Buckingham Palace Garden Party

Doulton’s Shakespeare: A Tasting Note in 5 Acts
Act III scene 3

“A high hope for a low heaven.”
Love’s Labour’s Lost, Act I scene 1

I really wanted to like this tea. It’s got both “garden” and “party” in its name, therefore it must be like a floral party for mah mouth — amiright? Oh nose! I am wrong. I actually had this tea yesterday and the disappointment was so great that it took me until today to write about it. Perhaps I set my expectations way too high.

Both the dry leaf and the steeped tea’s fragrance screamed potpourri. It’s rather what I’d imagine chewing on a big-ole mouthfull of potpourri would be like. After it cooled a bit I sort of enjoyed holding the liquid in my mouth (more like having just chomped down on some fresh flowers), but then I’d swallow (back to bitter potpourri), and finally the aftertaste was sort of nice and flowery.

Therefore I picked a rather “Meh” play for this “Meh” tea. Furthermore, Love’s Labour’s Lost has the greatest percentage of rhyming couplets of any Shakespeare play: flowery language for a flowery tea.

I have enough for another pot of tea so I shall try adjusting the preparation perameters. If the adjustments help, then I’ll re-dub this tea “Love’s Labour’s Found.” M

This is my first loose leaf I’ve ever steeped. So all I have to compair it to is tea bags. I steeped it Twice. The Frist time I could taste the floral notes of the jasmine, and the black tea overshadowed the green so I couldn’t tell it was present. The bergamont was the after flavor that sort of lingered. The second steep – I didn’t notice the jasmine this time , the bergamot stood out. Again no flavor of green tea noticed. So the second steep was more like a Earl Gray.

I’d forgotten I had some of this left! It got lost in the back of my “samples” section.

I think I made this a little too strong, but it’s quite bracing! It goes down bitter, but there’s a lingering aftertaste that isn’t sweet but feels like it ought to be, if that makes sense. And it’s a lovely dark brown that looks strong; I do like when teas look like they taste.

I always love this stuff and while considered an afternoon tea, it’s also good for those ams when you just wanna grab a familiar bag and have a nice wake up.