5 Tasting Notes
A friend got this tea for me from the Harney & Sons store in NYC. Black tea is not my normal go-to choice (don’t get me wrong-I love all tea styles/flavors, but green is my standby-as in, I always have at least 2 different styles of green at my ready!). As far as black teas go, this one’s intense. Harney & Sons did not just blend 2 types of black. Oh no, my friends, they went and blended 3. They harmonize very well and you’re left enjoying a steeping cup of smoky power. (I guess that’s a good way to view the (historical) British?) It’s bold and so could still withstand an onslaught of milk or whatever else people put in their teas!
While the bag may say to steep for 5 minutes, I think it’s a bit much and only do mine for about 3.
Preparation
If you like Japanese green teas with their more bitter, earthy taste, you’ll enjoy this one. The bitterness and earthiness of the tea are tempered by the puffed rice. It’s a bit odd to see in a tea but fun. It took me a while to get used to Japanese style green teas, but I find them very calming-both mentally and for my stomach.
Preparation
A family member gave me this tea after hearing me rave about Market Spice tea. In comparison, this fell short. It’s cinnamony and certainly you can taste the black tea in this one more than you can in Market Spice’s cinnamon tea. I also found that I had to steep this one for much longer to get more of the cinnamon flavor to come through. it’s not a bad tea and if you are looking for more of a hint of cinnamon rather than a slap across the face with a giant hand of cinnamon this is your kind of tea.
According to their packaging:
1 tsp per 8 oz of water
Preparation
I happened by the Market Spice shop while in Seattle for a conference. If they would not have had a sample in the store I would have walked right by it. As it happens, this being their trademark tea and all, the samples were present and I was hooked! I literally drank this everyday all winter. For me it’s the perfect fall/winter tea. A few notes:
1) When you open it up and take a big whiff of the dry tea (and yes, I mean BIG- you’ll thank me later) it smells very orange-y.
2) When you steep it-the cinnamon really shines through! It isn’t so overpowering that you feel like you just dumped a Sam’s Club size tub of red hots in some water and washed it down with 3 packs of Big Red, but if you love cinnamon (like myself), then you’ll be in heaven!
3) Yes, the dry leaves do have an oil on them, but don’t let that stop you. It’s simply the deliciousness pouring through the leaves! :)
4) I’m reordering the giant 3 pound bag from Market Spice very soon-only half or so will be mine. I’ve successfully turned on just about everyone I know to this tea.
5) This tea doesn’t really survive to a second steeping (sadly). It’s about the only negative.
