Golden Moon sample No. 13 of 31. Have been eyeing this since I pulled it out of the basket a couple of days ago and waiting for work from home Wednesday when I have all my necessary tea accoutrements near me to give it a go.
I’m pretty sure this is my first Irish Breakfast. So I don’t have anything to compare it to on that score. Also, I think this one should probably steep a bit longer than I steeped it for full effect. That said…
They weren’t kidding about “the beautiful golden tips highlighted against deep black leaves.” Though I’d say the leaves were more brown than black and straight in shape, the tips are huge and an amazing contrast in color as well as in texture. The nose of the dry leaves is roasty, even slightly smoky, and seriously malty in a Guinness Stout sort of way. I am guessing that that is what characterizes Irish Breakfast, though I haven’t yet looked it up.
The aroma after steeping is sweet, sugary, definitely malty and interestingly complex. Maybe I’m just suggestible today, but they told me there were cherries and I found cherries, they told me there were prunes and I found prunes, they told me there was honey and I found honey. I didn’t really find hazlenut, though there was something I could call nutty. In addition, I detected a chocolate note and a caramel note. The liquor is a very lovely deep tawny red-orange-brown.
The flavor is smooth, sweet but not too sweet, with some deep, fruity notes. I definitely tasted prunes, which made me smile. The maltiness isn’t as great in the taste as in the aroma, but it is definitely the backdrop. I’d like to steep it stronger and see what that does. I was a little distracted by work (heavens to betsy!) as I was drinking, but since this is definitely tasty enough to enjoy again, I’m looking forward to exploring its mysteries further.
If breakfast blends are to tea as black is to shoes, soon my cupboard will be mimicking my closet. I don’t even remember how many pairs of black shoes I have. [hangs head in shame]
Happy homework to you! I’m just sitting down to get started (easing back into a writing project after 2-week hiatus). I’m not good at starting to think in the afternoon.
We had to tear up part of the kitchen and I had to move my tea. I am astonished at how much tea there is, yet at the same time that I am vowing to drink up this tea, I am staking a couple of websites planning my next order. Time for an intervention!
Yep. I just finished picking out a small shoebox full of half-packets to share with my teaching partner at church and making another list of gotta-gets. Ay-yi-yi.
I’m down to 47 teas, guys! I am so proud of my restraint! I am going to place a Harney order soon, but it’s mostly going in with my coworkers for a few things and maybe I’ll finish a few others before it comes. I still can’t decide what is a reasonable amount. 30 seems too little, 40 too much? I usually drink 2 types of tea a day and have half of my teas at work, so maybe…36 to make it even? 18 at work and 18 at home? LOL.
38 Harney, 21 Teavivre, 9 Tin Roof Teas, 4 Dammann Freres, 6 Red Leaf, and about 25 assorted. Oh my goodness. Not counting samples and swaps. Oh dear.
Oops, I missed the Harney ones in the living room so more like 44…