Hello everyone!
I am now shutting down this blog - not because I no longer want to talk about tea and such things but because I am joining it with my other blog which I plan to give more attention to from now on. I will be copying all these posts over there :) http://tinkertailorsoldiersponge.wordpress.com
DFTBA
Tom
Thursday, 26 July 2012
Monday, 28 May 2012
Marvel Monday: The Definitive Thor
The Marvel Platinum series is designed to give new readers (such as myself) an overview of a character's origin and important stories in their lifetime.
[A note on SPOILERS: There won't be any as long as you don't consider mentioning the names of Thor, The Avengers or other Asgardians]
The Cast
The Art
The artwork in this book spans the whole history of Thor and so the earlier comics are not as high quality as you'd expect today or in a good graphic novel. The depictions of Thor and his allies/foes definitely improve throughout the book but by the time you reach the more recent comics the quality is top notch :)
The Writing
It's nice to see such a cross-section of comic history. You can see how the writing style changes (the early Thor comics do seem a little childish). One noticeable change in the writing style comes when Thor's speech is made more accessible (if you thought he talked strangely in the films wait 'til you read the earlier comics!).
The later stories are superbly written and the characters seem vivid and exciting. There's a brilliant bit where Thor is given a stern talking down for his actions.
The Stories
The first two stories cover Thor's origins (one from the first comic and another one with more detail from later on). From then on we see the God of Thunder dealing with many different foes including some you'll recognise from the films (with the aid of The Avengers). It's hard to discuss any of this further without spoilers but some of the story arcs in this collection are excellent and a must read for fans of the films.
The Conclusion
This is a great overview of a character I didn't know much about until the films came out. I've learnt lots and enjoyed the ride :)
Next time on Marvel Monday - Uncanny X-men 1!
Tom out! :)
The Link
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Marvel-Platinum-The-Definitive-Thor/dp/184653481X
Monday, 14 May 2012
Marvel Monday: Astonishing X-Men
"They're Gifted. They're Dangerous. They're Torn. They're Unstoppable" ... and they definitely astonish!
Astonishing X-Men is a hardcover omnibus which covers Joss Whedon's full run behind the wheel of the comic. There's 672 full colour pages of awesomeness contained within.
[A note on SPOILERS: There won't be any as long as you don't consider mentioning the names of X-men a spoiler (they are on the cover after all) or vague allusions to awesomeness]
The Cast
Personally my favourites have to be Wolverine, Kitty and Emma. They have the best humourous lines and scenes in the comic. Emma Frost is still the catty queen of put-downs and well Kitty can phase through walls with sometimes hilarious consequences.
The Art
The artwork is second to none when it comes to quality and equally has a sense of humour with some of the best humourous facial expressions I've seen (see this individual comic cover which cracked me up ->).
Also the characters are all reasonably presented - no impossible curves or muscles. I think I prefer the characters like this but that's a personal choice. Although Beast does look more like a cat than usual which is a little odd.
The Writing
If you've seen anything by Joss Whedon you should be expecting excellent writing and he doesn't disappoint! There is humour, darkness and some surprises in store. I laughed out loud several times while reading this series and couldn't put it down :)
The Awesomeness
Pretty much every page - some of the double page artwork blew me away. As did most of the dialog!
The Conclusion
If you do read comics - this is definitely a read you will enjoy.
If you don't read comics - I would definitely suggest this as a way to get into them - it's excellent!
Next week on Marvel Monday - The Definitive Thor!
Tom out! :)
The Link
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0785138013/
Friday, 4 May 2012
The Times They Are A-Changing!
So I haven't posted a Tea blog in aaaages. This is for three reasons: 1) Being busy 2) Not having enough new tea to try due to all the tea I have to drink still. 3) I feel the blogs are quite similar and should have more variety from week-to-week
Due to this I'm planning to change the blog to a general review blog. With a focus on Tea, Geekery, Student things in Manchester (and wider afield if they're good enough). I'll start editing the look and feel of the blog tonight and post my first review :)
Tom - out!
