985 Tasting Notes
My first attempt at this… My ratio is one part Black Currant to two parts Vanilla Black. I definitely like this. I might give a one to one ratio a go, but I am thinking this is pretty close.
24 oz teapot, 1 1/2 tsp Black Currant tea, 3 tsp Vanilla Black tea, freshly boiled water, 4 minutes. Lightly sweetened.
Now I need a name for this. I hate to steal the brilliance that is Christa Y’s name, but am looking for something that is equally as cool. I am thinking along the lines of Liz Bennet, Spymaster……. You know, the original M, which is just short for Mrs. Darcy.
Or maybe this will be my Hobbit Tea. I can picture Rosie Cotton Gamgee making this tea for her friends. I am leaning toward this one…Rosie’s Hobbit Tea. What do you think?
Preparation
Tea of the morning….
As I sit here, I am planning my teas for the day. Whoa. I should be planning what I need to get accomplished today, but instead, I am thinking Hot Cinnamon Spice and a blend of Harney’s Black Currant and Vanilla Black to make my own version of ‘Jane Austen Mafia’. Kudos to whomever blended that one. It almost made me consider buying more even though the tea base for flavored tea from that company is not my favorite. And then I remembered my dear Vanilla Black and Black Currant teas in my cupboard who are just begging to be blended together. I will be missing some cream, but maybe I will just have to add some real cream…well, half and half.
Anyway, Good Morning, Steepsterites! It is gonna be a Happy Tea Day!
Preparation
I must find some Yerba mate. Where do you get yours? I have never had any. I may have to drive to Chapel Hill to “see my son” and stop in at the tea shop while I am there. Heehee!
I order mine from Upton (and I just ordered a big bag). But I would check vitamin stores and whole food stores. Just be sure to get roasted.
I could always send you about an ounce to try, too!
Wow! I am so glad I snagged a pouch of this at the last reblending. This is soooo good. The cinnamon is just the right level for a cinnamon roll, and I get the bready taste as well as the icing. A wonderful replacement for the sweets I should not be eating.
Please, Sir. I want some more!
24 oz teapot, 4 actual tsp blend, freshly boiled water, lightly sweetened.
Preparation
I am expecting my pouch any day now…I cannot wait to taste this honeybush blend:) I hope Frank puts this one in the permanent collection!!!
my favorite from 52!!
Also my favorite from 52, and I am so hoping it becomes permanent!
Yum, one of my favorites too!
I can’t see ANY good reason he wouldn’t make it permanent. Not to would be a HUGE business mistake.
My resteep at 10 minutes is still very enjoyable, although it is not as super yummy as the first.
come on franky! per-ma-nent!
I’ll add my plea to the permanent cause! We need our cinnamon roll honeybush!
They just revived this one! Go go go!
Tea of the afternoon.
I have been out running errands today, and am very glad to be home sitting here with my tea. I think I am addicted. But I am not looking for any reason to overcome this particular addiction!
Smooth, cocoa-ey, good. I have not had this one in so long that I forgot about the honey and appley notes in this one. Yum.
Steeped by the usual parameters.
Preparation
Tea of the morning.
I may be having this one more often in the morning. It turns out that my youngest kind of likes it to get his day going. It is funny that he normally drinks a few sips of coffee in the morning and thinks it makes a difference. He thinks this one makes him peppy, which is a good thing since it takes him so long to wake up for his 6:30am bus.
In comparison to Chocolate Rocket…it works and is much more economical. But I am ordering the Rocket today for a treat. I will probably have to share it….. ;)
Preparation
Tea shared with a friend is all the more sweet….. Thank you to ashmanra for sending me this sample. Once again, it goes to show there are Lapsang Souchong blends out there that I like.
The tea is more smokey than I am used to. I know some comes from the Lapsang, but I think some comes from the Keemun, too. I do think this one is a little more tobacco-ey and a little less sweet than the Lapsang Souchong Black Dragon that I really enjoy. Since I am not usually one to add milk to tea, this is probably about my limit on smoke. I may have to do some experimenting with milk again. I am finding that things that did not appeal to me at one point in my tea journey work quite nicely for me at a later date. If anything, this has taught me to keep an open mind…
Preparation
This sounds awesome just by name (and possible Sherlock Holmes reference alone). I might have to add this to the ‘Teas to Order from Upton’ list.
Wifey Woman, send me your snail mail and I can pop a packet in the post tomorrow!
I can’t send you a message. I think you have to be following me too in order to do that. Thank you for the offer as I’d really like to try it!
I thought I WAS following you! Sorry! Situation amended now! :)
I’ve had a similar experience of shifting taste bud allegiance as well. Would you say this is your favorite Lapsang Souchong that you’ve tried? I generally don’t like smokey teas (especially Keemun, gross!), but so many people have been posting about Lapsang Souchongs that now I just have to try one.
@CHAroma- I prefer Upton’s Lapsang Souchong Black Dragon.
Thanks, I’ll try that one!
Reading about this tea never fails to start Gerry Rafferty (or more specifically, Raphael Ravenscroft) playing in my head!
Tea of the early morning…..
Oh so smooth. At some point I need to check out some Darjeeling tea. I have less than half of the 2 ounces from this that I bought about a month ago in Millerton. For all the choices of EG in my cupboard, that is saying something. In fact, I don’t think I have had any Earl Grey Supreme since this one came home with me. It goes on the shopping list, but I need to drink some of the other handful of EG varieties in there first!
Brewed at my usual parameters…
Preparation
My tea of the afternoon….
Smooth base, light vanilla, and then the rose. If I could change one thing, it might be to have a slightly more intense vanilla, but the rest is very good. It is very much a tea party tea. The rosebuds are whole and beautiful, even after steeping.
24 oz teapot, 5 actual tsp tea, freshly boiled water, 4 minutes. Lightly Sweetened.
Hmmm, I like both lines of thought here…Having just watched Fellowship of the Ring, and waiting in great anticipation for The Hobbit, I think I will cast my vote in favor of Rosie, nothing against Mrs. Darcy of course. I will try this at home tonight, I actually have some of both!
Oh my gosh my heart was just stolen away ; 3;
Hobbit tea! Rosie’s Hobbit Tea! My eyes are tearing up with glee so I think it’s a yes from me. :)!
Hmmm, as an advocate of second breakfast, I think it would be nice to have a whole line of appropriate teas for the occasion. Shire Tea might be a good name for a basic one. You really must come up with a Tom Bombadil blend! Something a little smokey, maybe? Or an really earthy green?
Yes! Rosie’s Hobbit Tea is a winner for sure! Nerds… I love nerds :)
Yes, I think we have a winner!
@ashmanra- I agree we need a whole series. Wouldn’t Tom Bombadil be more of a pu’erh (earthy, like dirt, etc.)? That is one I can’t drink…yet.
Hear, hear! I second ashmanra’s motion.
Awesome name! I think that’s a great blend for Rosie (though I might throw in a pinch of rose scented too!)
Oohh. A pinch of Rose Scented sounds good. I will try that next!
I thought of puerh, typed it, then erased it because I know a lot of people don’t care for it. So yes, I think it would be a great choice! Maybe the strawberry chocolate one from Lupicia would be a good candidate.
I just saw the name of this tea, and I love it! Rosie Cotton, right? Totally fits, as Hobbits love drinking tea!