? for the rabble.

[SteveB]

JockScot is right. (You were not supposed to let the secret out) Here in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. we have two tea blending companies. The Tremont Tea Room on Winter Street (Downtown Crossing stop on the tube) and the Boston Tea Company on Rowes Warf, Boston Harbour.(Aquarium stop on the Blue Line tube) Both will custom blend small lots of teas and package as loose or in sachets for brewing. The Tremont Tea Room stocks many teas imported directly from the U.K. and Scotland, including Taylor's of Harrogate.
Where the question is of what to buy in Scotland.. I will defer to those that live in Scotland to better answer the original question.

[BoldHighlander]

JockScot is right. (You were not supposed to let the secret out) Here in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. we have two tea blending companies.

I was thinking of the Boston Tea Party

[SteveB]

Terry
I do not think of a blend of tea with salt water to be the tasty choice here or in Scotland. Although the original idea of the Tea Party was from a Scot......

[Jock Scot]

Alright I will come clean, I did mean the "Boston Tea Party",as I have never stepped foot on on the soil of the USA ,yet alone Boston,I did not know about the two tea companies.You chaps have such strange tastes, ice in whisky for example,that I rather assumed that a spot of salt in your tea was the norm. We drink loose Ceylon tea.

[Cat]

Macallan! Oops! not a tea! Sorry, don't know!

Hah! I'd never get or keep a job if I had a hot cup of The Macallan every morning!

But that aside, I do prefer Twining's Earl Grey myself, with Tetley British Blend as a cheaper "everyday" kind of tea. My grandmother LOVED Twining's, so I grew up on their various blends. And I like Tetley because it's the same price as Lipton but doesn't have the nasty bitter aftertaste.

However, I must say that I do have a really soft spot for Bigelow's "Constant Comment" orange pekoe tea, because that was my grandmother's absolute favorite tea.

I guess my point (even though I wasn't really aiming for one) is that the best tea is the one YOU like the best.

[vmac3205]

We drink tea by the buckets full, and found that even the cheapest brands (we use Red Rose) made with good water at a rolling boil makes better tea than the most expensive blends made with tepid water from a restaurant insta hot tap. I wouldn't worry so much about what your friend brings you back, as that you make it correctly once you get it.

[Computergeek]

I typically drink tea as dark and heavy as I can: usually Twinings Earl Grey bagged not loose leaf. bring the tea kettle to a boil and then pour it straight over the bag, steep for 4-5 minutes remove bag and drink. that makes a dark bitter tea. I have to drink it straight I have never liked milk or sugar in either my tea or coffee.

[Birddog]

As one of the few Americans who knows how to make a proper cup of tea(mother in law was English-God rest her soul), my vote goes to Tetley, PG Tips, or if I want to spoil myself, Yorkshire Gold. I will offer this, and take it how you will. Whilst spending time in a hot and sandy place with the Royal Air Force, a very large number of the lads and lasses despised Twinings. Can't even repeat their words! Perhaps it was more because they were younger? They were quite surprised to learn that a Yank can make tea!

We have some friends that own a bed and breakfast on Loch Lomand, and I always have them bring me a large bag of Tetley or PG Tips.

[Ian.MacAllan]

. . . I have never liked milk or sugar in either my tea or coffee.

But a bit of lemon is welcome in tea.

.

[Mark Keeney]

I bought a tea maker from this company and I buy my tea from them. This is the only teamaker that I could find that actually steeps the tea. I usually buy the loose teas. One of my favorites is English Breakfast tea. They have a wide selection of teas.

BTW I don't have any connection to the company, I'm just thrilled with the teamaker.