Both me and my father love our tea and I brought these tea-bags after having quite an in depth discussion with him over the telephone about them ( we really do talk about all-sorts! ) Both of us had previously been discussing how we found that the taste of the tea we normally drink had started to leave a bitter/tangy after taste and somewhat left our mouths quite dry, so he had been looking around for something different when he come across these. He told me how nice they were, even read the little quotes on the packet to me as-well and I thought they sounded rather nice, so when I did my next shop online, I decided to add some to my basket and I gave them a go. I'm honestly really glad that I did.

Now it's my turn to tell you what it says on the packaging! ....

This is written on the front of the packet....

"It was my father who perfected the Punjana blend. We pick the best Assam and Kenyan leaves to find it's full flavour. We love it ... We think you will too!"

And the back ....

"For over 100 years our family have been buying and blending the worlds finest teas.
In 1887 Robert Thompson trained in the art of tea tasting and soon become known for his uncompromising devotion to quality.
His search for the finest teas led him to the fertile Assam valley in the foothills of the Himalayas.
As the third generation of the Thompson family, we stay true to our tradition of bringing you a better cup of tea."

(signed)

David Thompson & Ross Thompson

"We trade only with tea farmers who share our ideals, treating their workers fairly with proper wages, healthcare and education."

"There are no stalks or fibres in this pack .... Just pure leaf."

On the side of the packet, Thompson gives you his top tips ....

Use only freshly drawn water
(re-boiling takes the oxygen out and stops the tea from brewing properly)

Pre-heat the pot or mug

Make sure the water is boiling when pouring onto the tea ("off the boil" water doesn't infuse the tea properly)

Brew to taste for at least a minute, and don't be afraid to stir the tea (a tea bag floating on top, isn't doing it's job!)

.... Now does that taste better?



I love the design of the packaging and also the little quotes, the look and feel makes you think you are drinking something quite special! The colour scheme is burgundy and a grey/silver colour and the packet itself is made from a strong foil. Inside, the foil is a very shiny silver and although it's shiny on the outside, at different angles it has a matt look. I asume they have used this type of packaging to keep in the freshness. The teabags themselves are supported by a rigid piece of card and they are placed in such a way that you can take two out at a time. The pack is sealed with a big sticker which can then be used to reseal it once opened - mine hasn't got one any more so somewhere along the line, I must have lost it!

On the front there is a beautiful old photograph of James Thompson and his son who was only a small child at the time, this is in a light contrast of black and white, behind them both is a tea leaf bush - but in colour. I think all this looks rather nice as it gives it that personal touch which sets their packaging aside from others.

On the back there is another picture in colour, this shows a womens hand holding two tea leafs.

I don't usually think about the packaging that much at all but, I must say, it really is very attractive. The design has obviously been thought about very carefully and looks very natural.

The tea bag itself is rectangular - not quite square, and it seems a little larger than most too. The strength of the bag is very good and to this day, not one that I have used, has ever leaked or split.

This is a family tea and I am very happy with the taste, it's not particularly a very strong tea as it's for all of the family so has to meet the needs of various taste buds but the best thing about it, is it does not leave that horrible after taste in you mouth, like some others, neither does it make your mouth feel dry. The smell is tempting but also quite delicate, as is the taste - you can quite easily have two cups of this tea in a row.

I believe that it tastes like tea should (in this form anyway) and because the taste and smell is delicate and not at all overwhelming, I find you can appreciate the flavour of the tea much more. It does not taste synthetic, it's tastes natural, and I am very happy to drink this regularly and of course share that experience with you!

There are other varieties too; Punjana decaffeinated tea-bags, Punjana Fair-trade teabags and Punjana loose tea. I haven't tried these varieties myself so I am unable to comment on them but I am sure they are just as good if this is what you prefer.

If you want to find out more about the Company then they have a website, you'll find it written on the pack as-well. It is www.punjana.com. It's a nice site with quite a lot of pictures and information - I found some interesting information on here regarding the history of tea, and it gives you an insight into tea over many centuries. Tea, apparently was first discovered in 2737BC and here is a short piece from this page which explains how.

The origins of tea - 2737 BC

In ancient China, Emperor Shen Nung ruled that all drinking water must be boiled as a hygienic precaution. One day while visiting a distant region of his realm, he and the court stopped to rest. In accordance to his ruling, the servants began to boil water for the court to drink. Dried leaves from a nearby bush fell into the boiling water. The Emperor drank some, and found it very refreshing, and so according to the legend, tea was created!

You can purchase this tea in most Supermarkets and you can also purchase these ones, along with the other varieties directly, via there website. They seem to sell them in packs of two or more, their price for two packets of 80 tea-bags ( the normal ones ) is £3.20. In Asda though, just the one pack of 80 is £1.35, so this is the most cheapest option by far.

Tea is really quite good for you, it has no calories when drunk without added sugar or milk and is a powerful antioxidant, there are also many other health benefits that tea brings with it and I personally think it's a much better choice than coffee. If you appreciate a good cuppa then I am sure you will enjoy Thompsons Punjana family tea bags.

Thank-you for reading!

Emma