Thursday, 8 March 2012
The Ultimate Work Tea
I've decided to post about new teas as and when now and might try a different style.
A chance sighting in Sainsbury's has allowed me to track down a tea I had previously sought but found impossible to find in the North.
A chance sighting in Sainsbury's has allowed me to track down a tea I had previously sought but found impossible to find in the North.
Brewing
"Brew one teabag per person & pour on boiling water. Leave for three to four minutes, or until you think it's ready. Then drink it as it is, this one is made for drinking without milk."
Easy to brew and best of all needs no milk! (See previous work tea comments)
Colour
Light brown - one could fancifully say it has a golden hue too :).
Light brown - one could fancifully say it has a golden hue too :).
Aroma
As with Earl Grey you can smell the bergamot and there is also a hint of lemon.
As with Earl Grey you can smell the bergamot and there is also a hint of lemon.
Taste
Do you like Earl Grey with lemon? Then this is similar. Obviously you can't control the strength of the lemon as you can when you add your own. However as a work tea it allows me to enjoy Earl Grey without the need for the fridge (I do like Earl Grey with milk and without - there is nothing wrong with this).
Do you like Earl Grey with lemon? Then this is similar. Obviously you can't control the strength of the lemon as you can when you add your own. However as a work tea it allows me to enjoy Earl Grey without the need for the fridge (I do like Earl Grey with milk and without - there is nothing wrong with this).
"Whistle While You Work"
This tea is definitely the cornerstone of my work teas now where I sometimes whistle. This allows me to make the above tenuous song title usable. Although I have recently learnt how to whistle more than one note which I previously found impossible so maybe I can finally whistle properly while working :)
Conclusion
An excellent workplace tea which once again fills my requirement of no milk due to lack of fridge. Though I must concede if you have a ready suppply of lemons your normal Earl Grey will do just fine.
An excellent workplace tea which once again fills my requirement of no milk due to lack of fridge. Though I must concede if you have a ready suppply of lemons your normal Earl Grey will do just fine.
See you all next time!
Friday, 11 November 2011
Harrods English Brekfast
Sorry for the delay everyone I have been busy with work and generally not drinking enough new tea :S
Brewing
As with most of the loose leaf teas I have reviewed a 3-5 minute brewing time as a matter of personal taste is required.
Colour
Tea coloured. This is quintessential tea!
Tea coloured. This is quintessential tea!
Aroma
It smells like tea. I feel I may have to start reviewing more exotic teas to stop making this section a little boring :S
It smells like tea. I feel I may have to start reviewing more exotic teas to stop making this section a little boring :S
Taste
I think I prefer this to the Twinings English Breakfast. It seems to have a fuller flavour and is very good for kick starting your day :)
I think I prefer this to the Twinings English Breakfast. It seems to have a fuller flavour and is very good for kick starting your day :)
Londinium
Funnily enough I bought this tea in Harrods and have since enjoyed it on many occasions. Despite what you may have heard about Harrods this won't set you back any more than other leaf teas on the market. If you are a tea (or coffee) lover I can really recommend the Tea & Coffee section of Harrods. The staff there are very knowledgeable and helpful. There is also a ridiculous range of more expensive blends to try if you like :)
Conclusion
A very good cup of tea. Also not as expensive as you would expect!
A very good cup of tea. Also not as expensive as you would expect!
See you all next week!
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
Instant Christmas!
Another visit to Whittard's returns another intriguing tea that I just had to try! :)
I also wasn't aware that such a thing as instant tea existed :o
Brewing
"Spoon three heaped teaspoons (20g) to 200ml water, or according to taste. Serve over ice for a long summer punch, or add hot water, curl up and enjoy as a soothing winter warmer."
Ridonculously easy to brew. It is instant tea! I went for the hot version since it is October (the previous few weeks crazy weather notwithstanding).
