Of course we will be talking about tea, and three blends in particular to which we have added a very special and delightful ingredient, flowers.
Our teas with flowers
For Babingtons the creation of new blends is a positive art form made using aromas, scents and hints of all sorts of unique and wonderful ingredients. This is why the secret to an excellent cup of tea is knowing exactly which blends to mix and above all knowing which ingredients to use in order to enrich the tea.
For example we could achieve a powerful and aromatic blend by mixing China Keemun, Darjeeling and Oolong, three very intense and flavourful teas. This is what we have done with our Royal Blend Tea, an elegantly regal tea created to honour our Queen, Elizabeth II and her visit to Rome in 2000.
In order to achieve more scented and aromatic blends we can amuse ourselves with all sorts weird and wonderful ingredients to enrich the variety and diversity of black, green and white teas. For instance we could dip into the world of spices and add a pinch of cinnamon or pink pepper. Or herbs, essential oils and citrus zest. But also with flowers, fresh and ethereal.
Roses, mallow flowers and cornflowers speak to us of spring and added to tea give nuances of the delicacy and freshness of this wonderful season making the flavour of these teas all the more precious.
Here are some of our teas with flowers.
125th Tea
This is a gorgeous blend, part of our limited edition products created to celebrate this incredible year of festivities in honour of our 125th anniversary.
We have produced an intense blend of Ceylon and China teas with its own very special personality, thanks to the addition of some very special ingredients. A mixture of vanilla, elderflower, blueberries, juniper berries, Australian myrtle, natural honey aromas and rose petals.
We chose the rose in particular to honour our founders. This undisputed symbol of romanticism, known throughout the world as the emblem of love is a perfect addition to our blend and a celebration of their lives.
Chiara’s tips on our 125th tea
Allow 2 – 3 grams of 125th tealeaves to infuse in 200ml of water at a temperature of 95°C. Wait for three minutes whilst the tea leaves and all the other ingredients unleash their fragrances. Then enjoy your tea as nature intended or add a little milk and sugar, if you prefer.
One last thing . . . Try our 125th tea both hot and iced, it is sublime both ways!
Imperial Earl Grey
Is there anyone who is not familiar with this classic bergamot flavoured tea? Earl Grey is state of the art English tea, that which most of you will have ordered at least once in our Tearooms. But we are sure that you have not yet tasted the delights of our Imperial Earl Grey.
Our Babingtons Imperial Earl Grey has black Ceylon tea at its base with hints of citrus and bergamot and the flavour from the essential oils typically found in the zest of lemon. We have, however, added a twist to our own Babingtons Earl Grey, making it entirely different to your classic Earl Grey, and that is the addition of safflower and cornflower petals. The first is a plant with characteristic orange flowers whereas the second is of course the unmistakeable cornflower blue. The blue of the many detoxifying characteristics.
Chiara’s tips on Imperial Earl Grey
Once again she suggests you allow 2 – 3 grams Imperial Earl Grey tealeaves to infuse in 200ml of water at 95° for four minutes.
We suggest you drink this tea as it is or with a little milk and sugar.
Roman holidays
Roman Holidays is the N.5 in our collection of 7 Teas of Rome, a very important collection to us. Every blend of this luxurious new line of teas, in its aromas, in its scents, in its flavours was created to bring to mind the Eternal City, taking its inspiration from a myth, perspective or place in Rome.
To create this exclusive selection of teas we have carefully sourced and selected teas of the highest quality and impeccable provenance as well as 100% pure essential oils of the highest cut.
Roman Holidays is a triumph of spring flavours. At its base an exclusive blend of five black teas from the lands of India, Sri Lanka and China which we have embellished with vanilla pods from Madagascar, cornflowers, rose buds, mallow flowers and essential oils from rose and vanilla.
This is our homage to Piazza di Spagna, the place which has welcomed us from the moment of our birth in 1893, and that still today leaves you breathless with its timeless beauty.
Chiara’s tips on Roman Holidays
Once again she suggests you infuse 2 grams of tea leaves in 200ml of water at 95°C for two or three minutes.
This tea should be drunk as it is, away with sugar and milk! Only in its pureness will you be able to savour the marvellous fragrance of flowers and the sweetness of this unforgettable blend.
These have been our tips on how to live to the full the scents of spring. Now it is up to you to choose your favourite flower!