One day, I was in my local World Market looking for this yummy red tea from Republic of Teas (that’s a whole other entry) and ran across this tea.  I was a bit wary at first as Irish teas are much more stout than I like, but I was up for something new and I couldn’t find the Lifeboat Tea (Williamson’s) that I like.  So I bought a box and haven’t looked back!

I love this tea!  I can’t say enough about it.  I take it with me just about everywhere that I know I’ll be able to make a cuppa for myself.  And if you catch me at just the right time, I may even share with you.

It has a wonderfully rich aroma from the pot and pairs well with or without sugar (raw, of course) and is delightful with a splash of milk (or half & half in my case).  I throw my bags in the pot and if I forget to fish them out, it’s not a worry because they don’t get all bitter an icky until the tea has grown stone cold.  The taste is stout, but not in a “slap yo Momma” way.  It’s enough to wake you up with out giving you the shakes for the rest of the day if you happen to drink the whole pot (40+oz) yourself.  *sip, sip* Ah, I love this tea.

Since I live in Texas, we do like our tea iced year around.  If I choose to have iced tea, it’s always Barry’s or I doesn’t get made (by me).  I don’t drink my iced tea with sugar, it’s totally naked tea, except for some ice cubes.  And is it yummy – oh yes!  It’s cold, refreshing and not at all bitter.  It’s got an amazing “tea color” in the glass and sparkles and shimmies with the sun light hitting it just the right way. It pares will with everything, fish, beef, chicken, Tex-Mex, BBQ, Italian…the list goes on and on.

But the best thing about Barry’s Tea? It’s brilliant in the mornings, hot, with 2 cubes of raw sugar, a splash of milk and a biscuit or toast.