THE DAMN GOOD TEA BLOG

THE DAMN GOOD TEA BLOG

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Hello fellow tea lovers, today I'm going to blog about the most anticipated time during any work day, the tea break (inspired by my leave of absence, which I'm referring to as my tea break).

 For just over a month now I have been employed (hooray), I'm back to being a working class hero, chasing that paper to pay the bills. The job is going great and i'm thoroughly enjoying myself apart from one particular thing... the tea break. Working anything over 4 hours and you're entitled to a 15 minute break and working anything over 8 hours entitles you to a further 30 minutes. I have had the pleasure to work both and have serious problems with that pesky 15 minute break, heres why.

 How the (insert expletive here) am I supposed to enjoy a cup of tea in 15 minutes? I say 15 but its really 11 after walking to and from the canteen. So in 11 minutes, I have to brew and drink my tea, possible but impossible to enjoy. 

 In addition there is also this equally bad problem. Work provide tea bags for the employees to use, however, these tea bags are unboxed (brand unknown), and left out for the air to ruin them. This has resulted in me taking my own box of assorted teas in, taken from my packeted Twinings selection. How is that a bad problem I hear you ask? Well, I need to make a stop at my locker to grab a tea bag first, so theres another 2 minutes so really I have 9 minutes to brew, drink AND enjoy my cup. 

 I appreciate that the the half hour break is fine, I can comfortably enjoy my cup in peace BUT I just don't know what to do with that 15 minute break. It is in my opinion that here in England of all places, any break at work should be long enough to enjoy a cup of tea. 

 Do any of you guys have any ideas what I should do? Should I maybe make a cold brew tea so at least I'm getting my fix and leave the hot cups for the longer breaks? Also, do any of you have similar issues or agree/disagree with me here? 

 Until next time, 



 Connor
The Damn Good Tea Blogger
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University students up and down the country will be going off the rails this week as they participate in the annual "Fresher’s Week" and we can be certain of a few things... They will not attend those 9am lectures, their hangover game will be strong, and they will get Fresher’s Flu.

Although medicine cabinets should be stocked to help relieve illness, I believe tea is a fantastic and natural way at helping to fight the symptoms of illness too! Below, I'm going to outline a few teas I think all students should have stocked in their kitchens. As I go into my fourth year of study, these teas have helped me out for the past 3-year and will continue to help me out in my future university life.

Peppermint Tea
For those who are susceptible to an upset stomach during a hangover or just in general, peppermint is the king of relieving pains and cramps. I believe this is a must have for any tea drinker to have in their collection when it comes to fighting off illness. 




Green Tea
During illness it’s very important to stay hydrated, especially after sickness. Drinking green tea is a great way to take on fluids and antioxidants to perk you up without drinking any harsh flavours that could worsen how you feel.


Lemon & Ginger
This is another great tea to have at hand when you’re not feeling well. Lemon and ginger work as a double act, lemon soothing the throat and ginger bringing relief from vomiting and nausea; this will be your best bet when Fresher’s Flu hits. 


Liquorice Tea
A very odd taste, but another great tea at helping to fight cold and flu symptoms. Another great thing about liquorice tea is that it can help to prevent stomach ulcers and so promotes a healthy stomach.


These are just a few of the teas that have helped me out through the years when illness or a hangover has struck me down. Don't always rely on teas to get you through, although they are magical, proper medication should be taken to treat illnesses and should be supplemented by these teas! 

Are there any teas that have made your nausea vanish or cured your hangover? Comment below so I can try them out!

To all those at Fresher's events round the country, be safe and have fun, also drink responsibly! 

Have a damn good week everyone!

Connor
The Damn Good Tea Blogger!
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Here in England, before summer really even started it's coming to an end, and we're already seeing signs of autumn arriving. With this seasonal change, I feel my tea taste changing and the good old summer classics just aren't quenching my thirst as they once did. Throughout summer, I have enjoyed light and fruity teas, and now as the autumnal weather moves in I feel my hand reaching for deeper, warmer flavours. 

My Summer Favourites

 Bluebird Tea Co: Cherry Bakewell


Who doesnt want their tea to taste like a mighty fine tart? The blend of cherry and almond is just right and actually tastes like a bakewell tart - which is always a good thing! 
Blending these falvours with a chinese white tea is such a perfect choice, the tatse is subtle and sweet and perfect for a summer afternoon! I will be restocking on this delight when spring comes around ready for the summer months!




Tea Lyra: Old Tree Yue Guan Bai, Moon Light White Pu'erh



It has really only been the past few months since I started drinking this tea I love it. I'm really sad that my tatses are changing because I could drink this forever. I have enjoyed many warm evenings with a cup of this in hand and it has been perefct. This tea is subtly floral and earthy, super refreshing and surprisingly sweet! (I could taste figs but apprently no one else could).
But like the Cherry Bakewell it has been a perfect tea for the summer and I will also be restocking up on this!


So what does Autumn bring when it comes to tea? I'm ready for more grown up, adult flavours. I have already indulged once or twice with chai tea and have been starting my mornings with cups of Earl Grey. What I'm really looking forward to is the seasonal teas, and I'm welcoming the post summer spices with open arms! 

 I already have my eyes on some Pumpkin Spiced teas but what else should I be looking out for? If you have any suggestions on autumnal/wintery teas please leave a comment below. Also, what have your summer favourites been? Any that you will be restocking up on next year?

 Hope you all have a damn good week!

