No. 18 British Brunch (formerly known as Brahmin)

Accidentally let this sit for six minutes. But it’s forgiving, although a little sharp. This tea really defines “malty”; I think of cracked wheat bread when I drink it.

Okay, this one could easily find a home in my permanent stash. Dark, fruity/winey notes in the undergrowth, malt hiding in the background, bit of sharpness, deep dark mahogany color, homemade molasses wheat bread.

Thanks, Sil! Gives me something to put on the list for when I visit Portland next spring. :)

Sample package label:
“Blend No. 18
Steven Smith Teamaker
Brahmin
Full Leaf Black Tea”

Per: http://www.smithtea.com/shop/black/brahmin
“A sophisticated blend of full bodied, rich and malty Indian Assam teas, paired with succulent Ceylon dimbulla, intense and floral Ceylon Uva and a touch of smokey Keemun from Anhui. The taste is dense, robust and delicious, with or without milk, anytime you need a bit of extra inspiration. “

“Ingredients: Second flush Indian Assam, Ceylon Dimbulla, Ceylon Uva and China Keemun full leaf teas”

“Bring filtered water to a rolling boil. Steep 5 minutes.
Technically a breakfast tea, it is equally good for dessert.”

Per: Alex Pieroni: “I would say 1 sachet for every 12 oz of water.”

Technique:
12-oz filtered water with total dissolved solids (TDS) of 27 ppm, heated to 212*F.

1 sachet – 3.4 g (My Weigh Durascale D2 660), without sweeteners, milk or cream.

Dry leaf: long, uniform sized, blackish brown

Fragrance: Subtle hint of pipe tobacco

Liquor: Clear amber brown

Aroma: Malty Assam aroma without an obvious smokiness that sometimes is associated with Keemun.

5-min Infusion: A robust full-bodied flavor black tea without bitterness. There was moderate sense of astringency that persists on the tongue. I suspect is due the high-altitude grown Ceylon Uva. There was also a very subtle caramel-like sweetness in the finish that’s probably due to the Keemun in this blended tea

Re-steep: 6-min Infusion Nearly as full-bodied and without any astringency.

Impression: A full-bodied blended black breakfast tea for those who don’t mind astringency. For those who do, one could try brewing this tea at a lower temperature such as 195*F.

Suggestion: To consider using less Ceylon Uva and perhaps more Keemun in this blend.

Thanks to Alex Pieroni of Steven Smith Teamaker for providing this free sample.

Brahmin‘s dry leaves start off with a definite maltyness, as promised in the description on the packet. It’s very Keemun-y, with that fireside feel you get from East Asian blacks. The scent hovers on the edge of smoke, but shies away at the last moment, safe under the protection of its Ceylon’s wine notes. In the cup, the Keemun continues to be at the forefront of the aroma, refusing to be ignored. You’d think that the Assam would take the stage in this blend, given its decidedly South Asian name, but our Chinese black is having none of that.

However, when you start sipping, it becomes clear why the Assam is so self-Ass-ured… Full review here: http://snooteablog.com/2013/07/16/snooty-tea-review-steven-smith-tea-round-1/

Stronger than I expected, and a robust breakfast tea. After this one, I’m going to need something green or decaf.

From a TTB. This one doesn’t really stand out from other breakfast blends. I found it decently strong the first time I had it, but the second time, I found it a little thin and lacking. It wasn’t bad, but not exciting, just a plain unexceptional tea.

After a hectic Christmas celebration, I thought this would be a “good morning” tea. A friend had dropped off a tea gift bag in the middle of the night including this one. She loves this brand of tea and introduced them to me.

The tea bag is huge and I’ll remember that for my next cup and brew a pot instead. Enjoyed while watching children decide which Xmas gift to break open for the day.

A good, smooth, and strong black tea. Might be a new favorite black tea for me.

This reminds me of English breakfast, but reinvented. I’m getting used to that concept from Steven Smith.

I taste caramel, black tea, and note of blackstrap molasses and raisins. It’s also a bit sweet. I’m sure this would go fine British style with milk, but it’s great as-is.

I recommend having this magical tea served to you by a silkie in the English countryside before going about your day learning spells from an ancient magus. But however you prefer is probably fine too.

Less than nice work situation continues, but there may be a light at the end of the tunnel. We are not out of it yet, but there are huge steps towards a resolution. Gosh I hope so.
Normally I love my job. I love coming into the office, I love by boss, I find the company great, all sorts of good things. This week has certainly needed frequent reminders that everything is good, and I am very happy, and this will pass. In a few years I wont remember it at all.
I’m still not quite sure about this breakfast blend. I’m finding it a little bitter, which is never what you want in your first cup of the day. But there is a richness of flavor, after the initial bitter sip, so I am not opposed to playing around with it.
Hmm.

Sampler Sipdown September! I had to get my grocery shopping done this morning, and as a treat to myself, I picked up a box of pumpkin donuts (yes, I am and always will be #CampPumpkinEverything). I’m not sure what is wrong with me, as I’ve never been a fan of plain black “breakfast” blend teas, but maybe my palate is starting to adapt to them, as that is exactly what I was craving to go with my doughy pumpkin-glazed goodness for… I guess it is lunchtime now? Whatever. So I grabbed the Steven Smith Teamaker Brahmin sachet sample I got from Ost’s cupboard sale (thank you Ost!) I have really enjoyed everything I’ve tried by this company so far (I even liked their chamomile tea, and I hate chamomile!) This tea has recently been renamed “British Brunch”, but they have not changed the blend in any way: it is still Indian Assams, Dimbulla and Uva estate Ceylons, and a bit of Chinese Keemun in the blend.

This is a full leaf breakfast blend in a sachet. Perhaps I should’ve let it steep a bit longer given that it wasn’t CTC, but I also don’t like my blacks to get too biting, and I think I hit my sweet spot regardless, because this was a surprisingly smooth tea! The steeped tea is a proper coppery color, and smells very malty, with notes of baked bread and molasses. The flavor was malty, tasting of warm bread, with some subtle hints of wood and smoke in the finish. There was no bitterness to the cup and mild astringency on the tongue after the sip. It was a very pleasant black tea blend, and accompanied my sweet and spicy donut really nicely.