Review: World Market’s Ceylon Kenilworth 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 1st of 3 Ceylon teas I helped my humans review recently. Nos. 2 and 3 coming later this week.

The Subject: Ceylon Tea from World Market.


Rating:

Water temperature: 200° F

Steeping time: 4 minutes

Tea type: Black

Scents, flavorings added: N/A

Aroma, dry tea leaves: Malty and slightly raisiny

Aroma in the cup, plain: Rich malty/raisiny

Taste in the cup, plain: Raisiny, malty, not bitter, no aftertaste

Aroma in the cup, enhanced: See comments

Taste in the cup, enhanced: See comments

Additional Infusion(s): Did one, not recommended

Comments:

This is a full leaf loose tea from the Kenilworth Tea Estate in Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon). We steeped it loose in the pot (the leaves would never have a chance to fully impart their flavor into the water if confined this in an infuser basket or teaball) and followed the temperature and steeping time directions on the side label of the tea tin. This did well enough, but I think it could be improved upon.

First, the results of this way of preparing.

One thing to note is that we bought this tea about 3 or maybe even 4 years ago at World Market and regret to say that it is no longer available there. (We’ll be taking a look on the Tea Time blog later about why this is happening with good loose teas.) We wanted to do a review here anyway, since it makes a good comparison with two other Ceylon teas we’re reviewing.

The liquid was a reddish color with a raisiny/smoky/malty aroma. The raisiny flavor is not sweet, though. There was a slight edge but no bitterness or aftertaste.

The tea was a bit too weak for milk. Hubby and I recommend, therefore, that if you want to add milk to this tea that you steep it up stronger, using more tea leaves than the usual teaspoonful per 8 ounces of water and steeping about 6 minutes instead of just 4. You will most assuredly get only one decent steeping this way, but don’t worry about being wasteful. Even when we did the regular 4-minute-steep, the 2nd infusion was weak, tasting like lightly-flavored water. Not recommended. Go ahead and make yourself the best 1st steep and enjoy it with your favorite treat.

Disclaimer: This tea was purchased by the reviewer at World Market. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are always strictly objective.