“Every disposition of the ground was good; and [Elizabeth] looked on the whole scene – the river, the trees scattered on its banks, and the winding of the valley, as far as she could trace it – with delight.”
– Jane Austen, “Pride and Prejudice”

It’s fall here in the Northern Hemisphere. That means cooling temperatures, leaves falling from the trees, scrumptious dishes featuring apples and pumpkin, and – unfortunately – the dreaded cold virus. I’m just getting over my first cold of the season, and my body’s been craving more tea than usual. Especially herbals. Anything with chamomile, spearmint, or lemongrass is my best friend right now.

Which means it’s the perfect time to introduce you to Inspired By Jane, which offers a line of five teas that pay tribute of the works of Jane Austen. (Yay, more literary-themed teas!) Three of its teas include herbal ingredients, and one of those offerings is Pemberley, a blend of green tea with lemongrass and lavender. Sounds like it might tickle your tastebuds? Then read on!

For anyone who’s wondering, Pemberley is the name of Mr. Darcy’s countryside estate in Pride and Prejudice. After rejecting Mr. Darcy’s first marriage proposal, Elizabeth Bennet visits Pemberley and falls in love with its natural beauty – and realizes she’s falling for Mr. Darcy, too.

The Basics

Inspired By Jane’s Description: “PEMBERLEY: the grand country estate of Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice, where Elizabeth finally starts to realize the goodness and complexity of his true character.

LAVENDER LEMON GREEN TEA: a healthy green tea blended with lemon grass and lavender for a wonderful afternoon tea. Contains caffeine.”

Ingredients: Lemongrass, lavender buds, and green tea

Steeping Instructions: Use 1 teabag per 8 oz of water. Heat water to boiling (212 degrees Fahrenheit / 100 degrees Celsius) and steep for 1 to 3 minutes.

Multiple Brews?: Yes, about 2 or 3 times

Bagged or Loose Leaf?: Bagged

Caffeine Level: Medium-low

The Experience

I have to comment on Pemberley’s packaging first – because it’s beautiful! The vintage artwork on the canister really looks like a scene from a Jane Austen novel. The tea sachets are of high quality: silken, triangular, and large enough to allow the leaves and herbs to plump up while brewing. This excites me even before I’ve steeped my first cup.

And the scent of Pemberley. Ohhhhhhhhhh…  As soon as I open the canister, the soothing floral perfume of lavender drifts out to greet me. A bright undercurrent of lemongrass also peeks through. I don’t smell much of the green tea, but based on what I see in the sachet, the herbal ingredients seem to be more plentiful and will therefore be more prevalent scent-wise. That’s OK with me, though. I love what I smell here, and I’m eager to get this a-brewing.

My first cup of Pemberley steeps in boiling water for about 2 minutes. The infusion turns a light golden yellow and lilts with the sweet scent of lemongrass and lavender. When I take my first sip, the tea is cotton-soft on my tongue, and the flavor palette evens out. There’s the freshness of green tea, the uplifting citrus of lemongrass, and subtle floral notes from the lavender. Imagine a morning in your flower garden, the feeling of relaxation as you breathe in the mingling fragrances, and the tiny bursts of joy at seeing brightly colored buds ready to bloom. That’s what Pemberley tastes like. No wonder I want a second cup right away!

I intended on giving Steep #2 about 3 minutes. But without a proper timer at work, I accidentally lost track of time and let it go for almost 5 minutes. Despite my mistake, this second cup of Pemberley doesn’t taste overbrewed. It’s still smooth and delicate, with a darker golden yellow color and a more pronounced grassy flavor with floral undertones. No bitterness or astringency is present, and its bouquet still reminds me of late April and early May in Massachusetts. Most green teas (even those with herbal additives) don’t taste this delightful when they steep for too long, so this is a lovely surprise.

The Aftertaste

I think Pemberley from Inspired By Jane has charmed me the way that its namesake charmed Elizabeth Bennet! Its blend of lemongrass, lavender, and green tea results in a fragrant, pastoral infusion that’s both comforting and refreshing, just like springtime. Some tea drinkers might find Pemberley too floral for their tastes, but I savored every sip. And with silken sachets and subsequent brews that are just as pleasing as the first, this is one of the highest quality bagged teas you’ll find anywhere.

Grade: 9.5 / 10

Recommended For:

• Tea Drinkers Who: Like green, herbal, or floral teas
• Time of Day and Year: Afternoons and evenings year-round (especially if you have a cold!)
• Possible Book Pairings: Besides Pride and Prejudice, Pemberley makes a dainty companion with Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale, Juliet Marillier’s Daughter of the Forest, Naomi Novik’s Uprooted, or any novel that prevalently features countryside settings or gardens.

You can purchase Pemberley Green & Herbal Tea directly from Inspired By Jane here.

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In addition to being a tea enthusiast, Sara Letourneau is an avid reader and a writer who… well, enjoys writing! Currently she’s working on a novel, and she writes book reviews and articles on the craft of writing. She’s also a published poet with works available in various print and online publications. Visit Sara at her personal blog, Facebook, or Twitter.

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