Boston Blend

Backlog. 12 days ago – Friday morning.

I like the Boston black tea so much I couldn’t wait to have it again. And it was every bit as enjoyable as the first time I had it. I think I maybe have used a bit more leaf and steeped it a bit longer. It tasted very good this way tho. I may increase the steeping time to the full five minutes next time to see if I prefer it that way.

The second steep was very weak. To the point of being undrinkable as tea. So I think if I end up going with a longer first steep, this is a single steep tea. Which kind of sucks because I’ve wanted a second cup immediately both times I’ve had it.

I am really regretting the small amount of this tea that I have.

Backlog. 20 days ago, early Sunday afternoon.

Even after the raspberry black tea, I still needed some more caffeine and I was still very much on my Boston kick of early on after trying it. I did not get the wonderful that I got off the possibly increased steeping time and increased amount of leaves by steeping it 5 minutes. But it was still every bit at lovely as it had been the first two times.

Resteeped after a 5 minutes first steep, the second steep comes out too watery to really be enjoyed. If I end up preferring it with a longer steeping time on the first steep, I think this will end up being a single steep tea. But I’m not sure I’ve going to notice much of a different between a 4 and a 5 minute steep.

2nd steep: 11 mins.

It has been several days since I’ve able to sit down and enjoy a cup of tea. I’ve been so busy that every cup of tea has been on the go. Boston is tasting amazing today. I am really enjoying this cup with a bit of honey and half and half. Since this tea is better tonight than ever before, I’m upping the rating on this one.

I usually add a bit of sugar to this tea but decided to try it with honey tonight. The honey changes the taste, but I really like it this way. It is more of a candied fruit type of flavor but not overly sweet. I may not always put honey in it, but I am enjoying this change of pace tonight.

This is a really comforting tea that I enjoy in the evenings. The cranberry and almond flavors are balanced nicely with the black tea base. I love that Harney uses high quality tea as bases for flavors!

I am up late working on the kitchen re-do. There is a pantry closet in the kitchen that first held a washing machine and water heater. We moved the water heater out years ago and used that side for food storage. Recently, we got an idea of how to move the washer so the dryer, which has been in the outside storage room, can be beside it. The closet is now becoming our bread center, where I have a stainless steel table, my buckets of wheat beneath, and several appliances on top. I am removing the closet doors and painting the inside of this closet that has been a utility closet for over fifty years. Can you say grungy? And I am also painting the new cabinets we installed over where my new washer and dryer will sit when they are delivered Friday.

And I have to finish all this because Monday I have to pick up the election materials and set up our polling place and Tuesday I will have to work a fifteen to sixteen hour day for the election. Wednesday is free other than schooling youngest, but Thursday has an orthodontist appointment, two students coming, and writers group at my house. But right now my house is a WRECK with everything from the closet and cabinets scattered everywhere, which is where it will have to stay until the paint dries and cures.

I needed something really soothing and elegant tasting to make me feel better. I usually go for a jasmine tea at a time like this, but I needed to take a break and then get going again, so I really wanted a black tea.

And this is the one. It is perfectly what I needed right now, I am drinking out of my Old Country Roses breakfast cup so it will cool faster because I am so hot from working. The cranberry gives the fruity sweetness but the almond really makes this blend. I really think I love this more than Cranberry Autumn. It is such a comforting and cozy cup of tea. I was relieved to see that I still have plenty of leaf since I restocked it last winter. It is sooo good.

Tea party was a day late this week. It was a gray, rainy day so I chose Boston for our flavored black. The cranberry is bright but is softened, mellowed by the almond. It is a really rich experience, very soothing today.

Youngest daughter suggested this one for tea party today, and I almost said to choose something else because I think of winter and the holidays with this tea since that I when I first had it. I am so glad I kept it on the menu. This was the last tea I drank today, but it made such an impact. The almond flavor made me think of JacquelineM. Is this one of the nostalgia teas? It definitely reminds me of the fine French teas I have tried. Silky smooth and lovely, the cranberry is bright without being tart, and the almond…oh, the almond is a liquid caress. Biscuity marzipan. Sigh. Happy, happy sigh.

A new discovery – Boston tastes GREAT cold! This is a very good thing because after hanging out four lines of clothes and planting fifty caladium bulbs and three ferns in 94 degree heat, I couldn’t face anything hot! This was really good and refreshing. The very mellow mood of this tea changed and became a refreshing and bright pick me up! And I didn’t even sweeten it!

This was served for tea party today, and the aroma drew an immediate reaction. It does smell sooo good! The cranberry high note is rounded by a full, deep almond or amaretto scent and flavor. So nice! I drank it sans additions, guests took it with milk and sugar. Everyone liked it, even the children but they are seasoned tea drinkers! Why don’t I make this more often?? I am glad mrawlins brought it to my mind so I could suggest it for today’s offerings. Many thanks to my little barista, my youngest daughter, who makes all the teas and prepares the dessert plates for our tea parties!

Mike Harney, you done good! :)

I love the aroma of this tea! It tastes very good even without additions. Tonight it had the unfair trial of being tasted right alongside The de Cigales by Dammann Freres. The Boston won in the aroma category, but the Dammann Freres has more flavor. Granted it is a different flavor tea, but with the same “mood” of cup in my opinion. They are warm contemplative cups. A very good tea with a heavenly aroma.

Today’s tea party teas were Golden Luo by Harney and Sons and Boston. Boston was the hands down winner among the folks who drink their tea with no additions. This tea is…sigh….a hug in a cup. I really don’t want to talk to anyone while I drink it because I want to keep my nose in the cup, sniffing the lovely aroma. This one is already going on my reorder, and I have only had it for one week, but the tea guests all love it! Must have more….pound bag, here we come!

I attempted to cold-brew a small batch of this tea (2 teaspoons for 10 oz, steeped and put in the refrigerator for about 10 hours). I added a bit of sugar, since I was in the mood for a lightly sweetened iced tea.

The cranberry flavour dominates the tea, with a hint of something vanilla-y in the background. I’d imagine this would be very refreshing on a hot summer day.

Tea of the afternoon……

I actually took a bit from the bag of this for my friend who wanted to try this and Cranberry Autumn. I know she won’t mind, and I wanted to see if this is how I remembered it. It is one of the first things I ordered at Harney long ago along with my long gone tin of Paris. You know how the palate tends to change over time….. I know my love for that tin of Boston kind of ran out well before it was gone. I am starting to wonder if it was a seasonal thing because I bought it in the Fall and my taste for it had gone by Spring. I have figured out that certain flavors of tea appeal to me the most in the proper season. I think this is definitely a Fall tea for me. I also think 2 oz. would be the perfect amount, because this would not be a daily tea for me.

Very present notes of cranberry with a light hint of almond. Actually, better than I remember.

I am coming to the end of this tin. It was one I purchased early on in my tea journey, and while I do like it, I can tell that my tastes have evolved a little. I do wish it had been available for sampling before I purchased. I think it is more the cranberry than the tea base. I do like other berry flavored teas, but I think I need to stick with more of the straw, blue, and rasp varieties when I opt for berry flavored tea….