Royal Wedding

I decided I could go for a little more tea this afternoon, and thought that one of the Royal Wedding sachets that ashmanra sent would be a lovely treat! Thank you ashmanra!

I taste cocoa! which morphs into coconut – then I taste white tea. I’m not getting a nutty taste, or any rosey tastes. Maybe a little vanilla.

My taste buds are little stubborn mules, or maybe barbarians, or foreigners! but they kept on saying, “This is not black tea! Don’t think you can trick us! We don’t really like anything but black tea! Maybe an oolong every now and again, even a green oolong, but that’s it!!”

Yes, I can taste that white tea. I get a bitter taste, and an astringent tongue. I don’t think this is a quality issue, but a preference issue. I am just not a white tea person (unless it’s loaded with black currants! But I digress!).

I think anyone who loves white tea, and loves flavors would adore this tea. It’s done really well, like a French one! Subtle! My second steep is mostly white tea with just a touch of flavor. I do like it, but it’s not that OMG true love that I experience with black teas. It’s just not the way my barbarian foreigner tastebuds are wired ;)

(If you are wondering what I mean about the barbarians and foreigners -

Black Tea History from http://narien.com/tea/types/black

[Black Tea]

Until China’s Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644 AD), only green tea was produced and consumed. It was during this dynasty, however, that oxidation was discovered and the Chinese realized that it could completely change their tea production. While the tea makers considered this newly created tea fit only for “barbarian foreigners,” it solved one of their major problems.

Green tea did not travel well over long distances and had the propensity to mold. When the tea was allowed to oxidize and then baked, the resulting leaf could retain its quality longer. This black tea was far more suitable for the lengthy transport to Tibet and Mongolia. This type of tea is now the most popular tea in most of the world beyond Asia.

I have the ever lovely and generous to a fault QuiltGuppy to thank for sending me a sample of this beautiful tea. I’ve always had a soft place in my heart for Harney & Sons. My mother always had a tin or two in the house, and I don’t remember drinking the tea so much as using the empty tins to store my treasures.

This tea comes in a lovely sachet and really doesn’t have much of a fragrance dry. After steeping, it has a wonderful vanilla and but slightly floral aroma. A first sip I definaly taste the white tea, and then the flavor moves to a creamy coconut and vanilla flavor. I don’t really detect a floral tone at all, and I get almost a smooth black tea finish. Which is strange but very pleasing to me. I used a bit of raw sugar and coconut cream in mine and it made for a wonderful morning cuppa.

I fear I may be chastised for saying this, but something in this tea’s profile reminds me of Tetley tea… in a good way. I’m in no way comparing this gourmet tea to common market tea, but there’s something there. I grew up on Tetley and it has a good nostalgic connection for me. Back when having tea meant at least two biscuits, and more sugar and milk than actual tea.

This one has been lost in the very bottom of my tea drawer, and I’m not sure how it managed to escape my attention for so long. Almond, coconut and vanilla with rose petals – sounds delightful! The dry leaves smell very nutty with just a hint of sweet vanilla. The flavor is very light, with coconut and almond. There is a very fresh taste about the coconut, and not very sweet like some coconut flavors can be. I was hoping for more hints from the rose petals, but there is only a wispy floral aftertaste. This tea is just kind of bland to me. It sounded so girly and yummy, but I’m just not getting that much flavor out of it. I added a little sugar which helped, but it’s still rather plain tasting. I’ve never fallen in love with a white tea, and this just confirms that I prefer black teas. I really don’t want to rate my beloved Harney’s so low, but this tastes almost like plain hot water to me. I’m glad I got around to sampling this one, but I won’t be purchasing any more.

-Dry blend has medium brown and green tea leaves and twigs with small blue and yellow petals and pink rose petals.
-Dry leaves smell strongly nutty with a hint of sweet vanilla. Tea liquor aroma is lightly of coconut and vanilla.
-Tea liquor is a clear dark yellow color.
-Light coconut and almond flavor with a fresh coconut finish. Wispy floral aftertaste.
-Best with sweetener.
-Fair tea. A plain cup. Very mildly flavored. Fresh coconut and nutty flavor.

The first of many teas I received in a swap with our beloved QuiltGuppy (who, yes, she may be a tea pusher, but I know it is about her love of tea and wanting to share the experience with kindred spirits). Thank you for your generous heart! And the awesome tea, of course!

I had really been wanting to try this one. It is a white tea blend, so not typical of what I normally drink. And for a white tea, I have to say it has the most complex flavor profile that I have sampled. I did slightly sweeten mine, just enough to bring out the vanilla, coconut, and almond. I do taste all three flavors, and I love that the vanilla or the almond (two flavors which can easily overpover others) are light enough that I still can detect the coconut. This blend works because it is all light, and really does blend well with the lightness of the white tea base. If I were a steady white tea drinker, this would definitely be high on my list. But, alas, I love the tea of foreigners and barbarians (remember that the Chinese mostly drank green tea, and made their black teas for foreigners and barbarians.)

My bladder is going to hate me today! LOL

I’ve had a ‘royal wedding’ type from another company or two and have liked them. This one looks and smells different. I like that.

This ‘brews’ up pretty dark for a white – probably because it’s a Fruit/Herbal/White Combo, eh!? This smells warm and herbally with a small spec of fruit.

The flavor is that of vanilla, floral, herbs, and white tea. It’s pretty. a neat sort of comfort-tea. It’s pretty good!

1.25 tbsp for 282 ml

Slightly overpowering astringency. Astringency is subdued by coconut and vanilla notes. Coconut flavour is very full and quite authentic. Strong white tea flavour present. Overall, the tea feels fragmented as if the flavours don’t meld together very well.

Thanks to Sil for sharing this with me!

Thank you to the adorable Jenn for sending a sample of this to me!

I was a little nervous about this especially since it has rose petals in it… I’m not really a fan of roses in tea. Fortunately the taste is largely of white tea with coconut and vanilla, which I DO like! There is a faint rose/floral flavor but it is very slight in my opinion. This tea is very lovely, and a little girly, so how perfect for a wedding!

I thought this was a nice flavored white tea but I don’t think I like it enough to buy any… I’m glad I got the chance to try it though!

I love coconut! and almond! and vanilla (not as much, but I do quite enjoy it if done right. which it was here)
All these things in one smooth, buttery white tea??? yes please :)
Two infusions of this one, the first one a bit too strong (when will I learn…) but the second was perfect.
Again, not enough time to savour, but oh how I wish I had been able to! No sugar added either, but then there is no surprise there given the coconut!
Thankyou QuiltGuppy for sharing this one, you made my afternoon at work go by so much faster!
Now if only they had a shop here in TO :)

I knew I would like this tea as soon as I saw the ingredients list. Thanks Dinosara! I love coconut and nuts and vanilla and white tea. One of my favorite Harney & Sons Blends so far. I received two sachets in my swap and I will be sharing the other with my local friend who is a big H&S tea fan! :)

A delicious blend that at first comes off like just plain hot water at first but let it cool and the flavors start to shine. It was very creamy and lightly sweet. It tasted similar to fresh rice pudding. I just can’t adequately describe it.