302 Tasting Notes
While there are a lot of benefits to our new office, the tap water tastes like a swimming pool. It took me a few days to realize why everything tasted odd and to work out the best option. (Interrupted by an almost 2 week vacation that I really needed.) Thankfully the filter on the fridge in the break room takes care of that strong chlorine flavor and smell. yay Because of this, I’ve kind of delayed writing notes on some of the new teas I picked up as I wasn’t sure if what I was tasting was accurate. But now I am back.
I’m not usually a fan of British style blends. They so often feel overly harsh. I know they are often meant for addins (milk, sugar, etc) but doing so is really not my thing. I grew up in a house where coffee was drunk black, drank black coffee in the military, and then merged to straight black tea at uni (ultra cheap teabags) and beyond. Adding in that I don’t like to drink calories, I have just never developed the taste for it.
Queen Catherine is an exception.
The smell of the dry leaf is quite interesting but sadly I really can’t put words to it. There might be slight spice and fruity type vibes, but its very slight and not directly identifiable.
Once steeped there seems to be an ever so slight smokey hint. Its barely there and I don’t find it objectionable like I do with so many smokey teas. It also fades into the background with multiple steeps.
It is quite smooth but with character of its own that was missing in the Taiwan Honey Black.
I can get that spice like vibe again, though I couldn’t name any particular spice.
I never get cocoa vibes out of any black teas I drink. I don’t know why and this one is no exception though it goes well with a nibble or two of 100% dark chocolate.
I haven’t the slightest clue what malt tastes like and every tea people describe as malty tastes different to me. So no clue there.
Part of me is thinking my brain is making this up, but I’m almost getting a floral impression as well in the back of the sip. I’m usually turned off by florals, but this is so slight its easy to miss and not objectionable at all.
This resteeps well and honestly I can understand why so many people rave about Queen Catherine in the notes. Whether or not I like this enough to put into my staples rotation, I don’t know yet. But I am very happy I decided to give it a try.
This came highly recommended to me after my disappointment with Williamsberg Ginger Cake. Since I got another Harney gift certificate, I felt it was the perfect time to give it a try.
After opening the tin, I wasn’t sure what to think. It didn’t really smell like much I could recognize. However, once I poured hot water over one of the teabags, I could instantly smell ginger. The taste is pretty much all ginger. There might be a bit of clove in there, but I am unsure. However, I am not getting much of any other flavors here. I think a bit of cinnamon and vanilla would be welcome additions but I’m not getting either.
I also think it needs a bit of something more. I tried with with a little piece of stevia sweetened chocolate (another Christmas gift) and yes, I believe some sweetness is exactly what might be missing. As I am one who doesn’t like to put sweeteners in my tea, this is a little disappointing.
I was surprised this came in its original packaging inside a Harney tin that allowed me to play some with Google Translate (which can always be fun).
“Green cicadas drool with sweet fruity aroma”. Accurate as this is a bug bitten tea, but still an amusing translation. :)
Freshly steeped, this is nicely mild and smooth with a soft mouth feel. I don’t really get a honey flavor, but I can see the concept in the aftertaste.
Additional steeps are much the same as the first.
I only have two small complaints. While this is smooth and mild, it doesn’t really have much character of its own either.
Also, its a bit tannic as it goes cold.
Don’t know if I will re purchase. At its current price point of $33 USD for 2oz, its a bit pricy for an every day drinker and I have trouble seeing it as a special time drinker either as its lacking any real character of its own.
I am glad I tried it when I could defer the cost with a gift certificate.
I have spent the last 2 weeks prepping an office for a move. Friday and Saturday (today) I spent the final days with doors open to 50F weather and constantly on my feet. All of my tea stuff had been packed since Thursday and I had been surviving on eh bagged tea drunk from a paper cup. It tasted like wax.
I finally get to the new office this afternoon and behold the first box opened contained the kettle, my tea pot, and cup. I didn’t even have my desk or chair yet. But, I had received a restock order of this tea last night and it was waiting in my car.
OMG that was the best cup of tea I have ever drunk in my entire life. I know my perception was skewed by the activity, cold weather, and two days of waxy tasting tea. But as I stole 15m to enjoy the lovely view from our new break room and savor this tea, angels and cherubs were singing Hallelujah. :)
Sip down!
Well ok, my coworkers did most of the sipping. I just grabbed the last bag in the tin.
Almost a year old and a lot of the flavor has faded from what I previously remember. I think what I am getting mostly is vanilla and orange, which is not a favored combination.
Probably not going to restock this one again unless I get another big Harney gift certificate and no idea what to spend it on.
And another sip down.
I bought more after my previows notes. This time that bread like flavor/scent isn’t there. The burn sugar scent definately is.
A little heavy on the tannins in this cup, but I was down to mostly broken leaves so I’m not surprised.
The sip down is going to be short lived as this has been put on my staples list and I will be restocking soon. Hoping for a Black Friday sale.
Didn’t have much hopes on flavor here as I have not enjoyed other Silver Needle teas in the past. But this is a sample from a previous order and I’m in a mood to get things sipped down and my stash cleaned out.
The smell of the steeped leaves reminds me of cooked spinach maybe. It might be a food I adore, but in regards to drinking, not something I am usually wanting. Happily the smell of the liquor does not have that.
The liquor has a light almost golden color and is pretty. Flavor isn’t bad but really very light. Something in my brain keeps expecting it to have a sweet flavor, but that only shows up as its cooled down to near room temp. When its hot, there isn’t much there. Curious what it tastes like as a cold brew, but I don’t have enough left for that.
I took these notes a few days ago but never really managed to finish them due to prep for another office move. I’ve got enough for another pot today, but I just don’t feel like it. Its not bad, just not my thing. Going to treat this as a sip down and move on.
