Twinings Everyday Tea: A Beast Of A Brew

Today, I was standing in the kitchen deciding what tea to have. I love the floral range, but am running dangerously low on them, didn't fancy Ceylon or Keemun or Yunnan. Then I spotted the three packets of Everyday Tea samples that Twinings had packed with my recent orders, and decided to give it a go!

Since I had to stop drinking cow's milk due to dairy irritating my skin, I've stepped back a little bit from drinking tea's like Assam, thinking, that they would be too intense without milk.

Twinings Everyday Tea blend, I think, is one of their most popular blends. Whenever I go into any supermarket and browse the tea aisle, the section on the shelf where Everyday is held is either completely empty, or it looks like a tornado has blown through it, with only the damaged boxes perching on the edge of the shelf. The fact you can buy these in packs as little as 40 and as large as 240 goes to show how popular it is. (Decaffeinated version also available).

Everyday Tea is a full bodied blend, and as you can see in the picture, it brews to a hearty, dark mahogany colour.

Everyday Tea is robust, strong and hits the spot. There is a wonderful selection of flavoured tea's, spiced tea, fruit teas, herbal teas and green teas. And I wouldn't be without them. But sometimes, all you want is good old fashioned, mighty brew, and you get this with Everyday Tea.

There is a mixture of tea's in this blend. One of them being a favourite of mine, Yunnan, but I think it gets it's strength from the Kenyan tea that is included in the blend.

Everyday Tea is designed to be brewed quickly. It is ready to drink in a minute, but can be left to brew for up to three. I tend to go for the two minute mark as any longer it tends to go a little too strong for my tastes. This tea is perfect if you like to use milk in your tea, and I think it would taste delicious with a good spoonful of sugar, too. But, because of it's strength, if you take milk black and unsweetened you still get a really satisfying brew.

Recently, Twinings have brought out different variations of the blend. As I mentioned you can get a decaffeinated blend. But you can also get a echinacea blend, a peppermint blend, a green tea blend and a redbush blend - so every taste is catered for.

If you like your tea strong and malty this is perfect for you. I really enjoyed my cup of Everyday Tea. I found it thirst quenching and satisfying. In fact, I may just treat myself to a box tomorrow ...

Summary of Everyday Tea

- Brew between 1 and 3 minutes. 1 minute is great, 3 is very strong.
- Can be taken either black or white, sweetened or unsweetened.
- Is available everywhere. Prices range from £1.99 to £7.49 depending on what size box you choose.

Twinings Floral Range: Blossom Earl Grey - Perfection In A Cup

If tea were people, I would imagine Earl Grey to be the lord and master. Lady Grey would be his subtle and elegant daughter, and the Twinings Floral Range, which is made up of Mulled Spice, Rose Garden, Lavender Earl Grey, Blossom Earl Grey and Jasmine Earl Grey, would be his young and exuberant nieces.

With their floral range, Twinings have created something magical. Five very different tea's, all lovingly created and blended, but somehow, all following the same delicate, theme.

I have already reviewed Rose Garden and Lavender Earl Grey, so today I have decided to write about Blossom Earl Grey.

Blossom Earl Grey is a delicate, gentle tea. But, to me, it's as close to perfection as you could get. When I first brought it, I wrongly assumed that it would have a prominient orange flavour, just like Lady Grey has, but that is not the case. It's actually a black tea, that is flavoured with the ever so sweet taste of orange blossom, and has a slight citrus undertone.

I usually brew this tea for around three minutes to let the sweetness fully emerge. When it's brewed it makes a wonderful, amber colour. (Not reflected very well in this photograph!).

There is nothing more lovely then curling up on the sofa, and taking the time to really enjoy this blend. It's not a tea that should be drunk quickly, as your on the way out of the door. It's something that is so lovely, and indeed, beautiful that it needs to have your full attention.

From the very first sip the taste of orange blossom dances on your tongue. It's so smooth and soothing. Part of the reason I am a Twinings champion, is that when they use bergamont (as they do in this blend), it does not taste artificial, like some of the cheaper blends do. The citrus tones are subtly there, but just enough so you notice then, but not so strong that it takes over from the rest of the flavours.

This is a blend that does not need milk. In fact, by adding milk you'll be detracting from the taste. However, if you need milk that is fine too, of course. Neither do you need sweeteners or sugar.

I think this is a brilliant blend if you want to host an afternoon tea party. It would go perfectly with a sponge cake, particularly a lemon drizzle cake or a lighter sponge. Imagine how lovely it would be to have friends around, using your finest china, and drinking a tea that is as delicate as a snowflake!

If you only try one new tea this year, choose Twinings Blossom Earl Grey. It really is something that should be savoured and enjoyed by many.

Summary of Blossom Earl Grey

- Brew the tea for three to four minutes
- Blossom Earl Grey is available from Twinings and supermarkets. A caddy, (with 20 teabags) costs £6.00. Replacement teabags cost £2.49 for 20.
- No milk or sweeteners needed, but a tiny dash of milk won't detract if you like to take milk.

Liquorice Offers Little Comfort For Me

It's extremely rare that I dislike a tea. I don't drink peppermint simply because it upsets my stomach. Lapsang Souchong is utterly undrinkable for me, as it resembles smoked kippers, which I'm not a fan of. But I like to think I try tea's with a open mind, and I like to try all the new blends and flavours.

It was with interest that I stumbled upon a box of Comforting Liquorice in Sainsburys today (priced at just £1.08 on special offer), and it was a blend that interested me, as I really liked the Silky Pyramid Liquorice Allsorts blend. I had struggled to source Comforting Liquorice, so was pleased when I found a box.

Once home, I decided to try it immediately. Straight away, I realised that this may not be the blend for me. The smell I got when opening the box was a strange earthy, grassy smell. But quite often with tea's, the smell on opening the box may not relate to the actual taste, so I didn't let this put me off.

As it brewed, the earthy aroma seemed to get stronger, and, it didn't remind me of liquorice at all. I know we are all accustomed to the coconut taste of Liquorice Allsorts, but I have tried natural liquorice, and it doesn't resemble this blend at all.

To match the aroma of earth and grass, the blend brewed to a light brown colour with a tinge of green to it.

