73

Random Selection from Golden Moon Tea Sampler—perhaps #18? I have lost count.

I had read the reviews of this previously and when I opened the package I was initially enchanted by the aroma. At last a Golden Moon Tea sample with some real character—which I have not seen since their wonderful Melon tea. Then I thought of a comment that Rabs had made about how this dry tea smells like Pledge furniture polish—-the thought popped into my head—I had read her review but it seemed like a long time ago.

So there i was with the proverbial mixed emotions: wanting to try a tea that kept oscillating in aroma between a good strong bergamot and Pledge. A sequence of ancient Pledge commercials paraded before my eyes and then led to a vision of that Ty-D-Bowl guy—-a miniature of the actor who played Murray on the Mary Tyler Moore Show—navigating the waters of a toilet on a small raft singing an eerily awful prototype of a raggastan number.

So I had digressed mentally but my nose had ferreted more deeply into the aroma and I was set to enjoy the tea—visions of New Lemon Pledge and Ty-D-Bowl notwithstanding. (The thing about popular culture is that it wraps itself around society including those virtuous people who don’t watch television but yet have somehow learned by magical Osmosis that Cyndi Lauper and Sharon Osbourne are on the Celebrity Apprentice kow-towing to Donald Trump—-and yet there was not one single mention of Britain’s parliamentary elections of yesterday in my local newspaper).

Another digression. The brew was a fairly decent Earl Grey but not one that made me want to sit up and salute. It’s a good Earl Grey but I continue to search for the definitive Earl Grey that I will want to always keep in my cupboard. There are a couple of candidates thus far, but this one just does not quite make it—sort of like the political parties in England—there is no clear winner yet and I will keep on trying Earl Grey teas but I don’t think I will end up with this as my standard of Earl Grey Excellence.

Not at all a bad effort, just not a stunner.

Preparation
4 min, 0 sec
Rabs

I was both horrified and laughing so hard while reading your note. Sorry to have implanted such a negative association regarding a tea. But your digressions were brilliant. I am so happy that you were able to move beyond my neophyte earl grey nose!

gmathis

I’m still adjusting to new media shifts myself … teenager never watches TV, but has introduced us to a plethora of cult-hit Internet-only videos and sing-along blogs (anybody ever see Dr. Horrible)? Smiling at your cleaning-product description.

Rabs

I’m a HUGE Dr. Horrible fan! And pretty much a fan of all things Joss Whedon :)

Ewa

Sigh, sadly I could not get over my initial soap impressions like you did. I tried! but I failed. On the plus side, I have no idea what Celebrity Apprentice is. I doubt I’d care though. Dr. Horrible on the other hand, is awesome.

gmathis

Not only are y’all educating me about tea, you’re educating me about pop culture!

__Morgana__

Ewa, it’s Apprentice, but with celebrities. Bwahahaha.

Ewa

nooooooo, I have been contaminated with mainstream pop culture knowledge!
(see, Dr. Horrible is ok because it is geek pop culture knowledge)

ashmanra

Douton, have you tried Earl Grey Supreme by Harney and Sons? In the book he says it is black, oolong, and silver tip tea blended together. It is my favorite Earl Grey thus far.

ashmanra

By the way, another Dr. Horrible/Firefly fan here!

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Comments

Rabs

I was both horrified and laughing so hard while reading your note. Sorry to have implanted such a negative association regarding a tea. But your digressions were brilliant. I am so happy that you were able to move beyond my neophyte earl grey nose!

gmathis

I’m still adjusting to new media shifts myself … teenager never watches TV, but has introduced us to a plethora of cult-hit Internet-only videos and sing-along blogs (anybody ever see Dr. Horrible)? Smiling at your cleaning-product description.

Rabs

I’m a HUGE Dr. Horrible fan! And pretty much a fan of all things Joss Whedon :)

Ewa

Sigh, sadly I could not get over my initial soap impressions like you did. I tried! but I failed. On the plus side, I have no idea what Celebrity Apprentice is. I doubt I’d care though. Dr. Horrible on the other hand, is awesome.

gmathis

Not only are y’all educating me about tea, you’re educating me about pop culture!

__Morgana__

Ewa, it’s Apprentice, but with celebrities. Bwahahaha.

Ewa

nooooooo, I have been contaminated with mainstream pop culture knowledge!
(see, Dr. Horrible is ok because it is geek pop culture knowledge)

ashmanra

Douton, have you tried Earl Grey Supreme by Harney and Sons? In the book he says it is black, oolong, and silver tip tea blended together. It is my favorite Earl Grey thus far.

ashmanra

By the way, another Dr. Horrible/Firefly fan here!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

Profile

Bio

I really love big, bold, brash teas. Smokiness enthralls me. I don’t seem to do subtle.
I don’t do rooibos.

My rating system:
0-30:
Never again in a hundred million years

31-55: This tea probably has some redeeming qualities but I won’t would not seek it out again.

56-70:
Shows some promise but also has a fundamental flaw. I probably owe these a second taste but am unmotivated.

71-80:
Good with at least one strong quality; I probably would not buy it but would drink it cheerfully.

81-90: Worthy contenders; they might be ranked 100 on somebody’s else’s scale. I like them a lot but have not fallen in love. Will probably buy and use.

91-95: These are the true loves, the chosen ones, the ones I dream about and crave. Unless they are in a limited edition—la! how you tease me!—I will always keep in my cupboard.

96-100: I cannot be separated from these teas and would develop a panic attack if I were to run out.
-

“She is too fond of books and it has turned her brain.”

Elderly dowager. Quintessential cat lady.

Tea which must be in stock always:

Black Dragon LS by Upton Teas: My choice every morning.

Florence & Lapsang Souchong by Harney & Sons

a good Gen Maicha

Samovar: Russian Blend, Maiden’s Ecstasy, Ryokucha

Mariage Frères: Confucious, Vivaldi, Eros, Aida, Marco Polo

American Tea Room: Brioche

Leland Teas: Bogart

Life in Teacup:
An Xi Tie Guan Yin Grade II modern green style & also Charcoal Style

Location

In the midst of the middle of the heart of nowhere in particular.

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