3986 Tasting Notes

70
drank Apple Cinnamon by Harney & Sons
3986 tasting notes

Ordered a sample of this when I was picking up their fruit teas. It just caught my eye and I was already deep into fall mode, so into the cart it went ha ha.

Honestly, I’m finding it a little disappointing. The aroma is lovely, but the flavoring is actually quite light. I taste cinnamon but not a whole lot of apple, and mostly I taste the mellow black base. There’s a hint of apple in the finish.

Not a favorite. There was an apple cinnamon honeybush I really liked from New Moon, I may have to look into getting more of that one…

Flavors: Apple, Cinnamon, Earthy, Oats, Smooth, Sweet

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec 3 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML

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68

Sipdown! (2 | 317)

A pleasant enough pumpkin spice chai. I honestly don’t notice the vanilla, honey, or stevia in this. It tastes unflavored and unsweetened to me. The allspice and nutmeg definitely dominate, which I think makes sense given those are sort of the pumpkin pie spice specific ingredients. Also tasting the clove and a little cinnamon, and some ginger/pepper heat at the very end of the sip.

Only real complaint I have on this one is there’s a lot of allspice, and I think that’s what’s giving it a slight bitter note in the finish. It lingers on my tongue, which isn’t pleasant. So probably not one I would purchase because of that.

Flavors: Allspice, Bitter, Black Pepper, Clove, Earthy, Ginger, Nutmeg, Pumpkin Spice, Spices, Sweet

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec 4 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML

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Sipdown! (1 | 316)

This… tasted like soap and I’m not sure why. I thought maybe it was lavender I was tasting, but there isn’t any in this blend. There are rose petals, but I can’t see that translating into this strong soap flavor.

Not sure what skullcap tastes like or if that could be the culprit, or my only other thought would be maybe the Earl Grey base is a lavender Earl Grey? Anyway, not for me.

Flavors: Bergamot, Bitter, Lavender, Soap

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec 3 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML

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68

Sipdown! (63 | 315)

This is interesting, the hibiscus does give sour cherry vibes. However, the black base is already a bit tannic, and the acidity really brings out the astringency in a puckery way. It also overpowers the cacao a bit, though I taste a touch in the finish. They recommend adding sugar to bring out the chocolate, but I find sweetening hot tea never fails to make me like it less.

Interesting cherry tea, but I don’t find the hibiscus and cacao go together very well.

Flavors: Acidic, Astringent, Cacao, Cherry, Drying, Fruity, Hibiscus, Tannic, Tart

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec 4 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML
StrangeButTrue

You make this tea sound so intriguing! I’m trying to keep my tea cupboard manageable, but this one is definitely going on the maybe pile.

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50

Sipdown! (62 | 314)

Another Wizard’s Tea, this one must be for Hufflepuff.

Sadly, doesn’t taste like a whole lot other than a bland and somewhat tannic black tea. There’s a touch of coconut and a hint of sweetness, but nothing that reminds me of butterscotch or toffee.

Flavors: Acidic, Astringent, Coconut, Metallic, Sweet, Tannic

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec 3 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML

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90

What an excellent tea this is…

Deep, dark, but smooth with notes of cocoa and sweet honey. Very bready as well, with a bit of the that Fujian caraway note. Definitely a crusty dark bread though, maybe with some spelt or buckwheat. Also getting a distinct dried sour cherry note that I’m loving, obviously it pairs beautifully with the cocoa… Sipping this tea feels like eating a meal in the best way.

Drank both mugfuls cold (accidentally, boo work) but they were still so scrumptious. Definitely on the reorder list… :D

P.S. – Am I the only one who didn’t know this is apparently the same as Golden Monkey?

Flavors: Bread, Buckwheat, Cherry, Cocoa, Dark Chocolate, Dried Fruit, Grain, Honey, Jam, Smooth, Spelt, Sweet, Tart, Thick, Wheat

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec 3 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML
ashmanra

This is Ashman’s favorite black tea and I had no idea about the Golden Monkey thing.

tea-sipper

I don’t think it’s Golden Monkey? At least with past harvests, the two teas tasted completely different…

Cameron B.

Not saying the two teas offered by Teavivre are the same, but found multiple things online saying Bailin Gongfu and Golden Monkey are one and the same?

tea-sipper

OH okay, I thought you meant that Teavivre was relabeling the same tea, not sources other than Teavivre were saying that…

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78

Sipdown! (61 | 313)

So this is an interesting one. It’s from her Wizard’s Tea collection, and I assume it’s inspired by Slytherin house. It’s a black tea with basil, peppermint, ginseng, cacao nibs, and a few other bits and bobs.

I’m happy that I can taste the basil here, more than in the similar Wishing Tea. It still melds together with the mint, but I can more easily pick out those savory notes and it gives the tea overall a more savory slant. Next is the cacao nibs, which add a light toastiness and a subtle cocoa flavor. I don’t think I know what ginseng tastes like, so can’t really comment on that one. I do taste hints of clove and peppercorn.

I will say, I think I like this Irish Breakfast base better than her Assam, it has a stronger flavor that doesn’t get as overpowered by all the other ingredients. Not sure if I would go out of my way to purchase this tea, but it’s certainly one of my favorites from Bohemian Tea Peddler so far.

Flavors: Basil, Black Pepper, Cacao, Clove, Cocoa, Herbaceous, Herbs, Malty, Metallic, Mint, Peppermint, Roasted, Savory, Tannic

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec 4 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML

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82

Cold steeped this one in oat milk overnight, and then added some vanilla syrup.

