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Scheherazade drank Scarborough Fair by A Quarter to Tea

2238 tasting notes

091/365

This is another I chose to try in sample/taster size, and another almost instant regret. Two cups just isn’t going to be enough…

The first thing that attracted me to this one was the name, for its inevitable Simon & Garfunkel/The Graduate connection. I also like the deeper celtic/pagan resonance, and the inclusion of rosemary and sage. It adds an extra something to an otherwise straightforward raspberry darjeeling blend.

In taste terms, it’s delicious. The raspberry is sweet and tart by turns, juicy, and an accurate representation of an actual raspberry. The rosemary and sage are very delicate background notes, but they add a slightly savoury, herbaceous quality that’s more complementary than I thought it would be. Who knew raspberry would work so well with herbs? Certainly not me!

The darjeeling base is light and very mildly floral, kind of fleeting actually; the raspberry is clearly the main focus here, and remains so throughout.

Overall, I’m really happy with this one. It’s another I’d buy more of next time, perhaps for cold brewing in the summer…

Preparation

Boiling 3 min, 0 sec 1 tsp

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Dustin
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I’ve been curious about this tea! For me, Scarborough Fair reminds me of the Muppet Show episode where Paul Simon was guest and they did this song. Miss Piggy almost scream yells “parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme” as Paul looks on warily and continues to sing.

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Dustin
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Bio

Hi :) I’m Sarah, and I live in Norfolk in the UK. My tea obsession began when a friend introduced me to Teapigs a good few years ago now. Since then, I’ve been insatiable. Steepster introduced me to a world of tea I never knew existed, and my goal is now to TRY ALL THE TEAS. Or most of them, anyway.

I still have a deep rooted (and probably life-long) preference for black tea. My all-time favourite is Assam, but Ceylon and Darjeeling also occupy a place in my heart. Flavoured black tea can be a beautiful thing, and I like a good chai latte in the winter.

I also drink a lot of rooibos/honeybush tea, particularly on an evening. Sometimes they’re the best dessert replacements, too. White teas are a staple in summer — their lightness and delicate nature is something I can always appreciate on a hot day.

I’m still warming up to green teas and oolongs. I don’t think they’ll ever be my favourites, with a few rare exceptions, but I don’t hate them anymore. My experience of these teas is still very much a work-in-progress. I’m also beginning to explore pu’erh, both ripened and raw. That’s my latest challenge!

I’m still searching for the perfect fruit tea. One without hibiscus. That actually tastes of fruit.

You’ve probably had enough of me now, so I’m going to shut up. Needless to say, though, I really love tea. Long may the journey continue!

My rating system:

91-100: The Holy Grail. Flawless teas I will never forget.

81-90: Outstanding. Pretty much perfection, and happiness in a cup.

71-80: Amazing. A tea to savour, and one I’ll keep coming back to.

61-70: Very good. The majority of things are as they should be. A pleasing cup.

51-60: Good. Not outstanding, but has merit.

41-50: Average. It’s not horrible, but I’ve definitely had better. There’s probably still something about it I’m not keen on.

31-40: Almost enjoyable, but something about it is not for me.

11-30: Pretty bad. It probably makes me screw my face up when I take a sip, but it’s not completely undrinkable.

0-10: Ugh. No. Never again. To me, undrinkable.