Twinings: Lemon Zest

Not too long ago, I received a large Twining box through the post containing an assortment of different teas.

One of these, was a single teabag of a tea named 'Lemon Zest'. As a huge fan of lemon as a flavouring I was naturally eager to try this unusual sounding blend.

On my blog I haven't really explored fruit-based teas although they are one of the teas that I am most fond of. When I tried Twinings: Lemon Zest, it quickly became one of my favourites.

If you're looking for a refreshing, soothing and rejuvenating tea - this is it. As well as tasting wonderful, Twinings: Lemon Zest is truly warming and reviving. This tea reminds me of a sherbet lemon drop; both gloriously sweet and sour at the same time.

Despite there possibly being a conception that lemons are always sour and maybe a tea flavoured like them would not be very enjoyable; with this particular blend that couldn't be further from the truth. This tea has a back-note of very gentle sweetness which adds to the enchanting aroma that steams from the cup.

I cannot urge you more to give this tea a try, it will definitely surprise you; it would also be great if suffering from a sore throat, as it has a tranquil and yet pungent flavour that would revive your senses; as well as sooth them.

I brew my tea for around 5 minutes or even longer as I enjoy a much stronger flavour - if you prefer a more subtle taste then brew for around 3 minutes; and of course don't add milk.

Boxes of 20 tea bags can be bought from the Twinings website here for £1.49; they are also available at some supermarkets.

© Photography taken by and copyright to Elizabeth Mawson and 'Tea is Always a Good Idea'.

Twinings: English Breakfast

So, after just a little over 3 months of university work and Christmas celebrations and festivities; I am finally back to my blog.

To begin the year I thought I would start with an ever popular classic. The Twinings English Breakfast tea.

This traditional blend is possibly the most popular tea of the Twining collection. It is the cup of tea you are most likely to get at a meeting or seminar; or at a cafe if you ask just for 'tea'. It is also the choice of my University who serve it throughout the day as their typical cup of tea.

This blend can be left to brew (as any black tea) to achieve a stronger flavour, but it still manages to capture a sweet and subtle flavour, which is completely unique. It is full of flavour and honestly I think would be liked by everyone.

This is part of the Twinings 'traditional' selection, which also includes my previously reviewed 'Everyday Tea', along with 'Traditional Afternoon'. So, if you're thinking of trying a new tea to accompany your breakfast over the next week - I urge you try Twinings: English Breakfast, it sure to be a great success!

I steep my tea for around a minute or slightly longer, and take it with milk and sugar.
Twinings English Breakfast tea can be bought at most supermarkets for £2.79 for 50 tea bags. Alternatively a single tea bag can be bought off the Twinings website here for £0.25.

© Photography taken by and copyright to Elizabeth Mawson and 'Tea is Always a Good Idea'. With help from Billy Warford.

Twinings: Pure White Tea

Everyone knows about Black tea and Green tea and the fruit and herbal infusions, but one of the lesser know types of tea is White tea.

Today I tried Twinings' blend of Pure White tea, which is said to be the best type of tea for you, as it contains the most nutrients; so I was eager to try it.

White tea is from the Camellia Sinensis plant, and comes from certain leaves and the early buds - these are then lightly steamed, this stops fermentation; then they are slowly dried.

'White Tea' as a term comes from the fine white and silvery hairs that are on the buds of the tea-plant which make the plant look white. But the tea itself has a yellowy golden colour.

Due to the process being simple and short, the tea contains more nutrients and anti-toxants than black or green tea; which is why it's so good for you.

These anti-toxants include Catechins, which are proven to help with high blood pressure, reduce cholesterol and improving the function of blood vessels.

Many studies have been conducted that indicate that White Tea can even help with reducing the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, some cancers and heart disease.

White Tea has a delicate flavour, which could be described as sweet and herbal. It is very similar to green tea, but the flavour is lighter. You can taste the natural properties, and it is very earthy.

If you are not a fan of green tea, I wouldn't recommend this tea. However, it is proven to be so good for your health - I would defiantly try it out, you may surprise yourself and love it.

When I drank this, the flavours of a pure tea tingled my nose - it makes me think of an ancient herbalist sat at a dark wooden apothecary table.

If you have any health concerns, and want to find a natural way to deal with them rather than taking lots of pills, I would urge you to give it a go - even if it took a while to get used to.

If you want to try just one envelope - you can buy them from Twinings' website here for £0.25. Alternatively boxes are sold for £2.49 for 20 envelopes, I have also seen them in supermarkets.

