Grace Tea Company

Why are the chickens making me crave black tea? Each morning I go outside and watch the chickens we bought Sunday. One of them had laid an egg in the box during the auction. I didn’t expect them to lay for a week or so since they had a major upheaval in their lives, but yesterday both laying hens laid an egg. (One is an adorable pullet, too young to lay just yet.) I am on pins and needles looking for two more eggs to come at about five o’clock. Meanwhile, though, in the mornings I LONG for a pot of black tea even though I haven’t been having tea until afternoons for a long while.

This one sounded good today. It is one of only a few Assams that I can drink and not regret it. Others are too harsh for me and give me an angry stomach. I actually got distracted and steeped this one for over five minutes instead of the 3 1/2 I normally do. I was afraid it would be undrinkable but I took it outside and enjoyed every cup with a bit of Blarney Castle cheese from Kerrygold. Is anyone else excited at the cheese they are carrying at Sam’s Club now? They have some pretty decent ones and I try to buy one or two a month to expand my horizons.

Grace Rare Tea is consistently good for me. They don’t offer a huge number of different teas, but they offer high quality teas and people who have tea at my house generally really like their tea. I have had their Formosa Oolong, Assam, Winey Keemun, and Jasmine Green, and they have all been tasty.

I haven’t had this tea in ages, and it appears I didn’t review back when I did have it. I am still experimenting and trying to expand my tea horizons, and I want to learn to like more teas.

The first time I had this I didn’t like it. It was too…Assam-y. I love Irish breakfast teas so I don’t know why my experiences with Assams have left a bad taste in my mouth. I am giving this one another go.

Since the leaves are somewhat fine I decided to steep for only about three minutes. I have to confess I am finding this to be a lovely cup of tea. We are drinking it with Kerrygold Dubliner cheese, which always makes tea seem sweeter to us. I decided to be bold and drink this sans additions. The most surprising thing to me is that I ampicking up a fruitiness in the cup. There is barely any astringency, mostly a hearty, bold malty taste, but not too strong.

I believe I may be able to drink this after all!

I can’t say as I am a fan of the aroma of this one. The taste…not terrible but not really flavorful…might have to tinker before fully reviewing and rating…

backlogging

Ashmanra sent me another batch of amazing teas, many of which I have been sooooo excited to try – so much so that I can’t bear to try them just yet! I chose this one to try first because I didn’t know anything about this one yet and have not built it up in my head :), love what I have tasted from Grace teas so far, and the description sounded like it would pair well with buttery, salty shortbread, which is what we are having for our afternoon snack!

Delicious! A good, hearty tea flavor with a slight chewy smokiness. I used a splash of half and half and 2 teaspoons of sugar per cup – too much sugar. I think the barest hint of smoke this tea has along with that caramel chewiness would do better with a scant teaspoon of sugar. My error! Despite that, both my husband and I really enjoyed this. Thumbs up! Whomever is the owner of Grace tea is, boy do I share his/her taste! Everything I have tasted so far is exactly suited to what I like!

Speaking of smokiness – I am starting to get into the smoky! Leeeetle smoky steps – like the touch of smoke in English style breakfast blends or that Yunnan chewysmoky – but I am starting to crave it! Imagine that. When I tasted that little tinge of smoke my heart sang!

I am egg-zausted from attending a performance of the Duchess of Malfi last night – talk about intense! It is a strong tea, milk and sugar kind of morning. I thought this one would be fun to try – thanks SO MUCH ashmanra!

This is a very complex and interesting Irish Breakfast! I am getting the feeling that Grace Rare Teas are telling it like it is :) The offerings I’ve had thus far have not tasted like anything I’ve ever tasted!

I taste a true tea flavor, strong but not astringent or bitter – really smooth, full bodied – malty but not overly so, and for some reason, I taste the most gentle of cardamom or nutmeg? flavors. Sort of like cardamom or nutmeg was steeped in milk – or like rice pudding! Very subtle. I know this is not a flavored tea so it must be some unique quality of the tea. It is delicious.

I don’t think I have any choice but to put a leetle more tea into my brewer basket and make another cup!

Mmmmmmmmmm! I’m still getting that unique cardamom-y flavor (and I am f-l-y-i-n-g! This one sneaks up on ya! How can something that tastes so good and sweet and lovely wake you up like this!?!!?!?)

It is truly frightening how much delicious tea I’ve been drinking courtesy of ashmanra!!! Thank you once again!

Many many thanks to ashmanra for this tea!!

We were feeling peckish this afternoon, so I put together some toast with butter and strawberry jam, and made a pot of this tea for my husband and I. Oh! We’re in love! It kind of reminds me of Dawn lite – subtle cocoa notes and good tea. Very rich. Earthy. A splash of of milk and scant teaspoon of sugar make it a real treat. I don’t taste anything wine-like, but then again maybe you need to take it plain to get that from it. I would purchase this in a heartbeat, especially now that Dawn is no longer available.

4 1/2 minutes. The only thing I don’t like about this is the astringent smell of the dry leaves. I think it’s common when you have a lot of bergamot in one place though. Once the leaves are in the cup with water, it’s totally fine.

Steeped for 5 minutes.

I’ve noticed some slightly smokey notes.

A little lighter on the bergamont than others, so if you like a good Earl Gray but not a whole lot of bergamont, this is for you! But still Grace quality!

Tea of the morning – and I prepared it without making a mess everywhere! Go me! Smooth, malty, and delicious.

I play at church this morning and then our team has a gig this afternoon in town. Should be a lot of fun. I haven’t worshiped with them in a while – actually years! They don’t watch the clock, so I could be there a while – and trust me with this bunch that is a good thing.

