I got the Makro beans you suggested, soaked them overnight. Made up some tomato sauce from tinned, chopped tomatoes, Maggi, Siracha sauce. Put in the oven at 140*C for three hours.
Horrible, beans still hard.
As for tea bags, I use leaf tea in a proper teapot.
One good way is to sup Chang as opposed to Singha, Bht 170 for 3 as opposed to Bht 188.