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Mmm, I think I’m going to have to bump up my rating on this one. I love that the overall foundation is that of a jasmine tea, but overlayered with other floral and even fruit notes. I’m digging these kind of sweet floral teas right now, so this is right up my alley.

This is a tea that I was dying to try. I love Earl Grey, I love rose, what’s not to like? So I got a sample pack from Harney and tried it… and I didn’t like it at all. This was before I figured out that if I put 2 tsp instead of 1.5 tsp in my 12 oz Kati cup, Harney black teas taste way bitter to me no matter how long the steep. This time, with my proper brewing parameters, it’s much better. There’s still a hint of bitterness (I think I might drop the temp on my Harney blacks and see if that takes care of it) and astringency, but now I can actually taste the rose and it seems to play well with the bergamot, but I don’t get a lot of citrusy bergamot from this one. Overall a decent tea, but not my favorite Earl Grey blend. There are some Harney teas that I love love love, but I’m finding there are others (like this one) where the black tea base just isn’t right for me. Oh well, I guess rose and Earl Grey is one of those combos I will be looking for in other places.

I wanted a black tea this morning that wasn’t Earl Grey or chocolate, and I didn’t feel like rose, which limited my options, so I decided to try this lavender tea again. It’s amazing how much the aroma of the dried leaves and the fresh brewed tea is powerfully lavender. The brewed tea is much more mellow as far as that’s concerned. I do think I like lavender in teas cut with other things (lavender and jasmine is a winning combo), but this one is pleasant too. It’s just more herby than most other florals, so it’s a different taste profile.

I was craving chocolate this afternoon, so it was time for some Florence. I am now almost out of my sample package, which means I forsee a Harney order soon (or perhaps a trip to their Soho store!). In any case, this tastes really nutty today, and super delicious! I definitely need more teas like this.

Of all the single steeps I got with my Kati cup, I like this one best. That may not be saying much considering what I think of the other blends, but I do like this one. It smells more lemony than it tastes, but I like the hint of sweetness to the blend. The taste as it cools becomes more gingery and peppery, with an underlying grassiness. Overall I wish this one was a bit more lemony, and if anything it’s made this combo something I might look for now that I’m out of ginger tea.

Ah, Paris… I I’ve been thinking of it often as I plan a trip to Europe (including Paris!) in a month and a half. Drinking this lovely tea feels like a primer!

Had this one for my morning cup… The instructions call for a full tablespoon of tea per 8 oz cup, which I think is a little excessive, so I went for 2 tsp for my 12 oz Kati cup and the tea is plenty strong. I think I have about one more cup left in my sample pouch, which means I’ll have to order more since I like it so much! Good thing I have a groupon for Tea District that I haven’t spent yet.

I’m finally getting around to the rooibos samples from Butiki (thanks again!), and I decided to have this one tonight. I don’t have a lot of plain vanilla teas, but that’s not because I don’t like them! I think I get too swept up in trying all the more complicated blends, and I forget how nice just a simple vanilla is.

The aroma of this one is primarily vanilla (no surprise there), but there’s an underlying ‘bright’ sweetness that almost seems like a fruit note. The taste is very true to the name: it’s all vanilla creaminess, with a hint of sweetness. I get a faint, almost almond note that I think is coming from the rooibos. This is a delicious, and it makes a nice evening dessert tea.

I love the aroma of this tea, both the dry leaves and the brewed liquor. I stand by my assessment of lemon candy! The flavor is much milder, but still delicious. Clearly I’m a big fan of citrus flavored teas. I’m definitely bumping my rating up on this one.

I’ve actually tasted all the recent tea samples I got! Well, the ones I have at work; I left the rooibos at home and haven’t gotten to them yet. In any case, I had to turn to my tea drawer for the first time in a while, and Tower of London was calling out to me. It’s been a while since I’ve had it, and it’s interesting to taste it again in light of all the other teas I’ve had lately. Still a fantastic blend!