TWG Tea Company

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Recent Tasting Notes

This is basically just a simple chocolate flavoured black tea so I’m not sure what makes it a “New York” breakfast specifically, but it was pretty fine tasting. Full bodied and incredibly smooth, with a rich chocolate flavour. It is, however, the style of chocolate flavouring that has a bit of a boozier undertone – like a chocolate liqueur. Not something I’d gravitate towards regularly, but no complaints either! Probably great with milk.

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Another very, very simple and rooibos-forward blend with a gentle caramel sweetness. Like the vanilla rooibos I just reviewed from Mariage Freres, the flavours here definitely shine as the cup cools. Nothing is wrong with this tea per-say, but for such a stripped down tea I’ve definitely had much better caramel rooibos in a similar blending style. It’s also super expensive, and you’re really paying more from TWG’s reputation than you are for the quality of the tea itself.

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drank Midsummer Night by TWG Tea Company
1711 tasting notes

Having this iced with a creamer. The flavors aren’t as bold as I was hoping for. The mint is the most noticeable, but barely cuts through the light cream. The chocolate flavor only exists as a suggestion in the background with the malt. I keep hoping to find a replacement for a Teavana chocolate mint tea that I loved and still haven’t found a match for. I suppose one might consider this tea okay without the expectation I’m coming at it with. I’ll have to double up the amount in my steeper to try to pull more flavor from this.

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Our last “tea house” stop in Victoria was the Pendray Inn.

This one was a little different because we actually went for breakfast service instead of afternoon tea, but I’m counting it in my comparison of places because it was essentially the same as an afternoon tea service. We got a pot of tea, the three tiered tray, and scones but just fresh fruit and French Toast instead of finger sandwiches and sweets – which is arguably maybe better? Also, it was cheaper than both other afternoon tea services for essentially the exact same quantity of tea and food.

One thing I really liked about Pendray was their they tea menu actually listed the companies that their teas were from (mostly Westholme and TWG), whereas the other two places we went were ordering wholesale catalog blends and rebranding them under their establishment names. Just a small quirk that made this place stand out to me!

I ended up getting TWG’s Alexandria, which is a spin on a classic Moroccan Mint, just because I wanted something a little more “fresh and perky” to start the day and I was a little sick of pots of black tea after the last two places. It was very nice and smooth with a pleasant smoky grassy note with the sweet snap of spearmint!

Butchart was probably my overall favourite experience, but this was a SUPER CLOSE second. We had an absolutely charming view of their courtyard with some stunning vines wrapping over the windows – but glancing around their seating area it seemed we were just exceptionally lucky to get one of the best tables in the space. For the most part, it was a tightly packed room with not necessarily the greatest overall seating.

Food was excellent though, and I liked our server a lot too!

Tea Photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cs9DIT9rRYC/

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxDMNfdoyos

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drank Sakura! Sakura! by TWG Tea Company
1711 tasting notes

Opened the bag of this and was confused. It smells more rose like than sakura like. It also had a very TWG like scent to it, which makes sense with it being a TWG blend, but I’m puzzled now as to what exactly about their teas gives me that impression.

I’m having a hard time picking out the sakura. It comes off more as a general floral blend. I can MAYBE pick out some sakura in the finish, but for a tea named Sakura! Sakura! I expected a shock of sakura. I did just have a cup of another sakura tea with very distinct flavor, but I really feel like this tea should be focusing more on it’s name sake or changing it’s name to Sakura! Rose!.

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 1 min, 0 sec
Mastress Alita

Is this a French brand? I’ve found most teas from companies outside of Japan love to use the “sakura” name when the tea itself is usually cherry flavoring mixed with rose petals, with no actual sakura or sakura flavoring ever used.

Martin Bednář

Mastress Alita: I believe TWG Tea Company actually comes from Singapore, but delivers all around the World. I even had a chance to try their Moroccan Mint here. It was bloody expensive tea bag in local café.

Dustin

TWG is a company out of Singapore. I believe the background is that the guy who started it had worked for Mariage Freres in Paris and wanted to emulate that specific feel of MF with TWG. I recall TWG stands for The Wellness Group and the company isn’t that old. They have the numbers 1837 in their logo, which is a little misleading because it makes you think that was when the company was established, but it’s another knock off of MF which has the year they were established which was 1854 printed in their logo. The insides of the shops have a very similar look as well. I’ve tried several dozen of TWG’s teas and they don’t really hold a candle to MF. They have interesting sounding ingredients, but the balance and blending seem either off or like they stopped part way to a finished product. Won’t keep me from being excited to go into their store and try new teas tho! I would have expected a company that is selling a sakura tea in Japan where they have seven stores to do a better job on a tea that prominently features a popular national flavor.

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69

Parents received this as a gift so I’m using it as my daily drinker.

Pleasantly surprised because compared to the last Earl Grey I had (Gianfranco’s by Postcard Teas, a very fancy store), this is much more drinkable. The black tea is very mild and pleasantly sweet. Nothing strong, bitter or astringent here, though the citrus notes are also very faint (almost non-existent). But this is my perfect afternoon cup on fuss-free non-gongfu tea days.

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C

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92
drank New York Breakfast by TWG Tea Company
2170 tasting notes

A gift from Dustin!

