Sean the Tea Guy

At one time or another, everyone is a snob about something: grammar, wine, restaurants, video games, makeup, fashion, etc. My wife jokingly calls me a tea snob and, I’ll admit, she isn’t wrong. However, my preferences–or snobbery–remain in my brain, and I will not shame people for their tea choices. Because everyone is so different, I won’t play sentinel at the gates of the tea-dom. However, when it’s just me? Yeah, I’m definitely a big snob.

My snobbery is particular: I like full bodied darker teas like roasted oolongs, tippy black teas, and earthy shou pu’er, and I even have preferences in those categories. I don’t care for broken leaf teas, as the flavor is not complex enough. However, I’m not a fan of flavored teas in general because I enjoy a more subtle touch from the leaves.

Unfortunately, this usually means my choice teas tend to be more expensive than the English breakfast tea bags you find at the store. Sometimes I find that my budget isn’t so generous when spending on my hobbies. So, that begs the question: how does a frugal snob get a good cup of tea?

Enter, The Snob on a Budget. In light of trying to reign in my budget, especially since prices are generally higher these days, I opted to try low-priced teas from all over to see how they hold up against my snobbish standards.

The Tea

To start the series off, I am reviewing Yorkshire Gold from Taylor of Harrogate. Now some of you are already shouting at your screens. Bear with me.

Here is why it’s on the list:

First, the price is affordable. A 250-gram (8.8 ounce) bag costs $11.30 here in the US. This comes out to about $0.05 cents a gram or $0.20 per serving. Pretty affordable daily tea.

Second, I already have the bag here as my dear mother sent it to me recently upon request so I could try it. Can’t argue with tea you already have.

Third, this tea deviates from my personal standard. The leaf is broken instead of whole and is a blend of regions instead of a single estate (I did say I was a snob in private). But this is about keeping my horizons open.

The Setup

So, I made this tea in my glass teapot, which holds 15 ounces. I used 4 grams and heated the water to 205^oF. I steeped it for four minutes. This is generally how I steep most of the black teas I have.

Generally most people would recommend adding cream or sweetener. I usually don’t add anything to my teas. I enjoy tasting just what the leaf has to offer. (Side benefit of less fat and sugar in my diet.)

The Tasting

The color of the tea is a dark reddish brown. It smells like what you would expect tea to smell like: dried leaves that have been roasted to a degree with a hint of brightness.

The body and taste are quite nice upfront. The body is full and robust, similar to a hearty coffee. I taste toasted rye bread and hints of honey. I am also left with oak in the finish.

The main downside to this tea for me is how astringent (or drying) the tea is. When I’m done with even just a few sips, my mouth feels like it’s puckering. But again, I’ll say that I didn’t add anything to the tea, and most people will probably tell you it’s a tea made for milk and/or sweetener.

Ending Impressions

In the end, my statement at the top holds true. I cannot tell you if you’ll like the tea or not because I’m not you. But in my opinion, I think this tea is best served with some specific parameters.

After trying it again later with breakfast, I found it paired great with eggs and zucchini or even just toast with honey. My mom’s preference is with some honey straight in the cup.

This doesn’t detract from the tea’s value. I think each tea shines best with specific conditions. Due to the leaf being more broken and the leaf origins being a heartier tea, this is a tea that is at its finest when paired with other hearty foods or with milk and sweetener.

The Snob’s Verdict

I am looking for complex enough to be interesting but cheap enough to appease a lower budget. For me, Yorkshire Gold from Taylor of Harrogate is certainly both cheap and accessible enough to fit the budget, but it lacks the complexity to appease the tea nerd (snob) in me.

Would I drink it again? Of course. As mentioned, the tea is very enjoyable and worth its fame in the right setting. Great budget breakfast option.

But for my personal parameters, it misses the mark. And so, I will keep looking. If you have any recommendations, leave a comment down below and I’ll look into getting it.

Happy steeping.