Review: The English Tea Store’s Barry’s Gold Blend 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: Barry’s Gold Blend Tea from The English Tea Store.


Rating:

Water temperature: 212° F

Steeping time: 5 minutes

Tea type: Black blend
Scents, flavorings, etc.: N/A
Aroma, dry: Hard to tell thru hemp bag
Aroma in the cup, plain: Malty with hint of earthiness
Taste, plain: Malty, earthy, slightly bitter
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: Malty, caramelly
Taste, enhanced: Malty, hint of caramel, smooth

2nd Infusion: Didn’t do since is bagged tea

Chilled: Didn’t try but basic black tea blend should be good chilled

Comments:
No wonder this tea is in 4 out of 10 teacups in Ireland. It’s perfect with milk and sweetener, bringing out both the malty character of the Assam plus the caramelly undernotes. Even plain, there is only a hint of bitterness and no unpleasant aftertaste.

See the story of Barry’s Tea on The Taste of English Tea Blog.

Hubby has been drinking Barry’s Gold Blend as his occasional cuppa, but now that I know how good it is, too, we’ve moved it to the status of daily tea alongside PG Tips and in place of Typhoo. As bagged teas go, these are among the best, in addition to Devonshire Tea, which we got to try recently. A good setting for enjoying this tea is a cozy corner, a good book like Ancient Irish Tales, and a big, hot cuppa Barry’s Gold Blend Tea.

We deducted a half teapot for this being a bagged tea. Since we still like Devonshire Tea better, we deducted another half teapot. Hope the elves in Ireland don’t get upset with us.

Disclaimer: We bought this tea. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are always strictly objective.

Review: Mighty Leaf’s Orange Dulce Black Tea

Part of My Floral / Fruity Extravaganza

© 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: Orange Dulce Black Tea from Mighty Leaf.


Rating:

Water temperature: 212° F

Steeping time: 4 minutes (per box)

Tea type: black
Scents, flavorings, etc.: orange, jasmine, vanilla
Aroma, dry: orange, jasmine
Aroma in the cup, plain: mainly vanilla
Taste, plain: mainly vanilla
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: N/A
Taste, enhanced: N/A

2nd Infusion: Didn’t do, but probably could have

Chilled: Didn’t do

Comments:

This tea has been reviewed many times and seems to be a real favorite. Hubby and I have enjoyed it for a few years now. In fact, this tea is several months old. It still tastes pretty good, though.

The upside of this tea is that there is no bitterness or astringency. The downside is that, while the aroma of orange and jasmine is very evident in the dry sachet, they disappear in the cup. Once steeped, this tea has a predominantly vanilla aroma and taste.

Balance is a tricky business and seems to be missing here.

See Laura’s and Emma’s reviews on Teaviews.com. They both seemed to like it a bit more than hubby and I did. I guess we just prefer higher end teas where the emphasis is on quality, not fancy marketing.

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

Review: The Republic of Tea’s Orange Blossom White Tea

Part of My Floral / Fruity Extravaganza

© 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: Orange Blossom White Tea from The Republic of Tea.


Rating:

Water temperature: 180° F

Steeping time: 30-60 seconds per instructions on can

Tea type: white
Scents, flavorings, etc.: orange
Aroma, dry: faint orange, dusty tea scent, hemp (stinks)
Aroma in the cup, plain: mainly orange
Taste, plain: mainly orange
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: N/A
Taste, enhanced: N/A

2nd Infusion: Didn’t do (dust in a bag)

Chilled: Disappointing

Comments:

First, in all fairness to you, dear reader, and to The Republic of Tea, we purchased this tea months ago, so some of our experience is of tea that’s not at its freshest. Of course, since this is tea dust in a bag, it’s not that fresh to begin with.

Making sure we were giving this tea every chance possible, in accordance with Tea Principles of the Little Yellow Teapot, we followed the instructions on the can: water not quite boiling and steep for 30-60 seconds.

Our care paid off. The resulting liquid, very light in color, was full of orangey flavor but also very mild teawise. (In fact, there isn’t much tea taste at all.) It’s quite soothing, like chamomile, but still contains caffeine. If you want a hot orange drink, this is a good choice. If you want an orangey tea, keep looking.

