Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black, Green
Where to Buy: The London Tea Room
Tea Description:
We invented this blend in honour of our childhood memories of Bonfire Night in England. Smoky gunpowder, wild winter berries, vanilla bean and a touch of lapsang souchong. Remember, remember…
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
The fifth of November from The London Tea Room is not a tea I would drink all day every day, but there is something so special about it that every now and then I get an intense craving for it.
This tea just makes me happy. Reminds me of the Renaissance – woodsy smoky flavors with a light berry undertone which is perfect. Add a little sugar in the raw or not – its great both ways. It has a wonderful Lapsang Souchong base that is not over the top. I have sampled many Lapsang Souchong, some far smokier than others, this one lays politely in the middle range of smokiness. The berry notes are balanced perfectly so that you get a good taste of berry without it becoming a directly berry flavored tea. The vanilla really helps to meld the two opposing worlds and brings all of the flavor notes together in harmony.
I have had this specific tea in my stash for over a year now and it has not lost any flavor so it is hardy and one of those teas you can in fact buy for the every now and then cup without fear that it will go stale on you. I have found gunpowder green to be that way, lasting much longer than other teas, especially green teas, so maybe that is one of the reasons.
WIth today being a rather gloomy day, in spring, even though I do not mind the weather being this way, this tea was exactly what came to mind. It is warming, toasty, roasty, and friendly. Yes friendly, tea can be friendly right? It just makes you smile, kick back, and enjoy the moment you spend with it. This is the tea to have when you may otherwise have hot cocoa, you know, a cuddly tea for a cuddly moment. It does make you think of bonfires, or campfires, melting marshmallows, good friends, and good times. Or romantic moments in front of a fireplace. Yeah, I really love this tea, even if I have to be in the “mood” for it, I am so happy that I have it in my tea stash when those moments come along.
