Whittard of Chelsea

Something is funky with Steepster’s cupboard. It doesn’t show the number of reviews properly.
Anyway, had this yesterday, as a breakfast brew. I’m running really low on this, and it’s no longer stocked by Whittards, so I’m taking my time with it. I’m trying to view beloved out of stock teas as I do out of stock fountain pen inks – another one will come along, perhaps even better or more interesting than the one that’s gone.
A strong, bold, bass-y tea, it thrums it way down very smoothly, especially with milk.

I was really tired this afternoon at work, so I brewed a strong cup of this, and since I had milk at hand, added a “spot of milk” in it too. Great tea, although my Marriage Frerres French Breakfast takes milk better. Not many brews left in this caddy, I’m afraid. Will sorely miss it.

Running rather low on this tea, which is dismaying, because Whittard’s have stopped making it (or so it seems). A big bold tea that was a welcome mid-morning pick-me-up today, especially since I’ve been coming down with something today. So vitamin C, tea, chicken soup and throat lozenges have been the order of the day.

Had a strong cup of this with milk, to wake me up after being up late at work and waking up way to early. A classic “builder’s brew” kind of tea.

First morning cuppa. Brilliant way to start the day

Drinking a cup while at an annoying seminar at work. Comforting. A very smooth cup, dark reddish brown with a golden yellow halo.

I’ve found this tea by accident on sale in a Whittards shop in York (2011). I haven’t seen it since, which makes me think that perhaps it’s been discontinued, or perhaps it is available for sale only in York. In any case, if you can get your hands on a caddy or two, do so. This is an Irish Breakfast kind of tea, very strong, perfect for a morning kick of caffeine, and excellent with milk or without. Malty but not bitter, it is a wonderful way to start your day.

I used 0.9 tablespoons of dry leaf for 375 ml of water.

Malty flavour. Toffee sweetness that is not overpowered by an astringency. Smooth black tea tones.

At room temperature, I notice a robustness to the flavour at the end of the sip. Brittle confectionary sweetness near the end of the sip.

I used 1 tablespoon of dry leaf for 375 ml of water.

The black tea aroma is dominant in the scent of the brewed tea. There are notes of toasted sugar as well.

The black tea flavour overpowers the tea. There is only a hint of toffee taste in the middle of the sip. Tea taste trails off into a bitterness with a sharp edge.

I think that this tea may have to be brewed for a shorter amount of time.

Rating: 64

Thank you to Ellyn for this tea!

I don’t have experience of any loose leaf Lapsang Souchong to compare against unfortunately, but I did enjoy it in a bag. I can see the loose leaf have a fresher underlying tea flavour, but I thought this was great as a quick brew solution.

It has that wonderful camp fire smell, much stronger than I expected. The taste was very pleasant too, just enough wood and smokiness in it. It wasn’t overpowering and steeped very well.

I like this tea a lot. It does have a very summer smell out of the packet, although the rose isn’t as distinguishable from the fruit as some might hope from the tea’s name. This probably explains some of other reviewers feelings.

I have found the taste varies a lot depending on steep time. The longer you steep the more the rose influence is lost to the black tea. Because of this I usually taste a spoonful along the way to get the right time to finish steeping.

I drink this tea on my own at home, and therefore I only make enough for one cup. I’ve found the taste of rose and fruit can vary a lot depending on what you get on the spoons you put in, so if I can’t see much rose going in I will add a bit more to try and keep each mug balanced.

I find the taste has the correct balance of floral and sweet tones rose, and it’s a great way to pick the mood up over a very wet winter.

Also ideal for breakfast.

A review of Moroccan Mint by Whittard of Chelsea

Company: Whittard of Chelsea
Tea Name: Moroccan Mint
Tea Type/Varietal: Green
Region: Africa
Steeping Vessel/Amt. Leaf: cup/ tea leaf
Liquor Color: light green to light brown
Leaf Characteristics: fine tea leaves when steep resembles that of the Gunpowder green tea; the leaves seem to resemble them even curled/fried in pan etc.