I curled up on the sofa and took my first sip, and it didn't taste of much. Just a vague herbal taste that I couldn't quite place. There was a nice, pleasant burst of sweetness, which I really enjoyed. But, it was the taste before the sweetness that I just couldn't go on with, and after half a cup, I knew that this wasn't my type of tea. I was though, determined, to drink the whole cup to see if a) the taste would grow on me and b) to see if the taste changed at all. I was disappointed that neither happened, and despite my best intentions, I couldn't finish the cup.

This tea would suit those who enjoy herbal teas, which, in general I struggle with. If you expect a liquorice tea to taste like liquorice allsorts, then I'd say try the silky pyramid blend instead.

Although disappointed that I couldn't write a positive blog about Comforting Liquorice, I feel I cannot write what I don't believe. You have to be honest, even about things you don't like.

If anyone would like the rest of the box, then please feel free to leave a comment in the section below. Only one teabag has been used, so you'll be getting a nearly full box!

Summary of Comforting Liquorice

-Recommended brewing time is 2-3 minutes.
-No milk or sugars needed (it's very sweet!)
-Is available in boxes of 20, costing £1.49 (but currently available at some supermarkets on special offer, £1.08 a box).

A Mango And Strawberry Delight

At the start of the year, every one goes fruit tea (and green tea) crazy. I did it myself last year, and have a fruit tea collection that could rival any supermarket. It's amused me greatly these past few weeks, wondering around various supermarkets seeing everyone fill up their baskets with all the lovely fruity tea.

It was lovely this week to have received a package from Twinings. A box of their fruit tea's to try, and review on this blog. I didn't really know which one to choose, so I went for Strawberry and Mango. I'm not a great lover of fresh strawberries, but I do love strawberry flavoured things (weird, I know!)and I love mango, either in fruit or juice form.

Like I said in a previous post, I adore the new packaging Twinings have come up with for their fruit teas, and this is just so pretty. I love the pinky, yellow colours. But, we can't judge a tea by it's box can we?

When I undid the box, I have to say, I didn't get a hint of an strawberry or mango aroma. It was a pleasant smell, but I just couldn't put my finger on it. I was really intriqued as to how this tea was going to taste, and as I poured the water on the bag, I waited, and very quickly, I could smell strawberries. Not a strong scent of strawberry, but a delicate scent coming through.

The tea brewed to a lovely, dark red colour. That is one of the lovely things about fruit teas, they brew into wonderful colours, which is very pleasant on the eye.

Upon the first sip, I was interested that it wasn't the strawberry flavour that came through first, but the sweet taste of mango. The strawberry comes through almost as an aftertaste. It has a lovely, smooth texture, that is easy on the tongue.

Strawberry and Mango are a perfect pairing, and not one that most people would immediately put together, so the blenders at Twinings have done fabulously well in dreaming up this combination. It's a lovely blend. The only criticism is that the flavours are delicate, but could do with being a little stronger. I use two bags to make a stronger brew, so it would be nice if the flavours could be a little more full on.

Would I buy a box of strawberry and mango? Yes, I would. I'm sure it will make a wonderful summery blend. It's light and refreshing, but more suited to warmer days when you need a lighter tea.

Summary of Strawberry And Mango

- Brew for as long as you wish. But if you want a stronger flavour, I'd suggest using two tea bags to get a fuller tasting brew.
- Strawberry and Mango is available in boxes of 20 for approximately £1.30.
- No milk or sweeteners needed.

The Case Of The Rumbly Tummy And The Settling Ginger

Tea is lovely. I think we'll all agree on that one! That's why I like to write about it, and you (hopefully!) like to read about it. Nothing beats the calming affect a nice cup of tea can have after a hectic day, or the warming feeling of comfort if you've been out in the cold. Or, indeed, the nice cooling feeling of a cold iced tea on a hot day.

But also, some tea's have a relieving affect when your not feeling so well. There is lavender tea if you can't sleep, I suffer from sinus problems on occasion and Lime and Ginger Sensations is good for clearing the sinuses. You can use the Defence blend if your feeling poorly and want to build up your immunity.

Today, I had a very bad case of rumbling and gurgling stomach. All day long it sounded awful, which isn't good when you work from home and your boyfriend is talking on the phone with a customer. (I since discovered drinking a small bottle of sparking water after a work out wasn't the best thing to do!).

After a few hours I wondered what I could do and remembered that I have a box of Twinings Settling Ginger. So, I decided to have a cup, and naturally thought it was a good chance to review it.

Settling Ginger is, in one word, potent. It's a very strong blend, and quite different to the Lemon and Ginger blend that is also available. It's strong and mighty and one that I think is really pleasant. But, I would like to say it's an acquired taste. I think you'll either like it or loathe it. There is no in between with this blend.

Settling Ginger also contains cloves, cinnamon and liquorice.

I brew Settling Ginger for around five minutes, and despite it being strong, I use two teabags. Yes, I know, it's quite extreme but I really like the punch you get from this blend, and I like it strong.

When it's brewed Settling Ginger takes on a grassy colour, it's appearance reminds me a bit of old fashioned cloudy lemonade.

Naturally, the first taste you get when sipping is ginger and it's very pleasant indeed. A couple of seconds after sipping, you get a real spicy kick. My whole mouth tingled, as if it were coming alive with the taste of ginger. It was a very refreshing sensation. It really is a complete experience drinking this tea! After the tingling of the ginger subsided, there was a strange sweetness that came across, which came from the liquorice in the blend. The taste of cloves also is very evident.

I think this blend is a very good candidate for making cold and turning into a punch during the summer. It would go really well poured over ice cubes. The spiciness of the ginger and the coolness of ice cubes would make good bedfellows!

And what of the rumbly tummy? Well the whole idea of Settling Ginger is to help digestion and settle your tummy after a bit of over indulgence, or during times of stress or anxiety. With a few minutes of finishing the cup, my stomach settled down and remained so for the rest of the day. A bit of relief from the rather embarrassing gurgling that had plagued me all day.

I really like this blend, but as I said before, there is no middle ground. If ginger is your thing, I think you'll really love it. If not, it's perhaps one blend best avoided. I think it would be hard to get through a mug if your not keen on anything too spicy. But for me, it's perfect.

Summary of Settling Ginger

- Available in boxes of twenty in supermarkets and online. Price for twenty bags is £1.29.
- Can be brewed for however long you feel it needs, but I would suggest around 4-5 minutes.
- No milk or sugar needed!
- For extra kick why not use two tea bags!