I didn’t look at the description of this one before opening the pouch and was surprised to be completely overwhelmed by the most delicious chocolate aroma! I’ve never heard of New York Breakfast as a blend, so I just assumed it was a breakfast blend like any other. Whether other companies make this blend, or make it in the same way, I don’t know. I do know that this version is one of the chocolatiest chocolate teas I’ve had the pleasure of drinking. It’s not at all watered down, the base is flavorful, and the chocolate is large and in charge. Really a delightful tea and one I’d like to keep around.

Flavors: Chocolate

Preparation
1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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88

Take your senses on a tour with the Royal Orchid tea. A whiff of this will transport you to the most inconceivably palatial and resplendent orchid plant conservatory. A taste of this intoxicating blend may perhaps give you auditory hallucinations…

“Bienvenue, welcome to Château de Versailles, how would you like to be pampered today, your highness?”

If your answer is: “I’d like to titillate my taste buds” – Then you’ve come to the right place.

A pleasant smooth blend with strong floral notes nicely coupled with an undertone of semi-fermented Formosa oolong. Delectable aftertaste of sweet orchids without any hints of sourness fills your buccal cavity with every sip.

If you choose to enjoy this in your garden, you might expect butterflies and bees diving headfirst into your cuppa. Can’t blame them though, they’re probably thinking that there’s a smorgasbord of ambrosial flowers waiting to be pollinated on the other side of their golden demise.

Flavors: Flowers, Honey, Orchids

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 5 min, 0 sec 3 g 8 OZ / 250 ML

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79

The dry leaves smell like chocolate, the brewed tea leaves smell like chocolate.
The tea itself tastes like hot chocolate – without the sugar.

One’s primary gustatory cortex may be fooled into thinking that the drink actually contains sugar.

Upon prolonged steeping, the tea remains smooth, with it’s predominant flavor largely undisturbed by the tannins released.

Nothing much to dismantle here – tis’ a pleasant, unsophisticated dessert tea for the sweet tooth.

One thing’s for certain is that you and your kids will probably enjoy this healthy substitute from a sugar loaded hot chocolate drink.

Flavors: Chocolate, Malt

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 5 min, 0 sec 3 g 8 OZ / 250 ML

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53

A bit disappointed at how weak it comes out. I expected full bodied Assam flavour but this is just similar to usual flavoured tea, the Assam is not that easy to notice. Chocolate bit tastes like unsweetened oatmeal in water. The sticky thickness is obvious. Smells lovely of sweet chocolate.
I’ll try brewing it stronger to see if it can be better.

Flavors: Chocolate

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec 2 g 7 OZ / 200 ML

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53

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61

Better than I expected.
I don’t usually like floral teas so I was anxious when I smelt the perfumey aroma of the leaves, but after brewing it lightens. The tea do taste like how it smells, mainly of rose, when you swallow it the lemon acidity starts to kick in inside your mouth. It kinda feel a bit awkward as the two flavours seem separated somehow (maybe it’s just the rosy being too strong for me to taste the lemon, but I believe it exist ). The tea has no bitterness at all and is overall refreshing, if you like rose it can be a go.

Flavors: Rose

Preparation
185 °F / 85 °C 3 min, 30 sec 2 g 7 OZ / 200 ML

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70

I was really excited when I saw this tea as I am a honey lover…I eat honey with a spoon. The tea itself is ok. I feel that it’s mild but it’s not one I love. The taste is odd, and as others mentioned it’s kind of a waxy taste (not sweet). The smell is reminiscent of honey but not strong enough.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 8 OZ / 250 ML

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92

This tea has an amazing smell, and it includes one of my favorite single taste teas TWG has: Chocolate. The blend has a great balance where you can feel the chocolate but it’s not too overpowering which leaves you with wanting more.

Flavors: Brown Sugar, Caramel, Chocolate

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 8 OZ / 250 ML

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85
drank Rum by TWG Tea Company
5 tasting notes

This is a good tea that does remind me of an actual glass of rum. After taking a sip, the team warms up the body and leaves a warm taste.

Flavors: Roasted Nuts, Rum

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 8 OZ / 250 ML

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drank 1837 Black by TWG Tea Company
12 tasting notes

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Advent from Dustin Day 7
Mmmmm. A chocolate tea done right. The base is malty and rich, with notes of raisins and baked bread. The chocolate is more in the aftertaste and works extremely well with the aforementioned notes.

Flavors: Bread, Dark Chocolate, Malt, Raisins

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drank Bains de Rose by TWG Tea Company
6444 tasting notes

Sipdown (210)

B is for…Bains de Rose and a mini battle of the rose teas with Vahdam’s Blooming Rose. Check out that note here: https://steepster.com/rachel12610/posts/420612

Thank you Roswell Strange for sending a sample of this to me! It was super pretty and loaded with roses but the first cup I had must have used all that leaf because this last little bit was just black tea. Figured I should mention that just in case it factors into the taste of this as a rose tea.

Lookswise, this particular tea is much clearer than the Blooming Rose. That could be because Blooming Rose has some other ingredients that could cloud the liquid.

Taste wise, this is super astringent. Like the rose that I do taste is good but it’s covered up mostly by a drying floral astringency. Is that age? Is that because this is the last of my sample? Is that the tea itself? I don’t know but I don’t like it. I see potential but that bitterness is hard to get past. Not a good start in the battle of rose teas.

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drank Bains de Rose by TWG Tea Company
6444 tasting notes

Thank you Roswell Strange for sharing this one with me! I’d been starting to think I was a fan of rose teas again but this was not very good. It was bitter and tasted like potpourri. I have a little of the sample left and my hope is that it was my steeping (the recommended parameters) that messed it up. We shall see.

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85

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Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 0 sec

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