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This blend has me at such a loss. I didn’t know that Earl Grey without bergamot was a thing. I thought bergamot is what made Earl Grey, Earl Grey. TIL.

Let’s start with the dry leaf fragrance. A few weeks ago, I was staying at a place that had hand soap whose fragrance reminded me of those violet candies that were popular when I was a kid. And it’s funny, because at that time, I had the thought that it would be interesting to try a tea that reminded me of that candy.

Now I’m not so sure.

The fragrance of the dry leaf is bold, which I love. And it’s—pow!—floral, which I … think I like? It was definitely interesting. And it absolutely reminded me of those violet candies! The steeped brew had a much milder fragrance, which started to regain its intensity as the brew cooled. I did get a vegetal whiff of green tea from the brew, which I didn’t from the dry leaf.

When I took my first sip, my first thought was, oh no, it’s the soap gene all over again. You know how some folks think cilantro tastes like soap? This tea tasted kind of soapy to me, and that wasn’t great. I let it cool a bit, just to see what would happen, and it got really bitter and … what’s that thing where it dries out your mouth? astringent? That. Finally, I added some sugar to it, and that made it more palatable.

Lessons learned:
- The packet says to steep for two to three minutes. I did closer to three, and should probably try closer to two next time.
- I used a tsp of leaf and could probably use less. I appreciate that it’s a strong brew and a little goes a long way. (Kind of surprising for a green tea blend, which I tend to think of as mild, subtle things.)
- Drink it hot! Don’t let it cool.
- Maybe sweeten it a bit right from the start.

It’s definitely interesting. But Earl Grey is pretty much my favourite, and this is not that. Given my druthers, I’d call this one The Lavender Duke. {snerk} Leaving off the rating this time because I honestly don’t know what to make of it.