Taylors of Harrogate

A decent Earl Grey, something you could serve to company. This actually a friend of mine’s favorite brand of Earl Gray though- so I think your mileage varies by how much you like the blend.

A really delicious jasmine green. I actually travel out of my way to acquire this.

I recently finished my regular Yorkshire tea bags, and then my Twinnings Earl Grey. I have to admit, those were better in my opinion than the Yorkshire Gold, albeit not by much. I feel like this tea has a more delicate taste, which may or may not be the intention of the tea makers. I thought perhaps this would be stronger, but even after my standard 3 minutes, I found myself desiring a stronger tea flavor. It could be because I’ve been drinking Earl Grey, which was perfection for me.

It’s very aromatic. I always enjoy a deep inhale of tea steam before I sit down with my cuppa. Just a bit of sugar and milk (gasp! I know!) and lately, a small biscotti in the afternoon keeps me going.

One of those what were you thinking mornings for me. There was more leaf here than I intended to use. This isn’t bitter but it is quite stout. Over leafing removes this from any resemblance to Assam – or Ceylon. It has cinnamon notes and something that makes me think dried tundra grass. Not that its grassy. Maybe it is just knowing this is a South African tea. Halfway through the mug I iced it. Much necessary. Wow. Don’t over leaf.

Leaving the rating from when I knew what I was doing.

This tea is from an estate in South Africa. It gives a whole new meaning to the term tea dust. How do they pack so much flavor in such tiny leaf. Taylors of Harrogate state this should be infused for 4-5 minutes. I remember only going two last time and thinking that was plenty. This morning I was too asleep to remove the Finum basket for several undetermined minutes. I was expecting a bitter nasty cup. Instead it is very good. Sort of Assam like but with a fruity quality. I still catch hints of clove and cinnamon way in the background that no one else is mentioning. A solid morning cup.

From Nicole’s inventory reduction. What an interesting tea. As others mentioned the leaf is extremely fine cut. I used a Finum basket as I think it would pass through the screen of my press. I only steeped two minutes and it was not the least bit bitter. It is slightly drying. The taste is kind of like an Assam. Kind of. It is a little fruity. I can taste cinnamon and clove like notes – they are very light. I don’t know if this is part of the flavor profile or cross contamination. I will say this was not stored with any cinnamon clove type teas. This is very good!

This is my go-to tea for every day! When I’m not feeling like something herbal, but nothing too strong like Irish Breakfast, I’ll reach for this. I like that it’s authentically British, and tastes better quality than, for example, something like Red Rose (which is still reliable, but meh). I add lots of milk and one tablespoon of sugar, and I’m left with a warm, cozy cuppa that reminds me of mornings spent at my grandmother’s house. I usually go for the Orange Pekoe variety. Love this brand!

I bought a box of this in Yorkshire while staying at a cottage there, and had to pack my suitcase with more boxes to take home. My friends at home loved it, too. I finally found a distributor in Canada who sold it and we ordered it from them. Then we got a local store to bring it in. Now a more local stores have it on their shelves. They don’t stay on it for long! That gives you idea of how much I like this tea.

I am a huge fan of this tea! It has a hint of black tea taste but it is very bold. If you are looking for a tea to replace coffee, this one is a strong contender. If you aren’t a fan of strong teas, you should lower the steeping time or cut it with something.

