What's going on, Albuquerque?

ISO Lady Londonderry in ABQ

It's my favorite tea from way back in my Arkansas days. Lady Londonderry is a classic English black tea with hints of strawberry and lemon - it's soothing and flavorful with a slightly flowery edge. Having gone years without running across it at the usual haunts like Ta Lin and Cost Plus, I set out to seek it out in Albuquerque. (Pictures Coming Soon - I'm having technical difficulties!)

I called Summerhouse Tea & Trading Company that had been located on Harvard near UNM. But the construction upheaval has taken a toll...they no longer seem to be in existence and the phone was disconnected. Anybody know what has become of them?

Hadley's Tea is set away in a little shopping center off of Jefferson. A British-style telephone booth nearby would fit right into an old Doctor Who episode. I figured that was a good sign. Sure enough, they have Lady Londonderry available in bulk. I picked up a small bag of 2 oz for $3.50. They mentioned that their source for the tea is a wholesaler called Metropolitan.

Onward to Old Town! In the shopping center just south of I-40, the St. James Tea Room is tucked away towards the back. They have a small, but well-stocked china shop where you can also purchase a wide variety of loose leaf teas. Sure enough, there's Lady Londonderry. 2 oz is around $4.50. And their source is... Metropolitan.

I called Moons Coffee & Tea. They have Lady Londonderry. From Metropolitan. Turns out Lady Londonderry isn't so hard to find in Albuquerque, so long as you like the Metropolitan version. So it's time to arrange a Lady Londonderry smackdown. I still have a stash of the Lady from the Summerhouse (nee Albuquerque Tea & Trading) house-made blend.

Granted, my Tea & Trading stash is getting on in years and is no longer up to its full potential. But it still outshone the Metropolitan version. Both my tasting partner and I found the Metropolitan version to be heavy-handed and lacking in the elegance that really makes Lady Londonderry shine. It had a potent fruity smell to the leaves as compared to the T&T's more subtle floral nose. Yet, nothing touches the original Jackson's of Piccadilly blend from my formative years.

I come away from this with an appreciation of Albuquerque's loose leaf tea options. At least now I know exactly where I can go to stock up on Scottish Breakfast. Anybody have tea recommendations or favorites to share - along with where in ABQ you can find them?

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Comment by hettie on December 13, 2007 at 3:43pm: summerhouse moved to the end of the block; it's on the nw corner of harvard and silver, though I'm not sure if they're currently open. I've always like the loose leaf selection at java joe's. it's relatively small, but everything I've ordered there has been quality. I've become a big fan of a british bagged tea called pg tips. it's a really strong black tea (no subtle flavors here) and works great in my thermos as an alternative to coffee; not so much a tea to be savored as a good wake-me-up. I like milk in my black tea (a holdover from college in the uk) and there are a lot of dark teas that can't stand up to the dairy. did you happen to notice if any of those loose leaf tea places have a good bergamot-y earl grey?

Comment by Edith Grove on December 13, 2007 at 3:56pm: I know I've seen an extra bergamot Earl Grey somewhere - might have even been a bagged tea in a grocery store. My favorite Earl Grey is also Jackson's of Piccadilly's - but, alas, it seems to have been discontinued along with the Lady Londonderry.

Comment by Kelly on December 13, 2007 at 3:57pm: Hettie: Have you tried Lapsang Suchong? Lovely with milk.

I'd be interested in knowing where I can get Russian Caravan.

Comment by CRV on December 13, 2007 at 4:29pm: Collectabili Tea on Menaul sells loose tea and probably has Lady Londonderry. Plus they're very nice and knowledgeable. I've given up on Summerhouse - Charlotte is never there anymore :-(

Comment by Edith Grove on December 13, 2007 at 4:47pm: Thanks for the tip - I called up Collectabili Tea and they get theirs from Metropolitan, too. It's a Metropolitan monopoly!

Comment by missy on December 13, 2007 at 5:16pm: the strongest bergomot-y earl grey i've ever had is still earl greyer by the republic of tea. NO subtlety at all in it! it will wake you up for sure and you can get it in bulk at whole foods.

edith--could you cut the new londonderry with some mild, generic black tea leaves and give it a little less flavor/more character? like maybe a darjeeling or something subtle like that?

i am having a hard time finding a decent pai mu tan (white tea with no added flavorings). any suggestions there?

Comment by NMBosque on December 13, 2007 at 5:58pm: I didn't notice anybody standing up for Whitings on Osuna - are they still there/still open? Had a huge selection of tea back in the day...

Comment by Lauren on December 13, 2007 at 6:23pm: Moon's has a really good selection of loose leaf teas. I like their "Fruit Dream" and my sister likes their Earl Grey. I've never had Moon's Earl Grey (just not an Earl Grey gal), but the smell of it in the containers in her store is heavenly. Whenever I go there to buy coffee I spend all my time inhaling the wonderful aromas of tea. Great selection, great service.....try Moon's!

Comment by hettie on December 13, 2007 at 6:34pm: missy, what's the story on white tea? I've never tried it before and I wonder what it tastes like. I hadn't ever heard of it 6 months ago, but now I feel like I've heard about it all over the place. care to clue me in?

kelly, I have tried lapsang and found it smoky tasting, though I believe I took it without milk. it was an interesting flavor and I'll have to give it another try.

lauren, thanks for the moon tip!

Comment by Nora on December 13, 2007 at 8:32pm: You might try NM Tea Co. on Mountain. I haven't figured out what's going on with Summerhouse either-- the new shop looks nice but they're never open when I go by.