Name: Lovers Leap Estate
Brand: English Tea Store
Type: Black tea
Form: Loose leaf
Review: This is a very reasonably priced, albeit very “neutral” Ceylon black tea which may well suit those who are looking for a very neutral, yet versatile, black tea that can go with a variety of foods. Even better, it can take sugar and milk, but neither are necessary.
The dry leaf is charcoal brown, medium/long and twisty. The nose is fairly clean, with an initial hit of lemon, then giving way to a slight earthiness. This tea brews up to the red-orange typical of Ceylons and has a faint lemony nose. A very light bodied tea, the lemon dominates with the earthy notes making themselves known primarily in the slightly astringent finish. If you like a very light tea, this one should work well for you. However, if you prefer a more full-bodied cup, Lovers Leap Estate Black is likely to be unsatisfying. On the other hand, this could be an excellent spring or summer tea for those who enjoy hot tea during those seasons.
Preparation Tips: Ceylons almost always make a good iced tea, and this one is no exception. It is also very easy to prepare hot: I used 4 grams of leaf to 8 ounces of boiling water, and steeped for three and one half minutes. If you don’t let it steep long enough, you will miss out on the lemon notes and all you’ll get some ambiguous earthiness. The lemon needs time to develop.
Food Pairing Tips: This tea is remarkably neutral, so it should go with most everything. While you could drink it on its own, I think it is best consumed along with food, particularly a light breakfast or afternoon snack. If you were going to offer a traditional afternoon tea with little sandwiches, Lovers Leap Estate tea should work very nicely indeed.
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