This is my first tea "real" tea review, so I beg your patience as I fumble all over it, and suggest you get some tea... this is long. Sorry!
After receiving great advice regarding "where to start" from this group, and wanting to hurry, hurry, with getting some teas, (and the disappointment that Douglas had with the Adagio sampler) I headed to the Upton site. Mistake. Big. HUGE. There are, simply put, too many teas there, with too many options, and too many choices to make. I was overwhelmed, and thought that even with a personal guide it would be overwhelming. Keemun, Assam, Ceylon... with sets and subsets and, well, you all know the offerings. Sigh...
So, I resorted to tried and true. I *know* I like Earl Grey and English Breakfast, so why not try some of those, narrow it down, and then expand from there. (Besides, I'm out of the EG that was packaged by ? for Bodum, and was amazing, and I bought all the Wedgwood tea I could find, and I was really disappointed in the Dobra shop here, and I *needed* to get tea - you know the feeling.)
Of course, that didn't narrow it down by much, but I was able to choose, between EB, EG, "Afternoon teas" and one each of their "most popular" assam, keemun, and darjeelings, to get 21 samples. I figured that should keep me busy for a bit, especially the not-so-patiently waiting for delivery part. Little did I know that life would interrupt tea, but so it goes.
Anyhoo... back to the review.
Of the eight EG tea samples I received, the first (and so far only) one I tried is their Earl Grey Original (TE10). Boiling water, 1 tsp/cup, 3,
3 1/2, 4, 4 1/2, 5 minutes. It was... weak. I realized that when faced with such a little sample, I was really stingy with what I would normally call a "teaspoon" of tea. I remedied that, brewed for 4 minutes, and it was quite good. I *think* I've discovered that with very, very hot tea, I like just a touch of sugar - it seems to enhance the flavor for me. If I let it cool even a tad, I don't need the sugar. But, well, patience isn't always one of *my* virtues...This was smooth, flavorful, I could taste the bergamot, but it wasn't overwhelming. Had a cup, some of a second. Later came back and had what was left in the pot, which was room temperature (not a warm room, so rather cool) and it was delicious! Iced tea has always been my favorite cold beverage, and this could be a constant. I won't know until I try the others if this is a reorder or not, but so far, it's definitely in the running.
Bond Street English Breakfast (TE10) was next. I was surprised on opening it that it looks like, well, like pebbles, rather than long, thin, leaves since the EBs I've had all looked like the first link (below). (I was expecting something like this:
Boiling water, 1 tsp per cup, no skimping this time. Steeped for 3, 3
1/2, 4 minutes. Good, but nothing I would rave about. Yes, I would order again, it's flavorful, very drinkable, basic. Again, the cold tea I had later in the day was delicious. Boy, am I finding that GOOD tea makes GREAT iced tea! :)This morning, I hit paydirt, and though I still have a couple to try, I think I may have found my Holy Grail EB tea. Ceylon English Breakfast Wilson Select (TB18). Again, pebbly looking, but these pebbles really unfurled, and though I don't have a clue who Robert Wilson is, I am rather fond of him now! Boiling water, 1 tsp/cup, 4 minutes. With the first sip, I was thrilled. This is really flavorful, and I can't help but think that if I wanted to hit the "snooze" button but thought of this tea, I'd be jumping right up. I can't believe I will like any of the others better, but if I do, I won't have to write a review - you'll hear the yelps of joy. This is a keeper, and reorder, and probably will be my signature EB. At least so far! :)
This afternoon, something a little new for me - Finest Blend Russian Caravan (TB70). Again, boiling water, 1 tsp/cup, ~ 4 minutes. I like this! It's "softer" than EB, but didn't taste like watered down EB - now I understand a bit why some teas are suggested for morning, others for afternoon, etc. I'll have to pay attention to "afternoon" teas, but this is in the possible reorder category.
This is SO much fun!! :)
Thank you all again for all your patience, guidance, and advice. With so many teas, and so many options, it would be far easier (but very depressing!) to resort to a Lipton teabag. :)
Resa