659 Tasting Notes
This came as a sample in my American Tea Room order. It’s fine, but no stand out as gunpowders go. A bit on the light side, with some hay notes. I have yet to find anything from ATR excellent enough to justify their prices — with the exception of Brioche, obviously. That’s how they keep getting me to come back.
Preparation
The description of this sounded pretty intriguing, so though I already have H&S Earl Grey Supreme established here as my house earl grey, I sprang for a tin during the black friday sale.
How do the two compare?
1. I think Earl Grey Supreme is still technically the better tea. Something about it just tastes higher quality.
2. The Victorian London Fog is noticeably finicky to make. If you set a timer, you’ll be fine, but I have a bad habit of wandering off like a space cadet, and I appreciate teas that can be a little more forgiving.
3. Having said that all that, when it turns out right, the London Fog is really delightful. The light vanilla and lavender notes are a delicious accent to the earl grey. And there is a bit of nice cream flavor too.
I don’t think this tea is going to supplant the Earl Grey Supreme any time soon, but it’s well worth trying. And really when you think about it, there’s nothing wrong with keeping a back-up earl grey around ;)
Preparation
They were sold out of all but samples when I ordered, so I only got a wee bit, but we liked it. We also like their Earl Grey Supreme best, but this is a nice change and is very creamy, so I think I would have fun making lattes with it, if I made lattes. My daughter is the real EG lover and she liked it enough that I will be getting more for her.
Got this as a sample in my recent order. There were no notes that really jumped out at me in this tea — as the name suggests, it is kind of a general flavor of the season profile. A little spice, maybe a little citrus? Still it was a very cozy, pleasant tea with a well-matched base, and I wouldn’t at all mind having more.
Drinking this classic tea while I cyber-shop for more tea. Living the dream.
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. If you’ve been online much lately, you’ve probably already seen the Net Neutrality posts, but just in case not, this site gives a run down: https://www.battleforthenet.com . Basically the FCC is trying to use this holiday season to throttle the internet. I hate to bring politics onto Steepster, but I’m not sure we’ll even have Steepster for long if this goes through.
I know, but they’ve tried to pass similar bills over the last couple of years, and every time the public has raised such an uproar that they had to drop it, so I’m hoping that happens again. Comcast and Verizon just keep trying to shove it down our throats though.
This came as a sample in my order. It’s a nice enough black tea with a hint of sweetness, but I do not taste caramel, and honestly, I never do taste caramel in caramel teas. I don’t know what they’re going on about. The only tea I’ve ever had that tasted caramely was Je T’Aime from Nina’s Paris, but it wasn’t really billed as a caramel tea, per se. And then they went and messed up the recipe, so that one’s out too now.
Caramel: The Phantom Flavor
Preparation
You know, now that you mention it, I have almost the exact same problem. Its so rare to get any caramel flavor in things billed as caramel, that your description is apt.
The weird thing is, shouldn’t this be an easy flavor? If all else fails, put in some chopped-up candy bits.
Hmm. I will reflect on this.
Have you tried Salted Caramel Oolong, ie. Oolong Caramel au Beurre Sale by Damman Freres? To my mind, that one is caramel.
No, I haven’t tried that one, I tend to drink my oolongs plain. It sounds really intriguing, though, I’ll keep it in mind!
Caramel comes across as sour to me, in teas. and coffee. I always hope… though there was one from Citizen tea that was close (Teaopia)
I know the sourness you mean! It’s especially strong in the coffees. Such a bizarre interpretation of the flavor though, because who ever ate a piece of caramel and thought “this tastes sour”? It’s like whoever makes the caramel flavor for all the tea and coffee companies never tasted caramel at all.
Just got my first order in from Amitea. I think I’m going to try this again with a shorter steep time, because right now the base is way overpowering the flavorings. I get just a little hint of vanilla and cream. It’s pleasant enough, but I’m getting astringency far more than I’m getting the richness and smoothness of Devonshire Cream.
Preparation
Hooray, got a small order in from NMTC, so the cupboard doesn’t feel quite so bare now. This was a little sample they threw in. It tastes very much like English Breakfast, but a bit lighter and mellower. It’s fine enough, but probably not going to become a staple around here.
Preparation
I am wondering why a tea company in presumably New Mexico is stocking something called Canadian Breakfast. Lighter and mellower, hmm. Perhaps they are aiming for the tea version of a Tim Horton’s coffee.
Lol, yes they are in New Mexico, I’ve visited their shop myself. Apparently Canadian Breakfast is really a thing? I’d never heard of it until about a week ago, but several tea companies make it. Anyway, NMTC stocks English Breakfast, Irish Breakfast, etc., they are not particular that way ;)
hahaha, just like DF does all the Noels then.
well, this Canadian tea drinker is curious what Canadian Breakfast tea might be. I’ll look into it. Thanks!
Lol, exactly. Well, I hope you can find a better version of Canadian Breakfast in Canada, because this one really isn’t worth the hype. The more I drink it the more I think English Breakfast knockoff.
Now this, to my mind, has potential. https://steepster.com/teas/murchies-tea-and-coffee/43134-canadian-breakfast
Obviously. I like their Celtic Blend. A lot.
I looked it up and Celtic Blend does sound impressive. Does it really have a pepper note?