Lifeboat Tea is a lovely full-flavoured, family-owned tea that has been created to provide sustainable funding for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) – the charity that saves lives at sea.
I had my misgivings about this – especially since I did recently have another Kenyan black bagged tea. I didn't want to compare the two, because they are two separate teas, from two separate tea companies. Even the bags look different – these are the round tea bags without a "fetch-string" or tag on it, looking a bit like a rescue ring buoy. No, it's not colored bright orange or anything, it just kind of evoked that image given the name of the tea.
This really isn't so bad, though. I find it to be quite robust with a pleasant malty tone. A nice sweetness to it too. It is not unpleasantly bitter, but I suspect that had I oversteeped it, it might be. It has just a hint of bitterness to it, suggesting to me that if the teabag had been left in the water a few more seconds I might have a bitter cup of tea. But as it is, it is certainly not unpleasant, and I find the slight bitter tone to it gives a nice contrast to the overall cup.
This is not a bad cup of tea – but again, I must say that I'd rather it be a loose leaf tea rather than a bagged tea. But, because it is bagged, it does make a great choice for cold-brewing for iced tea. Even though it's getting cooler (autumn is finally here!) I do still enjoy a glass of iced tea in the afternoon and with my meals, and this tea – iced – is really lovely. Particularly nice with a thin slice of lemon.