Chilled, this tea was a vast disappointment. It tasted more like extremely weak Tang than white tea with orange. Admittedly, this is “orange blossom,” not orange. We have about half a tin left but won’t be reaching for it in our tea pantry when we want something tasty.

There was a time when I thought that The Republic of Tea was a premiere brand. Now, I know better. You’re paying for a fancy can, not fancy tea. Golden Moon, Mighty Leaf, Harney & Sons, and Revolution (all available in local stores and online) have far superior quality since they are made with leaf pieces, not dust. Even some teas that are made of tea dust are far better. These include Devonshire Tea, Barry’s, Adagio, and The English Tea Store. If you want very special teas, don’t miss Chicago Tea Garden. In a tough economy like this, we all need to spend our tea dollars wisely.

Disclaimer: We boughtt this tea. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are always strictly objective.

Review: The English Tea Store’s Blackcurrant Black Tea

Part of My Floral / Fruity Extravaganza

© 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: Blackcurrant Black Tea from The English Tea Store.


Rating:

Water temperature: 212° F

Steeping time: 5 minutes

Tea type: Black

Scents, flavorings, etc.: blackcurrant, other unspecified

Aroma, dry: Bitter, weedy smell that’s familiar but can’t identify

Aroma in the cup, plain: Bitter, weedy smell that’s familiar but can’t identify

Taste, plain: Blackcurrant strong, also some astringency from the black tea

Aroma in the cup, enhanced: Bitter, weedy smell that’s familiar but can’t identify

Taste, enhanced: Smooth, blackcurrant still comes through

2nd Infusion: Lighter color and taste, aroma unchanged

Chilled: Didn’t do

Comments:
Upon opening the pouch, our noses were assailed with a strong scent of blackcurrant. We were surprised to see flower petals and non-tea leaves in the mix, and an absence of blackcurrants. (By non-tea leaves, we mean they came from some plant other than Camellia Sinensis or one of its varietals.)

While steeping in the teapot, this tea has a strong aroma that is sort of weedy and on the bitter side, almost a burntness. This smell is less strong in the cup but still very evident. However, it does not affect the taste, which is rather unusual since those two senses are interdependent. The flavor is dominated by blackcurrant but has some astringency from the black tea. A shorter steeping time might solve this; or you could add a touch of something sweet.

That bitter edge led us to try this tea with our customary milk and sweetener. (Of course, pouring the milk from a kitty-shaped creamer makes anything taste better.) The taste was smooth, but the aroma remained.

We did a 2nd infusion and, as expected, the liquid color was lighter and the blackcurrant taste was subdued. The bitter edge had increased, also.

Blackcurrant has a reputation for containing many beneficial elements. Our advice, though, is to research this online a bit more and also talk with your doctor if you’re considering drinking this tea as a homeopathic remedy. However, if you just want a nice-tasting tea with a fruity bent, give this one a try.

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

Review: The English Tea Store’s Lavender Butterfly Green Tea

Part of My Floral / Fruity Extravaganza
© 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: Lavender Butterfly Green Tea from The English Tea Store.

Rating:

Water temperature: 180° F

Steeping time: 3 minutes (see comments)

Tea type: Green
Scents, flavorings, etc.: Lavender
Aroma, dry: Grassy, lavender floral, almost minty
Aroma in the cup, plain: Grassy, lavender floral
Taste, plain: No bitterness, subtle floral
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: N/A
Taste, enhanced: N/A

2nd Infusion: Lighter color, milder flavor

Chilled: Didn’t do

Comments:
The key thing with this tea is the flavor balance between the grassiness of the green tea and the floral notes of the lavender. The first infusion achieves this, while the second infusion tilts toward the lavender side but is still quite pleasant.

The vendor’s site recommends a steeping time of 1 to 4 minutes. Therefore, when steeping this tea, we tried it at 1-minute intervals, with these results:

1 min: No flavor, like drinking hot water. Liquid was very pale.
2 mins: Slight “butteriness” detected, otherwise very light flavor. Liquid was light yellow.
3 mins: “Butteriness” disappeared, but taste was very smooth, floral notes were subtle and balanced with the grassiness. The liquid was dark yellow. We stopped here, being satisfied with the results and not wanting to risk oversteeping.