I don’t generally love rooibos as a latte, but this is delicious. Spot-on for a root beer float, and the extra creamy oatmilk gives it a thicker, more decadent texture. Yum!

Flavors: Creamy, Rooibos, Root Beer, Sarsaparilla, Smooth, Sweet, Syrupy, Woody

Preparation
Iced 8 min or more 6 tsp 14 OZ / 414 ML

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70

Sipdown! (60 | 312)

So this is a tasty enough chai, but I don’t get any orange. The cacao is somewhat subtle, but I often find that to be the case when cacao nibs are used. Can taste most of the spices, with cardamom and ginger being at the forefront. Something actually tastes a bit clove-y to me, is it the allspice? I think a bit more cinnamon would be nice.

Pleasant tea, very drinkable, but might as well be a plain chai.

Flavors: Astringent, Cacao, Cardamom, Clove, Ginger, Spices

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec 4 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML

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68

Sipdown! (59 | 311)

So this is meant to be an Earl Grey with orange, cardamom, and vanilla.

Sadly, I just taste a plain Earl Grey. The bergamot is nice enough, it’s a bit lemony and not floral at all. I perhaps get a teeny weeny hint of cardamom and a subtle suggestion of vanilla? Black tea base is fairly smooth but lacks flavor.

A shame, this sounded so good to me. I keep finding with her “tea infused with _” blends that I can’t taste whatever flavoring or oil the tea is supposedly infused with. Not sure if that’s a Ziploc sample bag problem or what.

Flavors: Astringent, Bergamot, Cardamom, Citrus, Lemon, Vanilla

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec 3 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML
tea-sipper

aw, but that sounds like it would be a great combination of flavors…if it worked anyway.

Cameron B.

I know! I may steal the idea for my own tea creations ha ha.

Inkling

That is such a great concept! I wonder if there’s another company out there doing this flavor profile better…

tea-sipper

I wonder if Anne of 52Teas has made a blend like this yet…

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Profile

Bio

Hi, I’m Cameron! I’m a 30-something software engineer currently living in Austin, Texas with my husband and our two pugs, Gobo and Ume. I tend to cycle between my different hobbies, and they include piano, knitting, video games, board games, miniature painting, planners, bento, KBeauty, and – of course – TEA! But really, what I’m best at is “collecting” hobby-related things… ;)

~ 2024 SIPDOWN CHALLENGE! ~
- January Sipdowns: 6
- Total 2024 Sipdowns: 6

I prefer my tea lukewarm or at room temperature and without milk or sugar. I steep Western style, and fluctuate between using big mugs or small teapots depending on the season. Occasionally I’ll brew Gongfu style when I’m in the mood. I’ll also often use a kyusu for Japanese teas.

I am always up for a swap! Just let me know if you’d like to try something in my cupboard.

Tea Preferences:
I enjoy both flavored and unflavored teas in many forms. These days, I drink mostly flavored teas, and I tend to gravitate most toward black, green, oolong, and herbal varieties. I do have a special fondness for straight Japanese green teas, however. I also enjoy maté, rooibos, and honeybush. I love matcha and drink it often! Fruit tisanes are not a favorite, but I’m always willing to try them.

I do not sweeten my teas, and pre-sweetened teas are usually too sweet for me. I also do not enjoy stevia.

Fruit: All of them! My ‘go-to’s tend to be in the red fruits, stonefruit, or citrus spectra. I also really love apple, banana, berry, fig, lychee, melon, pear, and rhubarb flavors. Tropical fruits aren’t among my favorites, but I still enjoy them once in a while – especially passionfruit, mango, and pineapple. I am not generally a fan of coconut in tea, though there are some exceptions.

Dessert: I love creamy vanilla and marshmallow flavors, along with anything in the caramel family such as butterscotch, toffee, or maple. Chocolate is also a favorite, though I’m often disappointed by it in tea. And don’t forget anything buttery, cakey, or cookie-y!

Floral: I’m a little bit more particular in this category. I very much enjoy jasmine, even strong jasmine, along with sakura, chamomile, and elderflower. Osmanthus is also a favorite of mine. But I’m not crazy about rose or lavender flavors, and I prefer hibiscus in moderation only.

Spices: I don’t generally find myself drawn to masala chai, but I do enjoy spices combined with other flavors. My favorite spices are the warm ones, especially cinnamon, nutmeg, anise, and cardamom. A bit of heat from black pepper or chili is okay too, as long as it’s not overwhelming! Ginger can be a lovely accent, but I find it difficult to drink as a starring flavor.

Aromatics: I’m obsessed with Earl Grey! I also love cooling flavors such as mint (especially spearmint), pine, juniper, and eucalyptus. I am not a fan of strong rosemary or sage in tea.

Favorite Companies:
3 Leaf
Bird & Blend
Dammann Frères
Harney & Sons
Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms
Lupicia
Old Barrel Tea Co
Simpson & Vail
Taiwan Tea Crafts
TeaVivre

Tea Rating Scale:
90-100: Outstanding! Permanent cupboard resident
80-89: Great – a possible staple
70-79: Good, but I wouldn’t buy it
60-69: It’s decent
50-59: Meh… I may or may not have finished the cup
40-49: Ick. Couldn’t finish it.
00-39: Repulsive, I spat it out

I will sometimes refrain from rating a tea if I feel I’m too biased due to my personal dislikes, or if I suspect the sample has been compromised by age or scent contamination.

Cupboard Spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZEuKf1-ppR-VXajO4vV39zU1N3zjFJteEPAynqD2yl0/edit?usp=sharing

Location

Austin, Texas

Website

https://www.instagram.com/tea...

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