1112 Tasting Notes
Oh, honey! I love the sweet profile and luscious mouthfeel of this tea! Such an enjoyable cup. I am always surprised when I get to the end of my cup, because it goes down sooooooo easy. It’s like liquid heaven gold :)
Many thanks to Lady Londonderry for this amazing treat!
Preparation
I decided to try a little experiment today: steep Yunnan Golden Buds like I do all my “golden” teas (200 degree water, 4 minutes).
It’s quite delicious. I’m surprised that it’s honestly not that much different than when I steep it at 175 for a minute or two! So sweet and delightfully yammy. Not astringent, bitter, or strong (a tad stronger than the lower temp/time brew but I see that as a positive).
I made a second steep at 5 minutes and it’s delicious as well. I believe I found a new steeping parameter for this tea! I am loving the boost in flavor!
Preparation
So nice to have some flexibility in steeping and know the result will still be delicious!
BTW, I have no idea why my Steepster identity has vanished and been replaced by my name … :o
Never mind — I went into Account and changed Display Name. For some reason it had defaulted to my real name! Very strange.
Yay! Steepster loads at work, too! I am so happy!
Even with the humidity, Fall is in the air. I don’t know how to describe it – a different quality of light, a clammy humidity instead of a hot one. All that I know is that I am starting to crave my heavier teas and foods :) Today is the first time I’m drinking Keemun Mao Feng in weeks and weeks!
Ahhh, so rich and delicious. Light smoke and depth, but a sweetness, too. Spectacular.
Preparation
Hello Steepsterites! I have missed you all so much! The page would not load for me, but I read on twitter that the Steepster Overlords were doing updates, so I tried this morning and YAY! It works!
We’ve had a stretch of rain and humidity in these parts, which means I’ve been drinking lots of this Earl :) It’s so refreshing in the mugginess, and cheering in the rain. As I’ve said before, I’m not sure what kind of English Magic they put in this tea, but it gives me so much vim and vigor without ever tasting too strong or bitter. I totally agree on the name of Classic in this tea. It’s not rainbows and moonbeams, new or extravagant – it’s an absolutely perfect, dependable in all situations, and never out of place Earl!
I’m so so so glad Steepster is working for me again! Kisses to everyone!
Preparation
Yayyyy! Welcome back! You were definitely missed!
Oh, and if this one is anwhere as good as the Countess Grey, it is on my list!
Yay! I was missing your posts! I really have to try this tea, it sounds right up my alley!
Jen, I slurped up all my Countess too! I’m heartbroken that it’s not widely available in the US, and that it’s so expensive to ship from England. They really have a way with that flavor profile!
Dinosara, glad to see that you are hanging on tea wise in Argentina! I bet you are glad to have your little stash of tea from home with you! I will make this lesson my own :)
If enough people end up liking it, we can do a group purchase. Right now it is like $30 to ship 5 items. O.o At least you get twice the tea for the money compared to Williams Sonoma, so it does balance out a little.
We missed you Jacqueline! Youngest and I were just talking about you this morning and wondering where you were, but I had trouble logging on for a day or two also. Hunan Golden Twist on the way…
I was so crazy for Fortnum’s Countess Grey that SimplyJenW sent, that I hightailed it over to Williams-Sonoma after work. I knew they carried a selection of their teas, and I had my eye on their Earl Grey Classic. Ran over and bought it (hey, I needed parchment paper, too!)
Oh, I love this tea! It is not only smooth and flavorful, but it gives one a lot of vim and vigor, making it very appropriate for those that like an Earl Grey in the morning! whispers I think I like this the best of all the Earl Greys I’ve tried!!
!!!!
Gotta run – terribly busy – I will try to provide more details the next time I drink this!
Preparation
Aren’t the tins cool! I love the scrolling details.
GORGEOUS! They are classic but hip, elegant but snazzy!
It must have English Magic in it because I’ve been in the best mood the past two days after drinking it, despite all the craziness going on.
I will definitely have to put this on my list of teas to check out! I love the Earl!
Wow, I will have to get some of their teas soon. I may have even more reason to travel to the city with all the tea, as my son was offered a job there and will decide soon whether to take it. I just might have to visit him often, and how could I not go to Southern Season when I will be sooooo close?
Ah this sounds nice, I’m not the biggest EG fan, but I like Lady Grey…
I just dont have a loose-leaf filter. :’(
Thank you SimplyJenW for this tea!!
Mmmmmmmmm! Orangey! It’s like a very orangey instead of bergamotty Earl Grey, and it’s absolutely delightful. Very smooth tea base that lets the flavoring shine. And the flavoring! It’s so natural. I tastes exactly like the juices and oils that squirt out of an orange when you peel it.
