This tea is perfect. I am hoping so, so hard that I never get sick of it the way I can with many a tea, because it really is as perfect as its “back story” makes it out to be. I read the back story last night (about how it was part of a project to improve Portugal’s image and is the only Western tea to be featured in the Chinese tea museum) and dreamed really, really big.
Last night was perhaps the first night in a long while that i’ve had decent sleep, and although I’m still feeling a bit tired this morning, I actually slept through the night and woke to the sound of my alarm, and excitedly got out of bed because I’d planned for this tea this morning.
The dry smell of the leaf was actually a bit misleading. It sort of has an earthy, barn-yard-esque quality to it that was reminiscently evocative of the keemun I sampled from art of Tea and didn’t quite like, although the barnyard factor was significantly less pronounced in these leaves. I brewed it up as per keychange, so about five minutes and my usual cream and sugar, and was blown away.
This is perhaps the first tea I’ve ever tried that tastes sort of like a campfire, with sweet hints of maple and a fresh, rain-soaked wind that has whipped through a dense forest. It is not astringent in the slightest, and I can absolutely see what all the fuss is about (which is a relief, let me tell you. I always feel like a bit of a failure when I don’t get what the fuss is about over a beloved tea on steepster).
Seriously, if any of you guys want to try some of this, let me know. It’s amazing. I want it in my collection forever!
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I like this one a lot, too. :)
Isn’t it so wonderful? I knew upon drinking it that I wouldn’t be able to do it justice in a tasting note, but my god it’s perfect.
Yay! I recently fell in love with the Queen too, and now we hang out regularly. (:
So do we! She is so graceful and inviting and perfect!
Hooray for the Queen! (beautiful with a teaspoon of the Harney Rose Scented mixed in as well.
oh man i’m gonna have to try this one soon! your delight is contagious.
Try it try it try it! Want me to send you some?
and shmiracles, so does that equal two tsp of tea? one of each? it isn’t too strong?
sorry, that question was to rosehips!
Hehe I love this one. Glad there are some fellow Queen admirers around now… there was awhile there when nobody was posting about her!
We should always post about her! she deserves it!
Right?! Dang I’m craving a cup now lol
Me too!!
I use one tsp of the queen with one of rose scented for a small pot of tea, and it turns out beautifully.
That’s good to know! I usually brew a mug at a time, so maybe i’ll do half a tsp of each an see how that goes. I have yet to try rose-scented, but I have it in my cupboard, so it won’t be long!
That sounds like a good ratio. I cant wait to hear what you think of this combo.
You’ve sold me on trying this – love your description and tasting note.
I would love love love to try this one if you are up to send!
This is a dearly beloved of mine. I always have some Catherine on the shelf. When I was having radiation for breast cancer, my daughter had a pot of Catherine ready for me when I came in the door, and it really picked me up. Just reading the story of the real Catherine, her courage, and her very different kind of honor and love than we are used to hearing in today’s love stories, really are inspiring and worthy of thought.
I’d love to send you some, Haley D. Send me a pm if that’s even still a feature here (haven’t been on in ages!). I should have the Queen with breakfast tomorrow!
I like this one a lot, too. :)
Isn’t it so wonderful? I knew upon drinking it that I wouldn’t be able to do it justice in a tasting note, but my god it’s perfect.
Yay! I recently fell in love with the Queen too, and now we hang out regularly. (:
So do we! She is so graceful and inviting and perfect!
Hooray for the Queen! (beautiful with a teaspoon of the Harney Rose Scented mixed in as well.
oh man i’m gonna have to try this one soon! your delight is contagious.
Try it try it try it! Want me to send you some?
and shmiracles, so does that equal two tsp of tea? one of each? it isn’t too strong?
sorry, that question was to rosehips!
Hehe I love this one. Glad there are some fellow Queen admirers around now… there was awhile there when nobody was posting about her!
We should always post about her! she deserves it!
Right?! Dang I’m craving a cup now lol
Me too!!
I use one tsp of the queen with one of rose scented for a small pot of tea, and it turns out beautifully.
That’s good to know! I usually brew a mug at a time, so maybe i’ll do half a tsp of each an see how that goes. I have yet to try rose-scented, but I have it in my cupboard, so it won’t be long!
That sounds like a good ratio. I cant wait to hear what you think of this combo.
You’ve sold me on trying this – love your description and tasting note.
I would love love love to try this one if you are up to send!
This is a dearly beloved of mine. I always have some Catherine on the shelf. When I was having radiation for breast cancer, my daughter had a pot of Catherine ready for me when I came in the door, and it really picked me up. Just reading the story of the real Catherine, her courage, and her very different kind of honor and love than we are used to hearing in today’s love stories, really are inspiring and worthy of thought.
I’d love to send you some, Haley D. Send me a pm if that’s even still a feature here (haven’t been on in ages!). I should have the Queen with breakfast tomorrow!