558 Tasting Notes
My SweeTea JoeCool sent me a wonderful package from Sands of Thyme. I was having difficulties deciding which tea to sip on first, so I sniff tested all of the teas. This one smelled so deliciously of coconut and bananas that I had to have it right away.
The banana aroma carries over nicely into the steeped tea as does the coconut. There is a natural sweetness to this tea that was enjoyable. The base tastes like a ceylon, just a smooth plain tea, no malt. It was a good choice for blending with these flavors.
I also tried with creamer and it tasted like a banana shake with tea. Yum. This was definitely a winner! I’m happy to have some in my tea cupboard.
Preparation
This tea was mine to try thanks to a swap from Brandy.
The smokiness in this tea blew me away. I’m not a huge fan of smoky teas, but I was curious to try this as it was blended with raspberry flavor, and I tend to enjoy berry teas. The smoke was a bit more than I can handle, but I am happy I had the opportunity to try this tea.
Preparation
Wow, this tea is sweet and a delicious way to end the evening. I enjoyed a sample courtesy of Batrachoid. Thank you so much for including this in our swap. I am impressed at how well flavored this is. I must order more of this. I think my local Barnes and Noble carries it in sachets, but I’ve heard rumors that it isn’t quite as flavorful in the sachets. Loose may be the way to go.
Meghann: loose is the way to go with this particular tea. I have found it to be true with just about every tea from Harney & Sons that I’ve had the opportunity to try both sachet and loose. But with this particular tea, the sachet has NOTHING on the loose version.
Agree with LiberTeas…. I ordered a mega box of the teabags for the convenience at work and although good for “teabag” drinkers the loose is a million times better!!!! Next time I am going to skip the teabags and just get a tin of loose for work and paper filters!
Side by side it’s like cinnamon essence versus snickdoodle mixing-bowl dish water. Honestly,I suspect it’s because the loose has whole cinnamon chunks and the bagged version has cassia bark as filler…
Thanks for the feedback guys! I was debating between the tin of sachets or getting loose online. After reading this, I will definetely wait and order with my next online purchase. Hoping to try the Vanilla Comoro loose next time too, as I went through my first tin really fast!
Thanks again for sharing with me Batrachoid, it was delicious. I better order while the free shipping offer stands as this is a tea I now CRAVE!
Quite welcome. =) I might take advantage of that shipping myself.
You know if you want tea in a special packaging Harney often obliges! I asked for a 7 oz tin of Florence because you could only buy 4 ounces or a pound and I wanted something in between. Within 3 hours I had a response and a link! They had made it. They will also sell you the tiny tins for 65 cents each empty. That’s a great bargain if you like to buy them for swaps or decorate them for mass gift giving. I can see little tins of loose Hot Cinnamon Spice for Valentine’s Day….
Very cool! I wish they would make the Tower of London blend loose, and have emailed about this, but nothing yet. Maybe I will see if there is a way to purchase just a 7oz tin of Vanilla Comoro, because as much as I’d love to own a lb, that would eat up my tea money for a month. Although with the amount I have, I think I better start streamlining if I want to move in July!
I agree Meghann! I have only had the sachets in the vanilla comoro and love it but would like it in loose leaf but really don’t want to buy the pound at a time. (Even though I know I would drink it all but it would be easier for me to buy 7oz loose)
They did write to me that they are considering making Tower of London available loose leaf because they have received a number of requests for it. Keep requesting! I know I have and I can hardly wait for that one to be available loose! I will probably be one of the first to purchase, I love it so much!
This tea is really tasty. I love the tart cranberry with the zesty citrus of the blood orange. The flavor is really blended well with the black tea. I think I like this more than H & S Cranberry Autumn as it isn’t as strong on the orange, and more of the black tea shines through, but I would have to compare them again. Quite tasty.
Preparation
Another of the teas I received in the swap with Brandy. I really love green rooibos. I don’t know why the green makes me so much happier than the red which makes me blech, but it does make me happy and I’m going with it. This was delicious hot, even more so with a pinch of sugar. I could imagine this being a great iced drink. I think I will be buying more of this and the other green rooibos blends Adagio has in the not so near future (not so near because I have a mountain of tea I am working my way through and I couldn’t be happier!)
Preparation
Thanks to Brandy3392 I get to try this tea. I was surprised to see white chocolate chips in this blend. Upon seeing those I thought this would be a highly flavored blend, but it is not. It is subtle in flavoring, just light bright and sweet cherry with a creamy sweetness. This was a great choice to help awaken me this afternoon. I’ve been in a fog throughout the morning. Feeling better already!
Preparation
This is one of six republic of teas selections available where I work. I have been trying to alternate this with Earl Greyer to cut back on caffeine. This is a mediocre tea that smells and tastes a bit like medicine. It works as a hot beverage. I really should bring some of my own teas into work. My cabinet would thank me!
YAH!!!! I’m glad you liked it! Its one of my favs!!