Watson Blend

Sipdown 74/391!! (I’m still on a no-buy, but VariaTEA very generously sent me a load of samples and it’s single-handedly destroyed my hopes of reaching 400 by the end of the month).

This was a very fitting final cup and a lovely way to part – for now, at least – with this tea. I drank my final cup from my Arthur Conan Doyle mug whilst watching the last episode of Sherlock series 4, and made sure I had plenty of time beforehand to make it properly for once. Either the base has gotten weaker over time or I’m getting more used to astringency and brisk teas, because I drank it without milk and had no inclination to add any. Either way it was really lovely. The Earl Grey bergamot note was much more present this time, and the cinnamon took more of a back seat but was still noticeable, and gave a lovely warmth which grew as I drank the cup. This tea fits John well, and I enjoyed it almost as much as I did the finale. I will most likely buy a bag of this in the future, too, even though Adagio have raised their prices on it by over 20% since the last time I bought it grumbles.

Upping my rating again, this time from 80.

Another weekend Sherlock blend! I said in my review of Sherlock how I love the TV series these teas are inspired by. I’m not usually an Adagio fan (the quality mostly just isn’t there, imo), but the fandom aspect makes these teas a little special. I gave 1 tsp of leaf 4 minutes in boiling water, and added a splash of milk.

To taste, this is mostly a straight-up, bold Irish breakfast. It’s malty and substantial, and it would actually make a pretty good morning tea. The flavouring arrives mostly in the mid-sip, where there’s a decent kick of warming, spicy cinnamon that helps to give this tea an edge it wouldn’t otherwise have had. The green tea is very faint, although it’s identifiable at the end of the sip where it adds a slightly dank, vegetal tinge. There’s the tiniest sniff of bergamot, and then it’s done. Time for another sip!

This is a very easy-drinking tea, and an interesting combination of flavours. I think it encapsulates the spirit of Watson’s character pretty well. Straightforward and reliable, with a hint of the exotic and a little tradition-breaking. Definitely a sample I’ll enjoy drinking, and a tea memory I’ll cherish.

I can handle cinnamon and Irish breakfast together, but adding a green earl grey to the mixture is pushing things for me. In practice, it isn’t the terrible tea I imagined, however. The cinnamon is what I notice first, followed by the malt with the bergamot thing, and then by the cinnamon again.

A grassy note that mixes into the citrus becomes more prevalent as the cup cools. The cinnamon/citrus has become sweeter with the passing time as well.. I wonder if this would work iced.

The tangy citrus spice duet is simultaneously both the lethargic old leather couch and the cozy robustness of a midwinter celebration with old friends. Green/black blends are not my favourite but I love this vibe. Definitely a Watson tea.

“Good old Watson! You are the one fixed point in a changing age. There’s an east wind coming all the same, such a wind as never blew on England yet. It will be cold and bitter, Watson, and a good many of us may wither before its blast. But it’s God’s own wind none the less, and a cleaner, better, stronger land will lie in the sunshine when the storm has cleared.”
― Arthur Conan Doyle, His Last Bow

Today I am trying the “Watson” and “Sherlock” blends from Adagio. Watson first, since he holds a dear place in my heart. I dare say cherish him slightly more than Sherlock…but don’t tell the younger Holmes…he would likely slip into a sulk of epic proportions!

Just like Watson, this tea is solid and dependable in every sip. It’s a lovely black, and I don’t get any hints of bergamot, so I am a VERY happy camper! To me this is just a solid black tea with a hint of cinnamon. It was absolutely LOVELY with a bit fo cream and sugar. I will definitely keep this stocked in my cupboard in small quantities.

Thank you to MissB for the sample!

I love the whiff of cinnamon I get from this, I just wish I could taste it more. Still, it won’t be hard to get through this sample.

Favorite breakfast tea. The black breakfast tea is the predominant base. I love the cinnamon flavor. It isn’t overpowering. This really turned me onto Green Earl Grey. This makes a very nice tea latte in the mornings.

A light earl grey mixed with bitter irish breakfast and a pinch of cinnamon. Its an odd tea, but its good. Not an everyday tea for me, but definitely drinkable. I don’t think I’ll buy more, but I definitely will drink what I’ve got.

One of my absolute favorites. I’m basically done with my second bag of this and will definitely order more soon. I really like the balance of the teas; there’s not too much of any one flavor. Very solid breakfast tea or afternoon tea or whenever tea.

When I first brewed this, I didn’t really like it, but it’s beginning to grow on me. Could be due to the seasons.

The cinnamon really overpowers most of the bergamot. The Irish Breakfast provides a strong base. Not bad.

Yum yum yum. I love that this tea really changes depending on how long you brew it. Longer, and the black teas leap to the forefront; shorter, and the green gets center stage. I tried for something a bit in the middle this time and was well pleased.

For all these reasons, it’s also one of my favorite “traveling” teas. Being largely a black tea fan with only occasional forays into green, this is a great one to take along because even if the best water you can get is the hot stuff from a water cooler, you’ll still get a tasty (and inevitably surprising) blend of flavors.

3 tsp tea x 12 oz water x 1/2 packet Stevia sweetener (= 1 tsp sugar)