Metropolitan Tea Company

I’ve been drinking this tea almost every day since I got it and am finally getting around to making a tasting note.

I thought in order for a tea to be an Earl Grey it needed to be infused with bergamot. However I do not taste any bergamot and do not see it listed in the ingredients.

Besides the lack of bergamot this is a good tea. It’s very creamy, I do not taste caramel but other creamyish flavors like vanilla. It’s a mild tea. Usually I brew it for 5 minutes but got impatient, next time I’ll be more patient, this cup is weak compared to the 5+ minute cups I’ve had before. I take it with milk and sugar.

To make up for the lack of bergamot I’ve tried brewing the leaves with other EG teas, like ETS double bergamot. The best combo I’ve found is half Dorian Grey and half Russian Earl Grey- Russian Earl Grey is on the other side of the Earl Grey spectrum.

It’s dreary out so to lift everyone’s spirits, Let’s name something you’re thankful for today. GO!

I posted that on facebook and so far I’ve had a few people answer it. It’s making my day a bit happier. What are you thankful for?

So, I’m feeling lousy and I’m trying to lift my spirits and distract myself from feeling so rough by drinking tea. I had a cup of Bollywood Chai from Davidstea this morning from a secret stash that I forgot I had!
Then I tried to drink one of those Keurig (sp?) Black chai teas. The first one I added sugar to before trying it and I couldn’t even drink it because it was so sweet, so I tried again without sugar and it was STILL too sweet so both of those got tossed. Now I’m onto this tea and it’s just right.

Although… I’m starting to realize that I’m kind of sick of this one. I don’t know why,… maybe I’ve had it too much… probably… but yeah, I think once I finish this one which will be soon, I’ll take a break from it.

Tonight I’m going over the border to the U.S. of A. and getting my tea order from Adagio!! I can’t wait to try their teas! I’ve had two before and they were pretty good, so I can’t wait to see what I think now after a few years without trying much from them. I bought… well… like 20teas… it’s kind of embarrassing how much I bought, but I did get sample sizes of all but two of them, so that’s pretty good… right…?

So today I’m thankful for the warm soothing comfort that tea is bringing me today and making me feel a bit better.

I know that this is the fourth time I’ll be logging this, and normally I don’t log a tea this much, but I have to today. I need some steepster time…

I’m feeling so defeated today. I’ve woken up with a migraine again today… thankfully today I didn’t wake up at 3:30am like I did yesterday. But I’m just so tired and feeling so drained from it. The advil is only barely keeping me sane. I know today it’s the weather that’s doing it to me. I wish I could be at home sleeping. I think a tall glass of cold water and a few more hours of sleep would fix this at least partially…

Anyway, this was my tea choice today as I’m just needing a plain comfort tea. I need somehting that’s going to wrap me up in a large warm hug and just hold me tight for a bit. If I were at home, I’d be asking my hunny to do that. Just to hold me until my head pain subsided but since I can’t, tea will have to try to do it for me. And so far, so good. It’s giving me a moment of solitude in the midst of work today.

Hopefully tomorrow will be a good day, otherwise I might cancel my plans with my mom and just stay in bed… lol

One more note on this one. This one is good when a migraine is plaguing you and you can barely function. Nothing too crazy going on in this tea and it makes it perfect while I try to calm my head and stomach.

Today it is CHILLY out!! It’s like -23C with the windchill! BRRRR!!! But I must say, I’m loving it! We have so many flu viruses going around that it’s nice that finally the cold is here to zap them all to death. Take that bugs! mahahahaha

And what better to have on a freezing morning in beautiful Ontario Canada, then a cup of Canadian Breakfast! Delish! I think this is one of my absolute favourite black teas. Malty, warm, comforting tea. I’m in love :)

I’ve never had a Canadian Breakfast tea before! I didn’t even know they exist!

My dad gave this to me along with a bunch of other teas. I’m so excited to try them all! This one is absolutely delicious! I love it. I finally understand the ‘malty’ term I think. This one has it and it’s nice. The tea is not overpowering in any way. I find it to be quite nice. I used 1tsp per cup and steeped for 3 mins. I’m starting to notice the Metro tea company’s black teas only need about 3mins. I’m not too sure why that is. I haven’t been able to figure out why some are short times and some are long. It really doesn’t make sense. If anyone knows, could you let me know? I would love to know why.