This tea is known as a great one to drink to help curb your hunger. So, if you are looking to scale back your scale reading (hee!), keep some of this tea on hand and have a cup or two during the day.

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

Review: Revolution’s Earl Grey Lavender Black Tea

Part of My Floral / Fruity Extravaganza
 © 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: Earl Grey Lavender Black Tea from Revolution.

Rating:

Water temperature: 212° F

Steeping time: 5 minutes

Tea type: Black

Scents, flavorings, etc.: Lavender, oil of bergamot

Aroma, dry: Lavender, oil of bergamot

Aroma in the cup, plain: Lavender, oil of bergamot

Taste, plain: Lavender, oil of bergamot

Aroma in the cup, enhanced: Lavender, oil of bergamot

Taste, enhanced: Lavender, oil of bergamot

2nd Infusion: Didn’t do

Chilled: Didn’t do

Comments:

Little Yellow Teapot here. Since this tea came in a sachet, I stepped aside and let my humans steep it directly in the tea mug. Why anyone would want to put good tea leaves in a sachet or teabag is beyond this little teapot’s understanding, such as it is.

Back to the review.

The tea steeps up to a reddish brown liquid that has a rich aroma, with the black tea scent coming through. However, the flavor is much more delicate, with a slight tang. If you like Earl Grey and lavender, give this tea a try. If you prefer to actually taste tea when you drink it, this one will disappoint. It does work fairly well with a bit of milk and sweetener, though.

Unfortunately, Revolution thinks that you need your tea leaves trapped in a sachet bag instead of letting them float free in the teapot. I can almost hear them calling “Hhheelllppp mmmeeee!” as they steep, since they swell up so much that they are very crowded in the sachet by the time the tea is done.  We absolutely had to deduct a half teapot just for this. The overstrong oil of bergamot and lavender totally block out both flavor and aroma of the black tea. To me, that says Revolution started with an inferior grade of tea. Hardly worth the price they charge, then. We deducted another half teapot here, too.

Overall, I’d rather have the Lavender Butterfly green tea from The English Tea Store.
(Review to be posted tomorrow.)

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

Review: Shui Tea’s Pu-erh

© 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: Pu-erh from Shui Tea.


Rating: Water temperature: 212° F
Steeping time: 5-30 seconds (see comments)

Tea type: Pu-erh
Scents, flavorings, etc.: N/A
Aroma, dry: Slightly fishy, earthy
Aroma in the cup, plain: Slightly fishy/earthy/smoky
Taste, plain: Slightly fishy/earthy/smoky
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: N/A
Taste, enhanced: N/A

2nd Infusion: Did multiple infusions (see comments)

Chilled: N/A

Comments:
We interrupt the Floral/Fruity Extravaganza for this review. Hubby and I have been very curious about pu-erh tea. It’s not as well known in the world of tea as white, green, oolong, and black. Here in the U.S. green tea is considered a fairly new development, although it’s been popular elsewhere for millennia.

We received this pu-erh along with 2 other teas as samples from Shui Tea. Unfortunately, no steeping instructions came with the sample nor were there any on the Website (something that Jim Schreiber of Shui Tea is working to correct). I found directions at another Website, and that’s what hubby and I followed (Jim emailed us about the same instructions, but simpler). We followed these directions as carefully as possible.

We started by taking the square tea cake out of the foil-lined bag, and then used the tip of a sharp knife to break the cake gently into smaller pieces. Next, we filled our tea kettle with about 6 cups of water and set it on the stove to boil.

Infusion 1:
Just a leaf wash. Not to be drunk. Steeped about 10 seconds, then poured out. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP.

Infusion 2:
Another leaf wash. Not to be drunk. Steeped about 10 seconds, then poured out. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP.

Infusion 3:
The first drinkable infusion. We steeped a bit overlong (it’s tricky when doing such a short infusion) and went to 20 seconds. Nevertheless, the liquid, very dark brown in color, was smooth tasting with no bitterness and a slight fishy/earthy/smoky aroma and flavor.

