TEA.

during a recent trip to London I stumbled across the Twinings Tea shop, those who know me well, or those who know me at all know that I relish a good cuppa so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to try out some new teas. I splashed out the two pounds necessary for ten teabags and a gift box in which to contain them. 

 i doubled up on the mulled spiced tea so in total there were nine teas for me to muddle my way through. Why not drink them all in one day, conducting an experiment, a tea survey. Results below.

 Tea #1: morning detox

 i clicked the jug on and waited impatiently for the "bing ting" indicating that the water was ready. Now I waited impatiently for my tea to brew, I was going to do this right and brew the tea to perfection,

 while i waited i took the opportunity to warm my hands on the mug

 after a few sips hints of milk thistle started to shine through, it was a peaceful morning, Jack was breakfasting, the sun was streaming through the kitchen door, my stomach was rumbling, i could hear the tap dripping and the hot water cupboard.

 just reading my notes on the experience as i got to the end of the mug:
"milkymilkymilkymilkymilkymilkymilkymilkymilky" and "SMUGTEAFACE", I had done away with punctuation apparently.

 Tea #2 Blossom Earl Grey
45 minutes later I settled down to enjoy some porridge and blossom earl grey. As I poured the water into my blue mug I could already smell the fruity tones wafting up into my nasal cavity. Before removing the tea bag I noticed that it had that sheen on top of it, I couldn't wait to delve into this one. This is where I first burnt my tongue.

 oranges.
a reflection of my face in the tea cup.
COOL DOWN.
floral.
ihopethisneverends.
ahhh, warm hands again.
citrus burp.
the smell won't go deep enough into my nostrils, cannot smell enough, argh.
IHOPEICANREBREWWITHSAMETEABAG.
brew brewbrewbrewbrewbrewbrewbrew.
no good.
9/10 first time, rebrew 2/10, bother.

 went for a walk around Surbition since it was such a lovely day

 popped into the market for some supplies, onions and mushrooms, made a delish soup, it would seem I was on a liquid diet today

 MARKETPLACE! (had to pop into Bentalls to use the ladies, one of the side effects of two cups of tea early on)

 back to the house to tuck into...
Tea #3: Green Tea with Cranberry
it smells red, once again it warmed my hands after the bitter cold of England had turned them to popsicles, now it smells healthy apparently, the washing machine is spinning away, mushroom and onion soup bubbling away, at the half full point hints of pomegranate make an appearance, 6/10

 Tea #4 Winter Edition: Mulled Spiced tea
this one reminds me of mulled wine, which reminds me of skiing, which reminds me I'm going to canada soon, which reminds me IMGOINGTOCANADASOON!
notes of orange, musky spice, distinctive flavours roll over the back of my tongue, this was exactly what i expected it to taste like. I wanted it to be like Willy Wonkas never ending gobstobbers and the mug would always be half full.
How do you capture the flavour and make it last forever?
Initially i rated this tea 10/10 but on second thoughts i downgraded it one whole point because it had no surprises, it was fabulous, but a little surprise would have sealed the deal.

 I couldn't drink this tea fast enough, i put the jug on again almost instantly and listened to the therapeutic whistle.

Tea #5 Rose Garden

 I brewed this one while skyping Hayley J, lucky thing.
It smelt like potpourri. roses. tastes like roses. delicately rosy. like drinking a rose. 7/10

 I CAN'T STOP GOING TO THE TOILET.

time for a new one.

Tea #6 Lapsang Souchong.
smells like hickory sauce.
SMOKEY.
does anyone remember the smells of your clothes the day after a bonfire, this tea smell like this. Which is great except it doesn't come with toasted marshmallows leaving me with the feeling of being ripped off. Boy things had changed by the time I got to the end of this mug.

 I believe I emitted an ahhhhh while drinking this tea, it made me exquisitely happy.
subtly brilliant flavour, definitely the most interesting the black tea of the day scoring an 8/10 on the day but I would like to take the opportunity to revise that to a 9 ¾.

Tea #7 a moment of calm: orange, mango and cinnamon 

 this one has distinct memory associations. I stole some hot water from Dina to make this one. SUCKA.  Immediately it sparked some memories i just couldn't work out what. Half way through the tea I remembered, it reminded me of my favorite summer breakfast, nectarines with freshly squeezed orange juice and cinnamon, first had in Hawkes Bay made by A Turvey the good woman that she is.

 SUMMER.

 this is tea porn.

9½/10

 Dina and Jack started up at each other so I decided it was the perfect opportunity to dig into
Tea #8 which is blended to...CALM.

containing camomile, yum.
smells sweet like honey.
excited to taste this.
rooibos you beauty
8½/10

 Tea #9 White Tea with a hint of pomegranate

 oh boy, i have been looking forward to this, ever since I had a white tea after a delicious dinner at Vegie Bar in Melbourne I have enjoyed them, there is something very sincere about white tea.

 it smelt like calm, its subtle, understated, fills my belly just as the hints of pomegranate arrive on the scene.

 it has been beautiful day of tea, white tea you deserve a 9/10

congratulations are in order for the lapsang souchong coming in first. Twinings you are beautiful.

I also have to mention that I recently had the opportunity have The Jardin Bleu Royal tea at Harrods Ladurée with Vic and it was exceptional. I'm not sure I have ever had anything like it before, all I know is I want more. It is fruity, but not to fruity, black, but not too black, ahhh, perfection.


Whats your favourite tea? 

Have a tea for me,

Annabel xx