Vanilla Comoro

I got this in the great big box that Dax Pamela Dean sent to me a while back and since so very many of you, including JacquelineM who is well known to a bit of an expert on vanilla teas, count it among your favourites. So I’ve been looking forward to trying it, even though I have to say I’m a bit wary of this whole decaf business. I’ve had a couple of decaf teas in my life before but never (that I can recall) in any sort of succesful way.

It’s standing next to me, wafting vanilla aroma all over the place. It’s a sugary sweet sort of vanilla aroma to me, not the rubbery leathery roughness of the pod. The aroma, on closer inspection (nose to cup), strikes me as strangely alien. I can tell it’s vanilla, yes, but I’m not sure I’d say I could tell it was tea. I would of course be able to identify it as tea through a qualified guess, but it’s not something that really says, “I’m tea, I smell like this!” It’s like something is missing, and I’m suspecting it’s something to do with the decaffeination process.

Flavour-wise, I have to say I’m surprised that it’s so popular. It’s definitely not my ideal vanilla tea, but that said, it’s not unpleasant either. Let’s start at the bottom with what I can make out of the base. It would help a lot of if I could figure out what the base actually is, because all I’m really getting out of it is a fairly wooden flavour. I can’t for the life of me spot this ‘rich malty character’ business that H&S mentions in the description. Just… wood.

The vanilla flavouring is good though. It’s strong, yet subtle all at the same time. Probably because the vanilla itself has a funny dark flavour (identifies as black or very dark brown in my synesthesia), which sort of expands and fills the mouth.

I’m lacking the pod flavour though. That syrup-like, leathery feeling to it is completely missing, and the absence of it makes the flavouring feel a little synthetic. The presence of detectable vanilla pod gives a vanilla tea an impression of authenticity and without it, we may as well be looking at synthetic aroma.

So in a way I’m both relieved and disappointed. I do like the tea, but I’m disappointed that I can’t find it in myself to love it as much as most of the rest of you. For the same reason I’m also relieved, since it’s not a tea that is available to me unless I get someone to buy it for me and forward it, which would be a very impractical way to shop.

So if I can’t have the Vanilla Nilgiri from Chi of Tea anymore, which I had otherwise named my Perfect Vanilla Tea, then I’ll just have to keep on looking.

Well, this is weird. I just added a tasting note for White Lion’s Vanilla Dolce, in which I said that the vanilla scent was stronger than in Harney’s Vanilla Comoro and also that I liked it better.

So, Self, I said, there’s that tin of Harney’s and it’s decaf, so why not do a comparison right away?

I sniffed the Harney’s and got what I now recognize as the mapley aroma mentioned long ago by ashmanra. Then I sniffed the White Lion, smugly expecting a blast of vanilla.

Guess what. No aroma at all from the White Lion dry leaves. Maybe my sense of smell was tired? I waited a bit and tried again. Same result.

So I brewed up the Harney’s and, dudes. I am so confused now. It smells so pretty. I have got to get my hands on the loose stuff.

Wanting tea past midnight, I decided to open my sample of this. I’ve never had a decaf tea before, just obviously tisanes.

I don’t think I’ll be reaching for a decaf tea anytime again soon. Since I’ve heard so many good things about this tea on here, I thought I’d try it. I love vanilla, and I wish I could drink black tea all the time.

But this is just not doing it for me. The vanilla is nice but it’s just flat. I’m guessing that has to do with the base tea, which honestly doesn’t taste like much of anything beyond woodsy. Of course my vanilla bar is probably set really high but this seriously falls flat. It’s like a stale sugar cookie :(

Oh well, like I said earlier in a comment somewhere, if we all liked the same things, there’d be no point to this website.

Yeah, this one just isn’t happening for me today. The vanilla is almost completely absent, and it doesn’t seem to matter what I do, it basically refuses to make an appearance. I don’t know if it’s because it’s decaf, but I can’t really even taste the tea base, so the tea can’t really be redeemed for me that way, either. I don’t hate it, but I feel absolutely no inclination to restock. I want a tea with a lot more vanilla in it than this one. I wanted to like this so badly, but alas, there are more teas to love and that’s just a fact.
But yeah, very dissatisfying experience. My lunch also left a lot to be desired, so perhaps I’ll plan for a day-saving cup once I go home.
Does anyone want a few sachets of vanilla Comoro?

