Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Harney & Sons
Tea Description:
Years of Japanese and Scandinavian tradition come together in this elegant blend. The fruit-forward notes of tart Nordic lingonberries strike a delicate balance with the refreshing green tea.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I found to get the level of flavor that I wanted from this Ligonberry Green tea from Harney & Sons’ new Ambessa Tea line, I needed to make a stronger brew. This is where loose leaf shows up the bagged or sacheted tea, because I could have easily added a little extra leaf … but for a sacheted tea like this, it’s either use less water or another tea sachet. I used two tea sachets for my cup.
The first time I brewed this (with just one bag), there was certainly flavor, but it was just a little too delicate for my liking. But now, with two tea bags, the flavor is THERE, and I’m liking it.
The lingonberry is a unique flavor … not one that is often found in tea blends. I think I’ve found lingonberry as an ingredient in one or two other teas … it’s a rare thing, though. Usually, the only other place I can find lingonberry at all is at IKEA.
And I like the flavor that the lingonberry brings to this cup. It is mostly tart, but there’s a little bit of sweetness to it to and it adds a really bright, enjoyable flavor. I’m not one who usually rejoices in tart flavors, but I am really liking the flavor of the lingonberry here.
The green tea offers a sweet taste with a soft texture. It’s a nice contrast to the sharp, tart notes of the lingonberry. It’s really a very pleasant culinary experience … and it’s almost like I can taste the mastery of a chef (in this case, Chef Marcus Samuelsson) behind this cup because it’s no ordinary tea!
I have tried all four of the Ambessa Teas now, and I really enjoyed all four, and overall, I’d say that this tea is a win. It does lose points, however, because I needed two tea bags to satisfy my palate flavor wise. For me to be thoroughly impressed by this Ambessa line, I would like for it to be offered in a loose leaf format.
I was just thinking that I’d love to experience another Chef Marcus Samuelsson tea creation now … but what flavor should he attempt next? He’s done Earl Grey, he’s done Chocolate … I guess … I’d love to try a Chai from Chef Samuelsson!
Dorchester Breakfast Black Tea Blend from Harney & Sons
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Harney & Sons
Tea Description:
We have been the tea supplier to famous Dorchester for over seven years. Over that time, we have learned the taste preferences of the British. We know they like their tea strong, and that is what this tea is.
Learn more about this Breakfast Blend here.
Taster’s Review:
I have to be honest and admit that I was kind of surprised when I opened the packet of my loose leaf sample of this Dorchester Breakfast Black Tea Blend from Harney & Sons and saw how small the leaves were cut. This is a very fine CTC blend! I guess I’m just used to larger leaves from Harney. But, I didn’t let that dissuade me from brewing up a cup of this tea and I’m glad it didn’t, because mmm! This is really good.
The dry leaf aroma is faint, but I noticed hints of earth and sweetness. Once brewed, the fragrance seems to become even more faint, with more subtle notes of sweetness. As for the earthy tones I noticed when the tea was dry, I notice next to none. Just a barely there whisper of sweetness wafting from my cup.
And the aroma does an injustice for the flavor that awaits the palate, in my opinion, because this is a really rich and delicious cuppa! This is definitely the kind of tea that I’d be more than happy to wake up to each morning. It is a good, strong cup of tea – very bold! This has what I need on those mornings when I need a little more than a vigorous shake to wake me.
There are rich malty tones to this cup as well as a touch of a freshly baked, cake-y kind of quality. It is a strong tea with an astringent finish, but I’m not finding the astringency to be too much. There are hints of a bitter bite to this as well, and had I steeped this longer than the 2 1/2 minutes that I did in my Breville One-Touch I suspect that I might have had a bitter cuppa. As it is, I am not bothered by the hint of bitterness, as I find it to be an appealing complement to the sweeter notes and the caramel-y undertone to this tea.
This tea definitely has an edge to it, so it’s perfectly alright to add a drizzle of honey to this if you want to smooth out the edginess, or perhaps a splash of milk or cream might be more to your liking. This tea can stand up to either or both! Me, I’m liking it straight up – that edge is giving me the wake up call I need today!
Safari Breakfast Ambessa Tea from Harney & Sons
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Harney & Sons
Tea Description:
Brimming with flavor, Safari Breakfast is a robust blend of African black teas with a reassuringly rich aroma. A full-bodied breakfast tea, it’s the embodiment of Africa’s fine lineage of outstanding teas, spices and vibrancy.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Nice! This Safari Breakfast blend from the Ambessa Tea Line – which is available from Harney & Sons – is a really delightful blend of African black teas.
