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Cameron B. drank Tower of London by Harney & Sons

1578 tasting notes

Oh, the infamous Tower of London, much beloved around these parts. I had high hopes for this one after hearing its praise sung in many a tasting note. The dry leaf pretty much looks like a “generic” black tea – very dark, short, slightly twisty leaves. However, the smell is not at all generic. It’s a powerful and tart-smelling combination of peach, vanilla, and bergamot. I actually brewed this twice.

The first time, I did a teaspoon for 4 minutes (which was the average steep time according to Steepster). It came out quite bitter and I couldn’t finish the cup, even with sugar. I’ve had the exact same problem with Paris before.

The second time, I did a 5 minute steep instead (which seemed to solve the problem in the past). It came out much better at these parameters. It has a sweet and tantalizing aroma with a lot of vanilla, accented by peach, plum, and honey fragrances. The taste is similar but a bit more complex. The vanilla hits my tongue first, followed by the bergamot, then a jumble of peaches and dark sweet cherries. Finally, the honey comes in at the end, right before a slightly unpleasant bitterness. Not sure what I’m doing wrong there. I found this tea to be quite similar to Paris, perhaps with a touch more bergamot and with a slightly brighter fruit flavor compared to Paris’s more jammy one. A tasty tea with a bit of sugar added.

Flavors: Bergamot, Cherry, Honey, Peach, Vanilla

Preparation

205 °F / 96 °C 5 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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2 comments

boychik
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Since you recently tried St Petersburg do you find it similar? I do, but I didn’t do side by side, my Kusmi tin is new and I don’t want to open it now

Cameron B.
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I can see the similarity, but I think I get more bergamot in this than I do with St. Petersburg. I’m not sure whether this or Paris would be more similar…

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boychik
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Since you recently tried St Petersburg do you find it similar? I do, but I didn’t do side by side, my Kusmi tin is new and I don’t want to open it now

Cameron B.
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I can see the similarity, but I think I get more bergamot in this than I do with St. Petersburg. I’m not sure whether this or Paris would be more similar…

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Bio

Hi, I’m Cameron! I’m a 30-year-old software engineer currently living in Austin, Texas with my husband and our two pugs, Gobo and Ume. I tend to cycle between my different hobbies, and they include knitting, video games, board games, miniature painting, bento, baking, and – of course – TEA! But really, what I’m best at is collecting hobby related-things… ;)

I prefer my tea lukewarm or at room temperature and without milk or sugar. I will often sweeten iced tea. I brew Western style, and fluctuate between using mugs or teapots with small cups depending on the season. Occasionally I’ll brew Gongfu style when I’m in the mood. I also use a kyusu for Japanese teas.

I am always up for a swap! Just let me know if you’d like to try something in my cupboard.

Current Subscriptions:
52teas
Bird & Blend
Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms
Sips By

Tea Preferences:
I enjoy both flavored and unflavored teas in many forms. These days, I drink mostly flavored teas, and I tend to gravitate most toward black, green, and oolong varieties. I do have a special fondness for straight Japanese green teas, however.

Fruit: All of them! My ‘go-to’s tend to be in the red fruits, stonefruit, or citrus spectra. I also really love apple, banana, berry, fig, lychee, melon, pear, and rhubarb flavors. Tropical fruits aren’t among my favorites, but I still enjoy them once in a while – especially mango and pineapple. I am not generally a fan of coconut in tea, though there are some exceptions.

Dessert: I love creamy vanilla and marshmallow flavors, along with anything in the caramel family such as butterscotch, toffee, or maple. Chocolate is also a favorite, though I’m often disappointed by it in tea. And don’t forget anything buttery, cakey, or cookie-y!

Floral: I’m a little bit more particular in this category. I very much enjoy jasmine, even strong jasmine, along with sakura and chamomile. But I’m not crazy about rose or lavender flavors, and I prefer hibiscus in moderation only.

Spices: I don’t generally find myself drawn to masala chai, but I do enjoy spices combined with other flavors. My favorite spices are the warm ones, especially cinnamon, nutmeg, anise, and cardamom. A bit of heat from black pepper or chili is okay too, as long as it’s not overwhelming! Ginger can be a lovely accent, but I find it difficult to drink as a starring flavor.

Aromatics: I’m obsessed with Earl Grey! I also love cooling flavors such as mint (especially spearmint), pine, juniper, and eucalyptus. I am not a fan of strong rosemary or sage in tea.

Favorite Purveyors:
Bird & Blend
Dammann Frères
Kusmi
Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms
Lupicia
Taiwan Tea Crafts
TeaVivre
Yunnan Sourcing

Tea Rating Scale:
90-100: Outstanding! Permanent cupboard resident
80-89: Great – a possible staple
70-79: Good, but I wouldn’t buy it
60-69: It’s decent
50-59: Meh… I may or may not have finished the cup
40-49: Ick. Couldn’t finish it.
00-39: Repulsive, I spat it out

I will sometimes refrain from rating a tea if I feel I’m too biased due to my personal dislikes, or if I suspect the sample has been compromised by age.

Location

Austin, Texas

Website

https://www.instagram.com/cam...

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