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Also known as Orange Pekoe, this classic blend of strong Assam and smooth liquoring Ceylon, this tea produces a mellow, satisfying cup. The “Orange” in the name refers to the size of the tea leaf, Orange Pekoe leaves being the largest style leaves. A traditional staple in many households, John drinks this tea whenever he needs a comforting cup.
www.harney.com
This is often my early morning wake-up tea. I find it best if mellowed by a splash of milk.
In comparing this to Assam, I can definitely taste the Assam, but there is a light briskness atop the Assam in which I think I can attribute to the Ceylon. Just like Assam it takes milk well. But that Ceylon adds a little bit extra on the pallet.
The color is lighter than Assam, more translucent and more of a malty color.
Business trips and conferences are rarely kind to the tea lover. Hotels always have a coffeemaker and plenty of coffee. Rarely do they have a means of getting hot water that isn’t coffee-tainted. I’ve started bringing my Hot Shot with me.
This summer, though, at our state conference, the hotel had tea. Harney & Sons, even. Yes, in bags, but I don’t mind bags at all. They had a little supply in the rooms (with a hot water dispenser, in fact), and at breakfast, they brought you a carafe of hot water and about a dozen bags of different flavors. My coworkers, bless them, tucked away the tea in their rooms each day so the staff would replace it, and presented me with a fairly large baggie full on our way home.
This tea is one of those “gifts”. A good, strong cup to convince me that I really do have to go to work today. If, for nothing else, to see my coffee-obsessed coworkers.
The aroma is light and the color dark and translucent. The usually hearty Assam taste is quite subdued and mellowed by the Ceylon. The flavor is only slightly dry, which seems to be hidden by a little sugar. In my opinion, the flavor blossoms quite nicely when a little cream is added as well. This is an excellent anytime tea. It has that delicious Assam flavor by with a slightly smoother and more complex character. Take care, however, as this tea turns very bitter very quickly if left to steep too long. I recommend four minutes just to be safe.
This one isn’t bad, but reminds of what many companies market as English Breakfast. I do try to steep it a shorter time since the leaf particles are smaller than I usually buy, but today I understeeped it so it is a little bland. Even so, it is more astringent than my favorite pekoe which is Extra Fancy Ceylon Orange Pekoe from A Southern Season. It is more of a strong morning wake-up cuppa than a comforting, round, smooth aaaaah! relaxation tea. A good buy for the price, but I won’t be making an effort to keep it in the cupboard. When this tin is empty I will fill it with Southern Season pekoe!
My first Harney & Sons…and I overbrewed it! This tea is a fine crushed blend and a little goes a long way. My “normal” amount of tea resulted in a brew too strong to drink. The immediate resteep was good though. I turned the strong stuff into iced tea. Not bad, needs sugar and maybe a twist of lemon for me…definitely some sugar. The brew was clear and bright, like I expect from ceylon teas, with body of Indian teas (not sure what the blend is, but I’d guess Assam). Not giving a thumbs up or down on my mistake.
A strong, slightly spicy tea with a round flavor. A drop or two of milk smooths out the Assam edges. Robust.
