It's that time of year again!

Christmas will rapidly be upon us (is it just me or did last Friday seem to herald the start of the Christmas advert season?) Anyway, I thought I would give a round up of exciting and interesting gifts for the tea lover in your life. The only criteria I had when selecting these gifts is whether I would like them! (Hint, hint)

 Hidden Fox teacup- £18 V&A Shop

 Handmade Teapot tote £12.00 Skulls and Ponies Folksy store 

 Chai gift box £14.50 Cup of Tea

Darjeeling Mist Candle £29.50  Tea Palace

Small Wooden Teabag Chest £50.00 Fortnum and Mason

Eteaket Rosy Apple

Eteaket were kind enough to send me a sample of their Rosy Apple green tea, which I had read about on Twitter (they're @eteaket if you like your tweets to be tea related!). I am very, very pleased that they did. I'm usually well into black tea in this stage of the year, but Rosy Apple is a light, refreshing tea that manages to capture lovely flavours associated with autumn.

The tea is gorgeous, it's a Chinese green tea (Chinese teas tend to work better in flavoured green teas, in my opinion, as they work with the added flavours. Japanese green teas can be a bit... grassy and overpowering) and the taste is fruity and sweet. The apple pieces give the tea a comforting seasonal taste, which is surprisingly enhanced-rather than overpowered- by the interesting addition of lemongrass, papaya and orange pieces. Had I seen this blend before drinking, I would have been very wary and have maybe expected the tea version of a desert island. However, rather than be completely dominated by tropical flavours, these additional elements combine to create a brilliant taste. Don't expect a summery flavour- the apple is the star of the show in this blend (although it would be lovely as an iced tea.)

The tea is limited edition, which is a shame, as it's a tea I can see being a stalwart of my tea cupboard (along with this tea) and one of the ones I would return to in an effort to show people how lovely green teas can be. I have put in an order for a caddy and I'm eagerly looking forward to its arrival!

The mis-selling of tea: Cho Yung tea

Forgive me, this may be a long post.

The other day, I was in Holland and Barratt buying some bits and pieces when I heard a lady asking for Cho Yung tea. The sales assistant gave the lady a leaflet and spoke about how good the tea was for weight loss. The customer then agreed to pay £39.99 for what looked to me like a small packet. I decided to investigate.

For £39.99, you get THIRTY tea bags. You're supposed to drink two cups a day. So a month would set you back £80. Blimey, this must be some miracle, right? Wrong. As far as I can tell, it's just green tea with some traditional herbs associated with weight loss thrown in.. I thought I'd break it down:

Oolong tea: on its own, oolong is used as a weight loss aid. So you could pick up a decent packet of this from Cup of Tea for around four quid (you'd get more than thirty cups out of it too...)

Hawthorn: Again, another ingredient that is used in Eastern medicine for digestion. You can buy tablets from Holland and Barratt if you really want to try this (but fennel and peppermint are much cheaper and nicer as teas)

Lotus leaves: basically another digestive aid, with added roughage.

Alisma rhizome: stimulates the kidneys and makes you pee. So you'll lose water weight. Which you would put back on really easily. You could just drink more liquids (including green tea and water) if you want to cut down on  the bloat.

Cassia seeds- most commonly used in laxatives.

Gynostemma Pentaphyllum- this may lower cholesterol. But so do apples, brown rice and avocados. Still not seeing how this tea is worth eighty quid a month.


Poria- another pee-inducing ingredient.


So, in essence Cho Yung tea makes you spend a lot of time on the toilet. I have no background in herbalism (I just really like tea!), but this is stuff I was able to Google and find out. There are plenty of herbal teas that do a lot of the same jobs and that don't cost you a fortune. Although there is no such thing as a magic bullet- with the teas, you have do change diet and lifestyle to see any major changes. (Even Cho Yung Tea admits this)


The company also has a reputation of offering free trials and not sending anything , as well as charging £60 to bank accounts. You also have to wonder when Holland and Barratt put a disclaimer on their UK and Irish sites that they won't take any money other than what you have paid for. This is only on the Cho Yung tea page. Fishy, non?


