So, I fell asleep at like 8 PM which is really weird for me: Normally I go to bed “for realsies” at like midnightish. But nope, stupid me had to take a nap, and now it’s 1 AM and I’m wide awake. So of course, that means more tea! I tried to pick things that were decaf (this blend) or not very high in caffeine.
This sample comes from Keychange and I received it in sachets! My first and only Harney Experience was with Paris, also in sachets, but I was super sick and out of it and I don’t even remember the taste – plus it’s quite likely whatever I tasted was off from being sick. So, more or less this is my first Harney tea.
I steeped it up based on VariaTEA’s recorded steeping parameters since we have similar enough tastes, and she seemed to really enjoy that cup. I have to admit, both dry and steeped this doesn’t smell like a whole lot to me. Taste wise, it’s a very smooth black base and I for sure can say there’s no astringency or bitterness. I suppose I could agree that it’s “silky” like the product description says. After that, however I kind of stop seeing and tasting what’s being advertised.
I can’t say I get “vanilla” or any creaminess from the taste. In fact, I really don’t taste a whole lot of anything; just a smooth and silky, and fairly weak tbh, black base. I mean – it’s not bad or unpleasant it’s just not really much of anything? Is it possible to have incredibly silky smooth tasting hot water?
I’m gonna leave this unrated for now because I’m not really sure how to even go about rating it. I am disappointed though because I don’t taste a whole lot of anything at all, but I do have two more sachets left to try and get this right. Perhaps this one just isn’t for me though.
EDIT: Ok, after it reached room temperature I finally got some vanilla taste – though unfortunately I also got some astringency.
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I didn’t like this the first time I had it, although I don’t think I was unimpressed with it as you are. I definitely recommend adding milk though.
As it cooled (like, almost room temperature) I finally got some vanilla flavour. I’ll consider the milk thing next time I make it.
this is a decaf tea, is it not? i wonder if it’s skewing the taste. that would account for the silky as opposed to any sense of stick. i have a sample of this…. now i have misgivings. tea is SUPPOSED to have caffeine!!!! =0)
Yeah, this one is Decaf.
hmmmm…. likely not for me. the caffeine gives my tea texture- don’t mess with the texture of my tea. i have a few small swaps going off soon… i think it may vanish ;0)
I found this really good only with a short steep.
Yup, I wasn’t all that impressed with this one either.
I agree with short steep, and also more leaf/less water may be better.
I got vanilla with absolutely NO astringency.
NMSAA but not bad either…it does have relaxing qualities
and it was a gift, so Thank you Miss , this one does have qualifying moments.
I agree it suffers by comparison to non-decaf vanilla flavored blacks, but in the realm of decaf vanilla blacks it’s the best I’ve tasted.
I didn’t like this the first time I had it, although I don’t think I was unimpressed with it as you are. I definitely recommend adding milk though.
As it cooled (like, almost room temperature) I finally got some vanilla flavour. I’ll consider the milk thing next time I make it.
this is a decaf tea, is it not? i wonder if it’s skewing the taste. that would account for the silky as opposed to any sense of stick. i have a sample of this…. now i have misgivings. tea is SUPPOSED to have caffeine!!!! =0)
Yeah, this one is Decaf.
hmmmm…. likely not for me. the caffeine gives my tea texture- don’t mess with the texture of my tea. i have a few small swaps going off soon… i think it may vanish ;0)
I found this really good only with a short steep.
Yup, I wasn’t all that impressed with this one either.
I agree with short steep, and also more leaf/less water may be better.
I got vanilla with absolutely NO astringency.
NMSAA but not bad either…it does have relaxing qualities
and it was a gift, so Thank you Miss , this one does have qualifying moments.
I agree it suffers by comparison to non-decaf vanilla flavored blacks, but in the realm of decaf vanilla blacks it’s the best I’ve tasted.