Life has been busy with work & travel for the fast few weeks, but I’m finally able to get back to relaxing with my tea…
I have vague memories of drinking this tea a long time ago & finding it light, delicate and fragrant – a lovely morning cuppa.
Then I tried a teabag that was lurking in my tea caddy from travels unknown, & … dark liquor, very little fragrance. Boy was I disappointed!
Realising the tea’s age was probably a factor, I decided I should give it another try.
How fortuitous that my lovely T2 gift with purchase blue china cup & saucer just arrived. I have tried one cup of my favourite Tamborine Tea Russian Caravan in it, but it was just wrong for that teacup. Equally, I couldn’t imagine a robust English or Irish Breakfast in it. I still drink these out of china, not stoneware, but from a mug, not a teacup.
I needed something fragrant & delicate, but my relationship with Earl Grey is still a little rocky (due to overexposure by an Earl Grey fanatic flatmate), so luckily I remembered I had bought a 100g tin of Twinings Darjeeling loose leaf tea. Perfect!
I noticed the difference between this & my usual black teas as soon as I opened the tin – there were lighter specks combined with the usual black CTC, & the aroma was more delicate, with faint whiffs of caramel & grass.
I brewed for 3 mins (recommended 2-5) & the brew was lovely & fragrant, with an attractive amber liquor. I know NEVER to do this to a first flush Darjeeling, but I added a dash of milk to the cup as I still struggle with drinking black teas without it.
The result – a much more delicate cuppa than my usual strong & often smoky blacks. The taste is subtle, with a little sweet grassiness & some very light malty caramel, but as the weather is rapidly warming here, a lighter taste is a good choice except at breakfast.
I had a second cup brewed for 5 mins & was surprised that despite being obviously stronger, there wasn’t a lot of bitterness there. However I don’t think it change the balance of flavours much so I’d go for the shorter brew time as a preference.
All-in-all there is something about drinking the right tea using a beautiful china cup & saucer that just lifts the whole experience. So, unless I find something even better, this is my morning tea cuppa combination.
Now, if I can overcome my Earl Grey phobia, I can have an afternoon cuppa in my teacup too!
NOTE – I have read some Steepster reviews since writing mine & I can’t say I experienced some of the negatives, like lots of fine dust in the bottom of the cup etc…
Flavors: Caramel, Cut Grass, Floral, Malt