All in all- it's a very expensive case of smoke and mirrors that gives green tea a bad name.

The London Tea Company

The London Tea Company is one of those tea companies that a) should be massively popular and b) I'd like to work at. This is all because of their positive ethos and a cheerful passion about what they do that is evident when you take a look at their website. I'm also always impressed with companies who give back to the communities that provide them with tea. So, two thumbs up for the company... but what about the tea?

The range of teas at The London Tea Company is small but wide ranging and many of them are organic and/or fair trade, so you can have a cuppa and feel good about the choice. I tried four teas from the range.

English Breakfast


A very well-rounded, flavoursome black tea (I'm not sure where the tea comes from, but I suspect it's Sri Lankan...) which works very well as an enhancer of other flavours, as a breakfast tea should be. Low tannin after taste and very refreshing. I found that it worked very well with Marmite and toast!

Vanilla Chai


Quite frankly, this is one of the best chais I've tasted and is the best vanilla chai I've come across. Clean, creamy and rich, I will be stockpiling this as one of my go-to teas for autumn/winter. I would recommend this as a healthier alternative to chai lattes; still a decadent tea!

Green tea, Mango and Ginger


This tea is an unusual blend that you'll either love or loathe.. It has a distinctive smell, which doesn't seem to match the list of ingredients. But the taste is very refreshing, although I couldn't really distinguish the taste of ginger or mango. The tea is slightly sweet and grassy and I think it works really well with a bit of honey added into the mix. An interesting tea for when you're feeling a bit adventurous!

White tea, Elderflower and Apricot


This is lush. Delicate, fruity and fragrant, this is like a cup of summer! I would recommend that you drink this on those dark, cold days in deepest winter when you want to remember sunny days. Also, the white tea is an excellent tea for purifying and detoxing... so you can be healthy AND have delicious tea.

What makes a perfect brew?

Throughout the ages, there has been some debate as to what makes a perfect brew...  milk or no milk? Milk first or last? Black, green or white tea? Bag or no?

For me, I use loose tea (the example in the picture is Tea Palace Organic Earl Grey St Clements) and I put them into a tea filter- about a teaspoon and a half of tea. I then let it brew, adding milk (if applicable) afterwards; I like quite a lot of milk! How do you make your tea? 

I'm putting together a post about perfect summer teas- please leave some suggestions in the comments!

That Alice Temperley and Twinings Collaboration

Fashion blogs have being going mad for the Temperley/Twinings scarf, which is on sale from today, but I though a tea blog should dedicate a bit more to it too. But then I found this rather fab video which explains how the bergamot flower inspired Temperley (one of my favourite designers; if I was a) fashionable and b) rich, I would buy SO much of her clothing) to design such a lovely design. What excites me more is that there might be more tea-influenced designs coming out from this collaboration. I would love one of the scarves, but I doubt I'll be able to afford one. But tea caddies? Possible  Chinaware? Oh my, yes. 

The Desired

It's been a long time since I updated this blog; I've been busy with work and getting married and other stuff like that. I spent a week in Paris drinking horrendous tea in Montmartre and I visited Palais des Thes in Marais. I realised that I needed to get home to my own tea stuff and my favourite teas, pronto. I will be scouring the web for new, interesting teas- any tips, please do leave a comment below and I will chase them up!

For now, though, I thought I would post a list of desirable tea related items for your perusal...

British designer, Alice Temperley has designed this scarf for Twinings Tea, to celebrate their Earl Grey blend. The scarves are of a limited run of 1000. It's beautiful, but pricey at £115 and deliveries start July 1st. If you get one, I will be very, very jealous!

A perennial favourite of the blog, Mrs Stokes China  has expanded her site and includes lots of reasonably priced china for you to enjoy your daily cup of tea from. I am loving this little beauty, £15.

Although I don't think I would fit  into most of Urban Outfitter's clothes, I do quite like some of their homewares. This very cute teapot is part of a range of pretty, practical tea accessories.

