Tea Journal

An archive of my tea blog from London, featuring tasting notes and reviews of various teas from Whittards, Fortnum & Mason, Terra Nera Tea Boutique, and other fine tea retailers.

Reviews span from December 2009 to September 2011, covering Assam, Darjeeling, Ceylon, blends, and flavored teas. Each review includes ratings based on price and overall taste.

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18 posts in total

Whittards 125th Anniversary Blend

A blend speculated to combine Ceylon and Darjeeling, delivering full bodied yet light taste with resistance to bitterness and woody-floral character.

• By Josh Fairhead

Fortnum & Mason Royal Blend

A blend combining Assam and Ceylon teas from Fortnum & Mason with product photographs but limited review details.

• By Josh Fairhead

Mohokutie Second Flush Assam

A high-quality Assam with the delicacy of a Darjeeling but more body and strength, featuring upper midtone flavors that create a subtle bite that’s only just too sharp.

• By Josh Fairhead

Whittard's Darjeeling

A Darjeeling variety from Whittard’s with product photographs but no detailed tasting review provided in the original post.

• By Josh Fairhead

Whittard's Mango Tea

Fresh and light fruity tea with Ceylon quality base, where the flavoring registers as general fruitiness rather than distinct mango. Better quality than typical flavored tea packets.

• By Josh Fairhead

Bannockburn FTGFOP1 Darjeeling

An enjoyable first flush Darjeeling with mellow, fresh, and light taste that lingers. Not bitter but could use more potency for the price.

• By Josh Fairhead

Margrets Hope FTGFOP

A mellow Darjeeling second flush with medium strength, suitable for both day and night drinking. Good for everyday use at a reasonable price.

• By Josh Fairhead

Lingia FTGFOP1

A Darjeeling first flush from Lingia Estate that’s decent but overpriced, with adequate strength but lacking notable flavor complexity and a thin taste profile.

• By Josh Fairhead

Blue Lady

A delicious Chinese black tea enhanced with orange and citrus flavors, making it suitable for any time of day at a near-reasonable price for regular drinking.

• By Josh Fairhead

Harmutty Tippy Golden Assam

A disappointing Assam that was very moderate and lacked real taste, reviewed retrospectively after the product was already consumed.

• By Josh Fairhead

Passion Fruit Tea

A summer tea with passion fruit flavors that intensify and become sweeter as it cools, featuring a Chinese black tea base that blends well with other teas.

• By Josh Fairhead

Pettiagalla O.P. Ceylon

An exceptional fruity Ceylon Orange Pekoe with Darjeeling-like texture but more body, featuring subtle orange undertones. Described as ‘bloody good tea’ and the reviewer’s new favorite.

• By Josh Fairhead

China Black Tea

A very earthy Chinese black tea with thin texture, rubbery rather than floral character, and oil-forward flavor profile. Received for free and rated accordingly.

• By Josh Fairhead

Arabian Tea

A spiced black tea blend with cinnamon, featuring thin texture like Darjeeling with Earl Grey-like strength and chai characteristics.

• By Josh Fairhead

Assam T.G.F.O.P.

A decent everyday Assam with enough body to give a kick, featuring woody flavors and slightly above average bitterness at a reasonable price point.

• By Josh Fairhead

Ceylon O.P.

A Ceylon Orange Pekoe with solid initial taste but lacking substance, with an aftertaste that disappears rapidly. Acceptable for the price but not a top choice.

• By Josh Fairhead

Ceylon Silver Tips

Ceylon Silver Tips tea with product photographs but no detailed tasting review provided in the original post.

• By Josh Fairhead

English Breakfast Blend

An English Breakfast blend with standard BOP appearance, similar to Barrys or Lyons tea with strong tannins and an uninteresting flavor profile.

• By Josh Fairhead