Whittard of Chelsea

I love milk oolongs, so I simply had to try another one out there! I don’t taste buttery or milky flavors that I do in other milk oolongs. There is a little bit of a peachy note in the background, but otherwise it tastes like an astringent green oolong, to me. Not a favorite, but I’m happy that I was able to try it! Thank you maisonlula for a sample!

A while ago I gave this a try in its teabag form- 50 teabags to one box, basically gave me 50 unsavoury, terrible tea experiences. However I’m hearing good things about the loose leaf version and I’m always willing to give teas another shot, so I caved and got the loose-leaf Sencha yesterday, thinking I could use this for breakfast.

Steeped to the pale gold colour the packet recommends (the leaves look… unimpressive, to say the least, like bancha rather than anything of a higher grade), it still has this foreboding, sharply tangy aroma to it. Part of this fresh citrus-y scent is what makes Japanese green teas so unique, of course, but too much of that gave me an entirely bitter experience last time I tried this tea. And onto the first sip…

Much better! Smoother, softer over the palate and nothing as astringent as how it smells or how the teabag tea tasted! I understand the main difference between this tea and the teabag version is the teabag version uses Sri Lankan tea leaf fannings, whereas this, as whole-leaf Japanese tea, is more delicate. I’d used about a level teaspoonful— I’d say the flavour, being so easily spoilt, is absolutely based on the quantity of tea used. In a teabag there’s simply too much to make one pleasant mugful…

As I’m getting through the cup the citrus astringency is slowly beginning to settle in, but not unpleasantly. It reminds me of drinking tea and eating maple-leaf dorayaki in the ryokan in Miyajima… definitely making me crave red bean paste, anyway. I had to take quite a bit of care with letting the boiled water cool before pouring it but I think I’ll make this part of my morning routine from now on. ♥

Usually for breakfast I tend to have a green tea rather than a black English breakfast tea, and a 50-bag box lasts a long time (compared to 20 bags in Twinings boxes) but… this is really difficult to make in teabags.

I’ve tried everything from using water off the boil, adding cool water, taking the teabag out early, brewing it at a cooler temperature than usual, brewing it in a big mug; nothing seems to stop it tasting bitter, acrid and scalded. Even following the directions (“brewed lightly” for a pale gold colour— you have to take the teabag out after a few seconds or it’ll turn brown and bitter) doesn’t help. It might just be a dilemma concerning the teabag tea, since I haven’t tried the loose-leaf version, but it’s disappointing.

After having been through a variety of other companies’ teas, Whittard of Chelsea’s remains still one of the more well-rounded, delicate ones. Somehow I’d thought due to kickstarting my tea obsession with Twinings that I could only tolerate Earl Grey very, very strong— but even brewed strongly this tea tastes delicate, even flowery, and takes milk pretty well! Lightly with a little lemon is delightful, too, but there’s more to this tea than just its ‘light’ taste. It’s a distinctive bergamot flavour that accompanies the black base rather than becoming overpowering alongside it.

In previous experience of Whittard’s Earl Grey blend I found it rather weak, probably in comparison to the Earl Grey I usually drink (the old blend in Twinings teabags, which can get incredibly strong very quickly); but since I didn’t bring any Earl Grey to uni and the new Twinings blend doesn’t sit well with me, I thought I’d give it a shot.

It’s definitely not as weak as I’d remembered! It just needs a little while to brew fully, and takes milk very well. The balance between the black tea and the bergamot is great (and it smells divine; the temptation to just leave a box of it open in my room… XD)— a definite favourite.

The best English Rose teas I’ve had so far haven’t actually been English, and this one continues the trend. Even though it says “a hint of tropical fruit” has been added, there’s a hint of fruit, but there’s also just a hint of rose. Neither flavour is particularly bold or characteristic (if anything, the fruit might come out just a little more) as I’d usually expect from a rose tea. Brewing longer doesn’t make a difference either.

Well, it’s so-so, but it’s nothing interesting.

thankyouthankyou maisonlula for our awesome swap!
So far this is definitely my favorite of the bunch, oh my gosh.

The flavour is out of this world good! And strong!
My boy and I enjoyed it over the Christmas break with some cream and sugar to enhance the cream. The rhubarb is sweet, not tart like when you eat it. More like a sugar dipped rhubarb, my personal favorite.

The tea base is mild and isn’t bitter at all. Very pleasant and awesome quality!

there are few teas i drink with milk .. this being one of those exceptions. i like it’s slight earthiness. great start to a winters day.

Can be quite strong if not prepared just right. Best without milk. A good once-in-a-while tea. I should try it cold some time…

Brewed it a little longer and drank it accompanying a light meal of cheese, cold cuts and pate on crackers. Marvelous fit.

I’m usually not a big fan of instant tea, but this one, stolen from my mother’s cupboard, is actually quite nice, and will probably be a hit in the summertime (if I can make it last that long, that is).
I’d advise against the three teaspoons of instant tea per serving as suggested in the can, though. Two teaspoons is enough, otherwise it’ll be way too sweet.

Water just short of boiling and a long steep time makes for a very strong tea. As always, no sugar and no milk. Just the ticket!

This tea has a very strong after-taste of bergamot which I do like during the day, but I prefer to keep it a little bit under control in the evening.
That is why I brew it quite lightly in these occasions (around 2 minutes for one teabag in a cup).
Delicious.

A great taste for a cold, rainy day.