Russian Country Black Tea Blend from Harney & Sons

by liberteas

russiancountry

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Harney & Sons

Tea Description:

A blend of four teas along with an additional touch of Lapsang, this is a softer version of Smoky Lapsang Souchong. This tea is reminiscent of the teas that were carried by camel across the Asian deserts to Russia. As Norwood Pratt quips: “the only choice was one hump or two.”

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

Just like I am with most smoky teas … I was a bit hesitant to try this Russian Country Black Tea Blend from Harney & Sons.  I even like smoky teas (so long as they aren’t TOO smoky!) now but, there is still some of the residual memories of a bad smoky tea experience that causes me to recoil a bit when I encounter a smoky tea.

Fortunately though, this one is indeed a “softer version of Smoky Lapsang Souchong,” as promised in the above description.  It certainly has a smoky element to it, but, it is not overly smoky … and truth be told, it’s actually quite delicious.  So much so, that I am nearly finished with this cup, and I had to stop myself from drinking it so that I could compose the review!

I love it when I find a tea like that … something that I’m enjoying so much that I forget that I need to write about it, and by the time I remember, I’m nearly finished with the tea!

The flavor is rich and satisfying.  It has a robust quality to it – this is a tea that you could serve as that first cup of the day to get the eye opening results you need.  There is some astringency to it, and a certain brightness which leads me to believe that this blend has some Ceylon in it … that bright, brisk flavor tastes like a Ceylon to me.

And after examining the website, I see that this is correct, this is a blend of Assam, Keemun, Ceylon as well as Lapsang Souchong and Formosa Oolong!  I don’t taste much from the Oolong … except the smooth texture of the tea.  I do note the malty notes of the Assam, and even the richness of the Keemun.  Overall this tea is sweet, smoky, rich and malty … and possesses that sort of “fresh-baked” taste to it … like the caramelized, chewy crust of a fresh baked loaf of French bread.  YUM!

This makes a great latte if you want one … and it tastes great straight up too.  I prefer it with about half a teaspoon of turbinado sugar to soften the edge a little bit and to enhance the caramel tones.   It’s really a wonderful tea, and a great “smoky” tea for those who tend to be sensitive to the overly smoky taste of a pure Lapsang Souchong, but still want a hint of smokiness to their cup.

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Black Tea, Smoky Tea

Bangkok Green Tea Blend from Harney & Sons

by liberteas

bangkokTea Information:

Leaf Type:  Green

Where to Buy:  Harney & Sons

Tea Description:

The rich flavors of Thailand are the inspiration for this tasty blend. It is a combination of green tea, lemongrass, vanilla, coconut and ginger.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

This tea really surprised me.  I expected a strong ginger flavor from it, and while I can definitely taste the ginger in this Bangkok Green Tea Blend from Harney & Sons, the ginger is remarkably subdued … it offers a slight peppery taste but, not at all what I expected!

I guess that’s because so often in blends with ginger in them, the ginger just takes over!  But this blend has been masterfully crafted to provide just enough ginger to give it a gentle nudge of ginger but not enough for the full-on kick in the mouth that ginger is sometimes known to give.

I love the way the flavors come together here.  The green tea has a soft, silky mouthfeel and a taste that is slightly buttery, sweet, and with a lovely vegetative note.  The buttery tones are accentuated by the presence of lemongrass, which gives the cup a lovely citrus-y note that is especially noticeable in the aftertaste (I’m getting a slight citrus-y tartness in the aftertaste).

The vanilla gives the cup a creaminess but this certainly doesn’t taste overly “vanilla-y” … I notice just a little bit of vanilla’s sweetness and the creamy taste and texture of it, but not a profound vanilla note.  And as I eluded to earlier, the ginger is just enough for a slight peppery note on the tongue …

I really enjoyed this.  I like the way the flavors are all balanced together … I taste each of the components without any one of them overpowering the others.  A surprisingly good cuppa!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Green Tea

Diamond Jubilee from Harney & Sons

by liberteas

diamondjubileeTea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Harney & Sons

Tea Description:

This special edition tea has been created in celebration of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee (1952-2012) and her accession to the throne 60 years ago.

The tea is a bespoke blend which includes the Queen’s favourite, earl grey tea, plus black teas, lemony bergamot and grapefruit essences.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

I’ve wanted to try this tea since it was released last year … and thanks to an online friend sending me a couple of sachets of this tea, I’m finally able to do just that!

I’m really liking this.  I am not usually a big fan of Harney’s bagged teas, but, this one is nice, which leads me to believe that the loose leaf will be even better.

The flavors of bergamot and grapefruit mingle together very nicely to create a bright, citrus-y tone that is on the tart side, but I don’t find the tartness here to be off-putting the way I might normally … somehow it just works with the rich flavor of black tea to create a taste that is very satisfying.  It tastes very deep and complex, with earthy notes and hints of malt and floral notes that accent the fruit tones nicely.  And in return, the sunny citrus notes lighten up the tea just enough to keep the palate from feeling inundated.   The many facets of this tea come together in a really lovely way.

And what is actually impressing me the most here is that I am enjoying it as much as I do, and it is a bagged tea.  And as I said above, I can only imagine how much more I will love the loose leaf.  I will have to remember to add some of the loose leaf in my cart the next time I’m shopping with Harney & Sons!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Black Tea, Earl Grey

Black Currant Tea from Harney & Sons

by liberteas

blackcurrantTea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Harney & Sons

Tea Description:

John’s first flavored tea. It has “big” fruity, berry flavor. This full-bodied tea has become a traditional favorite in fine restaurants all over America.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

I have tried quite a few different currant flavored teas, but I don’t think I’ve tried this one until right now.  And as I am sipping it, I find myself wondering what it is that kept me and this tea apart for so long!  This is lovely!