This has been on my wishlist for a while... perfect if you want some pointers on high tea and some delicious recipes! Tea at Fortnum and Mason, £5.96

Belfast Brew- Suki Tea

Today has been a day of doing stuff (I haven't actually finished- I only came in because my hands are icy from repotting sweet peas) and the first flushes of spring are inspiring me to have a sort out of teas in my cupboard. This is one I discovered spring cleaning the tea cupboard. Yes, I have a tea cupboard. There is a lot of tea in there.

Anyone who knows me knows I am in love with anything Irish, so I had high hopes of this black tea. Belfast Blend is just Suki's branding of their Irish Breakfast tea. It's a combination of a malty assam and a new one for me, a Tanzanian tea (if you're interested in learning about Tanzanian tea, check out this link here)

I brewed the tea for about two minutes and added milk. The tea itself has a smooth, earthy and almost sweet and fruity flavour, with a punch of tannin at the end. The tannin however is not unpleasant, it just adds to the whole mouthful of tea. The overall taste is one of a quality black tea with a satisfying cleansing element.

I  must admit, before drinking, I was a bit apprehensive. Irish Breakfast Tea is stronger than English Breakfast tea and it can be foul if not brewed correctly- this, however, is lovely and is one I would consider giving to guests when they turn their noses up to 'posh' tea. I defy anyone not to fall in love with this Irish charmer! (I could have inserted jokes here about Blarney, but decided to spare you all...!)

Tea adverts from the past: Part 2

The blog will be back to regular action in the next few days. I am planning a few bits and pieces and thought, as a way to whet your appetite, I'd dust off a few vintage adverts for your delectation:

I've posted  vintage Japanese tea ads before, but I think that they are so pretty. I wouldn't mind one of these in a frame in the kitchen (but then, I am a known Japanophile, so where's the surprise in that?) These ads come from the period 1900-1929,  a time when Japanese culture was still very traditional.

I'm guessing that this is early 20th-century. Sri Lanka became a tea producing country after the British tried to plant coffee plants, which failed due to a disease. Production was changed to tea and  and the rest, as they say, is history.

I lovelovelove this one. When I first saw it, I was taken as to how much it reminded me of Tolouse Lautrec. Then I realised that owning this company would have been a dream job- tea and chocolate in one Parisian company? Bliss. Apparently, the artist always added cats to his work. I like him immensely.

(You can buy a print of this here)

Christmas teas

I've found that this festive season, tea has been very important to me when entertaining (mainly because a lot of my guests come to me in the day and drive...) As a result, I've been very impressed with the Christmas teas on offer this year.

A good bet is to buy, where you can, sample sizes of the tea. You don't want to buy a huge container of tea to discover that either a) you hate the stuff or b) you're totally bored of it by Boxing Day. I have a few different teas that I am working my way around.

Cup of Tea's Winter Selection box has been a particular favourite- each of the sachets contains enough tea for a couple of cups, meaning that, selfishly, I get to try the tea at the same time as my guest (I cannot recommend the Oolong Plum Pudding and the Toffee Apple teas highly enough; they are my favourites by far!)

Tea Palace  has an excellent selection of Christmas teas; I have Mulled Spice, Winter Whispers and Palace Christmas, all of which have proved popular with friends, although Mulled Spice seems to be the favourite. Their little caddies contain a really good amount of tea (about 10-20 cups) and are a great present for someone who might just be starting out on a tea adventure.

If you live in the UK or Europe, there is still time to get your order in!

Harrod's Heritage No 18 Georgian Blend

So, I haven't blogged for a while, what with various things going on in my life (I just spent a weekend in Ireland and my boyfriend asked me to marry him yesterday- life has been a bit unexpected!) but I thought I should get back to the important things in life- namely, tea.

Tea is massive in Ireland and, as a gift to the couple who were putting my sister and I up, we decided to buy them some special tea from Harrod's- their special Heritage No. 18 Georgian Blend. We bought the teabags in a caddy and duly presented it at dinner time. Thankfully, John and Margaret loved it and we were served some with some little chocolates after our meal.

