Thanks to SimplyJenW, I was able to give this a try today. It is appropriate to me that a tea named for the city of light lights would be bright and clear. I have been wanting to try this and compare to Tower of London, a new favorite, and there are some things they share yet still have personalities of their own. The fruit seems to me to be a little more forward in Paris, the black tea base is the same in both I suppose. The honey in TOL overpowers the other flavors. (not a problem with me, mind you) but Paris is a little lighter and more subtle. I think some have called this “Tower Light” and that is my take as well. While writing this it is cooling a little and the caramel notes are coming through. They were hidden when it was first steeped. All considered, I really like this, find it a close relative of TOL, and yet ANOTHER Harney & Sons Tea I enjoy.
No meh for me ya’ll :)
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The Absent Meh: See Oh Joy!
I am glad you liked it! I do think the two of them are different. I like the honeyed flavor of the Tower just a little more than the fruity bergamot flavor of Paris.
Yes, different, but related. It is always interesting to me that teas can reveal different things to different people. I agree too, I like the Tower more, but the difference is like comparing billions to trillions for me.
Thanks again!
I thought of TOL as Paris light! I think because it has less bergamot, though maybe more stone fruit and the addition of honey. But both are indescribably good. I really do love to keep both on hand. I think a lot of the preference depends on mood and pairings.
I didn’t take time to reread the posts. I got it backwards :) but to me Paris was lighter of the two. BUT, I have only had TOL in a sachet and I had Paris leaf.
That could explain, I likely used less leaf than the sachet…hmmm I guess I will just have to order some Paris, TOL and compare sachets.
I love both of them equally, really. Yeah, they’re similar, but they’re different enough that I couldn’t pick one as my favorite! Of course, Tower of London will always have a special place in my heart since it was one of the teas that sparked my current tea obsession.
FYI, the sachets have about 2 tsp in them, so you can compare that way; differing amounts in the leaf does seem to make a difference, but I think loose and sachet are pretty similar when the same amount is used.
I am thinking I mislableled that leaf for you (ugh…who can you trust these days?!). I only sent a sachet of Paris. Maybe this is Black Currant?
I have some Tower of London loose if you want to try it, teawing! I might have..cough, cough, ahem….a pound bag. I begged Mike Harney for it in loose leaf for so long he finally broke and offered to make me one pound. I asked for three, someone else ordered two, and it escalated until he decided to just give up and sell it loose leaf!
No Jen, the error is mine. You had it all lined up for me. I just got distracted with work then confused myself with thoughts about it after the fact. It WAS a sachet. So, for me, it seemed lighter than TOL. And it was an even comparison, doing them both the same way. I just tried the Black Currant and there is no mistaking it. WOW, a review will follow.
The Ellyse’s Blend was loose, that might have been where I got confused.
So, SimplyJenW had it correct, I was confused. Moral of the story, don’t try too many new teas in one day, then try to recall them all after an employee evaluation!
Oh, the joys of poundage! Since I am completely confused as to leaf, sachets and what I have tasted today, let me contemplate your offer. It is nice to know it comes in sizes that big. I have been watching these sachets disappear very quickly!
@ashmanra and I loved the turns/turns loose quote in another thread!
Thanks for the offer.
From Meh to Aha! in ten easy Ste(e)ps!
Wow, I did not get that at all from this tea. To me, it was heavy and earthy and certainly not caramel… maybe I had a bad batch!
The Absent Meh: See Oh Joy!
I am glad you liked it! I do think the two of them are different. I like the honeyed flavor of the Tower just a little more than the fruity bergamot flavor of Paris.
Yes, different, but related. It is always interesting to me that teas can reveal different things to different people. I agree too, I like the Tower more, but the difference is like comparing billions to trillions for me.
Thanks again!
I thought of TOL as Paris light! I think because it has less bergamot, though maybe more stone fruit and the addition of honey. But both are indescribably good. I really do love to keep both on hand. I think a lot of the preference depends on mood and pairings.
I didn’t take time to reread the posts. I got it backwards :) but to me Paris was lighter of the two. BUT, I have only had TOL in a sachet and I had Paris leaf.
That could explain, I likely used less leaf than the sachet…hmmm I guess I will just have to order some Paris, TOL and compare sachets.
I love both of them equally, really. Yeah, they’re similar, but they’re different enough that I couldn’t pick one as my favorite! Of course, Tower of London will always have a special place in my heart since it was one of the teas that sparked my current tea obsession.
FYI, the sachets have about 2 tsp in them, so you can compare that way; differing amounts in the leaf does seem to make a difference, but I think loose and sachet are pretty similar when the same amount is used.
I am thinking I mislableled that leaf for you (ugh…who can you trust these days?!). I only sent a sachet of Paris. Maybe this is Black Currant?
I have some Tower of London loose if you want to try it, teawing! I might have..cough, cough, ahem….a pound bag. I begged Mike Harney for it in loose leaf for so long he finally broke and offered to make me one pound. I asked for three, someone else ordered two, and it escalated until he decided to just give up and sell it loose leaf!
No Jen, the error is mine. You had it all lined up for me. I just got distracted with work then confused myself with thoughts about it after the fact. It WAS a sachet. So, for me, it seemed lighter than TOL. And it was an even comparison, doing them both the same way. I just tried the Black Currant and there is no mistaking it. WOW, a review will follow.
The Ellyse’s Blend was loose, that might have been where I got confused.
So, SimplyJenW had it correct, I was confused. Moral of the story, don’t try too many new teas in one day, then try to recall them all after an employee evaluation!
Oh, the joys of poundage! Since I am completely confused as to leaf, sachets and what I have tasted today, let me contemplate your offer. It is nice to know it comes in sizes that big. I have been watching these sachets disappear very quickly!
@ashmanra and I loved the turns/turns loose quote in another thread!
Thanks for the offer.
From Meh to Aha! in ten easy Ste(e)ps!
Wow, I did not get that at all from this tea. To me, it was heavy and earthy and certainly not caramel… maybe I had a bad batch!