Tea journal: Twinings Irish Breakfast

As part of the big health changes I'm making in my life this year, I've decided to start drinking a lot more tea, as a substitute for the massive amounts of intensely sweetened soft drinks I've normally drank throughout my life; and to drink only decaffeinated tea after 3pm, to aid in the quest for better sleep without the need for pharmaceuticals (something I think more and more about these days, the closer I get to 40). And with tea being relatively inexpensive in the US these days as well (typically only US$3 to 4 for 20 high-end tea bags, when found on sale), I thought it'd be fun to try a whole bunch of different kinds out this spring, summer and autumn, and to keep a running journal here at my VOX account concerning what I thought of each.

All teas are brewed in boiling distilled water for a total of six minutes, and have one spoon of honey added unless otherwise noted.

Tea being reviewed: Twinings Irish Breakfast Tea

Caffeine: Yes; amount not stated

Ingredients: Black tea

Aroma: Strong and musky, like what you'd expect a 300-year-old British teahouse to smell like

Taste: Like what Americans expect typical "tea" to taste like, only much stronger. If you compared it to Lipton, for example, it'd be like comparing black coffee to a cup with cream and sugar. (For what it's worth, most of what Americans typically think of as generic "tea" is in reality either Earl Grey or English Breakfast.)

Iced: The same as hot, described above: like what Americans typically expect "iced tea" to taste like, only much stronger. Both the hot and cold versions take not only sweeteners well, but milk and cream too.

Notes: Within the entire subject of British tea, many believe that Twinings sits at the center of it all: it was the first company in British history, after all, to make tea popular, after centuries of coffee being the dominant choice; is the original inventor of the Earl Grey blend, now the most popular style of tea in the world; has been the official supplier of tea to the royal family since the Victorian Age; and has even maintained the same London retail location continuously for over 300 years now and counting. That's probably the most interesting irony, in fact, behind the particular tea I'm reviewing; that it was such a thoroughly English company that ended up first inventing what we now know as the Irish Breakfast blend. Funnily enough, in fact, according to their website, the entire blend was inspired by the slightly racist English opinion of the time of the Irish, as bawdy hard-working alcoholics who loved everything in their lives to be strong and bitter.

Twinings' Irish Breakfast is in fact a special strain of black tea, bred specifically to stand up well to milk and sweeteners, for English drinkers who wanted something with an extra oomph; think of it as the Edwardian Age's Red Bull, mixed with cream instead of vodka and served in porcelain cups instead of martini glasses. For those like me, though, who over the years have become fans of black coffee, red wine and the like, the "black" (unaltered) version of Irish Breakfast is a real delight as well, something with an extremely intense taste that lets you know that you're really drinking some freakin' tea. Not to mention that it takes liquor well too (or at least I imagine), for those who like traditional-style hot toddies in the winter months.

For a good pitcher of sun tea, use a total of five bags (one for each glass, and one more for good luck). Serve with lemon, honey, sugar/sweetener, milk, cream, scones, biscotti -- just about anything traditionally associated with tea.

In conclusion: If you're a fan of strong traditional tea, you'll go through a lot of it; try to find it on sale in bulk sizes. The perfect thing for Americans used to coffee, who are grossed out by generic grocery-store-brand "Tea." Have at least one cup at the 300-year-old London store (216 The Strand) before you die.

Also reviewed at this blog: Celestial Seasonings Teahouse Chai Vanilla Green Tea