The tea went down a treat. It's a smooth blend of Darjeeling, Assam and Sri Lankan teas which, as you would expect from the Harrod's name (and price tag!) is utterly delicious. The combination of teas is harmonious and almost velvety on the tongue. The top note of Darjeeling is definitely noticable- in blends of this sort, the lighter flavour can be lost and the earthier flavour of Assam was a pleasant grounding taste, without being overly 'tacky' or 'sticky'.

An expensive treat which may be perfect as a Christmas present for a great-aunt, perhaps?

Chah- Milk Oolong

Chah is a fabulous site selling high quality Asian teas. What I like about the website is that they have pictures of their travels in the 'About Us' section, which shows a connection with the plantations the tea comes from.

Milk Oolong has interested me since I first heard of it. It's a special tea that is affected by the area in Taiwan where it grows. Due to the climate, the tea grows and develops an interesting taste that is, in accordance with the name, slightly milky. It's a delightful tea with a little bit of sweetness.

When brewed, it has a smell that is common to many oolongs- slightly vegetable and earthy, but very clean (some teas can be 'earthy' in the sense of 'muddy'; not this one!) The taste is fragrant and lovely, the tea giving a gentle flavour on the back of the tongue.

I was a bit unsure as to what to expect, but this is a great oolong for a first timer wanting to venture away from the usual teas and try something a bit different. Very, very yummy!

Yumchaa- Regent's Park

Today is one of my favourite kinds of autumn day- gloomy, crisp and ever so slightly menacing. I like these days because they make staying at home cosy and I find myself baking and reading peacefully, rather than rueing the fact that I have to go out to make the most of the day.

I'm currently drinking a mug of Yumchaa Regent's Park, which I bought at a little market I came across in Soho a couple of months ago. Unfortunately, their website doesn't seem to let you order, but I would think that you would be able to call them if you wanted to buy anything. They also have two cafes (one in Soho and one in Camden) where you can buy the teas.

Anyway, Regent's Park is one of my favourite types of green tea, China green tea. I prefer this because I find it less astringent than Japanese teas, but each has their merits. The tea provides a refreshing base with a hint of grassiness, although this is not overpowering. The tea itself is flavoured with fruits, papaya and pineapple being the most dominant, with strawberry and raspberry hints. Apparently there are also rose petals in the mix, but you can't really taste them, so I think they might just be there for aesthetic purposes. The taste is sweet and fruity, a little bit like posh fruit pastilles without sugar. The aftertaste is clean and sharp.

Overall, a very pleasant tea. Let's hope that they get their website sorted!

A selection of my favourite autumn, winter and festive teas

I love autumn and all the festivity that comes with it. I've decided to list some of my favourite teas that are perfect for the upcoming season:

Cup of Tea is selling a cracking Winter Tea selection. It can be a gamble to choose a tea just by looking at the descriptions on the website, so this little box is a perfect way to try all of their festive blends. For £4.60, you get a selection of 10 loose teas (enough for 2-3 cups of tea in each sachet), including green, black, oolong, rooibos and herbal. My current favourite is the Oolong Plum Pudding- fruity and malty, almost like a Christmas pudding. Yum. The great thing about the pack is that most of the teas are for sale in larger quantities on the site, so if you can't bear the thought of not having your favourite in February, you can order up some more. (I will be reviewing each tea in the box in detail at a later date.)

Grey's Bitter almond with pieces- this one has become a favourite in the house, due to its strong black taste and lovely marzipan/almond flavour. A China black tea that works especially well with cakes, I would recommend this one as a tea to get home to on a dark night. Lovely.

Teapigs Spiced Winter Red- a rooibos, which means caffeine free. I took this with me on a residential trip for work last week (I knew I would be cold!) A decadent spiced tea that certainly warms the cockles and helped me sleep. I was very grateful for it!

Eteaket's Chocolate Abyss- a combination of chocolate and tea with a slightly coconutty taste (and a slightly boozy smell!) this is a delicious black tea. I have it at work to combat any chocolate cravings- I'm trying to give up junk food til December- and have now begun to have it in place of hot chocolate in an evening. The China black tea and the chocolate pieces melt together and it is taste heaven.