Winter Spice: Perfect Brew For A Freezing Cold Day

It's a wonderful feeling when you find a blend of tea that excites all of your senses. A fruity aroma, an appealing colour and a luxurious, fruity taste. But that is what you get with Twinings Winter Spice tea. The only downside is that once you find perfection in a tea, you never want to loose it, so when you see 'Limited Edition' written on the box,it's a bit ... well, disappointing!

Winter Spice is flavoured with liquorice, cinnamon and blackberry leaves, and the three flavours merge together wonderfully. It's one of those rare occasion's where the flavours are subtle, yet, at the same time, you can detect all of them. No one single flavour outdoes the other.

As with all other fruity tea's, you can't over brew it, so leave the teabag in till you think it's ready. I love watching Winter Spice brew. The water goes from clear, to a dark, crimson red colour in a matter of seconds, the water and colour of the blend merging together to make a very inviting, interesting drink.

On brewing, the first flavour that comes through is blackberry. It's then the liquorice and the cinnamon just peeps through at the end. Over all it's fruity, and I think that is what would most likely be picked up if you were to blind fold someone and ask them what they thought it was, I'm pretty sure they would say blackberry.

The liquorice tones resemble natural liquorice rather then the sort you'd find in a box of Allsorts (or indeed Liquorice Allsorts Earl Grey which I have reviewed!) so it doesn't taste like coconut at all. The cinnamon adds a spicy kick to the drink, which is partly why this is a perfect blend for handing out on cold nights, such as bonfire night or after a night of carol singing. As it says on the box - it's very much a winter blend. It just reminds me of those celebrations we have at the end of the year, such as Halloween and Firework night. It's made for cold nights, and is a pleasure to drink.

It does remind me a little of warmed Ribena actually!

I do hope that we get at least another winter from Winter Spice (not sure how limited an edition it is!), and it doesn't disappear off the shelves just yet. I think it's a blend that, although fruity, is vastly different from other fruit teas. It has a lot more body then normal fruit teas.

It's just really special. And I hope you get to enjoy it, too!

Summary of Winter Spice

- This can be brewed for as long as you like, but I would advise brewing for at least four minutes.
- Winter Spice can be purchased from Twinings Online. It costs £1.29 for a box of 20 teabags.
- No milk or sugar necessary. It will take away from it's delicious, natural taste.

White Tea: A Refreshing Cup Of Sunniness!

'Wouldn't it be nice' I wrote on Twinings Facebook page last Spring, 'If you were to make a tea that celebrates the Royal birth'. They had, after all, blended two fabulous teas for the Royal Wedding and Diamond Jubilee.

It seems, plans were already afoot at Twinings to do just that, as a couple of days after the birth of Prince George last July, I received a wonderful phone call from Twinings customer service staff to let me know that they had just launched a celebration tea.

What flavour would I choose? Well peppermint was out of the question as my stomach can't seem to tolerate mint tea. Yunnan was not chosen as I had a abundance of the blend through the Diamond Jubilee tea. So I opted for China white tea.

And this started a love hate relationship with the blend. I love to drink it, and hate to brew it. I struggle to get it "just right", and brewing in a pot is out of the question as it all goes horribly wrong.

Why do I struggle so much? Simply because white tea only needs a minute of brewing before it goes bitter. Unlike it's robust cousin that is black tea, white tea is like a nervous child on it's first day of school. You need to almost hold it's hand and nuture it. Walk it through the brewing process.

So, I thought I'd try white tea in teabag form. I brought the Pure White blend. Would I fare any better?

Each teabag comes wrapped individually in it's own envelope.

The first thing you need to remember about white tea is you have to be extremely precise at how long you brew it for. It's advised on the packaging, to brew for 1-2 minutes, but I brew it for no longer then 1 minute, as I find it goes bitter. You can purchase tea timers, but I just use my phone.

The second thing is that you do not need milk at all, in fact you shouldn't put anything at all into the tea, milk, sugar or artificial sweeteners. It has a light, fragrant and sweet taste. In my opinion this is the only tea you should drink in it's pure form.

Now, I've boiled the kettle, and set the timer. What happen's next? Well white tea has a earthy, leafy smell to it when brewing. In fact it's almost herbal in smell. Contrary to what I expected, it doesn't brew to a white colour, but rather a yellowy, greeny hue.

But the taste. Oh the glorious taste. It's a rather sweet tea (almost like rooibos tea). It's light and fragrant and very refreshing (particularly on hot days). It's a good tea to take if you don't fancy black tea, but still want a "real" tea rather then a fruit tea. As with the aroma, it does have a herbal taste to it, which I quite enjoy.

It's so delicate in taste and appearance it really is something rather special.

Twining's also do a white tea with pomegranate which I am eager to try.

Just out of interest, here is a picture of the Limited Edition Royal Baby Caddy. It holds loose white tea, which I'm still trying to perfect in a teapot!

Summary of White Tea

- Pure White Tea is available in boxes of 20 costing around £2.05.
- Brewing time is suggested as 1-2 minutes, but I feel 1 minute is enough.
- Milk and sugar/sweetners not needed, drink it pure!
- The China White New Baby Celebration Caddy is still available through Twinings Online priced £10.00 (includes 75g of loose tea)

Keemun Tea: A Deliciously Nutty Delight

Keemun tea is a blend that I really wanted to try for quite some time, but couldn't source it in my local supermarkets. But, just before Christmas, traveling a little further afield I managed to find a box in a very large branch of Tesco's. I was very pleased to find some, and couldn't wait to get home and try it. I had known that Keemun had a slightly nutty taste, and I love Yunnan, which is also nutty so I was looking forward to trying it.

Here is a picture of Keemun tea. (I have forgotten to upload my own pictures of my home made caddy, so this one has been taken from the Twinings website.)

Keemun is a black tea from China, which has a delicate, nutty flavour. When the tea is brewing, I got a distinct, earthy smell. It's a genuine pleasure watching this tea brew as it changes colour. It starts as a light brown, almost sandy colour, and ends up a dark mahogany.

I brew the tea for no longer then three minutes, as it tends to go rather bitter if left brewing much past that amount of time, as many black teas tend to do. I always take it black and add a sweetener, though, much like Yunnan tea, if you take milk it doesn't detract too much from the taste.

As I curled up on the sofa, I took my first sip, and was pleasantly surprised. The tea has tones of hazelnuts (well to me anyway). It's a delicate taste, but one that is very distinctly there. It's very similar to Yunnan, but different too. (I think Yunnan tends to have a stronger nutty taste). I also think the tea has a slightly smokey flavour, which, surprisingly for me, I enjoyed, as the only tea I can't take is Lapsang Souchong. So, I guess, you could say, it's rather like roasted hazelnuts!