Infusions 4 thru 9:
Steeped 15 seconds. Each infusion gets lighter in taste, aroma, and liquid color. By the 8th (see photo below) and 9th it was much lighter but still flavorful.

More infusions would be possible if we had done a lighter infusion at #3 (steeping for only 5 seconds instead of 20) and then steeped a little longer on each successive infusion instead of equal times on each. The sample size was only enough for this one try, so we didn’t get to test our theory.

Tea party idea (from hubby):
Invite a bunch of friends willing to try new tea things. Fix up a bunch of Asian cuisine (eggrolls, potstickers, stir fry, or whatever you prefer). Set a kettle full of enough water for multiple infusions on the heat to boil. Get your pu-erh ready in the pot. Then, have a blast enjoying both food and tea.

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

Review: The English Tea Store’s Bingo Blueberry Herbal

Part of My Floral / Fruity Extravaganza


© 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: Bingo Blueberry Herbal from The English Tea Store.

Rating:

 

Water temperature: 212° F

Steeping time: 5 minutes

Tea type: Not a tea, is an herbal infusion

Scents, flavorings, etc.: blueberry, apple, rose petals, more

Aroma, dry: blueberry mostly

Aroma in the cup, plain: blueberry mostly

Taste, plain: x

Aroma in the cup, enhanced: N/A

Taste, enhanced: N/A

2nd Infusion: Didn’t do

Chilled: Came out a little bitter

Comments:

This is a mix of fruit and floral. Blueberries, blackcurrants, rose petals, dried apple, and more. Naturally sweet. Slightly lemony (from the apple?). Smooth taste. No bitterness. Way better than fruit drinks. That’s the short and sweet of it. The only issue was the chilled version, which went a bit toward the bitter side. Hubby even said he likes this better than pomegranate teas like Monk’s Blend, which he likes a lot.

Of course, there is no real tea in this. Tea comes from the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant and its varietals such as Camellia Sinensis assamica. That’s actually good news to anyone wanting to avoid caffeine. However, if you want the theanine and other beneficial things in real tea, you won’t get them here.

I’ve read online that lots of parents like this herbal for their children. It’s naturally sweet when served warm, has a wonderful blueberry flavor mixed with other fruits and floral aromas and flavors, and no caffeine to set the kids to running around the house like little androids on overdrive.

We deducted a half teapot due to the disappointing taste when chilled.

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

Review: The English Tea Store’s Mercedes Apple Spice Herbal

Part of My Floral / Fruity Extravaganza
© 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: Mercedes Apple Spice Herbal from The English Tea Store.

Rating:

Water temperature: 212° F

Steeping time: 5 minutes

Tea type: Not tea, is an herbal infusion

Scents, flavorings, etc.: Apple, rose petals, cinnamon, cloves, more

Aroma, dry: Mainly apple, cinnamon, cloves

Aroma in the cup, plain: Mainly apple, cinnamon, cloves

Taste, plain: Mainly apple, cinnamon, cloves

Aroma in the cup, enhanced: N/A

Taste, enhanced: N/A

2nd Infusion: Didn’t do

Chilled: Didn’t do but would probably be good with sweetener

Comments:
There is no tea (Camellia Sinensis) in this mix. So, if you want to avoid caffeine and have a tasty beverage, this is the type to try.

The first whiff from the pouch is very apple-y. The liquid is rosy in color. At first sip, we got the apple taste but also an overly strong blast of cinnamon and cloves which gave the liquid quite an edge. The rose petals and other flowers added an interesting flavor, with the apple acting as a fairly strong base flavor. A touch of sweetener will probably take away that edge. The flavor overall is persistent, staying in our mouths long after swallowing.

We avoided doing a 2nd infusion since it was highly likely to be even more edgy or downright bitter from the cinnamon and cloves.

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

Review: The English Tea Store’s Florida Orange Rooibos

Part of My Floral / Fruity Extravaganza 
© 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: Florida Orange Rooibos from The English Tea Store.