Colour
Dark reddish brown.
Dark reddish brown.
Aroma
Smells like hot Ribena with a hint of spice. It is a very warming smell - perfect for winter.
Smells like hot Ribena with a hint of spice. It is a very warming smell - perfect for winter.
Taste
So what does mulled wine taste like without the alcohol? I now have a very good idea - similar to hot Ribena with added spices. There is also a tea after-taste. All-in-all it does taste like mulled wine but it doesn't warm you up in quite the same way as the alcoholic version.
So what does mulled wine taste like without the alcohol? I now have a very good idea - similar to hot Ribena with added spices. There is also a tea after-taste. All-in-all it does taste like mulled wine but it doesn't warm you up in quite the same way as the alcoholic version.
Baking
I tried this tea while baking some cupcakes and making gingerbread :) Pictures will follow on my other blog (which I really need to post more on...).
Conclusion
Warming, lovely. I could drink it all winter long!
Warming, lovely. I could drink it all winter long!
See you all next week!
Thursday, 29 September 2011
National Trust Blend
This weekend I had the chance to visit Lyme Park just south of Manchester (famous for being where they filmed Mr. Darcy's lake scene [below])As far as I know you can only try this tea at National Trust sites. You might be able to purchase it in one of their shops but you cannot order it from their website :(
Brewing
Comes in a metal teapot for one. Brew it as you like but I let it steep for a few minutes.
Colour
As tea coloured as you could expect tea to be. This is their standard tea offering after-all.
As tea coloured as you could expect tea to be. This is their standard tea offering after-all.
Aroma
While Freshers' Flu has taken hold and I couldn't really smell my tea I would expect it smells like your standard tea (assuming your standard tea isn't Earl Grey).
While Freshers' Flu has taken hold and I couldn't really smell my tea I would expect it smells like your standard tea (assuming your standard tea isn't Earl Grey).
Taste
This is a pleasant blend which complemented by Bakewell Tart superbly. While being a general tea blend it was distinct from the Yorkshire Tea we had been drinking on camp (a comparison of day-to-day teas is to come :) ). It is a standard tea though - without a direct comparison to another it just tastes like a nice cup of tea.
This is a pleasant blend which complemented by Bakewell Tart superbly. While being a general tea blend it was distinct from the Yorkshire Tea we had been drinking on camp (a comparison of day-to-day teas is to come :) ). It is a standard tea though - without a direct comparison to another it just tastes like a nice cup of tea.
 |
| Pictured: A lovely cuppa and a delightful tart |
Adventure is out there!
This tea was enjoyed post-adventure playgrounding (I think I just invented a word) and was well deserved by all :) I think there may have been discussion of Oil for some reason (blame to Matt and Dale).
[Prizes for recognising the quote in this section title]
Conclusion
An enjoyable, very normal cup of tea. The perfect representation of British tea to have at the National Trust.
An enjoyable, very normal cup of tea. The perfect representation of British tea to have at the National Trust.
See you all next week!
Wednesday, 7 September 2011
Early Thoughts of Christmas
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After my visit to the Whittard's outlet store I have a plethora of tea to review :) Here's the second one - Spice Imperial.
If anyone has suggestions for companies other than Twinings and Whittard's for me to try please add them to the comments. I don't want to only review these two companies. Also I will keep you posted on
Brewing
Brewing
"Brew one teabag in a mug and remove when the tea is the strength you require.
Warming in the winter and also makes wonderful iced tea. Best brewed light and drunk without milk, but can also be brewed stronger and drunk with milk"
Simple enough to brew. I have tried it with and without milk but haven't yet had the chance to make iced tea from it :S
Colour
Dark brown as any standard black tea.
Dark brown as any standard black tea.
Aroma
Smells like Christmas! A very similar smell to Chai but with hints of orange and no ginger.
Smells like Christmas! A very similar smell to Chai but with hints of orange and no ginger.