The tea is very smooth and very pleasant to drink.

As I said earlier, the tea can go slightly bitter if over brewed. I would also add that it tastes bitter if taken cold. Quite often I forget about tea, and go back a while later, take a swig, to find it has cooled. Normally, it doesn't matter. A tea like, Lady Grey for instance, tends to sweeten a bit once cold, but Keemun does go bitter, so drink it while it's hot!

I think this tea will appeal to those who love black teas, and perhaps those who are not so keen on lemon, oranges or other floral scents that are often added to black teas. Drinking a plain black tea, such as the Prince of Wales blend can be a little boring, so the subtle nut flavour is a pleasant addition. This tea is honestly worth tracking down.

When reading up on Keemun tea, I discovered something quite interesting. Apparantly, this tea can go stale very quickly, so it may be worth investing in a caddy to keep the tea in rather then keeping it simply in it's box.

I'm glad I've found this tea and added it to my collection. It was certainly well worth hunting down and is a wonderful addition to the collection.

Summary of Keemun Tea

- Brew this tea for anything up to three minutes, anything longer can make it a little bitter.
- Can be taken black or white, (depending on taste) and can be sweetened too.
- It's available in larger supermarkets and online. You can purchase a box of 50 bags for around £2.49.

Twinings At The Strand ... A Little Gem In the Heart Of London

There are two interesting facts about the Twining's shop that can be found at 216, The Strand. Firstly, the shop has been there since 1706 (hence the 1706 blend!) and is the longest rate payer on The Strand. Secondly, it's also one of the smallest shop's in London. It's absolutely tiny. But beautifully formed.

Whenever I go to visit my mum, who lives near to London, it's the first place I request to go. It's not just about buying tea (which you can buy in most places), it's the experience. There is nothing that is as much fun as browsing the shelves. You can see the exotic blends, the day to day blends, and if your a coffee lover you can even buy coffee.

I often go when the shop first opens, and it's always full. Tourists often go to buy the tea, and to try the tea at the tea tasting bar. There can be a bit of pushing and shoving as you try to make your way up the aisle, but the jostling is fun, and it's a sign that the shop is thriving. Customers tend to have one or two baskets that are bursting at the seems.

Alongside all the different teas, you can buy teaware, such as tea pots, cup and saucers and mugs. I also like the pick and mix bar where you can buy tea in single envelopes, costing as little as 30p each. It's a brilliant chance to try new teas without having to buy a whole box (in case you don't like it).

But what also makes the experience so nice are the staff. They are so friendly, genuinely interested in your purchases and what you like about them. If you don't see a blend that you want to buy, there will always be someone who is willing to look for it elsewhere in the building. Nothing is too much trouble, and you won't ever experience a surly member of staff there.

If your ever visiting London, then the Twinings store is a must to visit. You will thoroughly enjoy it there. And I'm pretty certain that you won't be able to resist buying something nice there!

Cherry and Cinnamon: Pleasant Enough But ... It Lacks Something.

I am a fruit lover, as I said in a previous review, and I adore cherries. Be it nice, plump, juicy cherries from the supermarket, or, those plastic like cherries that are put on top of a cherry bakewell tart. I love the flavour of them, and nothing beats a bowl of fresh cherries that you can dip into whenever you want.

I was excited to purchase the cherry and cinnamon tea. And, I do honestly like it, but I find that it just doesn't quite deliver.

Anyway, here is the box for the blend. Twinings have recently overhauled the design of their fruit teas, and they have done a fab job. They are modern, bright, and clearly show you what sort of tea your buying. They are funky and full of colour. I really like the new designs.

The brewing time for this is up to four minutes. As I've said previously, I do like to keep the teabag in to get a fully rounded flavour. The tea, when fully brewed developes into a dark, crimson colour. It's really quite wonderful to look at.

There is nothing wrong with the cherry and cinnamon infusion. I loved the full bodied and sweet taste of the cherry. It's simply gorgeous. But I was disappointed in the fact that I could barely, if at all, taste the cinnamon. I didn't pick up an aroma of cinnamon during the brewing process, or indeed before. It just lacks that spiciness that I was expecting, and cinnamon and cherry go so well together (especially in a fruit pie!).

Perhaps, my taste buds just couldn't pick up the cinnamon, but know that cinnamon is not a subtle flavour. It should be out there, counteracting the sweetness of the cherries (and it is a sweet blend).

I would of preferred, perhaps, a morello cherry tea. Morello cherries have their own distinct flavour, and would make a pleasant tea.

A friend of mine has also suggested flavouring a black tea with cherry. That could work too, as some people don't get on with fruit infusions but would enjoy the fruit flavours added to a black tea.

Don't get me wrong, it makes a nice cup of tea. But just don't expect to find much taste of cinnamon, as for me, it's lacking.

Summary of Cherry And Cinnamon

- Available from Twinings online and most supermarkets. £1.29 for a box of twenty teabags.
- Brew for three to four minutes, though longer won't harm the brew.
- Don't add milk, and the cherry is sweet enough so sugar or sweeteners are not needed.

Twinings Sensation Range: Lime and Ginger

Last year I was fortunate to win a Twinings competition. It was the full range of their new Sensations line. The range is fantastic. You have herbal tea such as Camomile and Maple, fruit teas such as Blackcurrant and Rhubarb and minty tea, which is called Buttermint Sensation.

Today I made a cup of Lime and Ginger. It really is a zingy blend, which is made up of lime peel, ginger and tangerine.

Lime is quite a different choice to include as a infusion, and it makes a very welcome difference to lemon, which is normally included in any line of fruit tea. Having a preference for citrus flavoured stuff, Lime and Ginger was the first tea I tried when receiving my prize from Twinings.

Earlier on in the week I reviewed the Gingersnap Peach, and said that the ginger included in the tea came as a after bite, such was the sweetness of the peach. Well, pairing up lime and ginger, two very strong flavours makes for a completely different experience altogether.

The ginger, instead of being fairly discreet, like it is with Gingersnap Peach, is prominent. Taking the teabag from it's envelope, I sniffed the teabag and the ginger even smelt strong! This was not going to be a subtle tea to drink. This was really going to be a flavoursome brew.

When brewing the tea the two scents of lime and ginger work well together, in fact they compliment each other.