I steeped my tea for 2-3 minutes, and did not add milk.

© Photography taken by and copyright to Elizabeth Mawson and 'Tea is Always a Good Idea'. With help from Billy Warford.

Twinings: Lady Grey

I love Earl Grey tea so much, I couldn't wait to try Twinings' blend 'Lady Grey', which is based on Earl Grey and named after Charles Grey's wife Mary Elizabeth Grey.

Lady Grey is truly one of the best teas that I've tried, and if you're a fan of Earl Grey, it's an absolute must.

Just as Earl Grey tea, Lady Grey is flavoured with Bergamot, however it is more subtle than in Earl Grey.

In Twinings' blend as well as black tea there's also seville oranges, lemon and cornflowers.

Lady Grey tea was invented by Twinings in the 1990's to appeal to people who found Earl Grey too strongly flavoured. It was first sold in the UK in 1996.

This Lady Grey infusion is truly delicious, the flavours of warm oranges and zesty lemon are all supported by the backdrop of traditional Earl Grey.

The citrus flavours are subtle, you can taste the floral bouquet beautifully, and the tanginess doesn't overpower the flavour of bergamot. As well as being delicate yet pungent with almost a sunny flavour, this tea would be perfect to enjoy at any time of day, but especially on a afternoon - especially as we come towards the winter months; this tea will not just warm you through, but revive your senses and remind you of summer.

As all Twinings Tea, this is smooth and delectable - as well as being completely unique, no other brand could match the flavours in this tea in quite the same way.

If you are a fan of Earl Grey tea, I can guarantee that you would definitely enjoy this, as the flavours of the traditional Earl Grey support the new flavours wonderfully. Even if you've never tried Earl Grey, or if Earl Grey doesn't appeal to you - give this ago, it's beautifully sweet and tangy and personally I think could appeal to anyone.

I steeped my tea for 5 minutes as I like a strong taste - if you already drink Earl Grey, I would brew it in the same way. Then add a splash of milk.

Lady Grey tea can be bought in single envelopes for £0.25 on the Twinings website here.

Also, boxes of 50 are sold for £2.69 and are also available in most supermarkets.

© Photography taken by and copyright to Elizabeth Mawson and 'Tea is Always a Good Idea'.

Twinings: Apple Crunch

I thought it was about time that I talk about a fruit tea, so today I tried Twinings' Apple Crunch.
Apple tea is surprisingly popular, and I was slightly sceptical as I am not a huge fan of apples, but this particular blend I really enjoyed. This was one of the envelopes from the 'pick and mix' box I ordered from Twinings and not something that I would have necessarily picked for myself, but having tried it I may be buying an entire box!

Apples are considered to be a ancient symbols of love; they are also thought to be the first trees ever cultivated.

So, one of the oldest traditions of tea drinking meets with one of the most traditional fruits in this infusion, which is made from real apple pieces that really can be tasted in the cup.

I really had no idea what to expect from this tea, but as soon as I added the boiling water the scent of a spring orchard filled the air. It smells pungent and sweet with the floral aroma of apples.

The flavour is quite tart and sharp, but there is also a backdrop of sweetness that gives you images of traditional british apple trees basking in summer sunlight.

This tangy infusion was also quite refreshing, and as all Twinings teas calming and relaxing.

As a fruit blend it has very natural flavours that do not taste artificial or of sweeteners, but purely and simply of an honest apple. It also tastes rather like a Granny Smith apple, these are tarter and have a stronger flavour than some other varieties. But this tea also reminds me of a typically English fruit - The Cooking Apple, and it brings back memories of apple tarts and crumbles.

It is truly homely and comforting, and if you are a fan of apples you will be sure to enjoy it; and even if you're not - give it a go; you may be surprised!

I steeped my cup for 4-5 minutes as I prefer a stronger flavour, but if you steep for slightly less the flavour will be lighter and less tart. I think this blend is best without milk.

Boxes can be bought from the Twinings website here for £1.49.

© Photography taken by and copyright to Elizabeth Mawson and 'Tea is Always a Good Idea'.

Twinings: Smoky Lapsang

Since I've had an interest in tea, Lapsang Souchong is a name I have heard repeatedly. Although, I didn't really know anything about it; but recently Twinings have released 'Smoky Lapsang' as part of their new range of 'Origin Teas'. I could not wait to try it, and I was truly surprised when I did.