Tea Palace have a range of festive blends which I am hoping to try this week. I will get back to you asap on that.

Interview: Stepas Parulis, Adagio Teas Europe

Stepas Parulis runs the European side of the American tea company, Adagio. A company that prides itself on its wide range of quality teas and something to suit just about every tea lover's palate!

1) How did you first become involved in the tea industry?

My adventure in the tea business started when I first visited our company's headquarters a few years ago. The idea of working with something delicious and healthy was what appealed to me at the time and is what continues to drive me.

2) What is your favourite tea a) to work with and b) to drink (and why?)

I enjoy working with flavoured and herbal varieties, because they are a great way to initiate people to gourmet tea. Their taste is easily accessible and a good starting point to the world of tea. On a personal level, I particularly enjoy oolongs, such as Ali Shan, Dancong and Ti Kuan Yin.

3) Where do you think the best tea comes from (e.g. Japan, Sri Lanka) and why do you think that?

Tea has a myriad of aspects that is difficult to rank in an impartial manner. Each region has a rich and unique heritage when it comes to growing and consuming tea. In my opinion, the Fujian province in China and the Darjeeling region in India have some of the finest tea producers out there.

4) Where do you get inspiration for your more 'unusual' blends?

We rely on our staff members to create blends that are fresh and intriguing. We also value our customers' input - it is surprising how passionate and creative some of them are!

5) Why do you think it's important for people to experience good quality tea?

Gourmet tea has an impressive variety of flavour profiles that helps train your palate. It makes us realize that there is more to the crop than fancily packed fannings at a random supermarket. Tea is also a great way to discover distant regions and expand your cultural horizon.

6) Why do you think independent tea blenders and merchants have been gaining popularity in the last few years?

I believe that the way we conceive food and its role in our lives has changed dramatically over the last several years. People have become more knowledgeable and sophisticated about what they eat or drink. Quality and health are central themes for shoppers and producers alike. In this respect, independent tea businesses have been at the forefront of this movement thanks to a product that is both healthy and delicate, and are well positioned to continue to sap this trend as it moves towards the mass market.

7) If you could have any five people at a tea party, who would you have and what would you serve them?

I would have my closest friends from around the world gather in one place to discuss anything from movies to politics. Dancong would be my weapon of choice to keep the conversation brewing.

8) Where do you see the tea industry (and tea itself) heading in the next few years?

Gourmet tea is still in the early stages of adoption across Europe, despite an important heritage in several countries. The key is to continue spreading the word about its diversity of taste and numerous health benefits. The challenge for tea companies in the future will be to adapt this ancient beverage to modern lifestyles. Therefore, one area where I see a lot of potential is the ready-to-drink tea market.

A Good Brew...

I have to admit that I prefer loose leaf teas, but I do hate the mess that they can make! I thought I would run down my favourite (and some more unusual) ways of brewing a good cup of tea. I have used all of these at one point or another, but if you have another way of making your tea, do let me know!

1) The filter bag- these are a really reasonably priced option. At £3.70 for 100, these are perfect for work (where I often use them) and I like them at home, because once I've used them, I can chuck them on the compost bin. I always have a stash of these, because I feel a little bit bereft when I run out of them. You just fill them with tea and then treat them like a normal teabag. Easy peasy!

2) The Ingenuitea Teapot- I had a similar thing to this a couple of years ago when I first got into tea, albeit a much smaller one. They really are fab, especially when brewing oolong, as you can keep the leaves in for a bit to get your multiple infusions. What I like about this one is that you get two cups of tea from it. You simply put your tea leaves and water into the pot, watch the tea brew and then put the pot onto your mug. Hey presto, tea pours into said mug and no mess!

3) Infusing wheel- this is an invaluable part of any tea lover's armour. Put your tea in and treat like a teabag. The only advice I would give you is to be mindful that they can be a little messy (I've had one pop open into the mug of water and have spilt tea leaves down the side of the bin too) and you must clean them really well. However, perfect for those who maybe just have the occassional cup of leaf tea.