It said to brew the tea for four minutes, but I like leaving the teabag in for longer then that, as I like the strong flavour. As with all fruit teas, milk isn't needed, but a little bit of sugar could be added if you don't like citrus flavours being too sharp.

When fully brewed the tea makes for a light amber colour with a slight green tinge to it.

From the first sip your taste buds go on a awesome journey. The lime and ginger flavour's do not compete against one another. Ginger is the first taste you'll get, and it tickles your taste buds, then comes the sharp flavour of lime. With each sip, your mouth starts to ever so slightly (but not unpleastantly so) tingle. In a strange way, as the brew cools, the lime starts to highlight the ginger even more, and by the time you reach the end of the drink, it starts to taste almost sweet.

Lime and Ginger is a refreshing brew. And I find, after eating something like a curry, it does refresh and cleanse the palate. It's has a very strong aroma and a powerful taste, so it's not the sort of tea that you could drink cup after cup of. I have to be in the mood for Lime and Ginger, it's not a blend I drink daily, but when I really fancy a cup, I really enjoy it.

It's vastly different to anything else Twinings have in their shop. I'm really impressed with Twinings for using lime. It really works well, and would make a good fruit tea punch (see my blog on Apple Crunch for how you make a infusion tea into a cooling fruit punch).

Summary of Lime and Ginger

- Available in boxes of twenty individually wrapped envelopes. £2.29 for twenty.
- Brew for up to four minutes, but longer if you like a stronger taste.
- Do not add milk, but if you find the flavours too sharp, add a touch of sugar.

Twinings Floral Range: Rose Garden - A Beautifully Scented Blend To Melt Your Heart

"It's just like Turkish delight in a mug" I was told by a lovely Twinings customer service agent in a email. And she was right. Rose Garden is a beautiful blend, that will truly melt your heart, and I'm positive that within a few cups, you'll become addicted to it, like I was!

Before I start on the tea, I want to talk about the packaging that Twinings have chosen for their floral range. (I forgot to discuss this on my previous post about the Lavender Earl Grey). All of the floral range come in boxes, but also caddies are available too. The design throughout the range is of painted ladies in beautiful gowns. So the Lavender lady is wearing lavender, the Rose Garden is wearing a gown of pink, and, well, you catch my drift! You can't judge a tea by it's packaging, I know, but it really is the most stylish looking range of teas. It's just right, it's appealing and I love displaying the caddies on my kitchen unit so visitors can see them. As per usual with Twinings, every last detail is well thought out. Mulled Spice, for instance, shows a lady in a scarlet dress with white snowflake patterns. Mulled Spice, of course, being a blend best taken at Christmas time. A lot of people shop with their eyes, and go for what is appealing to them, particularly when buying a new product. The packaging design goes beyond pretty. It's actually quite beautiful.

As with the Lavender Earl Grey blend, the caddies cost £6.00 from Waitrose or Twinings Online. Replacement envelopes cost a little over £2.00 for twenty. (The caddies come with 20 teabags).

I will admit to you that when I received a sample of Rose Garden in 2010, I took one sip and declared that it was horrible. Quite often the way we brew tea and how we take it makes a huge difference. I didn't read the instructions, just plonked a load of milk in the cup and expected it to taste lovely. It wasn't. But the huge mistake was the milk. Adding milk to Rose Garden tea is not needed. Rose Garden is very sweet so it doesn't need milk, and it can make it taste sickly sweet. All it needs is the tiniest amount of sugar to bring out it's full potential. That is all you need to do. The recommended brewing time is three to four minutes and that is about right, though a little longer will not detract from the taste at all.

So, the floral teas come in individual envelopes.

When opening up the box to fill up the caddy, the first thing that hit me was the lovely sweet smell of rose. It reminded me, like the Twinings assistant said, of Turkish Delight. It's so sweet and fragrant and very inviting. You literally cannot wait to pour the water on the tea and start to drink it.

Standing over the tea as it brewed was delightful. How could I, at one point, think this tea was horrible? The aroma is subtle, and gently grows stronger the longer it's in the water. During the brewing process it brewed to a medium brown colour, not too dark, but not weak either.

I couldn't wait to try this tea, as I smelt it brewing, and took a good ten minutes out to enjoy the heavenly blend. And it really is heavenly. From the first sip, all you can really think about is Turkish Delight. Not the stuff that covered in chocolate and tastes plasticy, but the real Turkish Delight that only has a dusting of icing sugar on top.

I would say this blend of tea is as close to perfection as you can possibly get. It's sweet, indulgent and a genuine pleasure to drink. With this tea, you can forget your worries for a few minutes and just sink into your enjoyment of it. In fact it takes me back to when my parents and I visited a stately home, and sat in the cafe, which was surrounded by rose bushes. It was a hot day and the scent of roses was drifting into the room. It was so lovely, as is this tea.

Summary of Rose Garden

- Available in caddies costing £6.00 and refills of 20 cost £2.09
- Best taken without milk, with a tiny amount of sugar.
- Brewing time is three to four minutes.

Apple Crunch: A Refreshing, Summery Tea

I have to admit, it took me a long while to work my way onto fruit tea. My abiding memory of fruit tea as a youngster, was suffering from discomfort after having a tooth taken out and trying to drink some red concoction that didn't taste remotely fruity. I tried it again as a teenager and thought the texture of fruit tea was just a little "off".

In January of 2013, trying to drink less caffeine (it didn't last too long before I was back on the Earl Grey!) I decided to take advantage of the myriad of deals that supermarkets had on fruit tea. Detoxing after the Christmas over indulgence meant that almost every shop had discounts on every fruit tea going. (The same happened this year, too!).

Overall, I like most fruits, with apples being my favourite, so I decided to try Apple Crunch.

On opening the box the aroma of apple was pleasant, and the first thing that sprung to mind was a juicy, fresh green apple that had been kept in the fridge. As it brewed, the smell got stronger and stronger. It was so fresh, I may of well mashed up some apple and poured hot water over it. It was very natural, and I felt that I was going to drink something that not only tasted nice, but was healthy, too.

Twinings suggest, on their packaging, that you brew the tea for 3 to 4 minutes. It's impossible to over brew fruit tea, you just get a stronger taste to it, whereas other teas, in particular white tea, go extremely bitter if over brewed. As I stated above, I always found the texture of fruit tea a little odd, which is one of the reasons I didn't drink a lot of it. Then, when contacting Twinings, I happened to mention it, and the customer service agent told me to keep the tea bag in, and that will go a long way to stopping any strange texture and she was right.

