Whisky On Tap

Tea videos explained

james — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 13:50:46 +0000

Picking and processing tea at a tea estate and unpacking tea at a tea shop in Hong Kong

TASTING BASICS - Short Whisky Video

Whisky on Tap — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:31:01 +0000

Whiskyontap recommends a link on the basics of whisky tasting

Here is a useful link over at wikihow on ‘how to taste Single Malt Scotch’ ; they push things a little by suggesting 11 steps. Hmm ? You open the bottle, pour and drink - how many steps do we need?

I would say only three; (1) sip a little undiluted, then (2) add very little water a bit at a time until it suits and finally (3) concentrate. I wanted to share this link really because of the excellent video shown further down the page…

The first 3 points in the video are massive; simple points but so true. Big companies are sometimes good at blending mystique and a little hype with what they tell you; so don’t fall for expensive bottles and expensive packaging until you really know your way around the category. This video is a really good start.

TASTING BASICS - Categorising Cheeses

james — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:16:26 +0000

Theartisanpalate reports on how blue mold impacts taste in blue cheese

Blue cheese is neither pressed nor cooked. Most frequently the curd is crumbled. The blue mould is a strain of penicillin that is added to the milk before the rennet. blah blah

TEA TASTING BASICS - Loose Tea & Tea Bags

james — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:37:06 +0000

Blendsforfriends reports on one of the most iconic of tea blends

The Earl Grey blend is named after the 2nd Earl Grey, British Prime Minister in the 1830s, who reputedly received a gift, probably a diplomatic perquisite, of tea flavoured with bergamot oil[1], taken from bergamot, a citrus fruit typical of southern Italy.

The legend usually involves a grateful Chinese mandarin whose son was rescued from drowning by one of Lord Grey’s men, although this blend of tea was first made from fermented black Indian and Ceylon teas. As green tea is much more popular in China than black tea, it seems somewhat unlikely that they would have had a recipe for what we now call Earl Grey to bestow on visitors, though over the years many other varieties of tea have been used. In addition, Lord Grey never set foot in China. Another version of the legend has the son of an Indian raja being rescued from a tiger by one of Grey’s servants.

Jacksons of Piccadilly claim that it was they who originated Earl Grey’s Tea, Lord Grey having given the recipe to Robert Jackson & Co. partner George Charlton in 1830; according to Jacksons the original recipe has been in constant production and has never left their hands. Theirs has been based on China tea since the beginning.