SimplyJenW

Wow! I love this! It is the perfect blend of coconut and creaminess! I am so happy that I bought a double! Thank.You.Frank!

The Three Golden Monkeys….

I must be on about cup #8 for China black tea sampling. This one is a good choice, because I currently have three varieties of Golden Monkey in my posession. On smelling all three, this one smells the richest and sweetest, and the other two smell more floral in comparison. (The two in this comparison are Harney’s Golden Monkey, and Adagio’s Golden Monkey.) I do think this is definitely the sweetest and smoothest of the three. It is the apple notes in with the honey and cocoa notes. Really, though, I am pretty much smitten with any Golden Monkey, but this one has me rethinking buying my next bunch from Harney.

Cost comparison: This one is $16.20 for a 125 gram bag or $18.20 for a 125 gram tin, resulting in a cost for the tin of $2 (and it is your choice!) and $3.68 per ounce. Shipping is a flat $4.20 in the US.

Harney is out of stock until Septemberish. They sell 4 ounces for $17 in a tin. Cost per ounce is $4.25. But you can usually find a shipping deal at $25 purchased. (Which is awesome to have such a low minimum for free shipping!)

Adagio is 3 ounces for $15 without a tin. That works out to $5 an ounce. Free shipping starts at $50, or is $3.75 flat rate in the US, unless you live in what they consider a rural area. Then I think it is more like $5.75 flat rate.

Prices might be related differently with greater volumes purchased, but I tend to stick with smaller amounts to make sure it is fresh. I have too many other tea loves to monogamously commit to one Golden Monkey. Really, they are all pretty close, and you are just better off to choose your favorite, or where you are shopping this week! I rank them for taste from best/best to least/best (weird name, but they are all good!) Upton ZP85, Harney, Adagio.

My morning tea…..

I like this tea, and it could easily replace my English Breakfast….until I order again! ;) A good basic China black tea at a great price.

I have to admit I am a little concerned at the issues faced by Canadian customers when ordering….. It is a shame, because I feel Harney has lots to offer, and we get stellar service with domestic shipping. I hope they can get their act together. I am not sure why international shipping goes out so much slower than domestic, or why those emails inquiring about international parcels seem to be ignored. They need to streamline their process, or be completely up front concerning international package turnaround (like do international packages only go out once a week?). They are in a global economy, and need to adapt.

I did finally purchase some of this tea because it was available on Amazon.com. It is a good rooibos with light vanilla flavor and almonds. I do think it is better with a little extra tea in the brew.

I still had a bit of this in my stash after swapping, and I decided to see how it compared to my memory of David’s Tea Buttered Rum.

The Rum Cream definitely has a vanilla and rum flavor that is pretty good. For a flavored tea, it really is enjoyable even though the second steap at 5 minutes is kind of weak. The Buttered Rum definitely smells sweeter, and the tea itself is in larger pieces. I can recall that the Buttered Rum is also smoother and had more of a creamy taste to the liquor. All that being said, the Rum Cream is not a bad substitute in a pinch, but I still prefer the other.

I tried this blend this afternoon courtesy of QueenofTarts. Thanks for swapping!

I have to say, I really had trouble tasting the other flavors in with the rooibos. I really did not even get a hint of black tea. I am finding that there are only a few red rooibos blends that I really enjoy. This one was good, but nothing special.

My morning tea since I am out of English Breakfast (I know!) Right now I am on the second steep at 5 minutes.

Good and easy. I did have this a few days ago, and way overbrewed. Not a good situation because it got very bitter. This is a good basic tea, just watch the steep time.

My afternoon cuppa for the day….

This one is really pretty good. It tastes like a good Fujian black where the cocoa notes are in overdrive. Very yummy and rich tasting.

I tried this one this afternoon. I am so glad I had a chance to sample it, because it would have been on my purchase list….. Thank you to ladykittykat for the sample, and saving me from a personal tea purchase blunder.

This one was a dump out for me. It was the ginger. I can handle a little ginger, but this one seemed a little overpowering. The good news for those of you that like ginger in your tea…it was ginger with a very fresh taste, and not like the powdered spice kind.

Oh Man! This is as good as everyone says it is! It really tastes like a butterscotch candy with a little sweetener added! Yum! I NEED it! Thank you Ottawa Tea for an awesome swap!

I am so torn on ordering, though. I DO NOT need $50 worth of tea…..as I already have a year’s supply and then some. I guess it is time to do some serious tea drinking so I can make some space!

This is one I added to my order for Rosy Earl Grey from Teas Etc. I have been on a blueberry black tea kick as of late. This is not my favorite blueberry tea, but it is pretty good! It is a good, solid black base with a hint of blueberry that comes out more with sweetener. Definitely pleasurable, very drinkable, and readily available, since my favorite blueberry tea is limited….. ;)

Wow! This is THE most chocolatey tea I have ever tasted. Rich, Decadent. It really is like dessert in a cup. Definitely staple-worthy! (Yes, I just made up a word!) The second steep was not quite as strong in the chocolate department, but still thoroughly enjoyable. This will so help me stay away from too many sweets!