As I took my first sip, I felt immediately refreshed, almost like you would if you were drinking a cordial or fresh fruit drink. I didn't think a tea product could be that refreshing, or thirst quenching, but it was. The apple flavour was full and mighty, with a sweetness to it that was extremely pleasant. (Remember fruit teas are sweet enough, no sweetener or sugar needed!). There was no after taste to the tea, it didn't repeat on me like some can do. When finishing the cup, I was pleasantly surprised at how nice it was. It certainly made a different from lemon tea, or mixed berries, which seems to be the standard flavour for fruit teas.

The only slightly disappointing part of the tea is that when it is brewed, the colour reminds me ever so slightly of dirty water. I don't know what colour I was expecting it to be, but I knew it wouldn't be green! (I don't think the picture is representative of the true colour, but I do try to get what the final brew looks like!)

My boyfriend is a local Councillor and each Christmas we (mainly me as he also has a day job!) have to hand deliver over 3,500 Christmas cards to the residents. Last Christmas, during a day of posting, I suddenly felt extremely thirsty. And the one drink my body craved was apple crunch tea. I had water with me, but it just didn't hit the spot. As soon as I got home, I made a cup, let it cool and drunk it down almost in one go.

Last summer, I made a large jug up of apple crunch using several teabags. I let it cool, added sugar free lemonade (something like Sprite would be good too) and poured it over ice cubes to make a apple crunch punch. This can be done with any fruit tea, and I would highly recommend doing it with one of the ginger infusions. The kick of ginger goes well with the coldness of the ice cubes. Tea is versatile, and is warming in winter and cooling in the summer!

Apple Crunch is available in all the major UK supermarkets and obviously online, too. It's priced around the £1.30 mark for 20 teabags, but as it stands at the time of writing it is available from some supermarkets for as little as £1 a box. I would highly recommend this tea if you wish to cut back on caffeine or what to try something different, and it really does make a difference from the standard lemon and ginger or mixed berries.

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised how natural and wonderful this tea tastes. I'm pretty positive that once you try it, you'll be hooked. I notice quite often that the slot on the shelves for Apple Crunch is often empty or running low on stock. (Quite often I've had to take the last battered box from the shelf!). I think that speaks for itself, and is proof positive that Apple Crunch is a popular blend with customers.

Twinings Floral Range: Lavender Earl Grey Makes For A Comforting Brew

One of the most popular ranges of tea that Twinings make is their floral range. They are normally black teas with either a spiced or floral flavour. The ranges in the brand are:

- Mulled Spice (no longer produced)
- Blossom Earl Grey
- Jasmine Earl Grey
- Lavender Earl Grey
- Rose Garden.

When I first started drinking tea, I really fell in love with Mulled Spice. Then, gradually, over time, I invested in each of the floral teas. I received samples of Blossom Earl Grey and Rose Garden many years back and initially disliked them. (That was down to how I brewed and made the tea, so my fault!), but as my tastes changed, I began to enjoy them.

I will review the floral range one by one, as they really are very different and varied, and warrant their own page.

Each floral tea is available in caddy form, and refills are also available. The caddies, which come with 20 teabags, are available in Waitrose stores and online at the Twinings shop. The caddies are priced £6.00 each and the refills priced around £2.09 a box for 20 teabags. You can also purchase individual envelopes of the floral range in Twinings pick and mix.

I decided to start with Lavender Earl Grey, as it was the tea that I was sure I wouldn't like. In fact, I really only brought the caddy to make up the set. I'm funny like that, I get twitchy when I know I'm missing one of a set.

Upon opening the caddy, I found that the individual envelopes where in a box. I opened up the box and the smell of lavender was really strong, in fact I almost flew to the opposite side of the kitchen. It was very intense. I had a feeling that I would not like this tea at all, and in fact, it was only my friend, Elena, who lives in Italy and who likes the blend that persuaded me to try it.

Here is a picture of the individual envelope:

When I undid the individual envelope, and poured the water onto the teabag, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the aroma of lavender, when you have just one teabag, is gentle, subtle and not at all overpowering. As the tea brewed, the kitchen filled up with the warm lavender scent, and it was indeed very pleasant.

Twinings suggest to brew the tea for three to four minutes, and I would say three is about right. When brewing it takes on a lovely dark colour, which is lovely. It's a tea that looks, as well as smells, inviting.

Although it is suggested that you can add a "splash of milk", I would say it's better to drink it black. With all flavoured teas such as Earl and Lady Grey, and indeed the floral teas, (with the exception of Mulled Spice) I find that milk either masks the flavour, or, in the case of Rose Garden, makes it sickly sweet, particularly if you drink full fat milk. Also, there is no need to add sugar or sweetener to this blend, as it's more then tasty enough.

Once the tea had cooled I took my first sip. I still expected some strong, synthetic lavender taste, and I was more then pleasantly surprised. The taste is subtle, and is more backstage then centre stage. The flavour is rich and lingers in your mouth way after you've finished drinking, but not at all in an unpleasant way. And although the lavender is a rather feminine blend, it still is as full bodied a tea as you get with black tea.

A strange thing happened when I had my first cup of Lavender Earl Grey. From being certain that I wasn't going to like the blend at all, as soon as I finished the first mug, I immediately boiled the kettle and made a second. In fact, less then a week after ordering the tea, I'm almost half way through the box. Quite an unexpected turnaround!

Summary of Lavender Earl Grey

- Caddies available from Waitrose and Twinings online shop priced £6.00. Refills cost £2.09 for 20.
- It's suggested that the tea is taken black or with a splash of milk. I would recommend black, unsweetened.
- Brew for three minutes, but no longer then four.

Gingersnap Peach: A Sweet Tea With A Punch

I love ginger. Whether it be in a snappy, crunchy ginger nut biscuit, or in a deliciously gooey and sticky ginger cake. So, understandably, I love it in tea, too. From the traditional lemon and ginger to the new lime and ginger, I really enjoy the kick you get when ginger is added to tea.

Twinings Gingersnap Peach tea is a fruit tea that successfully merges the ever so sweet taste of peach with the bite of ginger.

Gingersnap Peach is one of Twinings Silky Pyramid range. As with the other pyramid tea's the bag is only about a quarter full, this is done so that the teabags contents can expand naturally when the water is added. (Have to say I really love the feel of the silky pyramids!).

