Dry: I was really excited to try this one because.. Dorchester! Anyhow, it is a basic CTC (cut, tear, curl) in appearance with all brown chopped tea leaf bits. It smells like a nice strong black blend, malty and sharp straight from the bag.
Steeped: When steeped, this one smells like a traditional English Breakfast with stronger malt character to me. It has a clear dark brown liquor and loses some of the sharp dry notes. Almost looks like a cup of coffee with a dash of milk added.
Taste: I did not try this straight as it is meant to have additions. It tastes hearty and full-bodied with 2% milk added and I imagine sugar would contribute to a pleasant cup as well. I am not sure what the blend is made up of (and I couldn’t find it on the website), but it reminds me of a more robust version of the Harney’s English Breakfast. This is a smooth, non-astringent, and with a thick mouthfeel that all contributes to a lovely morning wake-up. That said, I like Scottish Morn better. That is just personal preference though- this is a lovely breakfast tea.
