Russian Earl Grey

2nd infusion…lighter but still flavorful…still yummers!

Very nice – and quite a surprise. I had expected a smoky tea (It’s the “russian” in the name that made me think that this would be a smoky tea), but it isn’t. It is smooth, rich and delicious. Pleasant citrus tones – the bergamot mingling with the orange and lemongrass creates a softer, smoother tasting bergamot. LOVELY!

Geoffrey sent me some of this to try…can’t believe I’m just now getting to it. This is a great Earl blend! It’s lighter on the bergamot than I expected, which is great because it really lets the lemongrass and citrus come through. The base tea still shines in this as well. Everything blends together very well; no one flavor comes to the fore. I think I’ll try it at 5 minutes next time, though, to see if the bergamot gets stronger.

Thanks, Geoffrey! It’s yummy!

This particular variety of Russian earl grey is very aromatic before the water even begins to mix with the leaves. Once your leaves are introduced you are hit with the pleasant notes of lemongrass and citrus. Obviously should be expected as they are two of the main ingredients, but it brings you to a new place where you forget about the tea and indulge in the calming effects of this fusion between stout black tea and elegant extras that the group at Culinary Teas were so kind to expertly take the time to perfectly blend. With a normal steeping time of about 4-5 minutes. The dark amber color begins to show, the leaves and other ingredients begin to rehydrate and blossom. This being said I am adding my water at just below a boil, as to give the cup a chance to cool as it steeps. The taste instantly mixes the scents of Earl Grey with the Asian flare of lemongrass and just an extra touch of Spanish orange but as not to overpower the now more subtle nuance of bergamot. The group at Culinary Teas really put a lot of effort into this one and every time I smell the scents coming from my cup, I can just tell. Enjoy!