The London Tea Company – Earl Grey

Time for Tea Please?

There’s nothing better than having a brew ! Especially when is first thing on a Tuesday morning at work. Come on all we know that we need a good ol mug of tea or twenty to get us through the day !!!!! Today I’m sipping on The London Tea Company and their Earl Grey.

For this blend The London Tea Company uses 98% Ceylon Black Tea with flavourings.

As soon as you open the tea pouch you are instantly hit with the aroma of bergamot followed by that of the black tea.
Let’s get brewing !

The aroma while brewing doesn’t overly change from its dried state it just allows the intensity to increase.
As expected with a black based tea the brewed liquid is of a dark black colouring. Now I just love the aroma of an earl grey tea, so let’s get sipping!

I always find earl grey teas quite hard to describe. All I know is that I haven’t found one yet that I dislike! So here’s hoping this one lives up to my expectation.
First sip oh hello!
I like my earl greys well any tea to be fair to pack a punch and this one certainly does. The intensity of the black tea mixed with the flavourings add an extra strength that can sometimes be missing. One aspect that sings within this blend is that of the bergamot and flavour it brings to the tea with its citrus tones adds the much needed flavour sensation that everyone recognises as earl grey.

The only slight flaw in this tea for me is the fact the flavour isn’t fully as intense at the last sip. Wether this down to the way the flavourings is used within the blend I don’t know it just seems to have slightly lost its bergamot taste.

All in all this an Earl Grey worth drinking !

Happy Sipping 🙂

Heywood Tea – Chrysanthemum Wolfberry

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As you all know I love receiving TeaPost , so when Heywood Teas contacted me about trying their tea all the way from Hong Kong I was very excited . I’ve never received TeaPost from Hong Kong before.

Heywood Teas “specializes in producing high quality functional tea in Hong Kong”. They also mix their herbal ingredients based on Chinese medicinal formula.
To find out more information hit the link below.
https://heywoodtea.com

Today I’m sipping on Chrysanthemum & Wolfberry Tea.

For this Tea blend their is only the use of two ingredients being that of Chrysanthemum and Wolfberry.

Within the use of Chinese Herbal Medicine :

Chrysanthemum: Clear excess heat and toxins, benefit vision and promote cardiovascular and liver health

Wolfberry: Relieve eye fatigue, improve eye function, delay aging and boost immune system

This product may assist in stabilizing blood pressure

(Info from : https://heywoodtea.com/collections/frontpage/products/chrysanthemum-wolfberry-tea)

When opening the foil tea pouch which Heywood Tea favour, to block out heat and moisture you are engulfed with the floral notes of the chrysanthemum. I’m not overly getting any hint of Wolfberry. However more of you may know the Wolfberry known as the Goji berry.

Let’s get brewing !

Aroma brewing is completely different to that of its dried state. Their is still floral notes to the tea but it almost smells gingery. A bit like a gingerbread green tea I’ve tried before.

I didn’t overly know what to expect from the brewed liquid of the tea and was rather surprised with how yellow it was. Although it does make sense considering the yellow aspects of the packaging which is the perfect colour match.

First sip is very interesting. I’m not overly able to specifically pin point a specific taste. It is however very light and refreshing . It’s not bitter and from the the use of the Wolfberry their is an added sweetness to the brew.

Mellow Yellow certainly fits not just the colouring but the taste too.

The tea itself isn’t unpleasant it’s just an acquired taste and something I don’t think I’ve actually tasted before. It’s one of those teas that makes me want to sip it all to the end due to the amazing health benefits the tea can give for you. From the herbal medicinal benefits mentioned earlier it sounds like it could be a perfect hangover brew or after a heavy weekend of eating too many treats.

Happy Sipping 🙂

Savoury Tea

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A perfect accompaniment to a good cup of tea is a homemade scone!
Today I paid a visit to Mad Hatters Tea Shop, which you can find in Wymondham, Norfolk, England and had their savoury tea.

Which consists of a cheese scone, butter, red onion chutney, salad, coleslaw & crisps. A long side a pit of tea of your choice, of which I chose lady grey.

I just love the pairing of the floral tones within the lady tea grey blend alongside the savoury notes of the cheese scone. Making it the perfect light lunch.

Happy Sipping 🙂

Black Dog Teas – Pitta Blend

Time for Tea Please?

Today’s Tea Tuesday , Tea Review features Black Dog Teas and their Pitta Blend.

The Pitta Blend is part of Black Dog Teas tea range called the Ayurvedic Blends.
“The ancient Indian doctrine of Ayur (life) Veda (knowledge) has been passed on for thousands of years helping those who follow it to find balance in their emotional, physical, mental and even spiritual energies. We can be categorised into three “Doshas” (temperaments/types), and have elements of all at the same time with one or two dominating.”

