A while ago I posted about how the US version of Twinings English Breakfast, my longtime favorite, seemed bland and tasteless, while the UK version I had on hand was still quite tasty to me. It seemed that there was some truth to the theory that despite the same name, the blends used within the UK and for export were quite different.
I had purchased several "catering packs" of 100 tea bags directly from Twinings in North Carolina when they were running a special some time back. I thought maybe it was just my tastebuds that were off and tried it again on a few occasions, only to find it as bland and tasteless as I had remembered. I have been using it for iced tea and it suits that purpose just fine. I am getting down toward the end of my stash.
It recently occurred to me that maybe the tea I had purchased was not fresh. Perhaps these catering packs were not big sellers. Twinings recently changed its packaging for its bagged teas, which are now packed in England rather than in North Carolina. I decided to try it one more time. Since the new packaging was only recently introduced, this seemed the ideal time, as I would be assured that the tea hadn't been sitting on the store shelves or in a warehouse for a long time.
So, tonight when I stopped by the supermarket on my way home, I picked up a package of Twinings English Breakfast tea bags. As I am writing this, I am sipping on a mug of it, and I am very pleased to report that THIS is the tea that I remembered so fondly. Nice aroma, and strong, rich flavor. Tastes every bit as good as the blend sold in the UK, although brewing a single cup yields a slightly weaker brew than the UK version, which contains more tea per bag. Nevertheless, I am more than satisfied. I suppose what I had purchased online was the end of the stock that was onhand in North Carolina. Lord knows how long it had been hanging around.
It may sound silly, but I have strong emotional ties to this brand which I have used for many years. And it's nice to know that there is something to fall back on if I need to purchase tea at a supemarket in a pinch.