Paris

Time for a quick spot of tea while I wait for my ride and the 1.5 hour drive to the airport for the 4 hour flight to Ottawa. It seems fitting that I’m visiting the capital for the first time on Thanksgiving, when I’m grateful for this new job and new path in life.

Anyway, I love this tea. Today I had it with 1.5 teaspoons of sugar and some soy milk. I find soy milk makes my teas feel creamier, and I need less sugar. (Remember, my mug can hold 24 oz of yummy, delicious tea.) I think the vanilla notes come out more in this version. I’ll need the caffeine of this black tea to hold me up till I can sleep on the plane.

Oh, gotta run! See ya!

Bonnie sent me a sachet of this, and I’m really glad she did. I bought Paris once before and loved it, but now I’m convinced that the tin I bought before was a little stale as the tea that I’m brewing right now has a much stronger caramel and vanilla aroma than the tea I bought a few months ago. If I loved it stale, I can’t wait to see how I like it fresh. Now I wait a few minutes for it to cool down… It’s now five minutes later and I just took a few sips. Yep, the flavor is definitely a lot more pronounced in this batch. I’m getting much more vanilla, caramel and fruit whereas with the last time I had this it was mostly bergamot with a hint of cream. I’ve gotta say, I love it both ways.

1 sachet for 300mL water @100C, steeped too long because I got all distracted, maybe 6 minutes. Drunk bare.

That this tea is not bitter, but rich, after an over-steep, tells me a lot.

I think I’ve tried this before, this and London, and I wasn’t thrilled with either one. Tonight, Paris has an agreeable heavy and smooth mouthfeel. Something smells a bit artificial, almost like the grenadine flavouring in a Monks’ Blend — artificial vanilla, probably. It’s … odd to me, but I like the tea base better than I remember.

All those good reviews? Totally worth it. This tea is jawdroppingly good. I could snort this tea the smell is so intoxicating, and the taste is just as…..wow, I need to order a tin >_>

Anyhow, more details. It’s a fruity, citrusy, rose-y kind of thing. It’s like trying to explain FLCL to people that don’t watch anime (my fav one by the way!). It’s just this conglomeration of everything nom. BUY IT NAO

Busting open the second tin of my fresh H&S delivery for morning tea ..

Wow Paris, you confuzzle me yet again .. The first time I sampled this tea I wasn’t sure it was a stand-out .. The second time (new sachet/day, not a re-steep), it was remarkably better and I put it on my shopping list .. Now I’m getting a whole different flavour profile out of this new batch ?!

This time it started out like a dark fruity black, think plum/currant etc .. And as it’s cooling off I swear I’m picking up a hint of Candy Rose .. It’s fragrance is floral too, but none of the Citrus/Bergamot/ Earl Grey I mention in previous tasting notes ..

Has my palate totally lost the plot or is my mind playing tricks on me??

Either way I’m enjoying it, and very pleased to have a full tin in my cupboard once again :D

It was not long ago when I discovered a love for black tea. But the more black teas I try, the more I realize that I only really like the quality unflavored Chinese ones. I’m not sure why this is. But ah well. It has been fun. My flavored black tea experimentation will likely slow to a few select blacks. I may occasionally crave a milky black tea, but for those instances, I’m happy to stick with EGs or chai. I’m still keen on exploring the world of quality unflavored blacks though. :)

As for this tea, it is pleasant enough. Caramel and vanilla are evident from the beginning. The fruity qualities don’t really show until the cup has cooled. Nice enough with a smooth base. I wish I loved it as much as other Steepsters seem to. :)

Thank you, AlphaKitty, for the sample!

Can you believe this is my first time EVER sipping on this tea? Special thanks to Kristin for the opportunity to do so!!!

Bagged Version

It smells like fruit and chocolate. It brews a darker-brown with a reddish-orange hue. It’s not an overly strong black tea base – probably a lighter medium in strength. The citrus is juicy and helps cut the bitter-tart of the currants. The currants are then more pleasant in this pairing because of it. The chocolate is subtle and I can pick up on that flavor more on the end of the sip and on to the aftertaste. It does seem to contribute a smoothness to it as well!

YAY! I’m so happy I finally got to try this! Thanks Kristin!!!

SMILES on this one!

My first Harney & Sons.

A little back story, Uniquity dropped a hint that I could pick up H&S at my local Chapters! So I ran there as soon as I could, and the only kind was Paris. It sounded intriguing (although I’m dieing to try Florence), so I picked up a canister and never looked back.

Wow. It is delicious. I feel grown up! It’s delicate but has body, a little fruity and a little bergamot. I’m also in love, along with all of you!

Now tomorrow in my birthday and I have to choose what tea to have! Will it be Paris or Buttered Rum? A very difficult decision. Well, not really. I’ll have both, but which to have first?!

Please please tea-gods, may you bless me with more Harney & Sons one day.. one day..

Here’s Hoping Traveling Tea Box

This is one I’ve always meant to try! The flavors seem relatively mild. Not sure if the stuff in the tea box is getting old or it’s just a more subtle blend! Either way, this is an enjoyable morning cup!

i got home from my trip with this on my doorstep.
the day is overcast and i am in the bluest of moods.
this tea will comfort.