Great British Tea - Tregothnan

"No," he said, "look, it's very, very simple ... all I want ... is a cup of tea.  You are going to make one for me.  Keep quiet and listen."  And he sat.  He told the Nutri-Matic about India, he told it about China, he told it about Ceylon.  He told it  about broad leaves drying in the sun. 

- Douglas Adams, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe

There is nothing more quintessential British than drinking tea.  Britain has always relied on imports to meet the demand for tea as she is not a tea growing country.  That has changed slightly after the Tregothnan Estate in Cornwall planted many acres of tea plants starting in 1999, and began to produce true British tea in 2005 or 2006.  Today Tregothnan offers about five blended black teas, one blended green tea and its single estate tea.  

3 Tregothnan black teas

Tregothnan created this Great British tea for 10 Downing Street.  It is a blend of Tregothnan's tea leaves and Assam tea (percentage unknown).   It is strong but not as bold as English Breakfast tea is.   It is more refined but lacks maltiness, and is best enjoyed without adding milk.

Great British Tea

Type:  Black    Country: England    Preparation:  95°C 4 Min

Dry Leaf:  The black and brown wiry leaves give off pleasant spices and dried fruit aromas.
Wet Leaf:  The wet leaves smell like sweet dried fruits mixed in with wet straw.
Liquor:      The tea color is copper brown   It is chocolaty and woody with hints of cigars and spices.  It is not very malty and has light to medium astringency.  

Tee Score: 4 of 5