85
drank Queen of Berries by Tea Palace
2238 tasting notes

This smells so deliciously of fresh strawberries, I had to give it a go. I’m in a funny mood today, and I can’t seem to settle down to anything. It’s really odd, because I’ve longed to have some time off work, and now I’ve got it I feel at a loose end. Anyway, hopefully this will help to sort me out!

The dry leaves, as I said, smell strongly of strawberries. This is to the extent that I’d probably think I was smelling a tisane if I didn’t know this was a black tea. There are little pieces of strawberry and raspberry in the mix, and whole blackcurrants. It smells absoultely gorgeous, and is really making me long for summer.

I brewed this for about 4 minutes. The black tea is discernable now, of course, but the fruity berry scent is still there. I’ve added milk this time, but I’d like to try this with cream one day. And maybe a scone. In the summer. Time to stop dreaming, though. It’s about 5 degrees outside.

The berry taste doesn’t come out in the brewed tea as much as I’d like. I think that’s always going to be my bugbear with teas like this. It’s by no means bad, though. The initial sip just tastes of black tea, but as I swallow the berry taste does come out. It’s quite subtle, but it’s definetly there. I actually quite like this effect. As you sit there feeling a bit cheated, the sweet, glorious berry flavour suddenly develops. It helps that you can smell it as you lift the cup, I think. That definetly adds another dimension.

Ultimately, a pretty good tea. I definetly want to try this iced in the summer, but as a hot drink to remind me that summer is coming, it’s not too shabby at all. I could really get into this.

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec
Ellyn

After a long stressful period when i finally get free time I always feel at odds. It is hard to relax after being wound for a long time!

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Ellyn

After a long stressful period when i finally get free time I always feel at odds. It is hard to relax after being wound for a long time!

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Bio

Hi :) I’m Sarah, and I live in Norfolk in the UK. My tea obsession began when a friend introduced me to Teapigs a good few years ago now. Since then, I’ve been insatiable. Steepster introduced me to a world of tea I never knew existed, and my goal is now to TRY ALL THE TEAS. Or most of them, anyway.

I still have a deep rooted (and probably life-long) preference for black tea. My all-time favourite is Assam, but Ceylon and Darjeeling also occupy a place in my heart. Flavoured black tea can be a beautiful thing, and I like a good chai latte in the winter.

I also drink a lot of rooibos/honeybush tea, particularly on an evening. Sometimes they’re the best dessert replacements, too. White teas are a staple in summer — their lightness and delicate nature is something I can always appreciate on a hot day.

I’m still warming up to green teas and oolongs. I don’t think they’ll ever be my favourites, with a few rare exceptions, but I don’t hate them anymore. My experience of these teas is still very much a work-in-progress. I’m also beginning to explore pu’erh, both ripened and raw. That’s my latest challenge!

I’m still searching for the perfect fruit tea. One without hibiscus. That actually tastes of fruit.

You’ve probably had enough of me now, so I’m going to shut up. Needless to say, though, I really love tea. Long may the journey continue!

My rating system:

91-100: The Holy Grail. Flawless teas I will never forget.

81-90: Outstanding. Pretty much perfection, and happiness in a cup.

71-80: Amazing. A tea to savour, and one I’ll keep coming back to.

61-70: Very good. The majority of things are as they should be. A pleasing cup.

51-60: Good. Not outstanding, but has merit.

41-50: Average. It’s not horrible, but I’ve definitely had better. There’s probably still something about it I’m not keen on.

31-40: Almost enjoyable, but something about it is not for me.

11-30: Pretty bad. It probably makes me screw my face up when I take a sip, but it’s not completely undrinkable.

0-10: Ugh. No. Never again. To me, undrinkable.

Location

Norfolk, UK

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