The London Tea company

"Honestly, if you're given the choice between Armageddon or tea, you don't say 'what kind of tea?" (Neil Gaiman)
Thankfully, we don't have to choose between Armageddon and tea, so we might as well ask "What kind of tea?", especially that the variety of types and brands of tea nowadays is staggering. Tea is my lifeline and an everyday cure for different kind of maladies ranging from a lack of sleep to the lack of sanity. I was delighted to have a chance to sample and review a whole range of envelope teas from The London Tea Company. Their selection offers a wide range from classics and family favourites to more unusual varieties.
The London Tea Company is Fairtrade certified across all products.

London Breakfast is a blend of Assam and Kenyan tea, a refreshing strong brew which wakes you up. I loved the description of this tea - "rich malty Assam grown on the banks of the Brahmaputra River in Northern India and a flavoury Kenyan tea grown by smallholder farmers in the highlands to the west of the Rift Valley". Lively and robust, have it with milk or without for breakfast.

Earl Grey is usually my first choice of tea. I have tried many brands' versions of Earl Grey. The London Tea Company brings you a blend of teas from Ceylon and the Nilgiris in South India, with an added bergamot flavour, which is a classic ingredient in Earl Grey. It has a refreshing citrus note, and is perfect with a slice of lemon. A beautiful tea for breakfast or early afternoon.

White Tea, Pear Tatin is very aromatic, even perfumey. The sweet smell reminds of the caramelised pears, as the name suggests. This white tea has natural flavourings and ginger among its ingredients, though the taste of ginger is not very pronounced, it just adds a touch of warmth. Very smooth and lovely.

Sencha Green Tea is a steamed pure China green tea. I confess I'm not the biggest fan of green tea when it is not flavoured. Sencha has a clean taste, excellent after a rich meal. I enjoyed it with a slice of lemon, as I like a citrussy note in green teas.

Tropical Green Tea is a steamed pure green tea with the tropical flavours of pineapple, passionfruit and mango. I have tried it hot, but it might work well as an iced tea as well, with its fruity exotic flavours.

Vanilla Chai is made from high quality second flush Assam, grown on the banks of the Brahmaputra and mixed with spices, traditionally used in Indian Masala Chai. You get a whole bunch of flavours like vanilla, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and pepper. I like my chai slightly sweetened and with a dash of milk. A lovely tea for a rainy day, when you need a little perk up.

Raspberry Inferno was a big surprise. This Hibiscus tea of an intense ruby red colour combines a sweet taste of raspberry with a little kick of fire from chilli. It is wonderfully fruity and intense in flavour.

Peach & Rhubarb Flavoured Fruit Infusion is perfect for an iced tea. Brew a couple of teabags with three cups of water, a couple of sliced strawberries and a few peppermint tea. Let it cool, and serve cold from the fridge. Excellent for hot days.

Pure Camomile is a lovely soothing infusion, calming and restorative. It is so gentle, almost caressing, very good for digestion and as a bedtime drink.

Pure Peppermint is a great after dinner infusion, brilliant for digestion, with a teaspoon of honey.

Zingy Lemon & Ginger is a lively blend indeed. It consists of pure Fairtrade ginger root, lemongrass and lemon. I just had a cup of tea after a long walk under drizzle, and this is exactly what I fancied, something warming, spicy and zingy. This tea has a right balance between ginger and lemon.

Rooibos tea is grown in the Cederberg mountains in South Africa. Like Mma Ramotswe, traditionally built detective from Alexander McCall Smith's series of books, I do enjoy my cup of rooibos, especially before bedtime. It has a unique taste and colour. It is caffeine free and refreshing.

I enjoyed trying the London Tea Company envelope range of teas. You can find the right tea to suit your tastes and preferences and even mood of the day.
Which one will you choose?

Disclosure: I received a selection of London Tea Company teas for the purposes of testing and reviewing. All opinions are mine.

To find more about this range, visit LondonTeaCompany on Facebook and follow Lovelondontea on Twitter.