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“Oh Golden Snail! You make me wail! For you are gone! I waited too long!!!! because you are sold out! I pout and I pout! Oh Misters Harney! Don’t give me no blarney! I’m in a state of shock!!!! When...” Read full tasting note
“Tea of the morning….. I was lucky enough to have had two tins of this while it was available from Harney & Sons. I am definitely into the second tin…the one that I purchased on a surprise trip...” Read full tasting note
“I had a friend over today who is a former coffee drinker turned tea lover, and specifically good black tea, like Queen Catherine, Vanilla Black, Emperor’s Red…you get the idea. I was really eager...” Read full tasting note
“Craving a dark, rich tea so here I am drinking some Golden Snail. This tea is rich, slightly malty and has a good kick of cocoa goodness. I’m really loving this today – I wonder why I haven’t drank...” Read full tasting note
A terrific China Black tea from Hubei Province, it has curls of dark and gold tea, thus reminding someone of snails. We can assure you that no snails are used or hurt with this tea. The dark cocoa flavors bring to mind un-sweetened chocolate. Golden Snail is already a hit at our SoHo store, so we invite you to try this newcomer to the Harney Tea line-up.
(Tea discontinued)
Since 1983 Harney & Sons has been the source for fine teas. We travel the globe to find the best teas and accept only the exceptional. We put our years of experience to work to bring you the best Single-Estate teas, and blends beyond compare.
Oh Golden Snail!
You make me wail!
For you are gone!
I waited too long!!!!
because you are sold out!
I pout and I pout!
Oh Misters Harney!
Don’t give me no blarney!
I’m in a state of shock!!!!
When will the Snail be in stock?!!?!!?!?!?!
Tea of the morning…..
I was lucky enough to have had two tins of this while it was available from Harney & Sons. I am definitely into the second tin…the one that I purchased on a surprise trip to the SoHo Store last year. Since it has history, it makes me happy as a tea, and brings back happy memories. Bliss.
Dark and malty, rich and cocoa- noted. I so hope that Harney finds some close to this to offer in the future. It is very much a treat, and I will savor the rest of it. Totally notable…these leaves brew up so huge, my infuser basket is almost overflowing. That is pretty remarkable for a black tea. Most only fill it about halfway when I make a whole 24 oz. pot of tea.
Usual teapot method.
I had a friend over today who is a former coffee drinker turned tea lover, and specifically good black tea, like Queen Catherine, Vanilla Black, Emperor’s Red…you get the idea. I was really eager for her to try this one. Indeed, it was a hit! It is easy to forget just how assertive this tea is, with its rich cocoa notes and smooth body. It has been sold out for a while – here’s hoping they find a new batch just as tasty for us to buy! Speaking of which, have you seen the new tea listing,on Harney’s website? Wild Wuyi Black! I can hardly wait! Fujian teas, especially Wuyi mountains ones, are my favorites!
I didn’t see it! I think the coming releases of the black teas are going to make me feel like a little kid on Christmas morning!
Oh, I am so tempted! Something about a new Harney Chinese black has me needing to sit on my hands so I won’t order…..(and there is a new code out for free shipping at the $25 mark.) I do NOT need tea right now. I guess I will have to wait for your review, and hope it does not go out of stock too quickly! Until I give in, that is……let’s be realistic. I am so weak….
Jen – do you know what the code is? I might treat myself to a tin of this and Keemun Mao Feng…omg!
Never mind – I found it! ICED622 in case any other Steepsterites are feeling an order coming on :) :) :)
Thank you for the code! :)
Yayyy! New tea!
Also summer12 is still working for a 12% off discount!
Craving a dark, rich tea so here I am drinking some Golden Snail. This tea is rich, slightly malty and has a good kick of cocoa goodness. I’m really loving this today – I wonder why I haven’t drank this tea in so many months?
Special thanks to ashmanra for this one – I had noticed other people talking about it but it doesn’t seem to be on Harney’s website anymore so I guess they sold out of it.
I am trying to take more of my black teas without soymilk. I steeped this one at 205 F for around 3 minutes. It’s amazing how much this tea expands when you steep it. It definitely has a delicious cocoa nose. The flavor is robust but smooth, with flavors of cocoa. A cup of roasty and malty goodness and ever so slightly sweet! I hope Harney gets more off this but I’m glad I got the chance to try it…
This reminds me of another favorite of mine, the Black Spiral from the Tao of Tea. :)
This is a must have
Actually I began Steepster by reading a review of this …
They do look familiar. I almost got this one when I ordered in September. I hope they can restock it!
Amy, here’s another link for Golden Snail. It is alot cheaper…….I wonder if it is the same grade as Tao of Tea & Upton Tea?
I don’t know but the Black Spiral from Tao of Tea is only $3.25 an oz
HHhhmmm, at Upton’s, 125g bag was $24. I’m going to TELL myself it was a higher grade or better lot. What I need to do is sample from other companies to make that determination, before I pay for the 4+ 0z bag from Upton’s.
Since I’m gonna order more from Tao, I’ll just order it there.
So glad you liked it! I hope they restock it, too, but I am glad to know it can be had elsewhere.
They’ve been out of stock for ages – I contacted them last fall and they said that none of the newer batches have been up to snuff so i fear it might be essentially discontinued.
Uniquity- Are you talking about Upton’s?? Different lots can look the same and be different in taste and quality, but I WILL try the cheaper stuff, hoping it will be just as good! :))
@Scott – Sorry, I didn’t read all the comments. Harney’s Golden Snail has been out of stock, I have not looked into Uptons.
