Orange Pekoe Premium Blend

A review Premium Blend of Orange Pekoe & Pekoe Cut Black Tea by Market Basket

I have this tea from time to time as afternoon tea and not always in the morning. It is an observation and I am not sure why I prefer it mid-day. Perhaps I am thinking I need something stronger than green tea perhaps.

I always rinse my cup with warm water; I take one tea bag and place it in my cup and add boiling water into my cup and placing the covering on the cup and let the tea steep for five minutes.

I cut up several bits of the lime that I keep around to have with my tea. Adding this after it has steeped, I squeeze some of the lime juice into my cup of tea and stir it slowly while noticing the tea’s color a darken golden color…reddish orange glow. It is amber in the coloring and I smell the citrusy effect of the pekoe plant.

The tea’s characteristic is that of a sweet malt with a full body, having no astringency. I like how the lime mingles in the cup by which livening the cup all the more.

On days when not wanting anything fancy and to simply fix a cup of tea, these premium blends comes in handy and worth keeping in my cupboard or kitchen counter. I drink tea all day long and when not able to afford the fanciful fine teas, it is good knowing I can enjoy the simpleness that is to be found in a cup of tea like this one.

I am thankful for roof on my head and the ability to boil water and fix myself a cup of tea. At times, desperate times taken for granted this basic need…for fixing a cup of tea when one does not have a place or a place of one’s own.

A review of Premium Blend of Orange Pekoe & Pekoe Cut Black Tea by Market Basket

Date: 09/11/2012
Company: Market Basket
Tea Name: Premium Blend of Orange Pekoe & Pekoe Cut Black Tea
Tea Type/Varietal: Black
Region:
Steeping Vessel/Amt. Leaf: Cup/ tea bag
Plucking Season:
Liquor Color: Bright orange color (amber)
Leaf Characteristics: Tea bag when not wet smells mildly of tea; it is grainy sounding in the bag. When steeped it is a bit stronger in the smell of the folded-leaves (at times fanned) causing tea to color quickly in the cup as opposed to other teas.

1. Steepings 4-5 good steep with same tea bag

1st Steeping:
Water temperature: 190 Fahrenheit
Time: 3 minutes

Note: This tea has a nice floral aroma; it is a good cup of tea for the pricing.

2nd Steeping:
Water temperature: 200 Fahrenheit
Time: 5 minutes

Note: Teas odor continues to be a lovely aromatic brew and colors right away as one fills the cup. In taste, tea is smooth and clean with a full body since taste remains the same throughout drinking this tea.

A review of Premium Blend of Orange Pekoe & Pekoe Cut Black Tea by Market Baskett

Date: 09/25/2012
Company: Market Basket
Tea Name: Premium Blend of Orange Pekoe & Pekoe Cut Black Tea
Tea Type/Varietal: Black
Region:
Steeping Vessel/Amt. Leaf: Cup / Tea bag
Plucking Season:
Liquor Color: Dark Golden amber
Leaf Characteristics:

1. Steepings

1st Steeping:
Water temperature: 195 Fahrenheit
Time: 5 minutes

Note: I steep this cup of tea for 5 minutes, after having poured very hot water into my cup. This is one of those inexpensive store brand tea that I return to when wanting something sample and not too troublesome to make.

I like that when pouring the water over the tea bag, it colors right away; at times a brightest red and then gets very dark the longer it is steep. Tea’s aroma is not astringent, it has a roasted aroma and when tasted it is like a mild malt with a smooth texture upon swallowing.

This is a good tea brand that I have been purchasing over time since the pricing per cup is just right.

A review of Premium Blend of Orange Pekoe & Pekoe Cut Black Tea by Market Basket

Date: 09/19/2012
Company: Market Basket
Tea Name: Premium Blend of Orange Pekoe & Pekoe Cut Black Tea
Tea Type/Varietal: Black
Region:
Steeping Vessel/Amt. Leaf: Cup/tea bag
Plucking Season:
Liquor Color: golden amber
Leaf Characteristics:

1. Steepings

1st Steeping:
Water temperature: 200 Fahrenheit
Time: 5 minutes

Note: I placed one tea bag in my cup and while the water is boiling I pour some of it into my cup and leave to steep for five minutes. I like that when pouring the water into the cup the tea color so very quickly; that golden amber color, very brightly brewed. The longer the tea bag is left in the cup the darker is the tea and this is normal. But since I am not adding sugar or honey to my cup of tea, it is not a good idea to leave it in longer that one should.

