Taylors of Harrogate

I made a pot of this earlier! I like my darjeeling weak and milky, so the fact that Betty’s loose teas are weak unless you use double the amount of tea per person is a mixed blessing. Even when it got strong it wasn’t /too/ strong— it’s probably difficult to scald this one. Good Darjeeling, not as strong as regular types!

The front of the box says, “A rich full-bodied tea with a delicious malty flavour.”
I took mine with half a teaspoon of raw sugar and a splash of 2% milk. I found it very flavourful after about 3 and a half minutes steeping time, then the ‘full-bodied’ taste really comes out. I was delighted to find it remained sweet and tempered in flavour, not becoming bitter or over-powering too quickly.

I’m not sure where the vanilla is hiding in here, because I’m getting that hot jell-o mix taste that I get from so much red fruit tea. But I’m in a hotel, and I’m exhausted, and this tea bag came with the hotel. It’s not undrinkable, but it’s certainly not delicious either. I really can’t distinguish this from most other teas in the same genre.

So instead I’ll complain that this Marriott, like most, has no free ‘net access from anywhere but the lobby, and I didn’t realize this until after changing into my pajama pants with the little skulls and stars on them. And since I am here in a professional capacity, I’d prefer for folks in the group not to see me in my nightwear. I was admiring my room’s lovely desk with copious wall jacks for my laptop, before realizing it’s just all part of Marriott’s attempt to seduce me into paying $12.95/day for internet access. Dear Marriott, I am getting reimbursed to be here, but considering what I paid your hotel for my lunch I think I’ve already used my per diem for the day.

Second infusion was very good. The bergamot influence was less than the first infusion but the taste of the tea was more forward.

Just opened the package – what a strong smell from the bergamot oil. I enjoyed the first infusion. Not sure this is the “best Earl Grey ever” but it is good.

An excellent wake-me-up tea. A flavourful reddish-dark brew, which may seem a little bitter for some palates but still, I prefer it with nothing added. Very similar in strenght to the Melroses´of Scotland Scottish Breakfast blend. A sharp, bold taste I enjoy in the mornings and at any time of the day.

I love it’s the fresh taste and strong vivid color!

Friday Apr. 8, 2011
2nd Steep of the Day
My wife wanted some Yorkshire Gold but likes it LITE.
So she steeped a POT and ADDED a FRESH SLICE of LEMON.
Her SHORT 45 SECOND Steep with the added Lemon was Very Pleasant.
But I Like a Good BOLD Strong Steep.
So Going for the BLACK Currant NEXT
Keep On Steepin

Tuesday Apr. 5, 2011
2nd Steep of the Day
Back to Some Good Reading and Good Drinking
Reading the James River and Traveling with Captain John Smith
While Drinking Yorkshire BLACK tea From Taylors
I’ll Try to Find a Book on the YORK River in Virginia
To Make it a ROUND TRIP in the mean time I’ll
Keep on Steepin

Monday Mar. 28, 2011
2nd Steep of the Day
Another Cup Of Yorkshires Gold.
This is a Good Bold Black Tea.
Smooth and Robust in the Cup.
Great Sipping and Reading Tea.
Grab a Book and
Keep On Steepin

Wednesday Mar. 23 , 2011
2nd Steep of the Day
Made a LARGE MUG of Yorkshires GOLD
http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/Plum/3-23_TEA_(1).JPG
I’m Reading “The River where America began”
“A Journey Along the James River” in Virginia
And Thought I’d Keep up the Jamestown Theme
So I Used My Jamestown Settlement MUG.
The Only English TEA I HAD was Good Ole Yorkshires Gold
This tea is Great for Slow Long Reading Bold and Strong.
Great Reading and Great Tea for a Chilly Rainy Afternoon.
Keep On Steepin

After one sip of this tea, it is clear to me why the British Isles have not been successfully invaded since the introduction of tea. It makes a really muscular cuppa that will jolt me awake in the morning. Very strong Assam flavor, dark brown color and heavy on the caffeine. I drink my first cup of the morning with milk and sugar, and this tea is plenty robust enough to stand up to it. After the second cup, I am ready for anything!

This is one of the prettiest teas that I’ve ever had. The color is a dark red and purple. Gorgeous! The flavor is definitely raspberry mixed with a little sweetness (I assume this is supposed to be the Vanilla). It’s tasty, but has a strange flavor in the background. While this is a fine tea, it tastes just a little funky to me. Thank you to oOTeaOo for sharing with me!

Staple everyday – good strong tea.

found this in a specialty tea shop in Pennsylvania and gave it a go…used coconut creamer and added some sugar (a little less for the 2nd steeping) for the first 2 steepings and it was excellent as a morning tea…tried a third steeping to see how it would taste and tasted before adding anything and it gave a nice sugarless/creamerless brew…really love it!

This tea is a big disappointment considering its high ratings on steepster and elsewhere. I’ve been on a search for the perfect earl grey, and so far, I’ve tried maybe 20-30 different earl greys. This one is really mediocre. It tastes no better than a cheap earl grey from a tea bag, worse maybe. It has no body or depth, just a weak, perfumy bergamot. The flavor is very weak overall. Steep time adjustments and adding more tea do not seem to bring out any more black tea flavor from the tea.

Do not over steep, or this tea will taste like cheese. Actually it kinda tastes like cheese anyways, but it’s good enough you kinda ignore it. It is a delicious tea, but very strong if overbrewed, and it turns bitter easily. It’s very strong and has a lot of caffeine, and will stain anything you put it on. But it’s awesome tasting and fairly cheap, so it’s worth it.

This tea is excellent for a cup of builders tea. The first time I made this, I accidentally overstepped it for ten minutes, but a bit of milk and sugar transformed the cup from bitter and unpalatable to a good, strong morning tea.

This is some pretty good quality tea for a decent price. I also really like the way the tea is packaged, which is better for the environment than some of the individually wrapped tea-bag companies. Pretty strong, which I enjoy in the A.M.

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag
Water: boiling
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes (http://steep.it/)
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: raspberry, hibiscus
Steeped Tea Smell: hibiscus, raspberry
Flavor: hibiscus
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: sweet, vanilla
Liquor: opaque dark pink

Not really getting raspberry or vanilla. I was a fine cup but not something I want more of.

Swap with oOTeaOo , Thank you

Pictures: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/01/taylors-of-harrogate-teabag-herbal.html