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A tea of the month addition from a couple months ago…finally getting a chance in this busy summer to trying it. Dry leaf is beautiful long one inch plus curls, very dark brown to black in color. Scent in roasty, spicy, with a hint of tart apple.
After a rinse and 5sec. steep: Wet leaf is mineraly, roast and green veggies. This first steep is relatively light with the leaves still mostly closed. Light apple with a little toast.
Steep 2(5sec.): Almost twice as dark as the previous. Nice sweetness coming through along with vanilla and light spice.
Steep 3(5sec.): Sweetness still getting stronger. Nice creamy fullness with a woodsy, earthy spice.
Steep 4(5sec.): Rotated leaves…Full and sweet. Almost no earthiness left. Nice tropical fruits starting to peak its head…star fruit tang in the finish.
Steep 5(5sec.): More green tea type flavors now. A little citrus and tropical fruit still. Starting to lighten in flavor. Will extend steeping next time around.
Steep 6(10sec.): Flavor kicked up a little, especially the tropical fruit. Would go a few more steeps, but I need to start my day.

Finishing off the last little bit of my 1oz sample. Dry leaf is flat flakes of mulberry leaves with 1/8" pieces of macadamia spread throughout. Nose is full of white chocolate, vanilla, and brown sugar. When brewed, a grassy note also comes out. The first sip is a milky coating of the tongue with a pronounced sweetness. The macadamia is right in front followed by skim milk, sugar, and almost a light peppermint/ veggie quality. Overall a nice tisane to branch away from caffeine.

Wow my cupboard is getting full of tea of the month. I guess I slow a bit when it gets warm outside. I decided to dig in for unique Oolong.
The dry leaf of this tea looks very delicate. Long, thin, dried ribbons between one inch and two inch in length. The dry nose is of driftwood, light apple chips, and a little muscatel.
I started with a quick rinse then got into the first steep:
1st (5 sec.): Wet leaf has strong dark roasty notes with a hint of citrus piff. I first notice the super creamy mouth-feel with flavors of light spice. It is also very bright and lively.
2nd (5 sec.): This brew is twice as dark as the previous as the leaves begin to open more. Much more fruity and bright. Grapefruit rind and light roast come through heavier with vegital tones in the middle. A tropical flavor rests on your tongue for a good couple minutes after your sip.
3rd (5 sec.): The roast is falling to the back with vegital holding strong. I am starting get a sweetness coming through, reminiscent of honey. Color has lightened from previous.
4th (8 sec.): Almost all the dark roast in the beginning is gone. Even the vegital is diminishing. Still holding a heavy mouth-feel and light sweetness.
Overall a very nice tea. The tea is beautiful to look at, and looks like there was much care taken while processing. Flavors are pleasing, but wish they hung around for a few more steering’s. I was hoping that the tropical note from the second steep would have stayed and built a little more. Would definitely recommend.

I got this as a small sample the last time I went to their retail store.
Dry leaf smells of hay, dry forest, and slight citrus tree leaf.
Wet leaf is broken half leaves and small pieces with the smell of re-hydrating mushrooms and wet leaf pile. Liquor is clear dark amber.
First sip is moderately brisk but still balance. Fairly strong muscatel flavors and very woodsy. Tree bark, earth, and grass.

Digging into some tea of the month club offerings from a couple months ago. Spring clean up really digs into your time! Time to try some “Frozen Summit” tea. Dry leaf looks like mostly in-tacked full leaves rolled with small stem. Smell is of crasins and light floral toasted notes.
Did a quick wash then a 6 sec. steep. Wet leaf smells very vegital and strong muscatel/ ripe fruit. Body is heavy and velvety. Taste is bready with a good dose of raspberry.
2nd steep(6sec.): Liquor is more golden and a tartness with the raspberry is coming through. Not as bready as the previous steep.
3rd steep(6sec.): Leaves are almost fully open now. Bread is not back in full force with light fruitiness. Their is a mild sweetness towards the end but I’m starting to get a light briskness. That feeling of white pepper in the back of your throat.
4th steep(6sec.): Same as last.
5th steep(6sec.): Turn the leaves this time. Flavor revitalized a little but for the most part, the flavor has stayed pretty even keeled.

Seeing its supposed to be sleet and rain today, I figured a cup of nice smokey tea would be comforting. Bringing the campfire in the house….Is spring ever going to come?

Decided to brew this tea in more of a western style to see how the flavors changed. Kept the water temp the same, but brew for 3min. instead of the 5sec. infusions. The nose is basically the same a the dry leaf nose. Flavor is more vegital and sweet with good heavy mouthfeel. I pick up flavors of green bean, raisin, and star fruit.
The downfall is you don’t get to see the tea evolve over steepings in nose and flavor. Those light subtle flavors you get with less time are muted by other stronger flavors. I think I will make sure I’m home and have time to make this with multiple steepings vs. one longer to take on the go.

I could sit here an smell this tea all day! This is one on the stronger Lapsang Souchong’s I have smelt. Very strong smoke/resin/salt smell. It seems that most people either love or hate this style of tea. I guess I’m lucky enough to enjoy it. Being a fireman probably helps. It reminds me of this strong hickory smoked salt I use to rub on steaks. Maybe I’ll try adding this to a rub.
Anyway, on to the brew….Brewed for 5min. @ 212F
Still strong smoke in the nose, but the resiny smell has just about fully fallen to the back. Lightly brisk and fairly thin mouthfeel. Flavor is great though…smokey, woody, and tree bark. Very straight forward example of the style. The wet leaves are broken between 1/4" to 3/8" in size.

What a deal! $5.00 for a 3oz tin. I will defiantly be trying their Lapsang Souchong #1…It is a early picked Lapsang and is supposed to be sweeter.

Dry leaves are long, stringy and dark. Brewed for five min. as per directions. Wet leaves are unwrapped broken leaves with quite a bit of green showing now. Nose is lemony wood. Taste is lighter than most Darjeelings I’ve had. Moderately brisk, but doesn’t grip the sides of your tongue. Some minerality, but not very complex. Not really picking up any layering with flavors.

Not even going to bother writing what I taste, because I am so underwhelmed. Very subtle clove and cinnamon if any. Mostly, all that I taste is Honey bush. Very surprised, Harney usually has outstanding products.