Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Simple Loose Leaf
Tea Description:
A satisfying stand alone black tea, this richly robust Kenilworth Ceylon needs nothing to compliment its full-bodied stature. Stronger then our Ceylon Supreme, this fruitier, seemingly apricot flavored, fuller bodied tea exhibits a little tart acidity that lingers on the tongue for a touch of bite. This tea is best served hot or as a strong iced black tea.
Learn more about this tea here.
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Taster’s Review:
A lovely Ceylon! I find myself in agreement with the above description provided by Simple Loose Leaf, this is a Ceylon that requires no additions, it is a good, sturdy, robust black tea that has some real heft to it. This would make a good breakfast tea as well, and I think it would take well to the additions of milk and honey (or sugar – preferably raw! – or for a real treat, try drizzling some real maple syrup in your cup!)
As for here and now, I’ve selected this as a cup of tea to enjoy as my afternoon cuppa, and it is versatile enough to become a brisk afternoon tea as well as that strong first cup or that well-rounded breakfast tea.
It has a very pleasing flavor: rich with notes of stone fruit. As the description above suggests, there is a distinct apricot note to this cup. Toward the finish, I notice a hint of citrus, as if someone added just a drop of freshly squeezed lemon juice to my cup. The acidic note of the citrus like flavor cuts through the sweeter notes – think molasses! – so that the cup doesn’t become overwhelmingly sweet.
I’m surprised at just how full-flavored this Ceylon is, as I have come to expect a Ceylon to be a milder tasting tea. This is malty! Layers of earth and flower lie just beneath the more dominate layers of sweet fruit.
It is a very nicely round, satisfying cuppa that has the ability to become what you want it to be! An iced tea? Sure! Try cold-brewing this one, or if you prefer the hot-brew method, add a sprig of mint to the teapot before you add the hot water or try adding a thin slice of lime to the chilled tea for a truly refreshing drink. Want a robust breakfast tea? This tea has that covered too. A pleasant afternoon tea to share with guests? Yep, this tea will serve your friends well. This tea is one of those teas that should be a standard in every well-stocked tea cupboard.
Kenilworth Estate OP Black Ceylon Tea from Upton Tea Imports
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Upton Tea Imports
Tea Description:
This estate produces some of the best whole-leaf teas in Sri Lanka. For the Ceylon enthusiast. Drink with or without milk. A choice lot with a bold-leaf style. Steep for five to six minutes.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Having had several very finely chopped CTC teas from Upton Tea Imports lately, I was happy to see the long, wiry leaves of this Kenilworth Estate OP Black Ceylon Tea from Upton Tea Imports. The dry leaf fragrance isn’t particularly noteworthy, it smells like black tea. The brewed tea aroma is sweet with notes that evoked thoughts of molasses, with hints of warm earth … a very inviting scent!
This tea has a nice, smooth, well-rounded flavor. It has a bold flavor for a Ceylon, although it certainly isn’t as hefty as an Assam would be. It does have a nice, caramel-y undertone that keeps me sipping. It has a smooth delivery from start to finish, with a light astringency toward the tail that is slightly dry and tangy.
Notes of fruit are abundant in each sip, although I don’t know that the fruit flavors are necessarily distinguishable. That is to say, it tastes like “fruit” but, it’s hard to say which fruit I’m actually tasting. I do taste a certain “citrus-y” note that comes through toward the finish, and this melds with the astringency to create that sort of citrus “tang” that is almost characteristic of a Ceylon tea.
There are also notes of earth and flower throughout the sip. This is a very pleasant cup of black tea … I don’t think I’d call it exceptional or anything like that, but, it has a very enjoyable flavor that would work as either a hot tea or an iced tea … would take the additions of milk and honey well if served hot … and would be nice served iced with thin slices of lemon or other citrus fruit.