well. it's the sophisticated choice.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago
[–] lazycouchpotato 1 points 9 months ago

C1/C2. I like mine a tad bit dark.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

i like it red, and hot. sadly not in the chart

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

Tea is the opposite of how I like my toast: the darker, the better.

[–] Gradually_Adjusting 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

C4 or D1. Strong though, want to see that spoon stand up.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

That'd be C4 then

A=>D is decreasing milk amount, and 1=>4 is increasing strength, so D1 would essentially be water, A1 would essentially be milk and the B3/B4/C3/C4 would be the square of "not pulling a face when you take the first sip" (although I lie somewhere between B4 & C3 so I may be biased)

[–] Gradually_Adjusting 2 points 9 months ago (4 children)

Wait

When people say strong they mean with lots of milk? I thought it was the concentration of the brew. I like a longer steep is what I meant.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago

This is the classic problem with coffee, where people think "strong" means less milk, rather than more caffeine.

[–] Slowy 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

No strong usually means a more concentrated brew

[–] Gradually_Adjusting 1 points 9 months ago

Cheers, yeah. I sometimes put three bags in the teapot 🤫

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I've found that a longer steep doesn't really make a better cup though. If I want stronger, I add more tea and stay at the 4-5 minute range. Past maybe five minutes, it's getting tannins at such a high level that it's just bitterness. Which, if you like your tea very bitter, that's a good thing! I prefer the more subtle flavors over the tannic bite, though.

[–] Gradually_Adjusting 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I was raised on very low quality stuff and have since moved on to Yorkshire gold - but I can't quite shake the desire for a bit of roughness.

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

I don't think I implied otherwise?

The guy I was responding to said C4 or D1, but strong, implying they were similar

C4 is strong with a splash of milk, D1 is incredibly weak with no milk so it seems as though they preferred C4 and not D1

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

I'd argue that if its anything less than C4, you don't really like tea you like sweet hot milk.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

D4 assuming there's no milk in it. My mother likes A2, maybe 3. It's a waste of a tea bag.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

B2, but I'm a filthy coffee drinking American what do I know.

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