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'.