Harrods

One of my favorite black teas. Both of the black teas I drink the most are from Harrod’s of London from…two years ago now I suppose. And they no longer sell them or don’t sell them online. So I’m gonna have to find some new favorites pretty soon.

A friend brought this back from London for me. It’s been a long time since I had this much good tea at my disposal. Drinking it with cream & a small package of raw sugar. It’s a nice, well rounded cuppa. Not knock me out of my socks to die for, but a steadfast companion to get me through a busy Friday morning.

…bought that tea in the famous food halls of Harrods during a short trip to London.
Actually my wife picked it. Well, I was quite sceptical in the beginning. I could not help but to keep thinking of the old “Queen Mother”…seeing her in one of her pink dresses. A grandma-tea. Anyways, let’s keep it professional, shall we?
The dried leafs do look very appealing and those big, colorful rose pedals in the blend look good. Although I assume that additional to the use of rose pedals some rose oil was applied.
Still…the smell is vague. Not very strong. But as soon the tea gets in touch with water its flavors start to play with one’s mind. The rose scent is of such profoundness that it feels almost like standing in the middle of the Chelsea Flower Show on a bright and very English summer day. The idea occurs that the brew not necessarily has to be drunk to get pleasure out of it. Why not just let the tea cup stand on the table and fill the room with its scent? I made it a habit to let teas cool down a bit before I take my first sip, especially if I am ‘working’ my blacks. Reasons therefore are plenty and to my big amusement all listed and agreed upon by fellow-steepsters. Well, anyways…first sip. Second sip…magical. The rose flavor is there. But in a very fragile kind of way. One has to stay focused here as the rose is fading quickly from the tongue. The Ceylon dominates at first. But in a very smooth and sort of ‘royal’ way. Actually the whole tea experience on the taste palate could be rounded up with the word ‘royal’…not to hasty, very discret, lots of dignity. The flavors are not strong. Not rough. Impressively smooth and pleasant. The Chinese teas that were used for this blend, no doubt, are for catching and balancing the aftertaste…
Great blend.

A blend of Darjeeling, Assam and Nilgiri. Not nearly as bold as many similar blends. A very nice tea for when you want a black but not too strong or too malty or too anything that English style blacks can be

Not overly fruity, quite strong and good in the morning. Sometimes fruit-flavoured teas can be overwhelming, or seem like the fruit flavouring is masking the quality of the tea leaves. Not so this one; it’s quite nice, especially with a little milk and sugar like Earl Grey.

I got this as a gift (people always buy me tea for gifts; not that I’m complaining) from London. I keep it at work because it’s a nice light pick me up, and it’s teabags so easy to prepare in the office. It tastes smooth and, again, light. I personally love the tin more than anything.