Original (Black Tea)
This page is for the caffeinated version. See also Naturally Decaffeinated Tea.
4
Percentile
10 ratings |
|
Commercial Description
First introduced in 1890, the traditional Red Rose blend is a tea for tea lovers. This package of 100 has some of the finest black teas from around the world are selected to make this full bodied and flavorful tea.
* Amazon links are sponsored and help support RateTea financially.
Ratings & Reviews
Page 1 of 1 page with 10 reviews
59 Aroma: 4/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 4/5Tchuggin' Okie (403 reviews) on Jun. 27th, 2024
Seldom have I sampled a tea with such a gap between aroma (or lack thereof) and taste. It's a vast chasm, really. The Grand Canyon might be a good analog with another several million years of erosion, widening and deepening.
This was a motel pickup somewhere out on the Great Plains. I don't recall where. I had about 400-500 miles to drive by late afternoon (common for me) and didn't have time that morning to brew up a cup, so I stashed it in the suitcase and brought it home. The dry-bag smell was simply nonexistent. It was as if I was experiencing temporary anosmia with every whiff. In-cup, the aroma was faint, and somewhat sweaty. Not a good impression at all! Yet the flavor is rather bold, smooth, somewhat tannic and astringent, evenhanded, and much friendlier than I had imagined. This tea takes well to sweetening, which also seems to unlock a faint, berry-like element to the flavor. I liked it quite a bit for a common bagged tea, but still can't get over how it can smell so nonexistent or unlike its flavor at the same time.
When I tried an old trick of mine of swallowing the tea and immediately blowing some of its vapors from the back of my throat out my nose, it smelled of old yellowed books in one of those used bookstores that has a lot of them, and lets them scent the air. None of these nasal sensations resembled the taste in the least, and no, I wasn't ill nor hallucinating at the time of consuming the tea. It was one of the most puzzling overall tea-drinking experiences I've had.
50 Aroma: 4/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 3/5Plowboy (24 reviews) on Jul. 19th, 2017
I've been drinking this tea since seemingly forever. Always preferred it to Lipton. Now that I'm a tea snob maybe I'll try the loose leaf version.
43 Aroma: 3/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 2/5Alex Zorach (1453 reviews) on May. 7th, 2014
I've now reviewed five of the specialty teas from Red Rose, but it wasn't until today that I finally reviewed their original flagship blend.
The tea bags, as well as the brewed cup (I brewed for 3 minutes) are basically aroma-less, but upon drinking it's actually more pleasant.
Full-bodied and strong tasting but without seeming overly bitter. A weak aroma emerges only as I'm drinking the cup...a little malty, with very faint tones of wintergreen. In a similar league with Lipton, but I'd prefer to Lipton because of its smoother nature, although I do think Lipton is a bit more aromatic and complex. I also think this tea would be slightly better for people who drink their tea without milk, sugar, or lemon, as it's naturally smoother or sweeter.
That said, one cup is about as much as I want before I get back to drinking my loose teas again.
77 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 3/5Tea4me (2 reviews) on Jan. 5th, 2014
This has a full robust taste. Great in the afternoon.
43 Aroma: 4/10 Flavor: 2/5 Value: 3/5spaflam (180 reviews) on May. 13th, 2013
Inexpensive, black caffeinated and readily available. Not a fan - but some offices still stock this for free (though Lipton is very popular as well). CHEAP! Slightly bitter - and very, very black.
50 Aroma: 3/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 3/5Sylvia (215 reviews) on Apr. 9th, 2012
This tea is pretty good. On the verge of being a bit too bitter, but it's strong enough. I added cream and sugar.
57 Aroma: 4/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 4/5marlena (75 reviews) on Oct. 23rd, 2010
I'm not a great fan of grocery store tea and PG Tips is my go to for bags, but I gotta say that this is just fine, especially at a friend's house. It just says "warm, comfy, at home"
57 Aroma: 4/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 4/5Kathy (5 reviews) on Apr. 22nd, 2010
This is the bag tea I use most frequently as an alternative to Assam, Kemun, Yunnan, or Darjeeling loose leaf teas. It holds up well to milk and a bit of sugar, doesn't have the slightly fishy taste of some major commercial brands.
47 Aroma: 3/10 Flavor: 2/5 Value: 4/5Rene (18 reviews) on Mar. 9th, 2010
There is just something about red rose that makes it the best black iced tea. It seems to not ever go flat tasting even after hanging in the fridge a few days. Everyone raves about my iced tea, and I just laugh. It's such a bargain.
67 Aroma: 4/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 5/5btrain16 (2 reviews) on Dec. 8th, 2009
I've probably drank more Red Rose in my life than all other brands of tea combined. I like it best when it's been steeped for a fairly long time to get maximum tannin extraction. It's certainly never going to be known for it's aroma, but a hot cup of Red Rose will always taste like morning to me. You also have to give them credit for being ahead of the curve on the whole
Page 1 of 1 page with 10 reviews
More Black Tea Blends from Red Rose Tea
English Breakfast Decaf
| Style: | English Breakfast |
| Region: | Blend |
| Caffeine: | Decaffeinated |
| Leaf: | Teabag |
15
4 Ratings
Naturally Decaffeinated Tea
| Style: | Black Tea |
| Region: | Blend |
| Caffeine: | Ethyl Acetate Decaf |
| Leaf: | Teabag |
2 Ratings
