Queen Victoria

Finishing this one off as well.

I neglected to type up a steeping note when I picked it up a second time. I wanted so much to like it, and I couldn’t understand why the initial batch was so bitter. I got it in store again, and it tasted as wonderful as I remember, so I sprung for another two ounces.

I think I was write when I assumed it was something with the batch, because this one was fine all the way through. Probably one of my favourite tea blends. Grassy green and smoky, very unique—screams “Murchie’s”.

It’s up there with Library Blend as teas I will probably re-buy. Although I think I should truck through all their other green-black tea blends first.

I need a good kick in the pants because my productivity has come to a screeching halt. I would typically rely on my good friend Queen Catherine to pull me by the ear and make me snap to, but alas I’m out of THE QUEEN. How did this happen?!

I’m hoping that another queen might be able to help me out of my evening malise. Queen Victoria may not be quite as feisty as Queen Catherine, but she’s no slouch! Queen Victoria is an icreadible blend of green and black teas with the sweetness of jasmine and the smoky goodness of Lapsang Souchong.

Two cups later… I’ve not gotten the swift kick in the pants that I needed, but I do feel like I’ve gotten a stern talking to. We will be recomending this tea (the royal we).

Sipdown! (12 | 118)

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Murchie’s definitely seems to excel at black-green blends, which is something I’ve never really liked in the past. This one has a soft smokiness from the Lapsang, which I don’t generally reach for, but here the citrus and jasmine help to smooth it out and brighten it up a bit.

Very nice everyday mindless sipping sort of tea. When I get around to reordering from Murchie’s, I might have a difficult time deciding which black-green blends to get. I think this one is quite similar to the No. 10, which I also enjoyed. But this has the addition of the lapsang and apparently Darjeeling. Will be interesting to see how the loose leaf compares as well, since all the ones I’ve tried have been in teabag form.

TTB tea! This has a level of smokiness that I can stand. I would have preferred a bolder black tea as the base, but this is not bad. My partner who doesn’t love tea actually quite enjoyed this one. I didn’t taste the jasmine at all.

Going to send the Strange VariaTea TTB on its way soon, so I want to get some tasting notes up before I do. Not a lot of black teas/blends caught my eye, but this one did because I’ve been wanting to try a Murchie’s tea. I ended up enjoying this one more than I expected to given that I don’t like lapsang. The smokiness is well-balanced though – think something cooked in a campfire rather than face full of ashtray. Probably because it’s a blend. The floral note from the jasmine comes through and actually works well here. 

This isn’t one I’d go out of my way for – just because I don’t love black tea and have to limit my caffeine – but glad I got to try it!

Strange VariaTEA TTB #25

There was no description on the bag, but I smelled the Lapsang so decided to give it a try. It really threw me when I realized there was jasmine in here too! I’m not sure the combination of floral and smoke is working for me, but it was certainly an interesting blend to try.

Ooh, this is tasty. I’ve had mixed feelings about my Murchie’s order overall so far, but this blend falls squarely in the “good choice; could see myself repurchasing” category.

I’ve always enjoyed jasmine but didn’t come around to lapsang souchong until the past year or so. I wouldn’t have imagined a pairing of the two would work, but dang, it does! The lapsang tempers the jasmine just enough to take any perfume-y, overwhelming edge off, creating what to me is a very pleasant and super nuanced sip.

I’m also getting bold black tea and maybe a bit of minerality from the green tea, and it’s really just a terrific cup. A bit drying, but I don’t mind. I could see myself reaching for this one any time I want to jump-start my day.

I remember when I thought this tea was too smoky and now it’s just right. I think part of my love of this tea is sentimental but tea is an experience and so in a way I’m creating an experience of the moment I first tried it in Victoria, BC.