Taste
Once again this is nice brewed either way and I tend to make it without milk when I have it at work. You can definitely taste the cinnamon first and foremost with hints of orange and vanilla. If you aren't a fan of ginger you could use this as replacement Chai though I think I still prefer Chai myself.
Once again this is nice brewed either way and I tend to make it without milk when I have it at work. You can definitely taste the cinnamon first and foremost with hints of orange and vanilla. If you aren't a fan of ginger you could use this as replacement Chai though I think I still prefer Chai myself.
Compiling Fail
While I did try this tea at the Tea Party previously mentioned I am currently using it to calm me down as a particularly pesky configure script is not playing ball at the moment as it can't find GCC :(
Conclusion
Tastes like Christmas! But in a subtly different way to Chai. Delightful!
Tastes like Christmas! But in a subtly different way to Chai. Delightful!
See you all next week!
P.S. Tea Party Cakes
Here pictures of the Tea Party cakes as promised :)
P.S. Tea Party Cakes
Here pictures of the Tea Party cakes as promised :)
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| Tea-themed cupcakes :D |
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| The variety of cakes on offer |
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| The Volcano Cake! |
Friday, 2 September 2011
The Late Tea
I apologise for the lack of posts this last week-and-a-half but I have had a major deadline to work towards.
After my visit to the Whittard's outlet store I have a plethora of tea to review :) Here's the first one - Vanilla flavoured tea.
After my visit to the Whittard's outlet store I have a plethora of tea to review :) Here's the first one - Vanilla flavoured tea.
Brewing
"Brew one teabag in a mug and remove when the tea is the strength you require.
Best brewed light and drunk without milk, but can also be brewed stronger and drunk with milk"
Simple enough to brew. It is definitely worth trying both methods to see which you prefer, I know that I did.
Colour
Dark brown as any standard black tea.
Dark brown as any standard black tea.
Aroma
The vanilla smell is fairly strong and overpowers the smell of tea.
The vanilla smell is fairly strong and overpowers the smell of tea.
Taste
This really depends on how you make the tea. At work I brew it lightly without milk and while it smells of vanilla this mostly brings out the tea flavour. On the other hand brewing it strongly with milk brings out more of the vanilla flavouring which is complemented by the milk (use more milk than normal). Either way this is a very nice tea.
This really depends on how you make the tea. At work I brew it lightly without milk and while it smells of vanilla this mostly brings out the tea flavour. On the other hand brewing it strongly with milk brings out more of the vanilla flavouring which is complemented by the milk (use more milk than normal). Either way this is a very nice tea.
Tea Party
I first tried this at a tea party I held which featured some amazing cakes (pictures will follow) and a competitive game of Trivial Pursuit.
Conclusion
Either tea-like with a hint of vanilla or milky-vanilla with a tea aftertaste. Lovely.
Either tea-like with a hint of vanilla or milky-vanilla with a tea aftertaste. Lovely.
See you all next week!
Wednesday, 17 August 2011
The Gift of Tea
This week I received a lovely gift box of green tea all the way from America! I was told to make an exciting sounding tea lemonade with this but have only had the time to make a normal cup of tea this week. [I also visited the Whittards outlet shop but more on that next week!]
Brewing
"1) Boil water. 2) Place one sachet in cup. 3) Pour 8fl oz hot water over sachet. 4) Steep for 3 minutes."
This is a green tea so milk need not be added. While you are waiting for your tea to brew you can enjoy reading the packaging as I did ("For best karma, please reuse or recycle.")
Colour
Pale brown which has more in common with black tea than green tea.
Aroma
You can smell the mint strongly. It actually reminds me of mint sauce. This might sound odd for a tea but does help bring to mind the memory of delicious roast lamb.
Taste
I am happy to report it doesn't taste of mint sauce :) There is a strong mint flavour with a hint of lemon grass (a pleasant aftertaste). There is also an underlying taste of tea :) I couldn't taste the lemon essence but it probably helps bring out the other flavours.
