Tesco Finest

I’ve had a box of these teabags in my cupboard for some time now and I used to drink it on a daily basis. Today I popped a few in my handbag to take with me to the plot, purely for my partner to drink as he can drink this without milk.

He actually left half a mug of it in the shed though, when he got distracted chatting to a fellow plot holder, so I finished it off! This is probably a tea I need to start drinking more of again, because it’s absolutely delicious. Getting away from the fact my OH had poured what tasted like twenty spoonsful of sugar into it, it was still that creamy, vanilla-ness I remembered, with just the right hint of spice and a perfect black base.

For a bagged tea, this is wonderful!

This is my Go-To week day morning brew, when I haven’t got time to faff around with infusers and tea-sacs. I do generally try to prepare my morning tea the night before, leaning toward a loose leaf Yerba Mate that I pop into a tea-sac, but occasionally it’s just easier to shove a teabag in my mug. Mondays are usually those kind of days!

Tesco do some pretty decent teas in their Finest range. Nothing spectacular, but they’re handy to have in my cupboard. This isn’t my favourite English Breakfast by all means. There’s not a whole lot of flavour going on, but it’s strong, brews quickly, and does a good job of shaking me out of my zombie-like state.

A work kitchen freebie. I feel like elderflower tea is a relatively rare thing in the UK, so I rarely pass up an opportunity to try one. This box was sitting out in our work kitchen, so obviously someone didn’t like it. It’s generally always worth a punt, though, isn’t it?

I gave the bag (a silk pyramid thingum – I don’t rate these any more highly than normal tea bags, to be honest) 4 minutes in boiling water. Probably I could have left it longer, but I’m impatient. To taste, it’s actually…pretty good. I can taste the elderflower, although the pear is clearly the primary flavour. If I had one criticism, it would be that it’s a little over-sweet. It reminds me a lot more of a pear drop than an actual pear, in that floral, sugary, powerfully intense way that pear drops sometimes have. The apple is lost entirely. I wouldn’t know it was there based on taste alone, and I don’t think it should have headline billing in the name – that’s kinda misleading, because this is not an apple tea. It’s a pear and elderflower tea, and nothing else.

I like it, though. If I found it in my local Tesco, I might even pick up a box.

A nice full-bodied black tea. I didn´t know this tea, so I bought it as much for the container (will be reused for some loose tea without any doubt) as for the tea bags. Complex taste, a bit coffee-like, which I prefer to drink later on during the day. It doesn´t turn too bitter when steeping for a longer time, so ideal when you – like me – sometimes forget you´ve made yourself a cuppa.

My husband brought this bagged tea home from the UK a few days ago…. He is an “80 bags a box” kind of guy, so it was nice that he tried to bring me " fancy" tea. I steeped up a cup for both of us this morning. His response? “Tastes like tea”. Gotta love the husband! This tea actually has a pleasant biscuity aroma and taste. It’s a lighter brown tea, but I couldn’t detect much bitterness, which works for me. I add milk and sugar and this tea held both well. I didn’t have the guts to open a teabag, but I suspect there’s weensie pieces, or perhaps dust….. But this is a nice and easy alternative to the standard bagged in a box breakfast tea.

I didn’t think I would like this at all, but when I tired it I absolutely loved it. This tea has a beautiful smooth texture so it’s like nectar to swallow, and then you have the scent and taste of chocolate in a very subtle way so you feel like you’ve had a real treat. Definitely going on my like list.

I am not a fan of rooibos, so I was apprehensive about this tea; my partner bought it earlier today, they’re not a fan of rooibos either but was intrigued by the fact its green (unoxidised) rooibos rather than the more common type. Its delicious! My partner said it tasted more like apple than pear, though I think the pear and vanilla are very clear over the malty green rooibos. I added half a teaspoon of Rowse organic clear honey to my second cup which made it slightly more mellow, though I dont think it needs it.

One fine Earl Grey Tea, a nice blend with a subtle bergamot flavour.

I certainly enjoyed this tea, though the scent of the chocolate came through moreso than the taste. The taste had a slight bitter note, but not so much as to be unpleasant. I’m normally a no milk girl with my tea, but I will have to try a splash in this.

I’m trying my best to finish off samples today and since my husband is also off I thought it would be nice to brew a big pot of Earl Grey. It’s been a while since I last had this and I cannot remember much about it, thankfully my previous notes jogged my memory a little.

Thankfully this has stored well. It’s still got that bergamot sweetness and good black tea base strength. A great tea to drink while I play Resonance of Fate on xbox 360. :)

This was the right choice for this mornings cup. A nice Earl Grey without sweetener or creamer it gives me such a wonderful relaxing feeling per sip.

Plus I have an announcement to make to my friends, I am now a grandmother. My Red Platy fish has finally given birth to some beautiful babies :) What better way to celebrate than with a cup of tea :)

(See my other note for a more detailed description of this tea).

Another morning, another tea. This time I went for Earl Grey as even my husband will share a drink of this tea (he is a regular black tea kind of guy). We both love the bergamot smell and taste so Earl Grey is a super choice for us.

Opening the foil pack was like being in heaven, a very strong but perfect smelling bergamot filled my nostrils and was the perfect way to wake me up. Honestly words cannot describe the smells beauty.

Tasting wise it’s very fresh and since my husband is used to pre bagged Earl Grey I asked if he could taste any difference and he said that he could, loose leaf is fresher. So I am glad that it’s not just me that finds that :) Bless him.

If you like Earl Grey tea then I would certainly try this brand, although it’s Tesco (a large chain supermarket brand) I was surprised by how nice it is. It is cheap as well so another plus.

The bergamot is strong in this tea but not overpowering in taste, it has a very good balance.

Sorry I may not make much sense this morning as I had trouble sleeping last night and I am still exhausted (had to get up to get ready to go shopping, it turns out my cats aren’t happy with their complete dry food anymore :/ ). So let me say everything in short for clarity:

1. Fresh smelling and tasting
2. Cheap but high quality
3. Scrumptious