This one is unmistakably apricot! The sweet, fruity, nutty and warm flavor of apricot combined with the background taste of black tea. There is also a flavor here that’s reminiscent of butterscotch or dulce de leche. It’s especially apparent in the aftertaste and when you smell the empty mug. It’s really nice and decadent.
The apricot flavor in this tea reminds me of a toy my sister had when she was younger. It was a furry apricot thing that you could open and use to store things (as far as I remember) and that was scented with apricot. This tea smells exactly like that toy did, so it brings back memories of those times (probably 10-15 years ago now).
The tea is medium-bodied and very smooth. The apricot doesn’t overpower the tea but complements it.
Now that I have tasted their pure apricot tea, I can definitely recognize this flavor in their Fruits D’Alsace tea – which also contains apricot.
I think Harney & Sons did an incredible job with this tea. It has an authentic, unmistakable apricot flavor that feels very natural. It’s both fruity and fresh but also decandent and nutty at the same time.
This tea has my highest recommendation. It’s a no-brainer if you like apricot.
Dry leaves, appearance:
Chinese black tea leaves with pieces of dried apricot.
Dry leaves, aroma:
The sweet, fruity, nutty and warm aroma of ripe, juicy apricots.
Liquor:
Medium to dark brown.
Packaging:
7 oz. loose tea tin.
Flavors: Apricot, Butterscotch, Fruity, Nutty, Stonefruit, Tea
Preparation
People who liked this
Comments
I have way too much tea but I have already decided I am picking it up next time I go to The Fresh Market. It is so much richer than the peach tea.
ashmanra: Sounds like a good idea. How long has it been since the last time you tasted it? Are you referring to Peaches & Ginger? I also prefer Apricot over that one, but it’s not too shabby, either.
The decaf Midsummer Peach is good but not as good as Apricot. I am not a huge ginger fan so Peach and Ginger would not be high on my list.
It is possible that if you contact the Soho location you could order teas by the ounce instead of the pound. I did that years ago.
Also, their customer service is great. Tower of London was not available loose. I asked several times for it on Facebook and one day Mike Harney replied that he was blending a new batch and if I would PM my address he would send me a pound. I requested “two pounds if it isn’t any trouble” as I had friends who also wanted some. More people commented that they wanted some, too, and Michael said “we hear you! Here is a link for loose and it is here to stay!”
He also made Florence available in four ounce tins when I requested, so I guess other people were wanting it in smaller quantities, too. It certainly wasn‘t because I am a special, high dollar customer. I am your “average Joe.”
I hesitate to recommend such a daily drinker tea, but if you like plain black, their Queen Catherine has quite a place in hearts here. She stayed by my side every morning through cancer treatment. Nothing too fancy, just really good black tea.
ashmanra: That’s great customer service. I live in Europe so I don’t think I will be buying from the US (their official website, ‘harney.com’ doesn’t even send to most of Europe). So I have to buy from their European websites. They don’t quite have the same selection as the US website. But still decent. I just wished you could get Florence here. That’s the H&S tea I want to try the most right now. Sorry to hear about your cancer. Queen Catherine sounds nice. I have a tin of Irish Breakfast on the way :)
Their Irish Breakfast is pretty good! One of my daughters – about your age – loved it when she was quite young, maybe around age 12. Higher maths drove her to Lapsang, though, and she didn’t drink Irish Breakfast as much.
Your review of Peaches and Ginger is making me consider ordering at least a sample. I like a little glimmer of ginger, but not too much heat.
Nice. She has great taste when it comes to teas. I think Irish Breakfast is going to be right up my alley. I had a 125g tin of Kusmi Lapsang Souchong that I recently emptied. It took me 6 years. I guess that is evidence that Lapsangs are not my favorite teas but they can be nice once in a while when you want something different.
There is, to me, absolutely no spiciness in Peaches & Ginger but I wouldn’t recommend it if you don’t like peach.
I have way too much tea but I have already decided I am picking it up next time I go to The Fresh Market. It is so much richer than the peach tea.
ashmanra: Sounds like a good idea. How long has it been since the last time you tasted it? Are you referring to Peaches & Ginger? I also prefer Apricot over that one, but it’s not too shabby, either.
The decaf Midsummer Peach is good but not as good as Apricot. I am not a huge ginger fan so Peach and Ginger would not be high on my list.
It is possible that if you contact the Soho location you could order teas by the ounce instead of the pound. I did that years ago.
Also, their customer service is great. Tower of London was not available loose. I asked several times for it on Facebook and one day Mike Harney replied that he was blending a new batch and if I would PM my address he would send me a pound. I requested “two pounds if it isn’t any trouble” as I had friends who also wanted some. More people commented that they wanted some, too, and Michael said “we hear you! Here is a link for loose and it is here to stay!”
He also made Florence available in four ounce tins when I requested, so I guess other people were wanting it in smaller quantities, too. It certainly wasn‘t because I am a special, high dollar customer. I am your “average Joe.”
I hesitate to recommend such a daily drinker tea, but if you like plain black, their Queen Catherine has quite a place in hearts here. She stayed by my side every morning through cancer treatment. Nothing too fancy, just really good black tea.
ashmanra: That’s great customer service. I live in Europe so I don’t think I will be buying from the US (their official website, ‘harney.com’ doesn’t even send to most of Europe). So I have to buy from their European websites. They don’t quite have the same selection as the US website. But still decent. I just wished you could get Florence here. That’s the H&S tea I want to try the most right now. Sorry to hear about your cancer. Queen Catherine sounds nice. I have a tin of Irish Breakfast on the way :)
Their Irish Breakfast is pretty good! One of my daughters – about your age – loved it when she was quite young, maybe around age 12. Higher maths drove her to Lapsang, though, and she didn’t drink Irish Breakfast as much.
Your review of Peaches and Ginger is making me consider ordering at least a sample. I like a little glimmer of ginger, but not too much heat.
Nice. She has great taste when it comes to teas. I think Irish Breakfast is going to be right up my alley. I had a 125g tin of Kusmi Lapsang Souchong that I recently emptied. It took me 6 years. I guess that is evidence that Lapsangs are not my favorite teas but they can be nice once in a while when you want something different.
There is, to me, absolutely no spiciness in Peaches & Ginger but I wouldn’t recommend it if you don’t like peach.