Anyway, so today is almost another snowmaggedon out there. I can’t believe it. Last night was bad and it only got worse. I think it’s basically stopped now, but I’m not even too sure about that. This tea was great to have today. I wish it hadn’t cooled off so much by the time I got to drink it, but it did ‘cause I had to get to work and my car got stuck in the snow. I had a neighbour come by and help me out. I don’t even know the guy, but he saw me stranded and he came and helped push my car plus helped shovel out my tires so I could move.
That’s the one nice thing about this kind of weather. You get a chance to help each other out and be there for one another. I find that something like this really can bring society together if they let it. I love seeing these blossoms of goodness in life when you finally get a chance to see the good in people and the helping, generous spirit that people have. Growing up, I always thought that was what people were like, and when I realized it wasn’t always the case, I really got upset. I didn’t understand how terrible people can be. But, like I said, I love these moments when people show their good sides and give me back the hope that maybe people really are good and have good hearts…
I dunno.. just my random thoughts this morning.

Anyway, definitely recommend the tea. I think it’s great!

Super sweet! I added some lemon and it made it divine…

My first tasting note on Steepster – yay!

I haven’t been a loose-leaf tea drinker for very long, but one of my favouritest teas for a long time has been Twining’s Lady Grey. When I found this Baroness Grey loose leaf tea, I thought I’d give it a try. It was very reasonably priced and I didn’t have much to lose.

When I got my tea in the mail, this was the first bag I pulled out. I was disappointed at the initial smell, which was rather bitter and astringent. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I brewed it! Drinking it without milk and sugar, I found the bergamot to be a little bit overwhelming, but with milk and sugar it mellowed out a lot and became very smooth. I found this tea to be fairly similar to the Twinings variety, but without the “Froot Loops”-esque aftertaste I sometimes get with that one. As the tea cooled, I found the lemon became much more pronounced (and even overbearing) for the last few dregs.

I brewed 1.5 tsp for 5 minutes and it came out a tad weak – I will brew it longer next time.

1 pyramid bag for 250mL water @82C. Drunk bare.

Oh. My. God.

My local teashop, Britannia Teas and Gifts, is a little low on jasmine right now, but they did have these little pyramid bags. (The owner had maybe 2tsp of my beloved Dragon Tears left and gave me those — yesss!) I needed jasmine. I really needed jasmine. I probably would have tried to eat dried petals our of a bride’s bouquet. Dunno what it is with me and jasmine tea, but when I want it, I want it bad.

I was a little dubious about the pyramid bags, because I’m a snob. But the leaves are long and twisty, and the aroma is strong. It’s a China green base, and a fairly grassy one — no broth or brine here. The balance of jasmine is freakin heavenly. I did oversteep the first infusion at 3 minutes — 2 would have been better — and got some soapiness from the flowers, but it was so good I didn’t care, just drinking it down til I could add some water. Second infusion at 3 minutes, 3rd at 3 min 30 seconds. Golden green liquor and a great jasmine hit each time. I think Dragon Tears are slightly better, but this Golden Dragon is very, very good. If you placed a cup of each in front of me, I’d have trouble telling which was which.

Good jasmine tea makes me feel relaxed and a bit goofy. I also find — and this is just my own observation, not in any way medical advice — it takes some edge off my arthritis pain. Maybe there’s something mysterious about the jasmine flower that medicine should look into. There’s a lot of bad jasmine tea out there; this is one of the good ones, I promise.

My local kitchen store had all their loose leaf teas on sale for ONE DOLLAR! :o That was suppose to he for 50g, but when i got there I found 2-4 oz bags for $1 no tax. Oh my. Unfortunately there weren’t many flavoured ones left. But I did grab this one which i thought would be a gem and then some teas for the travelling tea box.

The dry notes smell very spicy, mostly of cinnamon, almost like cinnamon hearts, but not as sweet smelling. Once steeped it stills smells spicy.
On the first sip its still very hot and I mostly get a black tea taste :( booo, with the yummy spices taking a back seat. I prefer when the tea taste takes a back seat to the flavour aspect of Tue tea.
Unfortunately the black tea stays at the forefront. This isn’t a horrible tea, by any means, but with the smell its not what i was expecting. I’m not sure if this is making its way into my cupboard. I will probably have to have it again to make that decision, for now it goes back into my sip down pile.
Can’t really complain since I did only pay $1 for 2.4oz of it.

I didn’t care for this one hot. I found it to be too tart from the hibiscus.
SO, I’m trying this one chilled! I’ve got it cooling right now. I’ve added some sugar and it looks like it’s going to be a strong one. It is DARK. I can’t wait to try it. :)
Will update once it’s done!

