“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”

Ah, marriage. It’s the revolving point of Pride and Prejudice. Many of the unmarried characters in the story, including men like Mr. Darcy, feel some kind of social pressure to make that ultimate commitment. Plus, everyone in the Bennet family has different reasons behind their marriage choices, from lust and convenience (Mr. and Mrs. Bennet) to love (Jane Bennet) and mutual trust (Elizabeth Bennet). But in the end, Lizzie and Jane become engaged to their ideal partners – which means it’s time for not one wedding, but two!

So, how do we celebrate such a special event here at Tea Time? With tea, of course! This brings us to our next sample from Bingley’s Teas. Named after the Bennet family’s estate, Longbourn Wedding blends Chinese white teas with fruit and floral accents and a touch of champagne flavor. Sounds appropriate for the occasion, doesn’t it? 😉

The Basics

Bingley’s Description: “A celebration tea for two daughters married is cause for something special… This delicate tea is sure to please your guests. We love to recommend steeping this into a simple syrup solution to use in a champagne cocktail topped with small rose buds to toast the happy couple!”

Ingredients: Bai Mu Dan / White Peony white tea, jasmine silver needle white tea, rosebuds, rose petals, champagne flavoring, and berry flavoring

Steeping Instructions: Use 2 teaspoons of tea for every 8 oz of water. Heat water to under boiling (155 – 170 degrees Fahrenheit / 68 – 77 degrees Celsius) and steep for 2 minutes.

Multiple Brews?: Yes, 2 or 3 times

Bagged or Loose Leaf?: Loose leaf

Caffeine Level: Low

The Experience

Look at this tea. It’s gorgeous! The full green leaves, the occasional fuzzy silver needles – and the roses. Some of the petals are loose; otherwise, they come in whole, bright pink blossoms about the size of your fingertip. I almost want to pick out the roses and not steep them. But I won’t. 😉

The aroma of Longbourn Wedding makes me fall even harder. Berries! Roses! Champagne! All three scents bloom the moment I open the packet, creating an overall fragrance that’s fruity and floral, spirited and mouthwateringly sweet. There’s also a hint of jasmine in the mix. I can’t quite figure out if the berry flavor leans more toward raspberry or blackberry… But I like both, so that’s OK with me. The only concern I have is the champagne element. I don’t care for the wine itself, so I hope that doesn’t ruin my experience with this tea.

Since Bingley’s encourages multiple brews of Longbourn Wedding, I let Steep #1 sit for 2 minutes. The tea infuses to a beautiful golden color with a slight orange-rosy tint. The fragrance is more subtle now, though it still carries notes of champagne, berries, and roses. The taste, though… Oh my goodness. It’s light and delicate like a Bai Mu Dan, with sweet raspberries, rose and jasmine nuances, and a splash of white grapes. There’s even an effervescence and pleasant astringency that makes me think I’m drinking non-alcoholic champagne. But it’s tea, not champagne… right?

Steep #2 of Longbourn Wedding brews for about 3 minutes and produces wonderfully similar results. The liquid is more of a golden yellow color, and the astringency is a bit more noticeable. But all of the flavors that were present in Steep #1 are still sparkling and twirling. What amazes me most about this tea is its contrasts. Despite its gentle, white-tea body, its flavor profile is complex and invigorating – and perfect for a celebration.

The Aftertaste

Oh, how I loved every drop of Longbourn Wedding! Even if you’re not a champagne drinker, this white tea blend from Bingley’s Teas will stun you with its delicate body and intricate burst of wine, rose, and berry flavors. You won’t find a more breathtaking blend when you open the package, either. This is a delightful, feminine choice for weddings (of course!), tea or holiday parties, and other get-togethers; and I urge you to try it if you prefer teas on the lighter or sweeter side.

Grade: 10 / 10

Recommended For:

• Tea Drinkers Who: Like white or fruity teas
• Time of Day and Year: Afternoons year-round or for special occasions
• Possible Book Pairings: Pride and Prejudice, of course! Longbourn Wedding would also pair well with other books featuring weddings or timeless love stories, including Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, Nicholas Sparks’ The Notebook, Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, and Alyssa Palombo’s The Violinist of Venice.

You can purchase Longbourn Wedding Tea directly from Bingley’s Teas 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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