Time for Tea Please?
Loving my new tea infuser !
Liverpool Tea Warehouse – Turmeric Chai
Time for Tea Please?
Thanks to the lovelies at Liverpool Tea Warehouse I’m able to bring you my latest tea review featuring their Turmeric Chai.
Liverpool Tea Warehouse a tea specialists located in the Baltic Triangle of Liverpool City centre. Where the shop contains over 200 different types of loose leaf teas, sourced from numerous countries.
The business is owned by Debbie Kelly and Mark Hensby. Debbie is a trained Tea Sommelier and Mark has various business within Liverpool. It was their shared passion for quality tea led them to opening the Liverpool Tea Warehouse.
For more information and check out their teas hit the link below !
https://liverpoolteawarehouse.com
Turmeric Chai
A black based tea from India is blended with cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, aniseed, peppercorns, cloves, cardamom, chillies to form the teas blend.
Upon opening the tea pouch you are instantly engulfed with aromatic fragrance with spicy tones which really get the senses and the taste buds going.
Let’s get brewing !
While brewing the aroma of the tea doesn’t overly differ from its dry state other than the spice level is coming through more via the use of the chillies. Hopefully it tastes as good as it smells.
With a brewing recommendation of 3-5 minutes I went straight down the middle with a 4 minute brew time. Leaving behind a browny orange tinged liquid.
First sip is a a little bit of a revelation. It’s delicate yet powerful in equal measures. The black tea is the perfect base for the blend, it’s in the forefront of the sip yet the combination of the spices adds the perfect depth to the tea. Allowing almost all the aspects of the tea to be combined as an equal.
The turmeric within the tea doesn’t just add to the slight orangey tinge to the tea but it also adds to a slight bitter earthy taste. This combined along side the spices within the blend adds an extra flavour and depth to each sip. Especially as Turmeric is believed to have menu health benefits such as the potential to prevent heart disease, Alzheimer’s and cancer. As well as having anti-inflammatory and antioxidants. Just another added bonus this tea has.
I also love the use of the chillies within the blend as it adds a slight kick to the sipping experience and in doing so tingles the senses.
Happy Sipping 🙂
Wan Ling Tea House – Wuyi Rock Que She
Time for Tea Please?
Wan Ling Tea House Named after its tea loving founder has sent me their Wuyi Rock Que She tea to try.
Wuyi Rock tea is versatile in the sense that it can be either drank as soon as it’s harvested or stored for many years to mature its flavours. Known as Rock teas or Yab Cha, they are an oxidised oolong tea with a deep brewed colour.
The tea gets it Wuyi Rock name from Wuyi mountain area, which is one of the largest areas to produce yan Cha/ Rock tea. The Wuyi mountains are protected under UNESCO which ensures development isn’t allowed in this area.
Now let’s get brewing!
On opening the tea pouch the teas aroma is very earthy. With the leaves being more green than black, based upon its semi oxidised tea.
I also just love watching how the tea leaves expand whilst brewing, anyone else find this satisfying?
The colour while brewing is is a yellowy green tinge and in some lights almost orange.
While brewing the teas aroma doesn’t overly change from its dry state other than it gives off a green tea sort of smell.
Upon first sip I am slightly surprised. The aroma of the tea was that earthy I was surprised by its taste. Not that I was expecting a mouth full of dirt but the strength of the aroma was slightly putting me off wanting to sip the tea. Which I’ve never experienced this feeling before of an apprehension to try.
The flavour is a lot lighter than I was expecting . I can’t overly pin point an exact flavour description for you. It’s kind of like a green tea with a slight smokey earthy notes to it. It’s an almost delicate sipping experience however I’m not sure the experience is quite for me. However don’t let this put you off as drinking tea is unique to you and what one person likes another one may not.
Happy Sipping 🙂
Valentines Day
Time for Tea Please?
Happy Valentines Day Tea lovers !
Whittard – Strawberry Serenade
Time for Tea Please?
What do most of enjoying lots more of than normal in the weekends, yup you’ve guessed it drink TEA!!!!!!!
Well I know I do anyway!
Plus any excuse to pop into my local Whittards to see what’s on offer. With christmas now a distant memory it’s time to try some new teas.
Today I’m sipping on Strawberry Serenade . It’s a been a bit of a blustery dull day today so the I was drawn to this tea based on its vibrant colour.
