2901 Tasting Notes
My packet of this silky and elegant oolong with caramel overtones has lasted forever, simply because I refuse to drink it when I am busy, rushed, or distracted. I am perpetually busy, rushed, or distracted—mostly the latter!
Took a “snow day” vacation at home to work on overdue writing assignment and soon-to-be-due writing self-employment bookkeeping (blech). This, plus lemon jelly sandwich cookies, is sweetening an otherwise unpleasant task.
There are days—-most of you have been having them lately, too—-when refinement and subtlety and tenderly monitored steep times just don’t matter. And you get so tired and chilled that the first warm liquid hitting your dry throat and empty stomach is liquid ambrosia, brand notwithstanding.
One little bag of Red Rose did that on a beastly cold afternoon with office doors swinging open while they moved equipment in and out. I wouldn’t have preferred any other tea in the world at that moment.
I think every pleasant, sweet, toothsome, scrumptious, luxurious, satiny, pastry-like adjective in the book has been thrown at this one in the scores of reviews here. I am at a loss to add a new one. That does not, however, keep me from thoroughly enjoying this cup!
This was the freebie bag in the latest RoT catalog that landed in our box. It smells luscious—like a Yankee Candle. Flavor is not unpleasant, by any means, but not getting any caramel out of it. Saw another note that mentioned hazelnut, and indeed, that’s more accurate. The ingredient list puzzled me. I have no animosity against either blackberry leaves or carob, but wondered what they’re doing in a brew with this moniker.
Ah, well—it’s warm and sweet and I’m cranky and cold. Surely it’ll help with one symptom or the other.
(However, a disclaimer here: wasn’t paying attention to steep time; I may have gotten a bit too impatient.)
Snow, ice, wind chill advisories: another week requiring solid, sensible, stout black tea. This qualifies. Not quite as strong as my old faithful PG Tips; a little keemun in there to add a little perkiness to the dark base. Requires no special steeping attention—throw it in and go. That’s always a plus.
This nearly invincible builders’ tea is reserved especially for snowy and weathery days. (Thus a small tin gifted by ashmanra months and months ago is much like Elijah and the widow’s jar of flour. Good story. You should read it.) Steeped it strong and black, let it go cold on my desk till it was stronger and blacker, sloppily heated it back up in the microwave—still drinkable and kept me propped upright all day.
