Earl Grey Grand Classic

This tea surprised me!
I was expecting a decent cup of bergamot-flavoured tea, so imagine the shock when I opened the sachet and was greeted by a strong peachy note instead. I adjusted my expectation according, looking forward to a cup of peachy tea as I brewed the tea bag. But there came another wave of shock when I drank the brewed tea – it’s SMOKY!! Very fruity too, but definitely it’s neither bergamot nor peach. I looked up Lupicia’s website and learnt that it’s LONGAN! I have longan every summer but this was the first time I consumed it in black tea. No wonder the taste was so unfamiliar!
I have to disagree with some previous comments that the fruit tasted citrusy. Longan is not at all a citrus fruit! It’s very sweet and similar to lychee. It also shares some similarities with muscat/grapes given its juiciness and succulence. Anyway, this is a unique, almost exotic, tea that is not for everyone. But if you appreciate something different and special, you are going to enjoy it :)

This is a sample I received from Rie a very long time ago but just got around to trying this weekend. It’s quite smoky; that’s the dominant note I get out of it. There is some background fruitiness, to be sure, but as I’ve never tasted longan (or anything longan-flavored) before I can’t say if that note is accurate. It doesn’t strike me as too drastically different from a standard bergamot-infused Earl with a smoky base, to be honest—in fact it reminds me an awful lot of Lupicia’s standard Earl Grey (though I admit it’s been a few months since I’ve had that one, so my memories may be leading me astray). That’s a favorite of mine, so of course I’m enjoying this quite a bit as well. I suppose I was expecting some sort of in-your-face exotic fruit flavor, and I’m a little bit disappointed not to be getting that, but I really can’t complain.

It’s drizzly and cool outside today (and, I’m going to get slapped for saying this, but I sorta like it… that ‘is this Fall, or Spring’ type weather that has me thinking of crunchy leaves and colour…..and Anna with her talk of Fall and beautiful places…. ).
This tea is from my ‘tea from ifjuly’ drawer…. and I absolutely love it. I can’t thank her enough for sending this exquisitely elegant tea my way.
I’m head over heels for this one….
It’s got the signature Earl Grey berg (I’m a berg lover…), but it’s smoky and spicy…. refined and opulent.
This is a definite must buy for me, when I finally get around to a Lupicia order sometime. I think this may be my favourite Earl Grey so far….