Irish Breakfast

Since I’ve been trying teas other than Assams, I was almost afraid to go to this blend. I am finding that what rules what I “want” each day in a cup is ruled by the astringency in the tea. Some days I find it easier to tolerate the dryness it creates in my mouth. But as I made a pot of East Frisian that was WAY too strong yesterday, I decided to power through my chicken-ness and have a cup of this….. As usual, there was no need to be chicken. This isn’t a high astringency blend of assams. It is a malty cup of goodness, especially on a chilly drizzly day….with milk and sugar as usual. Nom. I’m hoping it makes me feel more literary, as I have to go work on a writing class assignment now….

A strong black base with slight floral or fruity notes, leaves quite a dry feeling in the mouth, had with milk and 1 sugar.

My partner who is much more of a black tea drinker than I said it was her new favourite breakfast tea.

I would happily drink it with a meal, I don’t find it quite tasty enough to have on its own, my partner loved it so much she finished both of our cups.

It’s quite a jolt. Very strong. I think I’ve become spoiled, but I much prefer Mangalam FOP as my morning breakfast. Good, but not something I’d want to keep in the house again.

Woke up early today for some blood tests and this was a welcome pick-me-up. Trying not to stress about the results. If I am diagnosed with what I think I have I will probably need to get surgery, but it’s no use worrying about that now. It’s the last day of the 3 month class I teach (software engineering bootcamp) and I’m feeling kinda emotional about it. I’ve gotten to know some of these students pretty well and it will be sad to see them go. Hoping for an early end to the workday and some takeout for dinner.

Nice strong black tea. Great to wake up to in the morning or for an afternoon pick-me-up. This is my standard daily drinker.

One bag of this was glued to my “Christmas tea tree” gift from a coworker. Not long ago, some of us chatted about “bog standard builders’ tea.” This is it. Sturdy, strong bass notes, a little bitterness to boot those eyes open. It rates right in there with good grocery grade black tea blends—Ty-phoo, PG Tips, Twinings. Just what I need in my permafrosted office, but truthfully, if I’m going to buy H&S for myself, I’ll invest in their more elegant offerings.

Some of you long-timers may remember K S—one of my favorite Steepsters ever (although I really like all of you people! You’re fun!) I think he hit the nail on the head: Wow, this was like a punch in the face. After it melted the paint off the walls I noticed a fruity taste. It smelled malty but I didn’t notice it in the taste. This is what I thought Irish Breakfast was supposed to taste like.

I think I’m basic. I decided to try out a few breakfast teas because after Lipton that was my first tea love. With milk and sugar of course. I’m sure I had an Irish breakfast tea before, although it was years ago. I really like this one. Its strong, I can get multiple steepings, 2 great and a third ok one. Can brew quite awhile and doesn’t go astringent. Holds up to milk and sugar. Can make a latte or Thai tea style very well. It’s a great black tea. The leaves are quite chopped up, not a full leaf tea and thats ok. The price and the flavor is right.

Sample from Shae, thanks! This is quite smooth for a full Assam and small leaf blend. After seeing the other reviews I only brewed this for 2 minutes. Its still quite tasty and strong even at a short steep, not as malty as I’d like for an Assam but the caramel and mineral notes come through. The second steep isn’t weak, but the flavor seems to be smoothed away; its rather uninteresting. Its not bad for an Assam blend but not something I need in my cupboard.

It’s a snowy and cloudy day in Denmark today and this tea is perfect for that kind of weather!

This feels like a proper Irish Breakfast tea – made from 100% Assam. It has lots of malty notes, tannins and some bitterness. But it’s actually a surprisingly subtle bitterness when you think of how full-bodied the tea is. The strength is right up there with the strongest bagged teas: Yorkshire, Typhoo etc. But this feels a little more refined, more aromatic and not as bitter. Unlike bagged teas, this is not dust but small broken leaves.

Harney & Sons’ says that “This tea recalls a time when the teas came from Assam, not Africa; and were small broken leaves, not CTC pellets. So this is a simple tea that can handle milk and sugar well.”.
I definitely agree with that. It is very nice and simple and takes milk and/or sugar well. I appreciate that this is not CTC as I am not a big fan of CTC teas. I have not had that many, but the ones I have had where too strong and not aromatic enough in my opinion.

The brewed tea without milk is a deep dark brown. When you add milk, it looks like milky coffee but with a noticeable red/orange hue. The brewed tea smells like… tea. There are strong malty notes but not much else. This is definitely not a complex tea. It’s simple and straight-forward.

In the mouth, there is a strong maltiness again and it is very brisk, but only has a hint of bitterness. It is more astringent than bitter. This tea is a full-bodied tea for sure. It is so strong that it colors my white mug brown instantly.

All in all, this is an excellent, bold Irish Breakfast tea that fits the bill when you want a simple, plain black tea that goes well with a healthy splash of milk.

I feel like you should be drinking this tea while listening to Thin Lizzy or U2 ;-)

Dry leaves, appearance:
Small broken tea leaves with a few golden specks here and there. 100% Assam.

Dry leaves, aroma:
A very subtle aroma. Smells like a classic, malty Assam.

Liquor:
Deep dark brown with a red hue.

Packaging:
8 oz. loose tea tin.

Even though it’s still November, I feel this year that a little early holiday cheer is more and more necessary. So I’m planning, or hoping, to put our Christmas tree up this weekend. Speaking of, which holidays does everyone here celebrate?

This isn’t a holiday blend obviously, but I sit here drinking it with my favorite birch candle lit beside me so it feels festive. I opted for one teaspoon instead of my normal two after reading other tasting notes, and I might have a small inkling of regret over it. It’s malty and flavorful, though maybe not quite as strong as I would have liked. Perhaps two teaspoons would have been too much though, so I’m happy with my cup. I am still getting that caffeine buzz – I may not have been able to handle more!