Tea away from home can be a scary proposition. Tea in a public kitchen – scarier.
Needing a cup of tea at a gathering recently, I gulped and inquired as to where the ladies were getting their tea. I was led to a communal kitchen with a metal box containing assorted and sundry tea bags of unknown age and doubtful quality. But lo and behold, tucked in the box was a bag which proved to be Harney and Sons sachets! This, I can trust.
I had never tried Scottish Morn so given my dodgy tummy that sometimes rebels at Assam origin teas I was a little hesitant. Still, it was sure to be the best quality tea available here and I gave it a shot. I enjoy Harney’s Ceylon teas so that was another point in favor of trying this one as it is a blend of Assam and Ceylon.
In spite of my fears that it would be too strong – there was no milk or sugar available and I had no timer – it was quite nice. The water was boiling temperature and the time I guesstimated at 3 minutes. Any diehard strong breakfast tea lovers could go for five minutes and have a blast. You do you.
I saved the sachet in a tiny paper cup and resteeped it an hour later for a second mug, quite satisfactory. Note that Harney’s tea bags are intended for about six or so ounces of tea while the sachets are made with a mug in mind and can do twelve ounces very nicely. Keep this in mind when you are purchasing tea from them, because I USUALLY get 24 ounces of tea from each sachet, and that takes many teas from reasonable to BARGAIN!
The Assam was the dominant flavor, malty and bready, moderately brisk, and the Ceylon brightened and smoothed the cup. It was very drinkable plain and would easily take milk and sugar. It is considered a morning tea but I drank it at night with no food accompanying it and found it enjoyable.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Harney and Sons
Description
Scottish Morn is a strong tea, perhaps our very strongest. When you stand up your spoon in this tea, it might just stand straight. A portion of Scottish Morn & Scottish Afternoon sales goes to support the charitable endeavors of the American-Scottish Foundation®.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Milky Oolong from Harney & Sons. . . .
When I drank this for the first time last week, my first thought was “TEA BAE!” Which is so millennial of me, I know. I promise I’m not even cool enough to quite know how to use “bae” (“before anyone else”) in everyday use. But it applies to this tea.
This is a silky, rich, creamy oolong. It comes in super-cute little balls that totally snap to attention in hot water. Sometimes the balls don’t unfurl, but these are actively watch-able. The flavor is a great halfway point between green and black. The “milky” taste is really creamy, like the whipped topping on a good lemon meringue* pie.
*I was pretty sure it wasn’t spelled “mirang,” so I had to request Google’s gentle corrective guidance.
This tastes like it was flavored. That’s how sweet it is. I don’t want to be too effusive, because I try to emit a cool air of sophisticated irony (hah!) — but I really like this.
The reviewers on the Harney site like it, too. So much. Peep this review from Helen W: “Absolutely love it! Absolutely love it!” That’s the entire view. Helen. Gurl. I hear you. When I re-order this (AND I WILL), I’m going to acquire a vat. I’m going to swim in this vat like Scrooge McDuck. It will not be sanitary. People will slowly stop visiting my house. I will acquire leper status. Eventually someone will come by my house to film “Hoarding: Buried Alive: Tea Special” and I will acquire a brief Internet fame. Perhaps I will become a meme. But then I will be forgotten to the sands of time. The pan will no longer have a flash. I shall disappear into the back of your mind, just me, and my tea.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Harney & Sons
Description
For some time we’ve had requests for a milky oolong and finally we have found one that we liked so that we could share it with you. Milky oolongs are very popular in Eastern Asia for their sweet, creamy flavors. This one is smooth and the aroma of warmed cream is delicious!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
San Lin Xi Oolong from Harney & Sons. . . .
San Lin Xi Oolong from Harney & Sons is an overly comforting tea that I have been enjoying as of late. I know I have said that about other teas in the past but with as much tea as we drink here at SororiTea Sisters it has to be something REALLY special to wedge it into that ‘overly comforting’ category.