It is a good, solid tea with plenty of heft. Plenty of the gusto that you want first thing in the morning. It has a certain edginess to it that can be curbed with the addition of milk and honey, but, I like it served straight up too. It delivers a full-flavored taste without bitterness.
It is a pleasantly rich tasting tea with that “bake-y” kind of taste that I look for in a breakfast type tea … that rich, satisfying, invigorating taste that goes well with a piece of biscotti or perhaps a slice of whole wheat toast. The kind of tea that brings a smile to my face when I’m drinking it as I feel it do it’s job which is to wake me up!
There are background fruity notes and a woody earthiness that compliment the spice notes in this tea. If I hadn’t known that this blend was composed of African teas, my first guess might have been a Yunnan – it has that sort of peppery spice taste to it … although this is a bit more mellow when it comes to “spice” than the typical Yunnan. It is a rich, warm, rewarding tea that is moderately astringent. I found that the astringency here builds a little bit, and by mid-cup, I started to notice a slightly dry, pucker-y sensation on my inner cheeks after each sip.
Overall, a really good breakfast blend. This is a tea I wouldn’t mind waking up to every morning!
The Earl of Harlem Ambessa Tea from Harney & Sons
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Harney & Sons
Tea Description:
This new take on an old classic adds an air of mystery to the traditional Earl Grey. Citrusy layers, bergamot and floral aromas mingle with lingering smoky base notes for a rich and fragrant finish.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Of the four teas in the new Ambessa Tea Line from Harney & Sons, you know that the one I had to try was this: The Earl of Harlem! I do love Earl Grey, and I was excited to try chef Marcus Samuelsson’s interpretation of one of my favorite teas, especially after reading a comment from one of our readers who suggested that this one be the next from the Ambessa Tea line that I try.
It should come as no big surprise to my readers that the one big drawback to this new line of teas is that they are only available in sachet form. I am not a big fan of Harney & Sons teas in sachet form, as I have noticed a difference in taste between the teas packaged in sachets versus the same tea in loose leaf form (most notably – the Hot Cinnamon Spice).
That complaint aside, I am really enjoying this Earl of Harlem tea! The description above describes the base of this tea as a smoky tea base, and while it does have a smoky profile, I appreciate that it is not an overwhelming smoky note. It’s a softer smoky taste that doesn’t compete with the citrus-y bergamot.
I like that the bergamot is strong here, but not overdone. It has a pleasant tangy, fruity note to it, with hints of floral tones in the background … without tasting perfume-ish. The smoky tones of the black tea base give this a more masculine character, and I get the “Earl of Harlem” connection – or at least, I get an interpretation of it – as it evokes thoughts of a smoky jazz club in the 20’s and 30’s in Harlem.
The tea has a very smooth, compelling flavor. The black tea is rich, earthy, and possesses a gentle, smoky tone. The bergamot is has a tart, zesty flavor with a hint of exotic sweetness. Whispers of floral tones drift off in the background. A really delightful spin on my beloved Earl Grey – Chef Samuelsson does my suave gentleman proud with this tea.
Darjeeling Blend from Harney & Sons
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Harney & Sons
Tea Description:
High in the mountains, deep in the mists that surround the Himalayas is Darjeeling: “Queen of Teas”. Our Darjeeling tea is a blend of First Flush and Autumnal teas from the best gardens. This mixture yields a light color in the cup – a fragrant “nose”. A great value.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I received a sample sachet of this Darjeeling Blend from Harney & Sons with my most recent order from them – I was very happy to receive not just one but two samples with my order – especially since the last time I placed an order with them, I didn’t get any samples! I’m glad to see that they’ve resumed their practice of including samples with every order.
And this is a really enjoyable blend of Darjeeling teas. According to the description (above) this is a combination of first flush and autumnal harvests. The aroma of the dry leaf was slightly woody with fruity overtures, notes of earth and hints of flower. All those notes translate in the brewed tea flavor.
The fruity tones are what I notice first, notes that are vaguely reminiscent of grapes and currants. Sweet and a little tangy. This is not quite as astringent as some Darjeeling teas that I’ve tasted, this has a much smoother, rounder finish. Once the sweetness of the fruit subsides on the palate, the notes of earth and wood peek through, and there is just a whisper of floral notes in the distance.
A pleasant, complex cup. While I generally prefer a second flush Darjeeling, I am enjoying this blend, it is certainly tasty, and is priced right! A nice, well-rounded cuppa.