Barry's Tea

I discovered this tea by accident. I think that was good. It’s certainly a well thought out creation with impossible color and exceptional value. Thick enough for a mouse to tread on. But now I literally can’t live without it (and Barry’s Irish Breakfast). Well, at least I wrote and recorded over 800 songs total after consuming a cup or two over a number of years. Without the tea there would be no songs. If you want to listen to some of them click here:
https://gloriousmagicalfields.bandcamp.com/album/northern-fields

I discovered this high quality tea by accident. I think that was good. But now I literally can’t live without it (and Barry’s Irish Breakfast). Well, at least I wrote and recorded over 800 songs total after consuming a cup or two over a number of years. Without the tea there would be no songs. If you want to listen to some of them click here:
https://gloriousmagicalfields.bandcamp.com/album/northern-fields

I discovered this high quality tea by accident. I think that was good. But now I literally can’t live without it (and Barry’s Gold Blend). Well, at least I wrote and recorded over 800 songs total after consuming a cup or two over a number of years. Without the tea there would be no songs. If you want to listen to some of them click here:
https://gloriousmagicalfields.bandcamp.com/album/northern-fields

From Courtney!

It’s so good to have a sturdy decaf option for the afternoon. Currently drinking this while working on my meal plan for the week. Also eating frozen chocolate covered grapes which are oh so good.

Love this shit

It’s been a long road since I’ve last reviewed anything on here. My dad passed away from cancer, then I was diagnosed with rectal cancer. Then chemo with radiation, surgery, then more chemo and 9 months with an ostomy bag. I had that reversed about six weeks ago and now readjusting again.

But I had a few constants in that time. I’m a mail carrier, and I kept delivering during it all. And I drink a good amount of tea daily. One of those cups is in a thermos on my route too.

This is one of those dependable teas for any time. Rich, malty, comforting. Along with teas like Yorkshire or Thompson’s, I tend to drink this for comfort. Perfect on a cold day or a big breakfast. Or a few shortbreads. It won’t let you down.

I is for… Irish Breakfast!

This was definitely a super classic and traditional feeling cuppa! I got these teabags in a swap with a tea friend on IG, Sewwie, who is based in the UK – I’ve seen Barry’s Tea before carried by the British Tea Room back when I was living in Regina but since it’s sold in such bulk boxes (because it’s a lot of people’s go to “daily drinker” in the UK) I’d never ordered – I just didn’t want to get stuck with 50 Irish Breakfast teabags.

All that to say, I appreciated the inclusion of it in our swap even though it’s not a tea that would be considered “fancy” to most. It’s the shared bit of culture and daily life that makes it exciting to me! I suppose the Canadian equivalent to this would be how so many people grew up drinking Red Rose!?

I had this mug with a splash of cream and I think that suited it very well. Super malty, thick and rich – a little simple, but when you’re drinking a breakfast tea as part of a morning routine (like so many do) you don’t necessarily want the most exciting thing. It’s more about having a reliable/consistent drink that is still pleasant – and I see this definitely fitting in to a routine with that being the mentality.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! The Sipdown Challenge for today is to drink either an Irish Breakfast tea or a green tea!

I won these bags of Barry’s Gold Blend from Blue Monkey Tea’s “virtual” vendor booth during the Virtual International Tea Festival last year (along with some Yorkshire Gold and Glengettie). Since this was the Irish brand out of the three UK teas I won, I decided this would be a good morning for it!

Tea smells nicely bready. I’m getting a malty, baked bread flavor, with a subtle hint of raisin and molasses.

A satisfying breakfast tea! Leaves perhaps a very slight astringency after the sip, and if I brewed my blacks stronger, this could easily be hearty enough to be a milk-and-sugar tea, but it’s smooth enough I am having no issues drinking it straight-up.

Hopefully I can sneak in a cup of the Gyokuro Karigane from my March Madness brackets this afternoon as my green tea, as I’m still working on sipping it down, though I did start the morning with a lovely lime-and-rose flavored mango matcha smoothie. Yum!

