Martin Bednář Send Message

Brewed grandpa, 2 tsp, 300 ml.

It was amazing how the small pieces of tea (it is not whole leaf, no way) floated in the water. So nice to watch. But now, all tea settled on the bottom and it brings following:

Colour: light brown or copper, maybe orange, similar to light pieces on the photo.
Aroma of brewed tea: wet wood, roasted nuts, bit into sweet notes. I do not notice much of soy sauce, grassy, or seafood/weed as Bluegreen noticed before me. Maybe I just have different sense of smell.
Taste: lighter than expected, still somehow woody, but – with subtle sweet notes. I am afraid I could not explain it somehow better, not bitter at all, maybe little malty. It reminds me something, but I could not find out what it is.

Derk – do you want a sample to your envelope?

Dry aroma wasn’t pleasing. It was very strong on lemon balm, earthy as well. On the bag they suggest brewing 5-7 minutes and with boiling water.

I did it with steeping maybe for 3-4 minutes; certainly not boiling water. I think it can be around 80°C, because it’s green tea after all.

Aroma is still earthy. And herbal. Bit lemony too.
But this tea tastes better than smells like. It is still somehow earthy, but it has got nice taste of lemon balm and more-less fresh green tea. Of course you can’t expect grassy notes or freshly cut grass, or all the nice things about really fresh tea. It brews brown too – not nice grass green colour.

I was asked by family member if I could brew some caffeine-free tea.

I took this one, as – apparently I haven’t got yet, and finish the pouch as well. There were 7 and half grams of the blend; which is, in my opinion good amount for 1 litre French press I was preparing in.

After few minutes of brewing, I decided to take a glass and sip. It brews light yellow, somehow spicy aroma. Maybe I detect the most bit of cloves and pumpkin. Which makes sense, as both those are there. Unfortunately, I do not notice cinnamon at all.

In taste – it is somehow spicy too, quite mouth-watrering tea it is. The pumpkin / vegetables are most present with warming spices. Ginger is there making it to “feel something” and in the end of sip, I notice quite strong sweetness.

Interesting tea, but, the pumpkin flavour is bit weird, I would maybe rather enjoy some other base. Maybe rooibos to keep it caffeine free? Maybe chicory root to make it bit bitter?

Same series as Blossom Earl Grey. So apparently – 7 years old limited edition tea.

Same steeping parameters, 4 minutes, 300 ml boiling water into cold cup.

Brews bit darker than previous one, with strong rose aroma – but it’s not artificial or soapy. It filled my room pretty well and quickly. But in brew? Yeah, it’s there – quite well present! And same, not (much) soapy, not artificial. Hmm, taking more and more sips and I feel like it is soapy. Weird. The tea base is stronger somehow, on the sweet and malty side.

Not my everyday drinking tea – well, it was limited after all, but… it wasn’t so bad as I was afraid of.

I wasn’t impressed when I saw “limited edition” on the bag, and reviews 7 years old. Actually, I was rather shocked, because I remember these tea bags as “new” in collections few years back. But it is, apparently already 7 years. Time flies!

I found out one thing. When my life is mess, my desk is full of mess. So, just check my desk and you will see how I am doing recently. Yep, messy.

But to the tea. Although old, the dry bag was quite aromatic, I mean I have noticed something similar to jasmine. And maybe bit of “tea” smell too.
But brewed tea is completely different story and it is nice bold tea; although not much of “tea” flavours. Not tannic, malt, or something. It is rather floral, light – enjoayble. I think they added oranges into this blend, because it is what I notice on first sip, maybe that jasmine I notice too, bergamot is there too and for sure, black tea used is some mellow one. They did not share actual one on the tea bag.
Nice surprise :)

Apparently another oldie (BB 2016.01.10.)

And what is the tea-like in this tea? Almost nothing! Yep, brews dark copper colour. It’s even clear. But rest? It is like black tea with fruit syrup added (my grandma used to do it). Yep, it is black tea – they claim Nam Lanh wild tea; then 14 % of 1.8 gram BAG (not sachet) is licorice root. Yep sweet!

And then there is (should be) ginseng (not in taste), and black maca root (what is it?).

But yeah, it is sweet black tea. Sweet, almost syrupy. Only thing is is is not so viscous. I can finish it, because – yep, it is just sweet without any other bad notes.

Another oldie Pukka tea. BB 2016.01.14

Earl grey with lavender sounds nice, but I am bit afraid flavours will be gone already.

Tea itself should be from Dunsandle, India. Never heard about it but still I have to learn a lot.

I rather went short on steeping time again. Well, some bergamot and lavender is there for sure.

This short time was just right. Tea itself is not noticable too much, maybe because it is still too hot – but berrgamot and lavender is there, and at least it is not overwhelming. I think, if I steeped for longer – it would bring more tea flavours which are bit lacking now. Oily feeling – not what I would enjoy. I would rather enjoy real stuff in.

Short steeping time – maybe 2 minutes at maximum.

Anyways, I see in the sachet everything that is on the photo, as well written on foil wrapping. In aroma of dry tea – I notice mostly lemongrass and maybe little bit of mint.

Used water of temperature of first bubbles, haven’t measured it today, but it used to be around 80°C.

And when brewed, it wasn’t so aromatic, but yeah, I notice lemon and lemongrass, as well again some spearmint. Sounds quite refreshing.

Well, in taste it is not so great, but certainly so far best from this company (and this collection) I had. It is okay green tea with some warmth by ginger. And then some lemon notes appear. Nothing too strong, but it’s there and, quite enjoyable. It is not sour at all!

Another tea found in huge bags. And so far one of the worst from Fortnum and Mason? 2 and little steeping time.

It brews so quickly, so after that short time I have opaque, dark brown tea.

And it tastes generic, black tea., even with metallic aftertaste. What?

Song pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGvrI_5qFXA
Song translation: https://lyricstranslate.com/en/nevidom%C3%A1-d%C3%ADvka-blind-girl.html
Warning: Sad song.

Could you believe it’s acutally over and I am sitting here, drinking Christmas tea? Simple, I knew I got it from Izzy (thank you, but what happened to her I have no idea – not even news on her website);

And then I forgot. So I took it today, as it is quite cold day; quite sad day that free days and exams starts tomorrow. Exactly tomorrow I have one – quite major one.

Anyway to the tea, it looks like decent black one, bold, quite spicy on aroma.

And in taste? Well, it is nice black tea, very strong (but I steeped it on upper limit), nice spice notes there and although cinnamon is not there, I feel it. But more prominent are cloves and vanilla is rounding the taste and adds sweet note. Not bad , but nothing to return.