Big Red Sun

One of the first fine teas I ever bought was Harney and Sons Royal English Breakfast in the Historic Royal Palaces tin at Barnes and Noble. My youngest daughter really loved it and I bought it several times, but we really got away from making anything but loose leaf tea and she started drinking Vanilla Black or Lapsang teas.

A couple of months ago I asked her to finish up the tin as I was doing a tea clean out. Those last two cups recaptured her heart and she wanted more. What to do? I didn’t want more big sachet tins, and I wanted loose leaf. As I looked at their website I discovered that Big Red Sun and Royal English Breakfast seem to be exactly the same tea!

Harney and Sons even repackaged it for me into the black and gold tin so it would match the others on my tea wall!

I had it with my bagel yesterday and I am convinced this is exactly the same as REB. It was so robust that with my meal it actually tasted fruity. It has that really distinctive flavor that shouts TEA!! early in the morning. Slightly astringent, bold, full of body, yet I was able to enjoy it plain and didn’t have to tame it with milk and sugar. This is a keeper, and I am planning to share this with my new doctor who is from Eritria and loves Kenyan tea. I think he will love it even more blended with this smooth and malty Ceylon.

This is a good blend. Not as hearty as some breakfast blends, but deep red, smooth and hearty enough. I have put this in my cart several times with my Harney orders and always changed my mind. Add to the tastiness the fact that every time I see the name of this tea that great Eddie Vedder song goes through my head for days and given the choice between this and replacing the Anniversary Blend, I’ll grab this one again. :)

Thanks, ifjuly, for sending this my way!

Backlog:

When I read the name of this tea, my immediate thought was “Oolong” (Big Red Robe) But this is a pleasant black tea.

And pleasant is the word for this tea. It isn’t particularly bold or robust or even well-rounded. It has a pleasant flavor that is sweet. Hints at a savory quality. Moderate astringency.

Floral and fruity notes with a honey-esque undertone. Not my favorite black tea blend … but certainly pleasant enough that I’d drink it again if I were offered a cup.

Of the Harney blends I tried this week, this was by the far the mellowest; I suppose it’s appropriate it’s the last one. It has a rather thick mouthfeel, but it’s pretty silky. Color in the cup is in fact a brighter red than most. Just a little astringency; I only notice it between sips. This would be a great morning tea for those days you don’t quite want/need to be rocketed out the door but desire a gentler but still full-bodied approach. Bet it’d be quite delicious with a lazy morning fry up. (Not to be all Lydia Rodarte-Quayle—whose tea order is, speaking of tea snobbery on the boards lately, oh-my-gosh ghastly—but why oh why don’t diners have decent tea? I don’t mind the lack so much at fancypants places or pub food-type spots ‘cause there’s tasty beer/wine/cocktails/mocktails/whatever that pair just as well, but for greasy spoon breakfasts tea is the best! Maybe I could bring this with me in T-Sacs and just ask for hot water…)

wow more mellow than i thought it would be.
like way more mellow.
i really got this sample cuz my sister showed interest.

i drank this tea yesterday. i’m catching up on some logging now before i have to go back to work tomorrow.
it’s gonna be a really busy next few weeks.
ploppers.

This is lovely with milk and sugar – malty and full-bodied, but smooth.

I was about to ship the rest of this sample when I realized I had yet to do a tasting note. Made just enough for a quick cup and here’s what I think: om nom nom.

Molasses, toast and malt. Bold but smooth blend. Dark and tasty, perfect for morning tea. A very mild astringency with a slight bitter note at the end that doesn’t linger. I’d actually consider buying a pound of this.

I am not drinking this right now, but I had it Saturday morning before an outdoors run… yes, outdoors run in 20-something degrees. It was an experiment in motivation. Very excited to try this one, since I know it’s expensive and Harney. It was nice, but I wish it had been more memorable. I was probably sleepy!

Right now I’m listening to a funky Groovement.co.uk music podcast and trying to do some work, but really I just want to be doing anything else (so I’m mostly having Sterek daydreams and thinking about Amy Adams’ wardrobe from American Hustle I saw yesterday).

Delicious! I don’t remember the taste profile since it’s been ages since I made it but I just had to tell the world that this is an awesome tea. Not to overpowering and not too wimpy…but just right! I’ve got to make more tomorrow! I’ve been on a coffee cycle these last few months and tea hasn’t seen the light of day for me until recently and now I’m back on a tea cycle, lol. I need to go through my huge stash…cause I’m the only one that drinks the stuff.

Fantastic if you can find it! I generally can take or leave Kenya, but blending it with Ceylon Kenilworth was sheer genius.