Too much water.
That is what my doctor after numerous visits decided was why I am anemic and lacking iron and other minerals in my body.
And sadly, I have one of those smart doctor’s, who knew that I drank tea and knew that it is not a dehydrating as soda or coffee.
Plus, that I still drink a fair amount of water in a day.
So, he decided that all the minerals were getting flushed out of my body.
He told me to cut back to my total amount of water (tea included) to 3 quarts a day.
Drat.
Then this last weekend, I finally got that horrid flu thing that has been going around (probably because I have been in the doctor’s office so much)
Which, weirdly enough, the flu did not bother me as much as cutting back on my tea consumption.
I just can’t believe it, most Americans do not drink enough and are constantly dehydrated, but me…no.
Anyway, I really wanted a Chai tea this morning, since I am still drippy, coughy and achy.
Chai always hits the spot.
But, alas, I am totally out of Chai tea!
How did I let this happen!?
I remembered this tea that I received in food basket at Christmas.
I was so surprised when I pulled this out of the basket, especially since its loose leaf. Most gift teas are bags.
But, I was glad!
Anyway, on to the tea.
Orangey black tea is the first aroma, slightly robust smelling.
A real orange smell, not bergomonty.
Then, the spices emerge, cloves and cinnamon.
Taste is orange and spicy.
The black tea taste not as strong as it smelled
This is not a chai. Does not even resemble one, but it is hot and slightly spicy.
I do not consider it a waste of my alloted tea water for the day.
I tried to log on a couple times last week but each time, steepster must have been having some problems.
Glad to see you all are still here:)

Taylors of Harrogate Earl Grey is one of my favorite Earl Grey blends. To begin with, it has an intoxicating aroma. I’d, in fact, wear it if the essence could be captured in a cologne. It’s that good. Now there’s an idea. Taylors of Harrogate Earl Grey Cologne for the discerning gentleman or Earl Grey No. 5 for the charming ladies. I like the fragrance so much I almost hate to throw away the bag when I’m finished with the tea. But the real story is in the taste. It is rich, it has stucture and it is full bodied. It’s not like some whimpy Earl Grey blends that are thin, weak, flat or just plain insipid. The bergamot is quite evident and that is the way I like it. I don’t want a so so black tea blend with just a hint of bergamot. If I’m drinking an Earl Grey tea I want to taste the bergamot. For me, this tea is the Bette Middler of Earl Greys. It is bold, it’s brassy and it has notes that will get your attention. And I do mean that as a perfect compliment. There’s a lot to like about it and as long as Taylors of Harrogate produces it it will be in my cupboard. Give it a try, I think you’ll like it.

Color: rose
Scent: raspberry
Taste
Nude: raspberry, after taste of Vanilla
With sugar: Vanilla with and aftertaste of Raspberry
*personally, it was very Raspberry-esk

This is my go-to tea in the morning, when I am bleary eyed and can barely get myself to the teapot, and nearly have enough coordination to get the water in the pot. Seriously, if I had to pick only one tea to drink for the rest of my life, this would be it, as it wakes me up as no other tea can. I steep it with warn milk added and a half teaspoon of raw sugar, sort of like a latte without the foam, and I find that it stands up well to long steeping times, anything under 10 and it will be okay, but probably around 7 minutes is ideal for me. I’m not so adept as describing tea flavors, but the flavor is definitely that of a good, strong black tea.

Good basic peppermint tea.

Perhaps drinking a lot of strong tea has ruined me, but I find this tea bland in comparison to other cheap-‘n’-cheerful brands such as PG Tips, Tetley, or Red Rose.

thank you Nicole for sending me some of this in the stash reduction! I brewed this for 3 or 4 minutes. It says one minute! What? I need to be awake! It may be slightly oversteeped tasting, but that’s the way I like my black teas. The steep color is a deep red-hinted brown. The flavor is delicious. It is a full black flavor, with a hint of something fragrant. I think assams are a bit sweeter than other black teas, based on the few assams I’ve tried. I think I like they better than other black teas, just as long as they still have a kick to them. This one does! Upon the first sip, I definitely felt more awake!

ETA: I tried this with some oatmeal today. That was before I saw Momo had Celestial Seasonings tea with oatmeal today.. but it was an idea I had from her a few months back. I haven’t had maple &brown sugar oatmeal since I was a kid and I forgot how good it is. I’m not sure if I got much of a tea flavor with those flavors. I’ll have to try it with the steelcut oatmeal that I usually have. I almost also chose 52Teas Maple & Brown Sugar oatmeal today, when I was choosing a tea this morning. So I can’t wait to try that one!

Not just for Afternoons! A refreshing darjeeling.