3010 Tasting Notes
Neck and shoulders in Gordian knots after a stressful day yesterday. This was a lovely “unwind.”
Chamomile doesn’t have exactly what I’d call a strong flavor, but it’s definitely insistent and is hard to mask. The orange in this combination holds its own against the floral and wasn’t uncomfortably tart.
And while we’re thinking about the calm and soothing little ritual of an evening cuppa, here’s a really good read I found recommended elsewhere by Alexander McCall Smith (a favorite author of mine): http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2097484/Alexander-McCall-Smith-tackles-decline-teapot-symbol-Englishness.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
I made my first cup before I refreshed my memory on the contents and my first thought was oooh—-fruit! Second thought was that this is a lot like Marco Polo, but a lot less finicky (I was typically sloppy with prep this bleary morning).
Now that I’ve checked, neither of those thoughts were very accurate, ingredient wise. But muddy thinking notwithstanding, this is very good, very sweet, and I can’t wait to try another cup with a little milk.
Many thanks to SimplyJenW!
You are welcome. I did just update Steepster with Harney’s current description of this tea….stone fruits, bergamot, and honey….
Stone fruits; now, that makes sense!
I agree, there is a similarity between ToL and Marco Polo. For me thing, my hubby will drink very few, VERY FEW, teas, but he will drink both of those! :) Hubby gave me ToL as a surprise two years ago because he knew I wanted to try it. Michael Harney started making it loose leaf because I begged him for six months! :D
@Ashmanra – Any chance you want to beg him to sell it in less than 1 pound increments?? : )
If you call the Millerton number, I think you can buy however many ounces you want! :)
Oh, or possibly the Soho store as well!
Full and formal review up at http://www.itsallabouttheleaf.com/2621/tea-review-teafrog-orange-pekoe/. This one’s tasty!
A landmark: son with the flu actually asked Mom to steep a cup of something to settle his stomach. And drank it. I don’t get to be nurturing very often these days.
Side by side with over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, I don’t think there’s anything that can beat strong peppermint tea for a good deal of what ails ya. (And this particular brand is good and stout.)
Marty Stuart, Ricky Skaggs and Rhonda Vincent singing gospel on PBS … the world would be a happier place if there were just more good bluegrass.
OK, that had nothing to do with this note, but I just needed to say it.
The obvious accompaniment to that high lonesome sound would be a big ol’ glass of southern swee’tea, but it’s cold and clammy outside (oh, wait—the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band—hang on!)
(musical interlude)
…we now rejoin this broadcast to say that I really like this stuff; the ability of the preparers to wring butterscotch out of a green tea amazes me. And because I really like this stuff, I am a little disappointed that it behaves a little on the finicky side—needs attention-to-thermometer-detail. I’m too wishy-washy and loosey-goosey and ADD to prepare it with the care it deserves…oh, look, it’s Mark Lowry and Guy Penrod singing backup….!
Waaaah! Loosey-goosey was my nickname for Lucy, the little dog we fostered. Sniff. Sniff.
A friend told me she had something terrible to confess. Her husband had started listening to…and she hung her head as she told me…BLUEGRASS! And she thought that as a classically trained musician I would look down from my great height of 5’3" (almost) in disdain. She was so embarrassed. She was pretty shocked when I told her I have wailed out the chorus of Rocky Top more than once with friends.
You had me with Nitty Gritty Dirt Band…was going to switch over to PBS until I saw the “about 2 hours ago” part : ) Dating myself here, but had to go to youtube to get a Mr. Bojangles fix.
Tell your friend to hold her head high, put on a Darlin’ Brothers episode of Andy Griffith, pick a harmony line, rear back, and belt out a chorus of “Dooley” with pride! (That ’un always makes me cry.)
This is another neat do-it-yourself Adagio blend from keenteathyme. (With my thanks.)
Backtracking to an old tasting note about Adagio’s cherry tea tasted solo confirmed that it has an artificial cherry-syrup personality. So when it gets blended with the cream and chocolate (which I do like Adagio’s version of), you get a Cherry Mash or drugstore Christmas cherry chocolate vibe—both of which I do like. A little milk and sugar blended nicely (I think I overdid on the dry leaf in a smaller pot and it was just on the edge of bitter. My mistake, not the tea’s).
Makes me wonder what this combination would be like with a different, less syrupy, cherry base.
Is 7:44 a.m. too early to break into a box of Russell Stover to accompany this?
We all have our reasons for morning tea selections, some sensible, some a little less so—today, I had a wicked sore in my mouth and needed something that would be compatible with a jawful of Orajel.
Don’t know why this seemed to be the one, but it’s been gentle and non-acidic and a little fruit-juicy this morning. (My previous note called it “cereally;” either the goop has really flipped out my taste buds or it’s just an all-purpose breakfast Darjeeling.)
You can swish Pepto-Bismol or chew the tablets and spit it out to make a soothing coating to relieve the pain for awhile. It can make your tongue turn black sometimes, though, but that is harmless. Oh how I detest mouth sores! They are so painful!
Never heard that one…this is CVS house brand and isn’t too nasty.
I’ve been enjoying Alexander McCall Smith recently too. I’m totally new to him, but I’ve been listening to the books about Professor Von Igelfeld on audiobook (the first three unfortunately only available abridged) and plan to try some of his other books as well when I’m finished with the last one.
A few years ago he released a novel chapter by chapter (Corduroy Mansions?) in a newspaper, which was wonderful. They were done in audio by Andrew Sachs which I adored.
I’ve spent most of my time with No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, but have fallen behind and not read the last two since the Unfortunate Incident. Looking forward to catching up … someday.
I’ve been leaning mostly towards No. 1 Ladie’s Detective Agency as well, but I have also been warmly recommended the series that takes place in Scotland. Can’t remember the specifics…
Is that the one with bertie? i enjoyed that one greatly, but never did the No 1 Ladies, actually. It’s such a long series that getting each of the books from the library seemed intimidating.
Yes, #44 introduces Bertie. The No. 1 series are all very easy and fun reads. With tea figuring prominently.