English Tea Shop

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Recent Tasting Notes

74

This is a nice tea, although I was disappointed there was no actual pumpkin flavor. It’s a nice spicy blend, lighter than a chai would be. One can taste the green tea, but it’s definitely more for the spice that one would drink this. A flavorful mild tea, nice for autumn.

Flavors: Anise, Black Pepper, Cinnamon, Ginger, Orange

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 5 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 12 OZ / 354 ML

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76

A very mellow tea. In general I like to make a blended pot of more than one peach flavored tea; it averages out any ‘lack’ or ‘over-do’ in flavorings. Today I thought I would rate this tea individually. The smell is peachier than the peach taste in the hot tea itself. I noticed the black tea flavor first, then a very muted peach flavor; I didn’t really taste the ginger. I found myself less impressed with this tea by itself, than when blended with other, lighter peach blends. Still, it’s very mellow, and it was enjoyable—just not as ‘ginger peachy’ (in the old slang way) as I had thought it was. I would still recommend it.

Flavors: Ginger, Peach, Tea

Preparation
170 °F / 76 °C 3 min, 45 sec 1 tsp 10 OZ / 295 ML

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72

I wanted smoky, and I sure got it. The aroma is so strong you can taste it – reminiscent of smoked salmon. Add sugar & milk (I used almond milk), and its a bagel & lox in a cup.

One tea bag can yield 16 oz of mild tea suitable for sipping straight, which is plenty for me. I like it, but only like one per sitting. I feel like having some green or white tea directly after.

Flavors: Bread, Fishy, Smoked

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 30 sec 1 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML

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69

all fairtrade and organice bagged teas were on sale this week at the local store. (2 for 1) so I picked this one.

this is o.k. for a bagged green tea. Tea is yellowish and no bitterness. Even sense of sweetness.

Mmmm, may even bring a few bags to work….

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 2 min, 45 sec

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88

Subtly special. Finds a happy medium between a simple black tea and spicy chai, but with a gentle hint of cream.The bags are small though, and since I like my cups big it was not as strong as I’d liked.

Flavors: Cinnamon, Clove, Cream

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 6 min, 0 sec

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99

I cannot remember how I came upon this tea, but I LOVE it… every time I drink it I am reminded of high tea. My husband, who drinks only plain black teas, says I brew it just for the aroma… if anyone can tell me how/where to buy more. I would love to know… the flavor is heavenly. I don’t use cream or sugar with it…. yum!

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 4 min, 15 sec 1 tsp 6 OZ / 177 ML

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100

This is today’s work cold brew, and it’s as enjoyable as ever. I’ve been really impressed with this one, and I’ll certainly miss it when it’s gone. I have three bags left, though, so that’s not an imminent threat. I’m not sure how this one manages to taste so much like melon juice without actually being melon juice, but there you go. I’ll definitely be looking to try more from English Tea Shop in the coming months.

Preparation
Iced 8 min or more 3 tsp

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100

I first tried this one just before Christmas, I think, from the EU TTB. I drank it hot on that occasion, but I made a note to keep some back for cold brewing in the warmer weather.

Today is that day. I made this up last night to bring to work with me today, using one litre of cold water and 3 tea bags. It went into the fridge overnight, so it had about 10 hours in total.

I remember this one fairly well from the first time I tried it, largely because I was so impressed! It’s even better cold (if that’s possible, since I rated it 100 at the time). I mean, it worked hot, but it’s flavouring is obviously suited to cold brewing. No-one I know eats hot melon.

The black base here is apparently ceylon, but from flavour alone I wouldn’t know this was a black tea at all. It tastes just like melon juice. The flavour is so exact, it’s actually hard to believe that this is tea at all. The fact that it’s cold really helps this impression, because it’s just like a slice of cantaloupe melon straight from the fridge. Completely delicious, and very, very refreshing! It’s certainly the best melon tea I’ve tried, bar none.

You need some of this. Trust me.

Preparation
Iced 8 min or more 3 tsp

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100

From the EU TTB – Round 3

This was my pick for Sunday night. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much, but that just goes to show how wrong I can be. The bag itself looks fairly innocuous, and smells like nothing more than a standard ceylon. How utterly deceptive! Upon adding this one to boiling water, the room fills with the scent of cantaloupe melon. Sweet, juicy, amazingness. I left it for three minutes, no additions.

The resulting liquor is quite dark, and I was a little concerned that the black base would overwhelm the melon flavouring. I needn’t have worried. In actual fact, I can’t really taste the black base at all. It’s just like drinking a cup of melon juice! I’m not getting too much in the way of honey, except perhaps a slight sweetness in the aftertaste, but that’s not a problem. With melon as flavour-accurate as this, who really needs honey anyway?

