Harney & Sons Black Currant Loose Leaf Tea

The black currant here is actually beautifully balanced—it's present and fragrant, but not candy-sweet or overwhelming. Multiple tea drinkers specifically praise how the fruit complements rather than dominates the black tea base. You get a rich, bold cup with bright fruity notes, not a fruit juice masquerading as tea. It's strong enough to be interesting but won't assault your palate.

Absolutely. This is actually an ideal beginner tea because it's forgiving and versatile. The black currant flavor is approachable without being overly sweet, it works well both hot and iced (so you can experiment), and the quality is high enough that you'll actually taste what good loose leaf can be. Several reviewers mention it's not overwhelming, which makes it perfect when you're still figuring out your tea preferences.

Expect a smooth, bold black tea with bright, fragrant black currant notes. The aroma is particularly strong—many reviewers mention how wonderfully it smells when brewing. The flavor is rich and full-bodied with that distinctive berry character, but it stays on the tea side of the spectrum rather than tasting like flavored syrup. It's complex enough to keep experienced tea drinkers interested as a daily cup.

The value is still solid despite the price creeping up from around $24 to $35. You're getting a full pound of high-quality loose leaf tea, which translates to roughly 150-200 cups depending on how strong you brew it. Several reviewers specifically call out the good value, especially considering the freshness and quality of the leaves. That works out to maybe 20 cents per cup—less than any coffee shop option.

It's genuinely versatile for both. Multiple reviewers specifically mention making excellent iced tea with it, and the bold, fruity character actually holds up really well when chilled. The black currant notes come through nicely cold, and because the flavor is strong to begin with, it doesn't get weak or watery when you add ice. Great for year-round drinking.

The main concern is occasional order mix-ups—one reviewer received the wrong product. That's more of a fulfillment issue than a tea quality problem. The other honest drawback is the price increase over time, which some long-time buyers have noticed. But the tea itself is consistently praised for freshness, aroma, and flavor, so quality hasn't suffered.