Kusmi
A few weeks ago I bought a sampler pack with ten teabags from Kusmi. One bag of ten different teas. For those unfamilier with Kusmi tea it's hideously expensive, come in pretty pretty tins and is supposedly very good quality tea.
I've tried six of the ten by now, and I must say this although I know I'm probably going to make myself wildly unpopular in some quarters.
I think that Kusmi tea is largely overrated.
This is what I've thought of them so far.
Darjeeling no 37 - Kind of bland and not really something special. Kashmir Tchai - Drinkable with milk for someone like me who really doesn't like chai and will avoid it where possible. Very sweet though, and one cup was more than enough. Prince Wladimir - Spicey. And I don't much like spicey tea at all. In combination with citrus fruits and vanillla, I just found it a very odd combination. St Petersburg - Perfumed. It has red fruits in it but it doesn't taste like it has ever been anywhere near real fruit. I found it pleasant but synthetic and not something I would connect with the reputation of excellent quality Russian Morning no 24 - Like with the Darjeeling. Bland ong nothing special. Anastasia - This is a blend of Ceylong and China black with essence of bergamot, lemon and orange blossom. That description made me think Lady Grey. And that's pretty much what I thought it was like. Perhaps the name was just to stay in the Russian theme, which then makes me wonder why they still call Earl Grey Earl Grey and not Tsar Nikolas.
I still have four bags left to try, English Breakfast, Green jasmine, Green tea with spearmint and Earl Grey. I'm not expecting greatness.
All that aside, I did see a few other teas on their website that I'm interested in trying. Like for example green tea with seaweed! Or a black tea with apple. I've never seen an apple tea before. At least not one that didn't also involve quince or cinnamon.