If you are familiar with these parts, you will have seen me wax lyrical about teapigs tea before. I am a massive fan.
A few weeks ago they contacted me and asked me to take the teapigs everyday brew challenge. All I had to do was swap my normal black tea for theirs for 2 weeks, the premise being that once you’ve tried it, you won’t go back!
The tea itself is a blend of three quality whole leaf black teas – Assam, Ceylon and a lovely Rwandan, which gives a balanced, malty and zesty flavour. And as if that isn’t enough it is rainforest alliance certified and when you buy a pack a contribution is made towards their ethical scheme, which supports the noel orphanage that is adjacent to the tea estate from where much of their tea is sourced, so there is a lot to love about it.
Once I have downed my obligatory glass of water first thing in the morning, I like to follow it up at breakfast with a good punchy cup of tea. Something to help set me up for the day. Everyday brew is perfect for that. Over the two weeks I couldn’t find anything that it didn’t go with – from hastily gobbled bowls of cornflakes to the full-blown cooked breakfast. Needless to say it can be enjoyed at any time of day (especially in the afternoon with a piece of cake), I just happen to drink the majority of my caffeinated drinks in the morning, and then switch to less buzzy beverages as the day progresses, such as rooibos and fruit infusions (teapigs do some great ones of these also).
So now the two weeks are up, has a box of everyday brew made it into my tea cupboard on a regular basis? Yep, it has. I also love the fact that you can buy the same blend as loose leaf tea, so for those days when the soothing ritual of tea making in a teapot is required, you can still enjoy the same tea.
Also, with the weather – supposedly – warming up there is no need to miss out on an everyday brew fix as it makes great iced tea!
All you need to do is make a simple berry syrup that can then be stored in the fridge to be added to your cold tea whenever the mood takes you.
Perfect for sipping in sunny shady spots in the garden.
Berry Iced Tea
Ingredients:
- 2 cups frozen mixed berries
- 1 cup soft light brown sugar
- 1 cup water
- teapigs everyday brew teabags
- Ice and mint leaves, to serve
Method:
- Place the frozen berries, sugar and water in a saucepan. Bring to the boil then turn off the heat and leave the syrup to cool and infuse. Smoosh the fruit with the back of a wooden spoon to help the flavours come out.
- Once the syrup has cooled, pour through a sieve (keep the fruit to eat with yoghurt or ice cream). Store in the fridge.
- Brew your tea, allowing the teabags to steep for 3 – 5 minutes before removing. Leave the tea to go cold.
- To assemble – half fill a tall glass with cold tea. Add 3 tbsp of the berry syrup and top up with water if required. Stir to mix and then add ice cubes and a mint leaf.
© The Pink Rose Bakery 2015
NB – although the everyday brew tea and mug were kindly provided by teapigs, all opinions and thoughts are my own.
The Pink Rose Bakery 
I’ll convert you to teapot brewing yet… There’s more space for the leaves to circulate. The flavour’s better. It’s like travelling by train vs enduring the Tube… You just need the right pot, one with a lift out leaf diffuser section…
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Oh I do brew tea the proper way and I have a lovely tea pot that has a strainer you lift out. It’s just that sometimes a bag is more convenient . . .
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That’s my girl. If you need the convenience, couldn’t you use a little diffuser in the cup instead?
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I have one of those too – it is teapot shaped! I do make a terrible mess trying to get the loose tea in it and the chain is a little short so it doesn’t hang over the edge of all my mugs, meaning that I end up fishing it out with a teaspoon! The teapot is definitely the easier of the two.
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Ah… I have one where the basket is globe shaped, and splits in half when you squeeze the handle. You stir it with the handle, so no fishing or dunking, and you just squeeze and knock out the leaves at the end. Klutz-proof, in my case…
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Ah, yes I have seen those. I’m afraid I was once again swayed by design over practicality!
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