 Connor
The Damn Good Tea Blogger!
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Back in 1908 the way people drank tea changed dramatically with the creation and development of the tea bag. Did this creation, however, completely and utterly destroy everything good and enjoyable about tea? Let's discuss.

Before going into details I would like to define some terms as not to confuse anyone. 
Tea Bag: a bag containing powdered/fragmented tea leaves.
Loose Leaf: whole tea leaves (not fragments or powdered).

 Tea bag positives:

  • Availability: tea bags can be bought at virtually every shop and supermarket.
  • Convenience: absolutely no mess, no fuss.
  • Cheap: fairly low prices in comparison to loose leaf tea.
Tea bag negatives:
  • Lower quality: due to the leaf being broken down, the tea loses taste and some nutritional value. In addition, the broken down tea cannot be stored for long periods of time.
  • Environmental Impact: over packaged and some bags are not biodegradable. 

Loose Leaf Positives:
  • Higher Quality: brewing whole leaves allows for a fuller and more complexed flavour to be achieved. High-quality leaves can also be reinfused multiple times and also stored longer than tea bags.
  • More Control: you can choose how much tea you would actually like to brew, although one tea bag equates to one cup, with loose leaf you can make it to your desired strength easier.
Loose Leaf Negatives:
  • Equipment: you need infusers, strainers, teapots, which could be a little fussy.
  • More expensive: loose leaf teas are often cost more than bagged tea.
  • Less availability: less commonly found in shops and supermarkets and so has to be sourced online or in specialist shops.
In my opinion, loose leaf tea is so much better than bagged tea. I do understand that it can take some time to brew and make a cup of tea, but I believe that is what makes it enjoyable, being hands on with the tea and actually seeing what you're about to drink is great. In addition to this, needing strainers, infusers, and teapots does sound like fuss but that only adds to the tea drinking experience. 
If you're reading this and thinking "I want good quality tea but I don't have time to get the teapot out every time I want a cuppa", I have some good news! Some tea companies sell pyramid tea bags that contain whole leaves, so you can get your fill of tea the easy way! 

So let's refer back to the question in hand... 
Tea bags did not *completely* and utterly destroy everything good and enjoyable about tea, it made tea available to everyone and that's fabulous! If you enjoy your tea, whether that be a bag or loose then that is all the counts! 


I'd love to know what you all think about the tea bag, has this post changed your opinion for the better or worse? Leave me a comment below!!

Hope you all have a damn good week!

Connor
The Damn Good Tea Blogger!


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To introduce my blog, I thought I would make this post about my tea habits, favourite teas, favourite things about tea and whatever else I can come up with. 

 Tea Habits

 Along with the majority of people in the world, I like to start my mornings off with a cup of the hot stuff to ease myself into the day. I like to chill with my first cup, enjoying in silence, sipping slowly to prolong the time before actually starting anything (the true art of procaffinating). On a morning I like to take my tea in my favourite yellow mug - I like this mug as it is chunky and easier for my tired hands to carry and lift up to my mouth. 

 During the rest of the day, If I have access to a kettle I am rarely seen without a cup in my hand and a smile on my face. After a hard day of University or doing nothing, I like to end the day with either a cup of tea or copious amounts of alcohol and dancing (we may mix the former and latter in some kind of way in a later post). Just know that I drink tea all day: in bed, in the bath, on the go, everywhere! 

 My Tea Journey

 When I was younger I thoroughly enjoyed what I call "baby tea", the overly milky and overly sweetened tea; that is white in colour and cool to drink. From about 14/15 I reduced the number of sugars to zero and took less milk, which resulted in the perfect cup of tea. When I went to university I switched to drinking predominantly green tea, not only because other people wouldn't drink it but because I enjoyed the taste and used it as an aid to weight loss. After about a year of only drinking a hell of a lot of green tea, I tried on a few occasions to go back to the old British brew but realised I had totally gone off the taste, so I dropped milk completely and now take all tea without it. 

 In addition to the change in my taste for tea, last year I also switched to drinking predominantly loose leaf tea and it has taken over my life. In just 8 months, with help from my parent's fine taste, I have over 30 different teas: black teas, white teas, rooibos teas, fruit teas and much more. 

My Favourite Teas

 As mentioned above I drink lots of both green and black tea. My favourite green tea is Twinings Pure Green and after trying a few brands it has become the only one I will drink in bag form. I have a few favourite black teas but the one I drink most commonly is still Yorkshire Tea, even after the loose leaf coming into my life (and this is not only because I'm from Yorkshire but because it's the best!).  

What I Like Best About Tea

 One thing I love about drinking tea is that it can be very social. Over the past few years, I have spent hundreds of hours chatting to friends and family over steaming cups of tea. Take today, for example, my family and I spent a good few hours in the middle of the North Yorkshire moors national park enjoying a spot of tea and cake - what could be better?

Lealholm, North Yorkshire, England.
In contrast to this, I love how you can have quiet moments with a cup too! I think what I'm getting at here is that everything is made better with tea. 

 The last thing I love about drinking tea is all of the fancy cups and tea making equipment, but I'll leave that for another blog post, maybe? 
Do you have a favourite mug for your morning brew? Been on a tea journey like myself or love something about tea that I haven't mentioned? I'd love to hear about it so make sure to comment! 

 Well that's all from me today, have a damn good week and I'll have a new post on Monday. Hope to see you all then.

 Connor
The Damn Good Tea Blogger
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