Queen Mary Tea from Culinary Teas

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Culinary Teas

Product Description:

Queen Mary is a perfect breakfast tea. Good body but not overpowering. Coppery bright and excellent flavor. A traditional favorite.

Taster’s Review:

Wow!  Now this is black tea!

This is a very powerful tea.  It’s got the gusto to get you up-and-at-’em, but at the same time, I don’t find it too powerful.  It has an astringent edge to it, but again, it isn’t too astringent.

The brewing parameters on the package of this tea suggest a 3 – 5 minute steep time, but, I would recommend something closer to the three minute range as it can get a tad bitter if you steep it much longer.  While it does have a tannic taste to it (with an ever so slight hint of bitter right towards the middle of the sip), it isn’t off-putting at a short steep time.  However, if you’re one who likes a good, stiff cup of tea – brew it longer!

Needless to say, the flavor is bold, but I wouldn’t call it brash or harsh.  It is very invigorating – making it a perfect breakfast tea (and it takes the additions of milk and honey quite well!) or an early afternoon pick-me-up if you’re starting to feel sluggish.

I wouldn’t say that this is an incredibly complex tea, it is pretty straight-forward.  However, sometimes you just want a good, strong black tea, and this one will fill that need.  I’ve been sipping on this for a while now, I’m beginning to pick up on a sweet undertone (I didn’t sweeten this cup for the review) that is almost caramel-like in nature.  It has a hint of black currant/wine-like flavor towards the end of the sip.  The sip finishes dry with very little aftertaste.

A very pleasant cuppa indeed!

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