The overall flavor is very nicely round.  The black tea base is brisk and mildly sweet.  There is a bit of astringency at the tail but I find that the astringency really enhances this tea experience – it does not detract from the enjoyment.  I like that I can taste black tea here, and rather than it attempting to overpower the flavor of the black currant it instead melds almost seamlessly with the black currant to create a very mellifluous taste.

The black currant here is true to the fruit:  tangy, tart, but with just enough sweetness to keep me from feeling the urge to pucker after taking a sip.  It’s got that berry tingle at the finish, and it lingers in the aftertaste.

This is really a very lovely tea!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Black Tea

Happy Thanksgiving … and Don’t Forget Tea on Black Friday!

by liberteas
“Home To Thanksgiving” from Currier & Ives.
Photo from Wikipedia, click on the pic to go there.

Happy Thanksgiving to all our readers in the United States, and to those outside of the US, I wish you a happy, warm and healthy day!

Tomorrow is the biggest shopping day of the year here in the United States … it’s also known as Black Friday!  And while many will be rushing out to their favorite department stores and electronics stores to get the some of the best bargains of the year … I want to remind you that there is also some really amazing deals on TEA available online on Black Friday!

Here are just a few … please keep in mind that this list is in no way complete, and is compiled based on the information that companies have sent me.  If you are a tea company offering a Black Friday deal, please feel free to comment below and tell us about your deal!  Tea shoppers want to know!!!

BLACK FRIDAY DEALS

  • A tea company that is new to us here on SororiTea Sisters but did give us the opportunity to try out their amazing new system where we can design and create blends ourselves is Uniq Teas!  It is so easy and FUN to design your own blend!  There are many different flavors of teas to choose from, and you can choose the percent of which flavor goes in to the tea.  I had a blast creating my blend – Click here to see my blend.  You can also click here to see TeaEqualsBliss’ Blend, and click here to see Azzrian’s Blend.  Uniq Teas will be having a Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale:  50% off PLUS get a free tea ball infuser with your first order.
  • One of my favorite tea companies, Kally Tea is also having a special Black Friday sale – one day only!  All tea orders placed on Friday will be automatically DOUBLED!  That means if you order 2 ounces of Tangerine Spice, you’ll get another 2 ounces of Tangerine Spice FREE!  Order 4 ounces of Almond Fondant, get another 4 ounces of Almond Fondant FREE!  This is a great sale to stock up your tea cupboard … and also a chance to share some of your favorites from Kally Tea with friends!
  • Another favorite company:  Della Terra Teas has a super special Black Friday sale going on.  40% off all teas from midnight until 10 pm on Black Friday, with a special Door Buster sale where select teas will be 60% off from 6-8 am, then again 3-4 pm, and finally from 9-10 pm (all times are EST), and other deals will be going on all weekend long, through Cyber Monday … be sure to check their website for more!
  • Mighty Leaf is having a 30% off sale for Black Friday that has been going on all week!  And don’t forget that you get FREE SHIPPING with all orders that are $50. or more!
  • Another SororiTea Sisters favorite – Verdant Tea – is planning a very special Black Friday!  On Black Friday, they will be unveiling “two new kinds of tea never before tasted in China or the West.”  Wowza!  I can’t wait to find out what these teas will be!  They also state that they will be offering some special deals on Black Friday too … you definitely need to check them out!
  • Tea Licious is also having a Black Friday special that begins tomorrow, November 23 and continues through November 30:  Save 30% on all Black Teas … and save an additional 5% on Friday and Saturday (November 23 & 24) by entering the code BF2012 in the coupon field at final checkout!  In addition, you will receive FREE samples of their three newest teas with EVERY order!
  • Lots of SororiTea Sister favorites offering deals this Black Friday!  Here’s another:  Persimmon Tree Tea is offering 20% off on all their teas all weekend long, starting today and ending November 25th.
  • The Tea Merchant is offering a Happy Saturday (instead of a Black Friday) sale, Save 25% off all tea and tea ware this Saturday only, just use the code 25Special in the coupon field at final checkout to enjoy your savings!
  • Peony Tea S. is offering 30% off on all teas and 20% off on all tea ware!   This sale will be going on through Sunday, November 25th.
  • Harney & Sons is offering Free Ground Shipping on all US orders now through November 26 (Cyber Monday!)  But savings with Harney is not available ONLY to US customers… International customers can receive a $5.50 credit toward their shipping charges by using the code:  Black12.
  • Teajo has a great bunch of offers for Black Friday through Cyber Monday:  FREE shipping on all orders over $25, 30-45% off their entire selection of teas and tea makers, a NEW 12 Tea Sampler for just $25, plus Double Rewards for Members!
  • Samovar is also having a Thanksgiving/Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale.  Save up to 50% on select teas and tea ware through November 26.
  • Den’s Tea is having a special Thanksgiving sale that will extend through noon on Black Friday.  Save up to 30% on selected tea, tea gifts, tea ware, tea accessories and books!
  • Adagio Teas is offering Free Shipping on all orders through November 26.
  • Maeda-en has a special holiday sale going on now through 12/16, Save 20% on selected teas.

Also of interest (I hope) is this:  SororiTea Sisters will be hosting another giveaway that will start tomorrow at 6 am EST.  Just visit the blog, and read the announcement to win something very exciting.  This is the Season of Giveaways here on SororiTea Sisters!!!

*****

I am sure that many other tea companies out there are offering specials on Black Friday … so if you know of any, please feel free to add them in the comments, or as I said above, if you’re a tea company and want your information included here, add a comment with a link!

So, after you’ve had time with the family and enjoyed the fantastic feast, be sure to get some tea shopping done!  Happy Holidays, everyone!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Tea Products and Accessories