Wow.
So this one’s actually pretty interesting for me, because I think I’m beginning to be able to detect taste differences between different varieties of teas!
This one steeps to a medium-colored amber. It’s drastically different than the color of Twinings’ brew, which is so dark and murky it could be mistaken for coffee.
Even though I haven’t ever tasted Assam tea by itself, because I had some Ceylon last night, I was able to pick out the Ceylon taste immediately. In the first couple of sips I kept thinking “buttery” once again for Ceylon. This disappeared as I got midway through the cup, but it was still interesting. After each sip, I’d get a dark and interesting kick. Not bitter (and I think there’s a fine line here), but I guess a taste that could be described as “malty,” as Adagio and Lena have said. And I thought to myself, that has to be the Assam!
I really, really enjoyed this cup this morning. But here’s the crazy thing – I actually wanted it to be even bolder. I think the ratio of Ceylon to Assam is okay, but I would have actually wanted more of an Assam kick. I wanted the brew to be a bit more in-your-face, kicking ass and taking names. Towards the bottom of the cup, the Assam was definitely more present, and I felt myself grinning through those last few sips.
This is definitely more endlessly sippable than the Twinings blend, but I sort of like how assertive and RAWR-worthy Twinings’ Irish Breakfast is. Thinking back on it, it’s probably because they’ve dialed it up on the Assam a bit. Their blend made me feel like a scurvy pirate, slugging down my brew with a big “ARR.” It’s almost masculine. This one was more of a “rawr” without Caps-Lock. Not to say it isn’t delicious – because it is – but I was actually expecting it to be a bit stronger.
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I hearts this review! It has everything. Even pirates. :D
You might want to check out Republic of Tea’s Lucky Irish Breakfast blend. I think Adagio’s Irish breakfast has higher quality leaves but it means that it isn’t quite as in your face as ROT’s.
Auggy, I don’t think it’s necessarily the quality of the leaves that has me. I guess I just wanted something more robust, which would come from a higher concentration of Assam than what’s in this blend. The Ceylon is definitely the star here, from what I can taste, with the Assam the more subtle note. Ceylon has more of a default tea taste than I expected in this blend overall. At least what I can taste! I’m still new at this. :)
Sounds like you know exactly what’s going on with it better than I do! :) I guess I wasn’t looking at the Ceylon vs Assam so much as the power of the Assam… not sure how the blend balance is in ROT’s but their Assam seemed more aggressive to me… but then we’ve already established I’m a wuss. Hehe!
You are SO not a wuss! You’re the pu-erh queen, m’lady! :D But I’ll definitely taste ROT’s blend if it’s got a larger Assam kick. Thanks for the recommendation!
Haha – one pu-erh does not a queen make! But takgoti did send me 2 others to try so that is exciting! Whee!
I hearts this review! It has everything. Even pirates. :D
You might want to check out Republic of Tea’s Lucky Irish Breakfast blend. I think Adagio’s Irish breakfast has higher quality leaves but it means that it isn’t quite as in your face as ROT’s.
Auggy, I don’t think it’s necessarily the quality of the leaves that has me. I guess I just wanted something more robust, which would come from a higher concentration of Assam than what’s in this blend. The Ceylon is definitely the star here, from what I can taste, with the Assam the more subtle note. Ceylon has more of a default tea taste than I expected in this blend overall. At least what I can taste! I’m still new at this. :)
Sounds like you know exactly what’s going on with it better than I do! :) I guess I wasn’t looking at the Ceylon vs Assam so much as the power of the Assam… not sure how the blend balance is in ROT’s but their Assam seemed more aggressive to me… but then we’ve already established I’m a wuss. Hehe!
You are SO not a wuss! You’re the pu-erh queen, m’lady! :D But I’ll definitely taste ROT’s blend if it’s got a larger Assam kick. Thanks for the recommendation!
Haha – one pu-erh does not a queen make! But takgoti did send me 2 others to try so that is exciting! Whee!