The three tendencies are :

Vata tendencies – Slim physique, creative, quick to learn and to forget, discomfort in cold climates often has cold hands and feet.

Pitta tendencies – Medium physique, sharp mind and focus, strong appetite, discomfort in sun or heat, can be impatient.

Kapha tendencies – Heavy build and high physical strength, easygoing, compassionate and reliable, discomfort in cold, damp weather.

For more info visit https://www.blackdogteas.com/collections/ayurvedic-blends

The Pitta Blend is made up of : cinnamon, cardamom, liquorice root, coriander, fennel, ginger, rose petals.

Doesn’t the blend of colour within the ingredients just look beauTEAful.
They also smell it too! The combination of all the herbs is certainly tantalising the taste buds.

Let’s get brewing!

The brewed liquid is of a light yellow in colour.

First sip and it’s very inTEAresting. I don’t think I’ve ever sipped on a tea quite like this before. When knowing the ingredients I was a bit sceptical as some of the flavours I tend to avoid when choosing teas, however I’m up to trying anything once!

Each sip tastes completely different. Rather than the ingredients being fully blended each sip almost takes it turn in being one of each ingredient. Sip one cinnamon, sip two cardamom, sip three liquorice root, sip four coriander, sip five fennel, sip six ginger, sip seven rose petals. Obviously in a more random combination !

It’s the subtle herb hints of the tea combined with the floral tones of the Rose petals which makes it an almost serial sipping experience not quite like anything I’ve tried before.
There’s also something quite special knowing the pitta tendencies and the reasons behind the tea blend adds something almost spiritual to the sipping experience.

Happy Sipping 🙂

OTeas – Cranberry Delight

Time for Tea Please?

The sun is shining , the birds are singing and the kettle is boiling !

Today’s Tuesday Tea Review features OTeas and their Cranberry Delight Tea.

I just love a herbal tea in the late afternoon and as this ones naturally caffeine free too it won’t be keeping us up all night.

For this blend OTeas uses apple pieces, carrot flakes, grapes, beetroot pieces, cranberry slices and natural flavourings.

Upon opening the tea pouch you are instantly hit with a supper FruiTEA hit of the ingredients combined. There isn’t one an ingredient that shouts smell me more. The only thing that comes to mind when thinking about the aroma of the dry blend is strawberry laces. The liquorice type red cable sweet. Hopefully you know what I’m going on about?!?…

Let’s get brewing !

The aroma of the tea whilst brewing doesn’t overly change from its dried state , this always a bonus as it can be a fairly good indicator to what the tea might taste like. The only minor difference in its smell compared to the dry state is possibly just lost some of its sweetness.

The brewed tea liquid is just what it says on the tea box, a bright cranberry red.

First sip is just tealicious. Your instantly hit with a fruit cocktail which is excites the taste buds leaving you wanting more. I’m even surprised that from its aroma it does actually taste like the strawberry laces. If that’s not a taste that takes you back to your younger days I don’t know what will. Not going to lie but I am a little shocked by how good it does taste. It’s not very often that you get a herbal tea which completely matches its aroma and taste so well done OTeas.

The only thing that puzzles me with this tea is the name of Cranberry Delight. As you can see from the ingredient list cranberry is not the only ingredient and isn’t essentially the obvious flavour within this blend. However neither are any of the other ingredients. However the cranberry certainly doesn’t let you forget that it’s there. The almost sweet and sour tang certainly adds a a twist to the sipping experience and alongside the other ingredients does like it names suggest make it a delight to drink.

The sweetness of the tea will certainly give you that much needed sweet sensation without the added guilt. Bonus !

Now this tea is also the perfect brew to be a oh no I forgot to drink my tea and now it’s gone cold, come on we’ve all done it at some point !
The fruity flavour makes it a perfect cold brew and allowed the cranberries to add an extra sharpness to sipping experience.

Happy Sipping 🙂

National Tea Day

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Happy National Tea Day to all you tea lovers out there!

It’s also Easter Sunday so hope your all enjoying the sipping on tea and eating an Easter egg or three!

Whittards – Easter Tea

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With Easter coming up this weekend, what more appropriate tea to be sipping on than an Easter Tea. Thanks to Whittards we are able to get sipping on their latest blend Easter Tea.

The packaging is super cute and reminds me of a faberge egg.

For this tea Whittards blends oolong, sugar sprinkles, liquorice and flavouring and is even suitable for vegans.

The brewed liquid is of a yellow white tinge as expected when brewing an oolong tea.

The aroma of the tea is fairly light but sweet at the same time. Let’s hope it tastes this way too!