When a fellow Steepster is moved to poetry by a tea, I take notice. The lovely Ms. JacquelineM wrote a moving ode to Golden Snail that convinced me that I must try it. Oh my, am I ever glad that I ordered this brilliant tea!
Backlogging… I tried my first cup of Golden Snail one beautiful Sunday morning on my beloved terrace. A picture perfect Sunday morning when the weather is warm with a cool breeze, the petunias are particularly red, wind chimes tinkle in the background, and the soft scent of jasmine wafts through the air. What could complete this picture of decadent relaxation better than a cup of Golden Snail? Curled up in my overstuffed chair, the soft, chocolatly flavor washes over me and feel completely at peace. Life is good.
But…sob!…they are all sold out now!
When I saw that the 4oz tin of Golden Snail was availible just over a week ago, I snapped it right up! I’m happy to share if you’d like some to hold you over :)
It came back? I didn’t know or I would have order! That is okay, I will check on it again. There is also a new China black posted, but it is price-y. That won’t stop me, though! LOL!
My offer stands if you change your mind :)
Thanks, but I would feel bad taking a tea that is limited supply and well loved! Maybe they have it even now!
Jenn gave me a sample of this to continue my quest for all things Harney & Sons.
WOW! I have not been overwhelmed by a tea for a while now. Dry, there was a hint of cocoa. Steeped, there is rich smoothness and an intensity of black tea flavor at the beginning of the sip. This diminishes quickly. It reminds me of some Darjeelings I have tried, and the black tea is similar to some Lapsangs sans smoke. This is VERY interesting. Lastly, the "Golden Snail name is fairly unappealing to me personally, and I actually found the look of the tea closer to the darker locks of fir in the family Shi-Tzu.
Anyone supportive of a name change to Golden Shi-Tzu? I didn’t think so… :)
Thanks Jenn for a generous and thought provoking sample.
This evening, we’re sampling the beautiful golden snail, thanks again to SimplyJenW. The beau prepared this one, so it has double the leaf I would have used for our cups…accordingly, I anticipate a pretty serious cup of tea. The leaves don’t seem to have fully unfurled in the first infusion…I know black teas aren’t really meant to be re-steeped, but I do it pretty regularly and I find that Harney teas stand up to it really well. I’m fairly certain this will be another one that can take a couple goes.
The liquor is a deep brown with reddish tinge and has a wonderful chocolate aroma, much like the bakers chocolate my Mum uses for some of my favourite chocolate dipped cookies. Now I really want some of those cookies, I bet they’d be AMAZING with this tea…
First sips are strong chocolate flavour, rich dark bakers chocolate. At the same time though, it’s definitely tea. I really like it…odd since I always thought I hated the flavour of chocolate in tea. This is a good mix of a good black tea and my grandmother’s beloved cocoa. I don’t get a sweet chocolate taste at all, but at the same time there is a lingering sweetness in my mouth. This only confirms and continues my general adoration for black teas…Especially bold ones.
Question for you steepsterites: How does this compare to Upton Tea’s Golden Monkey? The beau and I are really interested in putting that one in our imminent order, but I don’t really know what to anticipate, and since it is one of the pricier ones in my very large order, I’m a little hesitant. I understand that Upton’s Golden Monkey isn’t really meant to be so cocoa as this, and that’s great by me, but I have it in my head that the Golden creatures must be at least a little similar.. : )
This one is more complex and toasty than Golden Monkey in general. Upton’s Golden Monkey is lighter and smoother than this. The cocoa notes in GM are sweeter rather than dark cocoa notes.
Second pot yielded an equally robust and cocoa flavoured tea. I drank the last bit cold this morning and was impressed at the flavour cold as well. Definitey will be trying a third pot later on. Impressive tea!
@SimplyJenW, thanks for the comparison! I think we might go for the Golden Monkey, since this isn’t available at the moment anyway and the Monkey sounds really good as well! : )
Gave this a try today at Harney SoHo. The first thing you notice when you take a sip are the cocoa notes. They are nice and bold, but not overpowering at all. It was a nice jump for the taste buds. It wasn’t as sweet as I was hoping it to be, which is certainly not a bad thing. This is going on my shopping list for sure.
I bought a tin at the Harney store in Soho after it sold out online. You could check the shops?
Oh, and you could get a few ounces of Tower of London, too!
That’s a good idea. I’m going to try and sit on my hands and be patient for just a little while, because I am hoping that it will be part of the Fall teas. And I’m a brat and have so many other teas to enjoy – and I shouldn’t be a baby :) :) :) but I am! :) :) :)
I hope you can sit more still than I can. I fail at trying to wait. ;)
Your poem wonderfully captures my feelings about this too…especially since the silly Postal Strike means I can’t reliably order from Upton Teas right now, and that was my consolation for there not being any more Golden Snail at Harneys!
Jacqueline – Can I copy/paste your poem to their facebook wall and see if we get a reply? :)
Sure! Why not ;) Let me know what happens!!!!
and I hope they write their reply in verse too!!! :)
I posted it! And I added this comment: We eagerly await your reply! Our dwindling stores make us cry! Royal Wedding, the Monkey, and now the Dear Snail, If they dohn’t come soon, you will hear us all wail!
But without the typo!
ashmanra – I love it!!! Eeee!
Ode to the Golden Snail. I don’t care if I’ve never tried it myself, I love any tea that inspires rhyming by default. :D
After reading your post, I must have this tea…
Sadly, I don’t think Harney has it in stock :( We are all pining for it!
Also, ashmanra said the new offering Hunan Golden Twist at Harney has some of the same delightfulness as Golden Snail!
I will look for it….