Even though I am not from the UK, I drink my tea as a lot do there-cream and sugar. Since drinking this tea 5 years ago or so, it has won my heart. It is my stable go to basic black tea bag tea. When I want a no frills blend, this is it. It is very comforting to me and I reach for it when I am being nostalgic. Yes, I do agree it does steep fast and can be bitter BUT, it is never too bad that cream and sugar do not save it. I am not a purest of black tea (thus yet), but I think even if I was, my love of cream and sugar will always draw me home to this because I think that is how this was meant to be drunk:)