Sainsbury's

I had not had this tea in a while, but it pleasantly surprised me today making me wonder why I don’t drink it more often. It’s got nice notes of vanilla that are underlined by notes of liquorice making it sweeter. It does indeed remind of caramel, but a burnt, dark kind of caramel, akin to burnt sugar more than caramel sweets.

365/365

Today is the last day of my 365 Days of Tea challenge! It’s gone so quickly, it feels odd to be at the end already. I saved this tea until last because it strikes me as a celebratory kind of blend. I’ve got a good feeling about it!

I had to try this one, literally as soon as I saw it. It has sparkling wine flavouring, and gold shimmer. Sold! The scent of the dry leaf upon opening the pouch is similar to opening a bottle of prosecco – alcoholic in the best possible way! Strong, though. Unexpectedly so, given that this is tea.

The scent holds even once brewed, and the gold shimmer is really pretty. It’s not quite as gaudy as David’s Glitter & Gold used to be, but it’s not subtle either. I tried to capture it in my photo for my facebook challenge album, but it turned out to be impossible. You’ll just have to take my word for it!

In terms of flavour, it’s really nice. It’s rare that a tea claiming to taste of wine actually does, but it’s true of this blend. Prosecco is the first thing I tasted! The pomegranate is there too, as if you’d added some to a glass – juicy and tartly fruity, but definitely a background flavour. It’s all about the wine here!

I’m glad I picked this one up. It’s a really nice festive treat, and an excellent way to round off my challenge. If you can try this one, you absolutely should!

One of the best tea i have tasted when i was in my college. Our Mess man used to make it during our eexam time.

Very very good product. This is one of the best tea I have used and I am using it from last 2 years and definitely BEST, I have tried others like TATA TEA Gold etc but they all give burning sensation inside stomach, but this one is smooth and easy on stomach and body. Must buy for anyone… Little expensive, but it is worth the price..

A strong, deep flavour, rich, full bodied with some maltiness but not the heaviness or sickliness that Assams sometimes can have. Brews very dark in the cup, the leaves are very small and could almost have come out of a teabag. Though I like all my teas black I imagine many people might find this undrinkable or overwhelming without milk, and sugar too if that’s your thing. But if you want something with a strong flavour and kick, to blast you into the day, or a punch to equal coffee then this would fit the bill. Powerful and invigorating it’s one I’ll always have in the cupboard.

Sipdown! (17/203)

I’m cheating again, as this is only a sipdown because we don’t have it any more and it shouldn’t be in my cupboard still. And I thought it was up to date, too! Well it definitely is now.

This is a little expensive for what you get, and I can’t help thinking that I’m better off with my stash of loose leaf anyway. It is fairtrade, though, so I will always make an effort to go for the ethically sourced teas whenever possible. I think I will up my rating slightly, to reflect that, since at the moment it’s on a par with the budget range, mark-wise, and I feel it should get a bonus for being kind. These bags did well to tide me over, but my parents brough some Rington’s with them on their last visit, which will always win when available.

I’m reviewing again!

This makes me happy.

So for many many reasons I haven’t been on steepster for a while, and when I have been on it’s just been for a quick check, as I haven’t had time to write anything up, or even drink that much tea for that matter! I’ve just started my final year of university (eek!) so I am basically living off coffee at the moment.

Since I moved house, I haven’t been able to brew as much loose leaf, and as a result, my passion has kind of died down a bit. I am trying desperately to get it back, and I so miss being in love with tea. I am participating in a couple of swaps soon, and will definitely make time to drink tea as I’m reading my endless list of books for uni, so hopefully it shouldn’t be too long before I’m back on the horse.

This tea is pretty basic, but just what I need to soothe me as I’m coming down with a bit of a cold (and my tastebuds are going anyway, so no use wasting my best tea at the moment!). As it goes, it’s not bad. If I ever run out of Rington’s (my preferred English breakfast blend), this is what I’d get to tide myself over.

Someone sent a bag of this to me in a card. It is too late for anything caffeinated, so I pulled this out.

It made a very strong tisane in my small japanese cup (a little bigger than a juice glass). Drank a bit hot, and it’s pretty good, but I get the usual “wet washrag” taste I get from most tisanes from it. Ice got rid of it though. I really need to try some decent quality loose tisanes – I think most of the time I have bagged ones – I wonder if I am tasting the bag. Hmm.

Anyway, I kinda like this, and wouldn’t refuse another cup. Would love to try a pitcher of it, really iced.

It’s another teabag work tea. Hot liquis and brown – definetly needs milk, but otherwise acceptable. It’s good that a main brand supermarket tea has gone FairTrade.

This tea has been polished off now. I let this get very strong and just added a bit more milk, but it worked okay. A little creamier than I would have like, but nice

I was feeling lazy…

I have this quite regularly at home as a standard black tea. It’s pretty good really, and my housemate Paul was pleased because I brewed it good and strong

One of the best Earl Grey versions in the UK. So much better than Twinings. I drink a blend of this and another black tea – often Miles (a Devon tea and coffee merchant) or another Sainsbury’s black tea – such as Assam or Kenyan.

Poor cup of earl grey. Tangy taste of bergamot which in turn impaired the tea.

Just what I want in the afternoon, something which has a distinct flavour but at the same isn’t a heavy duty “wake up” tea like english breakfast. A lovely smoky edge from the Lapsang but doesn’t overdo it.

Red Label loose leaf is my everyday tea although I normally use it in a 3/4 to a 1/4 earl grey mix. Works great every time.

Nice flavour and nice colour plus can’t complain about the price.

A strong malty flavour verging on tar. Used a spoonful and drank it black after brewing with boiling water for 3 minutes. A tea that would best drank with milk and a little sugar possibly – Overpowering otherwise.

My every day tea..and really my favorite.

ERRGHH, the only tea left at work. it was like drinking mud, the colour of this matched it too, i dont even see how builders like this.

Dull.