It’s my birthday today in the long line of Pisces Steepsterites. Happy birthday Tiffany, Ashmanra, Roswell, Variatea, Derk, and those folks I inevitably missed!

I got this in a group buy with Sara.

I brewed one bag in about a 16oz mug. Mmm, the brewed tea smells malty, almost like molasses. I added a few ice cubes to bring it down to where it wouldn’t burn my tongue.

It tastes malty and sweet! I’m even getting a bit of baked bread flavor at the end of the sip. This is a fine black tea, and it rivals Yorkshire Gold for me. I can imagine sipping this and eating some Irish soda bread at a cafe in Dublin, while a server reminds me that it’s almost closing time, and I should finish up, but I want to stay and savor another minute.

I decided I wanted this bagged tea that reminded me of tea at my Nann’s because sometimes comfort just makes everything better. I added coconut milk (from the tetra-pak, not the can) and it’s actually not bad. This tea is one of those breakfast teas like Red Rose and there’s definitely some astringency, but sometimes it just works. I’m also snacking on leftover homemade caramel popcorn we made last night and it’s super delicious.

Okay, back to this paper. I’m sure tea and popcorn will help!

Sipdown! 168/365!

Thanks to MissB for this sample! I think I had two bags, so I must have had one at another point, though I have no recollection of it. Anyhow, this was actually pretty good! A fairly bright lemony flavour, no resemblance to cleaner, and a light ginger (too light, IMO, but to appeal to the masses it was probably better at this level). Probably an excellent choice for when you’re sick, but not so sick that you can’t taste anything. Also, pretty good for a bagged tea.

Had my normal cup of Earl Grey before leaving the house this morning.
But as it’s so rainy and dreary, I decided I needed another cuppa something warm when I got to the office. Something with a bit of pep, since it’s Monday and all…
My boyfriend bought this for me in loose leaf awhile ago, and I’m not sure why it didn’t make it’s way into my “daily use” teas.
The flavor is bold, the caffeine enough to give me a good kick in the morning.
It’s got the faintest hint of astringency to me, that adds to the enjoyment rather than taking away.
I’ll be keeping this on hand at the office, for sure.
Just ordered their Irish Breakfast, so I’ll be looking forward to that.

It’s straightforward black tea.

This is my favorite tea to drink in the mornings. I drink this every single day as my first cup of tea. I love it with a little bit of milk and sugar.

Daily breakfast tea, in a big travel mug with low fat milk and a bit of sugar. It’s a proper “tea” flavor, good Assam punch that stands up to breakfast whatever it may be that day, and is a bit of a comfort tea. Uncomplicated, tasty, good malt and tea flavors.

We awoke to friendly thunder and much-needed rain, but the early-awake required me to set aside the fluffy-sweetums-foofoo tea I had intended to sample this morning. Heavy stuff required. This does well. Good, hearty, dark, solid rye-bread Assam-iness to fortify myself for an Easter morning with 10 and 11-year-olds.

Since the morning will be joyful-noisy, I’m taking a few moments to quietly ponder. I pondered these beautiful borrowed words from a gifted writing friend I worked with years ago. Thought you might like them, too:

Wonder is forever upon us.
May we live with an eye toward that wonder.
May we refuse to be cynical about life or people.
Instead, today, may we experience the newness of everything as if it were our first day.
From today forward may we walk, sing, eat, work, play and write as if it were our first chance to get to do any of them.
And may we do everything with deep gratitude, expectation and dumbfounded surprise.
(More here: http://matttullos.com/its-sunday-2/)

This is a strong yet smooth cuppa for those who want an uncomplicated, full-flavored tea. Three minutes is more than enough time to produce a dark, rich brew. It has a malty, earthy taste that is never acidic. It’s bouquet is reminiscent of sharpening pencils in school on a cold morning. It simply tastes like quality.

Having grown up in Ireland, this is my everyday tea. I drink it morning, noon, and night, and leave the tea bags in the pot between cups, as I like my tea strong enough to stand up for itself. Always with milk and sugar for me. Delicious, tastes of home, and will always fix what ails you (as all Irish mums know, for more serious injuries, just add more sugar!)