On first sip I’m a little unsure! But after a few more sips the tea starts gather some depth. The lightness of the oolong is the main taste that you get coming from the tea. As you continue sipping on the tea the taste of the oolong combines with the other ingredients to provide a sweet yet nutty tone to the tea.

Now all I’m really missing is a chocolate egg and some hot cross buns, then I’m all set for Easter .

Happy Sipping 🙂

Suki Tea – Earl Grey Blue Flower

Time for Tea Please?

Today I’m sipping on Suki Tea and their Earl Grey Blue Flower! Big thanks to the lovelies at Suki Tea for sending me this tea to try.

I absolutely love Suki Teas:
VISION:
To grow a global community of loose leaf tea drinkers, an appreciation society of the ritual in a great-tasting, ethically sourced cuppa.
And their
MISSION:
To grow the business in an adventurous, yet responsible and sustainable way that respects and values people, plant and the planet.

Suki Tea was founded in 2005 by business partners Anne Irwin and Oscar Woolley. Having both traveled in Asia and being able to see first hand ethically-sourced teas they launched Suki Tea with their aim to share the finest loose leaf teas , herbal and fruit blends from around the world.

If you wish to find out more about Suki Tea, hit the link below.

https://suki-tea.com

Earl Grey Blue Flower

For this tea Suki Tea blends “Fairtrade, Organic, Rainforest Alliance Certified East African Black tea, Centaurea cyanus flower petals and Organic natural Bergamot Oil.” I just love the vibrance of the petals. It adds an extra prettiness to the blend.

Upon opening the tea pouch you are instantly engulfed with the floral aromas of the blend. I just love floral aromas within tea blends, to me just adds an extra level. Mixed with the black tea and the essence of the Bergamot Oil it smells tealicious. Here’s hoping it tastes as good as it smells!

Let’s get brewing!

As expected with a black based tea the brewed liquid is brown in colour with a slight orange tinge. The aroma while brewing isn’t far from from it’s dry state which makes me even more excited to try. I do love an earl grey so let’s get sipping!

First sip and I am not disappointed. It’s thankfully one of those blends which allows all three aspects of which it is made up of to sing solely and as a co,vines one all at the same time. Each sip has equal measures of black tea, bergamot and centaurea cyanus flower petals. They work just perfect together. The floral tones within the tea is just on the right level, it was strong enough to make an impact yet not over powering or underwhelming. I’m all for floral flavours and for me this tea let’s it sing just beauTEAfully.

I always drink my earl grey tea black for me it’s just weird to even think about putting milk in especially this blend with its floral tones. However like with any tea it’s a unique sipping experience to you so if you want to try it with milk you go for it!

This tea is the perfect afternoon tea , it’s light and refreshing and with the floral tonnes it makes for such a pleasurable drinking experience . To me it’s almost calming the perfect me time tea.

Happy Sipping 🙂

Viridian Tea Company – Elmwood Tea Blend

Time for Tea Please?

Thanks to the lovely Kimberly the owner of the Viridian Tea Company to sending me some of her to try all the way from the USA!

I love trying new teas from anywhere in the world , especially those from countries I’ve not yet been too.

Kimberly started the Viridian Tea Company through her love for tea, being able to create her own tea blends. Her teas have a unique twist where each blend has a background story and are made with love and attention. To find out more hit the link!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/ViridianTeaCompany

Today I’m going to get sipping on Elmwood Tea Blend.

The background for this tea blend is that it’s named after the Elmwood Cemetery, which is a historical cemetery located in Memphis, Tennessee!

For the Elmwood Tea Blend the tea consists of assam tea, dried elderberries and hibiscus.

Upon opening the tea pouch you are engulfed with the rich earthy tones of the assam with sweet fruity notes from the elderberries and the hibiscus.

Let’s get brewing !

I love loose leaf tea especially when you can pick out the ingredients you want more of e.g. More elderberries or more assam. Plus there’s always something magical about the way it expands.

While brewing the aroma doesn’t overly change from its dry state. Which always makes me happy. The brewed liquid as to be expected is of a dark brown colour in nature.

First sip was tealicious. I wasn’t overly sure what to expect from this tea blend with the flavour combinations working a long side an Assam tea. Like its aroma the tea tastes rich and earthy. With an almost every other sip sort of combination of fruity floral hints, bringing an extra level to the tea. Assam is known for its malty flavour and the use of this within the tea blend is perfect, especially as the base for the tea blend. The use of the hibiscus and the elderberries adds an almost delicate sweetness to the tea which takes the bitterness off of the Assam without needing to add anything sweet wise to it. Making it a perfect afternoon blend.

Happy Sipping 🙂

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 🙂