On Sun, 21 Dec 2003 07:04:45 -0800, Dieter Folz wrote:

> Hello to all,
>
> Reading some books by Kazuo Ishiguro lately, I noticed a great "fuss"
> about the tea and it's way to be served. I don't understand that at
> all. As I understand, the "orthodox" English way is to serve (and
> take, of course) tea always with milk. Well, esp. in the afternoon I
> presume there is mostly a decent Earl Grey or Darjeeling been drunk.
> Preferring a nice blend of FTGFOP1 Darjeeling First Flush (and an Earl
> Grey from time to time) by myself, I can't imagine drinking those with
> milk! So, I hope someone here can enlighten me about the English way
> of drinking tea ;-).
>
>
> Regards,
> Dieter
>
>
>
> P.S.: Does anybody know something about Ishiguro's tea habits?

I stick my head out for a bet that most English people do not know the
term Darjeeling, same as with most Germans. Nothing wrong with that, if I
am correct. I always found it not easy, to say the least, to find
Darjeeling tea, or loose tea generally apart from the Twinings and similar
mass product teas. Single estate teas are a rarity to find in England,
although they exist. Most people, as far as I can tell, have tea bag teas
with milk and/or sugar. Earl Grey is common as well, then without milk.

JB