Stuck inside indefinitely because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s a good idea to stock up on essentials. The great toilet paper rush of 2020 may have passed me by, but I still have my choice of teas to get me through these strange times. Any excuse to try a new tea is a good one, so I ordered a 216-count box of Red Rose Orange Pekoe tea from Amazon.
Not to be confused with its American namesake, Red Rose Orange Pekoe is a Canadian brand currently owned by Unilever. I may have even tried this tea during my childhood years in Canada as I’m told my mother used to keep it in the cupboard.
Using boiling water, I let the tea steep for 3 minutes. The aroma, sans milk, is pleasantly sweet and smells of raisins and plumbs. After adding a tiny amount of milk, I’m able to detect a fresh, vegetal tea-leaf scent which translates to a refreshing tannic finish in the mouth.
Red Rose Orange Pekoe is comparable to Tetley Orange Pekoe. It’s not as rich and robust as Tetley, but it’s pleasant, smooth, and doesn’t get bitter after long steep times. I don’t mind at all that I’ll be drinking this tea for the next couple of months.
Canadians are lucky to have Red Rose tea readily available on grocery store shelves. Getting a tea of this caliber in the US requires an online order or trip to a specialty store. Pity.