1st Steeping:
Water temperature: 195 Fahrenheit
Time: 3 minutes

I took only one teaspoon for this cup of tea that I am having middle of day. The tea leaves smells wonderfully of the mint; I add the leaves (small pellets) to my tea cup and pour in the boiled water. I leave tea to steep for a few minutes. When straining the tea I am reminded of this Gunpowder green tea that I had since the leaves are fuller in my cup resembles/bunches up the same as the gunpowder tea. Anyhow, I strained the tea with strainer and take my cup of tea to sip and sip.
Tea has a lovely minty aroma that is most light and not at all over powering. It is as if drinking mint leaf tea but I imagine that the brew would be stronger. Instead this tea is smoothly rich and the spearmint is evenly distributed throughout the tea.

I like this tea just the way it is I would not dare add anything else. Sugar would be nice to those desiring more sweetness.

2nd Steeping:
Water temperature: 190 Fahrenheit
Time: 5 minutes

I am able to enjoy another cup of this fine tea using the same tea leaves. Water is slightly cooler and I steep it longer whilst straining the tea leaves, tea’s color is a light brown with a minty aroma. When I sip of the tea it is mint and green tea with no astringency at all.

I had read from my Tea Chings book that “In Morocco, a traditional hot beverage was made from mint leaves; British traders introduced green tea in the nineteenth century. Today Moroccan tea is a blend of the two leaves; it’s served strong, minty, and sweet, poured in a thin stream from high above the table into small glasses.”—Ministry of Tea by The Republic of Tea

I am mentioning of this as reminder of how steep in history tea is; as one fixes a cup of tea, knows the land and customs where tea was fashioned after is good resource to know.

I like this tea very much. I mustn’t forget to thank those from an An International Tea moment for sending me some of their teas to sample.

CLOSE to being caught up with my back logs! This is a backlog from yesterday! I had a cup while chomping on some Lush Gourmet Nuts! I hope to start reviewing them on my today or tomorrow. I have LOTS going on there if you are interested!
http://myblissfuljourney.com
Contests and Giveaways coming soon!

Backlogging first and 2nd cuppa the day! See previous notes

Backlogging and LOVING it!

Liberteas Thanks for this one!
It’s a goodie!
I really like that it has more than one black tea in it’s base. The blend is lovely. The Bergamot isn’t as intense as some others I have tried but it works well here. It’s also a tad lemony. And a bit creamy, even. I can also pick up on the floral notes Liberteas mentioned in the 2nd half of the sip!

Very nice!

Sipdown from yesterday…this one will be missed…see other notes!

First Cuppa the morn! Bring it ON! See previous notes!

Ass-Sam!
LOVELY!
Ass-Sam!
LOVELY!

Yes, it’s true! Every month or two I have to rewatch this video!
http://youtu.be/eELH0ivexKA

Anyhow…Thanks to Liberteas for this one!

It IS lovely! The type of Assam I have been craving the last few weeks, actually. It really hits the spot!

Sweet and caramelly and slightly fruity but a nice amount of malt, too! Naturally Rich and dessert-like without actual flavoring! YUMMO! YUM!

amazing!

really easy to oversteep, smell is better than the taste. I got this free when I bought a teacup at Whittards, and I’m glad I didn’t pay for it!

Every time I go to the main store to buy more tea, I end up buying another that I hadn’t intended to. This time, Keemun Best was that add-on, and what a beautiful smell it has! Previously I’ve only had the Metropolitan Tea Company Keemun Panda as an afternoon tea served in a tearoom, so I was rather surprised by the sweet, floral fragrance of the dry leaves. It’s almost sugary!

Didn’t brew this for too long as the aroma quickly went from fresh, nutty and sweet to a more standard black “afternoon” muscatel scent, and the colour is deep and clear. And, wow, I can’t tell if it’s partially the aftertaste of the sencha that was in this mug, but the keemun itself tastes almost… savoury? It’s dry and very robust, a hint of sweetness and the floral scent again in the aftertaste, and even slightly fruity. Delicious! I think I can even recognise this kind of delicate tea base from Dammann Freres blends!