Inside the tea bag there are pieces of apple, peach and ginger. The recommended brewing time is 3 minutes, though I feel brewing the tea to 3 and a half to 4 minutes gives you a wonderful taste. I would also recommend that you either switch the kettle off before it's fully boiled, or leave it to cool a little. The taste is somewhat subdued when you pour boiling water onto the tea itself.

Upon pouring water onto the bag, the first thing you really notice is exactly how peachy the tea smells, and the lovely aroma fills the room as soon as you open the box, and it only increases when the water is added. If you didn't know that it was Gingersnap Peach, you would think you had a lovely peach tea as the ginger is not immediately evident.

When brewing the tea goes from a pinky colour, through to red and finally, when brewing is complete, a coppery red.

When you sip the tea, the full taste of peach comes through and it's refreshingly sweet, but not enough to hurt your teeth. I did wonder, where's the ginger in this? Then, a few seconds after the first sip, your mouth is gently popping with the after kick of the spicy ginger. It's subtle enough not to overshadow the peach, but just strong enough to add a zingy kick. You know your drinking a ginger infusion, that's for sure. And with every sip, you get almost two drinks. The sweetness of the peach, and the amazing ginger follows seconds later.

It's a really interesting tea to drink, a tea of two halves really. And funnily enough, if taken on a cold day, it's a drink that really warms up. It's like the inside of your body is being gently heated, and I've enjoyed this tea, in fact I pick this tea, when I've been out in the cold, because I like how my body feels when drinking it - satisfied and comforted.

Gingersnap Peach, along with other silky pyramid teas is often served in branches of Costa Coffee, so it's worth looking out for this tea if your visiting a Costa.

Just a note though - don't make the same mistake I did and, when busy one day, put two teabags in the cup, not realising. That was very strong and overpowering, and just about drinkable!

Gingersnap Peach is available is selected supermarkets in boxes of 15 and in the Twinings online shop and in the Strand Shop, too. They are priced around the £4 mark, so a little expensive, but the quality of the tea is well worth paying for.

So why delay. Treat yourself to a box - you deserve it!

Twining's Special Christmas Edition Tea: Liquorice Earl Grey Silky Pyramid Bauble

Each year Twinings release special edition tea's for the festive period. In 2012 we had delightful blends such as Vanilla Chai. This year, came Christmas Cake flavoured tea (which was scrummy and which I'll review later!) as well as the Christmas Blend.

But in 2013 Twinings came up with a innovative idea - tea that came in baubles that could be used later on as a Christmas decoration for your tree.

The baubles came in three flavours: Liquorice Allsorts, Jasmine Pearls and Mint Humbug. I was lucky enough to win one in a competition. Due to the huge interest in the baubles, I wasn't sure what flavour I had won, so when the parcel arrived, it was like Christmas day.

I opened the box and was delighted to find I had won a Earl Grey Liquorice Allsorts bauble. It was the flavour I really wanted to try (I'm not keen on mint tea!).

The packaging, as with all of Twinings products was lovely and very stylish. The box was sturdy and came with a lovely silky bow on the top.

Once I managed to open the box which was tricky, I took the bauble out. It was heavy. Not too sure what the actual bauble was made of but it felt weighty and smooth. I unscrewed the bauble and found the tea wrapped up securely within the bauble. The tea was part of Twinings new brand of silky pyramids and there were eight teabags inside the bauble.

Upon opening the packet I could immediately smell coconut, and the tea really did smell, and taste of Liquorice Allsorts. (The round, pink sort with the black centre that you find in Bassetts Allsorts).

The tea is designed to be taken without milk or sweeteners, and you really do not need either as the tea is sweet enough.

As the tea was brewing, the scent of coconut was very strong indeed. There was no mistaking at all which tea I had won!

Although it said to brew for 3-4 minutes, I decided after tasting that the blend didn't need anymore then three minutes. Any longer then it became slightly bitter and the coconut flavour took over completely, and you lost the taste of the liquorice.

The liquorice flavour had a mild kick to it, and you can taste almost as a aftertaste, but the overall flavour is the coconut.

The tea was smooth and was a lovely dark mahogany colour.

After I let it cool a little, I took my first sip and the flavour of coconut was mild, in fact far milder then the aroma led me to believe. It was not a over powering taste at all, and I could still pick up the taste of the black tea even through the coconut.

It was an extremely pleasant cup of tea, and the Liquorice Allsorts flavour is available all year round as part of Twinings silky pyramid range. It's really worth trying this tea, especially if you like the flavour of coconut. I do know that Twinings sell coconut tea abroad, however, it's not available in the UK, not even through their international range, so if you like coconut then give this tea a try.

After I had finished the tea, I hung the bauble on my Christmas tree. (Find a picture below). It's a unique ornament that I will use in future Christmases, always remembering this unique blend of tea.

Earl Grey: Variations On A Wonderful Theme

When I was talking to a friend about setting up this blog, I asked her what tea I should talk about first. She suggested Earl Grey as it is her favourite blend. As I stood in my kitchen, surrounded by several wonderful blends of tea, I thought Earl Grey was a pretty good start.

My first memories of Earl Grey were not so good, if I'm totally honest. I had visited my Dad's elderly aunts who lived near Southend in Essex. We were served up Earl Grey(which my Dad, a tea addict, hated), and it was not pleasant. It was over brewed, and tasted of lemon Fairy Liquid.

So when I made a order with Twinings a couple of years ago, I was surprised to see a sample of The Earl Grey included in my parcel. I gingerly decided to taste it. I followed the brewing instructions and took a sip. And within a couple of sips realised that this tea was really something special. I brought a box, and it quickly became a favourite of mine.

Upon browsing Twining's online shop I quickly saw that there is more then one sort of Earl Grey. Three of them are reviewed here. A fourth, Delicate Earl Grey, is something I've wanted to try but it's currently out of stock, so I hope to review it at a later date.

As well as the blends mentioned here, there are is the floral Earl Grey range, which I will review one by one. They are special and warrant their own page!

In addition you can also buy decaffeinated blend, which I have not tried, but will do when I come across a box.

The Earl Grey

Before I started drinking Earl Grey I was aware that many regular drinkers of the Twining's blend were unhappy when it changed from Earl Grey to The Earl Grey. I can't comment on the original blend as I never tasted it.

