90
drank Citrus Blend by Harney & Sons
985 tasting notes

Tea of the morning…..

I am so lucky! I came home from a short vacation last week to a package of Earl Grey samples from Russel at the Millerton Shop. Too fun! There are two super samples I have never tried, and two smaller ones that I have not had for a while (it will be fun to revisit those, because I have noticed that my tastes have changed just a little bit over the course of my tea journey.) I have this, the Organic Earl Grey, and smaller samples of Tower of London and Viennese Earl Grey.

This one held the most interest as it has been on my list to try for some time. Since I love Diamond Jubilee, it only makes sense that this would also be a great choice for me.

As I drink this, I keep comparing it to the Goute Russe Douchka from Dammann Freres. All of the wonderful notes of citrus are there. Orange, grapefruit, bergamot. Nice leaf quality. I do think I have found a replacement as Dammann teas are not easy to come by in the States unless you want to pay a premium for them. I can get almost a pound of this for the cost of 100g of the other. This will do quite nicely! I am trying to place the base on this one, but really, it is overpowered by the citrus notes and just reads as a good one. It is very similar to Diamond Jubilee, too, although it lacks the beautiful silver tips. I must try it iced very soon. I will thoroughly enjoy drinking my way through this super sample! Thank you so much, Russel!

Usual teapot method.

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec
ashmanra

Happy birthday, right? :D I think you and my middle daughter share one!

SimplyJenW

It is close to my birthday (July 22), but my anniversary is tomorrow! I tend to plan ahead on my birthday gifts… I just ordered some Zokus today!

ashmanra

Ah, that’s right! You share my mother’s birthday, not my daughter’s! Well, I had the right month. LOL! I think you will love the Zoku. I just had my daughter pick up another for me in Raleigh because we are using them all the time. If hubby is home and working outside, which is happening a lot between the chickens and the new fence, he may have two slushes a day, and we need one more cup in the freezer so someone else can have one, too! I have been making root beer freezes this week. The tea slushes are the very best thing in it to me, though!

SimplyJenW

I ordered two for us and one for my sister who has a three year old and an almost 2 year old. I can’t wait to try them! We do have a Williams-Sonoma close-ish, but I don’t have time to drive there this week! And thanks for the early ‘Happy Birthday’!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

People who liked this

Comments

ashmanra

Happy birthday, right? :D I think you and my middle daughter share one!

SimplyJenW

It is close to my birthday (July 22), but my anniversary is tomorrow! I tend to plan ahead on my birthday gifts… I just ordered some Zokus today!

ashmanra

Ah, that’s right! You share my mother’s birthday, not my daughter’s! Well, I had the right month. LOL! I think you will love the Zoku. I just had my daughter pick up another for me in Raleigh because we are using them all the time. If hubby is home and working outside, which is happening a lot between the chickens and the new fence, he may have two slushes a day, and we need one more cup in the freezer so someone else can have one, too! I have been making root beer freezes this week. The tea slushes are the very best thing in it to me, though!

SimplyJenW

I ordered two for us and one for my sister who has a three year old and an almost 2 year old. I can’t wait to try them! We do have a Williams-Sonoma close-ish, but I don’t have time to drive there this week! And thanks for the early ‘Happy Birthday’!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

Profile

Bio

My motto: Drink the good tea!

Tea enthusiast, trying to keep up my cardio for the zombie apocalypse. I have come to accept that I am a western brewing black tea drinker as that is where my ‘tea heart’ lies. I started on loose leaf as a way to have my dessert and not suffer the caloric issues. Once I tried it, I was hooked.

I drink what I like, which is mostly China blacks, a few traditionally scented blacks and Earl Greys, plus a flavored tea here and there. I don’t mind spending a bit on premium varieties on occasion, but an expensive tea has to deliver. My favorite places to order are Harney & Sons and Upton Tea Imports. TeaVivre is great for Chinese tea.

My ratings are pretty subjective. If it falls under 70, I may not take the time to post about it unless I had something specific to say. If it is 70-80 I like it, but I will probably not rebuy. Favorites are over 80 and up, but sometimes the less expensive or more easily obtainable version of a similar taste will win out for my cupboard space.

Usual teapot steeping method: 24 oz teapot, 3 perfect scoops of tea (4 1/2 actual tsp), freshly boiled water, 4 minutes. Lightly sweetened.

Usual mug steeping method: 15 oz mug, 1.5 perfect scoops of tea (just over 2 actual tsp), freshly boiled water, 4 minutes. Lightly sweetened.

Usual pan method: 1 1/2 cups water, 2 perfect tsp chai (3 actual tsp). Simmer for 3 minutes. Add 2/3 cup skim milk. Simmer for 2 more minutes. Strain and sweeten.

Usual pitcher method:
5 or 6 Perfect Spoons of tea (this means about 7-9 actual tsp), freshly boiled water, brewed essentially double-strong in my 24 oz teapot for 4 minutes. Fill my Fiestaware Disc pitcher (about 60 oz.) halfway with ice. Add brewed double-strong tea to the pitcher. Stir it a little and enjoy. No additions.

(*SRP is my Sample/Stash Reduction Plan starting on April 12, 2012. I got so far, but just decided it was too fussy to keep track.)

Location

Ohio

Following These People

Moderator Tools

Mark as Spammer