I think this one has to be tried to be believed! I’m thinking it might be good iced, and so I might keep a couple of bags back for the summer so I can give that a try.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec
Veronica

This sounds wonderful! Added it to my wishlist.

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80

Tickled tonight to find 3 different English Tea Shops holiday collections- organic! And at TJ Maxx for 4.99 a box. Each with 4 different teas in them and three of each . I choose to do with one first because it was caffeine free and it’s late at night. The instructions say 2-3 minutes brew time. I wish I would have used another bag to overleaf it or steeped it longer. Next time I will try one of those methods. It’s a very light peppermint flavor. Yummy but light. Peppermint is the only flavor I’m picking up in this one. It’s still yummy.

Flavors: Peppermint

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50

Not too pleasant. Weak flavour followed by a salty dry aftertaste.

Flavors: Almond, Ash, Burnt Sugar, Cardamom, Metallic, Mineral, Salt

Preparation
3 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML

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87
drank Earl Grey by English Tea Shop
150 tasting notes

Had another cup of this this morning. This is a very good EG. I might go buy another tin of it because I think I might go through this 85g quickly.

Recommended. If you see it, buy it!

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 19 OZ / 550 ML

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87
drank Earl Grey by English Tea Shop
150 tasting notes

Another ridiculously adorable tea tin full of delicious Earl Grey. I am on the hunt to find an Earl Grey that I can keep in stock as part of my classic collection. Plus nothing can make you feel better than a classic cup of EG. I know some people do not like the bergamont taste, but I do and always have.

This blend has a good smell to it. It’s a sweeter EG at first sniff. It has nice piece of orange peel in it but it lets the oil be the star.

When brewed, it smells heavenly. I had mine with cream and sugar. I brewed it a bit strong I think. I will reduce it down to 3.5 mins next time I think.

All in all a solid EG, one that I would recommend! I got this tin for 6.99 and for an 85g tin, I’d say that’s a steal!

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 650 OZ / 19222 ML

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73

Second attempt with this tea. This time steeped for much shorter time and also under leafed. It was much nicer. A very classy English Breakfast. I didn’t have it with milk and sugar, but did have it with coconut coffee creamer.

I enjoyed my cups :)

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 30 sec 1 tsp 20 OZ / 600 ML

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73

After a bit of a tea buying hiatus (too many teas in the cupboard and trying to avoid the proverbial eye rolls from my significant other) I decided to end that the other day with some Fauchon and this! Isn’t that tea tin just darling… my inner Victorian British upper class lady was shrieking with delight when I saw these LOOSE teas in these adorable tea tins… I had to have them. Winners and Homesense can be a VERY dangerous place to go. Thankfully in the summer months, they tend to have less stock, and therefore I do not frequent as much. However… with fall looming (YAY! My favourite season!), the stock is piling in and the temptations that come with it! Naturally I had to try English Breakfast this morning on this beautiful Sunday morning when I am stuck working.

Let me tell you, it was STRONG. Phew! I like my tea strong and I found myself going back to the cream and sugar. I think I will under leaf and reduce the time. Other than that a nice cup of English Breakfast. I am not going to give a rating yet, will try it rebrewed.

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 4 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 500 OZ / 14786 ML

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74
drank Green Tea by English Tea Shop
6 tasting notes

OK just on its own but I prefer to add 1\2 a teaspoon of Mighty Leaf’s Organic Breakfast and a squirt of lemon juice to make my perfect morning tea.

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 4 min, 15 sec 1 tsp 10 OZ / 295 ML

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68
drank Sleepy Me by English Tea Shop
1737 tasting notes

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68
drank Sleepy Me by English Tea Shop
1737 tasting notes

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68
drank Sleepy Me by English Tea Shop
1737 tasting notes

yellow moon white sun
chirping bird flock alarm clock
turns to lullaby

Cheri

I like haikus. Thanks for sharing!

sherapop

Thank you, Cheri!

Cathy Baratheon

That was wonderful :)

sherapop

Thank you, Cathy Zheng!