The tea combines : Apple, Hibiscus, 11% Rosehip, 8% Sweet Blackberry Leaves, Flavourings, 1% Strawberry Pieces, 1% Safflower Petals
Pouring a little sample does mean the aroma can sometimes be a bit lacking but with this tea it’s fruity vibes hit you straight away. Mmmm berrylicious !
Considering the ingredients which make up the tea it is surprisingly strawberryish. However while sipping on the tea I feel more of the serenade side of the tea comes through and less of the strawberry. This isn’t a bad thing as its a lovely fruity boost to a dull day regardless and allows for the flavour of the other ingredients to sing through.
This tea is also very versatile as its a perfect hot or cold tea! Some fruity and warm for winter but ice cold for the summer would be perfect too.
Black Dog Teas – Honeydew Melon
Time for Tea Please?
When a surprisingly local tea company to me got in contact with me about trying some of their tea it was never any doubt that I would love too! I’m all for shopping local and trying new independent tea companies so today I’m introducing you to Black Dog Teas .
Black Dog Teas are “passionate about our products, and dedicated to giving you the very best, with a focus on quality and environmental awareness. Starting with around forty teas we want our customers to discover new tastes and blends with us. In an effort to reduce our impact on the environment we have ensured that all of our packaging is biodegradable or recyclable. With the belief that small changes can make a big difference, we have stripped away as much as we can. We don’t use labels for our branding, instead your teas will be packed to order and hand stamped”.
That’s one thing that sets Black Dog Teasapart from other tea companies. Their packaging is simple but very effective, with its unique hand stamping and use of recycled packaging it makes a unique impact. Here’s hoping the tea packs the same punch!
Today I’m trying Honeydew Melon. For this tea Black Dog Teas blends: hibiscus, honeydew melon cubes (honeydew melon, sugar), grapes, pineapple flakes, papaya flakes, mango flakes, flavouring.
As soon as you open the tea pouch you are engulfed in melonness. It’s super sweet and fruity in its dry aroma and theres even crystallised melon pieces, Yes I did just eat a piece and it was delicious. There’s even deed grapes and papaya flakes maybe I’ll save those for brewing rather than eating hehe.
Let’s get brewing !
The aroma while brewing is is completely different to its dried aroma. While the tea brews the melonness that attacked you mellows out. It allows the hibiscus to come through, Mingled with all the other fruity notes.
Plus the brewed liquid is a sensational colour, it’s deep and redy pink almost wine like in its colour.
I am so surprised in how sweet the tea actually is. Especially with all its natural flavourings. If you need a sweet fruity pick me up this tea will certainly hit the spot.
The melonness is so surprising. It’s flavour is just spot on. It just shouts melon. I know their are melon pieces in but it really does taste like liquid melon! The use of the hibiscus just enriches that flavour. At times it has the prominent flavour but it works along side the melon. The use of the dried fruits just adds to the taste sensation. It just adds extra strength to the fruity tones a depth that works perfectly with hibiscus and allows melon to shine.
Another thing to add to this almost perfect blend (know ones quite perfect are they hehe) is that it’s one you can enjoy hot or cold and trying this tea in warmer weather ice cold I’m sure will be just as intense , punchy and thirst quenching.
So if you love your fruity teas then Black Dog Tea Honeydew Melon is a must try !
Happy Sipping 🙂
Whittards – Orange Blossom
Time for Tea Please?
Like any of you #tealovers being able to try teas before you buy them is greatly appreciated. There’s nothing worse than buying a tea getting it home and not loving it !!! Thats why I love popping in to Whittards for a bit of #teatasting .
It may not be quite brewed to the exact way you like it when tea tasting but the fact that you can get a real feel for the tea by all your senses before taking it home is a real treat . Plus you may try a tea that originally you would have written off.
Orange Blossom
Today in Whittards (Norwich Branch) I had the chance to try Orange Blossom . A Black based tea with Orange Peel, Flavouring, Orange Blossom Petals.
A flavours black tea is always on my radar! The overall aroma of the tea is sweetly orange with undertones of the black tea poking through.
First sip is rather refreshing for a black based. Neither the black tea or the orange over power each other. They work together in perfect harmony allowing each one to sing with each other rather than for or against. The orange is strong enough to play just as big of part in the sipping experience but not hiding the fact it’s a black tea.
With the use of orange blossom petals a floral tone is added to the sip which adds a further depth and edge to the tea.
The perfect afternoon tea , no need for milk but fruity and floral to add a little ray of sunshine to a cold , cloudy winters day.
Happy Sipping 🙂