Lapsang Souchong is from the Chinese province of Fujian. Some sources say that it was the first ever black tea, legend has it that during the Qing Era in China, there were many armies passing through which caused a delay in the annual drying of the tea. The tea producers needed to dry the tea leaves as quickly as possible in order to satisfy the demand.  Therefore the workers began to dry the tea leaves over bonfires of pine branches - giving Lapsang Souchong it's noticeably famous smokiness.

Souchong leaves are the least desirable leaves of the tea plant, and smoking them makes them more marketable, as they have generally less aroma than the other leaves and the buds.

When I opened my box of Lapsang, the smokey scent of bonfire filled the air - it is truly remarkable.

I was honestly a little unsure about how much I would like this tea, despite being a fan of smoked goods, and I do love the smell of bonfires.

When it came to tasting it, I had not put any milk in it as there is no instruction to do so - therefore I was expecting a slightly bitter flavour (like most black teas when you do not add milk). But I could not have been more wrong.

The flavour is rich and woody, it is incredibly smooth and calming to drink. As you swallow the tea you are left with the flavours of smouldering embers and visions of glowing branches on a cold November bonfire night. The scent of satisfying smokiness lingers, leaving the feeling of warmth. The flavour of the tea itself isn't strong or remotely unpleasant, in fact it's quite subtle, and the smoky tones are more of backdrop and aftertaste rather than the actual flavour of the tea itself.

I really love this tea, and am very pleased to own a box of 20 envelopes - although it now less than that! This tea is luxurious and fulfilling, and I would honestly recommend it if you are looking to try something rather different, as it is unlike any other tea I have ever tasted.

Another thing that truly stuck me about this tea - was nothing to do with the taste at all, but the immense attention to detail in the packaging.

As someone who is very interested in branding and graphic design, the box and envelopes truly did impress me. Not only do you get a very beautifully designed box in wonderful colours, but when opened there is small story about the tea inside the lid. The individual envelopes are equally well presented. I would not buy a product purely because I like the packaging, but I do have to mention it - as I am somewhat impressed with the calibre of design all the Twinings teas have, and this is no exception.

At the moment this tea can only be purchased from the Twinings online store here as it is a new blend, it is £2.49 for a box of 20 envelopes.

I steeped my tea for just over 3 minutes, and added no milk or sugar.

© Photography taken by and copyright to Elizabeth Mawson and 'Tea is Always a Good Idea'.

Twinings: Assam

Assam tea is not far from the traditional tea we are used to, in fact it is one of the teas in Twinings' blend of 'Everyday Tea', and it is world famous for being strong and rich.

Assam is an Indian tea that begun in the 1840's, in 'Upper Assam'. Assam is the world's largest tea growing region, it is on the banks of the River Brahmaputra, which also borders onto Bangladesh and Burma.

During the monsoon period, this particular region can get up to 12 inches of rain per day, with the temperature rising to 40 °C! These conditions make the area almost like a greenhouse, which is perfect for growing tea. It also gives Assam an individually 'malty' taste which it is well known for.

Twinings' blend of Assam is individual, as you would expect.

The information that Twinings provides on their envelope talks about the Elephants that work on the Indian plains, helping with carrying and lifting.

When you drink Assam the bold flavour is smooth and clear, it truly tastes rich and full bodied - but it isn't strong like a tea that has been steeped for too long. The background taste could almost be described as woody, and mirrors the image of straw huts and a low sunset in the Indian sky.

When drinking this you could almost be there on a warm evening, sat on a terrace looking out over the desert seeing the Elephants pulling leaves from the trees. It is a truly calming flavour, almost amber tasting.

It isn't a too distant ancestor of our very own traditional tea, of any brand name. So if you want to try something different for the first time I would recommend this more than anything. It's not quite as far away from what everyone is used to as Darjeeling or Earl Grey, but it is slighting more adventurous.

The chances are you have been drinking some form of it most your life - or since you have been drinking tea.

I steeped this cup for 4 minutes and added a drop of milk - if you would prefer it weaker or stronger I would either take it down to 3 minutes or keep steeping for 5 minutes if you like a stronger taste.

Twinings Assam tea is available at most supermarkets for around £3.29 for 50 tea bags, but if you would just like to try one cup, you can buy a single envelope for £0.25 from the Twinings website here.

© Photography taken by and copyright to Elizabeth Mawson and 'Tea is Always a Good Idea'.