2891 Tasting Notes
This is one of those teas that, to me, didn’t have any standout characteristics, but it was such a smooth and seamless blend, my cup was empty very quickly! Credits to Michelle for helping get my eyes open this morning. (I’m trying to adjust my mornings a little: after three weeks of sleeping in and taking naps, next week’s 6 a.m. wake-up calls are going to be ugly!)
I am grateful for the extra time off that the holiday allows so I can putter with teas that I don’t want to rush through, like this nice fresh oolong, which was tightly vacuum packed and double bagged to hold in the goodness.
First, wow … talk about expanding leaves … two scant teaspoons unfurled to the point of almost crawling out of the steeping basket of my little tetsubin teapot.
Second, forget your pre-conceived notions of “caramel.” There’s no sticky candy flavor happening here, although after several sampler-sized cups, I’m getting some caramelized scent when I sniff the dregs in the bottom of the cup. You can tell it has been nicely roasted and it’s mildly, toasty sweet (reminds me a little of mown fescue from my farm-kid days) without too many flowers in the mix. Very good quality stuff I would not have tried had it not been a thoughtful gift.
I ended up with a small tin of Black Cask Bourbon after a summer run to World Market. I was so excited to see some Harney offerings above and beyond the mass-market bagged flavors you see at Target, I over-shopped and this got pushed to the back of the shelf.
But it’s cloudy and a little raw on this Boxing Day morning, so something with a little fireplace smoke sounded quite tasty. And this is. I’m finally developing a palate for lapsang, at least its milder versions, and this does lean to the milder side. I see “cherry” in a couple of the other reviews, and there’s definitely some fruitiness that balances out the smoke. Matter of fact, the first random thought that flitted through my forehead was, “This would be really good with some cranberry juice or cider.” Of course, I have neither on hand.
If I put it side by side with Oliver Pluff’s Whiskey Rebellion, which is another one I’ve grown to like, Harney’s version is a little sweeter and more temperate.
(Any of y’all actually observe any Boxing Day traditions? I’d love to be called upstairs by the master and mistress to be given my annual box of new clothing—I could use a couple bright, new sweaters. I think I’ll probably be waiting a while ;)
Santa left some tea treats in my stocking (but he looks an awful lot like my husband): some fancy-pants oolong from The Jade Leaf, a proprietor I had never checked out. They kindly chucked in a couple of additional samples; one of which is this lanky, long-leafed beauty—leaves almost too long to fit horizontally in the little steeping basket I used.
Its flavor personality is distinctly fruity—imagine you crossed a Darjeeling (which this is not) with peaches and plums. A lovely afternoon treat while soaking up some much-needed winter sunshine.
After two solid weeks of coughs and cruds, a couple sub-zero nights, one dead battery, cabin-crazy cats, and one leaking radiator, I am reminded of The Gospel According to Seuss:
…Stood puzzling and puzzling: “How could it be so?”
“It came without ribbons! It came without tags!”
“It came without packages, boxes or bags!”
And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before!
“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.”
“Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!”
Today, there’s a little joy in this rich, wheaty, cup of curls, in a warm house (in fact, the heater is stuck on “on” and won’t cycle off), brilliant sunshine on the snow, warm socks and peace from knowing these winter woes are momentary. Hope you’re surrounded by joy this weekend, too. Merry Christmas, y’all.
Well, hello there…crawling out from under my rock to catch up on your December blizzard of tasting notes! While you were sipping, I was sniffling and sneezing and snarfing—my turn to catch the non-lethal Christmas Cruds going around in these parts.
After finally breaking down and begging Teladoc for some antibiotic, this afternoon I felt up to tasting something that wasn’t Gatorade or a Popsicle, but as my taste buds aren’t quite up to par yet, I used the last of this sample (double the leaf) to make a strong, medicinal cup.
I complained in an earlier review that this Assam was toasty, but too mild. Now I know it’s just a ratio thing—stronger is better. Good, grainy rye bread flavor that I could detect even with my impaired palate.
Glum weather today. Rained all night and the sky stayed cold, thick, and heavy all day. This was appropriate. Wood smoke and a little fruit at the end. I added a teaspoon of mulling spice to the second steep, and that made it even cozier.
Glad you had a cozy and cozier tea! Clouds for days here, rain off and on, more rain tomorrow, but on Monday we are supposed to have sun and I intend to spread eagle on the grass and absorb it. Hope you see some sun soon!
We had a few hours’ worth on Friday—every time I walked by a sunbeam in the window at work, I stopped and stretched like a cat.
Wowza! The dry leaves smell so good! With a sloppy steep and no additives, I’m still catching it all: pan-fried apples, a little maple-osity, the stick-to-your-lips bread and egg thing. Just enough for one more cup with a little milk and sweetener. Thanks, Michelle!
Since EG isn’t a favorite, and since this is a gift-tin grade tea, and since the bag smelled suspiciously floor-cleanery, I planned to dump in the dairy immediately. But I got brave and took a sip before adding anything and the bergamot was surprisingly natural tasting. It’s pretty pleasant with office creamer and the contents of a honey straw.