3238 Tasting Notes
What a woman! Remember “E” in The Incredibles? When she slaps Elastagirl around and tells her to get hold of herself and remember who she is? That is what Catherine does for me sometimes. And she is well-qualified!
Raised in a strict Catholic family, educated by nuns, and sent to a political marriage in the bawdy English court, she actually fell in love with her husband. He respected her greatly and defended her, but when she failed to produce an heir he openly had mistresses and acknowledged his illegitimate children. And she – Catherine – defended and financially supported those children from her own funds after his death. Because she had loved him. Could you do that? I would be surprised if I could…
So when Catherine tells me to buck up and get going in the morning, I listen. She isn’t harsh, but she is strong, experienced, and compelling. Thank you, Catherine. I am ready to face the day!
Preparation
This was a smooth, lovely tea. I drank it sans additions and I would like to try it again with a little sugar, and perhaps some milk. It was milder than I thought it would be. The bergamot is not as strong as in most Earl Greys, and I tasted less rose than I thought I would. I think I need to increase the leaves and try it with additions. It wasn’t bad, it was a very nice tea but it didn’t have enough presence to make me seek it out again. The tea is lovely with the pink petals, though, and I hope that my next cup will be a little more stellar when I make the changes….Everyone liked it, but it didn’t draw ooh’s and ah’s.
Preparation
One of the Wednesday tea party/tasting teas! Reading the description, and seeing that the Germans add CREAM (not milk) and sugar, I was a little afraid to try this! If you need cream in it, surely it must be bitter or astringent.
What a pleasant surprise! The aroma had nice honey notes, and the first sip – as always – was without additions. And the whole cup stayed that way! Though it is a little astringent it was not unpleasantly so, and wasn’t strong at all. This made a nice tea to go with our cookies, but I don’t think it is strong enough for my breakfast tea!
Preparation
Your weekly tea parties sound just yummy. So does this tea (sighs covetously then shakes her head, scolding herself, “and where do you think you have room for MORE tea tins?”)
And though I have always told our guests, “Don’t bring anything! Just come!”, they always bring the yummiest cookies and things! We’ve just been introduced to TimTams which are almost candy bars rather than cookies, but my faves are the McVities Fruit Shortcake cookies and Hobnobs. Of course, all the Pepperidge Farm cookies are good, too! Sometimes we do fresh homemade bread with jams, butter, and apple butter. And the conversation is the BEST!
A decent breakfast tea, but nothing earth shaking. I add milk and sugar to this one, but I always do with morning tea. I like the fact that it is prganic, but there is nothing in the flavor that would make me go out of my way to get this one. I would swim shark infested moats for Queen Catherine, Harney and Sons Englsih Breakfast, and Emperor’s Red by Premium Steap!
Preparation
Oh yum! My hubby just shook his head today when I had to get out the new pound bag to refill my tin. I go through this one and Queen Catherine at an impressive rate!
As always, this is 100% Chinese black keemun tea, and as always, it is a delicious morning boost. Today it is going with Hobbit Breakfast. The girls and I cut up apples, carrots, and sometimes cheese cubes and have second breakfast in true hobbit style. First breakfast is just whole wheat toast (from homemade bread and we grind our own wheat into flour fresh each time we make bread) and chocolate milk, so sometimes we like a little extra something to get through Algebra class. Ay-yi-yi! Both of the youngest kids now in algebra!
Preparation
This is a strong cuppa tea for first thing in the morning, and it is exactly what Mike Harney wanted it to be. The store description is accurate. Remembering that I am NOT a big fan of assams but don’t object to them blended with other teas, I thought I would be hiding under a chair from this one. While it is strong, it is also civil. I added milk and sugar. There is a noticeable fruitiness – like the muscatel of a darjeeling. Not a bad tea, but my brekkie favorites are still Chinese keemun and Fujian province teas! I think I should also try it with a much shorter steep next time.
Preparation
Nice rose aroma – not sickeningly sweet but definitely right there in front of you. You don’t have to look for it too hard. I did, however, have to look really hard for the tea flavor. Maybe I let this sample get too old, but I just couldn’t taste tea! The rose scent and flavor were both very nice, but I would have liked to detect the base a bit more. Not bad, just didn’t ring any bells for me. Glad to have gotten to try it, though, especially since I ordered a sample of Harney and Sons Sally’s Secret which is rose and bergamot and I want to see how they compare!
Real love defies description. Tea and otherwise.
Wow. I definitely need to meet this Catherine lady!!
She is packed up and will be on her way later today!
gmathis: indeed, true love takes no account of wrongs suffered and never stops giving. What a high bar to attain. Catherine isn’t a weakling, but an inspiration in the hardest kind of strength to have – selflessness with utter forgiveness.
I’ll be sure to great her properly…which, in case you don’t know, is with a squeal and a “new tea” dance.
We also have her to thank for the custom of using a fork :)
Catherine always helps me to keep my chin up when I need to :)
Jaime – wish I could see it! I, too, have a special “EEEEEEE!” that accompanies the arrival of new tea! I guess I do a bit of a two-step myself. :)
JacquelineM – My! My! The lady really civilized us, and now we can enjoy pie with our tea thanks to the fork!
I’m sure you’d die of laughter if you did witness it. I have to be careful in grocery stores…sometimes it happens in the tea aisle there, too. I like to think I appear endearing when that happens…but people probably just think I’m weird.
My husband says I look like Gollum and his precioussssssssss when a new tea box arrives. I just plunk on the floor wherever I happen to be and start digging.
Of course! When one finds a treasure box, one digs for treasure!
gmathis, I imagine that’s exactly what I look like. It’s just that I’ve been fortunate enough to not have witnesses. I have found bubble wrap in the oddest of places.
Wow, Catherine was amazing!