Rating:

Water temperature: 212° F

Steeping time: 5 minutes

Tea type: Not tea, is rooibos (red bush)

Scents, flavorings, etc.: Florida Orange

Aroma, dry: Orange

Aroma in the cup, plain: Orangey planty

Taste, plain: Initially orange, with planty rooibos afternotes

Aroma in the cup, enhanced: N/A

Taste, enhanced: N/A

2nd Infusion: N/A

Chilled: Didn’t do, suspect would need sweetener

Comments:
We reviewed several samples of Rooibos (red bush) from another company and thought it would be good to compare with one from The English Tea Store. Our experience has been that Rooibos by itself is less than appealing. Drinking it for your health might be beneficial, but drinking it just to have a nice beverage is, at least for us, not a good option.

However, Rooibos with something added, like cocoa, is quite tolerable, even tasty. So, one with a fruity essence added could be another good option. At least that was our theory. After all, teas with fruit are certainly enhanced by that fruitiness. Our approach to tasting this Rooibos was, therefore, filled with anticipation.

One whiff from the pouch was filled with orangey aroma. We couldn’t resist sniffing a couple of times while it steeped. The orange scent came through loud and clear. The liquid was a reddish orange color. We each took a mouthful and let it play on our tongues. Definitely, orange tasting. But then the orange faded and the plantiness of the Rooibos took over. I raised the cup for another taste and noticed that the aroma of the orange hit first. The orange flavor hit my tongue first and again was replaced by the somewhat bitter taste of the Rooibos.

I think hubby and I are giving up on Rooibos, no matter what is added to it. That distinct taste always comes through. And it’s one that neither of us cares for. However, if you like Rooibos and orange, you’ll love this.

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

Review: The English Tea Store’s Holiday Spice Black 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: Holiday Spice Black Tea from The English Tea Store.


Rating:

Water temperature: 212° F
Steeping time: 5 minutes

Tea type: Black
Scents, flavorings, etc.: Orange, cinnamon, cloves
Aroma, dry: Strong cinnamon and cloves
Aroma in the cup, plain: Strong cinnamon and cloves
Taste, plain: Strong cinnamon and cloves, somewhat edgy
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: Strong cinnamon and cloves
Taste, enhanced: Cinnamon and cloves with orange coming through, smoother

2nd Infusion: Lighter liquid, milder flavors, less edgy

Chilled: Tasty with sweetener

Comments:

No, we don’t have our calendars confused. It’s Spring. So why try a tea that contains flavors more associated with Winter holidays? Just ’cause.

Actually, the only reason we associate cinnamon and cloves so strongly with Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years, is because that’s when we usually have them. So, trying this tea when flowers are in bloom, birds are singing (not the ones in the photos, they’re stuffed), and we’re enjoying hot dogs and burgers charred on the grill is just a bit of reconditioning.

Cinnamon and cloves are always strong, even overpowering, fragrances, so it’s no wonder that our first whiff when opening the plastic pouch was of those two scents. The orange gets totally lost. Fear not, for it does come to the forefront later on. Hubby finds the fragrance befitting a cheery celebration, whether Winter or Summer.

The first infusion is a rich-looking and tasting reddish brown with strong cinnamon and cloves and a bit of edginess. As it cools, that edginess turns into a slight bitterness. A splash of whole milk and a bit of that blue packet sweetener soon smoothes out the edges. Better than that, it brings out the orange flavor. As the tea cools slightly, the orange flavor comes out even more (just as I promised). The taste is great for Spring time events, including Easter, and Summer time teas.

The second infusion has a lighter liquid in both color and taste. In fact, if you find the first infusion too strong to drink straight, let some one else drink it and go for the second infusion. The orange flavor comes through more, and the edginess is greatly reduced. You might want a sprinkling of sweetener, but not much.

As for the chilled version, it was very satisfactory with a touch of sweetener (cinnamon tends toward bitterness).

We deducted a teapot due to the strong cinnamon and cloves. They’re not bad, just a bit too strong. One good thing, though, is that they make the tea taste almost like mulled cider.

Disclaimer: We bought this tea from the company named. Regardless, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are always strictly objective.

Announcing…another tea review extravaganza!

© 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.

