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I don’t like Kool-Aid but I really enjoy this stuff. I usually drink it hot, leave in the bags, and do not sweeten it because it doesn’t need it. It has a very strong cherry flavor with sweet/tart accents that I find very refreshing. Can also be cold-brewed.

Still yummy and refreshing as I attempt to flush an excess of caffeine out of my system from earlier today. Still doing a cold brew/infusion. It’s not QUITE “iced,” but I can’t seem to get the little slider above that without going too high.

I don’t know what I was thinking this morning. Apparently I thought this was going to be a light, gentle, quiet tea, so I used TWO tea bags in my first cup. With 2% milk.

And I’m OK. My hands are not shaking. In fact, 4 hours later, I am about to have another cup, this time brewed with 1 silken bag for about 5 minutes. No milk, sugar, half-and-half, or lemon.

[Pause] [Sniff] [Pause] [Slurp] […Pause…]

When I sniff I can catch that sharp, almost vinegary smell someone else mentioned. It’s rather nice, like malt vinegar or even balsamic.

First unadorned sip is strong, definitely “fills the mouth” (if I’m beginning to understand that term) with the flavor of tea, and then retreats with almost no aftertaste. I could get used to drinking this black. Must try this experiment with my Assams later.

Now it’s cooled down a little and I can take bigger sips. It’s a bit puckery but pleasant. That’s “briskness,” right? H&S doesn’t seem to think it’s very brisk, as they only give it a 1 on their scale of 1-5. Maybe I am a wuss, after all.

This is my first China tea of this new exploration, and I believe it is the first Keemun I have ever tasted. The knowledgeable tea buyer at my local British import shop guided me to it when I asked whether they carried a pure Keemun. It’s not clearly identified as such on the bagged tin, although if you read the back it says “Produced in late spring in Annui Province, China handplucked, fully oxidized.” I believe on the loose-tea tin it does say “Keemun” in fine print.

Heavenly. I tried it yesterday and enjoyed it, but this morning I increased the proportion of tea to water (at work, must make it a cup at a time) and steeped longer. Added a bit of turbinado sugar and a splash of fat-free half and half.

Where has this been all my life?

Smelled so lovely when I opened the packed – mostly fruity. Smells lovely in the cup, still mostly fruity but with the currant scent more pronounced — winey, almost. But like sherry, not table wine. I added half and half, no sweetening.

The caramel taste comes at the back of my throat after swallowing. A bit cloying if I sip/swallow too rapidly.

Verdict: not as spectacular as I was expecting. I would like to try another sample, though, and experiment with steeping time. Giving it a middle rating for now.

Brewed long and strong, my first cup of the day. Possibly my mistake. I think I need something more ordinary to wake up my taste buds. I didn’t get any of the tobacco or smoky scent others have mentioned when I opened the tin or when I tasted it.

Which is not to say I disliked it. Not at all. I’m going to give it another chance after I finish this cup of Assam.

I did see grainy bits in the bottom of my cup. That may be the fault of my mesh strainer, but, hmmm. I examined the wet leaves from the strainer after >5 minues steeping and they were still firm and twiggy. I purposely used a larger tea ball than needed to give the leaves plenty of room to expand, and I wasn’t expecting the result I got.

An Assam morning. Began with my true love Taylors of Harrowgate Scottish Breakfast, proceeded to their Pure Assam for second cup with no changes on either.

I am being assisted by Angus the Cat Who Will Have His Way, so hope I can finish this note.

The packaging on the front of the sample says “Revitalizing” and on the back it says “Strong and Malty.” First couple of sips confirm the strong and revitalizing parts, although this IS my 3rd cup of tea this morning. I am still struggling with the “malty” part. To me that suggests sweetness. This is smooth and mellow and pleasant, but so far I am not detecting sweetness specifically, or any dramatic differences among my 3 cups of Assam/Assam blends this morning.

I need to change my ratings on a couple of others, I see.

I’m trying to learn more about black teas and since I love Scottish Breakfast from Taylors of Harrowgate, I started with their Pure Assam.

This is a good alternate for my usual breakfast/morning cup, but it didn’t strike me as extraordinary in any way. It’s a serviceable, hearty, robust waker-upper. I didn’t detect any bitterness or astringency. I’m not sure I’m experienced enough yet to correctly identify “maltiness.” If that means “having a slight sweetness,” that applies here. I steeped for 4 minutes; the water was not boiling. I added about 1/2 oz. 2% milk to a cup that holds 8-9 oz. total, and no sugar.

Very fond of this — lots of orange, one of my favorite flavors. Refreshing and tart and unlike the ubiquitous Zingers from Celestial Seasonings.

It can be cold-brewed, as can many of the fruit teas I’ve tried. I use 2 bags in about 8-9 oz. water and just let it sit there 5-10 minutes, or until it looks right. Sometimes I even leave the bags there as I sip. I haven’t tried re-using the bags, but the flavor is strong enough that I suspect one could.

Glad I waited a bit to add my note. I added fat-free half & half and a small touch of sugar and my initial reaction was Wow, chocolate tea! Now, about an hour later, I’m getting the aftertaste others have mentioned. It’s not awful, and if I had gone to brush my teeth right after I would probably still have fond memories. But I think I’ll look up Harney’s Florence when this box is gone.

Update: added to the office coffee/tea stash in case somebody else enjoys this more than I.