The Earl Grey is a black tea that is flavoured with lemon and bergamont. It is full bodied, but not overpoweringly strong. You can drink it black or with a splash of milk. As my skin doesn't seem to like diary products, I drink it black with a sweetener added, as with many black teas, it can go slightly bitter if over brewed.

When making the tea, I brew it for three to four minutes, sometimes a little longer if I'm doing jobs such as loading the washing machine, or checking on dinner. If you brew it for under three minutes, it's a little weak, but still pleasant to drink.
(If adding milk do make sure it's only a splash as milk can easily dilute the lovely lemon flavour).

Once brewed, the tea takes on a wonderful golden, coppery colour. Despite it being a black tea, it certainly doesn't have a black colour to it at all.

The Earl Grey is a fantastic Earl Grey (and believe me, on my travels I've tasted some awful Earl Grey's). It doesn't have that artificial lemon taste that many brands have. And, if you store them in a caddie, as I do, then when you open the lid the smell of lemon is really lovely.

The Earl Grey is available everywhere in boxes of 50, 100 and 200. At Christmas you can buy festive caddies like the one above (also available in English Breakfast). As I write this in January the caddies are still available in supermarkets.

Classic Earl Grey

Classic Earl Grey is a blend that Twining's sell abroad, so it's not readily available in UK supermarkets, however you can purchase it via the Twining's shop under their International Range.

From what I've read on the internet this blend is more like Twining's original blend that was sold before it changed to The Earl Grey.

This blend is lighter then The Earl Grey and though it can be brewed for up to four minutes, it is lighter in colour then The Earl Grey has a light, golden straw colour.

But there is a vital difference in the taste between Classic and The Earl Grey. Classic Earl Grey has a more potent lemon scent and flavour. To me, anyway, it has a sweeter taste and is very refreshing, although it can, if brewed for too long taste a little chemically.

I find this to be a pleasant blend, and it's something that I drink more often in summer as it's extremely light and pleasant to drink with salads and lighter meals.

Classic Earl Grey is available in boxes of 20 direct from Twining's Online. You will find it under their International Range.

Earl Grey Silky Pyramids

Last year Twining's released a new collection of teas in what is called Silky Pyramids. They are triangular teabags made from what resembles a silky mesh. Along with Earl Grey, you have fruit tea's such as Gingersnap Peach, green tea in the form of Jasmine Pearl, and a very exotic blend called Liquorice Allsorts Earl Grey, which really do taste like liquorice allsorts!

Out of the free Earl Grey blends this is the one I like the least, if I'm totally honest. It doesn't have much of a lemon taste to it, in fact it's rather grassy, and reminds me of herbal tea, which I am not a fan of.

The silky pyramid range has larger leaved, loose tea instead of the smaller granuals that you find in normal teabags.

It brews to a copper colour, but when pouring water on the bags, there is no lemon scent at all and rather strangely reminds me more of the smell of camomile tea.

Silky Pyramids are available from Twinin'gs Online Shop in single envelopes.

I just didn't get that satisfying feeling with silky pyramids that I get with The Earl or with Classic Earl Grey. However, this brew would be more suited to people who do not like the overpowering scent of lemon and bergamont.

Welcome To The Wonderful World Of Tea

Welcome to my blog. You may wonder what can be said about tea. It's just a drink, right? Plop the teabag in the cup, add water and your good to go. Four years ago, I would of said the same, but a decision to join Weight Watchers, and the limitations that come along with it, opened my eyes to the varied world of tea.

In 2010, I decided that I needed to loose weight, so I joined Weight Watchers. My tipple of choice, was full sugar, full fat coke. Not the normal coke though, but the calorific Cherry Coke. I am embarrassed to even think about how much of the stuff I drank. In fact, I'm surprised that I have any teeth left! So when I joined WW, it became evident, through their plan, that cherry coke was out. Cherry coke, "red top" coke, Dr Pepper, Lilt, Fanta - all the drinks that I liked were not really suitable for the plan, no matter how flexible it was. And to be honest, the diet variations were not to my taste at all. So, I tried water. Fine in the summer, but in the winter it was unappealing. Diluted fruit juices were also out. Everything was cut out (and remains cut out to this day).

I am not a coffee lover. Hate the smell of it. So that left me with tea. I used to dabble with tea, in fits and starts but nothing serious. So, deciding to give it a go, I stood in Tesco's with my basket and felt overwhelmed at the vast selection. Earl Grey, what was that? Chai? Green tea? But it was a packet of Twining's Mulled Spice that caught my eye. It's beautiful box, that featured a woman in a ballgown looked so different that I picked up a packet, and brought some.

I followed the instructions on the packet. A tiny bit of sugar, (I used sweetner),a splash of milk, and hot water. I sat down, gingerly sipped it and .... WOW! Tea surely couldn't taste this good. Surely, this wonderful blend was a one off. And it wasn't. And so my journey started.

What I love about tea is you can take a trip around the world and not leave your house. Africa has it's Rooibos (red bush as it's known in the UK)tea, there are fantastic blends from China and India. The world is your oyster.

So, what is my favourite tea? If you had asked me three months ago it would be Lady Grey. At Christmas it was her cousin, Earl Grey. Today, as I sit here and write this, it's Orange Blossom Earl Grey. It changes from week to week, if not day to day. That is why it's vital to have a good selection of many different teas to choose from.

Are there any teas I don't like? Certainly. I cannot tolerate Lapsang Souchong. It reminds me of my holiday to the Isle of Man when all I could smell were the smoked kippers. I have tried - and failed - miserably to get along with Camomile. And I was put off green tea, though I'm open to trying it again one day.

In my heart of hearts, I'm a Twining's girl. I'm not a tea snob (I won't reject a cup of PG Tips or Tetley), but I know quality when I see it. From the quality of their tea, their stylish packaging and friendly customer service, it's a little bit of luxury that I can afford. Their tea's are a joy and a pleasure to drink. And I not ashamed to admit that I'm proud of the collection of tea's and caddies that I display on the kitchen counter. For me, there is no other tea to have in my house, but I like to try others, too.

Like most people, my boyfriend and I have busy lives, so there is nothing like a Sunday morning, with a pot of tea, drunk from a bone china cup. A bit of tranquility within the madness of our lives.

Why have I created this blog? Well, I have realised that there are an awful lot of tea drinkers out there. I plan to write about all the tea I can so that people could be inspired to try blends they had not thought about trying before. I hope you enjoy reading!