Fantasia
I took a break from writing my Continuation Report (the reason this entry is so late!) to try this tea. I've been trying to find familiar films/series to watch which are conducive to the writing process and Fantasia has been one of the best yet [I've written 7 pages today :)].
Conclusion
An invigorating green tea which tastes strongly of mint.
See you all next week!
Wednesday, 10 August 2011
The State of Tea Drinking in Germany - Part 2
While I have returned to the UK this week I brought back some leaf tea from Germany with me.
Pictured is a delightful tea shop in the Arkaden at Potsdamer Platz. The staff were friendly and happily let me peruse their selection of teas which all have samples in little glass jars for your nose's pleasure.
The tea I chose to purchase smelled amazing - Blueberry Muffin tea :)
Pictured is a delightful tea shop in the Arkaden at Potsdamer Platz. The staff were friendly and happily let me peruse their selection of teas which all have samples in little glass jars for your nose's pleasure.
The tea I chose to purchase smelled amazing - Blueberry Muffin tea :)
Brewing
Despite not being able to read German I have been able to ascertain that this tea should be brewed for between 2 and 4 minutes. I, as usual, preferred to brew it for longer. I decided to try the tea with and without milk as I was unable to determine the suggested course of action because of the language barrier.
Colour
A nice light brown which looks good with or without milk.
Aroma
There is a very strong smell of blueberry muffin which is almost overpowering in the bag. However when brewed the aroma is still present (and still lovely) but weaker. A good compromise I think.
Taste
In a similar vein to the sticky toffee flavoured tea from Whittard's this tea has a normal taste while the aroma provides a pleasant experience :)
I found that adding milk was my preferred choice for drinking this tea.
I found that adding milk was my preferred choice for drinking this tea.
Cakes!
While I actually enjoyed this tea with a prototype cake (more on that after a tea party I have planned) I did also visit some friends this week (a delightful couple should you ever meet them). Their cake offering was an apricot flan with a good balance of sweetness (not too sweet as is common) and nice shortcrust pastry - lovely :)
Conclusion
German tea is definitely in a more than acceptable state, at least within Berlin.
See you all next week!
P.S. The Riots
I strongly support the movement to drink tea in protest of the rioting in England currently. Show your support to our police forces, firemen and volunteers!
P.S. The Riots
I strongly support the movement to drink tea in protest of the rioting in England currently. Show your support to our police forces, firemen and volunteers!
Wednesday, 3 August 2011
The State of Tea Drinking in Germany - Part 1
This week my I am in Berlin on holiday. When else will I get the opportunity to assess the state of tea consumption in this fine country?
At breakfast I chose to try Ronnefeldt's English Breakfast blend.
Brewing
No official timings so I defaulted to a few minutes brewing before adding some alpenmilch. The main point with this brand of tea though was the tea caddy system which is definitely a better solution than Twining's little tea bag strings.
Colour
A nice brown tea colour as expected.
Aroma
Smells like a standard tea - a good sign for tea abroad.
Taste
This is a fairly normal blend of Ceylon tea for a good breakfast cuppa. Definitely a successful tea. Apparently tea drinking is on the rise in Germany which can only be a good thing :)
Breakfast
In order to do this tea justice I did my best to assemble a Full English from the buffet. Very crispy bacon, scrambled eggs, toast, tomato and some würst later and I had the closest approximation I could muster.
Conclusion
Deutschland has definitely succeeded at normal tea!
See you all next week for more German shenanigans!
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
A Refreshing Workday Tea
This week my teapot was sadly destroyed by an evil washing machine (resonance is bad kids!) :( As such this week's tea is once more of the tea bag variety.
On a recent trip to replace my green tea at work I decided to be daring and try a tea company I was not familiar with - Clipper.
On a recent trip to replace my green tea at work I decided to be daring and try a tea company I was not familiar with - Clipper.
