May Sipdown Prompt – a limited edition or seasonal tea
A few weeks ago a friend stopped by and gave me this tin. Apparently Harney and Sons had a special promotion where you got a free tin of this with a $50 order or some such. I assumed it was actually their 30th anniversary but I see that there are reviews 9 years old, so this is a special reblend. It is no longer showing on their website and apparently the only way to get it was a free gift this time.
The tin is gorgeous. The front has the classic black and gold label style but there is no paper label. Instead it is embossed and highlighted in gold paint. The back is embossed with their logo, no gold paint, and just says Harney and Sons black tea, so I will definitely keep this and refill it with other teas. I have a small, wall mounted Chippendale shelf that can hold ten 4 ounce Harney tins and tea cups and saucers. Right now with all my sipdowns, this tin is all alone on the top shelf. (I only use their black and gold tins on that shelf) There is still room to add two small tins on each side, and when I begin to restock my Harney teas after enough sipdowns, I will be buying smaller amounts. One thing that gets me in cupboard-trouble is thinking I HAVE to have the biggest tin of something I love, and I just can’t drink it all.
As for tea inside the gorgeous tin – Ashman really, really likes it. He baffles me. I will think a tea is fairly smooth and he will want milk and sugar with it. Another that I think needs milk and sugar, he says he likes without, and he likes this one without.
I like this tea, but I would not purchase it myself. The combination of teas here really is classic taste that screams TEA. But there is an edge to it like darjeeling has, and that is something I enjoy when I am in the mood for it, but I am rarely in the mood for it. Assam usually hurts my tummy unless it is all golden tip or has a bit of milk, but this one doesn’t bother me. The high Ceylon silver tip notes are probably what make me think of darjeeling.
It is a fine, well made tea of quality ingredients, it just isn’t my favorite type of tea. It is one that, on the right day and in the right mood, would make me sigh and say, “Now this is a cuppa tea!”
