Inaugurated on the 1st of February 2010, Mad Hatter Tea has been created after six years of experimentation. Offering ’a taste of Wonderland, this tea promises a tantalising brew that plays a melody of excitement with ones taste buds which makes you look forward to the next cup of tea.

Mad Hatter Tea blends Indian Assam and African Rooibos and has a deep red colour after brewing for three minutes as I like a strong cuppa, even though it was recommended that I ‘leave the bag in the cup for around 45 seconds, and then give it a jolly good swishing before tasting’.

Unlike other Assam blends it does not taste strong and has a pleasant flavour.  It also lacks the bitter after taste often associated with strong teas.  It is a refreshing and relaxing brew and can be enjoyed any time with a nice wedge of cake. I guess the Mad Hatter Tea Company are right when they says their tea, is in fact ‘A Taste of Wonderland®’!

Website: http://www.mad-hatter-tea.com/

The beverage of choice for the British armed forces since 1921 is now available for the first time on the High Street.  Naafi Break, created by the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (Naafi), will be available in 80 branches of Spar.

The tea will be packaged in a retro-style box and is said to offer a rich,  strong taste and a real military flavour.

Naafi, which supplies tea to troops overseas as well as the UK, will help troops injured in Iraq and Afganistan by donatating 50p from every box sold to the Help for Heroes charity.

Naafi chief executive Reg Curtis said: “Our famous Naafi tea has been the beverage of choice for the British armed forces since 1921 and we are delighted to work with Spar to ensure it is widely available for everyone to enjoy for the first time in history.”

Created by the British Government in 1921, the Naafi runs recreation establishments for servicemen and women and their families.  These include shops, bars, cafes, launderettes and canteens.

Related Links

• Naafi
• BBC News: Army tea marches onto High Street

At Trubru, we love a good brew, and it also helps to have quality tea. To help you try some new tea, we went and found five tea websites where you can obtain some free tea samples. Enjoy…

• Yorkshire Tea
• Redbush Tea
• Twinings
• Join the tea club at Clipper Teas
• Mad Hatter Tea

Photo credit: Rebecca Coday via Flickr

As with all new websites, there can be teething problems, if you find any issues, please get in touch.

Like good tea, the perfect mug is an important part of enjoying a brew.  According to Dr Tom Stafford, a psychologist from Sheffield University, says that tea does taste better in your favourite cup as the process to make the ideal brew “is ritualistic and people become addicted to the way they want their brew made.”  We all have a favourite mug.  It might hold the right amount of tea, or have a big handle to fit your figures through!

Here is some great mugs for your enjoyment.

Jamie Oliver - Dead Handsome (Personal Favourite from the Wife!)

Hearty Mug from MollaSpace

Zipper Mug from MollaSpace

Plug Mug

Teabag Mug

I came across these chaps back in December at the Christmas Market in Newcastle upon Tyne.  They stood freezing in the bitter wind peddling there wares.  A wide selection of fine teas were on display and included many different blends.

I decided on a breakfast blend in leaf form. I am told that it contains Assam leaf, Assam CTC, broken Ceylon leaf and broken Sumatra leaf.  Brewed for 4 minutes and taken black, this tea has a deep dark red/brown colour.

Its flavour combines the full bodied nature of Assam and the light tones of crisp citrus from the Ceylon, making a energising and refreshing blend.  I enjoyed this tea a lot making this a firm favourite of mine.

New Tea House for Newcastle

I was informed by the Quilliam Brothers that they will be opening a tea house in Newcastle, however they couldn’t give me any more details as it they are still in the planning stage.  I will be sure to pay them a visit when they open and post a write up here on TruBru, so watch this space!

They have a website - visit quilliambrothers.com

This organic Rooibos by Suki Tea is by far the nicest Rooibos tea I have tried so far.  I brewed its full leaf for about 5 minutes and took it without milk. This tea, with its typical woody flavour, is refreshing and smoother than other brands.  Well worth trying.

Buy on-line at Suki Tea

Today is the launch of our new logo design, and marks the start of the site redesign.  Over the coming months, TruBru will be refined creating a brighter, cleaner site, during which, some new great features will be launched.  So watch this space…

I nicked a couple of these from my Dads stash when I last visited, and like other Yerba Mate teas, this has a slightly grassy flavour, and you will either love it or hate it. Well I love it, it give the required kick expected without the bitter taste that you often get with strong black tea. These Yerba Mate ‘tea temples’ from Tea Pigs contain whole leaf, and this results in a good brew. The full leaf does make a difference compared other teas that don’t.

Rating: 9/10

Website: teapigs.co.uk

Discovered these the other day doing the weekly shop and gave them a try.  I don’t like the normal Jaffa cakes as much as I used to as I found they are a bit dry, and not as nice as they used to be.

The mini roll version is a treat to behold, it has a moist cake, with a tangy orange middle and covered in tasty dark chocolate.  Although similar in flavour than the ‘biscuit version’, I think these are a lot nicer. Yummy as a snack with a strong brew.

Rating: 8/10

Have you ever noticed the Jaffaholics Anonymous number on the back of the packet?  I may need to give it a ring now as I am off to buy more…