Another Question

English Breakfast should be pretty dark. Almost as dark as coffee, in fact. Are you using boiling water? Black teas need hotter water than green, and with boiling water six minutes is (for most tastes) a bit too long.

dmh

The water was boiling when I poured it in the pot with the leaves. Should I have put the leaves in the boiling water and continued to let it boil?

Not a problem.

That's what we're here for - to discuss tea.

Usually not, but it depends on what the base tea is. If the base is a black tea, no. Actually, I've never heard of an EB made of something other than a black tea, but there's always the first time.

Six minutes is too long for any real tea, IMO. How much leaf did you use?

No! You did exactly right by pouring boiling water over the leaves.

In this the second batch I used what I hoped was 2 heaping spoons

At this point, I'd suggest taking the tea back to the store/complaining to the mail order house. I've had occasional teas that didn't work in somewhat the way you're describing, though not as extremely as yours. What you've got is a very stale tea, or something egregiously mislabelled (a white rather than an English Breakfast).

I agree w/ Rebecca, something's not right and you should return it.

I think it is stale. It is very, very dried out.

I just tried Bond Street English Breakfast, a sample I got from Upton, and it brewed perfectly. I used 8 oz water, 1 teaspoon of tea and seeped it 3 minutes. I'm drinking it now and it's very good.

The tea that I couldn't make was part of the starter set I got from Adagio teas with the brewer. I like the brewer very much but doubt if I buy any tea there.

Dang! I just put in an order on Friday that included the black tea starter set. My neighbor wants it for her mother's birthday next month. I ordered the 32 oz, the Pot of Gold set and some other glassware, other samples for myself (I want small tins for my travel kit and thought it a good way to sample what Adagio has of my favorites), and the herbal starter set for a friend who does organic greens so I was already planning to keep those tins for myself.

Thanks for the heads up. Was that the first you tried out of the starter set? How are the others?

It sounds like stale tea to me as well. While I did get some decent tea from them, the "premium" versions of their teas were HORRIBLY stale. I won't buy from them again, either. I got two stale tea samples in one single order, and they've lost my trust.

I just checked the other two cans. Although I didn't try to use the contents yet they also seem very dry. Right now I'm having my safe green tea. :)

I don't blame you. Only so much disappointment can be tolerated in a day.

My neighbor's mom is a coffee drinker. Although she might not notice the difference, I wouldn't think that stale tea would convert her like my neighbor hopes.

Please report back when you get a chance to try the others.

I'm so sorry to hear this, Douglas, but thank you for the post - I was planning on ordering that starter set today. I don't really *need* the Aria, but it would be helpful when I only want one cup, as if putting less water in the teapot is a chore. If I still get this, I'll know that I'm doing it for the little tins and the brewer, and won't count on the tea.

Resa

Ok. I just tried the Earl Grey, Yumman Jig and the Irish Breakfast and they were just as bad as the English Breakfast. I dumped them all and kept the tins.

The four samples I got from Upton were all usable.

I usually order from Upton because they've been so good. I seem to recall someone getting something that wasn't fresh, once, but that was a long time ago. I was planning to get my friend a selection of organic tea samples from Upton for my friend anyway, but am unhappy about what my neighbor's mother's birthday gift will be like.

Is it being shipped to you? Toss their tea, insert your tea... sounds like she would be very grateful.

Yes, it's coming to me.

I called my neighbor to let her know but she's busy w/ term paper so will receive the bad news when she calls back later.

The starter set will get the free gift wrap, so that would have to be undone carefully. Then, there's the matter of the tea - I don't do Yunnan or Irish Breakfast so the labels wouldn't match the contents. A 4 oz tin of Irish Breakfast is included in my Pot of Gold set, so that'll work if it isn't stale. I ordered it for the tin since the price is the same as the teapot w/o the tea.

Another option is to change the order (it went in late Fri. so, there's a chance that it hasn't been filled) to only the teapot + different samples from Adagio (a high risk at this point) or from Upton.

Other ideas?

If it's not being shipped direct to her, upwrap, throw out the samples, and get some 2 to 4 oz. packages from somewhere good.

You are saved!!

This is easy... use a razor blade, or utility knife, and the tape will easily give way. Refrigerate, or leave outside if cold enough, and you may be able to just gently tug. Not that I've ever done this with presents as a child, mind you... (whistling innocently)

That's okay - I would be so excited that someone didn't think the tea that was enclosed with the gift was worthy, and took the time to dump it and include teas that (s)he thought I would like, that it would be high on my favorite gifts list. A handwritten label over the label works great!

Right now, I'm searching google looking for positive posts about Adagio teas. But, even if it's just that the sample tins are really old... that makes me think twice about Adagio teas. They should know better - if anything, this should be their BEST tea!

I'm still liking the dump the Adagio tea, and fill the tins with good teas idea, mostly because I think the IngenuiTea is such a great gift, and those little tins have a very high cuteness factor. But I'm still thinking...