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Scheherazade drank Fairtrade English Breakfast by Lichfields

2238 tasting notes

256/365

From the Varieteas box. This is another of those catering/trade brands I was talking about, so I’m not expecting a great deal for it. They tend to be high volume, low price affairs, and I know I’ve seen these in hotels before. Hotel tea is just never the same, is it?

So. It’s okay; it’s actually really sweet and malty – more so than my usual bagged black. It’s perhaps a bit too sweet for my tastes, which is a fairly rare thing for me to say – not stevia/liquorice sweet, but just…intensely malty sweet, I guess. It’s pretty strong – a builder’s blend if ever there was one – with a decent amount of body. It’s a little one-note in terms of flavour, in that malt is all it really has to offer, but I think there’s a place for that. It scores points with me for being as substantial as it is, and not thin/weak/watery. That’s my big fear with bagged black tea generally.

I’d not actively seek this one out, and I don’t even think I could given that it’s not even a supermarket brand. I’d not flinch away from another cup, though, if I came across it on my travels. It’s not as bad as it could have been.

Preparation

Boiling 3 min, 30 sec

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Hi :) I’m Sarah, and I live in Norfolk in the UK. My tea obsession began when a friend introduced me to Teapigs a good few years ago now. Since then, I’ve been insatiable. Steepster introduced me to a world of tea I never knew existed, and my goal is now to TRY ALL THE TEAS. Or most of them, anyway.

I still have a deep rooted (and probably life-long) preference for black tea. My all-time favourite is Assam, but Ceylon and Darjeeling also occupy a place in my heart. Flavoured black tea can be a beautiful thing, and I like a good chai latte in the winter.

I also drink a lot of rooibos/honeybush tea, particularly on an evening. Sometimes they’re the best dessert replacements, too. White teas are a staple in summer — their lightness and delicate nature is something I can always appreciate on a hot day.

I’m still warming up to green teas and oolongs. I don’t think they’ll ever be my favourites, with a few rare exceptions, but I don’t hate them anymore. My experience of these teas is still very much a work-in-progress. I’m also beginning to explore pu’erh, both ripened and raw. That’s my latest challenge!

I’m still searching for the perfect fruit tea. One without hibiscus. That actually tastes of fruit.

You’ve probably had enough of me now, so I’m going to shut up. Needless to say, though, I really love tea. Long may the journey continue!

My rating system:

91-100: The Holy Grail. Flawless teas I will never forget.

81-90: Outstanding. Pretty much perfection, and happiness in a cup.

71-80: Amazing. A tea to savour, and one I’ll keep coming back to.

61-70: Very good. The majority of things are as they should be. A pleasing cup.

51-60: Good. Not outstanding, but has merit.

41-50: Average. It’s not horrible, but I’ve definitely had better. There’s probably still something about it I’m not keen on.

31-40: Almost enjoyable, but something about it is not for me.

11-30: Pretty bad. It probably makes me screw my face up when I take a sip, but it’s not completely undrinkable.

0-10: Ugh. No. Never again. To me, undrinkable.