Royal Air Force

I needed a good – no – a GREAT kick in the rear this morning as I got up FAR earlier than I usually do and I have no idea why. Its cool and the wind is crazy today – leaves falling – perfect cuddle up and sleep all day type of day. HOWEVER I grabbed this sample from LiberTEAS and thank goodness this is a strong bold cup! Exactly what I needed!
Malty, oatmeal aroma, some strange fruit notes. When I wake up I will be doing a full review on http://sororiteasisters.com/

LiberTeas Thank you for a bit of this!

This is a masculine, bold, sturdy type tea with a combo of black teas in the base – I do believe. The Darjeeling pops thru nicely but also mixes in very well, too. To the tongue it’s a bit malty, a little caramelly, a tad astringent but in a good way, and very pleasing to my palate!

A nifty morning cuppa or one to help with the mid-afternoon lulls!

I was really excited when a friend in the UK sent me a tin of this tea. It’s been on my wish list for a while.

The leaves are highly mechanically processed. The leaf fragments are very uniform and almost appear to be ground. There’s an even mix between dark and light leaf particles. The fragrance is clean and crisp; almost citrusy.

Once steeped, this tea produces a very dark, almost black cup. The fragrance takes on a more malty and caramel character. In flavor, this has a medium body and astringency and is well balanced, but the finish leans more towards a darjeeling.

I don’t dress my teas, but this could take some additives. It also stands up to multiple infusions. Pick some up if you make it to the other side of the pond.

OK, you HAVE to watch this video: http://raretea.m6.artlogic.net/news-and-reviews/videos/xaqGK6UTTQY Don’t worry, it’s short. But, it’s very funny.

And this tea is delicious. It does taste like tea. Delicious tea.

Rich, bold, malty, but I can taste the sparkling notes of the Darjeeling in this too. High fruit notes with a hint of muscatel. Very enjoyable!

Uber-fresh tasting black blend. Very proper “British” style black tea that would probably go very nicely with milk and sugar. If you like your tea strong enough to make your spoon stand up, Royal Air Force should do the trick nicely.

I’m only just getting started out on my loose leaf tea adventures, with possibly only a dozen and a half loose leaf teas currently in my possession, but this tea has definitely made itself a firm place on my tea shelf.

I bought this tea to try out of curiosity, mostly; I wanted to know whether the price of the tea signified the quality. The answer is YES! This tea has both firm flavours and gentle (but not too subtle) complexities. It is a little light for my taste if not steeped for a while but it’s fruity and if you are wanting a well bodied but not bland black tea to enjoy then this definitely gets my vote. It is, so far, the only tea that has always been a pleasure to drink and has always fit my varying moods/tastes.

I will be trying other teas from the Rare Tea Company based purely on the outstanding quality of this tea.

An excellent example of a traditional style black tea blend – sweet and crisp, with a good body that takes milk well. Equally good without milk – some citrus and floral notes are apparent, especially in the mid-palate. Slightly buttery on the finish.

Takes multiple infusions well.