Betjeman and Barton
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Sipdown 11-2021
Another Dustin advent sipdown. This is such an interesting blend. Visually, it’s very unique- black tea intermingled with rooibos, large verbena leaves, almond slivers, and pieces of fruit. The almond is the most distinct aroma, with the pear being the most distinct flavor. Very happy to have been able to enjoy this one!
This was a bit of an impulse purchase. My family was waiting for me outside the shop on our last day in Paris a year ago, so I had to make it quick. The man behind the counter was very helpful in narrowing my interests, pulling this one out when I said I like almonds. I was in such a hurry that I totally forgot I had meant to ask about their cacao teas.
This tea has a nice fruity almond scent that translates well into the cup. I’m not sure what all is in it, but it’s hard to scoop accurately because there are large non tea leaves in the mix. The tea has a very light feel to it, so much so that it doesn’t strike me as a black tea at all. It has some sweetness to it that rounds out the fruit flavor which mixes well with the almond. As it cools it takes on a flatness and becomes slightly tart and alkaline. Much better when hot! I would like to cold steep this sometime if I can remember to do so next time I come across it in my cupboard.
Preparation
I started steeping this and walked away for an unknown amount of time. Surprisingly, it wasn’t bitter! I get a bit of a floral fruity note in it. It’s a tiny bit malty and very smooth. The vanilla brings in a smoothness to it all. I wish I had more than this one teabag so I could try it under better steeping conditions.
Preparation
Wasn’t sure what this tea would be. It was in a mixed package of teabags I bought and the name caught my attention this morning. Opening the package reveals a bergamot scent. I expected that the first few sips of this would be bitter and I’d have to get used to it, but that wasn’t the case at all! Not sure what Pouchkine means, I’ll have to look that up, but this is an EG all the way. I can’t pick out the tea flavor over the citrus in the sip, but it appears in the finish along with a hint of leather. It doesn’t have that sharp bite that many EGs have and I wonder if it’s the smokiness that dampers that. Either way, I approve! I usually drink EGs with a bit of cream, but when I added some to this cup the flavors were significantly dampened. This tea is better without anything added.
Preparation
A little bitter and bland when first steeped. Once I added creamer it turned into a much better cup as most breakfast teas do IMO. It is hearty, the cream rounds out the flavors so well. Slight bit of malt. It’s delicious. I’d drink it again, but I don’t know that it should live in my cupboard. Luckily this is from a sample set so there is little commitment needed right now!
Preparation
I got this in a variety pack of B&J tea bags. There aren’t many B&J teas listed here which means more work adding tea profiles if I want to leave notes. :/
This is a little malty with a slight bitterness to it mid sip and in the finish. Seems hearty, but not like anything special. Adding creamer to it really changes the cup. The bitter edge is gone, replaced by a creamy roundness. The end of the sip is still hearty, but also rich. I’m liking it, but not enough to stock it.
Preparation
I wasn’t sure about this one when I smelled the leaves…..it smelled a bit sharp so I was hesitant to try it. I brewed a pot because okay……the smell tempered a bit and became more gourmand fruity as it steeped.
I had it with sugar and milk. This tea is wonderful. Truly. I though with the notes it had it would be overly candied and cloying but instead it reminds me of the scent of a fruitcake. The cherry and pineapple with the toffee create a rich sweet aura that is heightened when the sugar is added and it truly feels dessert-like. The orange is a fantastic touch, adding the element of ‘holiday’. It’s the scent of a memory, delicious and the kind of scent that in the moment you can’t quite put your finger on.
I brew teas with scents at a slightly lower temperature for black teas……typically around 195 to 200. I find that this helps boost the scenting of the tea rather than having it dissipate. The ‘flavor’ of this tea was apparent from its hottest state to its coldest. Definitely will be a regular cupboard favorite!
Preparation
disappointed when I opened the bag, the earl grey is hardly noticable, so didn’t expect much…… steeped and then wow. smokey tea with hints of lemon and orange. Perrffect cup. I really, really love it! YUM
Preparation
Chocolate, caramel, toffee, cereal..what’s not to love? Pretty sure this is more oolong than black tea, or a blend since it always does much better at lower temps, but i seem to have that figured out. I like the spice/cereal notes in this one that blend with the chocolate and caramel. it’s more bready like than caramel chocolate but it’s still delicious
gosh damn i love this tea. It hit all the right notes today since i managed to not only remember to brew it for longer, but also cooled the temp down a bunch. AMAZING how good tea can be when you don’t mess up the parameters lol. Glad to have tried this one, though not necessarily a repurchase for me since it’s a little fussier than others that i love just as much. today this was more like an 85 haha
I always forget i need to brew this one longer than normal. If i don’t, then the toffee and chocolate flavours are a little subdued. I am glad i picked this one up in Paris, though i wish it was a black base, versus oolong. At least it’s an oolong variety that i can get behind :)
I promise a better review once i get back in to the swing of things…maybe after the engagement picture stuff is taken care of. blech. wedding planning is the worst.
simplified review of this one? Oolong that tastes more like a black tea. B&B classify it as a black tea. Cookie, caramel, yum. Glad i picked this one up to try.
