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I gave this one a second chance at the tea party today. The first time I tried it I made it by Teavana’s directions which call for a lower temp and time than most black teas usually do. It was….unspectacular, though the aroma was marvelous. Today I tried making it the same way I make Golden Monkey (may it forever be in my cupboard!) by Harney and Sons. The leaves look like Harney’s, the aroma smells like Harney’s, but the flavor – alas! Not even close! This tea is simply not as good and costs twice as much. We were drinking the two side by side so we could be sure it wasn’t our imagination that Harney’s is so much better.

We must have this tea in our cupboard. Always always always. This one is at the tea party every week now because we all love it so much, so even if one of the other teas isn’t a hit we know we will be oooo-ing and ah-ing over this one! Golden, sweet, and caramel – it can’t be beat.

I liked this one more the first time I tried it, but I think this was our fault! We oversteeped it a little and for me an assam needs to be UNDERsteeped if anything! Still, it is a good tea!

One of the tea party teas today. It was a hit! This was the second tea we tried and our guest exclaimed, “Now that is good tea!” We took it sans additions today.

We are putting up a couple of hospital workers these next couple of days because the roads are icy and we live so close! This was our warming tea tonight before one of them went to work the night shift. I expect we will need more of its warmth tomorrow as well. The clove is the prominent note to me, but not overly spicy. The rum flavor is just right, and the cinnamon is a middle note and seems like a sweeter one. Lovely!

I hadn’t had this one in a long time, but my middle daughter swears she can’t get through Algebra without it. She makes a pot every morning, and since I gave them a snow day today (first one ever, homeschool mommies are brutal but we know they have to make it up on a beautiful spring day!) we decided to all share teas. I had a small cup of this. It is similar in some ways to Harney and Sons Supreme Breakfast. The assam is distinctive in there, and the Kenya is decent. Not a bad cuppa! This was bagged as we have been unable to find loose lately.

Snowy morning, fire blazing, and tea waiting! The starter tea for today is Irish Breakfast. This is the youngest daughter’s favorite, next to Golden Monkey by Harney and Sons. She has tried other IB teas but finds them a bit too strong. With milk and sugar, this one is just right. Round and a little bit fruity, without the “bite” than some IB’s have. A lovely tea, this one is a little milder than the one by Harney and Sons, my all-time favorite tea company.

Still has delightful honey notes and a nice, light flavor. I like this tea sans additions. This is not as flavorful as Golden Monkey but is still a very nice tea. We love the little hand-tied wreaths of leaves. This one is sold out at present on Harney and Sons.

This cup had a bold tea aroma, but not scary like SOME bold teas I have tried. This is a lovely mix of four teas and the blend has a nice balance. It is mildly astringent but not so much as to require milk, it is interesting enough to be drunk without sugar. I am nearly out of this one, and when the tin is empty I will buy Eight At the Fort in its place, I think. A nice change, but not one I absolutely MUST keep on hand. Glad to have had it and may someday put it back in the rotation. If you love assams I think this tea will appeal to you even more than it does to me.