I ordered 100 grams of this as a way to get free shipping on my advent calendar. I knew I wanted a non-flavoured black, and I wanted something that would be around $10 for 100 grams. I also must have browsed Steepster for an hour to find the highest-rated, cheapest unflavoured black. This tea fit the bill at $11.40 or so.
When I opened up the box, I was a little disappointed at first that the tea came in two fifty gram bags and a tin on the side. However, then I realized that I could gift the other 50 grams of tea for Christmas— so long as I don’t finish it before then.
Nose: Strong notes of honey and perhaps a bit of malt. It smells like a fresh box of Tetley or other bagged teas. The leaves are much tinier than Nepal Black, and they are not gold tipped like the latter.
Colour: Brews to be around the same hue as a regular bagged tea. The colour is nothing out of the ordinary.
I was happy I went on here before I made my first cup. Many reviewers suggested steeping it for no more than four minutes. I tried to aim for the 3:30 to 3:50 mark the first time. My favourite preparation so far is one cup of Irish Breakfast, steeped for just under four minutes, topped with two tsp of milk and one tsp of sugar. I should really work on drinking teas black again.
My SO can’t tell much of a difference between this one and regular breakfast tea in bags. I beg to differ. I think this tea has less of a tannin flavour than many common tea bags, and also tastes sweeter even without the addition of sugar.
Taste: Like a high quality cup of afternoon tea with grandma. I can picture the floral couch covers, the crocheted tea cozy, a muted game of golf on TV in the background, and an offering of months-old cookies in the glass jar on the counter.
This tea is definitely a keeper, and may provide a subtle step up for an after dinner tea offering at future dinner parties. I think its main use will be to keep me company on my drives to work.
Flavors: Astringent, Honey, Malt
Preparation
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About 2-3 years ago I remember ordering 250 grams of a tea from DAVIDS and it used to come in one giant bag (with the tin on the side. I think they prob always do the tin on the side to avoid tea spilling everywhere. As for the 50 gram bags I think it prob makes sense for them to grab however many 50 gram bags needed instead of all different sized bags for different amounts. I hear where you’re coming from, though!
Wow! Did the 250 grams stay fresh for long? Yeah, perhaps they’re less lazy about weighing out the proper amounts as well. I know I’ve gone in there and asked for a certain amount, and they’ve been wildly wrong about it.
About 2-3 years ago I remember ordering 250 grams of a tea from DAVIDS and it used to come in one giant bag (with the tin on the side. I think they prob always do the tin on the side to avoid tea spilling everywhere. As for the 50 gram bags I think it prob makes sense for them to grab however many 50 gram bags needed instead of all different sized bags for different amounts. I hear where you’re coming from, though!
Wow! Did the 250 grams stay fresh for long? Yeah, perhaps they’re less lazy about weighing out the proper amounts as well. I know I’ve gone in there and asked for a certain amount, and they’ve been wildly wrong about it.