41 Tasting Notes

65

This tea has dark color and a very soft aroma. The taste is very smooth, almost sweet, with just the slightest hint of smoke. Each sip starts off slightly toasty but finishes slightly sweet. I taste something that reminds me of caramel. It is not a brisk taste, not very dry at all. There is a very interesting aftertaste, almost a blooming sweetness when the air hits your tongue. It reminds me of the tastes and aromas of autumn. This is a very interesting tea with enough complexity to occupy your palate on its own without milk or sugar. I find this tea to be very thought provoking; each sip almost forces me to stop and pay very close attention to the flavor’s every nuance. With an understated yet full body and wide range of tastes layered quite smoothly together, this tea is a quiet storm of taste sensations.

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec

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68

This tea has a greenish-brown color and a lightly smoky aroma. The flavor is remarkably smooth with a very slight sweetness. There is almost no dryness and no change in the aftertaste from the taste of the tea itself. The smokiness was not evident for me until after I had consumed about a third of the cup, and even then it was very light. It has an earthy flavor, not as bright and round as an Assam and not as crisp and dark as a Keemun. It takes cream and sugar well and is a rather nice and satisfying cup. I would probably tend to have this tea with a meal or in the afternoon at the desk. It is not as bold a tea as one might want for that first morning cup. Though not incredibly complex, the flavor is quite nice and approachable. I imagine this being a good “accessory” tea, a tea whose flavor is not necessarily meant to be the primary focus of the moment but which would still make a nice, tasty and satisfying treat during a get-together or after a meal. This is a tea I would serve to a group of guests at a book club meeting or evening poker game, for example, but probably not my first pick for a tasting event or more formal afternoon tea time. All in all this is a very nice tea, worth consideration as a staple for frequent tea drinkers.

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec

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100
drank Hao Ya 'A' by Harney & Sons
41 tasting notes

This tea has a nice, dark color and a crisp, smoky aroma. The flavor is not bitter, not too dry and not very smoky at all, as I thought it would be from the aroma and my experience with other Keemun teas and blends such as English Breakfast. It is even less smoky than its nearly as delicious sibling, Hao Ya “B”. It has a very clean, crisp, fresh taste, very complex and sophisticated. This tea has a depth of character unlike any other tea I have tasted. This really is an excellent tea. It does not need cream or sugar to be fully appreciated, but I found that if you do use cream and sugar, both work better with this tea than either alone, but be cautious; you only need a very small amount of both to augment rather than overwhelm this tea’s natural flavor, which just keeps getting better and better with every sip. Even the aftertaste is itself a unique and flavorful experience. I must admit, this tea has greatly improved my heretofore under-informed opinion of Keemun teas and may indeed have supplanted others as my tea of choice. I am delightfully surprised by how delicious this tea is and I’m already looking forward to my next cup and to sharing this tea with others!

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec

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52
drank Boston by Harney & Sons
41 tasting notes

This tea has an interesting aroma; it’s not quite fruity, not quite floral, and almost vanilla. The flavor is a subtle, slightly sour cranberry taste with a very light, almost unnoticeable almond finish. It also seems to taste a little like vanilla. Cream and sugar soften the sourness and bring out the almond a little more. I would personally prefer the almond flavor to be a little more pronounced, but I’m not a big fan of cranberry. I’d be delighted if Harney & Sons offered a tea with just almond flavoring (hint, hint, Harneys!). My preferences aside, I think this is indeed a good tea for cranberry lovers.

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec

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77

This tea has a pleasant aroma and a dark color. It has a nice, full-bodied flavor, with just a very slight hint of dryness or bitterness, which I expect would be absent if steeped for under five minutes. I think the flavor opens up with cream and sugar. This is a good cup of tea.

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec

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67

This tea has a fruity aroma and a medium dark color. With the first sip you can taste the subtle black currant flavor and the overall taste is very approachable, not dry or smoky at all. A little sugar, just a little, goes well with the black current flavor. Cream isn’t necessary but it doesn’t hurt. Overall this is fine, pleasant tea.

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec

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63
drank Assam (Organic) by Teaism
41 tasting notes

It has a lovely Assam aroma and a nice, dark color. The flavor is the typical round, full-bodied flavor of Assam, and just a bit dry (I think I will try four minutes steep time for the next cup). As expected, it goes very well with cream and sugar. This isn’t the best Assam I’ve had, but it does make for a decent cup.

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec

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74
drank Chai by Harney & Sons
41 tasting notes

This tea has a delicious aroma that immediately reminded me of pumpkin pie. The taste is mostly Assam with just a hint of spice. I’m actually surprised a how subtle the spice taste is. Sugar doesn’t seem to change much and actually brings out more of the dryness. A little cream helps the spices come out somewhat; it’s still very subtle but it is a good cup of tea. I’m not sure it’s spiced enough for those seeking a truly spiced tea, but for those seeking a tea with a hint of spice it seems ideal.

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec

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61
drank Mango by Harney & Sons
41 tasting notes

This tea has a perfumed aroma, almost more floral than fruity. The taste is a bit subdued. A little sugar or sweetener helps bring out the mango flavor, which remains subtle. A little cream is fine and does not overwhelm the flavor. I have found that many flavored teas add too much flavor and cease to really taste like actual tea. This tea does not do that. It is a decent cup of tea with a hint of mango flavor, well worth a taste.

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec

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34
drank HarSha by Harney & Sons
41 tasting notes

This tea has a nice, mellow aroma without any hint of smoke and a dark, translucent color. The taste is a bit dry, only slightly bitter; perhaps shortening the steep time will reduce this. A little sugar tempers the dryness a bit and a little cream helps as well, but the flavor is very subtle and somewhat unremarkable. It’s a decent brew, but I personally prefer a tea with little more depth and character to the flavor.

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 15 sec

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Bio

I am a writer, musician, and aspiring tea aficionado. I have been enjoying tea and reading about tea for a little over a decade now. I am particularly interested in the role of tea in contemplative spirituality. Currently I am sampling my way through a variety of teas just to keep my palate fresh and knowledgeable. I do prefer certain teas, but I keep my mind open to new possibilities and enjoy finding fresh, new tea flavors to add to my list of favorites. I am hoping my participation here will help me gain new knowledge and new friends who share a passion for tea.

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Virginia

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