Good morning, dear tea friends! This frigid day is wrapped in pale gray clouds, seeming to hold its breath waiting for the first snowflakes to start drifting down this afternoon. Yes, we are getting our first snowstorm of the season, and that calls for a tea to warm my bones. Filling my cup this morning is a tea from China with deep, rich warming flavor, called Sweet Honey Black Tea.

During processing, the leaf was rolled like an accordion, giving it a look like long wisps of crepe paper. Some of the wisps opened during the 5-minute steep in boiling point (212F) water but most retained their pleated shape.

A warm, cocoa aroma wafted up from my glass teapot as I poured my first cup. My bones felt comforted already.

This tea is well named as the deep amber liquor has pronounced notes of honey. Mingled with this lovely sweetness are notes of chocolate and a deep Burgundy nuance, likening its character to a Keemun tea.

I could drink this tea all day long, wrapped in a blanket, watching the snow fall. I settle down to sweet strains of Celtic Christmas music playing on my Bose Wave and pick up my wooden pointy sticks to work on a knitted gift.

Until next week, dear tea friends…

“O, wind, if winter comes, can spring be far behind?”

~Percy Bysshe Shelley