It’s just one of those teas that you verbally let out an “ummmmm” or ‘yummm’ as soon as it hits your tongue and swishes around in your mouth. It instantly put a smile on my face.
Harney & Sons San Lin Xi Oolong is a Taiwanese high mountain (Gao shan) oolong. It’s from the middle of the Nantou District, between Li Shan to the north and Ali San in the South. It’s lightly oxidized yet sweet and buttery. It has a medium strength for an oolong and works well with multiple infusions.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Harney & Sons
Description
We are pleased to expand our offering of Taiwanese high mountain (Gao shan) oolongs. This tea is from the middle of the Nantou District, between Li Shan to the north and Ali San in the South. It is a lovely lightly oxidized oolong.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Wild Hunan Gold from Harney & Sons. . . . .
ATTENTION TEA-PLE! I CAN FINALLY DRINK TEA AGAIN!
I had mouth surgery last week, and hot drinks totally irritated the Spot In Question. It was GRUELING. I was living off protein shakes. I had to cut up my few solids into into tiny, tiny pieces, including stuff like pizza and grapes. I felt like I had a picky toddler, except it was me. A WEEPY, FUSSY, 5’7″ TODDLER who could only eat things at room temperature or colder.
So today I picked a nice new straight tea that allegedly has “strong cocoa flavors.” I was like “FREE OF CALORIE CHOCOLATES? MY LIFE IS A SPARKLE HEAVEN. I WILL KISS IT WITH MY HEALED MOUTH.”
Bad news: The tea doesn’t really taste like cocoa.
Good news: It tastes like bread. The kind of bread an actual person makes, not the kind that comes from the grocery store. The kind that sometimes has holes in it and is a mid-to-dark brown. French countryside bread.
This is the kind of bread that the French peasants protested over.
And Marie Antoinette was like “let them eat cake.”
And the French were all, “no seriously, we have the bread thing down. Bread is the thing we want. We asked for that specifically. If we cannot cut this bread, we will use our slicing tools for more nefarious purposes.”
So it’s yummy! But not in the way Harney’s description says. Prepare yourself in other ways.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Harney & Sons
Description
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Hot Cinnamon Spice from Harney & Sons. . .
A very palpable shift happens to me around the end of August. Whereas starting in early spring, I’m drinking iced teas like they’re literal manna from heaven, suddenly when autumn starts to peek its head around the corner, I abandon all my cold beverages. Jars upon jars of iced tea sit in the fridge, un-sipped (the horror!)– I’m just not FEELING it anymore, friends.
Alternatively, suddenly, all of my spiciest chais, warmest and more comforting flavors of black tea are suddenly getting all the air time. I’ve been blowing through my current stash of black teas like they’re going out of style, doctoring them up into tasty lattes, sipped as I drive to work in that brisk, summer’s-almost-gone morning air. So you can imagine, when sifting through my tea samples to find more autumnal, latte-ify-able teas, this one was just begging to be brewed. So potent is the scent that I’ve literally had to stash this one away from any other teas lest it impart its warm, spicy flavor on my delicate greens, it’s a perfect fall cuppa. The robust black tea is balanced well by the cinnamon spice– and it’s spice, indeed. Think Red Hots candy, minus the chemically, fake candy flavor. This tea packs a PUNCH, and it is not only incredible sniff-able, but takes milk and sweet quite well, making for the perfect latte to sip while you watch the leaves begin to change and fill your home with cinnamon-y candles and adorable pumpkin décor. This tea is for fall, for sure. And autumn is indeed right around the corner– I’ll drink to that!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Harney & Sons
Description
Our most popular flavored tea worldwide, Hot Cinnamon Spice is an assertive blend of black teas, three types of cinnamon, orange peel, and sweet cloves. No sugar added. Kosher. (n.b. Hot Cinnamon Spice & Hot Cinnamon Sunset are the same tea; the name varies only in certain packaging).
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
