English Breakfast, Shagadelic

I recently bought a pound of this tea, flavor untasted. I’m becoming brave (or reckless) in my old age. What intrigued me about this one was that it was advertised as an English breakfast tea blend of four black teas from three countries: India, Sri Lanka, China. That all sounded good to me and worth checking out.

I opened up the pouch and the aroma that shot out was a pleasant combination of, yes, more than one tea type. Black China teas are my favorite and my sniffer could definitely detect their presence in this tea. I also perceived the existence of Darjeeling and possibly Assam, all coming together nicely in the unbrewed whiff.

I steeped the brown leaves for five minutes in boiling water. This resulted in a golden amber liquid with a pleasant aroma containing tea and sweet undertones.

The taste of this tea was very smooth and full of flavor. The four teas melded exquisitely into a total merger of sweet and malty deliciousness. No bitterness was discovered anywhere.

I should also add that I drink all of my teas straight up. I never add milk or sweeteners. I prefer to experience the teas on their own merits.

If a tea plantation can figure out how to create this richly combined flavor from just one tree, they will have a huge winner on their hands. But, until then, I will just appreciate this exceptional blend as it is.

We are huge tea drinkers, with family from India, Canada, England, Scotland, and the American South. Everyone agrees this one is the best! (And we've tried so so many.) If you like your tea big, bold, well-rounded, and smooth, this is the one! I often find classic English Breakfast varieties too "thin" and flat. Not this one! It's delicious on its own but stands up perfectly with milk and/or sugar. I love a beautiful Darjeeling for something light and delicate, but this is the one I reach for when I want my morning kick or afternoon pick-me-up. It's a crowd-pleaser but interesting enough that everyone pauses to say, Wow, this tea is delicious! Perfect for Sunday afternoons with family and a game of Scrabble.

When I first sniffed the tea leaves, I thought there was a faint bergamot scent, but the brewed tea has no hint of it. It’s smooth, bold, and so delicious. Totally shagadelic way to start your day!

I absolutely love this tea! I drink a cup of strong coffee in the morning and then tea all the rest of the day, and I have been searching for something that was smooth and strong and flavorful that I could drink with milk and sugar...this is it! I have tried several English breakfast teas, and this one is the best by far. It tastes delicious, a caramel undertones and not too malty but still very flavorful. I would recommend this tea for anyone looking to replace their coffee. Try it, you will love it!

I only ordered a sample, so maybe I got an older batch but this tea genuinely had no flavor to it really. I'm used to an English Breakfast that is brisk and invigorating, and this just did not live up to the hype.