Pure Assam Irish Breakfast

Why are the chickens making me crave black tea? Each morning I go outside and watch the chickens we bought Sunday. One of them had laid an egg in the box during the auction. I didn’t expect them to lay for a week or so since they had a major upheaval in their lives, but yesterday both laying hens laid an egg. (One is an adorable pullet, too young to lay just yet.) I am on pins and needles looking for two more eggs to come at about five o’clock. Meanwhile, though, in the mornings I LONG for a pot of black tea even though I haven’t been having tea until afternoons for a long while.

This one sounded good today. It is one of only a few Assams that I can drink and not regret it. Others are too harsh for me and give me an angry stomach. I actually got distracted and steeped this one for over five minutes instead of the 3 1/2 I normally do. I was afraid it would be undrinkable but I took it outside and enjoyed every cup with a bit of Blarney Castle cheese from Kerrygold. Is anyone else excited at the cheese they are carrying at Sam’s Club now? They have some pretty decent ones and I try to buy one or two a month to expand my horizons.

Grace Rare Tea is consistently good for me. They don’t offer a huge number of different teas, but they offer high quality teas and people who have tea at my house generally really like their tea. I have had their Formosa Oolong, Assam, Winey Keemun, and Jasmine Green, and they have all been tasty.

This is a nice morning tea, courtesy of Hesper June! Assams definitely belong in the “eye-opening” category for me. I am getting lots of malty notes but also a twinge of bitterness. It isn’t the mellowest assam blend I’ve ever had but I seem to remember this is fairly typical for Irish Breakfast teas. I would not say it is “delicate” per the company’s description, but perhaps I will try steeping it for a little less time also.

Overall, not bad but not something I will feel compelled to buy. Thanks again for the sample, HG! Now I must get my assam to work – hee hee!

Thanks to ashmanra my assam journey takes another step. According to wikepedia – so you know it has to be true ;) Irish Breakfast teas are traditionally 100% Assam blends. This is slightly malty in smell and taste. There was something else going on in the background that reminded me more of a hazel nut tea my wife drinks than it does the fruitiness of yesterday’s A Southern Season IB. Not bitter at 3 minute steep but a a little drying. I think this one would hurt me if I drank too much on an empty stomach. At least that is the excuse I used to grab the peanut butter chocolate chip cookies I had with it. Good tea and good cookies!

Zzzzzzzz
Whoops, gotta wake up now.
What tea will help me do that?
This one.
As I said in my previous review of this “when the awoken world is alluding me”
Well, that is today.
And everyday as of late.
I stayed up later last night to make these so we would have something to grab to eat in the mornings:
http://www.mybakingaddiction.com/glazed-doughnut-muffins/
They seriously taste like Krispy Kreme doughnuts.
So, hopefully between this tea and a small sugar boost, I will be ready for my shift in the harvest truck.

This is another one that needs to be treated gently, or it’ll grow muscles and walk off without you. I think I slightly overdid/oversteeped, but even with that said, this has a nice fruity background note that adds a little sophistication to the morning Assam kick.

I am egg-zausted from attending a performance of the Duchess of Malfi last night – talk about intense! It is a strong tea, milk and sugar kind of morning. I thought this one would be fun to try – thanks SO MUCH ashmanra!

This is a very complex and interesting Irish Breakfast! I am getting the feeling that Grace Rare Teas are telling it like it is :) The offerings I’ve had thus far have not tasted like anything I’ve ever tasted!

I taste a true tea flavor, strong but not astringent or bitter – really smooth, full bodied – malty but not overly so, and for some reason, I taste the most gentle of cardamom or nutmeg? flavors. Sort of like cardamom or nutmeg was steeped in milk – or like rice pudding! Very subtle. I know this is not a flavored tea so it must be some unique quality of the tea. It is delicious.

I don’t think I have any choice but to put a leetle more tea into my brewer basket and make another cup!

Mmmmmmmmmm! I’m still getting that unique cardamom-y flavor (and I am f-l-y-i-n-g! This one sneaks up on ya! How can something that tastes so good and sweet and lovely wake you up like this!?!!?!?)

It is truly frightening how much delicious tea I’ve been drinking courtesy of ashmanra!!! Thank you once again!