Tea taste strong like a black tea should taste, it is malt like with slight roast scent. Since it was steep longer than need be with no sweetener added it is mildly astringent, bitter even.

2nd Steeping:
Water temperature: 190 Fahrenheit
Time: 3 minutes

Note: This time using the same bag and simply adding more water to my cup of tea I only leave it to steep for a few minutes and not longer. I did not want tea to be bitter and it is not. The color is much lighter as well but the aroma is not floral or roasted even.

This second steep is mildly aromatic and not astringent at all.

A review of Premium Blend of Orange Pekoe & Pekoe Cut Black Tea by Market Basket

This is a great tea for having as iced tea. I always use about four tea bags placed in a pan and I add water to it and bring this to boil for about 5-6 minutes. Tea brews a very rich dark reddish color and smells very strong and malty.

I leave it to cool for at least half-hour or longer then I pour the tea in a gallon for later usage. When there is need for iced tea, it is served in a tall glass with iced put in it first, then some sugar and than the tea is poured into the tall glass. A long spoon is used to stir the sugar until it vanishes. At times a small sliver of lime is added for an intensity of the flavors.

This is a very simple tea to make and price wise it is very inexpensive. In all, there are one hundred tea bags in a box costing less than $5.00.

The price becomes irrelevant if the tea is enjoyable. And it most certainly is.

A review of Premium Blend of Orange Pekoe & Pekoe Cut Black Tea by Market Basket

Date: 09/29/2012
Company: Market Basket
Tea Name: Premium Blend of Orange Pekoe & Pekoe Cut Black Tea
Tea Type/Varietal: Black
Region:
Steeping Vessel/Amt. Leaf: Cup/ tea bag
Plucking Season:
Liquor Color: amber in color
Leaf Characteristics:

1. Steepings

1st Steeping:
Water temperature: 190 Fahrenheit
Time: 3 minutes

Note: I took one tea bag and place this in my cup and I add the boiling water to my cup and leave it to steep for few minutes. After few minutes I remove the tea bag from my cup and take sip of tea. It is fine nothing exceptional, just a cup of tea and not green tea but black tea. This black tea reminds me of the basic difference: black tea is stronger in taste, and has more caffeine; has a brighter coloring to it and should be enjoyed with milk and sugar.

A review of Premium Blend of Orange Pekoe & Pekoe Cut Black Tea by Market Basket

I enjoy fixing this tea as iced tea by the jug full. It is so very simple to make and I usually stock on this tea and make batches of it late in the evening for the next few days or so. I take several tea bag and fill my medium size pan with fresh tap water and I let this boil until bubbling over. I lower the fire and let cook for few minutes after. Then I turn off the fire and move it to another part of the range that is not on and leave the tea to cool for a few hours; usually ½ hour to 1 hour is plenty cooling time for me to pour it into the jug and into the fridge.

Through out the days ahead I can fix myself a cup of iced tea with cube of ice in a tall glass and a small slice of lime floating around in the cup with the tea in it. Tea’s color is golden brown and the lime makes it just that much more. It is a simple cup of ice tea fixed with not much fretting.

I am suggesting: find a tea that you like and fix it by the bucketful the night before and enjoy it daily with lemon/sugar or plain with ice. For me adding the ice is not to cool the tea but to remind me that I am indeed having tea, iced tea as opposed to drinking a glass of water.

I place one teabag into a cup and pour on the fresh boiling water and left to steep for 5 minutes. The tea brewed to a dark amber in color and its roasted smell fills the air nicely; it has a malt flavor taste and tea is full bodied. I don’t feel the need for sugar. It is suggested that lemon may be added to it. I like this tea just plain and nicely hot.

I fall back on premium store brand tea for economic reason and to have a nice cup of tea with no fuss in the making and the taste quite agreeable.

You can stock expensive teas as well as having some store brand name that you have come to like for its simple ness and goodness in the cup.

Tea is dark amber in color.

Tea’s aroma is a malt flavor and is best enjoyed with sugar and milk. I prefer it malt-like and at times with a drop of honey, which is nice when, throat is sore from having a cold. This is another one of those market brand teas that I try to keep in stock and consume daily in conjunction with my green tea. I find I can begin the day with this premium blend Pekoe and end the day with their green tea for something lighter.