Queen Catherine

Medium chopped mixed black tea.
Nice “classic black tea” nose to the raw tea.
With a short steep (I use no milk or sugar), it’s a nice light black tea. No one taste that stands out or differentiates it from the mainline black teas, but nice and smooth and not tannic.

Bold and smoky but not brisk or astringent. Cream and chocolate notes. Loved it.

One fine cup of tea.

Robust but not overly so, malty, hints of fruit, caramel.

Added milk today because I have some at hand.

Reliable and delicious way to start the day.

Whenever I have an audience with the Queen, I always think of ashmanra and those that the Queen has sustained and comforted in challenging times and I am grateful that the fates, for the most part, have been kind.

I hope everyone is well today. <3

Having a FANTASTIC friday thanks to Georgia, Pennsylvania, Arizon & Nevada (so far). I left this tea over-steeping for at least 10 minutes and it’s not even bitter – I don’t know what kind of witchcraft this is, but I’m here for it!

STTB tea

I took out a tiny (1 tsp) sample to try. I brewed it up with only ~225 mL hot water and added a touch of unsweetened soymilk to bring out the sweetness and malt. It was quite smooth with an obvious honey taste. The bergamot was nice. I was expecting smoke, but I didn’t find anything smokey in the base or the flavouring. I thought this was a solid cup (and a decent Earl Grey) with a light but sweet base that reminds me of a Darjeeling.

SIPDOWN (2) and how sad one!

I have received a sample from ashmanra, as her favourite.
I can see why — well see my first note about this tea.

I prepared last leaves today and weilll it wasn’t that great. I know it sounds harsh, but actually isn’t. It was still exceptional! Just not that great as a first experience. But it was more of broken leaves and a bit dusty than whole leaf pictured.

It was mellow after 4 minutes steeping, it was a caffine-boost which I needed badly. I noticed autumn leaf pile and malts, slight drying. Little bit of astringency and tannic is there too, but it’s overall a very nice blend. I don’t get any bergamot though, but I still get a thin layer of red berries and leather.

I hope once I will be able to enjoy a whole tin in my cupboard. Though it seems it would be a package from overseas. Local distributor doesn’t carry it. That said, their selection is rather limited.

I have finished the statistics paper. Let’s say, just in time. Tomorrow two exams awaits, while one is re-sit (Economics of transport companies) and the second is mathematics. I just moved the start from 8 am to 9.15 am. It means one more hour of sleep; and also my brain will work better hopefully! I prepared it in mean time with statistics. Thankfully I have a class-mates whom we make the paper partially together. But the matematics scares me!

Little note: I have downrated this tea a bit. From 96 to 92. Mostly because it just wasn’t that awesome, due to broken leaf. It is partially a user error for sure, though.

Samurai Travelling Tea Box – Tea #33

It’s been so long since I last had a Harney & Sons tea, especially a straight one. They’re just not the most convenient to get here in Canada, and if I’m being really honest I think that the quality of a lot of their blends is pretty average – though at least reasonably priced for the quality!

I can’t remember if this is something I’ve had before, but if it is then it would have been years ago and I don’t remember. I thought it steeped up alright as a hot Western mug. I’d call it medium bodied, with a hint of pleasant astringency that reminded me of the dryness of walnut or almond skins. The flavour was fine (see aforementioned comment about the quality being average) but it didn’t dance on my tongue or anything crazy like that. More on the woody/umami end of the black tea spectrum that sweet and malty/cocoa-y, with a little tease of smokiness.

I’d drink again – but wouldn’t purchase.

This was recommended to me a few months ago on their website although at the time I was looking at black teas more along the lines of Irish Breakfast. I got the 50ct of teabags and I just reordered for a tin of loose. I don’t know what it is about this tea that is so comforting and yet invigorating. I usually don’t drink much black tea, but Queen Catherine definitely makes me more curious to other similar blends.

On the other hand, let’s see how it goes with the loose leaf, especially since I’ve learned more recently that I tend to underleaf by most people’s standards. I feel like the teabags are good from everything from a single mug to a 25oz thermos.

This has become one of my regular teas now. Love the subtle taste. Would be re-ordering for sure.

Sipdown 143/395. Thank you for the sample, OhFancyThat!

I feel like I’m letting the whole of Steepster down, but I just don’t love this like everyone else does! I have had a few cups and was always hoping it would be better than I remembered, and it just never was. I’m not usually the biggest fan of Chinese blacks, though, so I guess it makes sense. I’m chalking it up to personal preference more than the tea itself. I can’t pick out a lot of the nuances that others have experienced, based on the Steepster flavour profile, even when it was brand new. I get a slightly smoky, savoury note along with some rye notes and a sourness I often notice in Keemun blends, but no cocoa, no raisin, no cinnamon or spices. Today I’m drinking it as my breakfast tea with milk (not that it needs any, as it doesn’t have any astringency) alongside a Nutella-filled Christmas tree puff pastry that my mam made for our family gathering last night. I do like the way it pairs with the pastry. It’s not too sweet and it tempers the sweetness of the chocolate, pastry and icing sugar topping well so it’s not too much. Yummy yummy. At least I’m finally in the holiday spirit!