Happy St. Pa(teas) day!
Tea Time!
Happy St. Patty's Day!
Shamrock Teapot
Basilur - Love Story - Book One
Ceylon green tea with bergamot, safflower and blue cornflower
What a great day to show off one of my cutest little shamrock shaped teapot, cup and saucer sets! Not to mention one of my new favorite teas!
I grabbed this teapot set at Teavana a few years back. Last one on the sale rack! Score! I've been waiting to bust it out for St. Patrick's Day.
This loose leaf Ceylon green tea is so smooth and the addition of bergamot (what gives Earl Grey its distinct flavor and smell), as well as blue cornflower, is my idea of a classy cup of tea!
This is one of two Basilur brand teas that I purchased at the Toronto tea festival and today felt like the right day to give it a go!
I've got to admit...I've tried this tea once before and didn't really enjoy it. *GASP! Of course, now I realize that because I was cutting corners and using re-boiled water that was too hot for a green tea, there was no way I was going to enjoy it. The price of laziness. Shame on me...
So this time I did it right by sticking to a few little guidelines and boy could I taste the difference! (I love that tiny ghost of a cornflower in the picture there.)
I'm really glad I came back to this tea to give it another chance. It’s made for a really lovely and laid back afternoon. I popped the teapot on my warmer so I can keep on sipping on it for hours without the dreaded cold cup! Bleh..
170F water (I just boil my kettle and let it cool for 5-6 minutes)
2TSP of loose tea (I used 4tsp of tea for a pot this size but for a single coffee cup size, 2 is average.)
1-2MIN steep. (You will avoid that dry bitter taste is you keep the steep time under 2 minutes)
Nose is sayin': Wow! Since green tea has a more delicate profile than black tea, the bergamot really shines here! The natural citrus-y notes that is reminiscent of most Ceylon teas is the perfect partner to bergamot.
My Mouth is goin': This is more like it! No more dry burnt green tea and all kinds of smooth and snappy flavor going on! The safflower and cornflower don't add much in the way of flavor but it does make the tea itself look mighty pretty! This really reminds me of a Lady Grey but I love that the subtle citrus is provided by the tea leaf.
Cheers to second chances!
Have a safe and awesome St Patrick's Day Everyone!