Thank you Dinosara for the awesome HoppiTEA!

This was my afternoon cup today. I brewed it up for about three minutes with boiling water and added a little sweetener. It definitely reminded me of those windmill cookies. Lightly cinnamon flavored. It actually also reminded me of coffee just a little. I may add milk next time. I love the name, even though my actual boss is very cool.

Yayyy for HoppiTEA tea! And thank you, Dinosara!

This is my go to chai….I am not a big fan of chai, but this one has enough other things like coconut and lemongrass in it to keep it interesting.

I think I am coming down with something (likely, it is just Spring allergies….which means it is Spring!) and chai helps to keep my sinuses open. Prepered with water double strength, and then milk and sweetner added.

My afternoon cup. I was in the mood for something sweet and fruity. This one fit the bill. The fruit taste is somewhere between peach and orange with a little mango thrown in. (I have to admit, I have not ever tasted a real passionfruit.) Since I love all of those fruits blended with black tea, this is a great choice for me. Yum!

I am pretty sure it would hold up well for a second steep.

I was so pleased to have gotten a surprise sample of this in the package that Batrachoid sent. I have been drooling over Andrews & Dunham teas and their cool packaging. Thank you so much for sending me this…I imagine those who love Andrews & Dunham ration their tea, kind of like I do with my 52Teas limited blends.

This tea saved me from the East Friesian disaster of the morning, and restored my morning clarity. It is a great quality basic black that works for a holiday, or any day. It kind of reminds me of Queen Catherine, but maybe a little sweeter…and slightly smokier. The resteep was as good as the first cup.

No notes yet.

I was looking for a strong breakfast tea this morning…. Man, this one will put hairs on your chest for sure! I probably over steeped, and did not even consider adding milk before I dumped it (which is a shame, because I needed the tea for morning clarity to think of the milk first….). This is for the Irish Breakfast lovers on a day they want something stronger! And perhaps it is a good thing this one is not a love, as SpecialTeas is no more.

Thank you to Batrachoid for the sample and reminding me that I am pretty soft when it comes to tea! I like mine smooth enough to forgo the milk. I might just resteep this, for the sake of scientific experimentation, and I will remember the milk!

My first milk oolong. Thank you to Queen of Tarts for passing this along. I know this is not the best example of milk oolong, but I figured it was a good place to start in order to see if this type of tea has its place in my cupboard.

The leaves are huge…..and very green compared to most oolongs I have tried. I am drinking this one sans additions! I do get a bit of a green taste…I am guessing that is the vegetal taste people talk about when referring to a greenish oolong. Also, I see why it is called “milk” oolong; I definitely taste a milky creaminess even though the color of the liquid is lightly yellow-green and clear. This one is not something I would buy, but I will drink it. I can’t wait to try a few other milk oolongs! The second steep was about the same.

Best oolong ever (for flavored!) I can totally see myself drinking this often especially in the summer months. It is fruity and refreshing. Must try it iced at some point. Thank you Dinosara for an awesome HoppiTEA Swap treat!

The fruit flavors are paired with a darker oolong base. You don’t really get any vegetal flavors with this one (as I am assuming that is what they are called with a greener oolong…yes, the oolong noob that I am.) I can definitely tast the mango and something other berry…kind of between a raspberry and a cranberry. Love it!

I have had this for about a week, but finally opened it today. I saw the recent tasting notes of ashmanra and JacquelineM and could not put it off any longer…..

This is wonderfully smooth….lightly smokey with cocoa notes and a rich taste. Definitely a wonderful tea, and well worth the price. Harney has a way with tea!

Second steep is as good as the first..steeped for 5 minutes. Shall we go for three?

This one is raspberry and coconut with a darkish black base. It resteeps well, and really makes a great dessert tea. I am not sure it is one I could drink frequently, but it is definitely a treat! Thank you to ladykittykat for an awesome swap!

I am onto my third? sample of David’s Tea. All I have to say is that I am jealous of my Canadian tea drinker friends. I think David’s has great quality from all that I have had a chance to try thus far. And for some of you, you can visit the shop! I am still trying to get to a shop that does not start with ‘T’. I have a feeling, that if I were able to shop for tea in person, I would be drowning in tea, rather than just swimming in it!

Yes….Happiness and relaxation in a cup. This truly is a restorative to me, and will be close to my heart like my Rose Congou. Luckily, Teas Etc. finally returned my email with good news….it is back in stock!

There is a perfect balance of floral and bergamot notes along with green and black tea base. I did slightly sweeten mine, but truly a wonderful tea! Thank you JacquelineM for sending me a generous sample! I am noticing that our tastes seem to run very similar!

I have started to make this iced….. 4 slightly heaping tsp. in my 45 oz. teapot, boiling water. Steep for 10 minutes and allow to cool. Serve over ice.

Very refreshing! Needs no additions. It has a sweet, minty, citrusy taste. Just ordered more!