Several months have passed since I did a post asking about favorite teas. It’s time for tea review. I am not an affiliate of any of the companies mentioned, so I received no compensation for my tea reviews.
I have very specific taste when it comes to tea. I drink it straight, without sugar or sweetener, and one of my criteria is being able to enjoy it on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. As always, your mileage may vary.
Best everyday black tea
Chocolate by Harney and Sons
Briskness: 2 Body: 2 Aroma: 4 Buy: here.
I absolutely love this tea. I am a sucker for chocolate flavors and this tea has just enough of the right aroma and taste. This is my go-to morning tea. It’s robust enough to help me wake up but gentle on my stomach without creamer or milk.
Alternative: He Family Laoshan Black from Verdant Tea. Both teas have the China black base. The sample batch of the HFLB had strong chocolate aroma, but when I ordered in bulk, the taste and scent wasn’t nearly as pronounced, so I now prefer Harney & Sons.
Paris by Harney and Sons
Briskness: 2 Body: 2 Aroma: 4 Buy: here.
This is an exquisite tea, with hints of vanilla, caramel, and just a little Bergamot. As the Chocolate, it is gentle on the stomach but still packs the flavor and caffeine punch.
It might be just me, but I find that when I drink Paris several days in a row, I end up tasting Bergamot less. It might be just me, but I enjoy varying it with Chocolate or other tea flavors.
Best Green Tea
Dragon Pearl Jasmine by Harney and Sons
Briskness: 1 Body: 2 Aroma: 5 Buy: here.
This is a remarkable tea. In fact, I’m drinking my second cup as I’m writing this. It’s a complicated taste, delicate and subtle rather than rich, but never bitter as long as it’s brewed at the right temperature, which is for the green tea happens to be 175º. It’s pricier than some other options, but having brewed it many times now, I have yet to screw it up. The jasmine is less pronounced, but I have a fix for that coming up.
Best White Tea
Yunnan White Jasmine
Flavors: floral, fruity, slightly spicy. Buy: here.
If you want jasmine tea, this is the one. It has a definite jasmine aroma; you can’t miss it. It’s a very flavorful tea, surprisingly so for white tea, and I’ve been ordering it for month and had very consistent flavor throughout. It tastes almost creamy, as much as tea can taste creamy on its own. Highly recommended.
And there you have it. There are other categories that I wanted to cover, like herbal and iced, but I have to go work. Happy tea drinking and let me know your favorites in the comments.
Well, I tried H&S’s Paris today (finally got it in the mail). I thought it was pretty good. The smell was incredible. I think next time, I’ll use less than the recommended amt. I thought it was a little strong. I may try it with milk, but with the bergamot oil, not sure how that would work. It needed something else like a chocolate chip cookie warm right out of the oven.
I also got Earl Grey Supreme (smells devine) and Chocolate.
Hmmm…
First, I generally buy my tea from local tea shops. Alternately, I’ll brave Pike Place Market on a weekday to go to Market Spice. It’s only half an hour away, but since moving out of Seattle Proper almost 10 years ago, I really don’t enjoy the busy city anymore.
For tea, i’m an Earl Grey fan. I like heavy bergamot. I also like strong orange and cinnamon in black tea. Market Spice tea is good. However, my favorite tea, at least during winter, is a combination I have to mix of a heavy bergamot Earl Grey, Cinnamon and Orange Spice tea. I drink it with lots of honey and lemon. When it’s a good mix, the combo will numb your tongue and throat, soothe any scratchiness, and help you breathe better. It’s perfect for the colder weather, cold and flu season.
During the summer, Market Spice is good cold. I also like mint teas then.
I hope you see this post. But I just tried Red Blossoms tea Formosa Red, and only a fellow tea drinker could appreciate the happy dance my taste buds are doing. This tea is absolutely delicious. From a gal who’s been drinking tea before I could talk the cup I just had was the best I’ve ever tasted.
I enjoy the Harney and Sons as well. I’ve been doing a lot of iced fruit teas though and have a new favorite: https://www.uptontea.com/fruit-tisanes-and-herbal-tea/loose-leaf-herbal-tea/p/V00788/#V00788 which is good iced or hot. It’s sweet and it mixes very nicely with an earthy rooibos base.
My favorite is Vanilla Comoro Decaf. The bag has been empty for months but I keep it around just so I can take a whiff now and then. I am a big fan of Harney & Sons.
I ordered The chocolate tea and it is delicious! Love the tin it comes in, too, and the little sachets. Thanks for the tip.
I hv to thank u again for giving the 411 (do we still say that now?) on H&S teas. I’m having my first cup of Earl Grey Supreme, and it’s wonderful. Very smooth, no bitter taste. The smell is better than the flavor.
Thank u again.
Leigh from the Rapahannock River.
Oh this is gonna be fun!
I get my tea from The Tea Spot and The Tea Table. My hot teas are for when I feel a cold coming on. Iced tea (and not the southern abomination) is for everyday, even in winter. Plain tea is always drunk without sugar or milk, even when hot. The only exception is sometimes honey, when ill. The mixed teas (passionfruit, lemonade & Thai iced tea) will have sugar but once I crack the code on making them, I’ll be able to modify the sugar content. I cold brew my teas in the fridge, as I find there’s less harshness (is that the right word, maybe, bitterness? Dunno, whatever it is, I can normally taste it).
Passionfruit/green tea – my favorite Pho place served this to me once and I fell in love. Very refreshing in the heat but still has a caffeine kick. It’s passionfruit pulp, simple syrup to taste and your favorite green tea over ice.
Matcha lemonade – had this at a local coffee shop up in WI on my way back from a craigslist acquisition. I now make it myself. Over ice.
For jasmine tea, Dragon Pearls are just COOL to watch as they unfurl :D, and I also like Jasmine Yin-Hua.
I am on the hunt to figure out what black tea is the best choice to make Thai Iced Tea. My favorite Thai place told me that they brew the tea WITH sugar then add half/half NOT sweet & condensed milk. Thaiway has the best Thai iced tea that I’ve ever had…so far.