If you thought my Green Tea Extravaganza was full of great teas, just wait until my humans and I launch our


Floral / Fruity Extravaganza

A new batch of samples arrived plus the tea pantry was already stocked with several.

Fruity:

Florida Orange Rooibos (The English Tea Store)

Mercedes Apple Spice (The English Tea Store)

Blackcurrant Naturally Flavored Black Tea (The English Tea Store)

Bingo Blueberry Herbal (The English Tea Store)

Orange Dulce (Mighty Leaf)

Floral:

Organic Nile Delta Chamomile (The English Tea Store)

Lavender Butterfly Tea (The English Tea Store)

Orange Blossom White Tea (The Republic of Tea)

Earl Grey Lavender (Revolution)

Hang on to your teacups. You’re in for an exciting tea ride!

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

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. 

Review: The English Tea Store’s Devonshire 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: Devonshire Tea from The English Tea Store.

Rating:

Water temperature: 212° F

Steeping time: 5 minutes

Tea type: Black

Scents, flavorings, etc.: N/A

Aroma, dry: Very “tea” – aromatic like a good black tea should be
Aroma in the cup, plain: Very “tea” – aromatic like a good black tea should be
Taste, plain: Smooth, mild, only a slight tang that a little sweetener tamed
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: Very “tea” – aromatic like a good black tea should be
Taste, enhanced: Milk and sweetener added. Even smoother. Go easy on the sweetener.

2nd Infusion: Didn’t do

Chilled: Didn’t do

Comments:
This black tea is blended from the teas of 4 estates in the high mountains of Kenya. See the story of this tea in my article on The Taste of English Tea Blog.

We used 2 bags in 16 ounces of water and didn’t attempt a 2nd infusion. I was perfectly prepared for a taste that was similar to the lower end bagged teas. That’s the skeptic in me. Both hubby and I were not only pleasantly surprised (hey, it’s a bagged tea) but downright thrilled. Normally, bagged black teas have a bitter edge that requires milk and, for us at least, some sweetener. This tea, unlike the Typhoo we tried awhile ago, was mild even after using two teabags. We liked it plain with just a light touch of sweetener to take away a slight tang. A bit of milk made the tea even smoother. Hubby describes this as just downright great tea with a very “British” taste and no aftertaste, even when drunk plain.

We didn’t try the tea chilled but, based on how it tastes hot, we suspect that it would be great and need just a bit of sweetener, even by those here in the Southeast who like their “sweet tea” (chilled with a ton of sugar).

Our rating is based on this bagged tea versus other bagged teas. We didn’t lower the rating, therefore, by half a teapot for it being a bagged tea. We did deduct half a teapot because of this being an organic tea. The trend to organic is very troubling. There is plenty of evidence that pesticides dissipate before the produce ever reaches your market. Organic farming just lowers the production per acre and unnecessarily increases prices. We hope that this trend will die down as reason prevails.

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

Review: The English Tea Store’s Keemun Panda 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: Keemun Panda from The English Tea Store.


Rating:

Water temperature: 212° F

Steeping time: 5 minutes

Tea type: Black

Scents, flavorings, etc.: N/A

Aroma, dry: Rich, full, fragrant.

Aroma in the cup, plain: Rich, full, fragrant.

Taste, plain: Almost buttery feel; no bitterness, tang, or edginess; smooth.

Aroma in the cup, enhanced: Rich, full, fragrant, hint of smokiness.

Taste, enhanced: Rich, full, fragrant, hint of smokiness.

2nd Infusion: Slightly lighter in color, fragrance, and taste; a bit of tang.

Chilled: Didn’t do but think would be great with a touch of sweetener.

Comments:
This is a full-bodied, fragrant Chinese black tea that satisfies in every way. Plain in the cup, the liquid is dark amber in color and the taste is smooth enough to be drunk with ease. With a bit of milk and just a touch of sweetener, this tea not only smoothes out even more but exudes a smoky character (subtle, not overblown like Lapsang Souchong).

The 2nd infusion is lighter color with a slight tang developing. A touch of sweetener takes this away.

Overall, we can’t find a thing wrong with this tea except that we only have a small amount left after this taste test. Time to place another tea order, I guess.

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