Brewing
"This is how we do it: always use fresh water, pour it over the tea bag while it's still boiling and allow to brew for 2-4 minutes. The rest is up to you"
A reasonable brewing time and though I usually favour stronger tea I have enjoyed this brewed both slowly and quickly. A quick brew will bring out more lemon flavour than a slow one will.
Aroma
The lemon smell is not particularly strong when you remove the tea bag from the packaging but when you make the tea it is very fragrant indeed. You must enjoy lemons to enjoy this tea.
Taste
This is a very refreshing tea and has quickly become my staple at work in this warm weather. If you brew it quickly the tea takes a back seat and you get a lovely, lemony libation. With a longer brewing time you get a nice green tea with hints of lemon. This is definitely the tea I would suggest to someone who hasn't tried green tea before!
Work & Music
This tea has been an excellent pick-me-up this week with an increased work load. I have also been accompanying it with a variety of good music including Marc Bolan & T-Rex and some comedy from "Weird Al" Yankovic (currently Pancreas is stuck in my head).
Conclusion
Vraiment rafraîchissante! J'adore les citrons.
See you all next week!
Wednesday, 20 July 2011
Twinings Free Sample 2
For those of you who don't know, Twinings are currently giving away free samples (http://www.twinings.co.uk/discover-our-range/free-samples/)! I took them up on their kind offer and chose a Blossom Earl Grey for this week's tea.
Brewing
"Use freshly drawn water. Use water at a rolling boil. Use one teabag per cup or one per person in a teapot. Steep for 3 to 5 minutes (or to your taste). This delicate tea is best enjoyed black or with just a touch of milk."
Your standard Twinings brewing instructions once again. I brew it strong and enjoyed it with milk as I would normal Earl Grey.
Colour
Dark brown.
Aroma
Though you can still smell the bergamot present in your usual Earl Grey tea it is much more restrained. The hint of orange blossom makes this tea nice and distinct from traditional Earl Grey.
Taste
I think this might be the tea with which to convert those who don't normally enjoy Earl Grey. With a weaker flavour the bergamot doesn't overpower the taste as much and this is a very refreshing tea.
Hard Work Pre-Quiz
I enjoyed this tea before clearing out the basement and heading off to a quiz in Withington. A quiz run by a man who can only really be described as a gentleman pirate (impressive facial hair and a waistcoat) who has possibly the most amazing voice I've heard outside of a particular episode of Black Books.
Conclusion
A lighter version of an old classic. Very refreshing.
See you all next week!
Wednesday, 13 July 2011
The Almost Tea
For those who don't know Rooibos (or Redbush) tea is made from a bush found in Africa and is naturally caffeine free. Since it is not made from true tea leaves it counts as a herbal tea. It is still full of anti-oxidants though!
Brewing
"Use freshly drawn water. Use water at a rolling boil. Steep for 3 to 5 minutes (or to your taste) to release all of the flavour. Delicious with or without milk."
I brewed this tea for about 4 minutes but I didn't keep diligent track of the time since I was enjoying myself in a restaurant. I enjoyed this herbal tea with milk partly because if you can have milk in tea I normally do and partly because I left the waiter standing there for so long while I made my decision that it would have been rude not to.
Colour
A rich red-brown colour that compares to most everyday teas.
Aroma
The aroma is nothing special, smelling very much like an ordinary tea.
Taste
This was the most interesting part as I had absolutely no idea what to expect because herbal teas have such a wide range of flavours. Rooibos tea, it turns out, tastes very similar to normal tea. In fact had I not known it was different I would likely have thought nothing of it and assumed it was simply normal tea.
Since this is clearly marketed as caffeine free alternative and is a lot nicer than many decaf teas I can definitely see the appeal.
Cake & Conversation
I tried this tea with a slice of carrot cake (Café Rouge is yet another place which does a 'cake & coffee' deal) and a delightful conversation.
Conclusion
Very similar to your standard teas but without the caffeine. A pleasant surprise!
See you all next week for the second Twinings sample!
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