Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Rare Tea Co.
Tea Description:
It’s a very traditional British tea of the like we haven’t seen for many years. It comes from two beautiful, independent tea gardens; the Makaibari Estate in Darjeeling, India and Satemwa Estate on Thyolo Mountain in Malawi. Both are committed to creating the finest tea using sustainable practices to benefit both the land and the people who live on it.
These teas were made by farmers, not by vast agri-businesses. They were not processed by machine but crafted by skilled men and women. The producers go to extraordinary lengths to make this wonderful tea. When you taste it I hope you’ll agree that it is a tea we can be really proud of..
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
What a sleepy day it is today. Autumn is ringing in here in Kansas. Leaves falling, wind is intense, its getting colder, everything is turning orange, red, and yellow. I love it. This is the type of day I would normally just dig deeply down into my covers and curl up tighter, sleeping the day away. However, I had far too much to do today and was up earlier than most days. I needed a good strong, stout kick! I reached for a sample of this tea that my Sororitea Sister Anne had sent me.
It smells like steel cut oats simmering on the stove top, smells even slightly of toast, just the aromas I want to wake up to! I love my oats and toast in the morning!
The flavor has a light fruity note to it but keeps its composure as a bold, strong, tea. Its rich, and malty, with a light zing that says, “Wake up Soldier!” It has a light sweetness but still takes well to added sweeteners if you prefer. I personally try not to sugar coat my morning as I would only slag back into a state of stupor and would not resist the temptation to go back to bed. I need to face my mornings head on, with vigor, and this tea provides me the gentle shove I need!
The fruit in this tea brings forth the darjeeling muscatel notes, just enough to open the eyes and make you pay attention. Perky is how I would describe the fruity note.
However, on the flip-side, I also find this tea so smooth that it would be fitting for an afternoon tea as well as a morning pick me up! There is a creamy mouthfeel in the sip which to me speaks of comfort, like a cup that gives you a gentle hug then says “now get to work!”
Royal Air Force Tea from Rare Tea Co.
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Rare Tea Co.
Tea Description:
A bespoke blend created for the RAF. When only the best will do.
But don’t take our word for it. Here is comedian Alexander Armstrong explaining why RAF Tea is worth it.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I just received my package of tea from Rare Tea Co. today, and before brewing this splendid Royal Air Force blend, I perused the Rare Tea Co. website to learn a little more about the tea. While I was there, I clicked on the link above (this one), watched the video and had a really good laugh thanks to Alexander Armstrong.
And now that I’ve tasted this tea, I have to say that Mr. Armstrong is right. This is delicious. And, yes, it does taste like tea. But, I don’t think you visited this website today to hear me reaffirm the words of Alexander Armstrong.
When I opened the package I noticed that the leaf looked a bit like a Darjeeling, or at least a blend containing Darjeeling. And after reading the website, I found that it is, indeed, a blend that contains a Darjeeling tea as well as an estate tea from Malawi. So, I brewed this with not quite boiling water (200°F) and steeped for 2 minutes.
The results are marvelous. The tea is rich with fruity high notes and I taste a hint of muscatel. The Satemwa estate tea in this blend provides a strong, malty character. The tea is sweet with bright fruit tones and the caramel-y taste of the malt. These two teas meld together so perfectly, creating a very full-bodied, rounded taste. It is bold enough to serve first thing in the morning, and smooth enough to serve as an afternoon tea.
This tea does take to the additions of milk and sugar well, but, I find this to be quite lovely served without additions. It is nice iced, too, although I think the cooling process seems to dull the flavors somewhat. For the best flavor, serve hot.
