Copper Knot Hongcha

I bought a half kilo of this at Teavana in Market Mall Calgary NW yesterday. Best stuff Ive ever tasted. I went on the teavana website and its discontinued. Why? Good stuff!! Is this discontinuance a result of the Starbucks merger starting to screw up Teavana?

The tea leaves are curled with light tips and it steeps up as dark as coffee. It’s a bit earthy, reminiscent of some Keemuns and Yunnans I’ve tried. At times I’ve dislked such teas, I found a TeaSource Empire Keemun and Dian Hong nigh undrinkable to my tastes. I tend to prefer Indian to Chinese blacks by and large. I quite enjoyed this one—mellow enough in that earthy note for me not to be put off, and I imagine this might pair wonderfully with milk, but it’s quite nice plain. I have enough of this I might feel different with more acquaintance, but for now I’d say this is a tea I could enjoy everyday, but not a favorite.

So this is the tea that introduced me to loose black teas a few years ago when I first started drinking tea that didn’t come in a bag from the grocery store. It is still one of my favourites though I don’t buy it or drink it as much as I used to.

The scent has a hint of sweetness and the taste you can really taste the honey notes. I don’t taste the smokiness that so many of the other notes mention, but the maltiness and the stronger body than I usually drink is quite nice.

I love to watch the leaves unfurl while it is steeping and you can get at least 2 steeps out of a cup, though I usually stop at 2. I add a rounded teaspoon to 14 oz of water and it usually comes out quite well.

This one brews up strong, a good, forceful black tea, which is what I was looking for when I purchased it. It has less sweetness than Teavana’s Celestial Temple Peaks, and more of a malty flavor. I am also finding the ‘copper’ notes for which this tea must have been named. All in all, an excellent morning tea. I approve.

So, I bought this because I needed a new regular black and this sounded different and it got good reviews. I opened this up and the aroma was familiar-it instantly called to mind the Rishi Organic Yunnan Golden Needles I drank in 2011. The taste was similar too-malty, with a faint orange note. It’s not astringent at all-very smooth. Looks beautifully copper in a glass cup. I get two steeps out of this. Have been altering it with Keemun every other day. Not a first cup in the morning for me though-need a good stiff Irish Breakfast for that. Will buy again at some point. Price is okay with free shipping-don’t have the luxury of bulk loose teas anywhere around here.

Quickly becoming my go-to black tea, with a great taste, nice aroma and good-looking leaves.

Great tea. Has a malty hazelnut flavor. A great addition to my cupboard.

I like this. If only I had more water for a second cup. It’s strong and earthy tasting, a little bit smoky like others said (but not overpowering, in my opinion). It smells a bit like roasted nuts to me. Not my usual breakfast tea, but definitely something I will have from time to time.

My favorite “go to” tea in the morning. Unfortunately Teavana discontinued it!

I’ve always found the Copper Knots, as I’m fond of calling them, to be aesthetically pleasing, which is what first drew me to these leaves. As someone who likes a strong pot of black tea, I find the Copper Knots to be particularly forgiving. As long as you let the water cool a bit from a boil before pouring it in the pot, you can let it steep a little more than recommended and get a robust, deeply flavored brew that’s strong yet not overly bitter. I’m actually bummed that Teavana appears not to be carrying it anymore. . .

I like the flavour of this tea, but it doesn’t have intensity. No matter how much I use, it always seems thin and doesn’t develop a strong, distinct flavour. The leaves wash out after a single, longer steeping. With milk, it is overpowered. The tea appeared damp — moistened, maybe — when I bought it, hence I have docked 5 points.

This tea is a very good no added flavored black tea. Just plain awesome black tea! NOTE: DO NOT over steep or it will get bitter. 2 minutes tops. Resteep up to 3 times!

A subtle yet complex taste that cannot be ignored. Once you try this tea, you’re stuck with it. One of my staple black teas.

Nice. Smooth and smoky. I like it with a touch of milk. Lately I have been drinking it without any milk…I like it even better. This is my go to black tea. Still one of the only teas I will continue to buy from Teavana.

This tea is quickly becoming one of my favorites, tasty without being overpowering.

This is exactly what I’ve been looking for in a straight black tea! It’s bold and flavorful. Kind of malty, a tiny bit smokey. Smooth. And perfect!

This is much smokier than I expected and actually put me off it entirely. It’s just too much for my palate.

A solid Chinese black tea- not my personal favorite, but quite good.