Review: The English Tea Store’s Lovers Leap Estate Tea

© 2010 A.C. Cargill photos and text – All rights reserved.
No copying, posting on other sites, or other uses allowed without written permission of the copyright holder.   The Subject: Lovers Leap Estate Darjeeling Tea from The English Tea Store.

Rating:

Water temperature: 212° F

Steeping time: 4 or 5 minutes (see comments)

Tea type: Black

Scents, flavorings, etc.: N/A

Aroma, dry: Rich, full-bodied

Aroma in the cup, plain: Rich, full-bodied

Taste, plain: Edgy, no fruitiness, slightly bitter

Aroma in the cup, enhanced: Smooth, slightly fruity

Taste, enhanced: Some fruitiness comes through

2nd Infusion: Lighter, smooth, no bitterness

Chilled: Didn’t try but should be very tasty

Comments:
The tea comes in fairly large pieces that really “plump out” during the infusion process. Unfortunately, we may have steeped this tea too long. The first infusion had some surprising bitterness. The 2nd steeping was much improved, with no bitter edge or aftertaste. Try steeping for only 4 minutes, not the 5 minutes that we did.

A touch of sweetener and a few drops of milk made a world of difference. No bitterness. A few chocolates on the side were a great addition.

Disclaimer: This tea was provided by the company named. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are always strictly objective.