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“Ugh. I made what I think is a regrettable decision, as in I sent an email to a friend whom I’d wronged several years ago. I was hoping to apologize, the apology of the no strings attached variety...” Read full tasting note
“I am so glad I took this elegant, soothing tea to work, because it was a horrible horrible day of mean people. :( The best things that happened today were: I had this tea, a few people who wanted...” Read full tasting note
“I made a cup of this tea, which is also old (I forget how old, but it’s one of the older ones in my cupboard, probably 2 years?) to mainly convince me that not all rose teas age poorly. This one...” Read full tasting note
“Hi all! I have been offline for a bit as you may have noticed. Work became impossibly busy and there were a few dramatic incidents with the kids (who are now teenagers — I may not survive, it was...” Read full tasting note
Rose Scented, our memorable blend of large leaf tea from China, is scented with rose flavor and soft pink rosebuds. The fragrance alone makes a tin of Rose tea a provocative delight for the senses, and the buds and petals blended throughout lend visual allure.
Since 1983 Harney & Sons has been the source for fine teas. We travel the globe to find the best teas and accept only the exceptional. We put our years of experience to work to bring you the best Single-Estate teas, and blends beyond compare.
Chocolate - Rose Scented
Custom - Harney & SonsPremium Rose Oolong (Scented)
Zi Chun Tea Copanyang congou - rose scented
Custom - Harney & SonsRose Scented - Queen Catherine
Custom - Harney & SonsPalm Court - Rose Scented
Custom - Harney & SonsFlorence - Rose Scented
Custom - Harney & SonsBeware this is a very rosy tea! The aroma is pungent, too pungent for my taste. The black tea base is reminiscent of Yunnan Golden Pu-erh from Teavana with honey undertones, a little overpowering though perhaps I steeped it for too long. I get some taste of soap, which is likely my aversion to the rose. I realize I do not much care for floral teas. Though it does leave a pleasant, flowery taste on the tongue, it is a bit scratchy at the back of the throat and the relaxing nature of the rose is in direct contrast to high levels of caffeine in the black tea; it gave me a bit of a jolt. I would recommend this only to lovers of rose; the scent for me is off-putting. What will I do with 4oz of this? Any blends one would recommend?
I had high hopes for this tea. The dry tea has a wonderful scent. It does smell like rose oil, and if I am not mistaken, like the oil of rosa damascena, which is very specific—bright and highly valued in perfumery and aromatherapy. (In fact, I think that the most aromatic rose petals are actually from rose damascena or rose centifolia). So, my hopes soaring, I proceeded to steep the tea. I’ve actually tried this tea twice. The first time I used boiling water (202F) as suggested for black teas. The second time I preheated the pot, but used water slightly less hot than boiling.
The first brewing attempt produced a pot of strong black tea, but not much rose scent or taste. Just to be sure my senses are not completely obliterated from sniffing too many other things, roses included, I asked someone else to take a sip and sniff. His verdict was that this was a very nice black tea, but, alas, no roses. As the pot sat on the counter, forlorn, we decided to turn it into iced tea and finish it off. We were both surprised to find out that, in its iced version, we could feel the rose scent—subtle enough, but it was there.
The second time, I preheated the pot and used slightly less hot than boiling water. The rose scent is here—extremely subtle—but also somehow strangely sour, not in a citrusy way.
I see that most people like their flowers in a cup barely there. For them, I think it would be a good rose tea. I’d definitely prefer this tea iced or at least cool as for some reason it brings out the scent.
