what is the most traditional type of tea served in Britian?!
Answers:
There are different types of tea that are traditionally served in Britain. The standard breakfast tea is what we know in the U.S. as English Breakfast. In England, however, it's just called "tea". This style of tea is a moderately strong black tea, powerful, but less strong and malty than Irish Breakfast or most pure-Assam teas, and usually not smoky like some Scottish or Russian blends:
http://ratetea.net/style/english-breakfa…
The individual composition of the tea is widely variable. Sometimes it's a pure, single-region tea, but usually it's a blend. When it's a single-region tea, it can be from just about anywhere. Ceylon tea is probably one of the most common pure teas used as a British-style breakfast tea:
http://ratetea.net/style/ceylon-black-te…
But Indian and Chinese teas are also common. Pure Assam teas are less common because that tea tends to be too strong and malty on its own.
---
For afternoon tea, the gold standard is usually Darjeeling tea, as it is lighter and more delicate:
http://ratetea.net/style/darjeeling-blac…
The lightest tea is Darjeeling first flush. Tea connoisseurs in Britain might drink single-estate teas, and they might drink single-harvest teas such as Darjeeling first flush, second flush (a bit darker) or Autumnal flush, for a traditional afternoon tea. Many people drink Darjeeling blends. More info about Darjeeling black tea:
http://ratetea.net/style/darjeeling-blac…
In terms of flavored teas, the dominant player in British tea culture is without a doubt Earl Grey:
http://ratetea.net/style/earl-grey/28/
Scented with the oil of the bergamot orange, Earl Grey was traditionally a Chinese tea but now it can be made from black tea from just about anywhere.
I hope this answers your question! British tea culture is very rich and there is a lot more than can be said about it but these pages should give you a starting point!
What the guy above said. People just drink plain standard tea from plain standard tea leaves in plain tandard teabags. Common brands are PG Tips, Typhoo and Tetley's. And Red.... something.
I couldn't tell you the difference between an Earl Grey, a Darjeeling or a Jasmine. They all go down the same way. Some places do still do tea with loose leaves, but those tend to be your more fancy teashop outlets, cos they like to show off and be fancy.
Milk and/or sugar are added to taste. Some people don't like either. So it's just best to ask.
Then there's your various brands of herbal stuffs. There's a big range of herbal teas available in the shops; I think the market for it has really taken off in the past 10 years or so. Look for it, you'll find it. Fruity teas, spicy teas, minty teas, the works.
Coffee is also an acceptable drink. ;)
British.
Just simple english tea, with milk and sugar added, that is the british style. Also, some brits believe you must add sugar after tea has been poured in your cup and you must use sugar cubes.
Also, don't let the hatemonger perfectionist try to discredit what I have typed. Any hatemonger who says anything negative about my answer can straight suck it.
I had there a cold tea only with ice - name was Jonny Walker - very good.