This is the second of four sample tins from Harney that I seem to have never written notes about.
The leaves on this one are beautiful — long, twisty, and chocolate brown. In the tin they smell roasty, smoky even.
Gave them a rinse and then started at 15 seconds in the gaiwan at 195F, increasing by 5 seconds.
The tea is clear and golden and smells, unexpectedly, floral. There’s a sweetness that reminds me of brown sugar. Or maybe dark honey. But also a toastiness that wafts in and out among the other aromas.
The flavor is sweet and toasty-woody, and much milder than I would have expected. No sharp edges. I sort of understand the note that likened this to cannabis, though I am not really getting more than a hint of that. I do get some peach, though I wouldn’t call it juicy.
Second steep, 20 sec. A little darker all around. The liquor is closer to amber, the floral (lily of the valley? lilac?) is deeper and more polleny, the smokiness more prevalent amid the roastiness. Some stone fruit, woody pit notes.
Third steep, 25 sec. Interesting. The sugar and the stonefruit finally came together for me in this steep and I am definitely getting peach in the aroma. And in the flavor, too, though not as strongly. Also, a nutty note. Ashmanra said walnuts. Yep, that’s what I get, too!
Fourth steep, 30 sec. I am looking at the list of flavors I’ve identified so far and am realizing how complex this tea is. It’s still going well on the fourth steep, though starting to get that crispness to the flavor that signifies it may be soon giving up the ghost. Still tasty, though.
I am, however, going to stop here because:
(a) I am impatient to get back to binge watching The Wire
(b) I am impatient to move on to the last caffeinated tea of the day
© I am generally impatient
(d) all of the above
Choose your own adventure.
Flavors: Brown Sugar, Floral, Honey, Peach, Roasted, Smoke, Stonefruit, Toasty, Walnut, Wood
Digging your notes today.
Thanks. I feel like it has rather been one long vent fest, and I’m glad it hasn’t been boring. LOL.
Isn’t it soooooo good!