Punjana (Thompson's Family Teas)

Perfect St. Pattys day cuppa, reminding me of my recent trip to Northern Ireland.

I picked this up on a recent trip to Belfast. Very much so wish I picked up to packages of it. Enjoying this so much more than my normal breakfast tea. Just full flavored and delicious.

I’ve been drinking Thompson’s Punjana blend pretty regularly for a while, but have introduced this in a little more recently. I’d say this is basically their “Gold” blend, if comparing to other everyday tea makers. It certainly lives up to that. It’s bright, but also a little more earthy than Punjana. Very smooth. I added just a splash of milk, and have had it with or without some sugar. I’ve been liking it more without recently.

A week or so ago I brewed up a few cups for my nieces, who drink it without milk and use sugar or honey. They enjoyed it a lot too.

I find I appreciate it the most in the late afternoon after work, but it’s great in the morning also. I just seem better able to appreciate its flavors more. I can’t find where, but I had read online that this is a blend of Assam, Kenyan, and Rwandan teas.

A great tea for bringing over for family members while enjoying the holidays, and tasty however taken. The other day I had it with some mince pies I heated up. Shortbreads work great too….

You definitely want cream in this yummy tea

I ordered this tea along with some of the Irish Breakfast tea. The Original is great for an everyday breakfast tea. It’s got a warm, smooth flavour and can be diluted by using only one bag or made stronger by using two bags. With one tea bag being enough to fill an entire large teapot, I find that I got a lot of bang for my buck and that the tea will last me a long time. I definitely recommend this tea and will buy it again when I run out.

I first saw the name on it and since Thompson is my surname, I just had to order some of this tea. I saw a review of the tea on Steepster and decided to place an order. I love drinking black tea for breakfast, but I can be very picky on which ones I’ll keep buying. I placed an order and got two boxes of the Irish Breakfast. One tea bag is enough for a full large pot of tea, so I find that I got a lot of bang for my buck. The tea will last a long time since I’m using only one bag per day. The tea has a lovely mellow smooth flavour. I enjoy it a lot and will definitely keep buying this one. That says a lot, because I don’t often have favourites. I highly recommend this tea if you’re looking for a great daily breakfast tea.

I started out drinking only green tea, branching out to many loose teas of all kinds. Oddly I got into black tea years later, and in the last few years have really begun to enjoy British black tea blends. They can be very comforting, tasty, and unpretentious. My every day brew has been Yorkshire or Yorkshire Gold for several years. But I enjoy comparing it to other offerings of all companies, always coming back to them.

I never really expect any of those I try to surpass it, but for my tastes, Punjana does. It’s a blend of Assam and Kenyan leaves, much like many others of its kind. Somehow it tastes fresher though. Punjana is blended by the Thompson Family in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Many reviews of teas say they’re strong, but not bitter. I’m always skeptical when I read that, but to me it applies for this blend. In short, I have a new everyday tea to enjoy(and always lots of other teas to always try too.) I recently tried their Signature Blend and will do a separate review for it some time, but my taste buds like this one a little better.

I really wanted to like this tea, because I love all other teas that I have bought from Punjana (Thompson’s). Sadly, I can’t say I like this one at all.

First steep: The floral and vanilla notes were overpowering. I couldn’t smell the tea at all, neither hot nor cold. I could only smell the artificial vanilla fragrance. When I tasted it, the sweetness of orange and vanilla came first, then came a bitter note from the green tea.

Second steep: The vanilla note was not as strong as in the first steep, but still there. The floral note was still overpowering. The bitter taste was absent from the second steep, however any “tea” taste was absent as well. And I have lost interest in making a third steep now…

This is a light floral Earl Grey, it tasted more like a Lady Grey.
I like it for late afternoon or early evening.
Perfect for a relaxing cuppa after work.

I love it!
This is basically apple juice without all those fattening sugar.
I can have a cup of this tea anytime!

Dad replaced the water filter yesterday.
My morning cuppa builder’s tasted weird and weak today :(

I better run the tap for a few minutes before I use it for my tea.

I have been drinking this tea every morning. I am liking it more and more.
I imagine a good traditional English breakfast tea tasted exactly like this.
Strong, bold, with a good kick of caffeine.

This is the perfect blend to make Builder’s Brew.
Strong and bold. I love it!

I always brewed with 2 bags, but this tea was never as strong as I wanted it to be. The only brews that came out strong enough had loose leaves from the top and bottom of the stack. The flavor was basically what I would expect from an Irish breakfast tea, just too weak.

Dark non bitter double cup or pot full, it is worth the price @ $3 per 80 bags. The bag is large and will make a small pot of tea about 3-4 cup size. I’m not an expert tea taster but this is a winner in every sense. Even after refilling a cup 3x it never tastes metallic or bitter. A fine mixture of subtle but defined varieties of leaf from assam and Kenya. The difference is noticable and notable.

I discovered this tea while shopping at Ocean State Job Lot (a local discount store). I love teas from the U.K. and Ireland, but it’s difficult finding decaf versions of many of them. Thompson’s is located in Belfast, Northern Ireland, which is why this tea caught my interest, and I picked up a package of 80 tea bags for only $3.99. For a decaf tea it has a really robust flavor, and while it isn’t the best I’ve had, I’ve still been enjoying it. Amazingly, after taking a closer look at the bag to add it to the Steepster database, I noticed the “best buy” date on the bottom was “Jul.13.” Still tastes pretty good! It’s best when steeped for only a short period of time; otherwise it tastes a little bitter. It would probably be good with a little milk (I usually drink my tea without.) I’m not sure what the difference is between this and Thompson’s “Decaf Everyday Tea” – could just be the packaging.

I completely adore this tea. It’s such a lovely blend – perfectly balanced, not too bitter or too acidic. It has a rich, almost smokey flavor. And it really is the perfect pick-me-up in the morning. Or any time, really. I always have mine with milk and sweetener, and it’s just a dream.

Great Irish Breakfast, maybe a lil acidic for me, but still an awesome morning tea

A wonderfully smooth, hearty blend of Indian teas. One of my favorites to wake up to, or for a relaxing evening.

Don’t expect tang, but instead a warming embrace.

This tea always brings me right back home! A truly excellent cup of tea. I always like the comforting feeling of knowing this is a family run business – it somehow makes it taste better haha!