ashmanra Send Message

Sipdown

This was really lovely today and the lavender was stronger than last time I served it. I just wish it didn’t have licorice root, not because I don’t like the taste but because I have had blood pressure issues in the past and don’t want to risk it. Yes, I know it PROBABLY takes a lot of licorice root to affect blood pressure, but I prefer to sweeten my own tea as I choose, and I almost always choose not to sweeten at all.

This is one of their better teas, IMO.

Sipdown

Finishing as a cold steep for Ashman, who is finding that this is how he prefers his strong black teas.

Sipdown

This was one of the teas I was most excited to try in the advent as it was one of the few that I hasn’t had before. It was very good, figgy enough for me and not too figgy for Ashman. I do prefer Fig and Lavender from Tea Grotto over this one I think, but this really is comparing apples,and oranges because this Fortnum tea is what it is supposed to be – a black tea with fig flavor. Tea Grotto has a lot more flavoring and would probably suit different pairings than the Fortnum tea which is more black tea forward.

I would definitely enjoy having this tea again and if we do the advent again sometime I hope this one stays in the line up.

Sipdown

This is one of the many teas given to me in December by my daughter in my advents. I am surprised to see that I haven’t reviewed it yet and here we are at the Sipdown.

This is exactly as advertised. Cinnamon first, chocolate second. The black tea base and the color of the steeped tea and medium light and let the flavors show off. Since brownies and chocolate are hard for me to separate, I will say that I don’t know if I taste brownie or if I am tasting chocolate that clearly isn’t intended to imitate a bar of chocolate, so either way I would have to say it is spot on to its name.

January Sipdown Prompt – your newest tea

I decided to go with whichever tea shows as most recently added, but we had our Christmas gathering yesterday and I received NINE EXCITING NEW TEAS! I opened the gifts from my son and ChelseaR first, and the ones from Superanna and her husband next, so this was put in cupboard last!

I read reviews and saw that several people found it to be subtle so I made sure not to underleaf. I have a three minute rule with French black tea blends as they have a tendency to be finicky. (I’m looking at you, Marco Polo. So delicious when prepared just exactly right and so infuriating when there is the slightest deviation from your perfect time and temperature.) I observe it for the first time making a French tea and adjust subsequently if needed.

I made biscuits and bacon for breakfast with daughter this morning and she made eggs. We had a new, locally produced apple butter that was a gift from yesterday as well. It was very different from the White House Apple Butter I grew up with and very tasty. Texture more apple sauce-y and a dash of vinegar in the recipe lends it a brighter, fresh apple flavor.

I did not find this tea to be subtle. It is a elegant, rich tasting tea that made breakfast feel extra fancy. It is called Melange and that is what the flavors have accomplished here – no single ingredient stands out boldly but rather they are thoroughly melded together with an overall impression of cinnamon and almond. I would not have known there was bergamot in this, so this will be a safe tea to offer Ashman, who isn’t wild about Earl Grey teas. I concur that it is slightly reminiscent of Pleine Lune but it is much less almond-y.

It does have enough heft from the base to take milk and sugar if you like to add those, but I drank it plain and will continue to have it that way. It can serve as a lovely breakfast OR afternoon tea. It would go exceptionally well with cookies or dainties, even cupcakes or cake. It would be brilliant paired with something frosted or iced.

sharedown

We don’t love it and usually drink it iced. There isn’t a lot left, but my son has been cold steeping small servings lately and I thought he might enjoy this one with the sweet licorice root which is strong enough that you don’t need to add any sugar.

Double Sipdown!

I blended the last of the peach and vanilla teas together and got two more sipdowns from the advent calendar knocked out. It is a cold day, so lots of hot tea is being drunk. The fruity black tea blends are the ones we look forward to most in the Fortnum advent. I am tempted to just ordered the small scented black tea assortment next year and cycle through them during the advent season.

Sipdown

This is a favorite from Fortnum & Mason. I have never bought a tin on its own but look forward to the 25 grams in the advent. It is simple and is exactly what it says, but the strawberry flavor is on a Chinese base (Keemun) which is so much smoother.

It resteeps well so we get several big pots of tea from the little tin. It is not finicky and has never been too harsh but maybe I have been attentive enough with it. We drink it plain but it can take milk and sugar if you like. Great with breakfast, on its own, or with a snack .

January 3 Sipdown Challenge Prompt – J.R.R. Tolkien Day

Today we were supposed to have tea with a hobbit meal…but I forgot. My daughter texted me as we were on the way to pick up Sam’s thyroid meds (like his wolf ancestors) at the vet office, so I missed my opportunity to do Second Breakfast. Never mind! Afternoon tea it is!

To make it more hobbitlike, I used an old pewter pot I inherited from my godmother and two clay cups. I prepared a plate of gingersnaps and we ate them outside on a blanket in the grass. It was a chilly day but very nice as long as you were out of the wind and in the sun.

I narrowed down the 140+ choices to two and told Ashman to pick from those two, and he chose this one. It was what I expected the Cookie Monster to do.

This resteeps nicely so we had a nice big pot to share and plenty to go with our cookies. I like this one very much and I am a bit torn as to whether I prefer this or Almond Black. I think this one might be more up the Ashman’s alley, while Almond Black edges ahead just ever so slightly for me. It really is a powerhouse of almond flavor, whereas this one is a nice mix of the almond and cookie flavors. Both are great!