I am delighted I came across a tin of Harney & Sons Tower of London tea recently. It's described as "...reminiscent of Elizabethan preserves, flavorful and tempting." I agree, it's delicious and quite appealing. The aroma of the sachet was a little strong, which worried me, but the taste was more subtle than the fragrance. Tower of London is a blend of Chinese teas (the Harney & Sons website does not say which Chinese teas, but I am a fan of Chinese blacks) with dried black currant, oil of bergamot, and honey. For those who do not like Earl Grey tea, the bergamot in this blend is barely noticeable, but the tea is overall sweet. I have been experimenting with adding a smidgen of local sugar to bring the honey notes to the fore. I haven't tried it black yet, but have been adding a splash of milk, to which it stands up well. Smooth, silky, slightly sweet, yet strong, this is a good afternoon tea but is strong enough to start the day.
This morning I served Tower of London with Noosa vanilla bean yogurt topped with pomegranate and toasted French baguette slices with butter and Mrs. Bridges' strawberry preserves.
Yes, it's been three years since I last posted. There have been deaths and illnesses and dramatic changes that have dominated these past three years. I have drunk lots of tea, hot and iced, facing these challenges. I confess to having bought 4 years' worth of Adagio Brigadoon Breakfast in 2020, to tide me over to when it's offered next in 2024. So while the blog may have been quiet, the tea drinking and the sustenance and contemplation offered by a quiet moment with a tea cup has sustained me through many difficult times.
