Donna A

Donna A drank Mangalam Full-Leaf by Harney & Sons

I’m zipping a long through my Harney tea samples, having finished my first cup of Panyang Congou, a black tea blend from the Fujian province-a delicious tea that I would re-order. Now, I’m on to a completely different black, from the Mangalam Tea Plantation in the middle of Assam in India. It is labeled Or. 644 2011. This has a lot of golden tips and the dry leaf has an appealing aroma. It is brisk in a good way, and has a more mellow honeyed flavor than some other Assams I’ve had, along with the maltiness you would expect. It does not require milk and has no bitterness whatsoever. It is still strong enough to make a good morning cup. So far, I’ve been pleased with my Harney selections. They have free shipping ending tonight. Hmmm.

2012-12-02 16:37:36 -0500

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Tea has become a recent passion of mine. I fell into it almost by accident, but now I would say it has captured me. Tea is more than something tasty to sip on, it is an experience-it helps create a mood and is quite interesting to read about and study. I discovered loose tea at the tea store at my mall. I was looking for alternatives to Coke Zero and white wine. Say what you will about that mall chain, but I’m sure it has raised awareness about tea where I live, in the land of bagged mass produced black tea prepared with lots of sugar, Atlanta, Georgia. That’s what happened with me, and then I started perusing the internet and found Steepster.

When I take on an interest or a hobby, I go into it full force and become a little obsessive about it in the beginning. I have always been adventurous when it comes to trying new foods, and once I discovered there was so much more out there than the Lipton tea I saw my mom drinking when I was growing up, I started trying many different varieties of loose tea. I have discovered I like all kinds of tea. Some of the teas I seem to be craving the most are good black teas, but it depends on my mood. I love something like Golden Fleece, a Dian Hong from Verdant. I also appreciate quality greens and oolongs and have enjoyed some pu-erh as well. Whites are often a little too mild for my taste, unless flavored. I still drink flavored teas quite often, but lately, I have veered a lot toward straight teas. I like flavored matcha lattes too. I don’t consider myself qualified to judge quality. When I rate a tea, it’s just my personal taste, so I don’t tend to post on things I don’t care for. Also, I tend to sweeten my tea with natural stevia (a no no for some!) I am a married Registered Nurse, with two kids in college and one in medical school. Two of them enjoy checking out my teas when they are home, sometimes with their friends. My husband is not hooked like I am, but he often enjoys a cup with me. I enjoy many other interests, including reading, gardening, the arts, and the outdoors. Anytime I can include tea in these pursuits, I do! It has become a bit of an obsession for me.