Tell Me MoreEvery May, the Queen holds a garden party at Buckingham Palace - a lovely English springtime tradition. The Queen invites between 3000 and 4000 guests. Regal cucumber and watercress sandwiches are served on white bread, smoked Scottish salmon pate, delicately scented earl grey cakes and most importantly, tea, are served on this prestigious occasion. The invitees include exotic guests from the far-flung reaches of the former British Empire. The common thread among them is that they have each made a contribution to the British Commonwealth of nations. The guests rub shoulders with lords, earls, dukes, duchesses and ladies from aristocratic British society. At about 3:00 p.m. the Royal Family make their entrance - the Queen, Prince Philip, perhaps even Prince Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew. You can see the scene now -the Queen, Prince Philip and the Queen Mother, all dressed in formal spring party clothing, mingling with the excited crowd.shaking hands, smiling, stopping briefly to chat with the guests, making eye contact and the royal nod of the head to acknowledge one's presence for those unable to personally meet the Royal Family.
The tea that is served is a long time favorite and delicious Palace medley specially selected for the occasion. Intriguing hints of high-grown pure Ceylon Earl Grey blend effortlessly with soft jasmine from Fujian Province. Couple this with malty Assam (from the estate of Borengajuli), flavory Dimbula Ceylon (from Hatton), brisk and golden cup East of Rift Kenya (from Kambaa and Kagwe) and you have one of the most flavorful teas to come from the British Isles. Each cup is a cup of mystery - the flavors all come to the fore at separate times - one minute you taste the Earl Grey, the next you can almost feel the soft floral notes of jasmine. Finally you get the satisfying fullness of the Assam Ceylon and Kenya blend. Enjoy this tea and be a part of the annual tradition in the west gardens of Buckingham Palace. |
Brewing for Best ResultsIdeal Brewing Temperature: 209°F/98°C.
Minimum Brewing Temperature: 194°F/90°C. Bring filtered or freshly drawn cold water to 209°F/ 98°C. Place 1 slightly heaping teaspoon of loose tea per 8 oz of fluid water. Steep 3-5 minutes according to taste (the longer the steeping time, the stronger the tea). Acceptable Pairing: Milk / Sweetener |
origin
Tea(s) From: India, Kenya, China, Sri Lanka Region(s): Assam & Nilgiri, Nandi Highlands, Fujian Province, Nuwara Eliya & Dimbula & Uva 50% Ethical Tea Partnership 50% Fair Trade Tea ingredients
Luxury Ingredients: Black tea, Green tea, Jasmine + Cornflower petals, Natural flavors (organic compliant) iced tea instructions
brewing tips
Making an amazing cup of tea requires several things. High quality tea, filtered or freshly drawn cold water, correct water temperature, time of infusion, and filters/infusers. Unfiltered water or too hot of water can ruin the best of teas. Always use filtered or freshly drawn cold water. Any flavor from water treatments or heavy minerals such as lime or calcium can taint the water. Brew at the ideal temperature. Too hot of water can scorch the leaves and produce a bitter brew. If you find that the tea is still bitter following the recommended brewing temperature, try lowering the brew temperature another 5 to 10 degrees. Use infusers that allow the tea leaves to fully expand and has full contact with the water. Ditch the tea bags. Know the steeping time for your tea. Too long of steeping can make your tea bitter and undesirable. Too short of time will make a weak tea. Don’t make tea in the microwave. food safety
We strongly recommend using filtered or freshly drawn cold water brought to a rolling boil when brewing all types of tea. Today’s water has been known to carry viruses, parasites and bacteria. Boiling the water will kill these elements and reduce the potential incidence of water-borne illness. Cool the water to the ideal brewing temperature before brewing. |