Queen Catherine

yesterday i decided to lower temp. i find that i use boil water only on shou puerh. so i made it western 200F 3g 8oz 3min
it made a big difference. there was no agressive spicy and sour notes. it was smooth sweet and so satisfying on a chilly morning.

http://instagram.com/p/wMFyB_hwnB/

Smooth, not astringent, slightly malty. This is my current favorite plain, black tea, as there is nothing about it that I don’t like. It’s good for the morning or the afternoon, as it is strong but not overwhelmingly so. I took a chance on a tin based on reviews from Steepster, and it was a wise decision.

I’m going to tell you straight out….the only reason i ordered this…blindly i might add… is because it is alled queen Catherine…and my first name is Catherine…silly huh.
This is my first cup of this. I’m a little surprised. Maybe I am not used to so many breakfast teas. But it is a breakfast tea…which is why I made it with breakfast. It has a rich smokey almost tobacco note to it that lingers at the end, yet it isn’t a very hearty cup. It’s even kinda nice iced. It could def hold it’s own with milk and sugar. Tho I drank it straight and I like it that way. In a strange way, I think it makes a very suitable substitute for coffee in the morning. It’s like your still getting that roasted kind of brew. It’s very nice.

Ok actually this is pretty gorgeous iced….upping my rating a bit for that. There’s nothing watered down about this tea on ice. Queen Catherine is a lady that can hold her own!

I will start this review by noting that I am not a big fan of smokey qualities in my food. From BBQ to tea, it sticks in my throat for some reason; needless to say, I am not a Lapsang Souchong drinker. However!, I really did enjoy this tea :)
I bought it for my boyfriend who loves a Lapsang (also from Harney) and who was looking for a nice breakfast tea. I decided to take the dive this morning and try it. First, this tea has a terrific body, great feel and really “fills” your mouth with each sip. I really enjoyed how warm it made me feel (and no, not because it was hot). The steeped leaves had a aroma that was a bit too intense for me, but was pleasantly surprised how the smell of “camp fire” did not translate to taste in its full strength. I did not add any milk or sweetener, and really didn’t feel the need. I do drink my breakfast tea with milk (typically) but decided to forego dampening the true taste. I believe I could have steeped it a bit longer, and still enjoyed myself. While this is certainly not my favorite style, I think my like of the smoke undertone is maturing. I recommend this to anyone who seeks a full breakfast tea, with a great round character, and a nice tease of several Chinese black tea features.

This tea has a nice, brisk, slightly smoky aroma. This is a blend of Chinese black teas. You can taste the thin, darker character of Keemun but the overall flavor is a little fuller in the mouth. It is not very bitter or smoky but is a bit dry. There is a surprising burst of sweetness in the aftertaste when the air hits your tongue. The more I drink the more body this tea seems to have and the rounder the taste becomes. This tea has an interesting character, full of flavor. It is also very delicious with milk and sugar.

This blend reminds me of English Breakfast but tastes a little brighter, a little rounder, a little more outgoing and a little less dry and reserved, much like I imagine one could contrast the historical stereotypes of the prim and proper buttoned-up British with the warm, welcoming and partying Portuguese. It is, therefore, quite aptly named after Queen Catherine of Braganza who, though maintaining the proper royal decorum as the wife of England’s Charles II, perhaps might also have enjoyed the conviviality of Carnaval time in Portugal, her home country.

I think this is a great anytime tea and one to keep on hand for guests. There’s something about it, though, that to my taste feels a bit reticent, as if there is more to the story than the leaves are willing to tell, hidden by subtle shades within the flavor that veil a brighter, more robust sweetness, but I imagine I am just projecting onto this tea my own subconscious desire for such sweetness and unwillingness to fully embrace this tea’s dry, smoky undertones. My own personal taste notwithstanding, this is indeed a very good blend and worthy of being added to your cupboard.

This is a really nice tea. It is perfect for folks who are new to good teas

This is my favorite tea for parties. It is light and delicious, goes great with a wide variety of foods, and is well-liked by guests regardless of their general preferences.

Golden brown in color. Interesting blend of teas, at first I get a little earthy smokiness which goes away quickly, then a rich cocoa flavor, and finally a sweet apricot flavor at the end. I am a big fan of this tea and the more I drink it the more I enjoy it.

Love! One of my regulars.

A really nice Chinese black tea blend. I’ve tried most of Harney and Son’s entry-level Chinese black teas, and I feel that this tea is greater than the sum of its parts. I feel like this one is a thirst-quencher, and once it cools a bit, this one has some major gulpability, LOL. Good for a couple of decent steeps – I go short with a 2-minute steep the first time to allow for a solid second steep.