UPDATE: So, I was going to drink this one before I left for work today but I didn’t. So anyway, here I am after work wanting to drink some tea, but not wanting to go through all the motions of making it. hahaha
So, when I said dark, think like red wine dark. I poured a small glass of this into one of my new double-walled glasses and it is DARK. BUT, taste, I love it! I’m so happy that I didn’t give this one away like I had originally planned to. Because it’s so strong and fruity, it almost tastes like juice; a berry juice of sorts. I’m totally loving it.
Given though, as much as I love it, I probably wouldn’t get this one again only ’cause I have other fruity teas that I love even more. And they are teas that I love both hot and chilled. Still, I will definitely enjoy what I have. :)

I didn’t know that this one was called Georgia Peach. I bought this one, and where I bought it from must have dropped the first part of the name when they made up the label. I just thought it was called Sweet Peach Rooibos, but after looking over this, I’m pretty sure this is the one that I have.
It is a lovely peach flavoured tea. I love the rooibos base with it. It is a very good pairing. I like the fact that it is an almost juicy peach flavour that comes through.
I must agree with the other reviewer here. The DavidsTea Southern Belle (Peach tea) wasn’t good to me. I couldn’t drink it. My husband seems to not mind it too much, but I can’t drink it. So I find that this tea is a very nice one to have on hand. It is just about perfect for flavouring of a peach tea.
I’m just finishing up my stash of it, so I’ll have to get more again at some point.

This one is from the Purrfect Cup! Thanks so much!

This has a little bit of smoke flavor but it also tastes like sprouts to me…like alfalfa or pea sprouts even. There is a bit of sweet and subtle malty notes trying to come thru too.

At first I wasn’t sure if I liked these flavors together but they are growing on me. I think temperature has a lot to do with it too! I seem to like this one the cooler it got.

When sipping cold – I noticed there is a subtle floral aftertaste, too. Very different. Very unique. Because of this…I am enjoying it.

Backlogging:
Another sample from Azzrian, this one originally from Indigobloom.

In a word, yuck. I paid attention to the steeping instructions and only steeped for 2 lousy minutes. This was so profoundly bitter that after about 3 sips I gave up and threw it out.

Seriously, yuck.

A review of Revolution Breakfast Tea(Boston Tea Party Blend)by The Metropolitan Tea Company, LTD

I am trying this very famous blend of black tea once more.
Using one tea bag in my cup, I pour the freshly boiled water into the cup leaving it to steep for five minutes.

I remove the covering from the tea cup and observe the coloring: a darken rosy color, like Port wine. It smells of a fine dry bouquet distilling of malt. Tea is full bodied and taste of malt and not roasted at all. I would not say that the malt is strong or creamy, although this tea is smooth in character and the description use for it is ‘oakiness’. There is something woodsy, and smelling of rain about it.

In all, tea’s character is that of malt and it is full-bodied with hints of floral flavor and a touch of pine.

I also like the canister that this tea comes in: the gold emboss/engraving for The Metropolitan Tea Company and the images depicting the tea party members disguise as Indians tossing over the teas into the Boston Harbor. It was then a history in the making; an historical event which brought about some wonderful teas.

2nd Review Revolution Breakfast Tea (Boston Tea Party Blend) by Metropolitan Tea Company

When first trying this cup of tea I thought to try and have it like bubble tea; well to add milk to it. So, not giving up on this tea, I have decided to start again with a fresh cup of tea with milk and sugar added to it and cooked real hot (boiling).

I took one tea bag (has no strings on bag, instead they are grouped as two bags with tearing-folds); anyhow, having placed the tea bag in my cup I added one teaspoon of sugar and took a small thin of condensed milk and add some of the milk to my cup, I stirred this in while the wonder comes to a full boil. I then take some of the water in another cup and pour this into my cup (with the milk and sugar) and stir the mixture as I am pouring the water.

I like the color, which is a lovely golden color, and with the added milk it smells creamy and sweeter. So far so good I am thinking. I leave the tea alone with covering on for a bit longer.

When I finally decided to have this tea, I sipped it slowly at first to take in its strength (the mixture of sugar with the condensed milk) and how they pair together. Now this tea tastes just rightly so and very hot. With the adding of milk to the tea there is not that after taste feeling that I got from the earlier cup I had prepared. Tea is not too sweet either, it all seems just right.

I can see boiling this tea on the stove with condensed or evaporated milk, sugar and several tea bags and leaving them all to mingle and come to full boil…making for my version of bubble milk tea.

I realized with this Revolutionary Breakfast Tea it is best for this reviewer to have it with milk (condensed-evaporated milk) and raw sugar.

I like the malt that is to be found in this cup of tea, and that it is full bodied. What perhaps I did not like is the floral aspect combined with the malt, which to me gives it an off taste. And I am not sure what ‘oakiness’ is, so I cannot account for this description.

