TWG Tea Company

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!.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.