This is a tasty tea that I quite enjoyed. It’s similar to a British breakfast, but it’s more robust in flavor. I was told for years that Russian Caravan was actually a very smoky tea, but this one’s smoke did not punch me in the nose; it was just a nice subtle accent. I would happily drink this again, but I don’t think I need to keep it in my cabinet all the time (though if I run out of ordinary Assam, it absolutely would be a good substitute).
Flavors: Malt, Raisins
Ratings:
95-100: I will keep this on my shelf at all times if possible.
85-94: This tea is probably in active rotation in my house and getting drunk a lot (or it’s about to be).
75-84: I liked it. I will probably keep a small tin of it around.
65-74: I liked it. I might keep a small tin of it around, but I will not mourn its loss if it disappears from sale.
50-64: Meh.
0-49: No.
I like real tea (camellia sinensis). Black with milk and no sugar, unless it’s a really froofy chai latte. Green with no milk.
I’ve discovered through trial and error that I really don’t like Rooibus, even when it’s mixed with black tea. (Sadly.)
Herbal tisanes are not out of the running, but I have to be in the right mood and they have to be sufficiently strongly powered that I don’t miss the tea leaves.
By preference, I drink loose-leaf, but I will drink bagged tea if it’s good enough.
My icon is a piece of fantastic art by Ursula Vernon called Cattail Tea.