Today has been a productive day, so I am rewarding myself with a cup of Vanilla Comoro. I’ve wanted to try this tea since forever, and have heard so many good things about it. I was certainly impressed when I opened the bag and noticed a sugary vanilla icing scent from the dry leaves. While steeping, the tea filled the kitchen with a wonderful sweet aroma. The brewed tea reminds me of the way warm iced sugar cookies smell. I already love this tea for the aroma alone!

The flavor is even better than expected! Finally a tea that lives up to it’s scent! There is a smooth vanilla flavor and a creamy finish. The aftertaste is pure vanilla icing – perfect! This is one of those rare teas that for me, would be fine to stand alone without any added sweetener or milk. Of course I added some of both just to check, and it makes for a creamier cup, but is wonderful either way. Next time I am going to try added some vanilla-infused sugar that I have. Very happy that I am finally trying this tea, and that it is even better than expected. Now to curl up in bed with my book and a cup of this tea, ahhhhhh.

-Dry blend has medium and large black and brown tea leaves and twigs with small light brown specks throughout.
-Dry leaves smell strongly of sugary vanilla. Tea liquor aroma is of warm iced sugar cookies.
-Tea liquor is a clear dark brown color.
-Smooth vanilla flavor with a creamy finish. Rich vanilla icing aftertaste.
-Milk and sweetener optional.
-Excellent tea. Perfect vanilla flavor. Reminiscent of vanilla icing.

A book club tea from Threewhales! Every time I go to Harney & Sons’ physical store I swear that I am going to pick some of this up. Then I forget, and end up coming home with 5 different teas that were totally not on the list. So I’m happy to finally have some of this!

As others have said, this is a rich and creamy vanilla tea. It’s not very complex but I don’t think that is necessarily a bad thing, sometimes you want a simple, delicious cup of tea! And this certainly fits the bill, it reminds me of frosting. Mmmm, vanilla! One of the best flavors for a tea, I think, especially one with a black base.

On its own it’s delightful, but I think this will really shine with some blending. I’m thinking with a rose earl grey to make a rosy EG cream, or with Lemon Dreams for a particularly indulgent bedtime treat (since this is deaf!).

Yes. YES. I had been looking for a legitimately clean tasting smooth creamy vanilla taste and THIS DELIVERS! This is pure bliss – it’s so milky and creamy tasting even without milk or cream added. Deliciously sweet just like a vanilla milkshake.

This is just all sorts of amazing.

Thank you so much VariaTEA for letting me sample this!

I woke up with swollen eyes this morning. Maybe I’m allergic to something :( Kinda odd though.

Eve sent me this in our recent swap and i had a giant cup last night as i watched 2 Teen Wolf episodes.

i would have never expected that i would like this tea as much as i do!! i usually kinda avoid vanilla by itself cuz it’s a bit fakey sometimes. but i didn’t mind this at all. not at all. it’s a mellow mild vanilla. and the tea is still warm cozy tea. it’s just real nice. reeeeal nice.

i am reminded yet again that i should just kinda stay away from rooibos and super herbal blends and just keep my caffeine free options simple. ginger, mint, decafs, and buckwheat, etc.
i’m glad Eve had some to give me. it was a great reminder.

Thanks to Dr Jim for starting Traveling Tea Box C

I haven’t had a chance to try many teas from Harney and Sons so after about an hours worth of digging through the traveling tea box I decided to start with this one. Boy, after a really bad day plus a day of disappointing tea this sure hit the spot. It has an authentic vanilla taste, in fact it tastes just like vanilla beans and has a hint of sweetness. I love the fact that this is decaf, it is the perfect tea to end the day with.

I think I’m going to get off the computer, find my book, and relax with this tea (and quite possibly make it to bed before 3 am for a change.)

Today has been such a rollercoaster. On the upside, my H&S order came in, so I have a ton of exploring to do! On the downside, I’m not having a very good time in one of my courses. Paradoxical expectational kind of stuff. Yay.

But this tea is a pleasant surprise. I’m on the same “Whaaaaat, decaf?!” boat as everyone else. The dry leaf smells incredibly sweet. A little on the artificial side, but it’s a similar vanilla I’ve smelled in other vanilla teas. Sugared vanilla.

Very strong sugary vanilla aroma too. It makes you get it straight, that hey, you’re about to drink some serious vanilla tea here.

The taste, like those cubes of vanilla caramel wrapped in plastic. SO that to the tenth power, yo. It’s nice but glad I only got a sample pouch. A bit too cloying for my tastes.

Tonight’s a Pink Floyd kind of night.