Tea Centre

Made cake. With tea. http://www.shutterbean.com/2012/chocolate-earl-grey-cake/

It’s all I can do to not dig into it right this minute, but I have to save it for tomorrow.

It’s so good, people. So. Good. The extra floral of this earl grey really adds to the cake, but I imagine it’d be excellent with pretty much any tea you favour. Jasmine, chai, vanilla, strawberry, rose…

(I just use milk with lemon or vinegar to sour it, since I’m lazy and don’t always have yogourt. I also use 1 1/2 cups sugar as I prefer my baking less sweet.)

(Also, I really dislike this tea for drinking, unless I’m super careful and do a hot brew then pour it over ice. And add some citrus pieces. Too floral for me.)

One of the finest Formosa teas I have ever had. A full leaf black tea, with the sweetness of honey, and no bitterness to speak of. A tea to make you close your eyes in bliss.

Blend of Keemun, Jasmine, rose congue, rose petals and lavender. Floral bouquet, without the overpowering perfume that comes with Jasmine. The taste of rose lingers, while lavender keeps the tea from becoming bitter.

Today i steeped this with cooler water then dumped it into my mug. Very floral, very fruity. Not enough maltiness or depth of flavour for a morning tea for me when steeped like this. Maybe i need more tea leaves? I only used 2 tsp for a 16oz mug.

It’s a nice tea, and i get why my mom likes it, but it’s not something i’d purchase.

Hmm. I don’t know what’s up with this one, but I disagree with the “tawny tips” in their comments about the tea.

Otherwise, it’s a good basic black tea that I’ll probably drink with honey and milk. I had it this morning and steeped for the recommended 3 minutes. The flavour isn’t as bold as I generally like in a morning tea, but it was not astringent or bitter at all. Very smooth. I didn’t get rose from it, but that’s possibly due to my additions and possibly because I just don’t like rose in my tea.

This is one I hope my mom picks up for me again next Christmas. She has a good taste for plain black teas, even though she’s super picky! (I just visited, and I brought 8 teas for a tea tasting. She liked one. Dad liked most of them.)

The nice thing about doing Christmas this late is that I now have enough money for one of those programmable water heaters! I have my eye on a 3L one at a local Asian market. I hope they have another sale coming up soon!

From teacentre.ca in Courtenay, BC.

This Earl Grey is almost too much for me to drink straight. The flavour almost overwhelms.

Occasionally I drink it hot, with lots of cream or milk and a little honey. In the summer I cold steep it overnight and drink it iced. My favourite use for it is actually in an Earl Grey Chocolate Cake. (http://www.shutterbean.com/2012/chocolate-earl-grey-cake/) The floral flavour comes through, and it’s an amazing flavour with the chocolate. Love. I probably won’t purchase this tea again (My mom got me 250g, and I’m not even half way through!), but it is something to consider if you like really floral Earl Greys, or you want to bake with it.

(I’ve also added it to a French macaron recipe, filled with a honey custard. Amazing.)

(I’m eating the cake right now. OM NOM NOM. I added a giant spoonful of cocoa powder because I like my chocolate.)

No notes yet.

Good green tea with an extra little kick.

ahhhhhh

sweet and refreshing

Deliciously strong tea.