Overall, this tea does brew a bright golden cup and is best served with milk/cream/evaporated milk and raw sugar (pure cane sugar).

This tea was purchased while visiting Heath’s Tea Room in Rockport, MA and I am happy to have tried this tea. Thank you to Kimberlie and Michael.

A review Revolution Breakfast Tea (Boston Tea Party Blend) by Metropolitan Tea Company

I used one tea bag placed in my cup and then poured freshly boiling water into the teapot. I left to steep for 5 minutes.
Tea’s color is reddish amber, and tea’s liquor is that of malt with hints of floral notes. When I take a sip of this tea it is not pleasant at first. It is definitely raw and malty but there seems to be an off taste to it somehow.

This tea is certainly full for having a good color,and strength but there seem to be lack of substance. Nothing stands out with this tea, other than its color is lovely.

Right now this cup of tea is a plainly hot cup of tea.

Tea from this morning. This one is pretty bold (I picked it up at The Whistling Kettle – who I know gets there tea from MTC)! Very smokey and all around oaky flavor to it, really nice. I really like it as one of my morning kickstarters once I get to work. Thankfully I learned my lesson that one cup is enough…when I had it at WK yesterday I had a small stump pot which was WAY too much! I’m going to try it in the potato soup recipe I’m making tonight…I got the recipe from the lovely Bigelow (aisling of tea) any Lapsang adds a nice smoke/bacon flavor so we’ll see what this one brings.

Thank you IndigoBloom for this nice CANADIAN sample!

Ice Wine Tea seems to be something you can only get in Canada. Don’t exactly know why. Maybe Canada has special ice or snow or a load of grapes from New York or California froze one year and someone like Krystaleyn studing grapes and drinking tea at the time had a brilliant idea.

Whatever the case was, voila…ya got Ice Wine Tea.

I kept pestering Indigo-B for some “Please”, when we did a tea swap and I was delighted to see some tea bags (don’t say that often) to satisfy my Ice Wine Tea curiosity.

I was careful not to over-steep the teabag…and once the hot tea cooled a bit the flavor unfolded.
There was a ruby red, seedless grape flavor at the correct stage of ripeness without too much sugar and a bit on the dry side. The type I buy and plop into the freezer to eat like popsicles on a hot day in August or September.
Although I’ve become used to loose leaf tea with big flavor, the scent and taste was mild and pleasing, fruity and not astringent. The wine flavor was not overpowering to the base ceylon tea.
I let my cup cool, added stevia and ice cubes and it was really good! The tea became creamier and was better than hot in my opinion.

Whoops, had a little confusion issue about which tea I was reviewing. Probably caught it quickly enough for nobody to notice though :D

Anyways, this is round 2 of ice wine tea tasting, courtesy of Indigobloom!

Dry, this one smelled a little off, like fermenting grapes. I think 52teas Sweet Merlot had a similar aroma. However, that’s kind of what wine/a winery smell like!

Steeped, this one’s very dark, in spite of the 2 minute infusion I gave it! The aroma is a bit of black tea, with some sweetness and a bit of that fermenty grape flavour. I think I’m making a mental association to purple Kool-aid flavoured homemade playdough…

Ooh! Different. Thanks for the warning Indigobloom, this one definitely brews up strong! There’s astringency but it stops just short of bitterness thankfully. I think I would have been happier with only a minute-long infusion though. The flavour is hard to get at for me, because of the astringency. It’s a bit sweet, and perhaps a bit grapey/winey. Definitely a lot heavier than the Culinary Teas version. I think I prefer the Culinary Teas one over this though, as I think there’s more flavour.

Neither of these teas really did it for me though, to be honest. Interesting to try them though! Thanks again for the sample, Indigobloom!

First genmaicha I’d ever tasted, to be honest, in Orpington’s tearoom Mystic Brew. Since then I’ve tried other brands, like the Neal’s Yard Tea Emporium brand, but the bancha they used always seemed a bit lacking, a bit too sharp. This one comes out a beautiful green colour rather then the typical gold of green teas, the bancha is light and the rice really adds a kind of fullness to the flavour. Also, it seems to be a bit more hardy against boiling water and less easy to scald than most green tea blends! Always amazing.

I decided this tea would be just the thing to help me feel better today, as I was feeling a bit faded and wilted, not to mention having stuffy sinuses, but I was a bit disappointed. The warm liquid did help, but the taste wasn’t quite the same as it usually was. I guess probably my taste buds were a little wack, as they can be when you’re sick. Anyway, I’m kind of wishing I had chosen a tea that had a little eucalyptus or something in it to break through the gunk in my sinuses, but I still do love this tea. :)