Ahmad’s of London English Tea No. 1 Blends Two English Tea Staples.
I have a confession to make. I was not always a tea drinker. Growing up, I was a coffee junkie, and still am. It took traveling and finding moments of Zen and relaxation in the office for me to grow an appreciation of all things tea.
I have relatives still in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and they are renowned tea drinking cultures. Black teas flow like natural springs over there. Electric and fast acting tea kettles with an array of tea selections are ubiquitous in any Irish or British hotel, guest home, conference, or office.
As a result, I have grown a fondness of British and Irish style teas. One label that particularly makes my rotation is Ahmad’s of London. Ahmad’s creates tea for all palates and styles from malty black teas to floral herbal teas. They also pride themselves on their strong fair trade and sustainability impact. Any tea drinker knows the impact even the slightest variation of climate can have in the cultivation of tea leaves, and the purer and healthier the agricultural practice, the better the tea.
The exclusive English Tea No. 1 blend is a proprietary black tea blend by Ahmad’s and a particular favorite of mine. The best way to describe it quickly is a halfway between English breakfast teas and Earl Grey teas by having elements of both, but not as pronounced in either the breakfast tea earthy malty disposition or the bergamot character of Earl Greys. As a result, the tea is more floral than breakfast tea but not nearly as citrusy as Earl Grey or Lady Grey. It is a caffeinated as most other black teas, giving the English Tea No 1 a strong morning or mid-afternoon kick. It is a blend od Assam, Kenyan and Sri Lankan leaves with a hint of bergamot in the finish.
Serving Suggestion
I recommend serving it with hot water at or near a boil. Let this tea steep for a good five to even seven minutes. For iced tea, it is advisable to still brew it hot, and make the loose leaf of number of bags double the normal serving. Then let the tea cool overnight. The English Tea Nu 1 is delicious to take neat or with a little dairy. Honey and lemon also compliment the iced tea serving.