Adagio Ti Kuan Yin Oolong

I have never really tried oolong before and so before I tasted Adagio's Ti Kuan Yin, I was a little bit unsure as to what I would experience.

Like many teas, Oolong has attracted a positive press with regards to its health benefits and the fact that it can, apparently, help with skin and weight problems. Whatever the truth, it is a very refreshing and interesting tea to sample.

Ti Kuan Yin is a Chinese goddess; the name translates as 'Iron Goddess of Mercy' or 'compassion'. The tea leaves are grown in Fujan Province and undergo a complex process to make the tea; as a result, this is one of the most sought after in China. Oolong is a tea that is best described as being between black and green and can, in theory, be drunk with milk. I wouldn't recommend milk with this tea though, as it falls more on the 'green' side than black. The interesting thing about oolong tea is that it improves after various infusions- something that can justify what can, at first, look expensive.

Anyway, this tea is a mellow green-ish colour (typical of the colour of traditional Chinese green teas) with a sweet, flowery smell. The taste is interesting; sweet top notes and a slightly floral and also nutty aftertaste. What I liked most about the taste is that it didn't have the bitter, vegetable taste of some green teas. The flavour is refreshing and mild. It's a lovely tea for mid day and would be really nice after lunch, as it's a really cleansing blend.

As an Oolong novice, I would recommend this to a first timer, as it's reasonably priced and is a great introduction to a very interesting tea.

Tiger Spring Tea- Balham Builders' Blend

My absence from the blog over the last week has been due to a cold inhibiting my taste buds. As this was the case, I drank tons of Typhoo tea at work, only caring that the hot liquid might ease my symptoms. Obviously, as I couldn't taste anything, I didn't want to waste any of my review teas!

Yesterday, I was made a cup of Typhoo. Yuck. Bland, overly tannin-y and a weird aftertaste convinced me that I was to search out a better 'builder's blend*' of tea now that I was better. And I think I have found one that I can recommend in good conscience.

Tiger Spring Tea's Balham Builders' Blend is a classic blend of Assam, Ceylon and Darjeeling; the latter tea giving a delicate top flavour to compliment the earthy, malty robust flavours of the Assam and Ceylon teas.

The taste is gorgeous- perfect 'proper' tea (I will have to get a caddy of this to replace the lonely box of PG Tips that I keep for guests who request 'normal' tea. I think they will be converted instantly) and is perfect with or without milk and sugar. The smell is slightly sweet and the aftertaste is mellow and pleasant. Seriously, if you never know what I'm talking about when I discuss aftertaste, which is very important with black teas, buy some of this and then compare with a bog-standard tea bag. You will notice a difference.

This is just lush.


*For those unsure what is meant by 'builder's blend'- a British term for strong, black tea, the sort given to builders when they come and do a job at your house. Also usually fairly sweet, but I don't have sugar, so I can't comment on that bit!

Earl Grey Taste Challenge- Day 18

It has been a very busy week this week and so I took a new Earl Grey to work with me. Golden Monkey Tea Co  have a lovely EG (which I had to stop at least one co-worker from stealing some, she liked it so much!) which is very reasonably priced.

The tea has a strong, inviting smell and a really good colour- unlike some EGs, which can look a bit anaemic. As I've found with a few quality Earl Greys, there are cornflower petals in the mix; I'm not entirely sure why they are added, but they look pretty when added to black tea.

The taste itself is classic, good quality Earl Grey through and through. The tea, a luxurious Ceylon OP, gives a strong, malty and robust base flavour which is complemented by a zingy bergamot taste. This is EG at both its basic and finest- no messing about, no fiddling with quantities, just straight up citrus; perfect when you have a cold brewing (which I have had this week). Comforting, warming and delicious. What more could someone want in a no-nonsense, traditional Earl Grey?

Autumnal teas?

I'm looking for some really nice teas that just suit this time of year. Any suggestions?