Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Upton Tea Imports
Tea Description:
A tribute to the famous London tea auctions, our Leadenhall Street Breakfast Blend is a blend of two classic British teas: a brisk Ceylon and a thick, malty Assam. The result is a flavorful mixture which lends itself to the addition of milk.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This Leadenhall Street Breakfast Blend from Upton Tea Imports is a deliciously robust blend of teas that is perfect for that all-important first cup of the day.
Combining Assam and Ceylon is not a new idea, I’ve had quite a few “breakfast blends” that utilize these two teas. The two seem to work together quite well. The Assam brings its rich, bold flavor to the cup while the Ceylon offers a bright, even-toned quality to the tea. The result is a very satisfying cup of tea that is strong enough to get you going in the morning .. but also something that would work nicely as a mid-day pick-me-up.
I notice some light fruit notes to this cup, as well as some distant floral tones. The Assam has a really rich, comforting character … deliciously sweet and malty.
There is a fair amount of astringency to this cup, but, I’m not tasting any bitterness and that’s a definite plus. I would not recommend oversteeping this tea though, because I can’t say it wouldn’t be bitter if it were left to steep too long. I steeped this in boiling water for 2 1/2 minutes in my Breville One-Touch, and I’m very happy with the result. I drank mine without any additions, and found it to be just right for my morning cuppa – edgy but not too edgy. If you want to soften that edge, you can add a bit of sweetener and/or a splash of milk or cream. This would make an excellent latte … but I really enjoyed it straight up!
