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Cameron B. drank Duke Cardiff's Blend by Simpson & Vail

4518 tasting notes

Hi friends! Sorry I haven’t been writing any notes the past couple of weeks, I’ve been dealing with a minor wrist injury and obviously typing is not an ideal activity for recovery ha ha. I’m still here and reading! Just not writing much.

Anyway, I placed an order from S&V, mostly because there were some teas I wanted for my DIY swap advent. So I picked up some holiday teas and green rooibos blends I liked from last year’s advent, and a few other bits and bobs, including this. This is actually the same tea as their Charles Dickens literary blend, but available in smaller sizes (for some reason literary and National Parks teas are only available in 4 ounces). I remembered really enjoying it in the advent, so got a 1 ounce bag to try.

It’s delightful. Perfect balance of flavorful yet smooth black tea with an interesting mineral note from the rolled oolong, and just the right amount of blackcurrant. Just such a nice combination for an everyday tea. I’ll definitely be putting the full-size tin of Charles Dickens on my list for next time!

Flavors: Acidic, Black Currant, Brisk, Jam, Mineral, Smooth, Spring Water, Sweet, Syrupy, Tannic

Preparation

200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 12 OZ / 354 ML

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3 comments

ashmanra
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I didn’t they had the teas available under different names! AliasHali actually gave me a tin of the Charles Dickens blend last year. It is one of Ashman’s favorites.

tea-sipper
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Wishing you quick healing!

Cameron B.
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Thank you! I think it’s just this tea and William Shakespeare that are existing teas? And then those gift boxes for Fairy Tales and Trail Teas that they released.

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ashmanra
Delete

I didn’t they had the teas available under different names! AliasHali actually gave me a tin of the Charles Dickens blend last year. It is one of Ashman’s favorites.

tea-sipper
Delete

Wishing you quick healing!

Cameron B.
Delete

Thank you! I think it’s just this tea and William Shakespeare that are existing teas? And then those gift boxes for Fairy Tales and Trail Teas that they released.

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Bio

Hi, I’m Cameron!

I’m a 30-something software engineer currently living in Austin, Texas with my husband and our two pugs. I tend to cycle between my different hobbies, and they include piano, knitting, video games, board games, miniature painting, planners, bento, Korean skincare, wax melts, and – of course – TEA! But really, what I’m best at is “collecting” hobby-related things… ;)

~ 2025 SIPDOWN CHALLENGE! ~
- November sipdowns: 15
- Total 2025 sipdowns: 176

I prefer my tea lukewarm or at room temperature and without milk or sugar. I steep Western style, and fluctuate between using big mugs or small teapots depending on the season.

I am always up for a swap! Just let me know if you’d like to try something in my cupboard.

Tea Preferences:
I enjoy both flavored and unflavored teas in many forms. These days, I drink mostly flavored teas, and I tend to gravitate most toward black, green, oolong, and herbal varieties. I do have a special fondness for straight Japanese green teas, however.

I do not sweeten my teas, and pre-sweetened teas are usually too sweet for me. I also do not enjoy stevia (or monkfruit, etc.).

I tend to reach for fruitier flavors rather than desserty ones these days, but I do have favorites from both categories. Willing to try anything once! There are a few ingredients/flavors that aren’t generally my jam, such as coconut, rose, lavender, and chocolate flavoring. But I also have teas that I love with some of those things, too! :)

Favorite Companies:
3 Leaf
Bird & Blend
Dammann Frères
Harney & Sons
Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms
Lupicia
Old Barrel Tea Co
Simpson & Vail
Taiwan Tea Crafts
TeaVivre

Tea Rating Scale:
90-100: Outstanding! Permanent cupboard resident
80-89: Great – a possible staple
70-79: Good, but I wouldn’t buy it
60-69: It’s decent
50-59: Meh… I may or may not have finished the cup
40-49: Ick. Couldn’t finish it.
00-39: Repulsive, I spat it out

I will sometimes refrain from rating a tea if I feel I’m too biased due to my personal dislikes, or if I suspect the sample has been compromised by age or scent contamination.

Cupboard Spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZEuKf1-ppR-VXajO4vV39zU1N3zjFJteEPAynqD2yl0/edit?usp=sharing