Let me tell you about my morning so far. I started on Facebook complaining about the ads in the middle of the post area of the screen that can’t be closed. A friend agreed then told me to have a Snickers. lol. So then I get a bagel and think I’ll prepare tea. The press is full of spent leaf. Back to the kitchen. The water jug is empty. Back to the kitchen. I remembered the bagel, forgot the press. Back to the kitchen. Had to search for my mug. Filled the scoop with leaf. Flipped on the kettle. I was talking to my wife and watching Destination Truth – nobody doesn’t find monsters better (how could they cancel this show?) – then I grab the scoop and toss it back to storage… except… I forgot to pour the leaf in the press first. Good grief. Yeah, back to the kitchen.

The tea is wonderful and much needed, but I need more Snickers.

Thanks to ashmanra my assam journey takes another step. According to wikepedia – so you know it has to be true ;) Irish Breakfast teas are traditionally 100% Assam blends. This is slightly malty in smell and taste. There was something else going on in the background that reminded me more of a hazel nut tea my wife drinks than it does the fruitiness of yesterday’s A Southern Season IB. Not bitter at 3 minute steep but a a little drying. I think this one would hurt me if I drank too much on an empty stomach. At least that is the excuse I used to grab the peanut butter chocolate chip cookies I had with it. Good tea and good cookies!

Thanks again to Hesper June for this sample — see previous notes for more info.

It’s already been a busy weekend of socializing and art events for me, I needed something to wake my assam up so I can get motivated to be productive. :)

This is a nice morning tea, courtesy of Hesper June! Assams definitely belong in the “eye-opening” category for me. I am getting lots of malty notes but also a twinge of bitterness. It isn’t the mellowest assam blend I’ve ever had but I seem to remember this is fairly typical for Irish Breakfast teas. I would not say it is “delicate” per the company’s description, but perhaps I will try steeping it for a little less time also.

Overall, not bad but not something I will feel compelled to buy. Thanks again for the sample, HG! Now I must get my assam to work – hee hee!

This herbal blows my mind! This is gorgeously delicious!

It’s a cross between REAL raw lemon juice and lemon balm but with a creamy sort of texture!

I’m enjoying this beyond words – but I’m really trying to elaborate for tasting notes sake. This is excellent hot or cold. Soothing, satisfying, delightful, a real K.I.S.S. sort of tisane.

This exceeded my expectations!

I’m sending the rest to my Sororitea Sista’s Liberteas and Azzrian

One of my favorite stand-alone herbals to date :)

Thanks again to Hesper June for this one. I’d never heard of Grace Tea Company before and went to their website which looks a lot like Mark T. Wendell’s.

Anyway I am living dangerously by having this for breakfast, as it looks quite strong. I’m not a HUGE fan of keemun but I think the lapsang in this blend is quite nice, I like the combination of the two together. For me this is quite a strong cup of tea, I used about 2 tsps. in a big mug of tea so I likely could have gone with less. I’ve had a few Russian caravans and some seem very smoky, while others not at all. I admit I added soymilk to this just for an experiment, although not bad it’s probably better plain.

Recommended if you like a strong cup of semi-smoky tea. I might have to buy myself one of the Grace Tea Sampler packs now! I have so many teas but the straight black ones I drink in the morning disappear the quickest.

I only had a small sample of this and with my previous steep I had it without milk or sweetener. This morning I want something I can chug down to pick me up after sleeping in late whoops. My last cup is being devoured with a splash of milk and sprinkle of demerara.

Not much wine flavour with the added extra’s but it’s definitely more breakfast tea friendly.

Another morning, another breakfast tea. In an odd way I have been craving Keemun, I think it’s because of my love for black tea at the moment (last month it was jasmine tea).

The colour once brewed is earthy browny red and it smells slightly sweet and woody.

This tastes malty, slightly woody and earthy with a hint of sweetness. It’s rather rich and well bodied, great for a morning/breakfast tea. There is also a hint of fermented fruit (which brings forward the sweetness) and dryness which is possibly the winey element.

Overall it’s a nice cup but not extraordinary. My mouth was left bone dry after each sip which I am not a fan of and I was hoping that it was a little stronger and more full bodied. It was nice however to have a change and this tea is still rather nice.

I am warming up nicely to Lapsang Souchong.
I especially like this one by Grace Tea.
Their teas always smell so fresh and are some of the better quality tea I have ever had.
The smoke odor in both the leaf and in the tea is not light or puny, it is still very much a LS.
It is not harsh or rough though.
It very much tastes and smells like a tea that a fine gentleman (or lady) would like.
The hubster likes it but it still is not rough enough for him.
I think at some point I will take some burned pine needles from a campfire and some black tea and just brew it up, ash and dirt and all for him.
That just might be rough enough for him.
But, for me, this LS is lovely.
Since I am recent to LS’s, I enjoy the fact that I can still recognize a nice quality black tea as well as the smokiness in this tea.
Well done, Grace Tea Company.
Now, I am going to enjoy a few moments on this rainy morning, sipping this lovely tea while eating a piece of Spiced Pear Coffeecake.

This is my breakfast tea of the morning.
Good tea. A little smoke and leather in the background, up front is a smooth black tea.
I like this tea and I am liking Grace Tea’s quality teas more and more.
(see previous note for more on this tea)
Now, that I had my tea and pumpkin spice bread, I can batten down the hatches for the winter storm that they have been warning about all morning.
Maybe I should make a large teapot of this and put it in a thermos in case the power goes out.
I would hate to be without tea…