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68
drank Sleepy Me by English Tea Shop
1737 tasting notes

I am very sensitive to chemicals. Spicy Indian food and “sleep aids” such as valerian tend to induce nightmares in me. I know, I know, so that pretty much negates the soporific effect—at least if the dream ends up being intense enough that I wake up feeling angst-ridden, having spent the night attempting to surmount seemingly insurmountable challenges of one sort or another. Usually they involve some sort of logical quandary, but sometimes they achieve heinous heights as well…

Perhaps I should stick to straight-up chamomile, as I found that even lemon myrtle induced a nightmare in me last night. Nonetheless, I tossed caution to the wind this evening and drank two glasses of Sleepy Me while watching Clouzot’s Le Corbeau, from 1942. If you have not watched it, I highly recommend it. In fact, even if you have watched it, I highly recommend that you watch it again!

Lots of teas smell much, much better in the dried form than when finally brewed. Sleepy Me is exactly the opposite: the scent of the brewed golden liquor is much better than that of the filter bags, which offer a double hit of stinky stuff: both valerian and hops! I am feeling a bit drowsy, so at least I should doze off before 4:15am, which was last night’s bed time… There is also lavender in this brew, along with the obligatory chamomile. But the extras, the hops and the valerian, are nearly guaranteed to induce both sleep and nightmares in me.

Hopefully I’ll remember in the middle of whatever my dream ends up being that it’s only a dream. Has that ever happened to you?

Flavors: Flowers, Lavender

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68
drank Sleepy Me by English Tea Shop
1737 tasting notes

Another organic tea bag from the UK, Sleepy Me is a part of the Tea Loving Care collection of English Tea Shop. I have been suffering from a severe chamomile deficit, so I decided to give this a try since that is the number one ingredient in this blend.

The filter bag has a slight stinkiness to it—the presence of valerian is obvious—and the infusion is initially bright yellow (from the chamomile) but then turns gold. The lavender comes through fairly strongly, as do the hops and lemon balm.

This is fine, but I prefer lavender with a much more notable and fresher chamomile component, as in Harney & Sons Yellow & Blue sachets. The hops are also somewhat muddying the brew. Hopefully the valerian will knock me out now!

(Blazing New Rating #30)

Flavors: Hops, Lavender

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 5 min, 30 sec 2 g 9 OZ / 266 ML

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94

Thank you Nattie for this tea. This was from the Hapa-tite tea exchange and the wonderful Nattie was my swapping buddy. Melon is one of my most favourite flavours and foods so my eyes literally lit up when I saw this blend. And what better to blend with melon than honey? I think that sounds like a beautiful combination, though the fact that it’s black tea based is making me wish the base isn’t too strong.

In the little note Nattie left me she said she uses two bags because the flavours are so subtle and she likes strong tea. For now I will use one bag but will probably end up trying two as I too am a lover of strong teas. For the most part the bag looks like any other and has the same generic black ceylon scent most of us will know so well, I would never guess it’s flavour if someone handed this to me without saying what it was, though it is a little sweeter than normal ceylon.

No steeping times for this on the website so giving it the good old 3 minute rule with boiling water since it’s black based,

Ok three minutes later and I have a dark brown tea that smells exactly like cantaloupe melon. it is AMAZING!!! I’m actually wondering if I have died and gone to heaven right now. It’s so sweet and juicy and natural, the melon is stronger than the honey but both are very present.

Flavour wise it is a little softer than it’s smell but it’s at a nice level for me, the melon is more of a mist and the honey a sweet after taste, oh how I would love to dance around in melon mist…
It doesn’t linger for long in terms of flavour including the after taste but that makes it more refreshing and much less like a black tea. In fact you can’t taste the ceylon at all.

It’s wonderful, especially for a pre-bagged tea. Thinking this may make an amazing iced tea, will try tomorrow. Thank you so much Nattie for this tea, I am definitely going to have to buy this one.

Ps. It reminds me of Cantaloupe & Cream by Butiki, very similar but not quite as good.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec
Nattie

Yay, I’m so glad you like this one! (: and also glad I remembered to tell you about the two bags thing.

I’m not too sure about the black tea in this, I can’t taste any either and it would be much better as a herbal IMO. I, too, found it similar to Butiki’s cantaloupe and cream, but as I tried Butiki second, was more like ‘ooh, this is what English Tea Shop was trying to do!’

It’s a good substitute when you’re out of cantaloupe & cream, or just don’t have the time/means to brew up a loose tea.

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16
drank Spicy Anise by English Tea Shop
4843 tasting notes

Backlog:

I had high hopes for this blend – even though it’s a bagged tea. When I see “anise” … my hope level rises because I love anise. The spicy part made me even more excited to try it.

But, it is a disappointment. If you look at the ingredient list, you might think this is chai-ish, but taste wise, it leaves much to be desired of a chai. This is more like a warmly spiced mint tea than a chai. Mint dominates this blend, not the anise.

A disappointment.

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