Real tea

[Cricket2]

We have a guest on our next trip who is an avid tea drinker. Generally loose leaf but she has a black tea preference (I know this from gift giving). She asked us what sort of tea offerings she would be able to find throughout WDW and, since I really never thought about it before, I had no idea what to say (which is such an odd thing for me). It caused a stunned silence.

Cricket no like not knowing

So, please educate me on the WDW tea offerings (and don't tell me there are none) There must be some place that has a tea experience outside of buying a box of generic bags and microwaving water at Hess.

I suppose purchasing it onsite and making it in our DVC kitchen (we could pack the gear) isn’t out of the question, but I think she is looking more in the way of it being served. Knowing both would be helpful.

Thanks!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

If she is truly particular about her tea and prefers black tea (as do I) then to ensure a pleasant trip, she should definitively bring a box or a few bags of black tea in her luggage. With that said, The Grand Floridian serves High Tea and I know for a fact that they have a wide variety of teas including several blends of black tea.

Enjoy!

 

[Laura]

Royal Anandapur Tea Company in Animal Kingdom:
http://allears.net/menu/menu_tea.htm
Tea Stand in China:
http://allears.net/menu/men_tea.htm

And of course they sell tea leaves in a shop at the UK pavilion in Epcot. But the afternoon tea in the Grand Floridian would be THE place to go.

 

[Booyakasha]

The royal Anandapur tea shop in AK is great.

B.

 

[Cricket2]

These are exactly what I was looking for Some of those tea names even sound familiar to me.

Any more? Anything in the Studios area? Looks like the other 3 park areas are covered so far.

 

[kesharn81]

ya...i agree - The royal Anandapur tea shop in AK is really ..great...

.

 

[MickeyNicki]

The Grand Floridian Tea was out of this world, just an incredible experience. At the Yachtsman they have a loose tea menu and they bring it to you in a pressed pot...that was awesome!

 

[Drince88]

Most of the Signature Restaurants have a decent listing of hot teas that you can enjoy with or after your meal. I recently ate at The Wave (although not a signature restaurant), and they used the 'bag' version of what I've had at Jiko, Yachtsman, and Narcoossee's in the press pot. Not sure if everyone has switched to the bags or not.

Those teas are often from a company "T" from Victoria, Canada. A couple years back I happened to be in Orlando when the DDE people had a "Lunch and Tea pairing" special meal at Jiko (they usually do/did dinner and wine pairings) that the reps from the company were hosting, and it was a lot of funn. They've been known to specially blend the teas for a location based on the flavor of the tap water!

 

[jonestavern]

As of a few weeks ago, as the pp said, there are press pot teas at the signatures.
As for the resort CS, they carry a selection (some more varied than others) of Twinning tea in bags. If you don't see it out, ask a CM at a register.
Usually, but not always, the selections included: Earl Grey, Irish breakfast & a decaf or two

Jean

 

[liamsaunt]

Another vote for Royal Anadapur! Yum!

The Grand Floridian tea is very nice also. It does take quite a while though, if that matters--at least an hour, longer if you get the Grand Tea. I love their scones with clotted cream and jam.

 

[beansmom]

another high five for the GF Tea...it was AWESOME. My dh and Idid it in October and we loved it. It's so refined..so elegant..so serene. so...CIVILIZED!!!

Now that I read this, I wanna go again! Hmmm....where's that number for ADRS???

 

[Steffiesunshine]

Allears gives you a detailed description of their Afternoon Tea which sounds awesome.

My husband and I stayed at the Plaza in NYC for our first anniversary and we had tea at the Palm Court, which was amazing. I think I'm going to book the GF Tea and recreate the magic!!!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) For the REAL tea drinker, go to Royal Anandapur Tea Company.
2) The other tea locations are seriously lacking in quality.
3) Regardless of what is posted, they serve ONLY Broken Orange Pekoe or Fanning.
4) Animal Kingdom is the only place to get Orange Pekoe or better.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Allears gives you a detailed description of their Afternoon Tea which sounds awesome.

My husband and I stayed at the Plaza in NYC for our first anniversary and we had tea at the Palm Court, which was amazing. I think I'm going to book the GF Tea and recreate the magic!!!

While I enjoy the GF tea, it is NOTHING like a tea you would experience at someplace like the Plaza. Nice, but not anywhere near quality and experience of a true high tea. Don't want you to be disappointed.

 

[Cricket2]

3) Regardless of what is posted, they serve ONLY Broken Orange Pekoe or Fanning.

I know we have ordered her some F OP1 before and she was pretty happy with it.

I never got into tea for the most part but I think some of them smell really good so that's how I judge them. That one stunk like, well, the word filter would catch it so I won't waste my time typing it out

 

[ElizabethB]

GF serves "Afternoon Tea". "High tea" is a different evening meal.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I know we have ordered her some F OP1 before and she was pretty happy with it.

1) Many teas offer good flavor, and they satisfy most tastes.
2) For major tea lovers, the quality of the tea heightens the flavors.
3) You, obviously know your tea.
4) As an explanation to others . . .

***********************************************​

Tea Grades: A Short Primer -

These black tea grades are somewhat subjective and can vary from region to region. A couple of things to note: Pekoe is pronounced peck-oh, and there is no orange flavouring in any of these teas. Pekoe is not a floavor, but a grade (don't try to figure it out, just believe it to be true). For the most part, the more initials, the better the tea quality.


Fine Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe (FTGFOP)
. . . extremely high quality TGFOP.

Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe (TGFOP)
. . . similar to GFOP
. . . with an even higher proportion of golden tips

Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe (GFOP)
. . . a higher quality tea
. . . includes the golden tips of the young buds leaves.

Flowery Orange Pekoe (FOP)
. . . similar to OP
. . . used for teas
. . . from the rest of India or other regions.

Orange Pekoe (OP)
. . . A good quality tea
. . . consisting of large leaf pieces
. . . used for teas from Sri Lanka or south India

Broken Orange Pekoe (BOP) Tea
. . . many small or broken pieces of leaves
. . . frequently used in restaurants for pot-brewing

Fannings (F) / Dust
. . . tiny bits and pieces
. . . usually leftovers from processing
. . . commonly found in tea bags

 

[tnmomof4]

I got some hot tea at DHS at the Starring Rolls Cafe and at the MK bakery on Main Street. I am sure that at both places it was just regular tea.

I also tried this tea Rooibos Vanilla - A perfect blend of our 'miracle tea' and Madagascar vanilla at the Royal Anadapur in AK. It was really good. The vanilla taste was great. My mom had the Rooibos Organic Superior tea, and she liked it a lot.

I also had some hot tea at the Joy of Tea Stand in China. I think it was a Chinese Jasmine tea. It was really good.

We had breakfast at Tusker House, and when I got hot tea there, they brought out a box with about 8 different kinds of tea.

We also bought some tea at the Twinings of London store in Epcot. They have lots of different kinds, both loose leaf and bags.