Oliver Pluff and Company East Indian Tea

I was in Boston earlier this year, and of course I had to visit the Boston Tea Party Museum. I didn't have time to eat at the tea room associated with it, But I did tour the museum. And naturally, I bought tea.

Oliver Pluff and Company East Indian tea is alleged to be the same blend of tea that was one of the tea varieties tossed into Boston Harbor that fateful night in 1774. It's a robust tea, somewhat malty but without the depth of an Assam. It's very hearty, and would make a good tea for a coffee drinker to try.

We served it for elevenses here on the patio with homemade blueberry cornbread. A delicious and decidedly unsweet morning break that was delightful.

 

As mentioned previously, I visited Elmwood Inn Teas last October. Ever since, we've been enjoying Kenya Safari at breakfast. This is a strong, deep, black tea, very robust. It would be a good choice for a coffee drinker looking to try a tea because of the strong depth. I've read that Kenyan teas are grown in a soil with a high mineral content, which presumably accounts for this flavor profile. I've also read that because of this, Kenyan teas have a higher antioxidant load than teas grown elsewhere. Regardless, this is a great morning tea because of its vigor, which meant we paired it with slow oats and blueberries for breakfast. 

A Visit to Elmwood Inn Teas

This autumn I visited my sister, who moved to Kentucky last year. Imagine my delighted surprise when I discovered she is not far from the wonder Elmwood inn Teas. What a beautiful shop, and yes, I did buy 4 teas while I was there (sis bought on2). The store has a lovely, calming atmosphere. The one tea I've tried so far is delicious (yes, review coming soon). I cannot wait to visit again. This time I'll make sure there is more room in my luggage for souvenir tea.

Teaism, Dupont Circle, Washington D.C.

 

I was recently in Washington D.C. for a conference, and had a delicious lunch at Teaism, Dupont Circle. Teaism is a small chain in the greater D.C. area. My lunch was fantastic: tea-cured salmon and flatbread, with a pot of Assam. Beautiful to look at, and delicious to eat. 

Simpson & Vail Nigiri Korakundah Estate Organic FOP/FBOP

 

This was the most delicious tea I've had in a very, very long time. Outstanding, rich flavor, brisk--perfect. This is a terrible photo, but I needed to snap one real quick because I was too impatient to drink it to make it look pretty. Maybe I'll replace the photo, but I won't replace the tea; this will now be a permanent part of my morning tea lineup. 

Harney & Sons Tower of London Tea

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. 

Seven Cups Qimen Caixia (Sunrise Keemun)

We love a strong, malty tea in the parlor, especially for breakfast. One of our local tea rooms, Seven Cups, offers a delicious keemun, Qimen Caixia, harvested from Anhui Province. It is a lovely red when steeped, with a mild fragrance. We've been enjoying it a lot, but have only one quibble--we have yet to get multiple infusions from it (or any other tea, for that matter). It just might convert a die hard coffee drinker.