When one has been through an earthquake (albeit minor) and hurricane (albeit minor) in one week, one needs a little something zesty, punchy and DIFFERENT to put everything back in its place, and this tea is absolutely perfect for this purpose. Bonus: this was a kind gift, which makes it 29834092840 times as wonderful, imo.
Thank you Jen! Another one I adore!
Preparation
I knew that I would love this tea the minute I read the description on the Harney and Sons website. I thought I was going to have to wait and wait to try it, but SimplyJenW surprised me with some! THANK YOU JEN!!!!!
This is actually the second time I’m drinking it. Busy at work, we need a new roof, jury duty, an earthquake – you know. Just those every day things ;) kept me from raving about how delicious this tea is! It reminds me a bit of a stronger, yet sweeter Emperor’s Red. Instead of roasty, I taste a nutty profile. Not just nutty, but that papery coating that walnuts have over their meat? That taste! It’s really nice in a tea.
I’ll write more when things slow down – I hope to purchase this one asap because it’s fantastic! Really great when you are in the mood for something inbetween – mellower than Keemun Mao Feng, but gutsier than a Golden Monkey, let’s say.
Preparation
So excited! She sent this one to me, too, and I saved it for tea party day which is TODAY! Hooray! Hope things calm down soon.
I think it is always good to have a taste first if you can for those pricey ones…
I have a Chingwo at work which I’ve quite enjoyed. Maybe I’m feeling inspired now and will make some if I’m the one making tea today.
It works! A pinch of baking soda after you pour the water over the tea leaves will take care of cloudy iced tea! Thank you ashmanra!
This one, iced. As satisfying as usual :) Now prettier!Preparation
How does the baking soda affect the taste of the tea?
I’m thinking it would change the taste of the tea …in a bad way..
Interesting trick!
I couldn’t taste it in mine, but I only put a pinch.
I couldn’t taste it, and my husband couldn’t taste it either. It was the merest pinch, but it worked!
if you cold steep it you will never get cloudy tea either :)
Is it true that if you add lemon to iced tea it doesn’t get cloudy? I thought I heard or read that somewhere.
Today is an especially wonderful Keemun Mao Feng day. Very rich and chocolatey. Miraculous!
This one is a bit of heaven with an Everything Bagel, toasted, with cream cheese too. :)
Preparation
Just saw a tweet from a couple days ago that said that Harney Golden Monkey is back in stock! Just thought I should let you know. :)
Thank you! That is AMAZING news :)
P.S. what is your twitter name? I’m jackiemania and would love to add you!
My twitter name is also dinosara but I don’t actually tweet… I just use it to follow other people. :)
Mmmmmmmm! I had my favorite pairing today – The Queen and a toasted Everything bagel with cream cheese! The slightly smoky tea, the creamy cheese, the garlicy, oniony bagel – Heaven! I think I’m going to up the ante tomorrow and slice some of my garden tomatoes on top, too.
Bonus: always good with a little Rose Congou for the additional steeps après breakfast.
Preparation
Long live the Queen! I am glad you got to enjoy a favorite!
I can’t wait til payday so I can stock up on the Queen! I love her with an Everything bagel also!
I decided to give a tin of Queen Catherine to a dear friend of mine thinking that I had two tins coming in my order. It seems that I only ordered one tin, and I’m trying very hard not to give in to my selfish impulse to keep it all for myself.
Dear JacquelineM, I am new here but I am not new to the pleasures of this wonderful beverage. I have purchased from Harney and just ordered fro Dragon Tea House and Uptons. Could you please recommend some other places? Thank you kindly….
I love Harney & Sons and Upton Tea Imports. I order most of my teas from Harney and one of my favorite teas in the world (Rose Congou) is from Upton. What are your favorite kinds of teas? If you like Chinese teas, Silk Road Teas has some excellent ones. http://www.silkroadteas.com/servlet/StoreFront My most recent order was to Zhi Tea. I am so excited to try their Gong Fu Black! http://www.zhitea.com/black-tea/organic-gong-fu-black.html
I see you are from Margate NJ – I am from Collingswood NJ! I’ve visited Margate many summers because my aunt had a house there when I was growing up. Say hello to Lucy the Elephant for me!
For the last few years I have been on a steady diet of Lung Ching and Mao Feng. I decided it was time to get a little more of a pick me up. I have always enjoyed teas from China. I have a friend who is from Anhui and this friend has got me some awesome greens. It’s time to expand my horizons. I just ordered a Ti Kuan Yin and a Keemun Mao Feng from Uptons. They seem a bit cheaper than Harney. Also a Lu Shan from Dragon Tea House. I saw Norwood Pratt enjoying this tea on a YouTube film. I’m now going to check out zhitea’s store. thank you again….